10/01/2026
Setting the Record Straight
Recently, a number of posts have appeared on two social media sites that are not affiliated with, sponsored by, or operated by the Winona Lakes Property Owners Association.
Some of the information being shared is inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading. The Board of Directors believes our members deserve to hear the facts directly from their Association.
We are not interested in engaging in social media arguments. Our goal is simply to provide our members with accurate information so everyone can make their own informed decisions.
We also recognize that members will not always agree. That is perfectly acceptable. What matters is that we can disagree respectfully, discuss our differences openly, and keep our focus on making Winona Lakes a better place for everyone.
With that in mind, the Board would like to address several of the statements recently being circulated.
Post 1: “Winona Lakes Deserves Better Communication and Transparency”
Setting the Record Straight
Since 2019, the Association has made significant improvements in the way information is communicated to our members.
For perspective, it is important to look at where we were and where we are today.
Communication Before 2019
From 2014 through 2018, the Association was governed by a Board associated with the Reform Group. During that period, the primary regular communication to members was the quarterly Winona Gram.
During those years:
2017–2018: The clubhouse was closed to members without the level of communication members would expect today.
2017–2018: Maintenance staff downsized to one person. with limited communication to the membership about the impact on community maintenance and infrastructure.
2017–2018: Administrative staff were terminated without significant communication to the membership.
2017–2018: A forensic audit identified approximately $51,000 in Association funds that required explanation and investigation.
Communication Improvements Since 2019
Today, members have substantially more ways to receive information and communicate with the Association, including:
Weekly e-blasts providing information about recreation, community news, meetings, Association business, important notices, and family activities.
WinonaLakes.org, where members can access meeting minutes, bylaws, rules and regulations, policies, Board information, forms, and other Association documents.
Online work-order and maintenance-request capabilities.
The ability to communicate directly with Association management and the Board.
A community bulletin board at the entrance for meetings, announcements, pool information, and other important notices.
A pilot program for virtual Board meetings, with plans to improve the clubhouse’s technology and equipment in 2027 to provide members with a better virtual meeting experience.
No communication system is perfect, and there is always room for improvement. But it is important to recognize the significant difference between the communication tools available to our members today and those that existed in prior years.
Post 2: “The Board of Directors Has Done Nothing to Improve Our Infrastructure and Amenities”
Setting the Record Straight
This statement does not reflect the work that has been completed throughout our community since 2019.
Over the past several years, the Association has invested significant time and resources into our clubhouse, pools, roads, bridge, electrical systems, septic infrastructure, and other community assets.
Among the improvements are:
Clubhouse renovations, including new flooring, painting, and improvements to administrative offices.
Indoor pool renovations, including resurfacing and replacement of the heating system.
Replacement of the indoor pool propane lines.
Replacement of the septic tank pump and electrical work, including correcting deficiencies with underground electrical installations.
Replacement of deteriorated water tanks.
Outdoor pool tile replacement and resurfacing.
Replacement of the outdoor pool deck.
Road improvements, including the use of chip stone material to improve road durability and driving conditions.
Installation of speed bumps on Clubhouse Drive to address speeding concerns.
new mailboxes and bigger parcel boxes throughout the community.
And perhaps most importantly, the complete rehabilitation of the Winona Lakes Community Bridge, formerly known as the Clubhouse Bridge.
The Winona Lakes Community Bridge
The bridge is one of the most important pieces of infrastructure in our community because it is the primary route used by our families to enter and leave Winona Lakes.
Structural concerns with the bridge had been identified as early as 2016. The current Board made completing the bridge project a priority.
The bridge was completely rehabilitated and the project was completed in approximately eight months.
Today, the bridge provides safe access for the families who depend on it every day.
This was a significant project, and it was accomplished without imposing a special assessment on our members.
These Improvements Matter
These projects are more than a list of accomplishments. They represent investments in the community that we all own and use.
They also demonstrate that the Association has been addressing both immediate needs and long-term infrastructure concerns.
Post 3: “The Board of Directors Has No Authority to Remove Board Members”
Setting the Record Straight
This statement is incorrect.
