History of Bayles Lake-Other Stuff
These articles, 1948-2015 are from the Champaign-Urbana Courier, Champaign News-Gazette,
Paxton Record and the Loda Times Newspapers.
1940’s
1948, December 17, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Loda Votes On $30,000 Bonds”
Loda residents will vote on a proposal to issue $30,000 in bonds to finance sewer improvements
and make possible the construction of a 160 acre lake west of the village.
Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. at a single polling place in the town and village hall.
The village board called the referendum to get voters’ approval of a plan to extend and change
the location of the main outlet sewer from the village. In addition to making the proposed lake
possible, the improvement would make the construction of a future sanitary treatment plant less
expensive, according to the board.
1949, March 24, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Clubs Support Proposed Lake in Loda Area”
Sportsmen’s clubs in Champaign and Ford County will join the Iroquois organization in working
for construction of a state conservation lake at Loda, IL, it was announced.
Royal B. McClelland, secretary of the Champaign County Sportsmen’s Club, said prospects are
good that the Loda Lake will be included in the state’s 1951 conservation program.
An “excellent” site for a 175 acre lake is available about 5 miles northwest of Loda, and some
preliminary work already has been done by the owner, McClelland said.
Champaign county sportsmen decided at a meeting Wednesday night that they will support the
Iroquois County project rather than the push for immediate action on a Champaign County lake.
The state has embarked on a program aimed at eventually providing a lake in each Illinois
County but the only potential Champaign County site north of Mahomet is “not too good,”
McClelland said.
He explained that the Sportsmen were not abandoning Champaign’s county claim to a lake but
agreed that “the highest priority” should be given to the Loda location.
Earliest time for action by the state at Loda is 1951, according to McClelland who also is
executive secretary of the Illinois Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs. The state has the first seven
lakes in its program under construction now.
The conservation department plans to confine requests for the 1949-51 biennium to about
$2,000,000 required to complete these lakes. It intends to seek funds in 1951-53 for construction
of more lakes, McClelland said.
1950’s
1952, May 13, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Loda Awards Contract for Drain Ditch”
The Loda village board has awarded a contract to D.B. Bayles of Paxton for the construction of a
9000-foot-long drainage ditch to divert Spring Creek to the east side of the Loda lake site.
Bayles bid was for $28,000, with work on the project to begin this spring.
Before the new contract could be put into operation, an amendment to the original ordinance for
diverting the drainage of Loda had to be passed.
A new set of plans for the diversion of Spring Creek were filed with Loda township clerk, Archie
Tomsheck, after being drawn up by John Walker, Loda engineer.
Bayles subsequently furnished the village with a plotting of the waterway for recording.
The drainage ditch will also be used as a spillway in case the lake level rises.
1952, May 21, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Loda Drainage Work Will Start Soon”
Construction of a 9000-foot drainage ditch to divert Spring Creek to the east side of the Loda
lake site is expected to start soon. Loda village board has announced award of a contract for the
project to D.B. Bayles, Paxton contractor, on his bid of $28,000.
New plans for the diversion of the creek, draining the Loda area, were prepared by John Walker,
Loda engineer. An amendment to the original ordinance providing for the improvement was
adopted because of changes in conditions.
The new ditch can serve as a spillway if the lake overflows.
1952, May 22, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Work Resumes on Building of Loda Lake”
Work has been resumed on the construction of 200-acre recreational Bayles Lake, one and a half
miles west of Loda, D.B. Bayles, Paxton contractor, announce Thursday.
The project, which lies in a 580-acre tract, was postponed in the early 40’s. Formation of a
corporation is planned to finance and direct completion of the entire area Bayles said. Oak trees
cover most of the land apart from the proposed lake bed.
Work is under way on the south side of the county highway in the construction of a diversion
channel for Spring Creek. This was found necessary to avoid pollution in the lake because Loda
village sewers empty into Spring Creek. Diverting the creek from the lake also will reduce
silting of the lake, Bayles said.
Contract for the channel was made May 10 between Bayles and the Loda village board.
Bayles said plans have been submitted to the Iroquois County highway department for approval
and aid in constructing a new bridge one fourth mile east of the existing county highway bridge.
This is where the diversion channel will cross the highway.
“Considerable construction has been completed on the levee which will dam Spring Creek,”
Bayles said. “The levee when completed will have an approximate length of 500 feet and will be
30 feet high. The dam will have a crest of 30 feet and be 210 feet at the base.
“The water at the dam will be 22 feet deep at spillway crest. The lake will have an average depth
of nine feet,” he added.
Tracy Pitzen, Civil Engineer of Paxton, is preparing plans showing the area as it will be
subdivided into areas and lots, Bayles reported. The lots will be sold or leased to individuals for
cottage or residence sites.
Bayles said he hoped that Loda would support a plan for developing a recreation and picnic area.
He predicted that the lake would be ready for flooding by Sept. 15.
1952, May 22, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“Resume Lake Construction at Loda”
D.B. Bayles has resumed work on his lake project west of here and said Thursday it may be
ready for flooding by September 15.
The project consists of about 580 acres of which between 150 and 200 acres will be flooded.
The rest of the area will be covered mostly with oak trees.
Work was started on the project in the early 1940’s but was postponed because of unavoidable
conditions, Bayles said.
Bayles and the village of Loda recently completed a $28,000 contract for construction of a
section of Spring Creek to by-pass the larger portion of the water from the creek, in addition to
water from the village storm sewers. Actual cost of the work is estimated at $33,000.
Bayles said it is hoped that civic organizations of the community will support a plan for
developing a recreation and picnic area at the lake site. Lots will be sold or leased to individuals
for cottages or residence sites.
1952, June 12, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“Bayles, Pacey to Head Loda Lake Project”
D.B. Bayles and Warren Pacey have been tentatively been named to top offices in the Bayles
Lake, Inc., which will develop a 580-acre lake and residential tract west of Loda.
At an organization meeting of shareholders Friday night, Bayles was named president and Pacey
was chosen secretary, pending final approval at another meeting next Friday.
As the east central Illinois area sweltered in record-breaking heat Saturday, it was announced
that big strides have been made in formation of the corporation and construction of the drainage
ditch which will skirt the east side of the lake.
A charter has been issued to the corporation, which has issued $25,000 in stock and plans to float
$125,000 in bonds to finance the lake project. There reportedly are about 35 stockholders in the
corporation.
Dredging will start at the north end of the lake site next week, and the lake bed will be ready for
flooding in September. Around the 200-acre lake site itself, roads are being constructed and
stakes laid out for drainage. Lots also are being sold for cottages and permanent residences.
1952, June 18, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Bayles Lake Corporation Is Formed At Loda”
D.B. Bayles has been elected president and Warren Pacey, Paxton, secretary of Bayles Lake,
Inc., a new corporation which plans to develop a 580-acre lake and residential subdivision west
of Loda.
Other officers are Dr. E.T. Grove, vice president and Louis Reynolds, treasurer, and directors are
William Overstreet, Dr. Grove, J.I. Woodworth, Fred W. Parker, Bayles, Edward Wolfe and
Maurice Weaver.
The corporation is capitalized at $25,000 in stock, and it plans to issue $125,000 in bonds to
finance the development. About 35 persons own stock in the firm.
Bayles originated the movement to build the lake near here more than 10 years ago. A drainage
ditch is being constructed along the east side of the lake site.
Bayles announced that dredging in the north part of the site will be started next week and the
lake bed is expected to be ready to be filled with water in September. The lake will cover about
200 acres and lots in the area around it will be sold as sites for cottages and homes.
1952, July 8, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“Loda’s Bayles Lake Prompts Airport Plan”
Latest development on Loda’s Bayles Lake project is the possibility of an airport at the lake’s
southeast corner.
A sewage ditch from Loda, 10 feet wide and 33 feet deep, is being dug for 1½ mile along the
eastern skirt of the proposed lake basin. Removed dirt is being used as a levee and is also being
piled in such a way as to be used as a level landing strip for an airport.
Situated near the lake and long enough for a 2,000 feet runway, the site could well become a
seaplane base.
The lake will have an average depth of nine feet, reaching 22 feet at the dam. A road will
encircle the lake.
As soon as the sewer ditch is completed, work will begin on a semi-completed dam and on the
spillway at the dam’s northeast corner. The lake flooding is scheduled to start September 15
although rain has slowed work some.
Another possibility in conjunction with the proposed lake is a golf course, on which plans have
sprung up with much of the same suddenness as those for the airport.
The site being thought of in golf course terms is one which will eventually be on some 50 acres
of water south of the county road. The area surrounding the lake, with its trees and uneven
terrain, would be ideal for a course if local people were so inclined.
A total of 440,000,000 gallons of water will be needed to fill the lake, which is about one-third
of the community’s annual rainfall. Several springs will also feed the lake.
August 28, 1952, The News-Gazette reports
“Work Moves Swiftly on Large Bayles Lake Site Near Loda”
By Jim O’Connor, News-Gazette Staff Writer
Grading and drainage of the new 400 acre Bayles Lake site, one mile west of here is expected to
be completed by September 15 as work moves into high gear to take advantage of ideal weather
conditions. The lake itself will cover 220 acres of the development.
