November 2012 Annual Meeting Minutes

Oak Terrace Improvement Association
Annual General Meeting
Countryside Fire Station
November 3, 2010
7:00 PM

  • Meeting called to order at 7:15 p.m. with the following Board Members in attendance: Ken Krejsa, Greg Denny, Al Johnsonbaugh, Dan Griffin, Steve D’Ingognito, Kevin Shifley, Traci West, Cara Cuny.
  • The minutes from the last year’s annual meeting were read by Traci West.    Motion to accept by Ken Krejsa and second by Cara Cuny.
  • The treasury report was read, by Steve D’Incognito. Steve went through details on the report explaining line by line items.  Sharon Kristofferson motion to accept.  Gregg Zink second.  All Board Members approved.

GUEST SPEAKERS

  • Diana O’Kelly, representative on Lake County Board.  County budget is being cut from $6m last year to $9m this year, however there have been grants that have added to the budget.  Peterson/60 realignment will be next year.  Midlothian Road will be next year.  Bike path next year.  Forest preserve continues to buy land.  They are at maximum tax rate.  There will be belt tightening in this area.  Widening of 60/83 is not on the 5 year plan.  Development across from Target is in appeals.  Steve asked about electronic traffic recorder for the neighborhood; Diana will look into it.  There is nothing at this time regarding plans to block off our roads to through traffic.  Almost half of the municipalities in Lake County have enacted leaf burning bans, however nothing has been put into place in our area because there are no really good alternatives to offer at this time.  Ken Kresja asked if something could be done about the “light pollution” from the mercury vapor lights used at the public parks on the south side of Diamond Lake.  Lights are on Mundelein property.
  • Fire Marshall Mike McNally:  [email protected].  847-918-6144

Cooler weather typically brings an increased amount of house fires.  Make sure that the exhaust hose on your drier is cleaned from drier all the way outside.  Have your chimney cleaned.  Animals tend to build nests in cooler weather in addition to creosote buildup that cause fires.  Open burning: Leaves, twigs and other organic yard waste can be burned on your property.  Fires larger than 3 feet in diameter must be 50 feet from any structure.  25 feet is ok for a small pile no larger than 3 feet in diameter.  Contained fires in a barrel can be burned within 15 feet.  It is illegal to burn on the road and is a traffic hazard.  Additionally this causes pollution in the lake.  Do not burn in the drainage ditch; this practice causes pollution of our lake.    Do not burn on a windy day.  Visit countrysidefire.com has details regarding burning and other issues regarding fire safety. If residents see someone burning in the street, talk to your neighbor.  If this does not work, call the fire department using the non-emergency number found on their website.

  • Bill Grinnell is the Freemont Township Highway supervisor.  Lakeview will be repaved next year.  Dan Griffin asked what they can do to help with the train traffic in the morning.  Can we have speed humps?  Bill said it is difficult to plow and the fire department doesn’t like them.  Mike McNally and Bill will talk.  Other options will be no left hand turns 6am to 9am, but residents will also be ticketed.  Ann asked about “no through traffic” signs.  Bill would have to petition the state for both of those signs.  When 83 is widened, there will be no left turn into our subdivision.

Dan asked about drainage in our sub.  There is a problem in Lakeview Park and on Willow.  There is not much that can be done on Willow as it is built on pylons and is at the low end of the lake.  Dan suggested that we get a committee for road safety and drainage issues. A sheet was passed around for community members to volunteer to be part of this committee.  Dan Griffin, Carol Loring, Frank Cirrincione, Tim Thompson and Ramona Triebold volunteered.

