President’s Letter

By Jeana Garms | Email

The holiday season is upon us! I hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving and are looking forward to all the festivities over the coming weeks.

November was busy as the board prepared the 2026 financial budgets with an eye at keeping Fox Point a wonderful place for our families to live and a desirable place to move to when families move on to their next chapter. I want to thank each member of the board for their diligence in assessing costs, identifying opportunities to optimize spend and being mindful as we work to position ourselves to continue maintaining the amenities we enjoy without the need for future special assessments. More details can be found in the Treasury report.

I’d also like to thank Taylor Shanfeld and the Board for their support in sourcing and nominating candidates for the board positions opening up in January. That said, please meet the four candidates who have expressed interest in running in January’s election.

ANNOUNCING YOUR 2026 FOX POINT HOMEOWNERS’ ASSOCIATION BOARD MEMBER NOMINEES

Adam Clementi

My wife, Andrea, and I moved to Fox Point in 2011 and have been raising our three children here ever since. As lifelong swimmers—through age-group, high school, and college—the Fox Point pool was one of the biggest draws for our family, and we’ve loved the opportunities it has given us over the past 15 years.

While I spend my days working in IT, my mornings and evenings are still often dedicated to aquatics. Early swims and coaching club swimming at night help “keep the chlorine in my blood and my gills from drying out,” as Andrea likes to say. Serving as the Fox Point Pool Chair would be a meaningful way for me to give back to a community—and a pool—that have given our family so much.

As Pool Chair, my focus will be on clear, consistent communication and strong facility maintenance—ensuring residents have a voice and can actively participate in the ongoing care and improvement of this wonderful shared resource.

Joann Lee

Hi Neighbors, my name is Joann Lee, and I’m excited to join the board as the Architecture Chair.

My family moved to Fox Point in 2003. Coming from California—and after several years living overseas—I was initially drawn to the larger lots in other parts of Barrington. But I’m so grateful we chose Fox Point. Being close to the schools and amenities, along with the wonderful sense of community here, has made it the perfect place to call home.

My husband, Kent, and I have two grown sons, Matt and Evan. When they were young, we participated in many Fox Point activities—Swim Team, tennis, overnight camping, and more. They have such fond memories that they still insist we should never sell our house!

I am a semi-retired architect and currently serve on the Village Planning Commission. I look forward to supporting our neighborhood and helping maintain the beauty of Fox Point—both for individual families and for our community as a whole.

You can often find me walking around the lake, usually with my walking group. Please feel free to say hello and introduce yourself—I’m really looking forward to meeting many of you, especially new families!

Michelle Minor

Hi neighbors! I’m Michelle Minor, and I’m excited to throw my hat in the ring for a spot on the Fox Point board.

My husband Joe and I moved to Fox Point in March 2020 after eight years in Arlington Heights and right when the world took a pause. Joe grew up in FP and talked about the great sense of community and lifelong friendships he made over the years.  To make things even more official, we moved right into his childhood home on the south side of the neighborhood. We now live there with our two daughters, 8 and 5, who love their neighbors, walking the lake, and the FP swim team. Go Dolphins!

I’ve helped with several neighborhood events over the years and this year served on the Fourth of July and Progressive Dinner committees. I firmly believe our events are successful because of the amazing neighbors who always show up, pitch in, and make everything more fun than it has any right to be.

When I’m not working, you can find me coaching BASA soccer, serving as a Lines room mom, co-leading my youngest daughter’s Girl Scout troop, or my favorite, a professional child Uber driver. I would love the chance to serve on the Fox Point board next year and continue helping make this community as welcoming as everyone promised me it would be.

Jordan Linville

Jordan has lived in Fox Point since 2021. Originally from Indianapolis, he is married with three children and works in technology sales. He enjoys making music, playing tennis, and talking about future vacations.

Secretary Report

By Lindsay Keenan | Email

The 2025 Directories are here!  Please look for them in the box adjacent to the pool house and/or they are also available at the HOA meetings.  If you have any questions or need assistance locating a directory please send me an email.  Happy Holidays!