Begun in 1946 by D. B. Bayles, Paxton contractor, the project had been delayed almost five
years because of the illness of Bayles. Now, under the combined supervision of Bayles and
Tracy A. Pitzen, Paxton mayor and project manager, 15 pieces of big grading equipment are
rapidly finishing the blacktopping of four miles of lake front roads and clearing lake bottom
areas preparatory to partial flooding this fall.
When the final touches are done, Bayles Lake, Inc. will offer one of the most beautiful
residential sites in the area within 45 minutes driving time of Champaign Urbana. Preliminary
surveys provide approximately 250 choice lake front lots of 15,000 square feet each, with good
stands of hickory, oak or walnut on all of them.
The completed lake will be more than five times the size of Lake of the Woods at Mahomet and
will be equal in the size of Lake Vermillion at Danville. It will be a minimum of four feet deep
and its maximum depth will be 35 feet. Water to keep the lake at constant depth will be secured
from a ditch, which drains 9,500 of farmland north of Paxton. Yearly rainfall is sufficient to fill
it completely three times.
Included in the plans are approximately 30 acres of timbered area, which will be open to the
public as a picnic site. The Loda Sportsmen’s Club has cleared brush and weeds from the park
site and fireplaces will be erected, probably next spring. Girl Scout and Boy Scouts from the
surrounding area have earmarked a 20 acre area on the northwest corner of the project for their
use.
Although the corporations officials state that the lake could easily be filled this fall, present plans
are to fill only the lake bottom until lot purchasers have an opportunity to build boat docks
fronting their property. Complete flooding will then occur in the spring.
When finished, the lake are will be bisected by the county road, with about 160 acres lying to the
north and the balance to the south. Presently gravel, the county road is scheduled for
blacktopping in the near future.
A major feature in the construction was the need for eliminating possibility of sewage or silt
flowing into the new lake. In order to prevent contamination, the city of Loda and the Lake
Corporation is sharing the cost of a new drainage channel one and one quarter miles long which
will lead Loda sewage around the lake and empty into the main channel below the dam site. At
one point the new channel is 33 feet deep.
Total cost for the lake project is $200,000 to $250,000.
Projected also are a nine hole golf course and a landing strip for light aircraft, however no date
has been set for the starting of either job.
The Bayles Lake Corporation was at one time of great interest to the state as a preservation area.
Following a change in administration, 40 Loda and Paxton area businessman joined with Bayles
in financing and most of them have planned homes of their own in the new area.
Until the construction work now under way is completed and final costs assessed, the
corporation will be unable to state what costs of home sites will be. However, Pitzen advises
that the planning is primarily civic and not a money making project.
Zoning ordinances are under discussion by the corporation in order that comparable structural
costs and appearances will be maintained.
It is expected that sometime around September 15 plans will be sufficiently complete to permit
acceptance of reservations. The Maurice Weaver real estate company, Paxton, will act as agent.
Construction of a caretaker’s home and office is now in progress at the lake site.
Mason and Meents contracting company, Watseka, have the road contract and it hopes to
complete the 4 miles of lake front road within the next three weeks.
Also assisting with work is E. P. Newell, Urbana contractor.
1952, August 28, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Work Proceeds on Bayles Lake”
Construction of the dam to form Bayles Lake one and one-half miles west of Loda is expected to
be completed soon.
All work on the lake development is on schedule, according to a recent report to stockholders in
the corporation carrying out the project.
Although the 200-acre lake is expected to be ready for flooding by Sept. 15 as planned earlier,
that step probably will be deferred to allow a little more time for the dam to settle and become
stronger.
Roads in the 580-acre tract being developed as a recreational area will be surfaced by mixing oil
with earth and rolling the mixture to form a hard roadway. Grass and underbrush are to be
burned out of the lake basin. That work will take about a week.
A few more secondary roads also are to be constructed. A new entrance road has been placed on
the east side of the tract, running along the edge of a 25-acre public picnic grounds, through a
grove and joining the road circling the lake.
Sales of lots to be used as cottage or residence site may begin late in September.
1952, September 8, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Work is begun on Earth Dam at Bayles Lake”
Work on the earthen dam for Bayles Lake, one mile west of Loda, has been started and is
expected to be finished in a week.
The dam will form part of the lake bank on the north as well as block the creek channel. It will
be 700 feet long, 40 feet wide at the top and 240 feet wide at the bottom. As soon as
construction of the dam is completed, the spillway will be started.
All work on the project is going according to schedule, and the lake will be ready for filling my
mid-September. Filling is expected to be deferred, however, to allow more time for the earth in
the dam to settle and give lot owners an opportunity to build their own boat docks.
Sale of approximately 250 lots bordering the lake front will begin in a few weeks. Maurice
Weaver, Paxton real estate dealer, will handle the transactions.
Work on new roads around the lake is nearing completion with only a little grading and surfacing
to be done.
1952, September 15, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Loda Lake Dam To Be Finished This Week”
The dam and spillways at the 220-acre Bayles Lake, under construction one mile west of here,
will be completed this week, according to Tracy Pitzen, Mayor of Paxton and project engineer.
Flooding of the lake bottom will be delayed for some time to permit the dam to settle. Only
partial flooding will take place this fall, since many home site purchasers will want to build boat
docks before flooding is completed.
Pitzen said that the sale of lots would not begin for some time yet.
The 400-acre site offers over 300 choice lake front lots of approximately 15,000 square feet
each. The project is being carried out by the Bayles Lake Corporation, composed of 40 Paxton
and Loda businessmen, most of whom have already planned lake homes.
Blacktopping of four miles of lake front roads is complete except for final surfacing.
Total construction cost of the lake site is estimated at $250,000.
1952, November 20, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“Start Cottage Construction at Loda Lake”
Construction of three Bayles Lake cottages at Loda will begin this week if the weather is mild
enough to permit the pouring of footings, Tracy E. Pitzen, a member of the lake corporation’s
board of directors, announced Thursday.
Chet West, Loda lumber and supply company manager, will start construction of a home site for
himself and two contract units.
Applications to purchase 72 lots with a value of $151,000 were filed with Weaver and Kaufman
realtors Sunday.
A total of 200 choice lake front lots were laid out in the original planning. The filing of plats in
Iroquois County will take place next week, Pitzen announced.
Only normal rainfall is now needed to fill the main basin of 200 acres lying north of the road one
mile west of Loda and approximately 60 acres lying south of the highway.
Pitzen estimates that a rainfall of seven inches is ample to fill the lake to the desired depth. The
lack of rainfall in the area has thus far prevented partial flooding as planned, however, winter
rains and snows will easily fill the lake by March, Pitzen said.
The cost of the lots varies from $1,250 to $4,500. Early sales were primarily in the higher cost
levels.
The directors have placed several restrictions on building in the area. There will be no
commercial building of any kind. All homes must have a minimum of 550 square feet of floor
space and must be under one roof. Set-back restrictions will prevent buildings from blocking
neighbor’s views.
Water will be secured from deep wells for household use, and sewage disposal will be by septic
tanks.
Among early home site purchases are several Champaign-Urbana and Kankakee residents, Pitzen
reported.
At the present time no building sites are being sold on the south side of the county road. Lake
front roads are now completed. The office at the lake site will be open on weekends, Pitzen said.
1952, November 30, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Applications Received For Bayles Sites”
Applications have been received for purchase of 98 of the 175 cottage sites on Bayles Lake, one
mile west of Loda, the board of directors for the lake development corporation has announced.
Work on the spillways is completed so that the lake basin can fill with water from rain and snow
during the winter. Two hundred acres will be covered with water.
Applications were taken first on lots selling for $3,000 to about $4,000. The remaining sites will
sell from $1,000 to approximately $2,500. The applications will hold lots until the sales can be
completed when a plat is recorded in Iroquois County.
Chet West, Loda lumber firm manager, is the first lot owner to complete plans for building a
cottage, but weather has not permitted work to be started. The structure he builds probably will
be for sale.
Building restrictions adopted by the corporation’s directors include; only single family
permanent residences can be built, and all homes must have a minimum of 550 square feet of
floor space and be under one roof. Setback lines must be observed and no outside toilets will be
permitted.
Each lot owner will become a member of the Lot Owners Association, which will manage the
area. Water will be obtained from deep wells, and septic tanks will be installed.
Lots have not been laid out in one tract north of the county road, which bisects the lake but the
platting there probably will be completed next year.
No building sites are being offered at present on the south side of the road, where approximately
40 acres of the lake will be located. D.B. Bayles, who originated the development, said that the
bridge maybe altered next year so that boats can pass between lake sections. A golf course may
be developed later south of the road.
Maurice Weaver and Mark Kaufmann, real estate dealers, are accepting applications from
prospective lot buyers for the board. Weaver is on duty at the lake office from 1 to 5 p.m. on
Sundays.
Sunset Drive, an all weathered road two and one-half miles long, encircles the lake.
1952, December 18, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Building Starts at Bayles Lake”
C.L. Ehresman, Buckley, is the first owner of a lot in the Bayles Lake development, one mile
west of Loda, to start building work.
