Hawthorne Hills Homeowners Association - bloomington IL
Hawthorne Hills Homeowners Association - bloomington IL
ATTENTION HAWTHORNE HILLS MEMBERS REGARDING HAWTHORNE II (H2) LAKE: The H2 Board of Directors has asked the Hawthorne Hills Board to let our members know that H2 has had incidents at their lake involving vandalism, trespassing, littering, loitering and fishing after dusk and verbal confrontations with H2 members by people being asked if they are trespassing on private property. Please know that Hawthorne Hills members and family are allowed to walk around and fish at the H2 lake, subject to its rules, by an agreement with H2 that allows their members to use the Hawthorne Hills tennis courts, subject to its rules. One rule of the H2 lake is that fishing, loitering or congregating with friends at the H2 lake after dark between dusk and dawn is not permitted by the H2 Board. Walking around the lake at night, however, is permitted. For the Hawthorne II Lake Guidelines, please go to the H2 website at https://hawthorne2.com.
Click the following to review the Proposed Restrictive Convenant regarding restricting short term rentals (Now officially approved):
Proposed Amendment to the Protective Covenants
Please stay safe while using the Hawthorne Hills Lake. Reminder Illinois law mandates children under the age of 13 must wear a U.S. Coast Guard- approved life jacket (PFD) at all times while on the deck or in the cockpit of any watercraft (including kayaks, and canoes) while underway. Also, all vessels must have at least one readily accessible wearable USCG- approved PFD for each person on board.
Click on the link for additional information:
The Handbook of Illinois Boating Laws and Responsibilities
The approved areas for fishing on the Hawthorne Hills lake are from the park beach and dock, the Airport Road levee, and the common area on the south dam running along General Electric Road. Everywhere else along the lake is private property where only the resident and their guests can fish. Non-Hawthorne Hills residents must have an adult resident with them in order to use our common areas. Several of our neighbors have had issues with uninvited individuals fishing from their property and we would appreciate everyone's help in addressing this.
Per the city of Bloomington, garbage and recycling containers may be placed out for collection at the curb, but NOT in the street, no earlier than 2:00 p.m. on the day prior to scheduled collection, and no later than 6:00 a.m. on the day of the collection. Empty containers must be removed from the curb no later than 9:00 a.m. on the day following collection. While the city requires garbage carts and recycling bins to be stored your garage, backyard or a location not visible from the street, we would encourage neighbors to use their garage whenever possible.
All fences and additions require review by the board.
November
Annual Meeting of Members:
Quorum with 20 Full Voting Members and one Hawthorne Village representative attending in person and 28 proxies.
Handouts from the meeting are available to all members, including a 10% discount card off tree removal from Embark. Please send request for handouts to the Association mailbox on the website. Also please send in your email address if we don't have it.
Eitan Weltman and Colleen Curran resigned from the Board over the course of this year after serving 30 and 29 years, respectively -- thanks to you both for all your years of service. Kelly Thul and Paula Naour were re-elected to their Board positions for another 3 years with one Board position remaining open. If a Full Voting Member is interested, please let one of the Board members know and the Board would ask that you please plan on attending one of the Board meetings in 2026 that are published on the website to get familiar with the Board and its work.
Paula Naour, Treasurer, reviewed the financial condition of the Association and projected income and reserves as of year end. Basically, the Association is now operating at a break-even level due to increased expenses, with not enough income to build up reserves.
With the dues increase of $75/member on the agenda, the Board highlighted cost savings measures it has taken: competitive bids on contracts, soliciting members to volunteer to work on projects, more electronic communication and via the website, and electronic access to the directory rather than printing. Kelly Thul, President of the Board, reviewed with membership the document included in the meeting notice explaining the need for the dues increase. The motion approving the dues increase passed with only 2 opposed.
Audra Rushforth, (Park Representative) reviewed the handouts of the 2025 maintenance projects and improvements and those expected in the future. Members were very supportive of continuing to have holiday lights in the park and on the dam.
The condition of the lake this summer was discussed in new business. Sara Mayer (Lake Representative) explained the severe outbreak that hit other neighborhoods with lakes. Our contractor has a plan to address the problem next season with different chemicals and more aerators if necessary and not cost prohibitive.
Annual Meeting of Directors:
Next meeting of directors set for Monday, December 7 at 7 pm via Zoom to review the 3 contractor bids expected by December 1.
Officers elected for 2026:
Kelly Thul - President
Sara Mayer - Vice President
Paula Naour - Treasurer
Gregg Mecherle - Secretary
Kelly is working with a lot owner on an issue with the gravity flow system.
A couple Association members are interested in the open Board position.
Audra Rushforth sought a new bid from the contractor for the holiday lights to reduce costs. New bid was acceptable.
The October 2025 financial statements that Paula presented to the Board are available for members to request.
First Board meeting in 2026 will be Tuesday, January 20 at Kelly Thul's home at 2108 Hackberry.
October
Projected net income for year about $9600 which is lower than needed to fully fund the annual payment we make into reserves each year. Projected reserves by year end should be about $36,000.
We've received bids on 5 masonry projects for about $37,000.
