Lake Carroll News, April 2016
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Lake Carroll News A publication of the Lake Carroll Association and its Members The Lake Carroll News is online! www.golakecarroll.com News & Events>Newspaper April 2016
www.golakecarroll.com
What’s Inside
Home destroyed by fire in Section 24. Page 13A
LAKE CARROLL CLEAN-UP Saturday, April 23, 2016 10:00am ~ Hatchery See page 3B for details! BOARD MEETING SCHEDULE: Apr 22, May 20, Jun 24, Jul 22, Aug 26, Sep 23, Oct 21, Nov 18, Annual Mtg & BOD Mtg Dec 4, Dec 16 if needed.
Upcoming Events See page 7A for April and May Calendars of Upcoming Events. Be sure to check the calendars and the detailed ads for future month’s events so you don’t miss an opportunity to participate and enjoy all that Lake Carroll has to offer.
State & LC Mandatory Watercraft Flags See page 2B for details!
1. The State of IL requires a flag be raised from the time a person enters the water to the time they re-enter the watercraft. 2. LC requires a flag be raised when a person being towed has fallen till they are again underway or have reentered the watercraft. You must use BOTH flags on Lake Carroll.
MANDATORY LOT MOWINGS #1 May 14-22 ~ Report by 12pm May 23rd to 815-493-2552 ext 27. Provide your Name, Sec & Lot, and date mowed. If you don’t report it, you will be billed for LCA arranging the mowing. Whoever mows (you or a contractor) calls in the report. #2 Aug 13-21 - Report by 12pm Aug 22nd.
2016 Lake Carroll Member Survey We would like to thank those property owners who took the time to complete and submit the 2016 LC Members Survey. Results have been tabulated and are available on the Lake Carroll website. Look for a link on the Welcome page to logon and access the summary. The 2016 Survey Results will be published in the May 2016 Lake Carroll News. Hard copies are available at the Admin Office, Mon-Sat, 8am-4:30pm.
Vol. 44 No. 4
Why In The World Would We Want To Build A New Lodge? Article I - April 2016 Introduction Our title is a question many of the members ask and have been asking for many years. The purpose of this article, and a series of articles to follow, is to completely inform the membership of the facts and attempt to answer all questions leading up to your vote, later this year, as to whether we as a community should build a new Lodge. Norm Hoffman Board Director During the Board of Directors Meeting of May 30, 2014, the following motion was passed: “Move to approve the establishment of a Recreation Center Ad-Hoc Committee, to study and research planning of a new facility which will serve the future needs of our community. Recommendations to be made to the Board of Directors upon completion.” which will now take place this year, 2016. Jim Ogborn, President of LCA, along with the Board will be working very closely with this committee. The current “Ad-Hoc Recreation Center Committee”, chaired by Tom Stangl (also chair of the Steering Committee), under the direction of Jim Ogborn and the Board of Directors, has been meeting regularly ever since their appointment. There have been changes to the Committee’s name along the way but for all practical purposes, the members know this committee is speaking of our “Lodge”. The volunteers on this committee are studying the facts, to present you a great capital improvement product for the dollar. It is our intention to archive all Articles, new Lodge concept drawings, and other related information into our website, e-mail blasts, and other social media to reach as many members as possible. The committee will also have visual displays in various areas around Lake Carroll complexes, such as, the Lodge, Pool, Clubhouse and Administration Office. One key element of caution to all members is to listen to the facts and not rumors. Remember the purpose of this series of articles is to provide you with all the informational facts so you may have a clear understanding prior to your vote. It will be your responsibility to be informed from the correct sources for information such as; Tom Stangl Chairman of the Lodge Committee or Jim Ogborn President of the Lake Carroll Association. It will be our responsibility, as editors, to complete the series of articles, and answer the question, “Why In The World Would We Want To Build A New Lodge?” Brief History 1970’s On September 9, 1971, Representatives of Russwood Inc., announced to the County Board of Supervisors to develop Carroll County’s first second-home recreational development. The Board was informed that the project would have 700800 acre lake, 18-hole golf course, ski slope, ice skating area, swimming facilities and tennis courts all to be constructed within the site for the exclusive use by the owners. Now there has been modifications since this first