Vendors sought for 32nd Annual Ice Cream Social & Craft Fair
Artisans and crafters are invited to the heart of Jo Daviess County for the 32nd Annual Ice Cream Social & Arts and Craft Fair at Apple Canyon Lake on Sunday, September 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Spaces inside and out will be available to vendors displaying arts and crafts. Inside booths are limited and fill quickly.
Also welcome are vendors with fresh produce and plants as our Farmer’s Market returns. The Apple Canyon Lake Ice Cream Social has been an annual tradition for 32 years and Association members, as well as the public, look forward to this event each year which features barbecue, hot dogs, chips, a large selection of delicious homemade pies and desserts, and ice cream.
Booth space is available indoors and out. The craft fair and ice cream social goes on rain or shine. Your free-standing canopy is welcome, provided there are no stakes. For more information call 815-492-2769.
Call (815-492-2769) or email Cindy (applecore@applecanyonlake.org) asap with your shirt size and shift preference. Volunteers who sign up late may not get a t-shirt as the CVB must order them far in advance.
The Illinois Commerce Commission will hold a public forum to hear public comments on Apple Canyon Utility Company's proposed general increase in water rates in Apple River.
The public forum is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 2 at the Lake Clubhouse, 14A157 Canyon Club Dr. in Apple River, Jo Daviess County.
Oral or written comments will be accepted at the hearing. A stenographer will make a record of all comments for Commission review.
Written comments also may be submitted to the ICC through the public comment section of the website at www.icc.illinois.gov.
A schedule for the Commission review of this docket has been set and evidentiary hearings scheduled for May 18, 2010.
The deadline for Commission action on this matter is Sept. 12, 2010.
All testimony in this matter will be available as it is filed on the Commission's electronic docket system using case number 09-0548.
Three new members of the ACLPOA Board of Directors will be elected on April 10, 2010 at the Annual Meeting of the membership. Ballots will be mailed to all property owners on March 5, 2010.
All mailed ballots must be received at the Association office by 4:30 pm on Friday, April 9, or hand delivered to the Association office by 1pm on Saturday, April 10.
Ballots received in the mail AFTER Friday, April 9, 2010 will NOT be counted.
COMMITTEE FOR FAIR REAL ESTATE TAXES AT ACL REMINDER!
Now that the change in assessments have been published, those wishing to challenge the accuracy of the assessments have thirty (30) days to do so from the time of publication. Individual property owners must begin the process by filing a challenge with the Jo Daviess County Assessor office. Forms to do this, along with instructions on how to fill out, can be found on the Assessor's website. Completed forms, along with any documentation must be postmarked before January 28. Failure to follow the time line will result in your challenge being dismissed.
The Committee is available to help property owners with the data we have collected, but it is the Property Owner's responsibility to begin the process.
Once you have sent in the completed form, the Board of Review will make a determination on the accuracy of the assessment and the validity of your challenge. You will then receive a letter in the mail informing you of their decision. If you agree with their ruling, it is not necessary to do anything else. If you disagree, you can request a hearing, where you will be able to present your side of the argument. For those property owners not residing at the Lake full time, it is the Committee's understanding that a hearing can be conducted over the phone via conference line. You can contact the office of the County Assessor for further information.
The Committee
COMPLAINT FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE JO DAVIESS COUNTY ASSESSOR'S OFFICE AT THE JO DAVIESS COUNTY COURTHOUSE OR ONLINE AT: JoDaviess.org CLICK "COUNTY DEPARTMENTS" CLICK "ASSESSMENTS" CLICK ON THE BOX "APPLICATIONS AND FORMS" CLICK ON "BOR COMPLAINT FORM"
Official Publication of Real Estate Assessments For 2009
The following 2009 Real Estate Assessment List is the
result of revaluation based on sales of property for the years 2006, 2007 and
2008. According to Statute, all property is valued as of January 1, of the
current tax year and will not reflect any changes in the real estate market
since January 1, 2009.
Chief County Assessment Office
Jo Daviess County
Official
Publication of
Real Estate
Assessments For 2009
Notice to
Taxpayer
Median Level of Assessment 33.33
Your property is to be assessed at the above median
level of assessment. You may check the accuracy of your assessment by the
following procedure: multiply your assessment by three. The resulting cash
value should equal the estimated fair cash value of your property. If the
resulting value is greater than the estimated fair cash value of your property,
you may be over-assessed. If the resulting value is less than the fair cash
value of your property, you may be under-assessed.You may appeal your assessment to the Jo
Daviess County Board of Review by January 28, 2010. Complaint forms are
available by calling (815) 777-1016 or under Applications and Forms @www.jodaviess.org.
