Fox Point Update: February 2020 Edition
- On February 4, 2020
President’s Letter
By Mike Moran | Email
Thank you to everyone that voted in our recent Fox Point Homeowners Board election in mid-January as well as Cindy Cramer & Jan Kitz for serving as our election judges. Your help was very much appreciated.
I want to take the opportunity to thank Stephanie Paine, Steve Shanfeld, Christine Mickey, & Horace Seely-Brown for all their help over the past few years!! Each of these neighbors did an exceptional job in their respective rolls on the board. If you happen to run into one of them around Barrington, please thank them for their efforts. I also wanted to take the opportunity to thank Tiffany Seely Brown for all her work in and around the pool last year and especially her help in leading the pool house renovation project. Behind the scenes there are always several people that quietly do a lot of work for our community and she was definitely one of them!
We have four new folks that have graciously joined the ranks of the Fox Point Homeowners Board for 2020. I want to welcome Rena Slovick, Criss Chang, Tim Gall, and Mark Johnson to the team. It looks like we are going to have another great team leading our neighborhood for 2020. Below is an updated list of members and roles:
- Mike Moran | President
- Lynn Douglas | Treasurer
- Jay Roberts | Common Grounds
- David Jobes | Lake
- Geoff Ommen | Architectural
- Margaret Graff | Civic Affairs
- Jeff Barnum | Safety & Welfare
- Rena Slovick | Social
- Mark Johnson | Tennis
- Tim Gall | Secretary
- Criss Chang | Pool
Fox Points continues to thrive based on volunteers & each person’s willingness to get involved. Please think of getting involved in some small way this year to help make Fox Point an even better place to live & raise a family. Whether you have a great idea for a new event, have in an interest in the Lake, or want to be part of the planning for some new social event, please think of getting involved in the community.
We are less than 90 days away from opening the pool and the renovations of the pool house are well under way. The crews tell us they are actually ahead of schedule which is always great news when you are managing a large project.
Come visit us at the next Fox Point Homeowners meeting in February – which will include special guests from the D220 Board of Education to discuss the upcoming referendum.
Treasurer’s Report
By Lynn Douglas | Email
Your Board of Directors adopted the 2020 Budget, as proposed and published in December 2019. This includes an increase of $25 to the Annual Assessment to $1,050. The increase is in line with inflation and anticipated reduction of investment income.
Our CPA, Picker & Associates, will mail invoices to all owners of record before February, month end. The Assessment is for the 2020 calendar year and will be due no later than March 31, 2020. If your mailing address has changed or if you do not receive an invoice by February month-end, please contact Linda Smith at Picker & Associates at 847-541-4000 for a duplicate copy of your invoice.
2019 Financial Statement
Fox Point continues to maintain a solid financial condition with continuously improving infrastructure and insurance coverage.
Over the past 5 years, we have:
- Completely replaced the 50-year-old main and wading pools, decking, fencing, patio furniture and most mechanical equipment, and
- Completely replaced the 50- year old tennis courts and fencing, and
- Embarked on a multi-year rejuvenation of all common grounds landscaping, and
- Phase 1 of the interior renovation of the 55-year-old pool house
And we have done so without imposing a Special Assessment.
We closed 2019 with $35,000 in our Operating Account, adequate to cover operating expenses during the first quarter of 2020, before the 2020 Annual Assessment becomes due. We had a Balance of $943,000 in Capital Reserves.
Our 2019 Operating Expenses were under budget by $600 and we invested $144,000 less than expected into Capital Projects.
As expected, we invested $100,000 into Phase 1 of the interior renovation of the 55-year-old pool house. This will, upon completion, this year, bring everything up to current code, include replacement of all below grade waste lines, a complete rework of the interior floor plan, flooring, fixtures and the creation of a family bathroom.
The 2019 Financial Statement can be found here
2020 Intentions
We anticipate an incremental $220,000 contribution to Capital Reserves in 2020. Major capital investments include:
- $350,000- Phase 2 Pool House Interior Renovation
- $60,000- Masonry Wall Restoration
- $50,000- Pool House Exterior Maintenance
- $17,500- Flint Creek Restoration Study with matching grant
- $15,000- Continued Landscaping Rejuvenation
Annual Dues: $1,050.00
The Annual Assessment for the 2020 Calendar Year is payable no later than March 31, 2020. There are two ways to satisfy the annual obligation, check or online.