announcement; however the concept of a dream community of this nature was thought by many as, “the greatest thing that has happened in Carroll County in over 100 years”. On June 15, 1972, Lake Carroll created the motto “the Great Escape” with the intent to provide families with a second vacation home with numerous recreational activities available year round. At this time, it was announced that a ski complex would open with ski lifts, snow making machinery and a heated outdoor-indoor swimming pool adjacent to a “Ski Lodge.” Again, I would add, it took some years for this dream to be accomplished especially the indoor pool. However; another part of this dream was an old barn to be remodeled for use as a community theater and a historical museum to house artifacts found during construction. This old barn becomes what we call
today our Lodge. In 1972, the Ski Lodge has the official grand opening at what at that time is entitled the Plumtree Ski Complex. Billy Kidd, world ski champion of Steamboat Springs, Colorado is present for the grand opening. The Lodge opens restaurant facilities in 1973, and the “old barn” becomes the center of activity for our young community. Remember, at this time, we did not have a Clubhouse that you are familiar with today. The “Barrel Lounge” becomes an active place especially in 1973 when drinking age is lowered to18 years of age. In this same year, with activity growing, a 6,000 square foot addition is added to the “old Barn” for $135,000 completed in 1974. By 1975, rumors of bankruptcy, and the property owners reorganizing at a meeting held at the Lodge to elect a new Board of Directors to replace the Russwood dominated board takes place. The Lodge becomes the center of attention for all activity when the LCA Office moves to the “Plum Tree Ski Lodge”. The office moved to the North end of the Lodge directly above the restaurant and kitchen. After the restaurant closed, the office was moved downstairs. 1980’s By the 1980’s, the “Ski Hill and Lodge” was a booming place, the Barrel Lounge which at one time was a locker room with a ping pong table, becomes a grill serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. In 1983, the “Ski Hill Lodge” had the Spice Rack Restaurant & Ski and Mining Co. open nightly. The winter of 1983 may long be remembered as booming. In 1986, Patton Corporation sets up temporary sales offices at the Lodge for sales. During this time is the first announcement of a new facility. Patten Corp donated to the Association 112 acres west of the Lodge for the purpose of developing a new modern facility stating that the old facility should be torn down. However, this idea was not accepted by the membership, one reason being the old traditions being established at the Lodge, this was the community gathering place for fun and comradeship. The membership felt sentimental ties to their community center many of these feelings still hold today. In 1988, the Board of Directors created the Capital Development Program to upgrade and improve facilities and amenities. The Lodge was allotted $64,000 for repairs and upgrades, most of which was diverted to other major amenities and items. The Lodge was still showing good numbers. On Sundays, the Lodge would serve 150-200 people and during ski season you could have 300 young people involved. 1990’s In 1992, Lake Carroll joined the Building Officials Congress of America to take advantage of their current building codes and life safety engineering services. At that time we built a ramp for disabled wheel chairs access at the entrance and the General Manger’s office was moved from the 2nd floor to the 1st floor along with other safety moves and alterations. Still in 1992, the Lodge was the center of most activities. As we moved further into the 90’s, budget costs on the Lodge and Ski Hill maintenance becomes a familiar profile. In June of 1994, a maintenance safety report was completed by Saunders and Associates with a costly list of maintenance repairs needed. The June report was the first move of recommendations for recreation and facility improvements needed for a possible ten year program. Further discussions and study would follow, including walk-through to observe if we were compliant with the current building codes. Conclusion summary of that study was: “The existing structure was built under less restrictive or no codes at the time of construction and without further investigation, there is no way to determine if they were ever in compliance or need to be updated at this time with the exception of ADA requirements.” (It is fair to note that Carroll County is very loose when it comes to following codes and inspections.) In May 1995, Lodge renovations were once again a hot topic. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5A