17 minute read
From the Board
President Paul L. Szymkowicz
CLPOC BOARD OF DIRECTORS board@clpoc.org
OFFICERS President Paul Szymkowicz pls.clpoc@gmail.com John Colley Vice President jacclpoc@gmail.com Treasurer James French jbf.clpoc@gmail.com Secretary Steve Wilcox doctorw.clpoc@gmail.com
DIRECTORS-AT-LARGE Dan Altier altierdt@gmail.com Daniel Rice dozerrice1960@gmail.com Shannon Hannon shannon.clpoc@gmail.com Jerry Juncker juncker.jerald@yahoo.com Steve Brandt abrandtcl@gmail.com
CLPOC BOARD MEETINGS Regular Monthly Board Meeting Fourth Saturday 9 a.m., Highland Haus Workshop Board Meeting Second Wednesday 5:30 p.m., CLPOC Office Conference Room
Spring is in the Air
As I compose this message, I am looking out the window. The sun is shining, and the snow is starting to melt. Spring is on the way. For me, this winter has been quite different than any of my previous ones. Even though I am not a full-time resident of Canadian Lakes, I have spent as much time here this past winter as I do during the summer. I have been a member here in Canadian Lakes for nearly fifty-two years.
As a child, our family visited here year-round. Spring, summer, and the fall were always great times, the winter not so much. If we were lucky and had enough natural snow, the ski lifts would be running and maybe some ice fishing. This winter, I had a totally different perspective of our community. The number of residents that spend the winter here caught me off guard. With all the events and activities here throughout the winter it’s no wonder why so many members stay around to enjoy this season.
Soon there will be waves on the lakes, boats on the water, and people on the beaches. The grass will be turning green, there will be members enjoying the golf courses and the many parks throughout our community. To our members that leave us for the winter, we look forward to your return and wish you safe travels.
Last year the corporation acquired the naming rights “Canadian Lakes”. This was a very important step in moving forward with the restatement of our “Articles of Incorporation”. In the fall, the membership voted to approve the restated articles. I am pleased to announce that the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) has received and accepted the new articles, and they are posted on our website.
Just over two years ago the membership approved a five-year funding plan. This plan was unique in several ways. It included the greens fees for The Pines and The Highlands golf courses and use of the indoor and outdoor pools in the membership fee. But most notably, it was a plan with a two-year review. The purpose of this review is to determine how successful the plan has been operating over a two-year period, and to determine if it could remain viable over its remaining three years.
While we await the full report on the funding plan review, there are two things we know for sure. The two key components of the plan are stability and sustainability. During the pandemic the plan proved its fiscal stability. As many businesses were closing, the stable funding provided CLPOC the security to weather the resulting economic downturn.
The component of sustainability has also proven important. Prior plans were directly tied to the fluctuation of the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The current plan provides for an annual rate adjustment floor which is designed to protect the financial health of the CLPOC, and a ceiling which is designed to protect the financial health of the membership. In this, the second year of the plan, inflation has soared to over 9%, but with an annual rate adjustment ceiling of 4.3% we are able, through cost containments, to maintain our many services and amenities without over burdening the membership. The full report will provide a guide to the final three years of the plan. As one of the three architects of this plan, I am looking forward to reading the result of this review.
With all the positive momentum that we have gained over the last two years, I am excited to see what this summer and the rest of this year has instore for all of us.
I would like to thank our employees, staff and all our volunteers that help make Canadian Lakes the truly remarkable community that it is today.
CANADIAN LAKES PROPERTY OWNERS VISION STATEMENT Canadian Lakes is a premier recreational and residential community set in West Michigan’s scenic heartland. As a unified community of private property owners offering an unequaled quality of life, Canadian Lakes fulfills the diverse needs of all members in a natural setting for present and future generations to enjoy. This Core Vision is characterized by: • The natural beauty of the area and its desirability as a place to live • Outstanding recreational and social activities
• Financial soundness and sustainability • Protection of property values through disciplined growth and the development and maintenance of a high quality infrastructure. CORE VALUES • Our heritage: We value our history and its ideals of friendliness, mutual support, affordability, and shared responsibility for our natural environment.
• Participating in the activities we love: We value participating in activities we love with our friends and neighbors and supporting the diverse and changing interests of our members. • Protecting property values: We value taking proactive steps to protect and enhance the investment members have made in their homes and in community amenities. • Financial soundness and sustainability: We value a financial structure that enables us now and in the future to meet community standards for the quality of our properties, membership programs and services and safety. • Shared governance: We value and depend on the leadership and participation of members in the governance activities of the community and on an informed membership. • Volunteerism: We value the active volunteer community service of our members, both in Canadian Lakes and in the surrounding communities. • Leading into the future: We value careful planning, openness to change, and taking proactive steps that will ensure our best future as a community.
