RIVA RIDGE REVIEW
 
 
New garbage and recycling hauler
Effective December 1, 2000 Mundeline Disposal Ser vice will be the new garbage hauler for all of Riva Ridge replacing Waste Management Co. The pick-up dates will be exactly the same as we currently have. Tuesday's pick-up will still be garbage-only with Fri day's both garbage and recycling. The change repre sents a substantial savings, fixed price two year con tract and a maximum escalation clause beyond that point. While the service from Waste Management has been excellent, their demand for increase prices and their lack of substantiation for their requested increase forced the Board to look at other venders to service Riva Ridge. Our projected savings for the fiscal year

2000/2001 will be approximately $9,000.

Winter Vacationers Peoples Energy is recommending that vacationers turn down their thermo stats when on vacation, keeping in mind that you want to maintain an adequate temperature to prevent wa ter pipes from freezing. We have seen articles stating as low as mid 50's however our experience indicates maybe 60 to 62 degrees might be better. We do recom mend strongly that cabinet doors below sinks be left open. It is also suggested you notify your managing agent as to where you will leave a key, in case of the need to enter your unit in an emergency.
Arborist to evaluate landscape plantings
In a move to sustain the continuing effort in maintaining and improving the overall appearance and health of Riva Ridge's plant life the Umbrella Board recently voted to seek and hire an impartial Arborist to conduct a thorough survey of all the plantings within Riva Ridge.

The recent scare of the Asian Longhorn Beatle, in the Chi cago area and sightings of Gypsy Moths moving into Northern Lake County from Wisconsin coupled with a strong interest in maintaining all the vegetation in a healthy state prompted this action. One of the strong features of Riva Ridge is its maturing landscape stock. The Board di rected our property manager ASI to seek the services of an impartial arborist. A person or firm who is not directly in volved in providing landscape services or in the sale of plant materials. Riva Ridge presently employs Acres Landscapers and Hendricksen Tree Service. They will not be involved in this survey.

This endeavor will probably not be completed until some time next year after the arborist is hired and has an oppor tunity to evaluate conditions in the winter months and after the plantings and trees begins their Spring re-growth.

Our plantings and trees comprise our largest assets and helps make Riva Ridge what it is now and is to be in the future. With over 1100 trees and a larger number of bushes and shrubs on site the Board felt an outside, impartial look was wise at this time.

 
Maintenance
Tips for Unit Owners
As Riva Ridge approaches 15 years in age, proper main tenance of your furnace, air conditioner and water heater can extend the life of these utilities and save you the cost of repair and or replacement.

Your Furnace
Have you had your furnace inspected for proper Winter use? This should include but not limited to filters, proper flame ignition, control module, lubricating blower motor, inspection of your humidifier and re placement of its media filter if needed.

Your Water Heater
When was the last time you drained and flushed your hot water heater? Sediment and chemicals in the water collect in the bottom, shortening the life as well as low ering the water heater's efficiency.

Dripping Faucets / Toilets
Dripping faucets and toilets cost big dollars. The Resi dential Association's largest expenditure each year is

      the water and sewer bills. In excess of $110,000. Since our water bill is issued every 60 days a running toilet or dripping faucet can add $300 to $400 to a bill before the management companies can catch the problem. Help keep your monthly assessments down, please fix leaks immediately.
Protect your home and family from carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide can be a deadly killer. This odorless, colorless gas, known by its chemical symbol CO. is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the United States each year. More than 1,500 people are killed annually and another 10,000 are injured. In the past two years there have been two deaths in Riva Ridge caused by Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Both cases were when people closed their garage doors with their car engines running. Please keep your garage door open when your car engine is on.

As we start to keep our windows and doors closed for the cold Winter months now is the time to check or in- stall Carbon Monoxide detectors.
The DIRECTORS of our BOARDS


Residential I Association
David Higgins, President & Acting Treasurer

Rich Bartelt, Vice President
Mark Bohnhoff, Secretary
Jerry Myers, Director

Kalman Management Company Al Kalman, Managing Agent

Residential II Association Umbrella Association 


Thomas Hanson, President
Bernie Pilchen,
Vice PresidentlSecretazy

 
 
 
Association Specialists, Inc.
830 Buffalo Grove Road #105
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089
847-459-6565
Carole Gregor, Managing Agent
Association Specialists, Inc.
830 Buffalo Grove Road #105
Buffalo Grove, II 60089
847-459-6565
Carole Gregor, Managing Agent

 
Residential I News
Riva Ridge Residential One will be publishing their own newsletter.
 
 

Holiday Decorations
Decorations are a beautiful addition to Riva Ridge during the holiday season. As a
homeowner or renter you do have rules and regulations that must be followed.

Keep in mind that nothing is permitted to be affixed, hung, or placed on any portion of a building exterior, balconies, lampposts, mail boxes, sidewalks, driveways, or lawns. Here are some ideas to dress up your home, and still be in compliance:

· The inside of-your unit is yours to decorate in any way you see fit. Just be careful about potential fire or electrical hazards.

