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 October 2016
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WHAT’S INSIDE
Vol. 44 No. 10
Why In The World Would We Want To Build A New Lodge? Article VII - October 2016 By Norm Hoffman, LCA Board of Directors
See the 2016 LC Golf Champions Page 8B
Special Event at the Clubhouse - Oct 15! Page 13A OFFICE CLOSURES: Nov 24, 25, & 26: Thanksgiving BOARD MEETING SCHEDULE: Oct 21, Nov 18, Annual Mtg & BOD Mtg Dec 4, Dec 16 if needed. YOUR ACCOUNT MUST BE CURRENT to be eligible to vote in the upcoming Candidate Elections, 2017 Budget, ByLaw Amendments, and New Lodge Project. ATTENTION: All docks, piers, and swim platforms must be removed from the lake before November 1st. No overnight mooring allowed after Oct 31st. Please secure your items
on your shorelines.
2016 BOARD CANDIDATES
Norman W. Hoffman
Kevin J. Oscarson
David A. Pacione
Susan Massey
Read the candidates’ Questions and Answers giving you some insight as to who they are, on page 8A and 9A in this publication or online. Also, there is a Meet the Candidates Forum scheduled for October 29th at 10am in the Conference Center. This allows you to meet the candidates in person and to ask them questions. You must be a member in good standing to be eligible to vote. This includes dues, fees, citations, marina charges, etc. The Annual Meeting packet will be mailed early November and will include the candidate voting materials and instructions . Meet the Candidates for 2017-2019 Saturday, October 29, 2016 @ 10am at the Conference Center
Introduction Currently, as of this writing, our series of articles have come to an end. This past month I have received more questions concerning the Lodge and other issues than any of the past months. I’m not sure if these questions are focused on the Lodge or if it is because we are getting closer to decisionmaking time for the vote. Most of the questions are not hitting upon a topic that has not already been covered, but more focused on clarifications of information that has been discussed. So, unless we are approached with something we have not covered, this will be the last article of this series. We only hope that all of the overwhelming amount of information including this series, architectural display, informational power point sessions, and answering Letters to the Editor have given you the information for you to make and informed vote at the annual meeting or your proxy vote if you are not in attendance. Latest Questions of Clarification Asked I hope the members who asked these questions will recognize their question. All of these members were given the answer when asked; however, we have found on this informational journey that many other members have the same question, thus we will again attempt to clarify. Why is the Lodge so big? Why couldn’t it be smaller? This is a very good question and is often asked over and over. As pointed out in past articles, the discussion of a new Lodge goes back as far as 1986. Plans for Capital Improvement Projects have been in discussion on the Long Range Planning Committee (now the Steering Committee) for many years. The priority order for consideration was: the Clubhouse, the Swimming Pool, the Lodge, the Administration Building, and recently discussed a Security Garage. These Capital Improvement Projects have had committees involved to discuss planning stages and eventually a plan for the members to consider. The proposals put forth to the membership have always been decided by a democratic process. In the last two cases, the Clubhouse and the Swimming Pool, both had strong opposition; however after passage by the membership we began having complaints that they were designed too small. The Lodge project also has a committee that is proposing a size very close to the current square footage size of our current facility. The amount of usage space is bigger because there is not as much wasted space as found in our current facility. The one thing we perceive will grow is the initiative of program growth by our Recreational Director. The committee, based on past experience, felt offering the same square footage on a more efficiently designed floor plan will meet the usage needs of our community now and in the future. Why the decision to connect the buildings… wouldn’t it be cheaper as a separate building? This question arose during the 2007 committee, as well as the current committee. The cost difference really is a long-range cost difference and what is underground more than what is above ground. Let me explain further: the first consideration is whether or not if the old foundation could be used, whether or not the current septic system can be used, and what is underground between the old Lodge and the current swimming pool facility that may be disturbed during construction. All these factors were considered and the cost difference was insignificant compared to one of the main goals of having a central check-in entrance. The old foundation even as a separate new building would not be feasible according to architects in 2007 and the current architects and contractors. When you approach the facility currently, many people are not even sure where to enter the building and the check-in process at the swimming pool is not an adequate procedure. The long run cost of two buildings will cost the members more
on the operations budget because staffing would be increased with two separate buildings. One building connecting the both facilities with a central entry with a common check-in will save in the long-range operations costs. What do we do with the Old Lodge if the New Lodge proposal fails? We have been asked this question several times and more so since we are getting closer to voting. The truth of the matter, currently, there is no plans for this scenario. Contrary to the “No Group” assertion that we have not canvassed the membership on the future of the current Lodge, the decision to move forward on a new facility was made at least 15 years ago. This subject was reinforced by the membership and the Board while approving the budget which continued to cut money for the Old Lodge because everyone had the understanding that it would be replaced in the future. Some of the leaders of the “No Group” were Board members that joined in cutting the budget philosophy to the Lodge because it was going to be replaced. What will happen if there is a “No” vote, is only a guess at this stage. If the decision is to let the Old Lodge stand, there is no doubt more money will have to be put toward the maintenance of the building. Last Word The informational campaign to the membership began last April and carried through the summer months up to this fall. We, the Board and Lodge Committee, have diligently made every effort to inform the membership of this project. We have tried to make sure you have been informed of the facts and have tried to correct the rumor and gossip of unsubstantiated information distributed by the “No Group”. We respect, however, the opinions of the “No Group” with the understanding that opinions are not necessarily facts. It is interesting to note that the “No Group” is not a phenomenon. The capital improvement of the Clubhouse and the Swimming Pool also had “No Groups” who attempted encouragement from the membership that we did not need a Clubhouse or Swimming Pool at the time and why do we not wait? We appreciate the “No Group” to challenge the intentions of the Long Range Plan to make sure that we have covered all the bases and we have to say their challenges were good for the Board and the Committee to double check our work of preparedness. There should not be hard feelings on either side of this issue. The issue was presented and the opposition has spoken and finally the members may vote their opinion. The Capital Improvement Project entitled this time “Plumtree Lodge and Recreational Center” is another piece to the Long Range Plan to enhance the poor rundown facilities that the developers left us. This project is not about the “Lodge,” it is about the future long-range planning of our community. It is about enhancement, enrichment, the thriving, and growth of a community that is approaching 50 years of age. The Capital Improvement program is the one piece of this complicated budget that brings growth and new life to our community. We all should come together and look forward to what we can do to continue improving our community. What’s Next? There will not be an article in the November paper unless there is a serious issue that has not been previously covered. The authors of this series of articles apologize if we have offended any of the membership in the information distributed over the past months. Our charge given to us by the Board of Directors to inform the membership of the informational facts, we believe has been met. Feel free to call and ask questions, as many already have, at my home phone 815-493-6226. If you would like to read past articles of this series, you can find the articles in the April through October Newspaper or on the Proposed New Plumtree Lodge & Recreation Center amenity page on the Lake Carroll website.
Find Letters to the Editor on 14A and the New Lodge Committee response on page 15A. NEW LODGE PRESENTATION #5 Another Lodge Presentationn has been scheduled for Sat, October 29, 1pm at the Lodge.