Board
meeting notes of September 16, 2014
These
are personal notes, not to be confused with official minutes!
Meeting
attendance was small at 12 which is not surprising with no
controversial issues on the agenda.
Public
forum input consisted of some complaints about the dog park and why
no video recording of the board meetings.
The
Finance Commission reports at the end of August operating cash stands
at $688,788.88, operating investments $634,355.10, road investments
$365,153.60, reserve investments $3,015,697.91, and total investments
$4,015,206.61. Total cash is $4,703,985.49. Revenues are $83,468.
over budget and expenses $104,849.11 under budget making us to the
good for the year through August by $188,316.87. Not bad!
Bad
debt write offs for the month were quite high due to banks only being
forced to pay six months of back dues, a many lots the county was
unable to sell for delinquent taxes. The total is $116,848.07. (We
have a line item in your budget setting aside monies specifically for
bad debt so this is not going to break the budget. More write offs
will come to keep the books clean and that amount will be covered as
well in the current budget.) Monthly accounting adjustments come
to $843.34.
Savannah
Oaks is still running over $40,000 better than budget and is looking
better compared year to year overall by about $20,000. Good news!
AQUA
reports well #2 is still being tested for passing the bacterial test
after work was performed. None of the test water is going into the
water supply and after #2 comes back online they will perform a
system wide maintenance program to flush mains. They have also made
adjustments to the chemical feed ratios to help improve water quality
and discoloration complaints. The water main replacement on Queens
Place will hopefully be completed the first week of October.
Lightning caused an electrical failure at lift station number 1
causing an overflow for about a half hour. The IEPA, Health
Department, and Candlewick were all notified and the area was
cleaned. (I believe this is the one below the dam)
Your
Public Safety unit reports they had calls during the month of August
totaling 1303. That is about 42 calls per day. Many residents do not
realize Public Safety does keep busy. Obviously a lot of these are
ordinance related, foot patrols, and health related.
Lake
Management reports fish shocking is scheduled for September 25th
or October 2nd. (Results are used to decide what
species to stock and how many as well as the general health of our
fish population) Leaf collection is scheduled for November 8th
and 15th. As usual volunteers are needed to keep
performing this yearly service. The Wounded Warrior Bass Tournament
is scheduled for September 27th. There will be a watershed
grant meeting October 23. (This is one of the meeting where
attendance counts toward Candlewick's grant contribution so try to be
there) A new sign will be installed on the outlet structure
indicating no anchoring within fifty feet of the spillway.
The
Recreation Commission recommends the board pull out the concrete slab
by the rec center and prepare the area for two bocce ball courts and
two horseshoe pits. The volleyball stanchions and net need to be
moved from Savannah Oaks to the Rec Center area as well.
The
Events Commission reports they are working with Dandy Donuts to set
up for the fall garage sales, the Fall Festival will include a D.J.,
chili contest, costume party, and kid's games with the Eagle's Nest
providing food and drinks. Turkey Bingo is a go again this year as
will be Breakfast with Santa. Again the Eagle's Nest will be asked to
handle the food for the breakfast.
The
status of the Capron Rescue Squad building was discussed and the
contract was unanimously passed by the board so this is a go unless
something unforeseen arises. Hopefully the slab will be laid before
the freeze so construction can continue during the winter.
The
Dog Park fencing will be installed by our maintenance department.
Volunteers will be handling the area inside the fenced area plus
working on the rules for the dog park.
The
Communications Commission asked the board for permission to
participate in the Sinnissippi Park display this year. The cost to us
would not exceed $200.00 The board authorized the expenditure.
(This will be good further exposure for Candlewick)
A
resolution were passed to contract with Dach Fence to replace the
gate opener on the inbound lane at the West gate. The cost will be
$3,447.00. The will come from budgeted reserves so no impact on our
operating budget.
The
bids for our road project came in very high from all three bidders,
partially due to oil prices plus the timing of the project. Our
Maintenance Manager also had a concern with the new overlay not
setting sufficiently before plowing starts so the decision was made
to go out for re-bid in February so we will hopefully get better bids
early. We intend to handle crack filling in-house and Rabine is
scheduled to do their warranted repairs the first week of October.
Your
board decided to allow the Savannah Oaks Clubhouse to remain open
through December in light of all the planned activities there.
Initially it was budgeted to close November first. The change can be
reversed if the expected attendance does not materialize.
Our
General Manager suggested we change to a different company to handle
our annual dam inspection at least for this year so we get a new set
of eyes on the structure. They will be more expensive but the
inspection is much more in depth and we have enough in the lake
budget to handle the additional cost. The board agreed. (Good
thinking on Theresa's part in my opinion. We are better off finding a
developing problem than chasing it when it has become severe.)
The
Caledonia Road clean up is on hold until such time as the weather
permits and the ditches are mowed.
The
meeting adjourned to go into executive session for personnel issues
at that time.
Ken