Treasurer Report

By Susan Lunt | Email

As 2025 comes to an end, the board has finalized the 2026 budget.  We spent a great deal of time discussing and planning for anticipated expenditures for the coming year.  We continue to be mindful of all Fox Point’s assets and the costs to maintain, repair, and eventually replace them.  Inflation and rising costs are not new to any of us as we have witnessed rising costs throughout most facets of our lives.  Our HOA is no different and we must remain responsible while planning for years to come.  The estimated operating expenses for 2026 are expected to increase nearly 14%. These expenses are critical to the board’s operation of our neighborhood amenities.

From a capital standpoint, the HOA has $1.4M in reserves.  While this number seems significant, the board has identified potential future reserve expenses that will exceed eight figures – one of the main drivers being a pool replacement in around 35 years.  We must remain diligent in continuing to build a solid reserve fund for maintenance, repair, and eventual replacement of HOA assets.  For 55 years, FPHOA has maintained one overall financial goal – AVOIDANCE OF DEBT and thus avoiding the need to impose Special Assessments on owners. The current board is acting in the HOA’s best interest to keep this tradition alive.

The board undertook meaningful improvement projects during 2025, including the completion of the Lake Cook fence and cul de sac renovations. We’re expecting the seawall at the boat landing to come to fruition in 2026, along with a new diving board at the pool, and installation of a carp barrier on the lake.  These are just a few of the projects your board is working on. Please refer to the respective board reports for additional information on all these projects.

There will be plenty of opportunities to pitch in and volunteer your time and talents over the coming months.  Please reach out to a board member or join us during our monthly meetings. It is incredible how much we can accomplish with a bit of organization and a small donation of our time. We would love to hear your ideas and look forward to seeing you around the neighborhood!

2026 Fox Point Budget

The proposed 2026 Budget is the framework of an intention to spend, and consists of 3 components:

• Operating – These are recurring annual expenses to support the daily/seasonal operations.
• Capital Reserves – These are monies that represent the approximate depreciation of common assets, over time, set aside for future major cyclical maintenance expenses, major repairs, restoration, and replacement of assets.
• Annual Assessment – Each owner’s equal share of Operating Expenses and allocation to Capital Reserves which approximates the annual deterioration (depreciation) of all hard assets and funding towards the health of the Lake, Creek, and Pond assets.

Proposed 2026 Operating Budget- $325,415

There are six components within the Operating Budget: Administration, Pool, Lake Management, Tennis Common Grounds, and Social. Within these components, Insurance, Professional Pool Management, and Landscaping are the most significant expenses.

Proposed 2026 Capital Expenditures- $335,000

There are several projects planned for 2026:

• Phoslock Treatment – $25,000. We remain in the early phase of restoring the overall health of Lake Louise. While phosphorus is an essential element for plant life, too much phosphorus can speed up algae bloom and unpleasant odors, common in lakes throughout the world. This multi-year treatment is intended to reduce excess phosphorus, common in lawn fertilizers that drain into the lake.
• Pool Complex Repairs – $25,000. As a reminder, the pool is nine years old and equipment to operate the pool wears out and needs to be replaced.
• Fish Stocking – $7,500.
• Boat Yard Sea Wall – $175,000 – See details in Architecture report. A portion of this expense would be offset by grant monies.
• New Asphalt – $40,000 related to paving around the new seawall.
• Carp Barrier – $70,000. This will prevent carp from entering the lake from downstream, improving the overall health and ecosystem of the lake.

We will be increasing our Capital Reserve Fund by $112,500 in 2026.

Proposed 2026 Annual Assessment – $1,765

The Annual Assessment funds the Operating budget, Capital expenditures, and depreciation of assets over time so that there are adequate funds available to take care of business when it becomes necessary to do so. In 2026, we intend to allocate the annual Assessment evenly between operating expenses and capital reserves.

