President’s Letter

By Mike Moran | Email

2020 is coming to an end and that means preparations are underway for the trifecta of meetings, the final meeting of the 2020 Board, the Annual Meeting, and the first meeting of the 2021 Board, on Monday, January 18, 2021.

Thanks to the leadership of Lynn Douglas in partnership with the 2020 Nominating Committee, we have 4 candidates running to fill 4 open board positions.  Following my report, you will see a brief profile of each of these qualified and interested candidates.

The Board has also spent much of the fall working on the proposed 2021 Operating and Capital Budgets.  Our goal always is to be fiscally responsible in the spending of association funds – and to preserve and protect the assets of the FPHA.

Detailed in the Treasurer’s report you will find an overview of our recommendations for 2021. The Board will act on the Proposed 2021 Budget at the last meeting of the 2020 Board, immediately preceding the (virtual) Annual Meeting, on January 18, 2021.

As a reminder, we must have a quorum of votes from at least 10% of owners to hold the Annual Meeting and election.

Given COVID-19 considerations, we are finalizing plans for owners to cast their votes in person at the Pool House (which will be explained in the January newsletter) – and mail-in ballots are encouraged.

On behalf of your FPHA Board, I wish you and your families a safe and healthy holiday season.

2021 Fox Point Homeowners Association Board Candidates For Election

Steven Kipferl– Lake County

I am a foot and ankle surgeon and work out of three offices in the Northwest suburbs. My day is split between seeing patients in the office, performing surgery at Good Shepherd Hospital, and managing a multi-physician practice that I share with my father. I am proud to be a University of Iowa Hawkeye where I graduated with a major in Biology. I went to medical school locally at Rosalind Franklin University, where I earned my medical degree and a master’s in healthcare administration. I completed my residency at Rush University Medical Center, and after a long road, I am happy to be working in my own practice!

My wife, Brooke, and I moved to Fox Point in January of 2020. We are both Barrington natives and spent a lot of our childhood in Fox Point. Brooke was raised in the neighborhood, and interestingly enough we bought the house that she grew up in from her parents! We have a three-year-old son, Bennett, and a five-month-old daughter, Blaire.

I live on the lake, and my son and I spend many hours on the water. We love to take out our paddleboat, fish, and explore the island during the winter. My hope is that we can continue to improve the quality of the lake so everyone can enjoy it!

We love the community of Fox Point, and it was an easy decision for both of us to move back here. Our family is invested in this neighborhood for the long-haul, and I am excited to have an opportunity to continue to push our neighborhood forward and keep it the really special place that it is and has been for a long time. 

Jay Roberts– Cook County

Hello neighbors!  My name is Jay Roberts and I am hoping you will consider re-electing me to the Fox Board.  For the past three years, I have served as the Common Grounds chair.  Thus far, it has been a great experience and has enabled me to learn more about our neighborhood to ensure we continue to make it a wonderful place to live.  I have been able to complete several projects in the last three years.  Currently, I am researching the monument walls to figure out our best solutions for the entrance ways.  It is a big project, and I have enjoyed digging in and learning more about what might work or not.  I would love the chance to see that through and provide a solution that will make the neighborhood proud.

Our family has now lived here for over 10 years.  My wife Krista and four kids (Jackson, Camryn, Dean, and Ryann) have really enjoyed calling Fox Point home.  We have made a lot of friends and think it’s the best place in Barrington to call home and raise a family. I ask for your support and would love to represent you once again on the Fox Point board.

Abe Ryder– Lake County

After spending a decade in Chicago, we moved into Fox Point in 2012 and thought it was the “perfect neighborhood” to lay down roots.  My wife and I have three children: a middle schooler and two elementary schoolers.  My wife and I are originally from Wisconsin and found Barrington, and in particular Fox Point, reminiscent of the communities where we grew up and where people have similar value systems.  

Professionally, I am currently a Finance Director at Discover Financial Services charged with leading a lean and cultural transformation within our 650+ finance department aimed at driving change in leadership behaviors and work processes.  I have nearly 20 years of experience in several finance roles at Discover and Big 4 firms leading teams in the areas of financial analysis, management consulting, turnaround, and strategic advisory.  

