The Board of Directors and I are continuing to follow up, on several fronts, regarding the various avenues to take pertaining to the 2007 Open Space property tax assessment.  Every avenue shall be explored to pursue re-cooping excess taxes paid to the County, and all controls are in place with the attorneys and otherwise to prevent this issue from reoccurring.  Additionally, this issue will be reported as a “broken policy needing fixing” to the Illinois Legislature through public hearings, a session of which is scheduled to be held at the CRF here on September 23. As with most governmental and/or legal undertakings, this may take several more months until something positive is realized.  I will continue to report information as it becomes available and decisions are reached.

Our on-site audit is now finished, and the auditors are doing their internal reports and compilations.  Several questions are still being asked by the auditors, and we are responding as quickly as possible.

Nothing additional has progressed regarding the possibility of obtaining a bank loan for infrastructure repairs, but will be looked at again once the exact needs for such a loan are determined.

Last week, I met with Village engineering officials and the owner of Copenhaver Construction Company to discuss specifics regarding the Gages Lake road walkway, to be constructed on HeatherRidge property from Colby to Route 21. Once assured that their insurance and JULIE requirements are in place for BOTH Gurnee and our property, they should begin construction sometime during the last week of September.  There will be approximately a twenty-man crew and construction should run about 3-4 days.

I will be meeting this coming week with the two estimators from different security alarm companies to final up the proposals for the continuing door security system installations at HH and CB/C clubhouses, along with the Cabana Pool. Additionally, for the sake of greater reliability and speed, we are looking into the costs of converting our regular security and communicating phone lines to DSL, which is considerably less expensive than it was two years ago, when this project was conceived.  I also did a walk-around with our insurance agent to assure that newly acquired furniture, fences, etc. at rec centers, TV’s, blinds and game machines in the CRF and our security computers are adequately listed and insured.

The Six-Year Plan and 2009 annual Budgets (except golf) have been completed by the Finance Committee for review. The proposed golf budget shall be available for discussion on or about September 26^th.  Once again, your board has put in many long hours and sessions, showing due diligence and fiduciary responsibility in producing a budget which covers necessary areas and is also sensitive to the economy as a whole and its impact on your assessments.

Some political candidates have been asking us for advertising space they can pay for in the HeatherRidge Happenings.  This is perfectly fine and in line with the freedom of speech act.  Additionally, to improve the timely delivery of the HeatherRidge Happenings, the Board will be discussing the feasibility of the installation of literature distribution containers to be installed by mailboxes.

The Maintenance Department has finished painting mailboxes and is in the process of shutting down of the pools and systems for the approaching winter.  No Smoking signs are all in-house, but will not be put up at all recreation centers until the pools are ready to open in the spring.  The Covered Bridge rec center fence is completed and really looks great, along with the repainted fence around the propane tanks. Our landscapers are busily involved with the last application of broadleaf weed control for the year, and are doing tree and shrub plant replacement and renovating work on grading.

Our Security Department wishes to remind everyone to be extremely careful and safe in providing a good environment for our trick-or-treaters walking around the area on Halloween.  Also, all are reminded to please call security if you notice anything suspicious in any part of the HeatherRidge Community.

Check your HeatherRidge Happenings  for good shows and entertainment coming up at our CRF, and for those who could not make it down to the CRF on September 13^th, the Ice Cream Social was fabulous!

Bob Marcus, CMCA, AMS Community Manager