Happy Halloween!

I didn't know whether to post this or not but I have to admit I smiled. Ken

Rec Center Open House
November 5, 2011
10am – 1pm

Door Prizes
Including two one-month memberships to the fitness center
Light refreshments
Kids duckpond (under 7 years)

Archery Demo – 10am
Karate Demo – 11am

Signup for classes beginning in January

Line-dancing, aerobics, toning, karate
and free class from Northwestern Illinois Area Agency on Aging
for those with chronic health conditions

Gift Certificates available

Trick or Treating today

This is the big day for the kids. Sunday from 2-6 p.m. will be the trick or treat hours. When you run out of candy or if you don't wish to participate simply do not turn on your outside lights. When the lights are on it means you want the trick or treaters to come.

For future reference, do any of you have feelings about whether the hours should be cut to 2-5 rather than running four hours?

Ken Dillenburg

Your Sunday smile

Anyone considering running for the board, resume's are due starting January 1. The video below will show what it feels like if you get on the board and start your term. I speak from experience.

Ken Dillenburg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EXcMGqFeK8&NR=1

A dental discount

This is just for your information, not trying to promote a business.

Poplar Grove Dental is across hiway 76 in the shopping center. They told me Thursday during my wife's visit they are now offering all patients living in Candlewick Lake a 10% discount on all services. This discount applies not only to the dental work but also will be taken off any co-pays if you have dental insurance. If you have an interest give them a call.

Again, this is simply for information, not promoting any individual business. Ken

Why is George smiling?

WHY IS GEORGE SMILING?

He is mailing his ballot supporting the legally necessary changes to Candlewick’s CC&Rs. He also is taking part in determining the future of his community by placing his vote regarding the options outlined on the second ballot.

George knows he is lowering dues expenditures by saving Candlewick the extra cost of future mailings. George also knows ballots can be dropped off at the office, the rec center, or mailed.

GEORGE IS A SMART MAN!

I dropped off my ballot

Before 9 a.m. this morning my ballot for the CC&Rs was dropped off at the office. Have you dropped yours off or sent it in yet?

Ken

I’m betting you follow through!

The ballots are in the mail for the revised CC&Rs. You should have them very soon if they have not already arrived. Some are guessing there will only be about 500 returned from the first mailing. Prove them wrong. I would love to see the CC&Rs pass on the first mailing but the bar is high, 50% plus one of the property owners have to vote yes in order to pass these. My estimate is at least 800 returns on the first try because this is not controversial. The first ballot simply cleans up the language, corrects mistakes, and makes the CC&Rs comply with state law. The second ballot is to choose options for further changes that are not necessary but would in my opinion be good for Candlewick. It is up to you to choose the options you like on the second ballot. The completed ballots can be mailed or dropped off at the office.

I believe you all also understand your association will have to pay for more mailings until the first ballot passes. The first mailing will cost in excess of $4,000.00. Please don’t let your dues be spent on unnecessary extra costs.

Please be sure to verify your name and fill in the bottom portion of your ballots as well as signing both ballots. The second ballot has provisions on both the front and back.

The November Candlewick paper will have all the details so everyone should be fully informed. We’re counting on you.

Ken Dillenburg

How to lower a deficit (the government way)

Media reports indicate Rockford was in the position of having a five million dollar deficit in their next fiscal year. How do they decide to handle the problem? The same way the state does it.

Due to a new law Rockford is able to underfund their pension payments. Until now they were funding the pension liabilities at 100% each year. Now they will fund them at 75%, meaning they are not covering their future liability. The deficit will now show as only two million instead of five. Someday the bill will come due. Our state has been underfunding for years, kicking the can down the road so to speak. Now the cities are going to start doing the same.

The day of reckoning is on the way but it will be after the current aldermen are all out of office. Sad. Pass the problem on to the kids.

Ken Dillenburg

Don’t get excited!

I just received my Boone County change of assessment notice. The assessed valuation of my property dropped by 10.52%. Since I have no plans to sell my home this should be good news when the next tax bill arrives, right? Nope, not so fast.

As was pointed out clearly in an article by Ted Biondo that I posted here a few months ago, the structure is set in such a way the taxing bodies are allowed to raise the levies to offset the decline in property values. Our homes are worth less but they still get at least the same revenue as last year, possibly more. The system is rigged.

Is this fair? You decide when your tax bills arrive next spring. The taxing bodies say they are hurting and strapped for cash. They need to see what it is like for those who have lost their jobs or are living on social security. That, folks, would be a reality check.

