My personal unofficial notes from the 7/16 board meeting

The meeting was attended by around 40 people. Your association attorney, Scott Pointner, was in attendance to address questions regarding our options in dealing with AQUA's pumping of storm and sewer water indirectly into our lake during times of excessive rains. Joel, the manager from AQUA, was also present to take questions.
The public forum started and was mainly dominated with questions for the board and attorney about what we intend to do at this point. The management and board are exploring all avenues including political, legal, and IEPA. All these things are not going to come to fruition overnight and hopefully the pumping will not occur again before a remedy is reached. Rains this year have been extreme.
The question naturally was asked, why were the property owners not informed more quickly of the possible contamination. The time line was explained. Samples were taken and tests performed but by the time the results were known five days had passed. When the results over the holiday week came back with high levels an e-blast was sent out after board interaction as well as a message on the reader boards warning of contamination. This took longer than we would have liked due to the difficulty getting board response over the holiday.
A policy is now in place giving the general manager the authority to inform P.O.s as he feels is warranted about any possible contamination or other dangers immediately without board approval. A resolution will also be passed detailing the messages that are to be provided to residents if this situation with AQUA arises again. You will be informed.
Something else that needs to be pointed out is this has happened in past years and this board has initiated testing that has not been done in the past to see exactly what is being pumped. That is why we now know the dangers and intend to provide the information. The tests performed during the first AQUA pumping in April came back fine but those were tests where the pumped liquid entered the lake. Testing now is right out of the pumps and manholes so we know exactly what we are dealing with.
Due to the amount of input the public forum segment was allowed to go to about double the normally allocated time but we wanted all questions answered.
Now, moving on to the business part of the meeting........
Jeff, our treasurer, reported so far early in our fiscal year we are running over $36,000 under budget (to the good) but this is early and things can change in the coming months.
Lake management reported the lake aerators have been reinstalled (as you saw here in pictures), the Firefly Bay plantings are complete and being maintained. We received 100 free plants thanks to Rebecca Olson. The EPA grant is still in process, Joe Rush has been monitoring the lake and no treatment is suggested at this time. The geese away lights seem to be working and will be moved as necessary for goose control.
The board passed a resolution eliminating the minimum price for association owned lots in an attempt to get them off the books and rid you of the continuing expense of carrying them.
Northern Illinois Services was awarded a contract to handle ditch work to aid in drainage in problem areas. The cost is not to exceed $65,962.75. (the contract price)
A resolution was passed to hire Building Reserve to provide an updated reserve study at a cost of $5,300.00. There was discussion on the issue and it passed with a 5 to 2 vote. I voted no, feeling it is a waste of money since past studies have been in my opinion worthless. Don Parisi also voted no on the expenditure.
Bobcat of Rockford will be supplying a 2013 Kubota with attachments to replace the 1971 Ford tractor in the amount of $19,835.22 including attachments and our trade in. This was budgeted in reserves.
Lonnie's CarpetMAX will be installing the new vinyl floor in the multi-purpose room in the rec center to replace the worn and stained carpet. This was also budgeted in reserves. This will have a wood plank look and should look better as well as wear better. The cost will be $13,226.00
We must fix the broken water line that runs under the road to the east gate guard house. The repair cost will be $3,690.00. We will use contingency to pay for this since it obviously was no budgeted. Pearson Plumbing will be doing the job.
A new policy was read regarding swimming from boats. It discussed swimming from boats inside the no wake areas and will be discussed again after further study at the next board meeting to iron out some possible problems.
Karl Steiskal Jr. offered to purchase a lot from the association that is adjacent to his lot. The offer of $500.00 was accepted. An offer was received for another lot from another party and a counter-offer will be sent the that property owner.
As I always point out, these are simply my meeting notes and in no way should be interpreted as official minutes. Those will be published in the Candlewick paper.

Ken  (if any attendees notice anything of significance I missed please drop me an email. There was as lot of discussion at this meeting)