2012
Countryside Lake Association
Mundelein, Illinois 60060
2012 Annual Meeting Minutes
March 19, 2012
CALL TO ORDER
BOARD ATTENDANCE: J. Miller, J. Eifert, S. Parmley, T. Richter, J. Wilkins, L. Jezuit and L. Erickson.
Absent: S. Robb, T. Caldwell.
CLA Members present 45
Member proxies to others present: 13
Member proxy to the Board: 47
A quorum was met and President John Eifert called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m.
SECRETARY’S REPORT
L. Graber moved and M. Aspegren seconded the motion to approve the Secretary’s Report of the October 2011 Semi-Annual meeting as circulated. All in favor, the motion carried.
TREASURER’S REPORT
J. Miller reviewed the 2011 fiscal year budget and expenses and discussed the 2012 budget and year -to-date expenses as presented in the report dated March 13, 2012.
L. Graber moved and M. Aspegren again seconded the motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report. All in favor, the motion carried.
NOMINATIONS AND ELECTION OF BOARD MEMBERS
John Eifert announced that the terms of 3 Directors positions were expiring. The terms of S. Robb, L. Erickson and L. Jezuit are expiring and all three have expressed interest in being considered for another 3 year term and were nominated and seconded by board members J. Eifert and J. Wilkins. Geoff Butler was nominated from the floor, and accepted the nomination.
L. Graber moved and Marina Butler seconded the motion to close nominations. All in favor.
Geoff Butler introduced himself to the membership as a long time resident and discussed his areas of interest in serving as an Association Board member.
The election was held and the ballots tabulated by the board secretary. Directors elected were Scott Robb, Lee Erickson, and Les Jezuit. Geoff Butler was thanked for his interest in serving and encouraged to remain active in the community.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Beach & Picnic
J. Wilkins reported that the beach season will begin Memorial Day weekend with life guard coverage from 10:30am to 6 pm daily through the Labor Day weekend.
The lifeguard contract has been signed for the same rate as 2011 as reflected in this year’s budget. The bonus being that an excellent guard from last summer will be returning this season.
Appreciation was given to Randy Miller for continued support and help with getting the ropes and raft in and out each season, and to Sean Parmley for maintenance of the beach and picnic areas all year.
Thanks were also expressed to Sue Nierman for continuing to handle the scheduling of group party reservations for the beach and picnic area.
The IL Public Health Beach 2012 Permit has been submitted and weekly testing of the swim area will be done by Lake County as in the past.
Facilities & Grounds
Sean Parmley reported on the maintenance for association owned areas, and improvements to facilities this year. Highlighted were:
A landscape/ maintenance 3 year contract for CLA areas has been signed with Myers Landscape with approximately a 1% cost increase.
Spring clean up has begun including snow fencing is down, sand and gravel for the beach area and road have been ordered, as well as plans to touch up stain for the tables and benches and paint for the grills in the picnic area.
The tennis court is already open, and the lightning detector has been activated for the season.
The board is contracting with Rezek, Henry, Meisenheimer & Gende for engineering work and permits for replacement of the Hickory Road culvert at the dam outlet. Once the engineering is done we will contract with Behm enterprises for the culvert replacement. We anticipate a 2 day closing of the road during the construction.
The 2011 dam inspection report indicated that we should plan on sealing a crack on the southwest wall. Bids will be sought and plan to perform the repair in the dry season.
The question of a fish gate will not be included in the engineering proposals. A downstream possibility is still open for consideration. Ownership of the property directly beyond the culvert may present a problem for the ideal placement.
Member Jim Esperson complimented and thanked S. Parmley on the good work done and continued diligence for the maintenance and improvements to the Association property.
The lagoon area has lost a number of trees over the past two years so we will be targeting that area for reforestation to replace some of the Oaks lost.
Lake Improvement Management
Weeds and Algae
John Eifert reported for Scott Robb.
