Water Authority Chooses Officers; Hears Concerns from Lake Residents

Effingham Water Authority trustees re-elected their officers at a special meeting this month.

That includes Chairman Rob Brown, Vice-Chairman and Secretary Jim Boos, and Treasurer Chris Kabbes. 

The Board re-hired all EWA employees. They include Lake Superintendent Michael Dirks, Office Manager Susan Verdeyen, and Attorney Tony Siemer.

Brown also introduced Tony Stephens who he said would be attending the monthly meetings.

At the regular monthly meeting, trustees reviewed two bids from Merz Air Conditioning and Heating for air conditioning systems that could be installed in the Pearson Building at Lake Sara. A decision on the bids was tabled while the trustees get some clarification on the bids.

The Board heard from Aaron Quick on combining Lots 29 and 30 of Northwood Hills Subdivision into one Lot 29, and heard from Susan Dunlap on a drainage issue along Blue Point Trail. Repair work options were discussed and work is now underway.

John Jackson spoke to the board about culverts and drainage issues in his area, including the need for larger culverts and culverts that have been crushed and need replaced, along with a need to clean out ditches in that area.

Jack Schultz addressed an ongoing disrepair of property on Court Six. Schultz suggested fining the lessee daily, contract the work to be done and putting a lien on the property, or cancelling the lease. Siemer said the Water Authority is restricted as far as what they can legally do. Schultz suggested doing the work and that some of the neighbors might be interested in funding the project.

The Board heard from Bob Hecht regarding waves and wakes that seem to be taking their toll on the shore line. Tom Ryan of the Parks and Recreation Committee and Brad Hastings of the Boating Committee, who say that from various studies on other lakes that the weather does more damage, although there are bigger boats on the lake causing bigger waves and wakes. Ryan and Hastings also said that the sea walls at the lake are coming to the end of their lives and that measures should be taken in the near future to protect the shore and the lake.

Dirks reported on the repairs to South Shore Drive after the excessive rains in recent weeks. Dirks said the work is not going as quickly as expected due to having to co-ordinate with utility companies that have lines in the way that need re-routed.

Dirks also said that he and Ryan would like to have some ordinances in place for the beach area so patrolmen have more control over the area, especially for matters of vandalism and after hour curfew violations.