Ken Dillenburg

Video rental machine

As of Monday morning the machine's glitch was taken care of and it is online so it should be set to go. It is just inside the door at the rec center and to your left. Ken

Weekly Public Safety report

WEEKLY REPORT

Week Ending 10/23/2011

　

Arrests / Apprehensions

The Public Safety Department responded to the 1600 block of Candlewick Dr. for a report of theft. Upon arrival, officers met with the victim who provided a vehicle description of the offender. Public Safety officers located the vehicle in the 100 block of Brandywine. Public Safety Officers obtained the stolen property and escorted the offender back to meet with the victim who did not want to pursue the matter with the Sheriff’s Office once the property was returned.

Open Door / Residence Check

Public Safety Officers observed a door open to a residence in the 400 block of Staffordshire. Public Safety Officers called the Boone County Sheriff’s Office and the residence was subsequently secured.

Vandalism / Criminal Damage

Public Safety Officers responded to three calls for criminal damage to property. In the 1400 block of Candlewick Dr. and the 100 block of Seminole, three houses were spray painted by an unknown offender during the evening of Tuesday 10/18/2011. * This incident was not a issue of "graffiti" but an unknown person walking by the residences while spraying paint on the residence.

Suspicious Circumstances

Public Safety Officers responded to the Savanah Oaks clubhouse for a report of suspicious subjects. The subjects entered the clubhouse several times but were not purchasing anything. They were subsequently identified and asked to leave. They complied without incident.

Public Safety gate officers refused entry to a subject after determining they had not been called in as a guest. The subject proceeded to attempt to walk into the property and were stopped by Public Safety patrol officers. A short time later the subject was properly called in and then allowed access.

Public Safety Officers responded to the 100 block of New Brunswick for a report of suspicious circumstances. Officers met with the property owner who stated a motion light illuminated in the backyard and a screen door was partially ajar. The screen door was about five feet from the ground with no deck or porch. A report was generated and an extra patrol conducted.

　

Warnings issued 15

Citations issued 18

We thank you for taking the time to read these important updates.

Being informed is half the battle.

The free lot…why I voted no

During the last board of directors meeting we discussed the lot a property owner wished to give to the association. Sounds like a no-lose deal, right? In a split vote the board declined the offer. Here is why I voted not to accept the lot.

When I was running for the board we had I believe 12 lots we were carrying on our association books. One of my goals was to rid us of those lots. We are now down to 9 and that is still too many. Why?

Every lot we own is one less yearly dues payment we (you) are receiving to cover the costs of operations and reserves. We not only do not get the dues receipts but we have the additional costs of real estate taxes, utilities access fees, and lot mowing. Adding the lost dues revenue and the other costs it will easily top $2,000.00 per year expense to us per lot, or $24,000 per year on 12 lots. That is a waste.

Sometimes a free offer isn’t really free when it is netted down. Should we have accepted the lot and held it for a couple years we might not even have been able to recoup our expenses. There are quite a few lots for sale right now due to the economy. Many folks simply do not want the added expense when out of work and if they purchased in the hope of a future profit when sold, that seems some time away. Yes, if we refuse an offered lot the owners may not pay their dues. We will pursue the amount owed but if we took the lot we absolutely would not get the dues and there would not be recourse.

I wish the economy was such that we could accept lots and simply sell them, taking the burden from the lot owner. I believe we must always have as an utmost priority the good of our property owners as a whole. Accepting the lot would violate that trust.

Ken Dillenburg

Your Sunday smile

An elderly man is stopped by the police

around 1:00 a.m. and is asked where he was going at that time of night.

The man replied, "I am going to a lecture about alcohol abuse
and the effects it has on the human body."

The officer then asked, "Really? Who is giving that lecture at this time of night?

"That would be my wife", the man replied.



Posted by Ken

Flames costume dinner.. from Barb Appelhans

Above...Judy Rio as Cleopatra
James & Mary Harris as Beauty and the beast
Pat Wilson...great spirit of Halloween
Special birthdays...John and Gloria Bednar
Entertainment by the "loose Change"
Lots of good food!

Fish stocking

Lake Management contacted Gallon Bate & Fish Farm located in Dodgeville WI. for our Fall fish stocking which took place on October 21st. Because the fish were smaller than expected do to the extreme heat this summer the fish farm gave us at no extra charge more fish than ordered. We were able to stock our lake with 150 Muskies approximately 9 to 12" in length and 5,000 Perch approximately 3" in length. The fish tankard was equipped with pipes on the side allowing the fish to drain directly into the lake making for an easer transition and higher success rate for the fish to survive. Part of the fish stocking cost was paid for by money collected from the pop and beer cans turned in at every boat launch so PLEASE save your cans. I tell people "Every can is a fish for our lake" not the exact truth but it gets the point across.

