Glenmore Woods - News

2017 AGM Meeting Minutes

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Written by: Joe Sturonas

Glenmore Woods 2017 AGM

Glenmore Woods Home Owners Association meeting was held on March 6, 2017 at 7:00pm . The meeting was at the Mariani offices at 900 North Shore Drive, Lake Bluff, IL 60044. The meeting lasted 60 minutes. The minutes from the meeting follow.

Glenmore Woods Homeowners Association
Annual General Meeting
900 North Shore Drive
Lake Bluff, IL 60044
Monday, March 6, 2017

Agenda

Board Members: Sue Ebert, Bruce Watts, John Lucas, Joe Sturonas
Property Manager: Sarah McMaster
Guests: Paul Hansen Mariani Commercial Manager; Chris Detweiler Mariani Client Representative
Homeowners: James Proesel, Jeff Skinner, Jeff Koenig, Mary Sweitzer, Jerry Herb, Michael Fein, Paul Willis, Roy Ladd, Karen Hagnell,  Ted Kommers 

Welcomed Mariani back for the 2017 growing season. Paul Hansen and Christine Detweiler. They indicated they know a Friday work day is preferred, and they are trying to fulfill that, but schedules are still up in the air. Both Paul and Chris’s contact information will be available on the www.glenmorewoods.org website. 

 

Joe motioned to approve, John and Bruce Second. No one opposed. 2016 AGM Minutes approved. 

 

Joe provided Native Restoration Status. Native restoration completed all the 2016 work, completely clearing areas 2 and 3 of buckthorn. We are proceeding with the stewardship for areas 2 and 3, but there was no available budget for any other areas in 2017, due to the felling of trees in the common area in 2016, which cut into reserves. We also heard back from the Lake County Forest Preserve, and we are not on the preferred list for federal funding for buckthorn removal. There is a chance for some funding, and we would look to work with the Lake County Forest Preserve is that were possible. 

 

Native Restorations completed the felling of all the dead trees in the common area that were a potential safety hazard to people and property. 91% of the trees felled were due to the Emerald Ash Borer. There were a couple of issues regarding the felling of the trees, mainly aesthetics and Lake County Forest Preserve easement. We discussed possible remediation for aesthetics which included:

1. One time special assessment to clean up felled trees in the common area. Based on previous estimates, it would cost approximately $40K or a one time special assessment of $740/homeowner. 

2. One time special assessment to clean up felled trees for common area for homeowners that do not want the free firewood they would cut up themselves. Assuming half of the trees would be claimed by homeowners, that would be a one time special assessment of approximately $20K or $370/homeowner. 

3. Organize neighborhood work weekends where neighbors willing to pitch in clean up the trees in common areas as volunteer work. Depending on the number of volunteers, with at least 3 chainsaws, it would take less then 2 weekends to clear the common areas. 

4. Budget for next year for common area clean ups that are not claimed by homeowners for free firewood at approximately $20K

 

A suggestions was raised on how the boy scouts would be able to earn a conservation badge in helping with the buckthorn cleanup, while the homeowners association would provide a donation to the boy scouts for the work. We will look to organize a volunteer weekend with the help of the boy scouts at the next meeting. 

 

After the trees in the common area were felled, the Lake County Forest Preserve contacted homeowners along Outlot C, the area that borders Glenmore Woods and the trail on the west. We are working with Chicago Title and the Lake County Forest Preserve to determine the actual boarder and who is responsible for the common area along Outlot C. 

 

John Lucas and Bruce Watts up for re-election. Bruce Watts indicated he is looking to step down, and John Lucas would step down once his house is sold. Joe motioned for re-election of John and Bruce, Sue seconded, no one opposed. 

 

There continues to be an open board position open. Anyone interested, please contact a current board member. The investment in time is minimal, 4 meetings a year along with exterior project approvals via email and occasional meetings on issues that might arise. We are just a board of concerned homeowners in increasing the value and quality of life where we live. 

 

Reviewed the budget, and a few questions came up.

1. Why were assessments only increased by $5?

The board members reviewed the budget, and given the current expenses, increasing the budget would provide a balanced budget in 2017. 

2. If assessments were increased more, could we afford to more work in the neighborhood?

Yes, if assessment were higher, we would be able to afford more projects in the neighborhood, but the board is working to maintain a years worth of operating income in reserve, and fund a modest number of projects. John Lucas pointed out that the Glenmore Woods assessments are the lowest amongst our neighboring communities. 

3. Have we considered a special assessment to fund other projects?

We have considered special assessments, and even most recently for the felling of the hazardous trees common areas. We decided to dip into reserves for that and rebuild reserves instead of a special assessment. 

 

Discussed above. 

 

For ponds, we reiterated that last year's experiment with a different contractor did not have much effect. We are going back to McCloud with some changes.  Those include starting in April instead of May, ending in October instead of September, and adding bio-dredging elements to help speed up decomposition.  

 

Mulch for common areas is still being quoted.

 

Discussed laddering some CDs, and Sarah will look into this.

 

Buckthorn grant status is still underway and not yet solidified or ruled out.

 

2017 Proposals include the pruning back the front entry shrubs, mulch, stewardship for the areas already cleared of buckthorn, the new program for the ponds, and potentially some shrub removals and replacements, which are not slated for this year.

 

Nothing new to report. 

 

Will schedule over email.