The 3 year contract with McCloud for weed and algae control is expiring this season. Two bids have been received and another 2 other company proposals are being reviewed.
The contract start date is generally May 1, but we are investigating a 3-4 week earlier start date to allow for an additional early treatment based on current weather conditions.
Fishery
· The largest investment in fish stocking in a number of year was done last fall. The emphasis was in stocking larger size of the recommended species, hoping for a better survival rate of the new stock in the existing lake environment.
· Members were encouraged to return the distributed fish surveys as the information is valuable to monitoring and determining the best management of our fish populations.
Shoreline Control
No current erosion problems have been reported, mainly due to the dry spring season.
Water Quality
J. Wilkins reported that the storm water monitoring program will continue this season at a continued reduced level. The storm criteria for monitoring runoff and sampling at the 2 major stream inlets will be the same as last season (¾ inch in an hour or a total 1 inch accumulation over a 24 hour period).
Appreciation was given to volunteers Jim Donndelinger who maintains, services, and hauls the sampling units each season, and to Brian Donahoe who maintains the reference CLA weather station site and has provided continued technical support to the monitoring efforts.
The program hopes to generate flow measurements of Indian Creek at the Chevy Chase Road culvert this season which will allow us to begin the accumulation of data concerning the water entering the lake from the creek which is the main tributary to our lake.
Boat Assignments
Lee Erickson reminded all members that current registration and the display of CLA green decals are required of all boats on the lake or stored in the racks on association property.
The membership was reminded that it is their responsibility to register their watercraft with the state of Illinois, and meet all DNR safety requirements as well as comply with CLA rules and regulations.
The importance of the washing boats used in any other bodies of water was discussed with the membership.
The compliance of the DNR, Lake County and vendor contact boats entering our lake was questioned and discussed.
It was reported that we currently have 34 rented dock slips for pontoon boats. The waiting list is averaging about 8 years; Lee reported that 3 turned over last year and 1 this season. Members were encouraged to contact Lee to find out where you are on the list.
Member Ken Alberts inquired whether we are considering building additional docks to accommodate greater demand. The possibility will be considered, but the Association has limited shoreline property suitable for boat docks.
Dock Maintenance
Lee Erickson reported that the replacement piers at the lagoon have held up well over the winter, with no repairs necessary for the upcoming season
Replacement of docks at the boat launch is being considered for this season. Similar construction and installation will be evaluated with respect to proximity to the dam before bidding and contracting.
Special Projects
Conservation Area
· Tom Richter discussed the ongoing progress on the restoration of the Countryside Conservation Area.
· Volunteer days will continue with clean up and improvements this season. Watch for posted signs and website announcements.
· It was reported that $4,800 partial payment of the $6,200 Watershed Management 2011 grant has been received with the balance expected when completed.
· The 2012 budget will continue the stewardship for the area with herbicide; clean up of deadfall and brush, improvement to the wood chip paths and additional seeding and plantings.
Website
· Les Jezuit thanked Brian Donahoe for his website design and maintenance.
· Members were encouraged to use the website and the links to community, weather, and news that have been added to the site.
· Brian Donahoe requested content of any sort relevant to the lake and Association for inclusion in the historical archive which he maintains and has linked to the website.
· Marina Butler complimented Brian on the design and resource he has provided for the Association, and asked why the monthly board minutes are not posted. John. Eifert explained that the board in its approval of an Association website had determined that no listing of member’s personal information such as the CLA directory, financial information, such as treasurer’s reports or current board minutes would be posted. It was pointed out that any member may request copies of either by contacting the secretary or treasurer.
· Marina Butler in reference to the minutes from the July 2010 board meeting asked for an explanation of the board entering an executive session, for which no minutes are recorded. J. Eifert discussed the board’s policy of calling and executive session (asking other members possibly present to leave and no minutes recorded as recommended by our legal advisor). The executive sessions are used exclusively to discuss pending, imminent, or possible litigation including delinquent accounts.