He has poured footings for a 52-by-28 foot summer home with garage attached and plans to get
construction underway soon if weather permits.
Clyde Day, Melvin and Chester West, Loda, are also planning to build this winter. Both have
made measurements for footings.
D.B. Bayles, Paxton drainage contractor and developer of the lake and residential project,
reported the sale of that 97 of the first group of 180 lots placed on the market. He said he knows
of “10 to 12 persons” who are planning to build permanent residences costing in the
neighborhood of $30,000 each.
Steps are being completed for the legal recognition of records of the addition, and that action will
make it possible for electric power lines to be installed by the Eastern Illinois Power
Cooperative.
The 160-acre lake is part of a 600-acre development.
1953, January 26, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Start Building Power Line to Bayles Site”
Construction of a power line to the new Bayles Lake site west of Loda has begun, Warren Pacey,
attorney for the development association, announced Monday.
Sale of between 90 to 100 lots at prices from $1,000 to $4,500 for home sites was reported by
Pacey. Deposits on a number of others have been received. Some construction has started.
Winter rain and snowfall have not yet been sufficient to bring the three lake basins totaling 220
acres to the level expected at this time.
Improvement of the highway leading west from Loda to the lake site is planned.
1953, March 6, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Bayles Lake Power Poles Distributed”
Workmen of the CIPS electric company were distributing poles for the installation of electric
power at the new Bayles Lake site Thursday.
Recent rainfall has increased lake level until about 100 acres of the 220 acre site are now
inundated. Cleaning of brush from the public park area is complete and the area has been
fenced.
1953, March 23, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Bayles Lake To Be Filled By June 1”
Bayles Lake, under development one mile west of Loda, probably will be filled with water by
June 1, according to Tracy A. Pitzen, Paxton engineer for the project.
Approximately 160 acres of the lake area have become covered with water in about the last
month. Recent heavy rains have raised the water level sharply and expanded the area under
water.
About 140 acres on the north side of the county road, which runs through the lake area, and 20
acres on the south side now are under water. Near the dam, water has risen to a depth of 20 feet.
Rises of about four more feet will fill the lake.
Two spillways will prevent an overflow of water in the lake area after the bed is filled, Pitzen
explained. An intake valve also can be closed.
The idea of developing a waterfront area for public use at the lake is under discussion, according
to L.W. Reynolds, treasurer of Bayles Lake Corp. It has been suggested that Loda Sportsmen’s
Club or other groups might take the initiative in the project, which would make possible public
swimming.
A site at the southeast end of the lake would be used for such a development. Reynolds said the
corporation would not be able to provide and maintain facilities of the type proposed. A golf
course and landing field eventually may be developed near the lake.
About 100 lots have been sold for approximately $200,000 and 80 more are for sale.
Construction of summer and permanent homes will begin this spring and summer. A main road
around the lake has been blacktopped, and arterial roads are to be improved, according to
Reynolds. Installation of a lighting system for the area has been started by the Eastern Illinois
Power Cooperative.
A Lot Owners Association is to be organized; it will plan fire protection and set up regulations,
Reynolds said.
A majority of the lots in the development are owned by Paxton residents, but other owners live in
Buckley, Loda, Elliott, Roberts, Gibson City, Champaign-Urbana, Rantoul and several other
towns.
1953, April 20, The News-Gazette reports
“BAYLES LAKE FILLED; START BUILDING HOMES, DOCKS”
Construction of two homes at the new 220-acre Bayles Lake site west of Loda has begun. About
15 are already using the lake, which is now completely filled, and construction of many more
homes will begin soon, Tracy Pitzen, engineer for the project said Saturday.
Interest in the new lake, largest of its kind in the immediate vicinity, has already resulted in the
sale of more than 130 lots for home sites, Pitzen reported.
A total of 250 lots were laid out in the original plans and plans are already being made for an
additional 150.
The lake, which is bounded by a blacktopped road, over three miles long, is 30 feet deep in the
center and almost two miles long. A county highway divides it with 170 acres lying to the north
of the road and the balance lying south of the highway.
Plans for a formal dedication to be held sometime this summer are being made, Pitzen said.
Preliminary planning is for a water carnival in conjunction with other ceremonies.
An estimated $250,000 has already been spent on development of the lake site. Still to be
completed is the blacktopping of the road over the dam at the north end and access roads to many
of the inlets lying on peninsulas jutting into the lake.
Costs of the lots vary from $1,500 to $3,000. Some especially choice lots were sold for $6,000
each.
Homes are restricted to a minimum size of 500 square feet and all building on the lot must be
under one roof. Some three-bedroom homes have been planned.
Water for home use will be obtained from deep wells. Groups of lot owners are expected to put
down central wells, which will serve from six to 20 homeowners. Power lines have already been
strung to the site.
Because of the depth of the lake, no public swimming areas are planned at present. However, a
park site of about 20 acres adjoining the county highway has been reserved for public use.
Boats on the lake will be restricted to a maximum of five horsepower. The lake will be stocked
with fish, according to present plans.
The Weaver and Kaufmann realty firm, Paxton, which is handling lot sales, are keeping an office
open at the lake site on weekends.
During one recent weekend, more than 600 automobiles made the tour around the lake.
Financing the project is the Bayles Lake Corporation, a group of Paxton area men headed by
D.B. Bayles for who the lake is named.
Doctor E.T. Grove, Paxton, is vice president and Warren Pacey is secretary-treasurer.
1953, June 19, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Homes Built at Loda Lake”
Construction of three summer homes on lots adjoining Bayles Lake, one mile west of Loda, is
nearing completion, and work is progressing on six others.
About 125 of the 200 lots which have been platted around the new man-made lake have been
sold so far. The first houses to be completed will be those of Les Ehresman of Buckley, who
built on the west shore; Clyde Day, Gibson City and Glenn Hall, Onarga, both on the east side.
A sand beach is being developed by D.B. Bayles on his lots, and gravel is being pushed 25 feet
into the water.
Small bass are reported growing in the lake, and it is to be stocked with blue gills soon.
A well sunk on the east side of the lake will serve 42 lots, and another well has been constructed
in the park near the Bayles lots. A third well is being dug on the west side.
A number of lot owners are working on their property, building boat landings, picnicking and
swimming areas, in the evenings.
Parks which are scattered through the rolling country around the lake are to be mowed and
planted with evergreen trees.
1953, September 14, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“Another Lake Planned Near Loda”
A Paxton businessman has purchased 200 acres north of the 220-acre lake Bayles Lake site, west
of Loda, and may develop a lake on it within the next two or three years for recreational
purposes, said Tracy Pitzen, Paxton Mayor and consulting engineer said Monday.
Preliminary copy lines of the property have been drawn by Pitzen’s engineering office, but
engineering details are not complete.
The Bayles Lake Corp. is not taking part in the projected plan, but water flowing through the
present 220-acre lake would also be used to flood part of the adjacent acreage.
Pitzen said it is too early to estimate the exact size of the proposed lake but that it would likely
exceed 100 acres.
About 160 of the 220 lots on Bayles Lake have already been sold, Pitzen reported. However, a
number of choice lots are still available.
About 25-30 new homes are completed or under construction at the lake with 15 designed for
year round living, and a number of lot owners are planning construction later this fall, Pitzen
said.
1954, June 3, The Paxton Record reports
A car accident takes place at Bayles Lake. A woman who was visiting family at the lake and
was returning from Loda was turning into the west entrance. As she was turning, two guinea
hens ran in front of her. She veered to her right to avoid hitting them and hit a parked car, her
car then glanced off the parked car as she hit her head on the steering wheel and the car headed
down the bank towards the lake. As the car picked up momentum and hit the water, its force
carried her out into the lake. Fortunately for her there were two Air Force service men from
Chanute Air Force Base fishing nearby and they dove into the lake and swam to the car.
Initially, they struggled to get the submerged car doors open. After successfully getting a door
open and helping her to the shoreline, she recovered with bumps and bruises to her head and
face. A tow truck service was called to get her car out of the lake…..
(This article is retyped from The Paxton Record, June 10, 1954, a huge, one page advertisement,
congratulating Loda, on its 100th Anniversary.) Centennial Edition.
BEAUTIFUL BAYLES LAKE
Central Illinois’ Loveliest New Sub Division
Congratulates Loda on its 100th Anniversary
(Large aerial view of Bayles Lake, same photo as 1953 article)
(Four Advertisements were listed along both sides of the aerial photo)
For Real Family “Fun” *Fishing
Relax in Your Own Home *Boating
On Bayles Lake…Just *Swimming
One mile West of Loda Many Fine Choice
On State Aid Road Lakeside Lots Available
4 Miles North of Paxton Phone 45-Paxton, Ill
Get Your Lake Lot Now Weaver or Kaufmann,
And Enjoy it All Summer Realtors
And the Year Around
Services Available Excellent Roads
Electric Service: All Weather Roads
Hookup with REA Leading to Each Lot
Telephone Service: Will be Completed
With General Telephone This Year
Water Service: School Bus…
Fresh Drinking Water Piped Transportation is Available
To Lots Through Cooperative Also as The Bus Completely
Efforts of Lot Owners Circles the Lake
(This was written below the aerial photo)
This bird’s view of Bayles Lake is an aerial picture taken from several thousand feet in the air
and from the north end looking south. On the right is the huge earthen dam across which the
road runs and in the left foreground is the spillway.