· The inside of windows or glass storm doors are great for wreaths, holly, spray-on snow, sparkle, ribbons, and even twinkling lights.

· Small, non-electric wreaths or ribbons may be placed over or hung from coach-lights located on the building or front wall of garages.

· Holiday theme flags may be flown from the same bracket normally used to display American flags.

· Shrubs and evergreen trees may be strung with lights to create outside festivity. Caution should be taken to use only UL approved outdoor cords, and to plug them into the weather-proof outlets near your front and rear entrances. Do not plug into the lampposts or carriage light fixtures. Neither should you replace their special bulbs with colored lights.

· When in doubt, contact your managing agent before doing anything not clearly spelled out.

· Please have decorations removed by January 8, 2001.

· Christmas trees will be picked-up on the regular gar bage pick-up days.
Residential II News Annual Election
The annual election of our Board took place on Septem ber 21, 2000, and Jim Darnell of Ruidoso Court was elected by acclamation. Thanks to all who attended and to all who mailed their proxies, enabling the election to take place. One Board position remains unfilled and we encourage homeowners to reconsider their decision not to serve on the board. If you have any interest in serv ing, please contact Donna Gearhart at ASI or present Board members if you have any questions.

Damaged Siding
Damaged siding is scheduled to be replaced before year- end. Acres will cover a good portion of this expense due to lawnmower damage.

Dryer Vents
The outside dryer vent cleaning program is complete.
We urge everyone to now have their inside dryer vents
cleaned. Accumulated lint is a common cause of fires.

Garage Door Replacement
The garage door replacement program has been rein stated. If you replace yours with an approved metal ga rage door prior to December 31, 2000, not only is spe cial pricing in effect at AERO DOOR Co., but the asso ciation will rebate to you $50 per door.

Roofs
We have not experienced any major roof expenses so far which has allowed us to build up our replacement reserve. The Board will be looking into possible meth ods on ways to protect and prolong the life of these roofs. We are also considering a new study that would assist in pinpointing those roofs that will require atten tion first. We welcome any professional help or consul tation that homeowners with expertise in this area can
—--gwe us. Give Donna at ASI a call.

Painting Schedule
Our regular painting schedule will begin again this com ing Spring, starting with Kempton and Suffolk. During this period, please notify ASI if you see any rotted wood or peeling paint on any building and they will arrange to have the matter taken care of. You must be able to give correct location and specifics to ASI so a proper work order can be prepared.

Next Residential Two Meeting
The next open meeting of the Residential II Board will
take place on December 12, 2000 at 7:00 PM, at the
Libertyville Township Hall. Please join us.

 
 
 
Serving as a Board Member

In many Condo Associations, once you move in you are put on a list to serve as a Board Member. When your name comes up, you serve. In Riva Ridge, you have a choice, run for office and support the Association or pass. Unfortunately in Riva Ridge we have too many residents who pass and it is very difficult to get people to run for office or fill vacancies. With a 5-8% turnover in units annually you would think that new residents would want to be involved. Not so. Many of the Boards have residents who have served 8-10 years and on multiple boards.

What we hear the most is "I don't have the time."
Lets examine this. In Riva Ridge, dependent on which Association you get involved with, they meet anywhere from four to twelve times a year with the average meeting time lasting three hours. There are 8760 hours in a year, attending 12 meetings at 3 hours each represents less than 1/2% of the total hours available. Is that a lot of time? Let's say that you need to spend an additional eight hours a month in meeting preparation or 11 total hours a month. You now would spend 1-1/2% of your total available hours. If you owned a detached home, you would spend those hours, mowing grass, shoveling snow, painting and fixing. Board Members select and assign tasks to professionals.
 

"I don't feel I am qualified to be a Board Member."
Do you handle your own finances, research, and make decisions on major purchases? If the answer is yes, there is no reason why you can't serve as a Board Member. Keep in mind that each Association has a management com pany to execute their Board's directives as well as provide advise. Condos have rules as guidelines, the Illinois Condo Act, the Association's declarations, rules and regulations and an attorney to provide clarification when re quired. Also Board members are insured against legal action.

"How long would I have to serve?"
At an annual election the terms of office could be one or two years, with the highest vote getters doing the two year term. If you are filling a Board vacancy the term expires at the next election.

"Are there other reasons to serve on the board?"
For most people, the residence they own is their largest investment. Keeping Riva Ridge financially sound, well maintained and attractive in appearance increases the value of their investment. That should be reason enough to want to protect and assist in making your investment grow.

"I have attended or heard of meetings where homeowners are very irritated and vocal with the Board. I don't like to be in those situations."
In some cases the homeowners have legitimate issues that have not been resolved in a timely fashion. In other cases there are homeowners who disagree with the actions of the Board. We don't live in a perfect world and eve ryone has the right to express his or hers opinion. These issues are the exception and not the rule.

"Who do I contact if I want to serve on a Board?"
Call Association Specialists Inc. at 847-459-6565 for the Umbrella Association or Residential Two Association. Call Kalman Management Co. at 847-362-9624 for Residential One Association.