The Finance Committee and administrative personnel been meeting weekly over the past 6 weeks and have just about finished up the budgeting for the 2010 Budget and Six-Year Plan review.  There are several items yet to be resolved, such as estimated costs of shoring up the Hidden Hills Recreation Center building, but those issues will not hamper the ultimate release of the budget figures 30 days prior to necessary voting by the Board.  Kudos must also go out to Debra Garcia and Cathy McGrath who help so diligently organizing and compiling all of the figure facets and segments that go into the final budget.

Our attorneys have been asked to check records and filings to make sure that HUA has a complete, current set of all HUA declarations, amendments and addendums, by number. There are some instances where articles are referenced and nobody has copies of those articles.

Insofar as the Hidden Hills Recreation Center repairs, the engineering firm used to render opinion on the extent of the repairs needed had responded back with an extremely costly and overkill proposal to render repair specs and supervision.  Therefore, three individual construction companies are currently independently reviewing the project and will be submitting bids for repair shortly and in time to complete before the first snows threaten a timely conclusion to this project.

Pool closures have been completed by our Maintenance Department, and scheduled projects such as power washing the Covered Bridge pool deck and balcony area are under way. Compliance checks were made of the pools and their depth markings, as requested by an attendee at our last meeting, and everything is in order and satisfies State of Illinois Health Department inspection requirements.

As mentioned before, the infrastructure of the security entrance systems are in place and expandable, add-on features and facilities, such as additional locks and various security cameras, will be reviewed this winter season for discussion.  However, nothing concrete is currently planned.  Also, a tightening up of the current system will be implemented this winter.

Paperwork is still being provided and requested to Harris Bank, on an “as needed” basis to aid them in processing and finalizing a loan to HUA for the drainage and asphalt projects, to be hopefully completed prior to November. Also, once we sign a final contract with a paver, a preventive maintenance plan will be provided by them for our use in future years.  The bank is currently requesting us to procure financial statements from all residential associations in order that they analyze any excessive delinquencies of those associations.  Residential delinquency issues could affect the HUA collections, and this proposed loan is secured with future assessment income.  Residential association Presidents and/or management companies have been asked for these statements in order for the HUA loan underwriting process to continue.

Our Landscaping and Maintenance Departments have been working on items of shortfall or in-need based on our recent walkabout reports and as normally required of them as fall approaches.  They have additionally been requested to provide specs and recommended alternatives to the current snow plowing and shoveling techniques in place, for possible dollar savings and reduced damage, and those reports and proposals have, or will be, submitted through TLLCISI for pre-board review and recommendations.  Items concerning tree maintenance and spraying programs have also been reviewed and submitted to TLLCISI for sanity checks.

New CRF / Golf signs have just about been finished being installed at entrances by Route 21 and Gages Lake Road.  Please continue to support our many CRF functions, such as wine tasting and the upcoming November Brat Bash.  Have a fun Halloween/Fall season.

Bob Marcus, CMCA, AMS Community Manager