FINANCE COMMITTEE 2010/10/18 Minutes
The City of Lake Forest
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Proceedings of the October 18, 2010 Meeting
6:30 p.m. – City Hall Council Chambers
I. Call to Order and Roll Call
Chairman Grumhaus called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Present: Mayor Cowhey,
Chairman Grumhaus, Aldermen Novit, Widman, Moore, Morsch, Schoenheider, Looby and
Palmer. Absent: None. Quorum present. There were three present in the audience.
Staff present: Kathleen Reinertsen, Finance Director; Louise Breckan, Assistant Finance Director;
Mary Van Arsdale, Director of Parks and Recreation; Michael Thomas, Superintendent of
Public Works; Ramesh Kanapareddy, Assistant City Engineer; Diane Hall, Senior Accountant
and Victor Filippini, City Attorney.
Others: Thomas Jakubowski and John Van Arsdel with M.E. Simpson Co., Inc.
II. Consideration of Minutes from the Finance Committee Meeting Held on September 20, 2010
Alderman Looby made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. The motion was
seconded by Alderman Novit. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
III. Consideration of the FY2010 Treasurer’s Report
Ms. Kathleen Reinertsen, Finance Director stated that pursuant to Illinois State Statute, a
Treasurer’s Report must be filed with the City Clerk, the County Clerk, and published within
a Lake Forest newspaper within six months after the end of each fiscal year. The report
will be published in the October 28, 2010 edition of the Lake Forester.
Alderman Palmer made a motion to acknowledge receipt of the FY2010 Treasurer’s
Report. The motion was seconded by Alderman Widman. The motion carried
unanimously by voice vote.
Chairman Grumhaus announced that the next agenda item will be the Water System –
Supplied vs. Billed Water Report followed by the Deerpath Golf Course – Forum Update and
Course Financials.
IV. Water System – Supplied vs. Billed Water Report
Mr. Michael Thomas, Superintendent of Public Works introduced Mr. Thomas Jakubowski and
Mr. John Van Arsdel with M.E. Simpson Co. Inc. He noted that Mr. Van Arsdel is currently
serving on the American Water Works Association (AWWA) Water Loss Committee and Mr.
Jakubowski has previously served on this committee. Mr. Thomas stated that M.E. Simpson Co.,
Inc. was hired to review what the City has done to reduce unaccounted for water usage. Mr.
Jakubowski reviewed the graphs in the report with the Committee. Mr. Jakubowski noted that
the meters are five years old and still within the AWWA standards as indicated by the meters
tested by Sensus, a company hired by the City. As part of the review, a water audit
spreadsheet developed by the AWWA Water Loss Committee was completed for the City by
M. E. Simpson Co., Inc. Mr. Van Arsdel reviewed the major categories on the water audit
spreadsheet. The water audit spreadsheet differs from the Illinois DNR as the Illinois DNR refers
Finance Committee Meeting
Minutes – October 18, 2010
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to the difference between pumped water and consumed water as the unaccounted for
water. The AWWA audit spreadsheet breaks down the types of losses to Apparent Loss
(metering and accounting) and Real Loss (service leakage). The cost of Apparent Losses and
Real Losses is calculated and these numbers help tell where money is directly lost and at what
loss rates. That is significant because it helps identify where potential levels of effort to recover
the losses are needed. Based on the Infrastructure Leakage Index (ILI) number of 2.39, the City
is in a good position for its efforts on water loss control. The validity score for the report is 86 out
of 100. The data provided for the audit appears to be solid and reliable. It is recommended
that the City should continue to monitor leakage through an ongoing leak detention program
each year. Additionally, the losses due to metering inaccuracies seems to be under control
but regular periodic meter testing and repair should be performed to insure water revenue
stays up and meters are properly sized for each application. It is also recommended that the
City utilize the AWWA Audit Spreadsheet annually as a way to track losses and goal setting for
non revenue water loss reduction.
Chairman Grumhaus thanked Mr. Jakubowski and Mr. Van Arsdel for coming to the meeting
and presenting the report.
V. Deerpath Golf Course – Forum Update and Course Financials
Ms. Mary Van Arsdale, Director of Parks and Recreation stated that a meeting was held for
golfers and interested parties to inform them what is happening financially with the golf course
and to update them on the Ft. Sheridan golf course project. She stated that the golf course is
facing serious financial challenges if the Ft Sheridan golf course opens. She stated that it is
estimated that the Deerpath Golf Course will lose 10% to 15% of revenue once the Ft. Sheridan
golf course is operational. A Five Year Fund Balance Forecast was reviewed with the
Committee. At the November 15th budget meeting, she is going to discuss several ideas with
the Committee such as a privatization study, exploring the 501c3 qualifications, combining the
golf fund with the Parks and Recreation Fund, water expense and other funding options to
pay for capital.
VI. Other Business:
September 2010 Flash Report - Chairman Grumhaus reported there are no concerns.
VII. Opportunity for the Public to Address the Finance Committee: None.
VIII. Adjournment
There being no further business, Alderman Looby moved, seconded by Alderman Novit to
adjourn the meeting at 7:28 p.m. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
Respectfully submitted,
Louise Breckan
Assistant Finance Director