April 2009
THE SPRING MEMBERSHIP MEETING WILL BE HELD AT 7:00 PM TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2009 IN THE AUDITORIUM OF PROVENA SAINT JOSEPH HOSPITAL.
AL JENSEN, ASSISTANT VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE HOSPITAL, WILL ADDRESS THE MEMBERS REGARDING THE HOSPITAL’S CURRENT CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS ON THE ADDITIONS.
DR. JOSE TORRES, NEW ELGIN SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT, IN AN APPEARANCE RESCHEDULED FROM OCTOBER, WILL INTRODUCE HIMSELF AND GIVE A PRESENTATION REGARDING HIS PLANS AND GOALS FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT. HE HAS AGREED TO TAKE QUESTIONS FROM THE MEMBERS.
LT. BOB BEDARD, ELGIN FIRE DEPARTMENT, WILL DISCUSS HOME SAFETY ISSUES.
CARL MISSELE, PRESIDENT, WILL UPDATE MEMBERS ON THE ENTRYWAY SIGNS, ELGIN PROUD AND BEAUTIFUL GRANT, ELGIN BIKEWAY PLAN, HAWTHORNE HILL NATURE PARK OAK TREES, STATUS OF HIGHLAND AVENUE WIDENING, THIS SUMMER’S NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, DOG PARK, RAIN BARRELS, ODD/EVEN PARKING, COMMUNITY GARDEN, AND FOURTH OF JULY PARADE.
A SHORT BUSINESS MEETING WILL INCLUDE THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS. THE SLATE: PRESIDENT, C. MISSELE; V-PRESIDENT, E. WHITCOMB; SECRETARY, D. VASZILY; TREASURER, M.L. MARKOVICH; DIRECTORS, K. DAVIS, C. HOLTZ, M. REEVES, L. TJADEN, & B. ZAESKE. NOMINATIONS WILL ALSO BE ACCEPTED FROM THE FLOOR. VOTING IS LIMITED TO PAID MEMBERS.
THE ELGIN COMMUNITY NETWORK’S “ELGIN ALIVE” SERIES FOR APRIL- ELGIN’S SUSTAINABILITY PLAN AND FOR MAY-THE BURNHAM PLAN.
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU ON THE 14thTH.
CARL MISSELE, PRESIDENT; nckpoa.homestead.com; 847-741-0825
NORTH COUNTRY KNOLLS PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION
MINUTES OF MEETING - APRIL 14, 2009
PROVENA SAINT JOSEPH HOSPITAL AUDITORIUM
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER 7:00 PM
PRESIDENT CARL MISSELE CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER WITH A WELCOME TO THE ATTENDING MEMBERSHIP AND TO THE SPEAKERS SCHEDULED TO GIVE PRESENTATIONS.
AL JENSEN, ASST. VP OF PROVENA ST. JOSEPH HOSPITAL, PRESENTED THE ATTENDING MEMBERS WITH THE CURRENT UP-DATE ON THE CONSTRUCTION AND REMODELING PROGRESS OF THE “NEW” PROVENA SAINT JOSEPH HOSPITAL. AS OF NOW, THE ENTIRE CAMPUS IS CONSIDERED TO BE NON-SMOKING.
DR. JOSE TORRES, ELGIN U-46 SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT, PROVIDED THE MEMBERSHIP WITH HANDOUTS OF THE “BIG PICTURE.” AFTER HIS CLARIFICATION OF THE BULLETINS, HE OPENED HIS PORTION OF THE MEETING TO A QUESTION ANSWER SESSION. IT WAS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS PREPARED TO SEND OUT LETTERS TO ANY STUDENTS THAT “DROP OUT” WITH THE INTENTION OF GETTING THEM TO FINISH THEIR HIGHSCHOOL EDUCATION AND PERHAPS CONTINUE TO COLLEGE.
MIKE WARREN, NEW ELGIN CITY COUNCILMAN, TALKED ABOUT HIS OBJECTIVES FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION ---GOOD SERVICES FOR ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS.
LT. BOB BEDARD, ELGIN FIRE DEPARTMENT, IMPRESSED THE MEMBERS WITH THE NECESSITY OF MAKING VITAL HEALTH AND EMERGENCY INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO EMT’S AND FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL WHO RESPOND TO 911 CALLS. THE ELGIN ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS LOCAL 439 HAS MADE AVAILABLE A “FILE FOR LIFE” WHICH LISTS COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS. IT SHOULD BE COMPLETED AND DISPLAYED ON THE REFRIGERATOR VIA THE PROVIDED MAGNET. BOTH ELGIN HOSPITALS HAVE ENDORSED THIS INITIATIVE. ANYONE INTERESTED IN OBTAINING THIS ITEM WAS ASKED TO SIGN UP; DELIVERY TO HOMES WOULD BE MADE WITH IN THE MONTH.
AFTER A SHORT BREAK, THE MEETING WAS RECONVENED. THE PRESIDENT INDICATED THAT MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING WERE DISTRIBUTED AT THE DOOR. THE MOTION WAS MADE TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES AS PUBLISHED, SECONDED AND PASSED.
THE TREASURER’S REPORT FOLLOWED. COPIES WERE AVAILABLE FOR ANY MEMBER TO LOOK OVER IF THEY SO DESIRED. MYRA LEE MARKOVICH INFORMED THE ATTENDING MEMBERS THAT OUR PAID MEMBERSHIP FOR 2008 STOOD AT 124. PRESIDENT MISSELE CALLED FOR A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE TREASURER’S REPORT AS READ. IT WAS MOVED, SECONDED AND PASSED.
THE PRESIDENT’S UPDATES FOLLOWED.
