BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING, HeatherRidge Umbrella Association (HUA), September 25, 2007

These minutes have not yet been approved by the HUA Board.  Any corrections, additions, or deletions  will be made at the next regular HUA Board meeting prior to official approval.

President Carol Marker called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.  Present:  Todd Campbell, Sam Dent, Rick Francisco, Carol Marker, Patrick Perry, Jim Servis, and Elroy Wilke.  Absent:  Paul Kelly and Gordon Lind.

AUGUST 28, 2007 MINUTES:  Patrick Perry made a motion to approve the August 28, 2007 minutes, seconded by Sam Dent.  At vote, all aye, motion carried.

PRESIDENT’S REMARKS:  Carol Marker introduced Gurnee Mayor Kristi Kovarik.  The Mayor spoke to a list of questions that had been submitted by residents and the HUA Board of Directors.  President Carol Marker thanked Mayor Kovarik for her time.  Elroy Wilke joined the meeting.

VICE PRESIDENT’S REMARKS:  No comments from Todd Campbell.

TREASURER’S REMARKS:  Carol Marker gave the Treasurer’s Report for Paul Kelly.   The maintenance overages have been explained and are being evaluated.  The capital improvement paving project will be done in October and the funds will be expended from the reserves at that time.  Todd Campbell made a motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report, seconded by Sam Dent.  At vote, all aye, motion carried.

MANAGEMENT REPORT:  A Management Report was submitted in writing and was available to the audience. Bob summarized the written report.  Patrick Perry made a motion to accept the Management Report, seconded by Rick Francisco.  At vote, all aye, motion carried.  The Management Report follows these minutes in the HeatherRidge Happenings.

STANDING COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Architecture and Maintenance Committee.  No formal report.

Audit Committee:  No formal report.

Finance Committee:  Carol Marker gave the Financial Report for Paul Kelly.  The Finance Committee has been meeting and working most Mondays since July on the Six-Year Plan and the 2008 Budget.  Carol Marker thanked HUA Board and Finance Committee members.  The Preliminary 2008 Budget Cover Sheet will be proposed under New Business.  Patrick Perry made a motion to accept the Finance Committee Report, seconded by Todd Campbell.  At vote, all aye, motion carried. 

Golf and Tennis Committee:  Rick Francisco reported on a meeting held September 10, 2007.  Items of note included year-to-date (YTD) tennis lesson revenue of $1,134; August rounds down due to the rain (course closed for six days and golf carts not allowed for another six days); YTD revenue still $18,837 over budget although rounds are down 609.  The draft of the 2008 golf budget was passed out and discussed by the Golf Committee.  Patrick Perry made a motion to approve the Golf and Tennis Report, seconded by Todd Campbell.  At vote, all aye, motion carried.

Landscape Committee:  No formal report, several landscape issues were covered in Management Report.  It was noted that the Finance Committee is working with the Six-Year Plan on replacing aging landscape timbers that have crumbled or decayed.

Ponds Committee:  Todd Campbell and Carol Marker will be working with Fairway Ridge to determine ownership and maintenance responsibilities for the ponds near Farwell Court that have split boundaries.  No formal report and no motion required. 

Recreational Activities Committee (RAC):  No formal report.    

Security Committee:  No formal report.     

Tax, Legislation, Law, Contracts, Insurance and Special Issues (TLLCISI):  No formal report.    

Welcoming Committee:  There was a Welcoming Committee meeting on September 11, 2007 and eight new residents attended.  The next regular meeting will be October 9, 2007 at 7 pm at the CRF.  The list of new residents was available for the audience.  There are no Welcoming Committee meetings in November or December.

OLD BUSINESS: 

StoneyBrook/Cambridge Recreation Center Pool Liner Bids.  Three bids have been received.  Patrick Perry made a request for the opinion of the Architecture and Maintenance Chair.  Todd Campbell made a motion to accept the proposal from PoolCare-AquaTech as the approved bid for the SBC for the adult pool liner and skimmer portions of the bid, seconded by Patrick Perry.  That figure is $35,635.  The wading pool option will not be exercised at this time.  There is money allocated in the StoneyBrook/Cambridge Recreation Center Reserves as shown in the Treasurer’s Report.  At vote, all Aye, motion carried. 