We have invested over $3.5 million into capital projects (replacement of 50-year-old Pool, Tennis Courts, renovation of the Pool House, Masonry Wall Restoration, Lake Cook fence replacement, etc.) over the past 8 years and intend to invest an additional $317,500 in 2026. We have done so without incurring debt or imposing a Special Assessment because our Capital Reserves have been adequate to take care of business.

To avoid debt, the value of an HOA’s Capital Reserve needs to be tied to its future liabilities. We have 30 high-level common assets with hundreds of moving parts behind them. Sooner or later, everything wears out and requires restoration or replacement. The allocation from the Annual Assessment to Capital Reserves should approximate the annual rate of depreciation of all assets. Inflation is also a factor in restoration and replacement costs.

The Lake/Pond /Creek has been on the back burner while the restoration/replacement of many major hard assets occurred. We are committed to restoring the health of the lake, going forward.

While there is no clear end to rising costs, the board has approved a 10% increase in our annual assessments.  The 2026 obligation will be $1,765 per household. It should be noted that the board is actively pursuing grants and other income sources to offset capital expenditures.

The 2026 calendar year Annual Assessment will be invoiced in late February and is due March 31, 2026.

2026 and Beyond

State law requires us to project capital expenses and disclose whether borrowing funds/imposing a Special Assessment is contemplated two years into the future.

Our projections follow the 2026 BUDGET and include the installation of a carp barrier, construction of the seawall, and capital items for the pool that include a new vacuum, diving board, and baby pool cover. We also plan on replacing the shade structures at the pool, as needed.  Two additional large expenses to keep front of mind, although may not occur for several years, are Lake Management/Dredging as well as the pool replacement.

Interest Income

Our current reserve account is in a fully insured money market account with a current interest rate of 2.78% (fluctuates with market conditions).  In 2025, we expect to earn approximately $12,000 in interest income.  For comparison, the HOA earned about $800 of interest income in 2022 due to low-interest rates.

The board has continued to use a tiered investment strategy, utilizing both Certificates of Deposits and T-Bills with various maturity dates to maximize returns. We will not exceed 50% of our total reserve holdings, as to remain liquid in the event of an unexpected expense. Implementing this plan should result in an estimated interest income of nearly $30,000 in 2026!

Social Report

By Kate Feit | Email

I cannot believe 2025 is coming to a close.  We are ending the year with a Fox Point tradition: Santa coming to town!   I’m also looking ahead to 2026, please consider signing up to run an event next year!  Please let me know if you have any questions about any of the events. 

I would also like to highlight that I do have an additional email distribution list for communications in between the monthly newsletters.  If you are interested in joining this email list, please email social@foxpoint.org to opt in.

Santa is coming to Fox Point!

We are doing it a little differently this year!  We learned the Twitchell’s are close friends with Santa Claus, and he has requested one stop this year 🙂 Fox Point residents can register their families to meet and take their picture with Santa and Mrs. Claus while enjoying hot chocolate and treats.

• When: Sunday, December 7th, 11:00am – 1:00pm
• Where: The Twitchell’s: 711 Oxbow Lane
• Cost: $10 per family
• Registration closes Friday, December 5th.
• Sign up link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0949AEA92AA3F4C43-60731931-2025

Save the Date! 2026 Card Party

Mark your calendars – the 2026 edition of the Fox Point Card Party will be held on Friday, March 6th, 2026 at Makray Golf Club.

More details to come!

Fox Point Merchandise

Looking for some holiday gifts?? We have partnered with The Imprintery for Fox Point spiritwear.  There is no deadline for ordering spiritware and you can place your order at any time for delivery or free local pickup at their location in town.  The direct link to our spiritwear page can be found here. 

2026 Event Committee Sign-up

Sign-up is now available for the 2026 Social Event Committees!

In order for the continuation of the events we have come to expect in the Fox Point community, we need volunteers to take part in committees responsible for planning and executing each event.