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Members-At-Large
WHAT IS A MEMBER-AT-LARGE AND WHAT’S THEIR
ROLE? Our Board of Directors currently has three committees specific to a department, or specific to an area in which we need an advisory committee of board members and membersat-large. In this issue and future issues to come we will highlight these members-at-large so you can get to know them and see what they are up to.
These members-at-large are the glue that holds these committees together. They help develop processes, make conclusions, and execute plans to further better our community. Most committee members use their professional backgrounds to help advise their specific committees.
There are committee applications for members in goodstanding to fill out if they are interested in being on a Board Committee. It’s a great way to get involved and be part of the process! These committees consist of Strategic Planning, Finance, and Architectural Control.
Today we start with the Architectural Control Committee (ACC) members-at-large. The ACC currently has two members-at-large: Glenn Spence and Don Charles. Read below to see what they have to say about their committee and what they have to say about themselves.
Glenn Spence ACC Member-At-Large
Marilyn, my wife, and I moved to Canadian Lakes from Farmington Hills in 2018 and live here full time. We live on the West Branch of the Little Muskegon River and greatly enjoy the rich wildlife and our neighbors.
I had a lengthy career at Detroit Edison, and following that I moved into real estate appraisal working for a firm in Ann Arbor that specialized in litigation support involving land condemnations. In 2008, I was able to elevate my license to Certified General and acquired a job in real estate with the US Army Corps of Engineers in Detroit. I retired from the Corps in 2016.
Following our move here I was accepted on the Architectural Control Committee (ACC) where I’m beginning my fourth year. The Architectural Control Committee is a standing committee of the Canadian Lakes Property Owners Corporation. Its primary purpose is to educate and assist members with applications and understanding the covenants, conditions, and restrictions of the various plat documents within Canadian Lakes.
ACC Duties & Responsibilities
1. Develop policies, procedures and guidelines to administer and comply with the covenants, conditions and restrictions relating to the Canadian
Lakes community. The ACC may authorize the General Manager or specifically identified CLPOC staff authority to approve applications for replacement items, color changes and other alterations covered by deed restrictions. 2. Provide to members instructions and forms necessary to apply for approval of house or improvement plans. 3. Review, approve and/or deny any submitted applications covering new home construction or renovation and improvement of existing properties which comply with the covenants, conditions, and restrictions of the various plat documents within Canadian Lakes. 4. Review, approve, or deny requests for variance or waiver concerning matters brought before the committee. The committee shall cooperate with local governing entities on setback rules, building, and location requirements.
The committee meets monthly or more often depending on the volume of work. Last year we moved to bi-weekly meetings to provide timely responses to member requests as there was quite a lot of new construction of houses, garages, and sheds.
I restarted playing golf after a 15-year hiatus and enjoy the courses, although there were some initial difficulties with my equipment. It turns out unused golf shoes do not age well, and the soles departed the shoes on the 6th hole of my first outing!
Prior to the pandemic we cruised annually and have been to most of the Caribbean Islands, as well as around South America. Alaska was very enjoyable as well. We have scheduled our next journey in 2023 and hope ‘normal’ or something close to that will permit cruising without adverse conditions.
We haven’t looked back to our downstate days and look forward to many years here.
Aloha! (Bet you didn’t see that one coming!) Gabi, my wife, and I moved here five years ago when I graciously (ok, maybe eagerly) accepted an offer to retire early from 15 years at Bank of Hawaii. I was the Chief Compliance Officer of the investment advisor to Bank of Hawaii’s mutual fund family, and also manager of compliance for the Trust Division.
When I retired in 2016, I decided to look for waterfront properties for sale in Michigan, since that’s where my brother and two sisters lived. We all grew up in the Traverse City area as kids. Low and behold, the first place that popped up on my Google search was Canadian Lakes (Thanks, Jessica!). Never heard of it, which was really weird, since I graduated from Ferris State College in 1974. Long story short, Gabi and I put an offer on our house that was accepted in about an hour, on Valentine’s Day, 2017.
My adventure began. First, I joined the Fishing Club, where I eventually became the Tackle Coordinator, refurbishing donated fishing rods and reels to give to anyone in need. Later I became the Fishing Club Treasurer. Then Gabi and I signed up for Mobile Watch. Last year, I became the Captain of Area 5 and the Assistant CoCoordinator for the program.
In January 2019, I applied for membership on the Architectural Control Committee (ACC), having at one point in my career managed a trust real estate department. Aside from knowing the general purpose of the ACC, I had no clue how much was involved with approving new builds, additions, sheds, fences, dog runs and whatever else came up. I only knew that my purpose on the committee, along with the other members, was to keep Canadian Lakes close to its original intent as a beautiful place to live, while conforming to the individual deed restrictions of the 52 subdivisions in Canadian Lakes.