NEW BUSINESS:

Presentation of Preliminary 2008 HUA Budget.  The Preliminary 2008 HUA Budget cover sheet was presented to both the House of Delegates (at their semi-annual meeting held this evening) and the HUA Board and owners.  Copies of the entire 2008 Budget document and the Six-Year Plan reserve study are available at the HUA office for Directors and owners.  Questions or issues can be submitted to the HUA office and will be entertained at the October 23, 2007 HUA Board meeting with the vote for final approval will be cast in November.  A copy of the Preliminary 2008 HUA Budget Cover Sheet will be printed in the HeatherRidge Happenings for October 2007.

Discussion included the skyrocketing increases in the costs for utilities and petroleum, supply of laborers and impact of the new minimum wage, and immigration concerns.  The Finance Committee has worked weekly since July to minimize these impacts, keeping assessment increases as conservative as possible while still providing the historically excellent services and work force for HeatherRidge.  Please remember that the HUA and neighborhood recreation center portions of the assessment are combined with the individual residential homeowner association assessments that are different for each neighborhood.  Paul Kelly, HUA Treasurer, will be the point person on fielding questions on the 2008 Budget.

Discussion Regarding Feasibility of Wireless Access.  The HUA Board requested that Bob Marcus investigate the feasibility of wireless communication and internet access for the community of HeatherRidge.  It was suggested that he contact Chris Velkover at the Village of Gurnee to coordinate the Village services and vendors and determine the possibility of offering wireless service throughout HeatherRidge.  There are concerns about security and the possibility of adding transmitters or communications reception towers.

OPEN DISCUSSION FOR HOMEOWNERS:

Shirley Dyrek of the Hidden Hills Townhome neighborhood asked when the pond between the 5^th and 9^th fairways on the golf course will be cleaned.  That is the larger lake that is considered part of the golf course, it is not scheduled in the near future as the residential neighborhood ponds will be cleaned first.  The lake is treated with algaecide within the EPA limits, but algae and weed growth are dependent on climatic conditions that cannot be controlled.

Elaine Stein of the Covered Bridge condo neighborhood asked if the issue about the shared boundaries of the ponds cannot be resolved, can they just be filled in?  All ponds are considered retention ponds in a series of waterways.  By law if you fill in a pond you must create another wetland space at great expense.  The issue will be resolved.  Bob Marcus and Carol Marker will be working toward resolution in October 2007.  Elaine also asked when the Taylor Drive and condo paving would be done.  The work will start the week of October 22, 2007.

Lydia Evans of the StoneyBrook Homeowner Association Board made an official request to have a police blotter or log (anonymous to names, but listing reports, crimes, infractions) available to residents and printed in the HeatherRidge Happenings (as newspapers do).  The Security Department keeps detailed logs and records, but it is considered private and confidential, they will not be published.  Actual crimes are referred to or investigated by the Gurnee Police Department (GPD) and considered public record through the Freedom of Information Act.  Owners can contact the GPD for that type of information.  Owners may ask Chief Wayde Akers for information if they choose to.  The Security Committee Report (printed in the minutes) could do a recap every few months if that can be worked out with the Security Department.  She also asked if the Six-Year Plan would be mailed out.  The cost would be prohibitive, but all owners can get a full copy at the HUA office. 

Beverly Carroll of the StoneyBrook neighborhood asked about the repair or resurfacing of the Gages Lake pathway.  She was told that the work is scheduled to be done in 2010.  She feels that 2010 is too late to do the work and that it is a safety issue. 

Patrick Perry made a motion, seconded by Todd Campbell, thanking Mayor Kovarik for her time and effort in addressing questions to the HeatherRidge community.  At vote, all aye, motion carried.

Patrick Perry made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Rick Francisco.  All aye, motion carried.

Adjournment at 8:47 pm.                                                                                                         Next Meeting – Tuesday, October 23, 2007