Architectural Review – No report
Rules and Regulations – No report
Security
Tom Richter announced that the Association has contracted with the Lake County Sheriff’s Department to provide security patrol services for the next 2 months.
The personnel will be from a pool of officers and will patrol 6 hours/day, 7 days per week in a marked Lake County Sheriff patrol car.
A house watch service is available through the Sheriff’s department.
Members were advised that the security cell phone number is not connected to the current Sheriffs patrol. Members are to call 911 or the non emergency # for the Lake County Sheriff 847-549-5200 as listed on the front of the CLA directory.
Members were advised that the use of car decals, boat decals and guest passes will be even more important for the enforcement of our rules and regulations during this transition period.
John Eifert addressed questions from members present concerning the long term plan for security. He discussed the boards plan to evaluate and redefine our security policies before entering into any long term contract of services.
Member input will most likely be obtained through a survey of opinions and suggestions. The board will consider the feasibility of other options suggested such as camera surveillance, lights and/or gates, as well as a combination of possible services.
The board will take this opportunity to redefine the scope of work and responsibilities for any contracted patrol services, and will discuss seasonal demands, scheduling, and budgetary constraints.
Ken Alberts asked about the use of Association dues to provide security patrolling of private areas or private residences. John Eifert stated that the consideration of the board will always be first to protect the Association owned common areas and the enforcement of our rules and regulations, and then to provide desired additional enhancements to the safety and security of the membership and personal property.
Jim Butler asked to provide the board with a security patrol contract bid which he personally obtained. His reference contact was appreciated by President John Eifert, but it was stated that no bids will be sought or entertained until the job description and scope of responsibility for any security patrol is defined by the board.
Gail Manz asked the board to be very diligent in the vetting process for any personnel we contract with to provide security services.
Marina Butler suggested that posted signs concerning towing unauthorized vehicles should be reviewed concerning the liability associated with unauthorized towing, and that perhaps the authority to use a Denver boot should be considered by any new security program.
Legal – No report
OLD BUSINESS - None
NEW BUSINESS – None
ADJOURNMENT
L .Graber moved and J. Miller seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting. All in favor, motion carried.
Countryside Lake Association
Mundelein, Illinois 60060
2013 Semi-Annual Meeting Minutes
October 21, 2013
CALL TO ORDER
BOARD ATTENDANCE: J. Miller, D. Hupp, S. Parmley, J. Wilkins, L. Jezuit and L. Erickson, T. Richter.
Absent: J. Eifert, T. Caldwell.
CLA Members present 27
Member proxies to others present: 7
Member proxy to the Board: 64
A quorum was met and Vice-President Sean Parmley called the meeting to order at 7:30p.m.
Sean Parmley welcomed and thanked members for attending the semi-annual meeting, and asked any new members attending to please introduce themselves. 3 new members were in attendance, Don and Lynn Means from W. Lakeview Parkway, Mark and Nancy Pipas from Countryside Lake Drive, and Scott and Joyce Briggs from Oakleaf Court.
SECRETARY’S REPORT
L. Graber moved and S. Anderson seconded the motion to approve the Secretary’s Report of the March 2013 Annual meeting as circulated. All in favor, the motion carried.
TREASURER’S REPORT
J. Miller presented the fiscal year to date budget and expenses as distributed in the report dated October 18, 2013.
The board answered questions concerning operating budget balances, reserve funds and the capital expenditures.
A. Zych moved and H. Donndelinger seconded the motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report. All in favor, the motion carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Beach & Picnic
J. Wilkins reported that 2 trash can bottoms from the picnic area are missing. The cover lids and the bagged garbage were left at both container sites, hopefully they might be returned. (?)
2013 lifeguard costs came in under budget due to reduced guard hours at the end of the season.
Thanks again this year to Randy Miller for facilitating the installation and removal of the ropes and raft each season, and to Lee Erickson for always being willing to help.
