Fall 2014 Newsletter

- 1 - Plum Grove Estates Property Owners Association � P.O. Box 2568 � Palatine, IL 60078-2568 � www.pgepoa.org

Well, after this last cold spell I

think that it is safe to say that

summer is finally over for another

year. It seems like yesterday when

we were drinking margaritas at

the Summer Kick Off Party and

welcoming the beginning of

summer. Time goes by quickly.

If you missed the last general

meeting some interesting events

occurred. We invited Palatine

Township officials Tom Kaider,

Highway Commissioner, and

Roland Sachs, Superintendent of

Roads, to speak at the meeting.

Tom and Roland also brought

Mike Shamsie from Landmark

Engineering and John Helander,

the Road District Attorney. Like

everyone else, I was expecting a

report on prevention of soil

erosion around the pond and an

update on when we could expect

the bridge repairs to be made by

Cook County. Although the soil

erosion issue was discussed I think

that the major issue was the bridge

repair.

Apparently the cost of the

anticipated bridge repair will now

be approximately five times the

original amount. This increase in

cost is so significant that the

township is apparently now

reconsidering its options with

respect to the bridge so that we

may be back to the beginning for a

bridge resolution. There was talk

of a meeting to take place in

November that would be open to

residents of Plum Grove Estates to

discuss the bridge. The Board will

send out an email blast when the

meeting specifics are available. Be

sure that we have your correct

email address if you are interested

in receiving the meeting

information, or contact the

township directly.

With winter and snow in the near

future, Roland Sachs also

discussed township plowing

concerns. Please remember that

grass that meets the paved street is

not your yard. The roadway right

of ways are actually 66 feet. So if

the street runs down the middle of

the right of way, which is not

always the case, your front yard

lot line is actually 33 feet from the

middle of the road. Lately more

and more residents are placing

items in the grass next to the

roadway: rocks, posts, boulders,

tree stumps, etc. These items can

damage snow plows and can

actually prevent shelf plowing

which is necessary with extreme

snow falls. You should remove

any large items that you have

placed in the right of way. If they

are extreme and remain in the

right of way, the township may

remove them and bill you for it. If

you have concerns contact Roland

Sachs to discuss your specific

situation with him.

Another concern that came up

from residents at the general

meeting was the lack of

enforcement of our neighborhood

rules and covenants. If you drive

around the neighborhood you can

see many violations that would

not have been permitted in the

past. I have told many neighbors

Continued on next page…

Newsletter Contents Directors Reports………………….3- 4 Community News…………………5 -6 Kick Off to Summer Party………… 7 Previous Meeting Minutes….……8 - 9 PGE Calendar………………………..10

Plum Grove Estates Property Owners Association

Neighborhood NewsNeighborhood NewsNeighborhood NewsNeighborhood News Working Together for a GREAT Neighborhood FallFallFallFall 2014201420142014

President’s Message – Guy Karm


Did you know that there is a Plum Grove

Estates E-mail list? Add your name to the

list. Send your e-mail address to

[email protected],

Subject: E-mail List

…Continued from page 1

with complaints of these violations that Area Control

was working on it, but apparently that has not been

true. If you are as old as I am, and you remember the

Paul Newman movie Cool Hand Luke, the warden

had a saying that fits our situation, "what we have

here is a failure to communicate." Please be assured

that Area Control enforcement will be one of the

main items on our agenda for the Board’s November

business meeting. There will be communication, we

will resolve this situation as a Board, there will be

enforcement of the rules and covenants again, and

the neighborhood will be back to the way that it has

been in the past. If you are one of the neighbors who

have been violating the rules with no consequences,

please go back to being a good neighbor and follow

the rules like everyone else. We are all neighbors and

no one on the Board wants to take legal action

against you to enforce the rules and covenants.

On a more positive note, I was one of the neighbors

who attended the Social Group’s outing at the Big

Chef Restaurant where we received a lesson on

Italian cooking. Thank you Laurie Mitchell and Sue

Dindia for all of your hard work in organizing the

event. It was a great success and a fun time. The

Social Group is part of the Social Committee and is

open to all association members. It has been formed

to promote interaction among neighbors. They are

planning a "Fireside Chat" at Plum Grove Park from

6:00 to 7:00 PM before the next General Meeting.

