The Winona Boathouse Association
The Winona Boathouse Association maintains this website to provide access to the legal documents involved in mooring boathouses on Latsch Island, Winona MN. The WBA cannot be contacted through this website. It will not host additional links on this website.
PURPOSE OF WINONA BOATHOUSE ASSOCIATION
The WBA enters into an annual mooring site license agreement with Latsch Island boathouse owners in accord with a license agreement with the City of Winona and a Publics Water Permit issued to the city from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The WBA preserves and protects “the rights of individuals to own, upgrade, renovate, rebuild, sell, give away, maintain and use boathouses moored to Latsch Island.” (WBA By-laws #2A). The WBA also provides trash dumpsters, portable toilets and recycling bins for its members.
The WBA serves “as a democratic, self-governing and self-regulating community with a goal of eliminating problems before they become a concern for local, state or federal bodies.” Its Board of Directors include a president, secretary, treasurer, two at-large representatives and area representatives from Upper Latsch Island, Middle Latsch Island and Lower Latsch Island (Wolf Spider Island). (WBA By-laws #7A, 7B).
The WBA is a nonprofit organization that has acted in the above capacities since June 1, 1997. (WBA By-laws #6).
COMMON ISSUES FOR BOATHOUSES
Expansion of a licensed floating structure requires approval of the WBA, the City of Winona, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Moving a structure to a new mooring site requires approval of the same entities. The WBA requires the completion and approval of the WBA form for replacement or expansion. (WBA Rules and Regulations #1, 2, 13).
The city ordinance requires a building permit for construction of new structures, additions and projects with the exceptions of “non-walled structures and work deemed to be maintenance.” (Appendix A-Chapter 28A).
“Latsch Island environs are a natural and scenic wildlife area owned by” the City of Winona and managed with “the primary objective of protection and preservation” in its “natural state.” (City License Agreement #7.) Do not transform the landscape or remove or destroy vegetation without permission from the City of Winona.
The city ordinance allows only the storage of two small dog shelters and a neat pile of firewood on the shoreline of WBA mooring sites. (Chapter 28A.02 E, K). Storage of boats, trailers, inoperable vehicles and other personal property, including trash, on land is a violation of the WBA Mooring License Agreement. (WBA Mooring License Agreement #7).
The city ordinance and city license agreement allow a boathouse owner to use only 15 feet of shoreline opposite the width of their boathouse. E.g. A boathouse 20-feet wide can use a footprint of shoreline 20-feet wide by 15-feet deep. But see the restrictions above!
The WBA provides two trash dumpsters for boathouse owners, supplied by J and J Rubbish Service Inc. If you have any trash except bags of household garbage, please contact J and J or another trash service for a private pickup. Barrels, furniture, gas grills, construction materials, appliances etc. must be privately removed.
J and J (507-452-4597) can remove nearly everything and will arrange pickups and pavements with individuals. Pickup doesn’t cost as much you think!
One 55-gallon barrel (empty) – $8.
One 55-gallon barrel (weighed down with mussels, etc.) – $13.
Love Seats/Couches/Recliner Couch/Sectional – $20-$35 each
Mattresses and Box Springs – $10-$25 depending on size
Grills $10
Recliners $15
Furniture – $5-$25 depending on size/weight
Barrels can also be taken to Miller Scrap, Matejka Recycling or another scrap center.
Dogs must be leashed. (Chapter 28.02 E). Boathouse owners are subject to the City of Winona’s animal control laws.
Mooring fee notices are sent every year to members in mid-May. Fees are due June 15.
Porta potty’s are provided for human waste only.
Do not empty contents from your personal toilets in the porta potty’s.
Do not dispose of any other liquids or solids in the porta potty’s.
Options for disposing contents from your personal toilets are:
Composting toilets – Winona Farm by appointment Call Sue at 507-313-9213
Chemical toilets – Prairie Island Campground
April 15th- October 31st – $5 charge
Boathouses are required to have sanitation facility’s.
City of Winona Boathouse Ordinance Chapter 28A 28A.02 (m):
“No person shall occupy or use a structure for human habitation unless it is
equipped with a sanitation facility.”