The lake has nine miles of shoreline as it has a number of inlets and bays, largest of which is
Etty-Kay Bay located just off the middle of the lake to the east. The severe drought last summer
and fall gave the lake as difficult test as could be had and it came through perfectly. The level
dropped only 18 inches during that period as compared to the virtual drying up of Mattoon Lake,
the drastic depletion of water in Lake Decatur and in the lesser Lake of the Woods.
Still another virtue of this man-made lake is its almost perfect immunity against being filled up
with sediment. Only two small streams draining 6,000 acres of land feed into the lake. The lake
also is augmented by some springs.
The principle stream that feeds to the lake first flows into a settling bed where it halts long
enough for the sediment to settle. Then the water is drawn off the top into the lake proper. As a
result very little sediment goes into the lake.
BAYLES LAKE—HOW IT CAME INTO BEING!
ORIGIN: Mr. D. B. Bayles, a drainage contractor of Paxton, Illinois, for years contemplated
construction of an artificial lake at this location. In 1940 he started acquiring necessary land for
the lake site. In the years 1947 and 1948 negotiations were concluded for the sale and transfer of
the Lake, when constructed, to the State of Illinois for a State Park. The authorities of the State
of Illinois refused to permit pollution of the water flowing into the lake by the discharge from the
sewer system of the Village of Loda. This presented to the Village of Loda and its residents the
problem of abating the nuisance caused by the pollution. The village authorities, considered
various alternatives including both individual and municipal sewage treatment installations. The
village voted a bond issue and bonds were issued at this time to extend the sewage outlet of the
village to a point downstream from the Lake. Drainage easements, or right-of-way, were
obtained for the extension of the sewer outlet.
A change in Administration in our State Government resulted in abandonment of plans to create
additional State Parks, leaving no alternative but to proceed with the project as a private
enterprise rather than public recreational facility. In the spring of 1952 Bayles Lake, Inc., a
corporation, was organized and the sum of $150,000 was provided by its shareholders (most of
whom are local people) to finance the completion of the Lake.
The corporation assisted the Village of Loda in solving its sewage disposal problem by
furnishing the right-of-way for the construction of a channel into which this pollution could be
diverted and by bearing a substantial part of the cost of building this channel.
Work on the diversion channel and the structures required for the Lake to proceeded throughout
the summer and fall of 1952 so that a major part of the work was done by late fall of that year.
The Lake filled early in the spring of 1953.
PURPOSE: Since the Lake could not be completed as a State Park and had to be financed and
constructed as a private enterprise, it is a private lake. The primary purpose is to provide
recreational facilities for the persons who have made it possible by purchasing building sites on
the lake. It is unfortunate that the facilities are not adequate and could not be made adequate to
provide unlimited recreation for the general public.
It is the desire of the officers and shareholders of the corporation to make the facilities available
to the fullest extent possible, without depriving the lot owners of their rights.
There are no present plans for commercializing any part of the area or providing public bathing,
boating or other recreational facilities.
SIZE: 625 acres of land are owned by the corporation, about 200 acres of which are flooded to a
maximum depth of about 23 feet at Newell Dam, the main levee. Except for the beaches, the
water is all four feet or more in depth.
LOTS: Portions of the acreage owned by the corporation have been subdivided into lots. All
lots have frontage on the lake and vary in size from approximately 5,000 square feet to more than
20,000 square feet. Many of the lots are covered with natural timber, of oak and hickory.
BUILDING RESTRICTIONS: All lots are limited to residential use and are subject to the
restrictions contained in the recorded plat of the subdivision. Among the building restrictions are
requirements that building plans be submitted to and approved by the sub divider before
construction will be permitted. Each dwelling shall have minimum of 500 square feet of floor
space. Detached garages or other out buildings will not be permitted. Outdoor toilets will not be
permitted. Each lot owner shall be required to join and abide by the regulations of a Lot
Owners’ Association. Lot owners are required to keep their lots in a neat condition and cannot
permit a nuisance to exist.
FISHING: The Lake has been stocked with the varieties of fish best adapted for the Lake and
locally. Fishing is good. Lot owners, members of their families and their guests may be
permitted to fish.
BOATING: There is a limit on the size of motors, which will be permitted to be used with boats
on the Lake. A permit, in writing, is required for any boat or motor used on the Lake.
PURCHASE OF LOTS: More than 2/3 of the lots originally platted have been sold. However,
many choice locations remain for sale. Prices range from $1,000 up.
TITLES: Title to each lot sold will be guaranteed by a Chicago Title and Trust Owners Title
Guaranty Policy.
FUTURE POSSIBILITIES: Suitable space can be made available for the construction of a Golf
Course. It is contemplated that an airport or restricted landing area for aircraft at the lake will be
licensed before the end of 1954.
NOT FOR A WEEK—OR TWO WEEKS—BUT ALL YEAR
LONG AT NEARBY BAYLES LAKE
MANY BEAUTIFUL HOMES ALREADY BUILT
As of June 5, 1954, a total of 39 new homes had been built at Bayles Lake…that after the lake
had been in existence only one year.
From modest three-room cottages to pretentious $30,000 to $40,000 homes in several cases, the
extent of building has been almost unbelievable.
Each home is served by a fine crushed rock drive off of the hardtop road, which circles the lake.
Each has good shoreline for every lot for sale on the lake and has a direct outlet on the water.
Attractive ranch type homes featuring huge picture windows opening on the lakefront, fireplaces
as well as complete heating systems insure the residents of complete comfort.
To date there are seven families living at the Lake. Others use their homes for outings,
weekends and all summer long. Many kept them open last winter just for entertaining at skating
parties, etc.
The Les Ehresman family was the first to move into their home at the lake. That was last
summer. The Ehresman home since has been sold to Art Falter of Hoopeston and Ehresman has
built another lakeside home for his family.
Building restrictions at the lake insure property owners of attractive cottages or homes. These
have been rigidly enforced with the result that the homes all are most attractive as well as
serviceable.
It is expected that another 20 cottages and permanent type homes will go up at the lake this
summer.
1954, June 11, The Loda Times reports
When the beautiful new 1954 Hudson car was pulled from Bayles Lake recently, there was
considerable amazement with the speed with which the auto was pulled out by Terry’s Wrecking
Service. A local resident supplied the best facetious reason when he commented “they got the
car out so fast because it was way over the horse power limit for the lake.” (Out board motor
owners are limited to 5 horse power motors on the lake.)
1954, June 11, The Loda Times reports
“39 Homes Now Have Been Built At Bayles Lake”
The recent count revealed that a total of 39 homes are built or under construction at Bayles Lake,
a mile west of Loda.
What makes this total particularly staggering is the fact that no construction was underway
before June, 1953.
At the present rate the assessed valuation of lake property should swell to $1 million within a
very few years.
The horseshoe-shape roadway which winds around the main section of the lake will be
resurfaced this summer, according to lake officials.
The types of home construction vary from prefab summer cottages to two and three room to
permanent homes of wood and stone.
The lake itself nears engineering perfection. While other area man-made lakes were almost dry
as a result of the serve drought of last summer and fall, the level of Bayles Lake dropped only 14
to 16 inches now, with spring rains, has regained its peak.
1954, June 25, The Loda Times reports
“Lake to Charge Fee for Public Fishing”
It was announced today by Bayles Lake officials that effective July 1, all fishing by the public at
the lake will be $1.00 per day, and the fishing will be in a specified area south of the road that
bisects the lake. It was further pointed out by lake officials that fishing from the lake road is to
be prohibited and this ruling will be enforced.
1954, June 25, The Loda Times reports
“Drowning at Bayles Lake”
A 35 year old man from Rantoul drowned about 1:00 am. Five people, who were not lake
residents, had been at a party decided to stop at Bayles Lake to go swimming. Two of the men
were going to try and swim across the lake, near 1202 Sunset Drive, one man swam part way but
turned around to return to shore but the other man decided to keep going. The group heard the
victim yelling for help but before they could find a boat and get to him, the yelling stopped.
The group contacted the Bayles Lake Security Officer and the Iroquois County Sheriff’s Office.
Search operations began shortly after 3:00 a.m. with as many as seven boats scouring the area
with lights provided by a Loda Fire Truck. In the morning two search planes were brought in
and at 11:00 a.m. they reported seeing a dark object under the water. Divers were able to recover
the body.
The four remaining friends were charged, in an Iroquois County courtroom with trespassing and
fined $50.00, they remained in jail until they could make payment.
1954, June 25, The Paxton Record reports
“No Foul Play Indicated In Gusler Drowning”
Friends Can’t Pay Fines
An official spokesman for Iroquois County Sheriff Archie Krug said Tuesday morning in
Watseka that there is no indication that foul play was involved in the tragic drowning Monday at
one a.m. in Bayles Lake a mile west of Loda of John Shelburn “Jack” Gusler, 35-year-old
Rantoul man.
