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Residents Complain About Pond on Cardinal Creek Golf Course
» Terry Gatlin - Beecher Herald - 08.21.08


At last Monday's Beecher Village Board meeting, members of the Concerned Citizens of Highlington Court appeared before the board to voice their concerns about the deplorable condition of a large pond on the Cardinal Creek Golf Course.

The pond is located behind the building that houses a number of businesses, including Essentials Salon and a child care center. The building used to house the Ace Hardware Store, just to give an indication of the pond's location.

The pond also is in front of the 9 Center tee on the course. Golfers have to shoot over this water hazard in order to get to the green. The pond is visible to the golfers on the Center Course.

The residents have complained to the village, village officials and to Julie Riechers about the condition of the pond. The pond is "in a deplorable condition" and is located "immediately adjacent (45 feet west) to the Highlington Court homeowners."

According to the homeowners, "the resulting problems are mosquito breeding and a putrid stench from decomposition." The homeowners said they cannot sit outside their houses, nor can they let their children and pets outside or even open the windows on certain days because of the stench.

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On Friday, July 11, according to a representative of the group, homeowners contacted Riechers, who assured them she would look into the situation. Because Riechers indicated that she was unable to visit the site, the homeowners contacted Ron Lyon, the director of operations for the golf course. Riechers said she "had telephoned Lyon, and was assured that the ponds had chemical treatments, etc."

Riechers also said "she had no reason to disbelieve Lyon." Riechers suggested that the homeowners contact the golf course directly to resolve the issue. According to the homeowners, the impression was that the resolution of the problem was theirs.

On July 19, Lyon attended a meeting of the homeowners association to address the situation. According to the association, he was shown photos of the pond. He replied, "the golf course only maintains the ponds that were visible to the golfers - because of the cost factor - but he would speak to the owners."

From information given at the board meeting, the homeowners have not been contacted by the golf course. According to a representative of the association, there has been no further contact from the village, the code inspector or the golf course.

On August 7, the village board received a letter from Lyon on behalf of the golf course.

According to Lyon, the golf course "is aware of the complaints from homeowners. Cardinal Creek is working very hard to accomplish the many maintenance issues on the entire golf course."

Lyon wrote: "The pond that is in question is on our list of course improvements that need to be done to further assist us in making Cardinal Creek the best public golf course in Chicagoland."

Lyon said: "We have ordered algae treatments for the pond and are going to drop the water level to assist us in working closer to the edge to remove the debris." "We realize the problem and are asking the village for more time to finish this project."

According to Pat Lane, a Highlington Court resident, this pond and its problems have persisted for more than 10 years. Three years ago, Lane spent $180 to put insecticide in the pond; and then spent $200 two years later to do the same thing. It seems nothing will improve the pond. According to Lane, the pond must be dealt with immediately to provide for the health and safety of the residents in the immediate vicinity of the pond.

Highlington Court residents and its HOA are getting restless about the lack of activity to clear up the problem.

The village board was of the opinion to give Cardinal Creek two weeks, until August 25, to clean up the pond. A letter indicating the intentions of the board will be sent to Cardinal Creek regarding this matter.

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