Paying Your Assessment by Check
Mail your check to:
Fox Point Homeowners Association
c/o Picker & Associates
750 Lake Cook Road, Suite 375
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089
Paying Your Assessment Online
Occasionally a homeowner desires to pay their dues online. To accommodate credit cards our accountant has enabled Fox Point to use their third-party facility. This facility accepts MasterCard or Discover credit card. Third party vendor charges apply:
2.95% of payment value, plus
$9.95 service fee only when card information is phoned into the Third-Party Vendor.
Establish an account.
- Select a Property. Note the third-party vendor obviously has many Fox Point Accounts throughout the country. Choose the one with the Buffalo Grove Address (Address of Fox Point’s accountant).
- Enter your address. Enter your name. Note the third-party vendor carries only one name per household. If yours is a dual name household, it may be necessary to try both names.
- Enter credit card information.
Social
By Rena Slovick | Email
New Year, New Social Chair
Thank you, neighbors, for electing me to the Fox Point Board. I want to give a huge Thank You to Stephanie Paine for her amazing dedication these past three years providing us all with activities and fun! I look forward to carrying on the tradition of our many Fox Point Social Events such as our Spring Card Party, Summer Activities, and Fall Golf Outing. Stay tuned for further updates!
2020 Card Party – Save the Date: Friday, April 24
Plans are underway for the annual Fox Point Card Party! Melissa Mickey and Christie Hewlett are finalizing the details for the event. It will take place at Makray Memorial Golf Club from 6 pm to 11 pm. Sign-ups will take place on Saturday, March 14th at 9:00am. This event does sell out so mark your calendars!
Please note that there will be no refunds for cancellations that occur after 4/9 as we need to finalize the headcount with the venue on 4/10. Cancellations received after 4/9 will either need to arrange for replacements or forfeit the full cost paid at sign-up.
Event Details:
The game is “capture the flag” (similar to Euchre).
Date: Friday, 4/24
Time: 6:00pm – 11:00pm
Location: Makray Memorial Golf Club
Schedule for the evening:
- 6:00 – 7:00 Cocktail hour
- 7:00 – 8:00 Dinner
- 8:00 – 11:00 Card Game
Your entry fee will cover dinner, dessert, and prizes. There will be a cash bar (credit cards will be accepted). Payments will be collected via Sign-Up Genius at the time of registration. You can pre-select your foursome or ask us to assign you to a team.
Secretary
By Tim Gall | Email
Hello neighbors, I’m excited to join the board and wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself to you.
My wife Melissa and I moved to Barrington and Fox Point in the summer of 2018 along with our dog Louie.. We welcomed our daughter Madeleine shortly thereafter and we are expecting our son in early 2020.
Prior to joining the board, I was disguised as the Easter Bunny at the 2019 Fox Point Easter Egg Hunt and made the rounds as the Fox Point Santa Claus in December.
In my professional life, I work as a Chief Bridge Engineer for A. Epstein and Sons, a multi-disciplinary architecture and engineering company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. I attended the University of Illinois where I received B.S. and M.S. degrees.
I look forward to serving on the FPHA board.
Civic Affairs
By Margaret Graff | Email
There is a tax referendum on the ballot for District 220 On March 17th.
Thus, we will be hosting an information session to educate Fox Point neighbors on Monday, February 17th, from 7-7:30 pm (immediately preceding our Monthly FPHA meeting) at the Village Church.
Please come to learn more about what is included in the referendum from Board of Education Members Penny Kazimer/Chair and Sandra Bradford (FP Resident).
Common Grounds
By Jay Roberts | Email
Hi Everyone!
It seems a little crazy, but Spring will hopefully be here before you know it! Fingers crossed.
In order to prepare for Spring, I will be completing several checklist items over the next couple of weeks. Most of this is just getting our vendors in place for our usual services. This includes…landscaping contracts, mosquito spraying, and implementing a plan to look at any shrubs or small trees that might need to be replaced. For example, there are a couple of crab apple trees that we will look at to see if they come back or not this year. They are over by the pool and did not look great this past Fall.