Verne K. Bussert, of Sheldon, county coroner, said that an inquest is planned into the death. The
body of Gusler, however, has been released from the Kelley Memorial Home in Buckley to a
Rantoul funeral parlor.
Friends Can’t Pay
The four friends who were with Gusler at the time of the drowning were fined $50 and costs each
Monday evening in Watseka in the court of Judge Lytel, and unable to pay they remain in jail,
according to the Iroquois county sheriff’s office. The charge against each was for disorderly
conduct.
“If and when their fines are paid,” said the spokesman for Sheriff Krug, “they will be
released…and we are contemplating no other charges.”
The four earlier had been arraigned at Loda before Justice of the Peace Ed Garney and held on
$50 cash bonds for trespassing on the lot of Archie Tomshek at Bayles Lake. They were not
held on the trespassing charge in the Watseka court, however.
Tried To Swim Lake
Held in Watseka are Albert Tomlinson, 29; Dick McConkey, 26; and Don McConkey, 24, all of
Rantoul; and also a 26 year-old Rantoul woman.
Gusler drowned when he attempted to swim across Bayles Lake, which was about 300 yards
wide at that point. He went under the water about two-thirds of the way across. He was
swimming toward to east shore.
Gusler, a veteran of World War II, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Gusler, who lived on a
farm southwest of Rantoul. He made his home with his parents.
He was born on February 14, 1919, and had been employed in Rantoul by the General Paving
Company of Champaign. He was unmarried.
5 Brothers, Sisters
In addition to John “Jack”, the Joesph Guslers have two sons and three daughters. One of the
daughters is Mrs. Rosie (Clyde) Day of Gibson City. Mr. Day assisted in the dragging of the
lake for his brother-in-law’s body.
The other children are James, Racine, Wis.; William, Peoria; Mrs. James Bates, Jr., Tolono; and
Mrs. Frank Holzinger, Champaign.
Post-Midnight Swim
His apparent drowning was the result of a post-midnight swim involving four men and a woman.
State Policeman Calvin Coleman, of Paxton, one of the first persons on the scene and the director
of the dragging operations, said that he was told all five of the persons went into the lake nude.
The victim was describe as only “a fair swimmer.”
This reporter, who talked to Gusler’s companions, was told the following story: We all went into
the water, and were swimming around just a few yards off the west shore (are now accused of
trespassing on lot owned by Archie Tomsek of Loda). We had gotten there about 12: 40 a.m. or
so and had been swimming about 15 or 20 minutes when Jack (Gusler) and Dick (McConkey)
decided to swim across the lake (the lake is 130 yards or more wide at that point).
Hear Jack Yelling
McConkey continued the story: “I got less than half-way across and told Jack I couldn’t go all
the way. I started back for the west shore and was about 30 feet from the shore when I heard
Jack yelling. He was about two-thirds of the way across the lake then.”
“I made it to shore myself and we got a boat that was tied near the dock and went out to where he
had heard Jack yelling. He was gone. He was only a fair swimmer.”
The group said the first thing that was done then was to notify police authorities in Loda.
Laurence Houser, who is employed as a policing officer at Bayles Lake and also is an Iroquois
county deputy sheriff, went to the lake with the Rantoul people.
The men said that none was married to the woman, “and we’d rather not give her name, if you
don’t mind.” They did say she was from Rantoul. She appeared to be about 28 years of age.
Other officials said that the Rantoul group admitted having been drinking Sunday afternoon and
evening, and were quoted as saying “we all had four, six or eight cans of beer.” They were
driving in a 1950 Ford sedan.
Planes Spot Object
As late as 11 a.m. Monday the body had not been recovered, but two planes in use for spotting
from the air had reported seeing a dark object in the water. The planes, a Swift and a Piper Cub,
were piloted by Red Johnson and Ralph Bradbury of Roberts.
The dragging began shortly after three a.m., with light being provided by the Loda fire truck. By
10 a.m. at least seven boats were being used to scour the drowning area.
Shortly before 11 o’clock, Mike “Tex” Lukert, 17-year-old Loda youth and an expert swimmer
volunteered to dive into the water to look for the body. He was wearing fins on his feet and
goggles over his eyes.
At least five or six other youths offered their services within a few minutes.
Assisting State Patrolman Coleman and Sheriff Archie Krug of Watseka and his deputies were
Ford County Sheriff Fred R. Kemp and Chief Deputy Raymond Burklund of Paxton.
Brother-In-Law Helps
The drowned man is the brother-in-law of Clyde Day of Gibson City, who has a home at the lake
and was assisting in the dragging operations from a boat.
Gusler is the first person to drown in Bayles Lake although there have been several close calls in
the past year.
Last summer little Barbara McCall, daughter of the Warner McCalls of the Perdueville
community, was revived after about 30 minutes of artificial respiration. She had been swimming
a few yards off shore at the lake and was found floating face-down in the water.
Believed Drowned
Earlier in 1954, Clarence “Bud” Henry, 28, of Ludlow, was killed in an auto crash at the Bayles
Lake bridge. It was feared that a passenger in the car, Raymond Gibson, of Ludlow, had
drowned. He disappeared after the crash but reported to the Ford county sheriff’s office in
Paxton the next morning.
Mrs. Carrie Kemp, of Delavan, narrowly escaped death by drowning when the car plunged from
the road on the west side of the lake into the water last month. Men fishing from the main road
nearby saved her life pulling Mrs. Kemp from the car which was rapidly filling with water.
(With the above article there was also a photo taken by Addison Goodall: (Paxton Youths Build
Diving Apparatus” with the caption: Sheriff Fred Kemp, left, looks on as Kenny Keefe and Bob
Swanson adjust the heavy steel hood on the shoulders of Gene Mattoon just prior to their search
for the body of Jack Gusler who was drowned at Bayles Lake late Sunday night. It was with the
equipment attached to an air compressor that they finally discovered the body. The three teen-
agers all were members of last year’s Paxton High football team and in this year’s graduating
class at Paxton.)
1954, July 23, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Bayles Lake, Near Loda, Thrives as Resort Area”
Little more than a year old, Bayles Lake, west of Loda, is attracting an increasing number of
residents seeking leisure living within easy reach of resort-type recreation facilities.
It was in 1953 that D. B. (Doc) Bayles, Paxton earth moving contractor, completed the man-
made lake and his Bayles Lake Corp. began developing the area.
Now there are 45 homes either completed or nearing completion, and the lake development, with
its nine miles of shoreline and surrounding wooded landscape has an assessed evaluation of
nearly $1 million. Telephone service is in the offing and recently Mr. and Mrs. Bayles moved
into their new home on Wolfe Drive.
Their home, with its large picture window commanding an excellent view of the lake, has five
rooms, including two baths, two terraces and two carports.
Typical of the popularity of Bayles Lake for residential sites are the 15 warranty deeds for lots
recently filed in the office of Iroquois County Recorder Robert J. Strough, Watseka.
Warranty deeds were filed by L. D. and Marie B. Vicker, Urbana; Addison and Marion W.
Goodell Loda; E. Clark Karr and Lillie D. Karr, Route 1, Loda; Leo and Evelyn Streff, Paxton;
Arthur Eckersley and James Ditman, both of Buckley; M. B. Kennedy, Paxton (two lots).
Loyd H. and Mary Jane Champion, East Lynn; Reul Bartell, Buckley; William L. Thompson,
Paxton; Paul F. Weakley, Paxton; Wallace Abernathie, Champaign; Robert and Rebecca
Jorgenson; Paxton; Phillip B. and Ellen N. Nelson, Rantoul; Loretta Marguerite Pfeifer,
Champaign; and Lyon W. and Dorothy A. Hartman, Champaign.
1955, June 12, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“Bayles Lake Sites Attract Many Area Purchasers”
Bayles Lake, west of Loda, three years ago only a set of plans, has now grown into one of the
most popular summer and year-round resorts in the Champaign-Urbana area.
At the present time, 50 homes have been completed, two are under construction, and plans for
three more have been announced.
Of the original homes sites platted, only 43 lots remain to be sold.
The homes vary in value to a top of approximately $35,000.
The 220 acre lake is restricted for use by residents or lot owners.
Original plans for a public picnic area were abandoned when users failed to take proper care of
facilities.
Among the purchasers of lots are:
From Champaign-Urbana: O. Wayne Braid, L.D. McVivker, E.F. Kirwan, William C. Picken,
Grover Ennis, Ralph B. Peck, Jay Brammer, Joe Blessman, Roy Otto, Willis Bliven, John M.
Wainscott, John M. Keefe, Victor Hyde, Lorette Pfeifer, Paul and Wayne Utterback, R. Will
Burnett, L.W. Hartman, William J. Bash, Stanley F. Allen, Wallace Aberthanie, Robert E. Smith,
Kenneth Boyer, Wendell Crawford, V.A Roland, Laurence Ostema, Jack Marco, Loyd Cole.