There will a be panel of long-time residents who can

tell the story of Plum Grove Estates and give first

hand accounts of our early days. If you have early

pictures or would like to be involved as one of the

panelists, please contact Sue Dindia at 1-847-397-

3640 or [email protected]. There will be more

information about this event before the next General

Meeting.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank

two Board Members–Lynn Meinzer and Debbie

Denten. Lynn has done an outstanding job with

landscaping. From stopping pond soil erosion,

cleaning up cul-de-sacs, removing dead shrubs and

trees, to just general maintenance–the common areas,

islands and entrance ways have never looked better.

Even the Westwood entrance, which is problematic

due to being adjacent to Algonquin Road with its

heavy traffic, looks great. I especially like the Mums.

Thank you Lynn for all of your hard work.

Also, this is Debbie Denten’s last year on the Board.

Debbie has served as a Board Member for 6 years

and as Secretary for 2 more years. While being

Secretary she has also stayed active on other

committees and areas– social, membership and,

newsletter/communication. She was also

instrumental in removing the carpet business from

the house on Park Street-- after at least 50 contacts

she was on a first name basis with all of the members

of the Cook County Code Enforcement staff. Thank

you Debbie for all of your hard work and we all

hope that you will stay involved.

Finally, thank you for electing me as your President

for 2015. We have a few things to work on this

coming year, but all in all we have the greatest

neighbors and Plum Grove Estates is a wonderful

place to live.

Guy Karm,

President, PGEPOA


2014 PGEPOA Officers/Directors

President Guy Karm

Vice President

and Architectural Control Dave Freeman

Secretary Debbie Denten

Treasurer Mary Crook

Area Control Carl Siemianowski

Civic Affairs Steve Sperling

Membership Maria Pappas

Communications Martin Kammerman

Social and Landscaping Lynn Meinzer

Audit George Reichl

Past President Gary Dindia

Advertising Full page ....................once/$150 yearly/$380 Half page ...................once/$100 yearly/$255 Quarter page..............once/$50 yearly/$125 Eighth page................once/$25 yearly/$60 Thank you to all of our advertisers! Your ad defrays the cost of producing and mailing the newsletter.

Board Member Reports Landscape Report – Lynn Meinzer The Minutes of the General Meeting on 10/15/14, printed in this newsletter, outline the regular landscape maintenance and some new work completed for Plum Grove Estates (PGE) during the 2014 Season. Projects will be ongoing, along with Palatine Township Road District, into the 2015 Season for Brookdale Lake shoreline; Oakwood Court and the ‘islands’ that need removals or new plants and/or seeding. The 2015 Season because the weather is changing to colder temperatures, shorter hours of sunshine and the landscape is going dormant for a while! It may be of interest to know that maintenance and mowing involves twenty ‘islands’ within the PGE roads (most w/grass, some only w/perennials); seven interior common areas (such as the north and south sides of Briarwood Entrance); six areas to mow and maintain exterior to PGE (such as Frontage Road from the north side of Briarwood to the end of

the ‘Autumn Jazz’ Viburnum Hedge) and the PGE ‘cobbles’ installed around ‘islands’ and entrances throughout PGE - which get weedy often. The PGE planted areas do not have a ‘handy water supply’ at this time. Most plants are selected with drought tolerance in mind. Watering plants is critical and it comes from close-by residents occasionally, Heaven-sent rain occasionally or gallon bottles of water brought to the new plants by me until the plants are established. Perhaps someday renewed areas can be supplied with water by additional residents with a little time, interest and gallon bottles filled with water to keep our PGE plants going! The ‘Fall Color’ is beautiful this year – thanks to all the rain and cold night temperatures! Once the fallen leaves are all collected and removed from the lawn – a short grass cut and winterizer fertilizer is a great help to achieving a healthy lawn next spring. Holiday Lights are scheduled to be up by the beginning of December – next stop winter!

