About Us

The Brickyard Creek Community Association owns and is responsible for maintaining and repairing the Common Properties, including interior roads, driveways, meadows, ponds, wells and of course, the forests that surround the Brickyard Creek cottages. The Association has the power to assess members to fund such activities. The Association is also responsible for governing the affairs of the Brickyard Creek Condominium Community.

In addition to The Brickyard Creek Community Association there is an Umbrella Association. The purpose of the Umbrella Association is to own, operate, maintain and repair off-site facilities and amenities, including but not limited to Roys Point Blvd, the Brickyard Creek bridge, nature trails, Roys Point beach and gazebo areas. Owners of Brickyard Creek cottages and Brickyard lakeshore lots are automatically members of the Umbrella Association. The Association also has the power to assess its members to fund activities.

To the cottage owner:

• Maintenance of infrastructure including roads, culverts, and driveways
• Maintenance of hiking trails
• Maintenance of entry area Hazardous trees
• Maintenance of faulty well pump or well line
• Well shocking if tested unsafe
• Snowplowing roads and driveways

To the lakeshore owner:

• Maintenance of roads
• Maintenance of hiking trails
• Maintenance of entry area
• Snowplowing roads and driveways

The Brickyard Creek HOA Board is a group of owners who volunteer their time to ensure our community thrives and abides by the principles and vision on which this development was built.

Their photos and bios can be viewed in the Board section of this page.

See our Community News page for the latest Board updates.

Committees are an integral part of our structure here at Brickyard Creek. Committee participation is a great way to get involved and help make a difference. Below are descriptions of our current committees.

• Finance Committee
• Stewardship Committee
• Forest and Watershed Committee
• Architectural Control Committee

Detailed descriptions of each committee can be found in the Committees section of this page.

See the Community News page for the latest committee updates.

Contact our BYC Manager, Jeff Garrett if you are interested in volunteering.

This is my second term as a board member of BYCCA. I believe my skills and experience will benefit our community. I hold a doctorate in education, with an emphasis on environmental education, and am the former Director of Programs at Minnesota’s Freshwater Society, a statewide environmental advocacy organization.

My professional and academic focus has always been on water- protecting it, teaching about its significance, studying our many relationships with it, and creating programs that develop community leadership to protect and improve water quality. I believe that everything is connected to everything else, including the BYCCA.

My goals for the Board reflect that belief- to strengthen the relationship between our community and that of the greater Cheq Bay area, increase the resiliency of the built and natural environments of BYCCA, and ensure that BYCCA values and mission guide the future development of the remaining cottage sites and land.

As climate change brings new threats and opportunities to the Upper Midwest, I want to help Brickyard Creek be prepared to navigate new and changing conditions.

I'm excited to be a member of the Brickyard Creek Board of Directors and to be part of a community that offers peace, tranquility, and treasured friendships.

I grew up in Kewaunee, Wisconsin, situated east of Green Bay and just south of Door County on Lake Michigan. I met my wife, Ann, who is from Ladysmith, Wisconsin, at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. We both spent our careers in Education. I worked for over 30 years at Jefferson High School in Bloomington, Minnesota, where I taught Technology Education, Engineering, and Driver Education. I also coached football and track, and served as the lead for the trap and robotics clubs.

We have beautiful twin daughters who are married to amazing men and have given us a total of five cherished grandchildren. We also have a wonderful son who is married to a beautiful wife, and they are currently practicing family life with two fun-loving Labrador retrievers.

We began visiting the Bayfield Peninsula, touring the islands, and getting to know the area in the 1990s. We discovered Brickyard Creek soon after and decided to build our cabin in 2005. As I write, I am on our screen porch, listening to and watching a beautiful summer rainstorm.

My respect and enjoyment of exploring the outdoors began with camping with my family and participating in the Boy Scouts of America. I worked summers at Bear Paw Scout Camp in Northern Wisconsin and also earned the honor of being an Eagle Scout. My family has also volunteered on the Apostle Islands. I've volunteered on Sand and Manitou Islands and have family members who volunteer on Rocky Island. These experiences have shaped me into who I am and have led me to cherish the Bayfield area.