Barb Appelhans.

What a beautiful place to live!

Thanks to Barb Appelhans for this serene picture of the area we love.

Morning walkers...good exercise

The picture above is of the morning walkers getting their workouts. It really is a lot of fun with some good people showing up to keep each other motivated. It starts at 9:15 a.m. Monday through Friday. Bring gym shoes and be ready for a little sweat. We are always looking for new victims...er... I mean participants. Seriously, give it a try.

Ken Dillenburg

Movie rentals update

Spoke too soon. As is often the case with new equipment there are a couple bugs to work out. As soon as I find out the rental machine is in full operation I will let you know. Ken

Now you can rent 'em at the rec center

The movie rental machine should be up and running today (Thursday) at the rec center. Rent or buy games, movies, and more. The price is right and the machine is convenient. Give it a try!

posted by Ken Dillenburg

picture by Barb Appelhans

Sent by a poet / writer...FALL

Fall is the kindest season, the softest of the four.

Mist. Cool. Subtle. Silent.

The heat of summer passes with neither whimper nor applause.

Summer is the over-perfumed woman over-costumed over and over accessorized
wearing sunscreen to protect her from the rays she chases when she leaves Fall

leaves for Boca Vero, The Islands, The Desert for never-ending Summer.

Fall? Fall is simplicity. Fall is unadorned. Fall is subtle. Fall is clean.

Kate loves the interim between heat from sun and heat from heater; those moments

when hot-water showers are most welcomed, when.. when reading in evening the

heat from a lightbulb touches skin with welcomed warmth of the hand of a lover.

Fall? Fall is when we clean the closet of summer and fold away the spiderwebs.

Posted (not written) by Ken

Unofficial Minutes for the Board Meeting on October 18, 2011

Roland Wood, our new Chief, introduced himself to the audience and wanted to thank 2 of his officers: Tyler Ashley received a letter of commendation for his excellent handling of damage done at Savannah Oaks. Tyler with the help of the Sheriff’s department apprehended the offenders and they were brought to justice.

Kevin Attin received a letter of commendation for apprehending with the Sheriff’s help 2 males that were caught with stolen goods and brought to justice. I think we are very lucky to have these 2 gentlemen on the force and protecting us. We would like to thank the Safety Patrol for being there day and night protecting us and the community.

It was brought up about bicycles riding at night without lights or reflectors and their safety. Several people remarked that they have almost hit people riding without lights or reflectors. We did find that in the Rules of the Road for bikes, it is a law to have lights and/or reflectors at night or early morning.

General Manager’s Report: T6 needed to use our towers, so in return we now have wireless at the Rec Center and Savannah Oaks. We may also be able to run the gates with the wireless. This is a very nice improvement at no cost.

A light was installed in the parking lot at Savannah Oaks.

According to the Virginia Graham Baker Act changes needed to be made to all pool drains. Clearview in 2009 was hired to bring the drains to compliance and the state approved the installation but this year inspectors said we were not in compliance along with almost all the other pools in the area. We are checking into a cover that will meet their standards and fit the drain, if not, it will be costly to change the drain. We are working with Clearview on this to be in compliance.

The dredging will be complete at Savannah Oaks by next week barring no equipment beak down.

Lake Management: S&R was here for lake shocking and we were told that we have a high number of bass. On November 12 & 19 from 9-12 will be leaf collection at the Maintance area. There also has been a discussion of holding another Water Safety Class. More information will be in the Candlewick paper.

Road Construction: TSC will check compaction level as well as coring tests. We will be sending specs out to get bids. Everything is moving along well and it will be completed soon.

Recreation: Some classes are set up for January. They are holding an Open House on November 5^TH from 10-1. They will have demos in Archery, Karate, also a free 6 week Heath class on aging, gift certificates will be given and door prizes. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Legal: The revised CC&R’S will be mailed out on October 24^TH. The changes will be marked in bold so it will easy to see the changes. We have to be in compliance with the state so this is a must. The second ballot in the same mailing will have 6 new amendments that will make everything run smoother. We will have to have a 50%+1 vote so it is very IMPORTANT to mail your votes in. This mailing is very expensive, so get those votes in. We will have to keep mailing until we get a 50%+1 so save our money and take a couple of minutes and return the ballots.