PROTEST THE WATER RATE INCREASE PROPOSED BY APPLE CANYON UTILITIES COMPANY
While the ACLPOA has sought legal counsel to prepare a formal document to submit to the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) to protest the rate increase proposed by Apple Canyon Utilities Company, property owners are also encouraged to submit a letter to the ICC on their own behalf.
Several property owners have expressed their frustration at the confusing process offered on the ICC's website. One member, whose life work is online communications, was equally frustrated with the ICC's system. She states "After
speaking with a representative on the phone from the Commerce Commission
office, I found there are three different places to enter complaint information
and that I have to request that my comment be made public, and that I had to request a call-back if I want to receive an update."
She also learned that anyone may request (through the website) notifications when
anything related to the case happens; a filing, court dates, etc.
To keep abreast of the case, go to the ICC’s website at www.icc.illinois.gov
and type 09-0548 in the box asking for the case number under “e-Docket”
on the right-hand side of the page. Here you will be able to read file
your protest, and read case details, docket sheets, staff assigned,
service lists, case schedules, and documents. You may also read and
/or leave public comments.
Chief Clerk of the Illinois Commerce Commission 527 East Capitol Avenue Springfield, IL 62701 Re: Docket #09-0548
If you are interested in getting notices, updates, or reminders about items of importance at Apple Canyon Lake, please contact us with your name, address, Lot number, cell phone number and email address and ask to be put on the list. Email Communications Director
For detailed maps of each neighborhood section go to the DIRECTIONS button on the homepage and click on SUBDIVISIONS at the top of the page to view specific subdivisions.
Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) confirmed in Illinois; Help keep it out of our ACL community Illinois Department of Agriculture activates state response plan to eradicate the exotic pest; urges public to learn the signs of EAB infestation and promptly report suspected cases
GENEVA, Ill. - A destructive, non-native pest that feasts on ash trees has been detected in northern Illinois. The Illinois Department of Agriculture announced today that a beetle found in the yard of a Kane County home east of Lily Lake is an emerald ash borer (EAB).
"A coalition of local, state and federal agencies, including the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Forest Service and Illinois Department of Agriculture, has been preparing for this day the past two years," Agriculture Director Chuck Hartke said. "Now that the emerald ash borer has been confirmed within our borders, we'll activate our response plan and begin the task of eradicating it. The first step is to conduct an extensive survey of ash trees in the area to determine the extent of damage. The findings will help establish boundaries for a quarantine that will stop the movement of potentially contaminated wood and nursery products out of the area and prevent the spread of this pest."
The emerald ash borer is a small, metallic-green beetle native to Asia. Its larvae burrow into the bark of ash trees, causing the trees to starve and eventually die. While the beetle does not pose any direct risk to public health, it does threaten the tree population. Since the emerald ash borer was first confirmed in the Midwest in the summer of 2002, more than 20 million ash trees are dead or dying.
"We've had tremendous success identifying invasive species through public awareness and education," Warren Goetsch, IDOA division manager of Natural Resources, said. "Nearly every sighting of the Asian Long-horned beetle in Chicago was reported by a citizen. With that kind of assistance here, I'm optimistic we can contain this pest and save ash trees."
The homeowner discovered the beetle and alerted the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's Illinois field office, which sent the bug to its lab in Romulus, Mich., for identification and notified IDOA nursery inspectors.
Inspectors visited the residence in "The Windings" subdivision where the beetle was found and discovered several infested ash trees. They also canvassed the neighborhood and uncovered at least six additional infested trees within five-blocks of the residence, as well as evidence of an infestation in an adjacent subdivision to the north.
"The diversity of the landscaping in this neighborhood will help our eradication efforts," Goetsch added. "Only about 5 percent of the trees are ash varieties."
Inspectors have not determined how the beetle arrived in Illinois, but suspect it may have been transported here in contaminated firewood from a quarantined area in Michigan. Michigan and Illinois are two of the five states where EAB infestations have been confirmed. The others are Indiana, Ohio and Maryland.
The emerald ash borer typically moves only short distances by flying, but can survive long distances in transit on ash nursery stock, ash logs, branches and firewood. To avoid the accidental introduction of the beetle to new areas, people are advised to purchase only locally-grown nursery stock and locally-cut firewood.
