PERSONAL
BOARD MEETING NOTES.. NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH RATIFIED MINUTES.
The
meeting attendance was again small with only about 25 in attendance.
That fell to 16 after the presentation of the fishing contest awards.
Several
spoke in the open forum for property owners. Subjects covered were
support for the rescue squad locating here and the Halloween Trick or
Treat hours.
Representative
Sosnowski presented the fishing tournament winners with their
certificates. These were for the Kid's Tournament on Father's Day as
well as our annual Bass Tournament tournament.
Your
maintenance department has been working a lot on the pool, installing
a new acid pump, a main pool water valve, and a new chlorinator for
the baby pool. They have also been removing saplings from the lake
water edge, spraying for lake shore line weeds as well as chemically
treating lake weeds. They have gilled and leveled sand at both
beaches and maintained our spring and weir. This is the one that
really stuck out to me. Your maintenance department also hand
placed 117 tons of rip-rap on the dam so far. Try to pick up one
of those large pieces some time! They also have been doing a lot
of tree work along with their normal duties. These guys have kept
busy!
Finance
reports we are still in good shape with the following balances.
Operating cash $708, 075.80, operating investments 784,317.17, road
investments $365,150.71, and reserve investments $2,865,713.32. Total
cash is $4,723,257.07. Income is up $38,000 over budget and
expense is $98,000 under budget, putting is $132,727.79 better than
our budget projection. Lookin' good!
Savannah
Oaks year to date is about $39,000 better than last year. Also
lookin' good! Savannah Oaks is a huge drain on our budget so
this is very good news.
Lake
Management reports some deals are expected to be available on weed
harvesters. The harvester would be used to control weeds as well as
skim the algae from the accumulation spots. More information will be
forthcoming. Don Trippicio has been doing a lot of diving, mapping
and taking pictures of our aeration system in the lake and cleaning
aerators as needed. This is very valuable information. Marge Olson is
stepping down as Secretary of Lake Management. She does a great
job and will be a big loss.
Recreation
reports the Glo Go Fun Run is still on for September 28. Reflective
T-shirts will be available for participants to purchase and wear.
Discussion on a wish list for the next fiscal year budget include
paddle boats, permanent grills, another book case, several assorted
tables, outside deck flooring, and more. Remember this is a wish
list and a lot of it will not be possible when budgeted.
Our
new Rec. Center director was introduced to the board and audience.
Her name is Leanne DeJoode and she seems anxious to hit the ground
running and said she thinks we have a great community and would like
to live here some day. She is a very likable person.
Public
Safety threw their weight behind allowing the Capron Rescue Squad to
buy a property here to erect and man a facility to provide services
to our residents and guests. The motion passed the commission
unanimously.
Events
reports the Octoberfest Chili Cook-off is on with prizes for judge's
choice and people's choice. There will be a contest for kids, various
kid's games and if not too expensive a DJ.
Communications
received a request for board members and commission member's pictures
to be posted on our website. The idea died a horrible death as it
should! Communications will be producing a promotional DVD for
our community.
The
Capron Rescue Squad presented the board a letter of intent to use an
alternative location for their Rescue Squad facility since the prior
location did not pass the board. The new location will be near the
Outpost and maintenance facility. I will post the letter here later
for all to see. Those voting against the first location should be
commended for getting immediately on the issue and finding an
alternate site that is acceptable to the rescue squad. I was afraid
this would drag on for months. The new proposal passed with a
unanimous vote so forward we go.
Bankruptcies,
lost dues due to bank foreclosures, and accounting adjustments
totaled $27,215.02. This is a high number but we anticipate this
in budgeting knowing there will be bankruptcies and the law that
foreclosures are only liable for six month's dues.
The
topic of Trick-Or-Treating hours was once again addressed by your
board. Last year it was agreed to cut the available hours from four
to two. After discussion the board decided to go back to the 2 to 6
hours as in the past. If you don't want Trick or Treaters or run out
of candy just turn off your porch lights.
A
property owner asked that for sale signs be allowed on vacant lots
during the same hours as the open houses. A little history on
this. The ECC spent a lot of time considering this some time ago and
decided against it. The same gentleman contacted me personally about
the problem selling his lot about two years ago. My recollection was
we had decided to allow the signs and I incorrectly told him that.
When later he found he could not he rightfully was upset. That was
entirely my fault. Val checked our records and we did not change the
rule, we just discussed it in depth. The board considered the
request to change the rule and sent it back to the ECC with the
recommendation to change the rule and allow for sale signs but only
with specified sizes and only during the same time as the open house
rules.
It
would appear there will be enough volunteers to proceed with building
the dog park. This is in the preliminary stages but moving forward.
Monies for the park were in this year's budget. Bonnie Marron has
become frustrated with the lack of involvement from other board
members and has removed herself from heading this project. She has
put a lot of work into this and should be commended for this. Some
other board members (myself included) stated for various reasons the
time is just not there to take it over but hopefully one will decide
to handle it.
The
speed trailer was once again discussed and our in-house IT person is
trying to find the necessary equipment to produce it in-house since
this seems to be so hard to find from a vendor. It has been being
researched for years now and no good unit has been found for our
needs.
The
Volunteer Appreciation Dinner is set for October 4 this year.
Invitations will be coming. The Caledonia Road Clean-up is scheduled
for September 10th. If anyone chooses to help the board
with the clean-up show up at the west gate at 4:30. We will have bags
and pick-up tools. I will post this again as time approaches.
Ken