On the volunteer side, my primary activity throughout time has been with the Boy Scouts of America.  I have spent the last five plus years leading our local Cub Scout Pack, rebuilding the Pack from a handful of Scouts to 40+.  As an Eagle Scout myself, I am passionate about, and committed to, service and the development of others.  You will find me also volunteering on the sidelines of my children’s flag football games, basketball games, and school events.  Furthermore, I have also led various volunteer “days of caring” at Discover coordinating service efforts with community groups.

My personal interest in serving on the Fox Point Board goes beyond giving back to this wonderful community.  I view this as my obligation and contribution to our great neighborhood.  I will continue to uphold our tradition of thoughtful stewardship and enhancement of our assets while making a positive difference for our residents.  It is my turn to humbly serve all of you. 

Mark Villalovos– Lake County

Greetings, my name is Mark Villalovos. My family and I joined the Fox Point community in 2017 when we moved from Southern California. I’m an executive leader in Marketing, Operations, and Communications and currently the Director of Strategy and Transformation for Shop Your Way, the loyalty program of Sears and Kmart in Hoffman Estates. My career includes 18 years with the Walt Disney Company as a designer of wildly engaging customer experiences. Additionally, I am the Principal at Zenon Enterprises, LLC, a consulting firm specializing in strategy, growth, and marketing for small businesses, and my wife Denise and I are the founders of the Run Laughlin Half Marathon in Nevada.

I’m an active member at St. Anne’s Catholic Community; serve on the Executive Advisory Board of Steel City Television Productions in Pittsburgh, PA; a Member of the Chicago Latino Network and formerly served on the Adventist Health White Memorial Hospital Foundation Board.  My wife and I have two children. Tyler, a chef at Cooper’s Hawk in South Barrington, and Morgan, a senior at The Willows Academy in Des Plaines.

I enjoy running a couple of marathons a year and can often be seen running the streets of Fox Point with Harvey, my golden retriever. I am running to become a Fox Point Board Member because my family and I have never been happier with a community. I have been successful in my career by being a strategist who rolls up his sleeves to design and execute projects to exacting standards. I have an entrepreneurial mindset, work within strict budgets, and have consistently delivered stellar results. I am collaborative and enjoy listening, gaining buy-in from stakeholders, and seeing projects through to completion. I would like to get to know my neighbors better by understanding what’s important to them and representing their interests in Fox Point.  Thank you

Treasurer

By Lynn Douglas | Email

The proposed 2021 Budget outlines the Annual Assessment and associated spending to operate, maintain, repair, restore, and replace Fox Point assets.

Your Board of Directors expects to act on the Proposed 2021 Budget at the Board Meeting immediately preceding the 2021 Annual Meeting on Monday, January 18, 2021.  

The Purpose of the Annual Assessment

Our Annual Assessment creates funding for Operating Expenses and a Capital Reserve for major repairs, restoration, and replacements of assets, when necessary to do so.  Operating Expenses include all recurring maintenance expenses associated with common assets. The Capital Reserve funds major repairs, restorations, and replacements, when necessary.

Proposed 2021 Annual Assessment- $1075/year

 Our governing documents impose a uniform assessment on all owners no matter their location, size of lot/home/ household and use or lack thereof, of common assets.

An increase of $25 in the Annual Assessment will bring Annual Dues to $1075 and is consistent with actual and projected 2.3% annual rate of inflation. Invoices will be issued in late February and the Annual Assessment will be due March 31, 2021.   

Proposed 2021 Operating Budget

We are holding the line on 2021 budgeted expenses.

Fox Point is a self-managed association and outsources critical functions, Accounting, Pool Management, Lake/Creek Management and Landscape Maintenance. The costs of these primary recurring functions and Insurance represent 75% of the expenditures within the Operating Budget. These functions are put out for competitive bid every three years. As such, these contracts are subject to appropriate due diligence and a competitive bidding process to make certain Fox Point continues to obtain the best bang for dollar spent.

Other expenses are variable including Utilities, Snow Removal, and unscheduled repairs.

Proposed 2021 Capital Spending

About half of our Annual Assessment is contributed to the Capital Reserves each year to build capital necessary to take care of major repairs, restorations, and replacements of assets.