Paxton owners: Paul Weakley, M.R. Kennedy, S.H. Dilks, Mae Saldeen, Fred Smith Lumber
Co., Warner McCall, Tracy Pitzen, Robert Jorgenson, D.E. Martensen, Mildred Pacey, Warren
Pacey, Ernest Brown, Fred W. Parker, Dr. E.T. Grove, W.W. Overstreet, J.I. Woodworth,
Herbert Stevens, Dorth Todd, L.W. Reynolds, Harvard Keefe, Marshall Elson, Calvin Thoman,
D.C. Hummel, Ed Rasmus, Leo Streff, Mrs. Horace Fredrick, Bayles Construction Co., Edward
Ogle, Donald Peterson, Donald Hasselbring, J.A. Keefe, Betty J. Bayles, Edward W. Wolfe.
Rantoul: Raymond Camper, J.W. Eater, William Thompson, Albert Adell, Philip B. Nelson,
Godfrey Gwynn, Eryle Graper, Mary A. Tague.
Savoy: Ralph Fisher, Willard Koss.
Tolono: R.H. Daily, Irenen Anderson.
Bayles Lake: Art Falter, Dr. E.A. Tappan, Dale C. Bayles, Charles Ehresman, R.H. Berg, Clyde
Joyce, Cleo B. Bayles, D.B. Bayles, Bert Isaacs.
Loda owners: Harry Swanson, Edward Garney, Chester K. West, Maurice J. Weaver, Addison
Goodell, Clark Karr, W.C. Healey, C.G. Healey, Cornelius Gutzwiler, Robert Currie.
Buckley owners: Irvin Nieman, Mark Kaufmann, Elroy Jansen, Arthur Eckersley, James
Ditman, Ruel Bartell, Harold Wagner, Walter Swanstrom.
Owners from other area towns: Gordon Kimes, Thomasboro; Carlton Myers, Gifford; Donald
Brewinton, Rankin; Wilson D. Kreizter, Elliot; Couye Sadler, Melvin; Ray LeCrone, Monticello;
Raymond O. Carson, St. Joseph; Ira M. Hamilton, Roberts; Clyde Day, and L.F. Swanson,
Gibson City; Dr. Clyde Rulison, Roberts; Glenn Hall, Onarga; Robert Siedentop, Gilman; Helen
Strong, Cissna Park; Mary L. Exton, Thomasboro; Robert Webb, Ogden; Thurm Kuiper, Gilman.
1955, June 17, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“7 Homes Planned At Bayles Lake”
Seven new homes will be under construction by fall at Bayles Lake, a mile west of Loda.
Mr. and Mrs. Donald Hasselbring, Paxton, have started construction work on a two bedroom
house on Von Etty-Kay bay on the east side of the lake.
The Hasselbrings plan to make this their permanent home. He is in the implement business at
Paxton.
New home of Mayor Tracy Pitzen of Paxton is nearly constructed on the west side of the lake.
Pitzen was the engineer for the project.
D. B. Bayles, who has sold his permanent home on the east side of the lake to Mr. and Mrs.
Weaver Healey, will build a summer house just south of his present home.
Ralph Peck of Champaign has added a bedroom to his home and Mr. Hendrix of Leroy is
building a home on the east side.
Dorrence Tamman of Danforth has started construction on his new home on the east side of the
lake.
A new home will be built next to the Chester West home on the lake by the Rolands of
Champaign.
1956, May 16, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“Bayles Lake Stocked With 2,500 Pounds Of Fish”
Twenty-five hundred pounds of live north lake fish were added into Bayles Lake near here
Wednesday morning in a major step by property owners in a fish restocking program.
The fish released Wednesday near the dam at the north end of the lake, weighed from 1½ to 8
pounds each. About 30 persons were on hand at 6 a.m. to see the fish release.
To date, about 50 percent of the lot owners have contributed to the fund to stock the lake and it is
expected that others will contribute. As soon as more money is available, a shipment of walleyes
will be brought in from Lake Superior.
The lake’s board of directors voted at its last meeting to turn over all money from fishing permits
and boat and motor permits to a fund for lake improvement, including killing of rough fish and
cleaning the water of weeds.
1956, June 4, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Airfield Approves At Bayles Lake”
A private airfield for Bayles Lake, Loda, was among the seven approved by the state department
of aeronautics during May, Arthur E. Abbney, department director, announced Saturday.
1956, June 17, The News-Gazette reports
“Summer Is Pleasant At 65 Homes Around Loda’s Bayles Lake”
By Ed Borman, News-Gazette News Editor
Bayles Lake, a dream only a few years ago, is home this summer for about 65 families, who have
fishing, swimming and boating a few feet from their doors.
They are getting more neighbors almost weekly as new houses go up amid big trees on the
rolling ground that encircles the 220 acre lake.
More than 100 other families who have purchased lots in the attractive subdivision join Bayles
Lake residents frequently in their summer fun. They drive out often for recreation on the lake
and spend hours in planning of “this is where we will put our house.”
The lake, two miles west of Loda and four miles north of Paxton, provides a touch of Wisconsin
or Minnesota in the center of Illinois cornfields.
D. B. Bayles of Paxton, who developed the 220-acre lake and laid out about 300 lots and little
parks around it, now is dreaming of a nine-hole golf course and clubhouse on the south side of
the lake.
But that is “sometime in the future.” He and his associates still are very busy with the initial
development, which began in 1952. Lots have sold rapidly, but there still is an assortment of
locations available.
The lake with eight and a half miles of shoreline is formed entirely from runoff of rainfall from
surrounding farmland. A nearby stream is bypassed around the lake because it contains sewage.
Addison Goodell, Mayor of Loda and an enthusiastic summer resident at Bayles Lake, says the
“only loss of water from the lake is evaporation, because the clay bottom is so tight.”
When Bloomington faced a serious water shortage this year because of the low level of its big
lake, Bayles Lake was at normal height. Lowest point last year was only 14 inches below
normal.
In April 1953, there was no water in the lake, but the most eager owners set piers and boat docks
where the engineers said the water would be. After 2 or 3 rains the water was there. The lake
averages about 20 feet in depth but drops to 60 in spots.
The first houses were built in 1953. Since then, there has been steady and increasing
construction activity.
None of the homes around the lake are “cabins.” Restrictions in the deeds set minimum
requirements for the homes, but most builders have exceeded them in cost and beauty.
An increasing number of the residents live at the lake year round. For example, Tracy Pitzen is
resigning August 1 as Mayor of Paxton, because he is moving to Bayles Lake. He is so anxious
to get on the lake that he’ll live in a caretaker’s house until his new home is finished. Pitzen was
the engineer for the development of the lake.
Dr. Edward A. Tappan has a busy practice in Paxton but lives at the lake, with his son-in-law
Dale Bayles, next door. He says improvement of his attractive home is a “job that’s never done.”
Bayles Lake Inc., a corporation formed by Bayles, carried out the development, complete to
streetlights on the excellent private roads.
Dr E. T. Grove of Paxton has succeeded Bayles as president of the corporation. When
development and lot sales are complete, control of the area will be turned over to an association
of the lot owners. Maurice Weaver and Mark Kaufmann handle lot sales, Paxton real estate men.
1956, July 9, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“Bayles Lake Country Club Gains Support”
Approximately 50 persons have subscribed to an agreement to raise $125,000 for the
construction of a country club, nine-hole golf course and swimming facilities in the vicinity of
Bayles Lake.
The subscription forms have been in circulation for about a week and call for 250 signatures of
persons willing to contribute $500 each.
D. B. “Doc” Bayles, of the Bayles Lake Corporation, owner of the land, said land had been
offered on the south end of the lake and that according to reports the response has been pretty
good.
Bayles said the proposed recreation area would serve Paxton, Gibson City and the Melvin,
Buckley, Roberts’s area. “There also was some interest from Chanute,” he said.
Dr. E. T. Grove, Paxton, described the response as “fairly good” and said that tentative drawings
of the proposed golf course have been made. “We had hoped it would be ready by next year, but
no predictions can be made.”
Estimates on the cost of construction have been given at about $40,000 to $50,000 for the course,
$50,000 for the clubhouse and dining facilities. No amount has been determined for the
purchase of the land.
1956, July 29, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“75 Bayles Lake Homeowners Enjoy Urban Living in Resort Location”
By Richard Kasten
Seven new homes are under construction at Bayles Lake, one mile west of Loda, and two of
them will be occupied in August.
The new owners will be among 75 with homes on the privately owned, mile-long lake. All the
homes have been built on the nine miles of shoreline in the last 3 years.
V.A. Roland, who lives at the corner of Ridgeway Street and Springfield in Champaign is
building a 26 by 32 foot four room house for summer and winter use.
It is located on a point where a small bay enters the lake, providing beautiful lake views from
two sides of the living room. Large glass doors form most of the two sides.
On the west is a spacious screened porch, with concrete walks around the porch and a patio on
the north.
The house has a brick veneer front. The exterior is peach colored with white trim and there is a
five-ply tar and gravel roof containing marble chips from Georgia for light and heat reflection.
Contractor is Erwin Roy of Paxton, who also is building a garage and living room addition to the
Chet West residence next door.
W.C. Falvey, retired Ludlow barber, is completing a 56 by 26 foot house on Von Etty-Kay Bay.