My parents believed in giving back to the community. As Ann and I spend more time in Bayfield, we are always looking for ways to give back to this beautiful area. We are currently Volunteer Coordinators for Apple Fest. If you are interested in volunteering, please let me know!

I am committed to learning, leading, and being a positive member of the Brickyard Creek Community Associations' Board, which will strive to do what is best for you and our community.

My husband Jim and I have been owners in Brickyard Creek since 2019. I became aware of Brickyard Creek while my daughter Kasey was a student at Northland College. As someone who is passionate about the environment, the mission and values of the Brickyard Creek community was very appealing.I have a degree in Biology and am a retired middle school science and math teacher.

Since retiring, I have had a variety of work and volunteer experiences. I was a program director for a nonprofit called the Oasis Project that provides free professional tutoring for underserved kids. After resigning from that position, I was asked to serve on their board of directors. I am also a volunteer tutor for that program. In addition to tutoring, I am also an active volunteer at Retzer Nature Center and serve on the board of directors for the Friends of Retzer Nature Center. I also became a Wisconsin Master Naturalist in 2022.

Forests and lakes are my happy place. I enjoy kayaking, hiking, and anything “outdoorsy”. That is why Brickyard Creek is so special to me. Brickyard Creek is an exceptional place with a unique mission, and I will work to support this mission as a member of the BYCCA Board of Directors.

My wife Jean and I live in in Vadnais Heights, MN. We first visited Brickyard Creek while renting on a weekend getaway in around 2010. We eventually purchased a cottage on Sophie Lane in 2016 and then subsequently sold and built on Black Spruce Trail. I spent all my educational years at the University of Minnesota and then worked there for about 30 years; I am a retired Psychiatrist.

Recently, I have been a member of the Brickyard Creek Future Development Standing committee; I have learned a great deal about the past and present of BYC, and that seems like a good preparation for serving on the Board as it guides our future. We have interesting and potentially challenging issues ahead, including the possible conversion of the National Lakeshore to a National Park, and I am interested in helping to navigate them.

I am serving on the Board because (along with Jean and our two adult daughters) I cherish this unique place. I grew up in Northen Minnesota, close to Lake Superior, and I have always loved the Lake; and that love has only grown in the time that we have been at Brickyard Creek.

My name is John Daly. My wife Linda and I have owned a cabin at Brickyard Creek (BYC) since 2002. I have previously served on the Board for two separate terms and I have been an active member on several committees including the Building and Grounds Committee and the original Vision Committee.

During our twenty-two years of residency in the Brickyard Creek Community, we have logged many, many trips from our home in Madison and suburban Waunakee, Wisconsin. I finished graduate school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the 1970’s with a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction and in Education Administration. In 2015, I retired from education after four decades with the Madison Public Schools, the Wisconsin Center for Educational Research at the UW and as a private school improvement and principal leadership consultant.

Since retirement I have served on the board of the Friends of the Pheasant Branch Conservancy in the Madison area and volunteered with several other non-profits. My retirement has allowed me the time to redefine and renew myself and to appreciate the uniqueness of the BYC Community, the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and the Bayfield Peninsula.

I believe that the BYC Community is in a great place. We can celebrate and reflect on our accomplishments but we cannot become too passive. I hope to do all I can to maintain and enhance the vision of the BYC Community. I also believe that my previous experience on the initial committees that formed the BYC Community will be helpful. My skill set includes being an engaged listener and working collaboratively with diverse groups to achieve a set of goals.

Over these past twenty-two years, our friends have asked Linda and I what is so special about Bayfield and the BYC Community that we are willing to drive more than 300 miles (over 600 miles round trip) to be here? Our response has always been . . . a peaceful sigh and a smile.