Treasurer’s Report – Mary Crook


Groot / ARC – Republic Garbage Pickup To get the new Plum Grove Estates rate from Groot you have to contact them at (847) 734-6440. You may have to talk to a manager if the Customer Service person does not recognize that we are entitled to the new price, which is the same as the $67.44 per quarter we have been offered by ARC – Republic. If you want to switch to ARC (847) 981-0091, be sure to tell them that you are entitled to the Plum Grove Estates price (which they may know as their “municipal rate”. If Customer Service does not understand, ask for Tom Bernero.

The treasurer's report for the period ending 09/30/14 was presented at the October homeowner's meeting. As reported, the association was able to stay within the 2014 budget, with the exception of restocking the Briarwood pond. The board will be meeting in November to finalize the 2015 budget.

Audit Committee – George Reichl At the October general meeting we elected the following officers and directors to the PGE board for 2015: President Guy Karm Vice President Dave Freeman Treasurer Mary Crook Director Steve Sperling Director George Reichl

Area Control Report – Carl Siemianowski No Report

Membership Report – Maria Pappas Congratulations to the following new homeowners and we welcome you to Plum Grove Estates. 302 N. Elmwood-- Todd & Elaine Hepler Please remember to join us in June for our 'Kick off to Summer Party' and in December for our 'Holiday Party', as well as our meetings. Invitations to all of

our events are sent by mail. Contact Maria Pappas (2291 Longacres) at 847-303-3536 or 847-630-9391 with any questions or concerns that you may have. We look forward to meeting all of you.

Architectural Control – Dave Freeman No Report

Social Report – Lynn Meinzer The details of the Plum Grove Estates Holiday Party are covered in the Property Owners Association Minutes of 10/15/14 printed in this newsletter. It is a fun time and early in December (12/7/14) to get PGE residents in a holiday mood! As mentioned, committee members, Debbie Denten, Maria Pappas, Mary Crook and I do appreciate help volunteered for set-up and clean-up. It’s not hard, goes fast and pays ‘a good feeling’ to help out. Let any one of the ‘committee members’ know if you have time that day to help. Thank You

Civic Affairs Report – Steve Sperling No Report


Cristiano Bassani: "Big Chef”

Guy Karm with spinach salad

Maria Pappas with Eggplant dish

Debbie Denten with Vodka Rigatoni Pasta

Community News

Fishing Derby Planned for Next Year

The Plum Grove Estates Annual Fishing Derby was cancelled this year due to the effects of the harsh

winter on the pond. The pond has since been restocked and we hope to have the Fishing Derby early next summer.

PGE Social Club in Action Ask any one of the 26 neighbors who attended the neighborhood social club cooking class on October 20th at "Big Chef" restaurant and he or she will say "Bravo!" to Chef Cristiano Bassiani for a delicious meal and cooking lesson. Chef Bassani shared his

five course Italian dinner recipes along with a cooking demonstration. Our dinner consisted of: Spinach Salad with pears, pecorino cheese/ homemade lemon dressing, grilled eggplant stuffed with sun dried tomatoes, goat cheese and fresh basil, rigatoni with Vodka sauce, pork scaloppine with wild mushrooms and tiramasu for dessert. We

all had a great time and learned a lot about the wonderful cooking talents at our nearby

neighborhood restaurant. Please join us for future

events! Thanks, Lauri Mitchell

Sad News David Stallman, resident of Plum Grove Estates for 35 years, passed away September 14, 2014. He and his black miniature schnauzer, Annie, were long-time fixures on Westwood Lane.

Poker Club? Several people in the neighborhood have expressed an interest in forming a poker group. The neighborhood social club is looking for someone to organize and launch a poker night. Please contact Lauri Mitchell ( [email protected]) if you are willing to help us in this way.