I. NEW STREET SIGNS FOR THE COUNTRY KNOLLS NEIGHBORHOOD, AFTER MUCH PRICING AND CHECKING, HAVE NOW BEEN DEEMED TOO EXPENSIVE FOR THEIR PURPOSE. THE IDEA HAS BEEN SHELVED.
2. NATIONAL NIGHT OUT AGAINST CRIME WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 4TH, 2009 FROM 6:00 TO 9:00 PM. THIS WILL BE AN ALL INCLUSIVE EVENT BUT WE MUST OPERATE ON A RESERVATION ONLY BASIS TO BE CERTAIN TO HAVE ENOUGH FOOD AND ACTIVITIES FOR THE CHILDREN. VOLUNTEERS FOR THE PLANNING COMMITTEE WERE ASKED TO CALL CARL MISSELE.
3. THE TWO OAK TREES THAT NCKPOA PURCHASED AND DONATED TO THE HAWTHORNE HILL NATURE PARK HAVE BEEN DESTROYED, POSSIBLY BY DEER STRIPPING THE BARK DURING THE WINTER. NO PLANS HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED TO REPLACE THE OAKS.
4. NEXT, A HAND VOTE WAS CALLED AS TO WHETHER RESIDENTS WOULD BE IN FAVOR TO ODD/EVEN PARKING THROUGHOUT OUR BOUNDARIES. THE RESULT: OPPOSED.
5. THE HIGHLAND AVENUE WIDENING PROJECT HAS BEEN PUT ON HOLD UNTIL 2013. BEFORE ANY FURTHER PLANNING CAN BE DONE, EIGHT FEET OF LAND MUST BE PURCHASED FROM THE HOMEOWNERS ALONG HIGHLAND.
6. PLANS ARE STILL BEING CONSIDERED FOR A DOG PARK ON SEVERAL ACRES OF THE OLD EAGLE CLUB PROPERTY.
7. THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION REGARDING A NCKPOA GARDEN PROJECT.
8. NCKPOA HAS SUPPORTED THE GAIL BORDEN PUBLIC LIBRARY WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM BY PURCHASING A RAIN BARREL. IT WILL BE PAINTED AND ENTERED IN THE FOX FIRE FEST CONTEST ON AUGUST 2ND.
9. CARL CALLED FOR A HAND VOTE REGARDING PARTICIPATION IN THE JULY 4TH PARADE. THE VOTE WAS POSITIVE. WE WILL PURCHASE A BANNER AND ORGANIZE HANDOUTS FOR THE SPECTATORS.
THE LAST ORDER OF THE MEETING WAS THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS FOR THE NEXT YEAR. THE PRESIDENT READ THE SLATE AND CALLED FOR NOMINATIONS FROM THE FLOOR.
THE SLATE: PRESIDENT, CARL MISSELE; V-PRESIDENT, ED WHITCOMB; SECRETARY, DEE VASZILY; TREASURER, MYRA LEE MARKOVICH; DIRECTORS, KEITH DAVIS, CECIL HOLTZ, MICHAEL REEVES, LYNN TJADEN, AND BILL ZAESKE.
SINCE NO NEW NOMINATIONS WERE FORTHCOMING, THE SLATE WAS CLOSED. THE PRESIDENT CALLED FOR A MOTION FOR A VOICE VOTE. THE SLATE WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
A MOTION TO ADJOURN AT 9:10 PM WAS MADE AND ACCEPTED.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED - DOLORES VASZILY, SECRETARY
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SEWERS AND SUMP PUMPS
Do you know there are two different sewer systems in Elgin?
Do you know that it is a City code violation to have your sump pump discharge into the City's sanitary sewer system?
Do you know where your sump pump discharges?
In the newer parts of Elgin there are two different sewer systems. The sanitary sewer transports wastewater from your home. The storm sewer removes rainwater from streets, sidewalks, and other impervious surfaces that slope toward the street.
Downtown Elgin is torn up because the EPA is requiring communities with combined sewer systems to separate them. There are two very good reasons for separating the systems. In places where the two systems are combined, such as downtown Elgin, storm water, which is relatively clean, has to be treated along with sewage. That is a waste of resources. In the event of a large storm, so much water may come into the treatment facility that it can't be managed and some of it, containing raw sewage, must be released into the Fox River. The newer parts of Elgin, including North Country Knolls, have separate systems. However, one can see that if relatively clean ground water is pumped into the sanitary sewer from a sump pump, it must be treated along with the raw sewage. This places an unnecessary burden on the treatment facility, and it also places a burden on the sanitary sewer lines.
With the recent rains that we had in Elgin, many sump pumps were working overtime. We suspect that many of these sump pumps were discharging ground water into the sanitary sewers, the vast majority of which were probably installed that way without the owners of the home knowing that it was a Code violation. That drove the sewer lines beyond their capacity, which caused the sanitary sewers to back up into the basements of many homes in North Country Knolls. The only solution to this problem is to have ALL sump pump connections to the sanitary sewer system disconnected.
We believe that once you and other neighbors know of the City Code requirements, and the very sound reasons behind those requirements, you will be happy to voluntarily make the small changes to ensure that you are in compliance. This will not only help you and your neighbors in preventing flooding and sewer backups, but it will save tax money in the City not having to use resources to fix the problems caused by improper connections, and in not having to pursue those who are unintentionally out of compliance with the Code.
If you do not know if your sump pump is connected to the sanitary sewer system, you may call NCKPOA president, Carl Missele, at 847-741-0825 to make an appointment for a friendly, private inspection to determine if your sump pump is installed to discharge correctly. Carl and a professional tradesman from the neighborhood will make the inspection. The results of the inspection will also be kept private. No one will be reported to the City for a possible code violation. We simply want to help you become informed about this important issue that affects you and so many of your neighbors, and if you are out of compliance with the Code, to give you the opportunity to bring your home into compliance voluntarily.
