A week from Today

The dam inspection

 I mentioned in the meeting notes we will be changing engineering firms this year for our annual dam inspection. I didn't go into detail about why it will be more expensive. As part of the inspection these guys actually will go down inside the spillway and come out the other side from under the dam. I can think of nothing that could get me to go down in that big hole and under the dam. These people have to be crazy. I understand that is how to be sure the entire structure is sound... but come on!
Ken

HOT DOG SALE FUNDRAISER – SATURDAY ONLY!

Cub Scout Pack 77

Whiting Park 10AM - 3PM

Another issue at the board meeting

There was discussion about some residents having problems with water quality. It does not seem to be a localized problem, oddly enough, with complaint areas being spread around. My next door neighbor complains of discolored water and ours is fine. Another board member has no problem but his neighbor across the street does and also complains of chlorine odor. It is hard to pin down since the water comes from the same lines.
The health department has been contacted and they report there have received no complaints of water quality but if people want their water tested they can stop by and get sanitary bottles from them, take their home samples, and bring them back indicating what tests they want performed. Yes there will be a charge but you will also have peace of mind.
One board member made the motion for Candlewick to pay for water testing in several locations. There was a second but the motion failed on a close vote.
Here is my take on the situation. The P.O.s should not be asked to pay for testing from their dues. Where should we test? Would this be open ended? What if half the community decides they want their water tested because they don't trust AQUA?  For those not trusting AQUA's tests there is an alternative for their own testing. I could not vote to pay for the tests. When the original well is back on line... which should be soon... this problem will  go away in my opinion.
  Something else to consider, complain to AQUA, telling them as your supplier you do not trust their water and want yours individually tested. Contact the health department as well. If many people do this it will bring pressure to bear.
Ken

Why? Racial profiling? I thought that was illegal

Board meeting notes of September 16, 2014

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 25^th or October 2^nd. (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 8^th and 15^th. As usual volunteers are needed to keep performing this yearly service. The Wounded Warrior Bass Tournament is scheduled for September 27^th. 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

By Paul Joseph Watson

Don't remember seeing this on the news, do you?
Ken

The U.S. State Department has ordered 160,000 Hazmat suits for Ebola, prompting concerns that the federal government is anticipating the rapid spread of a virus that has already claimed an unprecedented number of lives.

In a press release posted by Market Watch, Lakeland Industries, a manufacturer of industrial protective clothing for first responders, announced that it had signaled its intention “to join the fight against the spread of Ebola” by encouraging other suppliers to meet the huge demand created by the U.S. State Department’s order of 160,000 hazmat suits.

“With the U.S. State Department alone putting out a bid for 160,000 suits, we encourage all protective apparel companies to increase their manufacturing capacity for sealed seam garments so that our industry can do its part in addressing this threat to global health,” states the press release.

Your weekly Public Safety report

Candlewick Lake Public Safety

WEEKLY REPORT

Week Ending 9/15/2014

Rescue Calls

Public Safety responded to the 200 block of Drury for a subject who had low blood pressure. This person was transported to the hospital.

Public Safety responded to the 100 blk. of Prince Court for a subject who fell and hit his head. The person was taken to the hospital.

Public Safety responded to the 100 blk. of King Henry for a person who was bleeding from his dialysis line. The person was taken to the hospital.

Public Safety responded to the 200 blk. of Gables for a person with low blood sugar and a rapid heartbeat. There was no transport for this call.

Burglary to Vehicle

Public Safety responded to the 1600 blk. of CWD for a burglary to vehicle. With Public Safety’s assistance, BCSO was able to apprehend the two (2) suspects.

Dogs Running at Large

Public Safety responded to the 100 block of Brandywine for dogs running at large.

Damage to Property

Public Safety responded to the 10 blk. of King Henry for a damage to property complaint. This vandalism was obviously done by youths. Place call us if you have any information?

Citizen Assist

A Public Safety Officer was able to assist a resident in the 100 block of Liverpool for a family who had locked themselves out of their home, while having a meal cooking on the stove. Entry was gained while the house began to fill with smoke. The fire department was not needed due to the action of the Officer.

