In an effort to capture all costs to the Town for the milfoil program, this year's milfoil treatment has been increased to $525 per each waterfront lot parcel. You may see Aquatechnex boats on out on the lake surveying the plant growth status soon. This year's treatment will follow a milfoil specific treatment in late May, early June followed by a contact herbicide treatment after the fish timing window opens on July 15th. E-alerts will be sent out once treatment dates have been verified.

Sales tax produces significant revenue for the Town. The main sources of sales-tax revenue are construction projects and purchases delivered to your Hunts Point address. To ensure that the Town receives its share of sales-tax collections, please do the following:

• Ask your contractor to report all construction-related transactions to the Department of Revenue using the Hunts Point Sales Tax Code: 1713
• Use your Zip Code + 4 when you order goods for delivery to your home. If you don't know your zip+4, please use the Zip Code Tool at the US Postal Service website.

The 107th annual Hunts Point Clean Up Day was a big success again this year. Thankfully the rain held and we had a gorgeous day. Thank you to the many residents who volunteered to work and attend the festivities. The Town was awarded its 34th consecutive Tree City USA Award. Hunts Point has 42% canopy coverage, which is among the top five cities in the state. 

The Medina Police gave an update on crime in the neighborhood and reported that everything has been quiet lately. They did warn residents about mail theft and car prowls. Be sure to lock your car at night if it is outside. We also had a robust discussion where the police urged everyone to call “911” if you see anything out of the ordinary. They assured us that we are not bothering anyone and our calls are routed to a non-emergency line.

The Wetherill Nature Preserve gave an update on major projects and funding needs. Several volunteers worked in the preserve this year to clear the trails and cut back overgrowth. The lunch was well attended and our youngest residents enjoyed the bouncy house and the face painting. 

We concluded the busy day with an evening party at the Frantz’s home where we enjoyed wood fired pizza from Veraci. A special thanks to the many new neighbors who joined the fun.  Clean Up Day is a great way to meet new neighbors and learn more about this wonderful community we live in. Thank you to all of the volunteers and the residents who signed up to help next year.

Helpful tips to deter crime at your residence:

• Install lights by all exterior doors and illuminating the shoreline on your property if you live on the water
• Close the garage door and cover view windows so no one can see inside
• If you are able, install cameras on your property and place clearly-visible signs indicating the presence of audio/video recording devices
• If you have a video doorbell system and someone rings your doorbell while you are not home, try to answer the doorbell from your cell phone and inform them that you and several of your friends are preoccupied with a project inside your house and to come back later. That just may be enough to convince them that someone is home and deter them from following through with any criminal intentions.
• Don’t leave your garage door opener inside your vehicle when parking your vehicle in the driveway
• Always lock your doors & windows
• Keep valuables in a safety deposit box
• Do not leave checkbooks, cash or important financial information out in the open

Boating season is right around the corner! The Mercer Island Police Department has put together a list of boating safety reminders to keep in mind while you're enjoying the water this season:

• Boaters over the age of 12 and born after 1955 are required to possess a Washington Boater Education Card on their person when operating a vessel with at least a 15-horsepower motor.
• Current registration is required on all vessels. All vessel registration expires on June 30th. 
• The following equipment is required on board at all times when operating a vessel:
• US Coast Guard approved PFD/life preservers for every passenger on board. Children under 12 must wear one at all times if a vessel is under 19’.
• Type IV (otherwise known as a boat cushion)
• US Coast Guard approved fire extinguisher
• Navigation lights - activated from sunset to sunrise. Jet skis are not allowed to be operated from sunset to sunrise. No other lights are permitted.
• Distress signals (horn, whistle, flares)
• Engine blower
• Carbon monoxide decal
• Skier down flag
• Designated skier observer separate from the driver
• Kayaks/canoes must have a life preserver on board for all passengers on board. 
• Safety regulations & reminders:
• If you are on a crossing course with another vessel that could result in a collision if the other vessel is on the right, it is the stand-on vessel, and you must yield.
• A sailboat under sail always has the right of way.
• If two vessels come head-on, each vessel alters course to pass on the right of the other.
• The speed regulation buoys are placed 300’ / 100 yards from the nearest shore or dock. 8 nautical miles per hour/No Wake (defined as a cresting wave) inside those buoys to shore, or before, under, or after any bridge. Outside of these speed buoys, there is no speed limit. You may go as fast as conditions allow without being negligent or reckless to others.
• Boaters in Washington State are responsible for any damage their wake causes.

Call 911 immediately if you are experiencing an emergency. Be ready to identify where you are, your address, the name of the facility, landmarks, etc. so others can find you. If you have a GPS on your boat/chart plotter/cell phone, be ready to give your Latitude and Longitude if needed. Give specific identifiers.