Social Club has “Picnic on the Hill” The Neighborhood Social Club had its inaugural event, "Picnic on the Hill", on July 25th. The grills were going, there was great conversation, delicious


food and a ton of fun and laughs. The water balloon launching competition was won by Randy Mitchell who launched his water balloon from the picnic hill clear into the skate park. Many tried, many laughed, many got a little wet, but no one was able to beat Randy's skate park distance! The stated purpose of the Neighborhood Social Club is to bring together small groups of neighbors to promote "interesting activities" and social interactions outside our larger PGE summer kick off and holiday party. As of this message, 34 neighbors have expressed interest in a variety of social interests. Some of our activity ideas are listed below. •Progressive Dinner •History Night: A fireside chat with long- standing PGE neighbors •Cooking Lessons •Poker Night for men (and women!) •Book Club

•Young neighbor bike parade •Gourmet Club •Wine and cheese party •Bourbon Tasting night •Mom's Club •Helping out neighbors who need assistance If you are interested in joining us or have any other ideas please connect with Lauri Mitchell [email protected], or Sue Dindia: [email protected]

Open Burning In the Spring and again in the Fall when we are cleaning up our yards there are usually one or two neighbors who forget that open burning of yard waste is illegal in Cook County. That includes leaves and branches. County ordinance Section 30-387 is pretty specific. You CAN’T do it in an unincorporated area unless you first apply for and receive a permit from the County Department of Environmental Control (312-603-8200) and can demonstrate to them that there is no other reasonable way to dispose of the waste. You can be ticketed by the Sheriff for having a yard waste fire on your property and if the Fire Department shows up and determines that the fire was deliberately set, you also can be charged many hundreds of dollars for their response. Plus – and this is the neighborly reason not to do it – your smoke goes into other people’s homes where it stinks and where someone may have breathing problems or have allergies to stuff that’s carried in the smoke. Fire pits and barbeques when used properly and monitored are, of course, legal. But remember that if yours is especially smoky and if the wind is blowing toward your next door neighbor’s house that can be just as much of an annoyance to that one house as a bigger fire might be for several homes.


Kick Off to Summer Party


Save the Date

February 11, 2015

What was Plum Grove Estates like 40, 50, even 60 years ago?

What groundwork did the early residents lay that makes our

neighborhood so unique?

Come to a special event immediately prior to the next General

Property Owners Meeting and find out.

The Neighborhood Social Club is putting together a panel of

long-time residents who can tell the story of Plum Grove Estates.

The informal discussion will held from 6 to 7 pm at Plum Grove

Park. Pizza will be available from 7 to 7:30 and the General

Meeting will begin at 7:30 pm.

If anyone has pictures from the ‘old days’ or would like to be

considered for one of the panelists, please contact Sue Dindia,

847-397-3640 or [email protected].

Please join us for the interesting and informative event and hear

first-hand accounts of our early days.

See you on February 11.

PGE POA General Meeting Minutes (pending approval) Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Call to Order The General Meeting of the Plum Grove Homeowners Association was called to order by President Guy Karm at 7:33 p.m. on Wednesday, October 15, 2014, at Plum Grove Park.

Board Attendees Guy Karm, Gary Dindia, Mary Crook, Debbie Denten, Maria Pappas, George Reichl, Lynn Meinzer, Steve Sperling, Dave Freeman

Absent Board Members Carl Siemianowksi, Martin Kammerman

Resident Attendees Len Vinyard, Irene Vinyard, Howard Pohl, Pauline Pohl, Phillip Underwood, Glen Prezembel, Beth Prezembel, Leory VanDyke, Sue Dinia, Mary Joan Hoadley, George Manthey, Bill Huley, tammy Frain, Bernie Rupe, Lauri Mitchell, Randy Mitchell, Richard Beals, Jan Elgelen, Pam Adelizzi, Madeline Madsen, James Stipak, Susan MacDonald, Mary Jo Long, Bill Christenson, Wally Wilson. From the Township Road District- Tom Kaider, Highway Commissioner, Roland Sachs, Superintendent, John Helander, Attorney and Michael Shamsie, Landmark Engineering.