I was born and raised in Seattle, WA, where I attended the University of Washington. I moved to Minnesota in 2011 to attend Mayo Medical School in Rochester, thinking that I would surely return to the West Coast after graduation. While in Rochester, I met my partner, Ramoncito, while he was in his vascular surgery residency. I matched for my Internal Medicine residency at the University of Minnesota, and we started building a life for ourselves here in the Midwest. I served as a chief resident after graduation, then started working as a hospitalist at Regions Hospital in St. Paul in 2019.

We live in Minneapolis and started discovering the outdoors together just before the pandemic. Within the span of six months, we went from never pitching a tent to backpacking for a week in Patagonia. When the world came to a halt in 2020, we explored closer to home, which led us to the Superior Hiking Trail and then to Bayfield and the Apostle Islands. We fell in love with the majesty of the lake, a whole inland ocean just a few hours' drive away. We bought our cottage in Brickyard Creek in 2022 and have deeply appreciated how this space -- the cottage, the trails, the community -- has helped us recharge after hectic weeks in the hospital and helped us reconnect with each other and with friends. Brickyard Creek is a truly special place along the shores of Lake Superior, and I hope to contribute to the continued preservation of the ecology and tranquility of this space while deepening our connections with the broader Bayfield community.

In 2019, I also completed my yoga teacher certification and have been teaching since then. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with friends, savoring quiet time with my partner and our pets, reading, cooking, and baking.

In fall 2025, I joined the Future Development Committee, which deepened my understanding of the pivotal decisions ahead for BYC and my desire to contribute. I hope to bring strategic thinking, a commitment to responsible use of technology, and a deep sense of stewardship to the Board — in the spirit of a community that has always chosen to be a guardian, not a consumer, of the land it calls home. This is my first term on the board.

My partner Pam introduced me to Bayfield in the mid-2000s, and I was immediately captivated by its perfect trifecta: the natural beauty, the music at Big Top Chautauqua, and a food scene that punched well above its weight. We visited every year until we found our cottage at BYC in 2012. The moment we arrived, we knew this was where we wanted to be — not just for the forest and the lake, but for the ethos: the intentional care for the environment and the commitment to honoring this land for generations. We come year-round now and see something to love in every season. In retirement, we hope to spend even more time here.

I was born in Nicaragua and came to the United States for college, earning a Ph.D. in Management Science — a discipline that bridges industrial engineering, operations research, and data-driven decision-making. I have spent more than 25 years in the technology industry, 20+ of these at IBM and currently at Red Hat (an IBM company), where I work on technology strategy with a focus on AI, open hybrid cloud, and using technology responsibly. Giving back is a family tradition: my father co-founded FADCANIC, an organization dedicated to the development of Nicaragua's Atlantic Coast, and my mother joined him in that work. I carry that legacy with me.

The Finance Committee is responsible for development of a recommended annual budget and assessment; planning for the short and long term viability of the Associations and their ability to finance their mandated responsibilities.

The Stewardship Committee has the responsibility to steward the Brickyard Creek Community Vision, Mission, and Values through education, volunteering, and social gatherings. The Committee has made a commitment to:

• Incorporate the Vision Statement, Mission and Goals into all aspects of the Brickyard Creek Community.
• Recognize the various changes facing our community which affect achievement of the Vision and goals – current and future.
• Engage members of the Brickyard Creek Community in a sustained dialogue about the unique nature of our natural environment.
• Continue to build a sense of community; a sense of belonging among the neighbors of Brickyard Creek.

Our Brickyard Creek Community is a special place to each one of us. As an association, we have collectively committed to become environmental stewards and practice a philosophy of enhancing and sustaining the uniqueness of this special place. The Forest and Watershed Committee continually strives to be the foundation for stewardship here at BYC and in partnership with the larger community of Bayfield.

Members of this important subcommittee have a multiple role and responsibility – to preserve, restore and enhance the common grounds of the BYC Community.