Lake Patrol

There were no significant events for the Lake Patrol during the past weekend.

Citations Issued: 15

Warnings Issued: 6

Hottest agenda items for Tuesday's board meeting

 I always encourage residents to attend but I have to admit this meeting doesn't have a lot of controversial issues. I guess discussing the road bids for this year's project (which are higher than we hoped) and the Capron Rescue Squad contract would be the two most interesting items. Should be a relatively calm meeting.
Ken

From a Lisa Sullivan Facebook post

These are so true... and so hard to actually accomplish. Ken

Tuesday September 16 board meeting agenda

A heads up... I have within this week received two emails supposedly from people I know that are fraudulent emails and probably if you open one of these you will either get a virus or your email contacts will be hijacked for their further use. The opening wording in the emails is odd so I opened neither but I contacted one of the supposed senders and he did not send the email. Be forewarned! This has happened in our area before.
Ken

My congratulations to our gate staff

Thursday evening between seven and eight I came in through the west gate. I drove in on the inside lane, stopped, and proceeded only to hear the lady in the guardhouse yell out the window to me. I backed up and she said "What are you doing?" Still not thinking what I had done I said "Going through the gate." She was all over me like an oversized suit. Of course one does not just stop and proceed through the inside lane. I knew that but didn't think and treated it like a sensor gate. She checked out my name and address then allowed me to proceed.
Am I angry? Heck no! She was doing her job and doing it well. I appreciate her determination to not let anyone through the gate that didn't belong here. Nice work.
Ken

Just a thought...

 No one asked me to post this suggestion but I think it would be nice for some of us who really are not "party people" to make the donation to the fundraiser even though we are not attending. This is a good family that has had some recent misfortunes. Fran and I plan to make the donation even though we are not attending and I hope many of you consider the same. Any of us could be next to be in the same situation.
Ken

Did you notice this story?

By S.A. Miller - The Washington Times - Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Welfare recipients can’t use their EBT cards at liquor stores but they can at marijuana dispensaries in states such as Colorado that have legalized pot, Sen. Jeff Sessions revealed Tuesday.

The Alabama Republican announced that he was drafting legislation to close the welfare-for-weed loophole after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services confirmed to him that marijuana shops were not off limits to EBT cards, which replaced food stamps, or other federal benefits.

a little Bonnie Marron humor

Benefit dance for Don Pearson

Postpone Caledonia road clean up

 Due to the predicted heavy rains and the road not being mowed for some time the road clean up is being postponed until next week. I will post the new date and time here in case some of you care to help us old board members and save us from heart attacks.
Ken

Weekly Public Safety report

Candlewick Lake Public Safety

WEEKLY REPORT

Week Ending 9/8/2014

Rescue Calls
Public Safety responded to the 100 block of Columbia for a subject who passed out and hit his head. This person was transported to the hospital.
Public Safety responded to the 100 blk. of Queens Place for a subject with low blood pressure, having a diabetic reaction. The person was taken to the hospital.
Public Safety responded to the 100 blk. of Gables for a person with a breathing problem. The person was taken to the hospital.
Public Safety responded to the 200 blk. of Gables for a person with low blood sugar and a rapid heartbeat. There was no transport for this call.
Public Safety responded to the 200 blk. of Liverpool for a person with trouble breathing and a history of heart problems. The person was taken to the hospital.
Vehicle Accident
Public Safety responded to the 100 block of Bounty for a vehicle that had driven into a home and promptly departed. Public Safety, along with the BCSO was able to locate the offending vehicle.
Public Safety responded to the 300 blk. of Rochester Road for a one car vehicle accident.
Neighbor Dispute
Public Safety responded to the Prince Court for a neighbor dispute.
Soliciting
Public Safety responded to the 100 blk. of Queens Place for soliciting complaint. The solicitor was located and spoken to.
Lake Patrol
There were no significant events for the Lake Patrol during the Labor Day weekend.
Citations Issued: 17
Warnings Issued: 6