Budgeted Capital Spending generally represents an intention to spend, not a specific authority to do so. Actual spending authority is determined by the Board during the year, subject to the business case, due diligence, and a competitive bidding process. When the spending is significant, there will be one or more Town Hall Meetings to share the business case, options, and costs.

Proposed significant capital investments for 2021 include:

We are entering the early stages of restoring the overall health of Lake Louise.

Flint Creek Restoration-$17,000

This was a budgeted expense for 2020 that was deferred due to Covid-19.

The Storm Water Commission of Lake County has approved a cost-sharing partnership plan for a broad scope of work. This work includes stabilization and reshaping of lower slopes, additional J-hooks, and replanting bare and vegetated areas with permanent native plantings. The project is intended to have a favorable impact on inter-jurisdictional water quality, natural resources, and nuisance- related flood reduction benefits.

The project is expected to cost a total of $34,000, split 50-50 with the county.

Phoslock Treatment-$40,000

Phosphorus is a common component of lawn fertilizers. It is an essential element for plant life, but when there is too much of it in water, it can speed up algal blooms, quite common in lakes, throughout the world. 

Soil erosion is a major contributor of phosphorus to streams. Bank erosion occurring during floods and snow melt-off can transport a lot of phosphorous from the creek and adjacent land into Lake Louise.

Though not directly toxic to fish, the bloom is not good for marine life. After the algae dies, bacteria break it down. The decay process consumes oxygen so the decay of a large bloom can leave “dead zones” low oxygen areas where fish cannot survive. If ingested, (don’t do that) the algae can cause flu-like symptoms in people and pets. Reducing phosphorus is necessary for a clean and healthier lake. 

Removing Phosphorus restores water quality. Phoslock is a patented phosphorus locking technology. It has emerged as the best new technology to restore water quality in ponds, lakes, and reservoirs and is used in water resource restoration programs around the world.

Currently, we anticipate a 3-year approach towards neutralizing phosphorus in Lake Louise.  

Design of Pond Dredge-$25,000

The FPHA retention pond in Cook County is essentially a massive filter for Lake Louise. The retention pond manages the flow of water into and out of the creek and reduces sediment flow. As such, it collects a lot of sediment, which means more sediment flows into Lake Louise. 

 We are at the point where investing in a design of dredging is appropriate.

2022 and Beyond

State law requires us to project future Capital Investments and disclose whether borrowing funds/imposing a Special Assessment is contemplated.  These projections follow the Proposed 2021 Budget.

We do not contemplate the need to borrow funds/ impose a Special Assessment.

Our hard assets are insured against risk exposures at replacement value.

Lake

By David Jobes | Email

This time last year I was writing about that the first ice of the year was already starting to melt back to open water. Fortunately, it has not gotten that cold this fall, but we shall see what winter has in store for Fox Point this year!

I want to share a couple of items for this month’s newsletter. In, an effort to help re-establish a healthy fish population we had the second fish stocking of the year during the week of November 16. We released approximately, 100 5-7” bluegill, 100 5-7” hybrid bluegill, 100 5-8” largemouth bass, and 10 9-12” northern pike. In a small part this will help control the effort of the carp population when next year’s eggs hatch as well as provide sport fishing for the lake, please remember Lake Louise is catch and release.

We also find it important to remind everyone to be careful on the ice and there is no such thing as safe ice. With that said, I thought I would share some general safety tips while enjoying the lake during the winter months. Have fun whether it be cross country skiing over fresh snow, ice skating or hockey, and of course my fav, ice fishing. Please remember no motorized vehicles such as snowmobiles are permitted on the lake at any time. I look forward to seeing you on the ice this winter!

1. New ice is usually stronger than old ice. Four inches of clear, newly formed ice may support one person on foot, while a foot or more of old, partially thawed ice may not.
2. Ice seldom freezes uniformly. It may be afoot thick in one location and only an inch or two just a few feet away.
3. The insulating effect of snow slows down the freezing process. The extra weight also reduces how much weight the ice sheet can support. Also, ice near shore can be weaker than ice that is farther out.
4. Booming and cracking ice isn’t necessarily dangerous. It only means that the ice is expanding and contracting as the temperature changes.

Try not to go alone, have someone with you and at least a few feet apart from each other in case you fall through thin ice.