The main purpose of the Architectural Control Committee is to receive, review, and approve or disapprove plans and specifications that are mandated to be submitted to the committee before the commencement of construction of improvements on condo sites and lake shore lots to assure harmony with external design in relation to surrounding structures and topography. Members considering modification to their cottages and surrounding property need to contact our director, Jeffery Garrett, to discuss and share their plans prior to proceeding.

The main purpose of the Legacy Committee is to pursue, establish, and recommend the implementation of strategic goals that guide Brickyard Creek’s long-term planning, including the future of its undeveloped cottage sites and adjacent and common land, in ways that protect its natural character and advance BYC’s Core Values, Mission, and Vision.

I first experienced Lake Superior on a backpacking trip in the summer of ’96. It was the 4th of July and miserably humid – far too warm to hike. The “big freezer,” as the locals referred to the vast inland sea, did not provide the relief they had promised until the very next day when it snowed. Only a few flakes, but upon seeing the big puffs of white drift down, I turned to my wife, Diane, and stated matter-of-factly, “I need to live near this lake.” As so often happens when one makes such a pronouncement it was only a matter of time before fate directed my life to Bayfield.

Like many, Brickyard Creek was attractive because of the proximity to the lake and the islands. However, I was quickly mesmerized by the towering mix of hemlock, spruce, balsam, and pine that make up the forest. In fact, on my first tour of the property in 2002 I asked Bob Davidson what the place looked like in the winter. Not missing a beat, he stated that it was a “Wonderland,” and I was sold.

Early explorations around the property always ended with a game of fetch with Catch the Border Collie who was often waiting at the end of the sales office driveway with a frisbee in her mouth. I loved her and told David Culberson if she ever had puppies…

So in October of 2003 Sydney picked me.

Her introduction into our lives changed everything. Beforehand, I spent all my days (and many nights) as a trainer and operations manager for a growing Twin Cities company. While I still worked hard and pursued excellence, I was happily required to take many, many, many hikes along the roughed out trials throughout the BYC property. Of course, we did an excellent job of keeping the path along the creek passable to the beach where we played endless games of fetch. Like mother like daughter I guess.

Admittedly, what I most liked about being in the forest was the way it made me feel. There was something about the density, age or type of trees and plants that brought a sense of awe or even reverence. I didn’t understand it at first, but I knew I had stumbled on a special place. Over the next decade, I took many walks with Dale Klubertanz and other naturalists and learned that we lived within a “pocket” or remnant boreal forest that contained rare plants and trees not found elsewhere on the mainland of Wisconsin.

During this time I was also spending many of my early evenings playing with Sydney’s family and talking to Dave for hours about environmental development practices. I learned that our cottages were designed and constructed so that “blending into nature” was the primary architectural statement. That is when it became clear to me that Brickyard Creek had the opportunity to be world class and my appreciation for the community became more tangible.

In 2011 I saw a need to become involved. I was elected to the Board of Directors and assigned to a committee that oversaw operations. Soon after, I was hired to manage the association with the goal of improving the infrastructure and trail system and creating relationships that could assist the community in reaching its full potential.

The Brickyard Creek Identity Statement is the blueprint for these aims:

“Brickyard Creek is a residential environmental community on the shore of Lake Superior dedicated to active stewardship and tranquility. BYC is dedicated to lake, land, learning, lifestyle, leadership, and legacy.”

The “L” alliteration expanded the idea of who we are and what we can be. Highlighting our community values brought about an evolution that created meaning, initiated action,  and outlined the manager position and goals.

They are:

• Maintain Brickyard Creek’s infrastructure and grounds with total vision and a keen understanding of aesthetic.
• Establish and sustain a day-to-day operation plan to assure member well-being and protect their investment
• Connect with the greater community to preserve Brickyard Creek’s long-term viability

I believe more than ever that we are establishing a community model that is unique, purposeful and remarkable. Together we are becoming a leader and building a legacy.  I am honored to be of service to the Brickyard Creek Community.