NEW BUSINESS:

  • Woody Illing resigned from board.  Greg moved to allow one additional board member for a one year period to make up for his 2nd year;  Motion to accept,  Steve D’Incognito.    Accept:  Traci West.  All in favor.
  • Ann asked why the picnic was supported by the subdivision rather than fund raising.  There has been a lot of work in subdivision this past year that required volunteers; park clean up, pier project, rain garden.  Volunteers for these projects as well volunteers for fund raising have been dwindling and the majority of the volunteer work has been done by a small group of residents.  The decision to pay for the picnic was voted upon by the board.    Kevin Shifley was applauded for his hard work and organization of this picnic.
  • Harvey asked if we filed liens on properties with delinquent dues.  Greg said that the list was sent to attorney Tom Hannagan in October.  There are approximately $27k in delinquent association dues and assessments.
  • Steve opened the floor for budget questions: 
    • Matt Sample asked if there is something in the bylaws regarding loaning money that can be appropriated between accounts.  Answer: Funds from the general account were used to pay for the community pier.  There will be additional income over the next few years to repay this account.
  • Matt asked about the seawall expense amount from last year’s minutes of $43k.  Why does the sea wall expense show $61,712.46?  Answer:  The original bid for the seawall was $42k.  There were additional costs including extra length for the seawall,  launch ramp upgrade, repair of park benches, new sand in the beach area, the fence, lock, backfill and restoration of construction area.
  • Matt asked who pays for garbage cans at parks; he has noticed residents placing their personal trash in these cans.  Answer:  They are free.  Kevin will check into getting another can at Lakeview Park.
  • Ramona Triebold, asked why maintenance costs have increased by 45%?  There has been additional tree trimming, tree removal, beach maintenance etc.  There was also difficulty in finding reasonably priced maintenance companies that were insured.  We have not yet been billed for all of the summer work.
  • In the 2011 budget, we are looking at dues increasing to $150.  Insurance, lawn care and maintenance, summer fest, electric, legal fees, office supplies, special occasions (holiday events), capital improvements, postal costs have increased.
  • Several residents commented that non dues-paying residents are causing good payers to have to pay more.
  • Phosphorus in fertilizer ban:  Kelly Deem discussed the increasing numbers of municipalities that are banning the use of phosphorus in fertilizers.  Several states have moved towards a ban.  Mundelein does not yet ban the use of phosphorus in fertilizers, however Loch Lomond and Sylvan Lake does ban its use.  Kelly explained that phosphorus is not necessary to make our grass green and is causing the growth of algae in Diamond Lake.  Most hardware stores carry 0 phosphorus and list the communities that ban its use.   Greg proposes a fertilizer ban:  No person, including homeowners, renters, and commercial applicators shall apply any lawn fertilizer within Oak Terrace that is labeled as containing more than 0% phosphorus or other compound containing phosphorus, such as phosphate.  No person, including homeowners, renters, and commercial applicators shall apply any lawn fertilizer within Oak Terrace within 10 feet of the waters of Diamond lake,  on impervious surfaces, or any delineated wetland area or area designated as a natural buffer zone.”   Frank made a motion to accept phosphorus fertilizer ban.  Tim second.  All members present approved.
  • Zoning issues:  A new process regarding ordinance violations was discussed.  It was suggested that residents should call board members or block captains with complaints.  Rather than residents contacting the county for a red tag, board members or block captains would place a “yellow tag” warning on the property advising the owner that friends and neighbors respectfully request that a violation be taken care of before the county red tags the property.   A decision was not made on this issue.  A sheet is passed around to form a committee but nobody signed.
  • Website:  Oakterrace.org  Has not been updated this past year.  This will be discussed at next board meeting.
  • Stickers:  This will be discussed at next meeting.
  • Steve D’Incognito was thanked for 15 years dedicated service as Treasurer.  Board members presented him with a letter of appreciation and a gift certificate for a local restaurant.
  • 2011 Board Members election results:  Ron Aidikonis, Frank Cirrincione, Greg Denny, Ken Kreja, Rich Reick, Kevin Shifley, Greg Zink.  Serving second year term is Dan Griffin, Traci West, Colleen Hodges and Cara Cuny.  9:15 Greg Denny motion to adjourn.  Second by Traci West.  Meeting adjourned.

Residents in attendance at meeting;
Fran Currialioni   [email protected]
Larry Shifley [email protected]
Ryan Shifley
Sharon Kristofferson
Harvey & Betty Gossell
Cindy Murray
Ray & Ann Sipowicz
Ramona Triebold  [email protected]
Matt Sample
Carole Loring
Greg Zink
Tim