The 2013 flood demonstrated just how important it is for us to keep the system maintained and in good working order. When our homeowners called the city this summer about the rising and then standing water, Crystal Lake correctly told them that it is our association that is responsible for the drainage in our two ponds.
The reason for the increases both in 2010, and in 2014 were to help maintain the two drain ponds.
The 2010 increase was in order to clear the woody species and to allow us to do regular burns and prevent the invasive species from returning again to the two ponds. The 2014 increase will be used to do additional needed maintenance around the drains and to add to our capital reserve fund.
The board prepared and presented the reasons for the increase in detail at the November annual homeowner meeting. The $75 increase voted on by the board in 2013 will be used as follows: $50 will go to directly towards maintenance to clear the partially blocked drains, this will allow the rest of the system to flush and give us the ability to better inspect the drains moving forward. And $25 will go directly into the Capital Reserve account. This is the long-term fund that will be used to repair or replace the drain tiles sometime in the next 25-50 years when they fail.
Unfortunately, it is the cost of living in the community we live in. I do know that our neighboring communities using professional management companies are paying 3-5 times the amount we pay in annual dues. Your Board has taken many steps to keep expenses as low as possible, while still doing the due diligence required in our association charter. Please email or call the board if you have any questions regarding this information.