More information and committee signups are available here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0949AEA92AA3F4C43-60731941-2026

Civics Report

By Lisa Brooks | Email

The holidays are here! I hope you are able to take part in the many events happening in Barrington including visits to Santa and holiday programs.  Drive around town to explore all the festive lights, relax with friends and neighbors sharing some holiday cheer, and enjoy time with your family. Wishing you all a merry, meaningful, and bright holiday season!

Please see here for a letter from our Village President, Mike Moran, with more information on all the activities this coming month! 

Architecture Report

By Andrew Schwarz | Email

This year, the Board reviewed dozens of architecture applications and managed the grant application for the seawall at the Lake Louise boat landings.

Thank you to all the homeowners who have followed the required HOA process to submit all permanent, exterior alterations to the Board for their review and approval.  Aside from helping to preserve our unique community aesthetic, our ultimate aim is to simply ensure good, neighborly communication regarding our improvements to our homes and properties.  As famed author Gladys Taber once remarked, “Being a good neighbor is an art which makes life richer.”

Our seawall grant application is under review, and we have fielded a few questions from Lake County’s Stormwater Management Commission regarding our plans.  Recipients of the grant will be announced in February; if Fox Point’s project is awarded, we intend to stabilize and revitalize the shoreline of the Boat Landings in 2026.

Safety & Welfare Report

By Greg Salter | Email

The clocks turning back sure make it dark outside early, don’t they? Without entering the permanent daylight savings time debate (my vote is “yes”!), I do want to remind everyone that it is really hard to see people walking or biking once the sun has set. Please wear bright, reflective clothing and bring lighting sources (flashlights, flashing dog leashes, headlamps, etc.) to help keep yourself visible and safe. Don’t hesitate to step off the street and into the first few feet of grass when cars are approaching.

When driving, please be particularly mindful of your speed after dusk. Driving even slower in the evening will give you extra time to react if a person or pet unexpectedly crosses your path. Also, this is a great time to remember to put your phones away and minimize distractions. When you are on a dark street and there are not any other vehicles approaching, utilize your high beams to make it easier to see pedestrians at a distance.

Lake Report

By Steve Kipferl | Email

Hello neighbors! This budget season, I wanted to take a moment to thank you all for your support. The lake community is working hard to split costs between the county and HOA whenever possible. We have managed to offset project costs this year by partnering with the county on specific water quality improvement initiatives. This means that homeowners in this association are spending less money and getting more results in our water quality improvement efforts.

We have had a great year on Lake Louise, outside of the summer heat! The water quality has improved yet again. We have also seen more natural vegetation growing, thanks to our restoration efforts. Vegetation maintenance is planned for next year.

Just a friendly reminder to be careful with trees near the lake. The GOA recommends wrapping any trees near water with screening for beaver protection. Beaver activity has been at a minimum this fall, but please protect the trees and shrubs you intend to keep.

We will continue working on the boat dock area, and there are still spots available on the rack. We are also planning a shoreline restoration project for either late fall or spring 2026.

The lake is still buzzing with life! Fishing has been fantastic this year, and we have even netted some hybrid striped bass. There are also plenty of largemouth bass, small Northern Pike, bluegill, crappie, and catfish in the lake. For spring 2026, we are planning to install a carp barrier and work with Lake County to remove the carp population once and for all.

The committee will keep looking for ways to share costs, so if you’re interested in joining, please contact me at lake@foxpoint.org. I’ll send you an invitation to one of our monthly meetings. Everyone is welcome!

As we head into winter, please be careful on the ice. The lake usually freezes, but can be unpredictable. Use it at your own risk and travel with a partner if you plan to go on the ice. As a rule of thumb, lake ice should be more than 4 inches thick prior to walking on it. For your safety, please self-test lake ice thickness if you plan to venture onto the ice. Also please remember there are never motor vehicles permitted on the lake or ice, per the bylaws.

Thanks for another great season! See you on the lake!