Aqua: Our request for public forum has been denied but we can request a public hearing. Aqua has been changing meters without notice from 5/8 to ¾ which comes at a higher cost to you. They are working on this.

A resident brought up the noise from the trucks at the Marathon station. He stated that it is very loud when they start their engines during the night if you live by highway 76. We will try to work with Poplar Grove and the Marathon station to see if we can come up with a solution.

Restaurant Update: Dockside Grill should open next week.

Treasurer: Kurt Newport said he would come in and do a presentation on “Understanding Your Tax Bill” which could be very informative.

Submitted by Pride secretary Ellen Steiskal

Social Security checks to increase 2012?

This is an excerpt from a post on one of my message boards....hopefully true. There were no increases the last two years. Ken

So far this year, prices have been higher than that, Vlasenko said. Based on consumer prices in July and August, the COLA for 2012 would be about 3.5 percent. Vlasenko estimates the COLA will be from 3.5 percent to 3.7 percent.

Advocates for seniors say it's about time.

"If you've been at the grocery store lately and remember what you used to pay for things, see what you're paying for things today," Phillips said. "The cost-of-living adjustment makes sure that the Social Security benefit that you qualify for when you retire or you become disabled continues to stay current with prices so that the buying power of your benefit does not decline over time."

Board meeting tonight!

Tuesday evening at 6:30 will be the normal monthly board of directors meeting. The meeting, held at the rec center, will have open forum for property owners questions and comments during the first half hour. Hopefully you can make it, but if not we will bring you the highlights of the meeting tomorrow. I don't expect a very combative meeting.

Ken Dillenburg

Weekly Public Safety report

Candlewick Lake Public Safety

WEEKLY REPORT

Week Ending 10/16/2011

Open Door / Residence Check

We had several vacant house checks performed by Public Safety. One resulted in Public Safety contacting the Boone County Sheriff’s Office due to the fact interior lights were found on inside a residence in the 600 block of Candlewick Dr. The residence was found unsecure and was secured by Public Safety as well as the Sheriff’s Department. Public Safety will continue efforts to check empty residences for the possibility of intruders. Residents are encouraged to report anything out of the ordinary regarding vacant houses.

Vandalism / Criminal Damage

Public Safety responded to a report of criminal damage located at Highland Valley Green Park. Suspects were identified by Public Safety and the matter was turned over to the Sheriff’s Department for further investigation.

Public Safety officers responded to a damaged stop sign at Candlewick Blvd. and Rt. 76. It was determined that the sign belonged to the State of Illinois and a repair request was initiated. The sign was promptly repaired and the matter remains under investigation.

Domestic Disputes

Public Safety officers responded to the 400 block of Talladega Dr. for two reports of domestic disputes. Public Safety officers advised the subjects involved to call the Boone County Sheriff’s Office should the matter become violent or physical.

Juvenile Related Issues

Public safety responded to the 400 block of Talladega for a report of a subject shot with a pellet gun. The respective parents of all involved were notified and appropriate action was taken by parents.

Rescue Calls

Public Safety responded to two structure fires. One in the 200 block of Briarcliff in which a fire was located in the garage of the residence. Public Safety arrived and assisted with traffic control at two locations. The other was located in the 300 block of Rochester in which the homeowner extinguished the fire prior to emergency crews arriving.

Public Safety officers responded to the 100 block of Valhalla for a medical assist. Public Safety assisted the victim until emergency personnel transported the victim to the hospital.

Public Safety officers responded to a medical assist in the 100 block of Stanford. Public Safety assisted the victim until emergency personnel transported the victim to the hospital.

Animal Complaints

Public Safety officers responded to the 100 block of Chanticleer for an on-going pet related issue. Public Safety officers cited the owner of the animal and referred other issues to ECC for an unauthorized kennel. Public Safety will continue to focus on owners violating the pet maintenance policy.

Suspicious Circumstances

Public Safety responded to a call of shots fired in the area of Pembroke, Appalachia and Marquette. Although it is unknown if the noise were gunshots it was observed that in the area fireworks were being ignited. Public Safety met with the subjects using fireworks and appropriate citations were issued.

Citations / Warnings

19 Warning Violations

26 Citations Issued

Public Safety has had an increase of stop sign violations at both gates. Public Safety officers will continue to monitor and cite individuals failing to appropriately stop at posted stop signs and speeding.