What I find most interesting and challenging about being on the ACC is trying to balance the traditional, early builds of the beautiful homes we have here, with the desires of new residents for more modern designs and building materials, and thus enable Canadian Lakes to prosper. This helps to preserve our property values. It’s great that we can work with owners and contractors (some of whom have come back to the ACC three times for approvals) to arrive at a mutual agreement of what fits the neighborhood. That’s what the ACC is all about.
And so that’s my goal on the ACC, to make Canadian Lakes an even greater place for all residents to live, both current and future!
30+ years experience
The difference between Ordinary and Extraordinary is the little Extra!
2021 BEACH PROJECT WRAP-UP
By Dan RicetTHE NEW BEACHES are ready for members to stop in and say hi! 2022 will mark the fi rst full year, including the Memorial Day and 4th of July Holidays, where all of the members and their guests of CLPOC will get to enjoy the benefi ts of the Beach Rejuvenation Project completed at the end of July 2021. Come to the beach! Swim, soak up the sun, pull up your boat, make some sandcastles or just hang out with family and friends, and enjoy another great day living the GOOD Life this year in Canadian Lakes! Th e project was approved by the Board of Directors at the September 26, 2020, board meeting. Th e total cost for the project was not to exceed $85,000. Th e 5-Year Funding Plan that CLPOC currently operates under has successfully achieved the targets for capital funding, and recently was able to provide the necessary funding for several projects, with the beach project being one of the successes. And there is more to come!
PROJECT BACKGROUND:
Th e beach rejuvenation project included fi ve (5) beaches that were identifi ed as the fi rst priority based primarily on current condition, rate of usage by our membership, and value that the beach amenities provide for all property owners in the Canadian Lakes Property Owners Corporation. Th e beaches, and consequently the lakes, are one of the primary assets that CLPOC owns, and they benefi t both unimproved and improved lot property owners, regardless of the location of the individual property(s) each member owns. Th ey provide value.
Th e identifi ed beaches were sorely in need of removal of foreign objects, rocks and stones ranging from 12-150mm in size, organic material accumulation from several years to decades of heavy use, natural debris from leaf or wood breakdown, underwater plant residual washing ashore, accumulation of dirt and silt from our typical four-season environment in Michigan, etc., etc. Simply put, those fi ve beaches identifi ed were “worn out” and the beaches needed a full replacement.
So, Greg Babbitt, CLPOC GM, department heads, and operational staff went to work, along with one of the volunteer committees, and completed the scope and engineering necessary to undertake our normal competitive quoting process and identify a contractor to complete this major project. Th e sand was heavily researched and tested. Th e sand was, in general, a large grain size specifi ed for beach use, approximately 0.5-2.5mm in particle size, screened/washed and targeted for Michigan beach sand use.
We used a local contactor that owns their own quarries, Pitcher Perfect Excavating in Montcalm County, and they did a great job and brought the project in under budget at $73,090.00.
Also, the Gift s & Memorial Committee, on behalf of the Reuther Memorial fund, donated a memorial gift of $5,625 for use towards the beach project work. So, subtracting this amount out, the cost to our capital projects funds ended up being $67,465.00, well below the $85,000 budgeted for the project. We are so grateful for such a generous memorial gift .
Photo credit: Dale Puckett
AND THE REST IS HISTORY!
Five beaches had all the worn out sand in their defi ned beach perimeters removed, transported away and “new” rated beach sand was brought in, installed, leveled and fi ve new sand beaches were created. Th e old sand removed, and the new sand replacement was in the ballpark of 2,500 cubic yards.
Just an interesting factoid, one cubic yard of beach sand weighs approximately over 2,200 pounds, or for those metric scale people out there, around 1,000 kilograms. So that’s a lot of truck loads for sure.
So, the “new beaches” are Pierce, Holiday, Lookout, Far West and White Pine. We appreciate the numerous positive comments received from our community members that enjoyed the use of these beaches last year during the latter part of July and then throughout August to November 1.
We hope you all continue to enjoy these great beaches for many years to come.
Casey Smith, our Facilities and Compliance Director, working in conjunction with Bill Hull, our Maintenance Superintendent, and their staff have established the plans in place to maintain these beaches going into the future. We would also like to thank some of the volunteers last year that stepped up and completed periodic beach raking at collection points. Th ese volunteers helped to keep our beaches as free as possible of toys, towels and other personal items left behind, as well as some of the fl oating weeds and other objects that can collect on our beaches due to wind and currents.
Th is year we hope to have even more organized volunteer eff orts to work alongside of our staff to keep our beaches pristine. So, what is next for this year regarding beaches?
Well, we are busy scoping out which beaches may need partial installation of new sand, and grading along with sift ing to remove stones, rocks or any other sized debris that have accumulated. So more to come while we continue to upgrade our beach areas here in Canadian Lakes!
Th ank you to all the property owner members as we could never complete these types of projects without your support!
Here’s to a great 2022 fi lled with lake and beach fun!
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