The exterior is of coral cedar with snow white shingles. There is a large stone chimney for the
living room fireplace.
The house has five rooms, bath and two-car garage. The Falveys expect to move in by
Wednesday. Only cabinet work and a little floor work remain to be finished. Contractor is C.L.
Ehresman, a permanent resident at the lake.
Mr. and Mrs. Donald Hasselbring also have a home under construction across the bay from the
Falveys. Hasselbring is a Paxton implement dealer.
Ehresman also is building a redwood home on the west side of the lake for Mr. and Mrs. Joseph
Pfeifer of Champaign. Pfeifer is an electrician at Lauterborn’s in Champaign.
Tracy Pitzen, an engineer and mayor of Paxton, is building a 30 by 80 foot house on the west
side. It has three bedrooms, two baths, dining room, living room, kitchen, partly enclosed
summer porch, two-car garage and a full basement.
Rooms have plaster walls and complete mahogany trim. Wood materials were shipped from
California. Contractor is Estes Construction Co. of Rantoul. The house will be completed in
about three weeks.
Stylecraft Construction Co. of Gibson City is building a four room summer home at the south
end of the lake for Clyde Hendrix of Clinton, Ia.
It is an experimental model of a pre-cut home with butterfly roof, redwood siding and a large
tangerine-colored chimney. Fireplace inside also is painted tangerine. Flooring is covered with
linoleum and there are open beam ceilings.
Hendrix is president of Hendrix homes of LeRoy, chairman of the Iowa Industrial Development
Corp. and is on the National Boy Scout Board.
Fred Tammen of Danforth has started construction of his new home on the east side of the lake.
Residents are members of Bayles Lake, Inc. All houses must have at least 500 square feet of
floor space and plans must be approved by the corporation directors.
The lake land originally was owned by D.B. Bayles, who now has a permanent home on the east
side of the lake. About 25 persons formed the corporation in 1952 to purchase the land,
subdivide it and provide for utilities and make improvements owned in common.
First meeting of the stockholders was held in October, 1952. Ehresman and Clyde Day built the
first houses, which they occupied in the fall of 1953.
The 75 owners of the homes at Bayles Lake are from Champaign, Rantoul, Paxton, Gilman,
Onarga, Melvin, Roberts, Gibson City, Elliott, Indiana, Iowa and four from Chicago.
About 25 families are permanent residents.
The corporation dug five wells 210 feet deep. Cost was shared by stockholders and there are no
water bills. A few residents have their own wells also, drawing on am 80-foot deep vein.
Electricity is supplied by the REA. There are long distance telephone service from Paxton,
sanitary sewer lines on the east side of the lake and seepage beds for sewage on the west side.
The lake has two spillways, one an emergency spillway six inches higher than the first which
controls the lake level. The corporation also has provided a grass landing strip for airplanes,
south of the Hendrix home.
About 50 residents have pledged $75,000 and signed up to construct a country club with a nine-
hole golf course and club house at the lake.
The corporation also built a caretaker house for Chris Klein of Loda, who mows weeds, trims
trees and repairs roads.
A special deputy hired by the corporation to patrol the lake area is Rudy Berg, a permanent
resident there.
Only residents are allowed on the lake. Permits are required for all boats and motors and there is
a limit of 5 ½ horsepower on boat motors.
At a cost of $1,200, the corporation stocked 2,500 pounds of channel catfish in the lake in May,
1956. Walleyed pike will be stocked this fall. The lake area has all virgin oak and hickory trees.
Officers are Dr. E.T. Groves of Paxton, president; Maurice Weaver, D.B. Bayles, Fred Parker
and William Overstreet, all of Paxton and Dr. E. Tappan and Clyde Joyce, permanent residents,
directors.
1956, August 11, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“Group to Buy Land for Club”
A group which proposes to develop a country club at Bayles Lake, west of Loda, met at Ford
County Courthouse Friday night and decided to obtain an option to purchase land from Bayles
Lake Corp. for the site of the proposed club.
D.C. Hummel, Paxton attorney, was named chairman of a committee of attorneys and a judge to
prepare an application for a corporate charter. The application will be acted on at the next
meeting, to be held Thursday in the courthouse.
Plans call for a membership of 250 persons, each to contribute $500. Money raised would be
used to finance construction of a nine-hole golf course, clubhouse and beach.
More than 125 persons have signed up as members so far. Others have indicated they will sign
later.
Other members on the committee are Sidney Dilks, Judge John Howard Benjamin, Warren
Pacey and Ed Pacey, all of Paxton, and Charles E, Carnahan of Gibson City.
1956, August 17, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Name Board for Bayles Lake Club”
Seven directors will be elected by the Bayles Lake Country Club Aug. 27 to meet the
requirements for obtaining a corporation charter, it was announced at a meeting Thursday.
The election meeting will be held in the evening at the Ford County Courthouse. The
organization proposes to build a nine-hole golf course, a clubhouse and beach facilities on land at
Bayles Lake.
D.C. Hummel, attorney, was appointed registration agent of the corporation “if and when the
corporation is formed.” Yearly dues were discussed and the organizers said it probably will be
“not over $100 a year and probably less.” No definite action was taken.
William Mattox, Rankin, presented the building plans which were discussed by the members.
Definite action will not be taken, they said, until the membership reaches 200. There are
approximately 150 members in the organization.
1956, August 23, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“Bayles Lake Group Plans Incorporation”
About 100 lot owners in the Bayles Lake area near Loda, met to start incorporating procedures
and to name a seven man board of directors.
Seven men named to the board were: Howard Keefe, Paxton; C. K. West, Loda; Louis G.
Collison, Bayles Lake; Dr. C. H. Meyers, Gifford; Tracy Pitzen, Loda; Dale Bayles, Bayles
Lake and William J. Bash, Sr., Champaign. Directors will serve one year.
An organizational meeting will be held in the near future. The seven directors will represent
different areas of the lakeshore lots.
The group is seeking to incorporate as the Bayles Lake Lot Owners Assn. Named as
incorporators were D.B. Bayles, Paxton; Maurice Weaver, Loda; Tract Pitzen, Loda; Dr. E.A.
Tappan, Bayles Lake; Mark Kaufmann, Buckley; and Addison Goodell, Loda.
Tracy Pitzen acted as temporary chairman and Warren Pacey acted as temporary secretary.
1956, August 28, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Bayles Lake Club Signs 144 Members”
One hundred forty-four persons have signed up so far for membership in the Bayles Lake
Country Club; it was announced Monday night as a seven-man board of directors was elected.
Each member pledges $500 toward the financing drive and the amount raised so far thus would
be $72,000. It has been decided that the land for a golf course and clubhouse at the south end of
Bayles Lake, one mile west of Loda, will not be bought until membership reaches 200, a figure
which would assure $100,000 capital.
The goals are 250 members with subscriptions totaling $125,000.
Directors named for one-year terms are Carl Hudson, Sidney Dilks and J.A. Keefe all of Paxton;
Veryl Kramer, Gibson City; Duane Cultra, Onarga; Joe Holmes, Piper City, and W.D. Kreitzer,
Elliott.
The board was authorized by members who met in the Ford County Courthouse in Paxton, to
incorporate the country club or use the state charter of the Paxton Golf Club if it can be amended
satisfactorily.
The Paxton club operated a golf course in the east part of town until much of the land was
converted into Memorial Athletic Field. The non-active group still has $2,000 in its treasury and
it is hoped that the money can be made available for the new club.
Plans call for the purchase for $20,000 of between 90 and 100 acres from Bayles Lake Corp. to
be used as a nine-hole golf course and clubhouse site. Other estimated costs include
development of the course, for which a tentative layout of holes has been prepared, $40,000 and
construction of the clubhouse, $50,000 to $60,000.
Don Laz, Champaign architect, displayed sketches of the proposed building which he made. The
plans provide for a modern structure to be located on the hillside overlooking the lake. It would
have two levels, with entry in the basement where lockers and shower rooms would be located,
with a terrace.
On the ground floor there would be another entrance from higher ground and facilities would
include a lounge, dining room-ball room, bar, restrooms, kitchen and a three-room apartment for
the caretaker. There also would be another terrace.
Directors will elect officers of the corporation soon from their ranks. Another meeting of
members and financing drive being conducted in Paxton and surrounding towns will be reported.
1956, August 28, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“Bayles Lake Club Picks Directors”
A seven-member board of directors was elected Monday night and authorized to incorporate the
Bayles Lake Country Club.
Election meeting was held in the Ford County Court House and the board members were also
told to take steps to amend the charter of the former Paxton Golf Club.
Board members elected were: Carl Hudson, Sidney Dilks, Arthur Keefe, all of Paxton; Verle
Kramer, Gibson City; Duane Cultra, Onarga; Joseph Holmes, Piper City; W.D. Kreitzer, Elliot.
It was reported that membership now totals 144 but, it was explained, plans will not be made
until the membership of 200 is reached. The country club to be constructed lies at the south side
of Bayles Lake west of Loda. The group has $2,000 in the treasury, it was announced.