Thanks also to Sean Parmley for landscape improvements and maintenance in the beach and picnic area.
Facilities & Grounds
Sean Parmley reported on the maintenance for association owned areas, and improvements to facilities this season. Highlighted were:
Repair of the west wall of the dam is planned for this season. 4 bids were solicited, 2 were received, and the board contracted with Boller Construction for a recommended full repair of the west wall at a cost of approximately $14,000.00.
Once the repair is complete, the yearly dam inspection will be made and submitted to the state.
A fish gate has been installed downstream of the road culvert at the dam outlet.
2 mooring buoys were installed in the lake this season, members are encouraged to use them. The possibility of additional buoys in other lake areas will be considered in the future. They will be removed for the winter season.
The association will be planting 5 trees this fall. 2 red oaks, 2 white oaks and 1 swamp oak are planned for the beach and picnic area.
A flagstone path approach area (6x15 ft.) will be installed on the lagoon side of the bridge, similar to the parking area approach to help with erosion and mud conditions in the spring and summer.
Member Carolyn Rubel asked the board to address the presence of a downed tree at the entrance to the Back Bay area. She and another resident of the Back Bay area, Brenda Reifenberg, volunteered to contribute funds for its removal if cost was the issue. S. Parmley asked those interested in discussing a proposal to have the tree removed to attend the November 12 board meeting.
Long Range Planning
Sean Parmley discussed the program of lake restoration and improvement of water quality by the use of aeration and bio-augmentation that was installed and put into operation this season.
The system installation was completed and operational about mid-July. The late summer and fall weather along with the aeration have resulted in excellent water conditions
There have been 4 bio-augmentation treatments so far, and no copper sulfate has been used since the startup of the system.
The lake conditions are significantly improved over previous seasons with respect to odor, algae and water clarity.
The improved water oxygenation due to the compressed air bubblers is beneficial to the fish population and the overall health of the lake environment.
Member Don Means asked about the possibility of aerating the shallower shoreline areas. The effective return on the aerators is related to the depth of the lake and the water column present for the exchange. The deeper areas of the lake were targeted to take advantage of that with respect to the budgeted capital expenditure.
The cost of the aeration tubing and the distance from compressor to aerator heads, as well as the efficiency were all considered in designing the system.
The board is willing to consider approval of private shoreline owners to augment the current system with either similar private aeration units or bio-augmentation efforts.
Lake Improvement Management
Weeds and Algae
D. Hupp discussed the continued use of the herbicide Sonar for next spring’s knock down of the winter weed growth.
The Association has 1 year remaining in a contract for weed and algae control, but the use of any chemicals will be coordinated with the bio-augmentation schedule and spring and summer conditions as they present.
The possibility of greater weed growth due to greater sunlight penetration with clearer water conditions was discussed. The conditions for boating and fishing will be monitored as the long range goals of the lake improvement system take effect.
After the 2014 season any contracts for the weed and algae control will be renegotiated to take into account the restoration program.
Fishery
We are still experiencing the long range effects of the 2012 fish kill in the lake fish population.
We lost mainly large size fish, and those will take time to repopulate.
The Illinois DNR survey of our lake fish population last fall and the results of the member’s fish surveys will be used to determine the makeup of the fall stocking order.
Member’s preference ranking showed largemouth bass, northern pike, muskie and walleye as the most desired.
The DNR assessment was that we have a healthy bass population and we should maintain it with a balanced predator species population recommended at 2 per acre.
The fall stocking will concentrate on larger fish in hopes of better survival and eventual growth of the stocked population.
D. Hupp discussed that he will recommend an increase in the 2014 stocking budget to $10,000, to continue a long range population growth plan.
Shoreline Control- no report
Water Quality
J. Wilkins reported that the storm water monitoring program which is designed to collect and test storm water samples from Indian Creek at the Chevy Chase Road culvert, the main inlet to the lake, continues.