Section 7.5(a) of the WLPOA Bylaws provides a process for seated directors to be removed for cause by the other seated directors.
The bylaws establish the procedures that must be followed, including the required vote and other safeguards.
This is also not something without historical precedent within Winona Lakes.
On March 23, 2014, then-President Robert Fenlon and the Board at that time removed Kenneth Anders, who was then a sitting Board member. The stated reasons included allegations of willful misconduct and breach of fiduciary responsibility.
The purpose of pointing this out is simple: the Association has previously used a bylaw process to remove a sitting director.
The Board believes members should look to the actual bylaws and Association records when considering questions about Board authority rather than relying solely on statements made on social media.
Post 4: “Winona Lakes Deserves Responsible Financial Management”
Setting the Record Straight
Since 2019, responsible financial management has been one of the Association’s priorities.
To understand where we are today, it is important to understand where the Association was several years ago.
Where We Started
In 2018–2019, following a change in Board leadership, the Association had approximately $9,000 in its operating account, while significant bills and obligations were outstanding.
Simply put, the Association was facing serious financial challenges.
We had only one office staff employee to assist members, take request for maintenance work etc….And with only one maintenance employee to do that work not mention snow plowing! Pothole filling etc…….
During the 2014–2018 period, the Association also spent substantial amounts (hundreds of thousands of dollars) on failed litigation.
In one litigation matter alone, legal expenses exceeded $160,000, while the amount ultimately recovered was substantially less, resulting in a substantial shortfall.
Those dollars represented Association funds that could no longer be used for other community needs such as roads and infrastructure!
Where We Are Today
Since 2019, the Association has worked to establish a stronger financial foundation.
Today:
Operating accounts and operating reserves are funded.
Capital reserves are funded.
The Association has implemented more structured budgeting and financial planning.
A Financial Investment Policy was adopted between 2025/2026 to establish guidelines for the management and protection of Association funds.
The Association’s improved financial position is the result of the work of multiple Boards, officers, volunteers, staff, and professionals over the years.
The Board also recognizes the significant work of former President Jeffrey Reichl and the directors who worked during the transition period to stabilize the Association’s finances.
Financial management is an ongoing responsibility. We must continue to plan for future infrastructure needs, maintain appropriate reserves, control expenses, and protect the Association’s financial resources.
Post 5: “The Association Bylaws Were Changed in 2019 Because the President Wanted to Remove Term Limits and Add Provisions to Remove Directors”
Setting the Record Straight
That is not an accurate description of why the bylaws were rewritten.
The 2019 bylaw revision was undertaken because the Association’s previous bylaws had become complicated and contained numerous amendments and provisions that were difficult to reconcile.
Over the years, the bylaws had been amended multiple times. The result was a governing document that needed to be reorganized and updated.
The purpose of the rewrite was to create a clearer and more consistent set of bylaws for the Association.
The revised bylaws went through the Association’s governance process and were ultimately presented to the membership for a vote.
The membership approved the revised bylaws by a substantial majority.
The 2019 bylaws therefore were not simply adopted by an individual president. They went through an Association process and were ultimately approved by the membership.
Members are certainly entitled to have questions about individual provisions in the bylaws. Those questions should be discussed based on the actual language of the bylaws and the documented history of their adoption.
Moving Forward
Winona Lakes is a community of hundreds of families. We will not always agree on every issue, and we should not expect to.
What we should expect is that our discussions are based on facts, that disagreements remain respectful, and that we keep the best interests of the entire community in mind.
The Board welcomes questions, suggestions, and constructive criticism. We also believe that members deserve accurate information when statements are made about the Association, its finances, its history, or the work of its Board.
Social media can be a useful way for neighbors to communicate. However, social media posts should not replace Association records, official communications, meeting minutes, financial reports, or the governing documents of the Association.
The Board’s focus remains on the same goal we believe all of us share: making Winona Lakes a safe, financially responsible, well-maintained, and enjoyable community in which to live.
We may have different ideas about how to accomplish that goal.
We don’t have to agree on everything. But we can disagree respectfully, communicate honestly, and work together for the future of Winona Lakes.
Respectively,
Winona Lakes Property Owners Association
Board of Directors