The emerald ash borer is difficult to detect in newly-infested trees. Signs of infestation include the presence of metallic-green beetles about half the diameter of a penny on or around ash trees, thinning and yellowing leaves, D-shaped holes in the bark of the trunk or branches and shoots growing from the base of the tree. Anyone who suspects a tree has been infested is urged to first contact their county Extension office. The Illinois Department of Agriculture also will offer a toll-free hotline at 800-641-3934 for extension-confirmed infestations.
Options for treating infested trees are limited. In most instances, they must be removed.
SEE MAP OF EAB INFESTED AREAS Emerald Ash Borer: What YOU Can Do Editor's note: The following article is a press release of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). Although it refers to regions in Wisconsin, our timber stands in northern Illinois are equally at risk. The WDNR is at the forefront of conservation issues and the information they provide is just as pertinent for those of us in Illinois.
Early detection and isolation of any current and future emerald ash borer infestations is vital to saving the ash trees in Wisconsin's forestlands and urban areas. The emerald ash borer will attack and kill every ash tree in Wisconsin if given the chance. Thus, it is crucial that we reduce our risk of emerald ash borer spread by taking the following precautions:
1. Purchase and use local firewood. When camping, leave firewood at home and purchase aged firewood near your campsite location. Many parks offer firewood for sale at reasonable prices. Firewood is also often available from private sellers just outside the parks.
2. Firewood purchased at or near your destination should be used during your camping trip. Don't leave any unused wood behind and don't take it with you to another destination.
3. When buying firewood, make sure you receive pieces that are dry and either have no bark or loose bark (a sign that wood is very dry). Not only will this reduce the chance of spreading disease, but your fire will also start more easily.
4. Reduce your need for open fire by cooking over gas or charcoal. Instead of an evening campfire, explore new night-time activities like star-gazing or viewing wildlife by flashlight.
5. For woodland owners, the Department of Natural Resources and other scientists have completed ash management guidelines for Wisconsin. These guidelines aim to minimize the impact of emerald ash borer on our forests.
6. Maintain vigor of yard trees by watering during times of drought. Ash trees are highly sensitive to drought conditions and require adequate moisture throughout the growing season. Please note, though, that the emerald ash borer infests healthy trees as well as stressed ones.
7. Be on the lookout for this pest! Be familiar with the signs and symptoms ash trees display when infested by emerald ash borer. Also, know emerald ash borer identification and other pests that are look-alikes.
8. Report any suspected emerald ash borer infestations (if two or more symptoms or signs are present) to the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection by calling the Emerald Ash Borer Hotline at 1-800-462-2803.
9. Learn more by visiting Wisconsin's Emerald Ash Borer Resource.
ACL is in need of committee members. Do you have a little time to help make your community better?
Your Association needs you! ACL committees are in need of new members. There are many important issues facing ACLPOA and it takes different views and opinions before the best solutions can be reached.
Do you want the same few volunteers making all the recommendations and decisions at Apple Canyon Lake? Now is your chance to get involved with your Association and help determine the future of Apple Canyon Lake.
New members are sorely needed for Rules and Regulations, Legislative Action Committee, Campground, Deer Survey, Maintenance, and more.
Protect Apple Canyon Lake - TAKE VHS WARNINGS SERIOUSLY! Cynthia Carton See photos below
The possible presence of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) at Apple Canyon Lake is of grave concern to all of us. We ask that you please inform yourself of the dangers to area lakes and rivers brought about by this disease.
IF this disease should make its way to Apple Canyon Lake and result in a fish kill, our beautiful lake (and your investment) could become nothing but a body of water which could turn into a mud hole. No longer would you find the bass, walleye, crappie, blue gill or northern you fish from this lake every day. Please take the time to read all signs and postings with updated information about new state regulations, and ways you can help keep the lake free of not only VHS, but all invasive species as well.
RECOGNIZE THE SYMPTOMS The following symptoms could apply to many different fish diseases, therefore, VHS must be confirmed by lab tests. Additionally, some infected fish may not show any signs and transporting these fish to new locations could spread the disease to new waters. If you catch a diseased fish or observe a fish kill, contact security and the DNR immediately. • Hemorrhaging (bleeding) • Bulging eyes • Unusual behavior • Anemia • Bloated abdomens • Rapid onset of death
ALWAYS DO THE FOLLOWING The DNR (and ACL as well) is asking the public to take precautions similar to those used in stopping the spread of invasive species on all waters: • Inspect your boat, trailer and equipment and remove visible aquatic plants, animals, and mud. • Drain water from your boat, motor, bilge, live wells, and bait containers. • Do not move live fish from one water to another. • Dispose of leftover bait in the trash, not in the water or on land. • Buy your minnows from certified bait dealers or catch your own and use it to fish the water you caught it from. • Wash your boat and equipment with high pressure or hot water, or let it dry for five days.