Low storm incidents/sampling events (3 events) as well as no major equipment expenses are shown by the low year to date expense on the treasurer’s report.
Appreciation was given to volunteers Jim Donndelinger who maintains, services, and hauls the sampling units each season, and to Brian Donahoe who maintains the reference CLA weather station site and has provided continued technical support to the monitoring efforts in addition to the flow instrument installation and data recovery.
Boat Assignments and Dock Maintenance
Lee Erickson reminded members that boats are to be removed from Association piers by November 1.
He reported that there are currently 33 people on the waiting list, which goes back to 2004. Anyone who believes they are on the list is asked to check with him, and he will let you know where you are on the waiting list.
There are currently openings for boat storage on the racks, contact Lee if you are interested.
Special Projects
Conservation Area
T. Richter expressed special thanks to Sharon Anderson, Rosemary Aitken, Colleen Liberacki, and Jim Donndelinger for their many volunteer hours of service to the restoration of the conservation area at the corner of the entrance to the beach and Lakeview Parkway.
They have coordinated more than 100 volunteers over the years, involved in the general clean up, removal of invasive species, all to support establishment native species, along with wildflower, shrub, and tree plantings.
A supporting grant from Storm water Management will offset costs of contracted herbicide applications, and a scheduled fall burn of the area.
Website
Les Jezuit thanked member Brian Donahoe for his continued maintenance of the Association website.
If you need to change your email notification address, please send information through the website or contact Julie Wilkins directly.
The website address is listed in the front of your CLA directory.
Architectural Review
Members were reminded that any new housing construction within CLA requires board plan approval.
Rules and Regulations
Current rules and regulations were mailed to all members as required by our bylaws.
It was pointed out that we have a catch and release for both northern Pike and Muskie, while we rebuild those lake populations, and no overnight mooring is allowed at the new lake buoys.
Security
T. Richter discussed the representational makeup of the security committee’s members, and thanked them for their
Service to the Association.
Contracted security patrol hours were reviewed, explaining the extended summer hours of patrol and the staggering of some split shifts as needed. Marty Bertrand from Howe Security introduced himself and the other officers working for CLA. Our officers are retired or current Lake County Sheriff’s Department Officers as well as a current Libertyville fireman.
They are on duty 8 hours/day through the winter months October through April, will increase coverage to 10 hours/day in May and September, and will provide 12 hours of patrol coverage for the summer months of June, July and August.
Members were reminded to call 911 in the case of any emergency.
They will monitor the Lake County Sheriff’s Department and Countryside Lake Fire Protection emergency calls while on duty.
Members were asked to please abide by the Association rules with respect to boat and car decals, guest parking passes and other rules and regulations concerning the use of common areas.
He reminded the members to review the ice fishing rules for the upcoming season. No guests without members present, no tip ups and no minnows anytime will be enforced on the lake this winter.
Howe provides a house-watch service, in addition to that provided by the Sheriff’s Department. If you will be out of town for any length of time, please remember to stop mail and paper deliveries, arrange to have your driveway plowed if needed during the winter months, use timers for lighting and set your security systems before leaving.
A public safety bulletin concerning ruse burglary/home repair fraud as well as host/parental social responsibility and liability legislation from the state was distributed to the membership.
The on duty patrol cell phone number is listed on the front of your CLA directory, if we are not on duty you may leave a message and we will contact you as soon as a patrol officer is back on duty.
Again, in any threatening emergency call 911 first.
Legal
J. Miller commented on the board’s commitment to obtaining legal counsel to be proactive in protecting the interests of the Association by monitoring residential foreclosures, liens, and collection fees. We also rely on legal advice with respect to the enforcement of our rules and regulations, and to assure we are in compliance with state regulation of Homeowners Associations and not for profit organizations.
OLD BUSINESS - None
NEW BUSINESS – None
ADJOURNMENT
L. Graber moved and M. Aspegren seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting. All in favor, motion carried.