As most of you know, the monument walls will need to be addressed one way or another this year. I’m researching our options now for the best solution and will be in constant communication with the board as we conclude. In the meantime, I will update you monthly on any worthy findings in order to keep everyone updated.
If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know
Lake
By David Jobes | Email
The Lake Committee is pleased to announce that Fox Point has been awarded a grant.
The Lake County Stormwater Management Commission (SMC) recently awarded Fox Point a $17,000 grant for the “Creek Maintenance on East Branch of Flint Creek” project. The grant will be used to update and maintain the creek that runs between Lake Cook Road and Lake Louise.
A big thank you to the Lake Committee –especially Jeff Dahnke and Henri Kokke for finding the grant opportunity and moving the initiative forward. The monies will be used this spring and summer for the project.
This team continues to do a great job stewarding our lake!
Pool
By Criss Chang | Email
Hi Neighbors. I recently joined the Board and I will be your next Pool Chair. 2020 is an exciting year as we anticipate completion of the new pool house and thoughts of warm, sunny days ahead. I value the safe and fun experiences that this amenity brings to the residents of Fox Point and I’m excited to help steward another enjoyable summer at our pool. Quickly about me…
My family moved into Fox Point one year ago from just down the road in the Village. Me, my wife Valerie and our two boys, Lincoln (age 4) and Everett (age 2) were drawn to this neighborhood by its reputation for having a strong sense of community. We have been welcomed in by so many new friends here ever since.
I’m taking advantage of these quiet winter months to get up to speed quickly on all of the details around coordination and planning for the upcoming pool season. I have much to learn and many people to meet who will contribute to the 2020 pool season. I will provide more information on the Swim Team, Water Polo Team and swim lessons in the coming months. Most importantly, the pool house renovation is on schedule to be completed April 1.
Pool safety and pool facility maintenance are top priorities. I look forward to this opportunity and please reach out to me with any questions or comments that you have.
Tennis
By Mark Johnson | Email
Hi all,
I wanted to start out my term with a quick introduction for myself and a little info about my family. My wife Jodi and daughter Sofia (9) moved into Fox Point during the summer of 2012. My wife is a nurse working at Illinois Masonic Hospital in Chicago and she also started substitute nursing in district 220 about 3 years ago. Sofia is a 4th grader and attends Grove Avenue Elementary as a member of the Dual Language program (Spanish). I’m a Director of IT for a large REIT called Equity Residential.
Prior to moving to Fox Point, we lived in Wrigleyville – not unlike many other residents I’m sure. We stumbled upon the neighborhood never having heard of Fox Point before, but we’re sure lucky we did. Fox Pont offers great opportunities – in meeting people and with amenities – the tennis courts being a great example.
I’m excited to be a new member of the board, starting my 3 year term this month. I’m also pleased to be taking on the Chair role for tennis and there’s a number of reasons…
First in foremost, Christine did an incredible job leading the Fox Point tennis program, particularly spearheading the construction of the new tennis courts – which were in dire need. Having tennis courts with an even surface is critical to having a good time and as importantly, removing my wife’s excuse for missed hits (it bounced funny Mark, I swear!)
Secondly, I also have some personal history with the sport. I started playing tennis my freshman year of high school that concluded with twice qualifying for the State tournament. Ironically, Chris Cabanban of First Serve Tennis Mgmt was an occasional instructor of mine during those years, so I guess all things come full circle. After high school, I played 4 years of collegiate tennis at North Park University, finishing the final 3 years as our captain.
Unfortunately, a broken wrist that didn’t heal properly has taken some of that fun of playing away, but I still try to get out on occasion to hit a few balls around although it’s been a while.
Following up from Christine’s leadership makes me feel like I’m a new comedian taking the stage after Eddie Murphy’s standing ovation set, or something like that affect, so I’m glad she’ll still be available to give me advice.
In terms of moving into the role of chair, I suspect I’ll ask lots of questions from the community to see what the expectations are from those the frequently use the courts; and from those that don’t, but maybe would?
I’m excited for the upcoming year and welcome advice – so please don’t wait for me to tap your shoulder – feel free to email me with your ideas and occassional complaint too.