Huntley Hills Swim
& Tennis Club
& Tennis Club
Huntley Hills
Swim & Tennis Club
Frequently Asked Questions:
What’s the deal with renting the clubhouse for parties?
The price for the clubhouse rental is $45.00 per event. Party guest who are already members pay no additional fee. Guests who are not members are $2.00 each. If you have 12-25 children in the party, you will need to hire an additional lifeguard (approx. $15/hour and we can help you arrange it). A $75.00 refundable deposit will be required to hold your rental and to make sure the clubhouse is left clean and orderly. All reserved rentals are posted on our online calendar. If you would like to reserve the clubhouse, please contact Ashley Kuehne.
Why did you cut down the pine trees?!? We LOVED that shade!
Yes, we loved it, too, and it will be dearly missed. But we will not miss: the constantly clogged pool filters, the pool bottom always being coated with tree droppings, the pool deck covered in pine needles and pine cones, 1/4 of the tennis deck being consumed by tree trunks, the gutters and roofs being clogged all the time, and the ever-present risk of one of the large, awkward branches being struck by lightening (again) and/or falling on someone and/or doing serious damage to the clubhouse or the pool or (and especially!) our new pool deck. And we’ve had sa member donate a shade tent for the tennis deck and we have bought some cool cabanas for the pool deck.
Yes, we loved it, too, and it will be dearly missed. But we will not miss: the constantly clogged pool filters, the pool bottom always being coated with tree droppings, the pool deck covered in pine needles and pine cones, 1/4 of the tennis deck being consumed by tree trunks, the gutters and roofs being clogged all the time, and the ever-present risk of one of the large, awkward branches being struck by lightening (again) and/or falling on someone and/or doing serious damage to the clubhouse or the pool or (and especially!) our new pool deck. And we’ve had sa member donate a shade tent for the tennis deck and we have bought some cool cabanas for the pool deck.
What’s the deal with the assessment fee? How much? By when?
And why is it mandatory?!?
The fee is to pay for the immediate need of replacing the pool’s concrete deck (it’s terrible, crumbling, and VERY unsafe). We also have to put in a new fence and a fence around the baby pool (per DeKalb County’s code, which is now being enforced, under new management). It is $250/household and it is due by April 15th. We chose the mandatory assessment because we would not have raised enough money through voluntary bonds (based on our survey results). If we did not assess the members, we would have either had to put HHSTC much further in debt AND obligated the club to even more on-going finance charges OR we would not have been able to make the repairs, which would mean not opening the pool in 2008.
And why is it mandatory?!?
The fee is to pay for the immediate need of replacing the pool’s concrete deck (it’s terrible, crumbling, and VERY unsafe). We also have to put in a new fence and a fence around the baby pool (per DeKalb County’s code, which is now being enforced, under new management). It is $250/household and it is due by April 15th. We chose the mandatory assessment because we would not have raised enough money through voluntary bonds (based on our survey results). If we did not assess the members, we would have either had to put HHSTC much further in debt AND obligated the club to even more on-going finance charges OR we would not have been able to make the repairs, which would mean not opening the pool in 2008.
If I decided not to renew this year because I don’t want to pay the assessment,
what will happen?
We hope everyone will see the value they are getting with the assessment and will continue to support HHSTC and be a part of our community...BUT, if you decide to leave that is certainly your choice. However, if you decide to come back, at any time, you will have to repay the initiation fee, which is significantly more than the assessment.
what will happen?
We hope everyone will see the value they are getting with the assessment and will continue to support HHSTC and be a part of our community...BUT, if you decide to leave that is certainly your choice. However, if you decide to come back, at any time, you will have to repay the initiation fee, which is significantly more than the assessment.
I see you can spread the assessment or the initiation fee out over 2 years (but that option will cost more). How are you going to keep track of the people who owe the remaining money in 2009?
Good question! We now have a very accurate membership database that will automatically tell us who owes what and when. Plus, we are able to quickly see if any new members try to join without paying the initiation fee (it happened several times last year and we caught it each time). So don’t try an funny business...you will only aggravate our volunteer membership coordinator.
Good question! We now have a very accurate membership database that will automatically tell us who owes what and when. Plus, we are able to quickly see if any new members try to join without paying the initiation fee (it happened several times last year and we caught it each time). So don’t try an funny business...you will only aggravate our volunteer membership coordinator.
Regarding the new concrete deck, does anyone on the Board know what questions to ask the vendors and what requirements to insist upon? Is there anyone capable and responsible for making sure it is done RIGHT?
