Nearly twenty-eight thousand dollars has been saved this year through competitive bidding of the HUA business insurance policies.  Last year’s cost for business insurance was $108,872 and this year better coverage will cost only $80,927, and the umbrella coverage will actually be increased from $4,000,0000 last year to $15,000,000 this year.  Savings were achieved by our detailed review of our cost and coverage requirements with competing brokers, and by aggressive competitive bidding on the part of the brokers.  The new employee health insurance plan that we initiated at the first of the year is a better value, too.

In support of energy-saving efforts, the Maintenance Department has made a priority of repairing broken post lamp light circuits.  They have installed improved thermostat locking devices, too, and are now investigating energy-saving lights. We note that our new Maintenance Department head, Jason Shamrock, has returned to work six evenings and weekends for plowing and salting operations since he was promoted to the department head position earlier this year.  Of course many other employees joined him here to get the job done.  One of the Maintenance Department head’s traditional responsibilities is coordination of ice and snow fighting operations.   Let’s hope the need to call out the crews will have ended now that spring has arrived.  Soon it will be time to get the swimming pools ready for opening.  This month, a third member will be added to the maintenance team.

Security Department Chief Wayde Akers has been consulting with neighborhood leaders about replacement of the key card system at the neighborhood recreation centers.

In the coming month, we will be building a low masonry wall to control erosion around pond four, east of Manchester between Shepard and Colby Courts.  Cleaning of organic sediment from ponds one through four will follow in warm weather.  We also anticipate that we will be making purchasing decisions regarding a proposed supplemental air conditioning system for the clubhouse.

I am proud to note that, upon successful completion of course work and two proctored examinations, I am now a Credentialed Manager of Community Associations (CMCA).  The National Board of Certification of Community Association Managers, an affiliate of the Community Association Institute (CAI), a national association, issues the credentials.  The Illinois CAI chapter has been working in Springfield for mandatory licensing of all persons with community association management responsibilities, and passage of the CMCA examination would be an important licensing requirement.  I am also a credentialed manager by virtue of an examination given under the auspices of the International City/County Management Association, in addition to formal education and city management experience, and a commitment to continuing professional education.

Oliver Merriam, General Manager