Special Guests Tom Kaider stated that the Briarwood Bridge wrap repair project would cost far more then the estimated $60,000. The figure would be closer to $270,000. There will an entirely new engineering report about the bridge made by Landmark Engineering. There is a tentatively scheduled meeting that will be held in November to discuss the bridge. For further information contact Tom Kaider at [email protected] or (847) 358-6336. Roland Sachs discussed the erosion control project to save the right of ways and roadway at the north

end of Brookdale Lake. A request for a permit was submitted to the Army Corp of Engineers on September 26, 2014. We are awaiting a permit (either jurisdictional or non-jurisdictional) and recommendation from the wetland consultant as to how best to proceed. The Palatine Township Road District, acting with the homeowners approval, removed the old and very overgrown evergreens on the Oakwood Court island. There was a discussion of the obstruction violations in the right of way along the roadways in Plum Grove Estates.

Approval of Minutes A motion was made to approve the minutes from the General Meeting held Wednesday, May 21, 2014. Minutes were approved by all in attendance.

Treasurer’s Report The Treasurers Report was presented by Mary Crook for the month ending September 30, 2014. A motion was passed to move the treasurer’s report into the records.

Architectural Control Dave Freeman reported: Approved roof replacements, 295 Briarwood, 2278 S. Westwood Approved deck replacement and removal of fence,


2269 Westwood Approved landscape improvement and renovation, 2091 Brookdale

Area Control No report-There is concern raised by homeowners regarding enforcement of the covenants. Violations of covenants are occurring and it appears that nothing is being done to correct these violations. This issue will be addressed at the November board meeting.

Civic Affairs Steve Sperling handed out voter guidelines for the upcoming election.

Landscaping Lynn Meinzer reported: • Mowing & maintenance is being performed on a weekly basis at entrances and common areas by Tri-scape Enterprise, Inc. • New shrubs have replaced those that died or froze over the long, cold winter of 2013-2014. • Mums have been planted at the entrances and some of the main ‘islands’. • The Frontage Rd. Hedge has been trimmed and Fall Cleanup of common areas begun. • In September, the ‘islands’ within PGE were surveyed by Mary Crook and myself, and a list of those badly needing improvement was created. • While identifying responsibility for areas within and surrounding PGE, it became apparent our roads, including the ‘islands’ throughout PGE belong to Palatine Township. We asked if assistance with removing certain over-mature evergreens and trees on the islands was possible. Happily, help will be given, some this year and some next year. This will help PGE to properly maintain its landscape - and a savings as well. • Stabilizing the common areas around Brookdale Lake has been thought and talked about for several years. The exact best way to handle such a project was unclear. After a letter, phone call and visit to Tom Kaider and Roland Sachs Palatine Township

Offices regarding possible direction and help with such a project – amazingly, there was a whole procedure in place to provide PGE answers. The steps involved: first, properly establishing responsibility for the shoreline sections; second-getting an ecologist to analyze and survey the area, then present what materials would work best in stabilization; so that the shoreline doesn’t erode more and endanger the road; third-to check if there are any other permissions needed to go forward with the project. Finally, to get that information to PGE and discuss its implementation.

Social Lynn Meinzer reported: • The next ‘Social Event’ for PGE is the upcoming Holiday Party, held here at Plum Grove Park on Sunday, December 7th, from 4:30pm to 7:30pm. We’ll be serving food and beverages, providing a chance to visit with neighbors, a visit from Santa for the youngsters; as well as an opportunity to make a donation to the Palatine Township Needy Fund. We always appreciate help with set-up and clean-up – just let Debbie, Maria, Mary or me know you’d be able to help.

Membership These home sold in Plum Grove Estates-372 Longacres Lane, 283 Longacres Ln., 302 N Elmwood Ln These homes are currently for sale in Plum Grove Estates-318 Briarwood, 256 S. Brookdale, 2325 S Westwood

Newsletter/Communication No Report

New Business Sue Dindia (social group) reported that there is a planned Fireside Chat prior to the February General Meeting. This will be from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm with the meeting immediately following. The meeting was adjourned at 9:12 pm

Debbie Denten Secretary

[email protected]


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Plum Grove EstatesProperty Owners Association

PO Box 2568Palatine, IL 60078-2568www.pgepoa.org

Documents

Fall 2014 Newsletter