Yes, we have 4 Board members dedicated to researching the vendors and asking all the questions. They each have unique experience in construction, design and contract negotiations. We also have some other members helping us (not on the Board) who have special skills related to concrete and one member whose father-in-law built the original pool and will help us figure out where all the hidden electrical/plumbing lines are located, so we can avoid hitting them. We are all volunteers with limited time, but we are doing our very best to make sure it is done right and we can enjoy it for many decades to come!
Yes, we have 4 Board members dedicated to researching the vendors and asking all the questions. They each have unique experience in construction, design and contract negotiations. We also have some other members helping us (not on the Board) who have special skills related to concrete and one member whose father-in-law built the original pool and will help us figure out where all the hidden electrical/plumbing lines are located, so we can avoid hitting them. We are all volunteers with limited time, but we are doing our very best to make sure it is done right and we can enjoy it for many decades to come!
ps. We have a notebook full of all the many quotes (and our notes) from each company, so if you want to see it, please contact us.
What’s the deal with barter memberships and how do I get one?
Occasionally, we offer barter memberships for unique services that we do not have the money to pay for and/or are not able to do ourselves, with volunteers. The services provided would always cost us more than we would lose in a membership fee and generally, it is a part donation from a member. For example, we gave a barter membership in order to get a new HVAC system installed in the clubhouse (we did not used to have air conditioning!). We also issue a barter membership for regular grounds maintenance, including weekly mowing of the lawn. If you have a service or an item for donation that you want us to consider for a barter membership, please let us know!
Occasionally, we offer barter memberships for unique services that we do not have the money to pay for and/or are not able to do ourselves, with volunteers. The services provided would always cost us more than we would lose in a membership fee and generally, it is a part donation from a member. For example, we gave a barter membership in order to get a new HVAC system installed in the clubhouse (we did not used to have air conditioning!). We also issue a barter membership for regular grounds maintenance, including weekly mowing of the lawn. If you have a service or an item for donation that you want us to consider for a barter membership, please let us know!
Are you spending our membership money to fund your Friday night cookout parties?
Absolutely not! In fact, those parties are profit making and ALL the money goes right back into the pool budget. Last year we generated in excess of $1,000 from the Friday night cookouts and the other events at which we had food items for sale. And you didn’t ask, but just so you know, it is always BYOB.
Absolutely not! In fact, those parties are profit making and ALL the money goes right back into the pool budget. Last year we generated in excess of $1,000 from the Friday night cookouts and the other events at which we had food items for sale. And you didn’t ask, but just so you know, it is always BYOB.
Why isn’t the pool open more hours and why doesn’t it stay open into September?
Well, the bottom line is that it’s a money issue. Lifeguards are expensive and we have to have them. Each year, we try and increase the hours and this year we are hoping to have some evening/weekend hours after school starts and into September. However, the majority of the guards are all students (with many being international) and they have commitments in returning to school or their home country. We could (and will try to) schedule some hours but there is no guarantee that we would have consistent and/or qualified guards. If you have a really strong preference for how the hours should be applied (like more mornings, later in the evenings, longer season, etc) please let us know!
Well, the bottom line is that it’s a money issue. Lifeguards are expensive and we have to have them. Each year, we try and increase the hours and this year we are hoping to have some evening/weekend hours after school starts and into September. However, the majority of the guards are all students (with many being international) and they have commitments in returning to school or their home country. We could (and will try to) schedule some hours but there is no guarantee that we would have consistent and/or qualified guards. If you have a really strong preference for how the hours should be applied (like more mornings, later in the evenings, longer season, etc) please let us know!
Why do we keep using Sweetwater as the pool management company? Is that contract competitively bid out each year?
The contract was awarded to Sweetwater several years back through a competitive bid process. We signed a 3 year contract with them that has been extended once in return for them carrying the payment on the pumps and filters through that summer to allow us to collect all of the membership fees and pay cash, as opposed to obtaining outside financing. We will be using them again this year and next Winter, when our Board members have more time (we are overwhelmed right now!), we will review the contract and have another competitive bid process.
The contract was awarded to Sweetwater several years back through a competitive bid process. We signed a 3 year contract with them that has been extended once in return for them carrying the payment on the pumps and filters through that summer to allow us to collect all of the membership fees and pay cash, as opposed to obtaining outside financing. We will be using them again this year and next Winter, when our Board members have more time (we are overwhelmed right now!), we will review the contract and have another competitive bid process.
If we have to buy a fence for the baby pool because it is so close to the deep end, and we are completely redoing all the concrete around the entire pool, wouldn’t it make sense to just move (and maybe even expand) the baby pool, while we have an opportunity.
Yes! We would love to do that, but it is not financially feasible at this time, as doing so will run more than $30-35 K above what we are already doing.
Yes! We would love to do that, but it is not financially feasible at this time, as doing so will run more than $30-35 K above what we are already doing.
Did we not answer your question(s)? Please email it to us!