LEARN MORE -- How VHS spreads and environmental factors Infected fish shed the virus in their urine and reproductive fluids. The virus can survive in water for at least 14 days. Virus particles in the water infect gill tissue first, and then move to the internal organs and the blood vessels. The blood vessels become weak, causing hemorrhages in the internal organs, muscle and skin. Fish can also be infected when they eat an infected fish. Fish that survive the infection will develop antibodies to the virus. Antibodies will protect the fish against new VHS virus infections for some time. However, the concentration of antibodies in the fish will drop over time and the fish may start shedding virus again. This may create a cycle of fish kills that occurs on a regular basis. The virus grows best in fish when water temperatures are 37-54°F. Most infected fish will die when water temperatures are 37- 41°F, and rarely die above 59 °F. Stress is an important factor in VHS outbreaks. Stress suppresses the immune system, causing infected fish to become diseased. Stressors include spawning hormones, poor water quality, lack of food, or excessive handling of fish. The Wisconsin DNR has an informative website that will help you become familiar with this disease. Log onto www.dnr.wi.gov/fish/vhs/
Example of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS).
Example of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) Showing External Hemorrhaging.
The ACL Heat Light/Alarm program was created to take some of the worry off the shoulders of our members while they are away from their lake homes. By having a Heat Light installed in your home, it is not necessary to worry what the temperature is at ACL or whether or not you should make an unexpected trip to Apple Canyon Lake to check the inside temperature of your home in an effort to prevent frozen and ruptured pipes.
To participate in the Heat Light/Alarm program, simply purchase a Winter Watchman, strobe light, and lockbox from the Association office or Safety and Security Department for a cost of $125. There is a participation fee of $25 per year for this program. You must supply the Safety and Security Department with a key to your home. They will then install the lockbox next to the front door, and place the key inside.
Here's all you do: Plug the Winter Watchman unit into an inside wall outlet, plug the strobe light into the Winter Watchman, and place the strobe light in a window facing the road. An extension cord may be used between the two units if the strobe cord will not reach the watchman unit. Set the dial on the winter watchman to 40 (minimum) and your heat thermostat no lower than 60 degrees and you are ready to go.
If the strobe light should begin flashing, a Safety and Security Officer would enter the home to determine if it is necessary to call your furnace repair service.
The Heat Light/Alarm Program is a low cost, simple system that works very well if you follow the procedures and set your unit properly. The strobe light can be seen over 500 yards away during the day and up to a mile at night.
Should the Safety and Security Department's program inventory run low, please allow two weeks for your Winter Watchman, strobe light, and lock box to arrive and be installed.
Check with your insurance company to see if you qualify for a discount rate.
Cleaning boats and equipment before leaving the landing is an important step that citizens can take to prevent the spread of invasive species.
Everyone deserves to enjoy the great outdoors. Our lakes, woods, prairies and wetlands are part of our legacy. Whether you take to the woods or the waters—or just enjoy your own backyard—there are some simple steps that you can take to prevent the spread of invasive species. Please do your part to help protect our natural treasures!
Boaters, sailors, anglers, paddlers…every time you leave a launch:
• Inspect your boat, trailer and equipment and remove visible aquatic plants, animals, and mud.
• Drain water from your boat, motor, bilge, live wells, and bait containers.
• Dispose of leftover bait in the trash, not in the water or on land. Never move live fish, including minnows, from one water to another.
• Buy your minnows from licensed Illinois bait dealers.
• Wash your boat and equipment with high pressure or hot water, OR let it dry for 5 days before putting it in other waters
Campers:
• Leave firewood at home. Buy it within a 50-mile radius of your campsite.
• Burn all wood during your trip.
• Inspect clothing and equipment for seeds, insects, etc. before leaving your camping area.
Landowners and gardeners:
• Use native plant species whenever possible.
• Dispose of seeds in the trash.
• Be on the lookout for invasive species.
• Leave native trees and plants alone; natural landscapes offer the best defense. Hikers, bikers, ATV riders, and other recreational users:
• Clean your clothes, bicycles, ATV's, etc before leaving a site that is infested with invasive plants.
For more information on how to prevent the spread of invasives during specific activities, contact your local DNR office.
Emergency Regulations to Stop Spread of Fish Virus
Illinois Announces Emergency Regulations to Stop Spread of Fish Virus VHS detected in Illinois waters of Lake Michigan – No threat to human health Regulations impact anglers, boaters, and aquaculture
SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) today announced emergency regulations aimed at slowing the spread of fish-killing Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) in Illinois after sampling of fish in the Illinois waters of Lake Michigan detected the presence of VHS in two species of fish sampled.
Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) is a disease of fish caused by an aquatic virus previously unidentified in the Midwest. While it does not affect humans, VHS can kill a substantial number of fish and has been spreading throughout the Great Lakes.
“The new regulations we are implementing are immediate and appropriate steps in trying to slow the spread of this dangerous aquatic virus in Illinois,” said IDNR Acting Director Sam Flood. “Sport fishing and boating are both very popular and important to the Illinois economy. The cooperation of anglers and boaters is essential in combating VHS.”
The new emergency regulations being implemented by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) regarding VHS that affect recreational anglers and boaters include:
• Eliminating natural water from all equipment when leaving a body of water.
• Emptying and draining all bait buckets, livewells, baitwells, bilges, etc. or any other compartment capable of holding natural waters when leaving a body of water.
• Do not remove live VHS-susceptible species (see below) from any waters. Anglers may catch and keep VHS-susceptible species, but may not transport those fish live from the waters where caught.
• Use of wild-trapped fishes from within the state as bait will be restricted to the waters where legally captured.
DO NOT REMOVE LIVE: Black crappie Bluegill Bluntnose minnow Brown bullhead Brown trout Burbot Channel catfish Chinook salmon Emerald shiner Freshwater drum Gizzard shad Hybrid (Tiger) muskie Lake whitefish Largemouth bass Muskellunge Shorthead redhorse Northern Pike Pumpkinseed Rainbow trout Rock bass Round goby Silver redhorse Smallmouth bass Spottail shiner Trout-Perch Walleye White bass White perch Yellow perch
New emergency regulations are also being implemented immediately regarding fish stocking and the transport of fish in Illinois:
• All fish imported from affected areas (currently the eight Great Lakes states: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York.) must be certified as free of VHS.
• All susceptible species for stocking public waters must be certified VHS free regardless of their point of origin (including both intra- and inter-state shipments). Wild-trapped minnows and other wild-trapped species must be certified VHS-free, or originate from west of the Mississippi River.
On June 5, the IDNR was notified by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources of positive VHS samples from a fish kill involving round gobies in the Milwaukee area – and on June 13 positive samples were discovered from yellow perch in the same location. As a result, IDNR fisheries biologists submitted samples of bluegill, rock bass, round gobies, and pumpkinseed from Winthrop Harbor (Lake Michigan) on June 10-11. Although the fishes sampled showed no clinical signs of disease and were not part of a fish kill, tests confirmed the presence of VHS in the round goby and rock bass samples on June 25.
Fish can be infected with VHS by direct contact with other infected fish, by a fish consuming its infected prey, or from contact with water which contains the virus. The highly contagious virus causes fish to bleed to death, and advanced symptoms include hemorrhages in the eyes, skin and gills. There is no vaccine for the virus and control methods rely entirely on surveillance and eradication efforts.
“With the discovery of VHS in the Illinois waters of Lake Michigan, we need to act immediately to try to protect our inland waters from VHS,” said IDNR Chief of Fisheries Steve Pallo. “The urgency is amplified by the fact that a significant amount of Lake Michigan water enters the Illinois River system through the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. These emergency regulations and the cooperation of anglers, boaters, and the aquaculture industry are keys to slowing the spread of VHS into other waters in Illinois.”
In recent years, surveillance for aquatic diseases affecting fish has been increased throughout the state. The IDNR will continue its surveillance program, and fish produced at state hatcheries will be tested before they are stocked into Illinois waters. All fish eggs and imports of fish to state facilities will be disinfected and tested prior to import to ensure that VHS does not jeopardize operation of the state fish hatchery system.
While VHS is not known to be a threat to human health, anglers are still advised to wash their hands after handling fish and to cook thoroughly any fish they plan to eat. If handling dead fish or fish that appear to be diseased, protective gloves should be worn. For more information on VHS and the new Illinois regulations aimed at slowing the spread of the virus in Illinois, check the IDNR web site at http://dnr.state.il.us
Property Owners may rent the clubhouse for their special occasion. Call the Communication Director at (815)492-2769 or email applecore@applecanyonlake.org to make your next get-together a beautiful one.
Please call Security at 815-492-2436 if you intend to use the trails after extremely wet/snowy weather to make sure they are open and to avoid receiving a citation.
The "Walkers Only" trail across from the dam on Apple Canyon Road will be closed during the deer hunting season through January 17.
Call Security at 815-492-2436 if you have any questions or comments regarding the trails.