Jeffery Garrett, Brickyard Creek Director
Phone – 715-781-3958
Email – Jeffery.BYC@gmail.com

Being the hub of communication at BYC is an essential component of the manager position and key to BYC’s development as a vital, sustainable community.  Skills in information sharing, policy and protocol development and interpretation, conflict resolution, community relations and development are essential as the director works with:

BYC Residents and Guests

• Serve as the “on call”, first point of contact, hands-on resource to residents, guests, vendors, and community partners; answering questions, providing policy interpretations, recommending resources, and facilitating communication and problem resolution.
• Facilitate understanding of and oversee compliance with Common Expectations, ACC processes, and other adopted board policies.
• Conduct welcome meetings with all new owners, providing a community overview, a copy of handbook, Q&A, tours.
• Serve as link or messenger between residents, the Board of Directors.
• Support development, maintenance, and availability of various essential printed and electronic resources including: Common Expectations, other adopted policies.
• Support development and maximum use of BYC Community Website, Facebook, and other social media platforms as platforms for communication dissemination of information.

BYC Community Partners

• Maintain a solid working relationship with the National Park Superintendent, park staff, and park support organizations.
• Maintain a solid working relationship with Roy’s Point Marina staff, leadership, and members.
• Maintain a solid working relationship and “as needed” contact with rental management agencies approved by the board.

Bayfield Community Partners

• Maintain a solid working relationship and regular connection with Red Cliff PD and Bayfield Sheriff and other emergency responders.
• Attend Bayfield area community meetings as a representative of the Brickyard Creek to stay informed, develop relationships, educate, provide support; and facilitate BYC community residents to do the same.
• Volunteer as a representative of the BYC Community and facilitate BYC community residents to do the same.
• Solicit expert advice and consultation from Bayfield area Partners and facilitate development of stewardship projects at BYC.
• Develop and maintain a working partnership between community partners and the BYC members.
• Promote BYC with local businesses and community organizations.

Boreal Forest Citizen

• Facilitate opportunities for residents to volunteer in Brickyard Creek.
• Facilitate BYC volunteer support work with community partners.
• Promote community involvement and promote pathways for BYC residents and guest to “live the vision.”
• Facilitate educational events.
• Facilitate fun activities or adventures – sports, art, how-to projects, music, etc.

Board of Directors and Committees

• Provide staff support for the work of action groups as approved by the Board.
• Provide insight, offer recommendations, and initiate action as needed and directed regarding such matters as:
  • ACC Guidelines
  • Association(s) vs Owner responsibilities (e.g. holding tanks, wells, sewers)
  • Rental policies and practices
  • Fees and Assessments
  • Common Expectations, Rules and Regulations.
• Monitor and facilitate compliance with Common Expectations.
• Help draft, edit, and review correspondence.
• Support continued development, maintenance, and distribution of the Brickyard Creek Handbook both in print and via the BYC Community website.
• Support development of and implementation of a website architecture that would best disseminate essential information, support committee work, and be an interactive resource for BYC residents and others.

ACC Coordinator

• Serve as point contact and process facilitator for the Architectural Control Committee (ACC). Provide and collect required information, and oversee communications to assure submission, review and approval the processes are completed in a timely manner.
• Monitor all residences to assure compliance with ACC guidelines and protocols.

Vendors

• Maintain good working relationships.
• Establish clear and consistent expectations with vendors.
• Routinely meet with vendors to review work plans.
• Help the vendors develop a sense of ownership that results in quick, reliable service.
• Evaluate quality of service and providing input.
• Work with vendors to anticipate needs by helping them to always look ahead.

Realtors and Potential Buyers

• Answer questions via phone or email.
• Provide tours and be available for sit-down meetings.
• Maintain solid working relationship with local realtors regularly providing them with information about BYC’s Mission, Vision, and Values; community policies and resources.