Lawn & lake maintenance contracts are expected to cost more next year. Bids are being solicited for lawn & park maintenance contract. Bids will be solicited for separate contract on installing and taking down holiday lights.
Troy Frerichs of Redbud Lane expressed interest in serving on the Board and attended the meeting. Troy was elected to the Board to serve out Eitan Weltman's term through end of 2027.
Board members preparing presentations for Annual Meeting of Members on Wednesday, November 12 at 6:30 at Central Catholic High School cafeteria. Board is proposing a dues increase of $75/year due to higher costs and inflation since last dues increase in 2021. Sara Mayer will bring discount cards for Hawthorne Hills members to the Annual Meeting from Embark for 10% off tree removal service.
September
The Association has $81,000 in its checking account at the end of August (which includes reserves).
Sara Mayer developed a Christmas/holiday lighting plan to seek bids for installation this upcoming season.
Also will seek bids from contractors on the annual lawn and park maintenance incorporating our finalized performance standards. We will be asking for contractors to consider a 2 year contract and including installation of the Christmas/holiday lights as part of that contract.
Emerald ash borer and needlecast of spruce trees is still an issue in the neighborhood. In addition, there are many dead trees in neighbors' yards that they need to remove.
The Board's lake representative will be discussing with the lake contractor how we can remediate the coontail problem we had this summer and the low oxygen level in the lake.
Picnic was successful but showed the need for a working outlet on or near the pavilion along with a water spigot.
Hawthorne 2 (H2) has had issues at its lake as described on its website and on ours. H2 has asked us to communicate to our membership that it is proposing procedures for approval at its annual meeting in November that would have to be followed by our members if they want to fish at H2 lake.
Discussed agenda for Annual Meeting of Members on Wednesday, November 12 at 6:30 at Central Catholic High School's cafeteria.
Next Board meeting set for Wednesday, October 15 @ 7 pm @ Sara Mayer's home at 16 Smokey Court.
July
Board discussed ways to save on expenses, including foregoing a printed directory to save about $1300 in expenses. This will be added as a topic for discussion at the Annual Meeting of Members in November.
Board discussed improving the neighborhood by plantings at the entrances, but with costs an issue, that work will be staggered. As for maintenance items, the Board noted the Pavilion floor is cracking due to tree roots and will need to be addressed. Also masonry work needed in several areas of the park and dam, and a dead tree by the tennis courts needs to be removed.
Board discussed planning for the Annual Picnic on Sunday August 17 from 4-7 pm.
Board is planning a communication to members about the restrictive covenant.
Hawthorne 2 has asked us to communicate to our members that H2 has been having issues at their lake after dark when no fishing or loitering is allowed. The Board is working on a communication to our members of what is permitted at H2 lake by our members.
June
Paula Naour, Treasurer, presented year to date income and expenses and a financial forecast through the end of the year (to be updated after June financials are in). Projected cash on hand at year end is about $35,000.
Art Eiff, Audra Rushforth and Sara Mayer are working on a 5 year plan of maintenance items and future needed projects, such as rezoning the irrigation system in the park, to help with planning of future expenses.
Need to rebid the lawn maintenance contract for next year and review the performance requirements to be built into the contract.
IL DNR requires any boat passengers under age 13 on the lake to wear a life vest. The Handbook of Illinois Boating Laws and Responsibilities
Communications to members will be going out about the annual picnic on Sunday, August 17 (rain date Monday, August 18) 4:00-7:00 pm.
Discussed status of adoption of restrictive covenant. Association member Randy Kull attended for the discussion.
Board discussed problems with NextDoor as a communication vehicle for members to raise issues with the Board about neighborhood issues. Members seeking responses from the Board should use the Association website to send an email to the Board's inbox and the Board will communicate directly to members.
2026 Calendar
January 20 - hosted by Kelly Thul
February 17 - Meeting via ZOOM
March 2 - Annual Dues due
March 17 - hosted by Troy Frerichs
April 21 – hosted by Audra Rushforth
May 19 - hosted Sara Mayer
June 16 – hosted by Jill Smith
July 21 – hosted by Gregg Mecherle
August 16 - Annual Picnic/Event, 4pm-7pm (August 17 rain date)
September 15 – hosted by Paula Naour
October 20 – hosted by Sara Mayer
November Annual Membership Meeting - November 11th @ 6:30PM in the Central Catholic High School Cafeteria
December - No Board Meeting in December unless needed
Meetings at 7:00 PM unless otherwise noted. Members are welcome to attend. Please notify the Board if you plan to attend so the host can ensure enough seating. Minutes available by request.
Kelly Thul - President
Open - Vice President
Paula Naour - Treasurer
Gregg Mecherle - Secretary
Art Eiff - Infrastructure/Neighborhood Watch
Jill Smith - Communications
Audra Rushforth - Park and Grounds
Sara Mayer - Lake
Troy Frerichs - Member at Large
Questions? Concerns? Please contact a Board member or e-mail us at hawthornehills@gmail.com
Our postal address is:
Hawthorne Hills Homeowners Association
P.O. Box 202
Bloomington, Illinois 61702- 0202