Conduct the following operations and maintenance activities; arrange for, coordinate and oversee the activities provided by third-party contractors as follows:

• Wells: routine well inspection, diagnosis, repair and maintenance.
• Hazardous tree management: Work with professional contractor to coordinate hazardous tree management. Also, remove downed trees from roads, driveways, and hiking trails in a timely manner.
• Trash Coordination.  Work with trash and recycling haulers to coordinate a seasonably appropriate trash pick-up schedule.  Routinely check trash area and clean up any refuse as needed.  Ensure that the trash area and adjacent areas and roadways stay cleaned up.
• Signage: Maintain all signage and ensure that damaged signage is repaired and replaced promptly.
• Perform trail maintenance and enhancement consistent with annual operations plan and budget.
• Beach and Picnic Area: In cooperation with Roy’s Point Marina; provide maintenance and enhancements consistent with the annual operations plan and budget.
• Monitor road conditions and execute operations plan to repair and maintain roads, condominium drive ways and parking areas.
• Coordinate activities with expert contractors to develop and implement long-term road maintenance and repairs consistent with annual operations plan and budget.
• Contract with snow plow supplier to have snow removed from BYC roads during the winter season.
• Conduct routine/frequent walk-arounds to monitor security and general appearance of BYC communal areas.
• Act to ensure timely correction of infrastructure problems as they occur.
• Provide for entry maintenance.

Provide, arrange for and oversee the following Financial Administration functions:

• In conjunction with the Treasurer and Finance Committee prepare and present an annual operating budget.
• Draft bi-annual financial notes to aid the finance committee and Board of Directors.
• Monitor collection of all assessment and related member charges and work with Treasurer to address overdue payment issues.
• Hire and provide administrative oversight for a bookkeeper.
• Provide oversite on the payroll, taxes, and other gov’t forms.
• Maintain a banking relationship with a local bank.
• In consultation with the Finance Committee and the bookkeeper, set-up an effective system to pay invoices promptly and maintain current P&L’s.
• Communicate with the bookkeeper to assure accuracy and manage adjustments.
• See Board approval for all non-budgeted expenditures over $500.
• Manage expenses to come in at or under budget.
• Fill out bank loan forms for all potential buyers and closing papers.

Born and raised in central Wisconsin, I moved to the Twin Cities to complete my bachelor’s degree in the early 2010s. While there, I met my husband Matt and we got to work building a life in Minneapolis. While our jobs kept us city-bound during the weekday, we often found ourselves, along with our canine sidekick, in our campervan on the weekends exploring any and all places within a 4-5 hour drive of our home.

It was during these trips that we discovered Bayfield and fell head over heels. We set the intention to make the move north and in 2017 our grand idea became a reality. There is so much to love about this community; the people, the natural beauty, and of course the lake.

One of my favorite things about Brickyard Creek is that it embodies all of these elements to create a unique little northern paradise, one that places the natural environment at the forefront. I’m so very proud to be of service to the BYC community and I’m elated at the opportunity to help work towards furthering its mission of sustainability, environmental stewardship, and active community engagement. 

Skye Bingham, Brickyard Creek Administrative Assistant
Phone – 612-205-3585
Email – skye.brickyard@gmail.com

• As delegated by the Director, helps draft, edit and reviews BYCCA related correspondence as needed.
• Supports the maintenance of the BYC website as a communication tool 0 as delegated by the Director.
• Monitors changes of HOA and Wisconsin condo laws.

• Provides meeting coordination and planning, develops forms and assists with drafting communications as directed by the Rental Oversight Committee and Director.
• Manages the collection and maintains the organization of insurance policies and proof of insurance forms.
• Serves as the first point of contact for questions and inquiries regarding the BYC community. Has regular communication with owners who rent, neighbors and rental management agencies.
• Develops and maintains good working relationships with vendors, rental management agencies, and real estate agents.

• Responds to realtor/buyer questions and inquiries.
• Completes bank loan forms and required closing papers for all refinancing and sales.

• Monitors collection of all assessment and related member charges and supports the work of the Treasurer to address overdue payment issues.
• Supports the needs of the authorized bookkeeping and accounting services.