1956, November 4, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Bayles Lake Residents Plan Country Club”
Many of the 188 members of the prospective Bayles Lake Country Club have met with Mr. and
Mrs. W.D. Krietzer to discuss continuation of the project.
It was decided to begin building and to acquire land when the organization has 214 members.
Members believe the cost of building the club eventually will require sale of 250 of the $500
memberships.
According to Mrs. Krietzer, who heads the membership drive, money from the 214 memberships
will enable the club to pay for a club house and golf course and to make a down paymentt on the
land. Charter for the organization has not yet been obtained.
1957, January 8, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“200 Join Country Club”
Bayles Lake Organization Reaches Goal.
Drive to assure financing for the development of the Bayles Lake Country Club, one mile west
of Loda, has reached its goal with 200 persons having signed agreements to invest $500 each in
the undertaking.
Attorneys have been instructed to apply for a state charter, and the board of directors is taking
steps for purchase of the land and preliminary planning for construction of club facilities. It had
been agreed that those efforts would not be attempted until 200 subscribers had been secured.
Only 250 memberships in the club will be issued. When that figure is reached, the list will be
closed, it is emphasized.
The development is expected to cost approximately $125,000. Facilities projected include a
clubhouse and nine-hole golf course adjoining Bayles Lake on the south. The tract will be
acquired from the Bayles Lake Corp.
Leaders of the movement report that the clubhouse may be completed this year, and the course is
expected to be ready for play by the spring of 1958.
W.D. Kreitzer, Elliott, is the chairman of the temporary membership committee.
Persons who have signed to become members live in Gibson City, Elliott, Loda, Buckley,
Melvin, Roberts, Piper City, Danville, Rantoul, Champaign-Urbana, Thomasboro, Gilman,
Onarga, Rankin, Cissna Park and Paxton communities.
1957, May 1, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Bayles Lake Club Start Soon”
Needed $200,000 Believed Available.
Construction work on the development of Bayles Lake Country Club west of Loda is expected to
start in about two weeks, it was announce Wednesday.
Subscribers to the financing drive received reports of progress in planning and approved the
projected steps at the meeting, Tuesday night in the Ford County Courthouse in Paxton.
Warren Pacey, Paxton, an attorney for the group said that several changes are being made in the
corporate set-up, a new list of subscribers is being prepared and other details are receiving
attention. It is believed that when the subscription list is revised by both deletions and additions
of names, the $200,000 desired to begin development still will be assured.
The final goal is to raise $250,000 on pledges of $500 from each of 250 persons, but it was
agreed some time ago that work could get underway when 200 subscribers were signed. Charles
Maddox, Rankin, a golf course architect and builder has prepared plans for a nine-hole golf
course. Construction is expected to be completed in time for seeding of fairways and greens next
fall, making it possible to begin use of the course in the spring of 1958.
Plans also call for the erection of a clubhouse, which it is hoped can be opened in the fall or early
next winter. The club will be located at the south end of Bayles Lake, one mile west of Loda.
1957, May 9, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Bayles Lake Company Formed”
The Bayles Lake Country Club will be known under the name of the Bayles Lake Development
Company, it was announced at a meeting at the courthouse.
The purpose of the new company, Atty. Warren Pacey said, is to build a golf course and country
club to be rented or leased to a social club, which will be formed as a separate organization. A
motion was also passed to form a business corporation.
Two hundred people have subscribed or promised to subscribe, according to Pacey.
The development company will probably build both the country club and golf course with work
on the golf course to start first because of the necessity of seeding the grounds.
1957, June 4, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“Bayles Lake Development Group Elects”
The Bayles Lake Development Co., at a meeting at the Ford County Courthouse, elected a Board
of Directors Monday night.
Named were Sidney Dilks, J.A. Keefe, Carl Hudson, all of Paxton; C.E. Wilson Jr., Melvin,
Duane Cultra, Onarga; Verle Kramer, Gibson City; and W.D. Kreitzer, Elliott.
The board then elected officers who are: Hudson, president; Kreitzer, vice president; D.C.
Hummell, secretary; and Richard K. Johnson, treasurer.
Chairmen of committees appointed by the board are; Building committee for the clubhouse,
Kramer; building committee for the golf course, William Overstreet Sr.; grounds, Charles
Condit; and finance, Johnson.
The board then instructed the treasurer to make an immediate call for the payment of dues which
amounts to $500 per member. The club already has received $20,000 in payments.
1957, June 4, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Highway Route Alters Site of Golf Course”
Plans for routing of the new north-south express highway west of Loda have necessitated a
change in part of the site on which the Bayles Lake Country Club golf course is to be developed.
That was learned Tuesday after the organization meeting of Bayles Lake Development Co.
Monday night in Paxton. Officials of the corporation said they hope to complete negotiations for
purchase of the land needed for the club by the end of the week.
It was planned originally to acquire 140 acres for the nine-hole golf course. The projected
routing for the new highway, however, it was learned, will take for the right of way some of the
desired land.
Plans for location of the course are being revised, surveying is being completed, and
arrangements for purchase of the rest of the area needed are in the final stage.
According to the information made available, the highway will run east of Bayles Lake, between
it and Loda. Since access to the new road will be limited, it is not clear what will happen to the
road running west from Loda across the south end of Bayles Lake.
The east-west road is used heavily for travel to and from the lake.
Elected as officers of the development firm, formed to handle the golf course and clubhouse
building projects, were Carl Hudson, Paxton, president; W.D. Kreitzer, Elliott; vice president;
D.C Hummel, secretary, and Richard K. Johnson, both of Paxton, treasurer.
Other directors elected by subscribers to the financing drive are Sidney Dilks and J.A. Keefe,
Paxton; C.E. Wilson Jr., Melvin; D.B. Cultra, Onarga; and Verle Kramer, Gibson City.
Appointed committee chairmen were W.W. Overstreet Sr., Paxton, golf course construction;
Kramer, clubhouse, and C.C. Condit, Paxton, grounds. Johnson heads the finance committee.
Plans are being made to start work on the club this summer.
1957, June 7, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“Change Site for Bayles Golf Course”
Proposed construction of a clover-leaf at the intersection of proposed Route 45 and Bayles Lake
road, four miles north of Paxton, will require a change in the land area to be used for the Bayles
Lake Country Club golf course.
This was reported Friday by D.C. Hummel, secretary of the Bayles Lake Development Co. He
added that the area proposed for the golf course, must now be re-surveyed. A strip about 200
feet wide, wanted for the golf course, would be needed for the new highway and clover-leaf,
according to tentative plans, Hummel said. This would necessitate using additional land to the
west of the road for the golf course, Hummel said.
Construction of the clover-leaf at this point would result in two clover-leafs within four miles. It
is proposed to build a clover-leaf in Paxton for the new Route 45 at the intersection of Route 9.
1957, September 6, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“Bayles Lake Group Studies Club Designs”
The Bayles Lake Development Co. Thursday night met in the courthouse with Watson Healy,
architect from Joliet, who presented preliminary plans for the clubhouse building to be erected at
Bayles Lake.
The plans were found acceptable by the Board of Directors and Healy was authorized to proceed
with preparing the plans and specifications for the building.
The directors said they plan to keep construction costs under $50,000. They said they hope to let
construction contract by the end of the September. They will ask for bids from contractors.
1957, September 16, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Bayles Lake Group Re-elects Officers”
Officers of the Bayles Lake Lot Owners Association have been re-elected for the second year of
service.
They are Tracy Pitzen, president; Glenn Collison, vice president; Warren Pacey, secretary, and
Harvard Keefe, treasurer.
Directors are William Bash, Sr., Champaign; C.K. West and Dale Bayles, Loda, and Dr. C.H.
Myers, Gifford. The association consists of persons owning lots at Bayles Lake, west of Loda.
1957, September 12, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“Pitzen Again Heads Bayles Lake Assn.”
Tracy Pitzen, Bayles Lake, was reelected president of the Bayles Lake Lot Owners Assn.
All other officers and directors also were reelected at the annual meeting of the group.
Glen Collison, Bayles Lake, vice president; Warren Pacey, secretary; Harvey Keefe, Paxton,
treasurer; and directors, William Bash, Champaign, Chet West, Bayles Lake and Dr. C.H. Myers,
Gifford.
Bayles Lake is one mile west of Loda.
1957, November 22, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“Bayles Group to Lease Club House”
Stockholders of the Bayles Lake Development Co. agreed Monday night to lease the proposed
new club house and facilities at the lake to an organization or group to operate as a country club.
Nine directors were appointed at the meeting in Ford County courthouse, Paxton, to run the
operation as a country club and hire managers and other employees.
Officers elected for the club include Carl Heacock, Paxton, president; Bill Overstreet Jr., Paxton,
vice president; Mrs. Beth Healey, Loda, treasurer; Mrs. Fran Condit, Paxton, secretary. They
will also serve as directors along with Orvin Price, Paxton; Glen Collison, Loda; Mark Kaufman;
John McKinney, Gibson City; and John Howard Benjamin.
The new group will apply for a charter to operate as a country club. Another meting has been set
for 7:30 p.m. Friday at the courthouse.
In other business, the stockholders appointed Clarence Ringler, Gibson City, to the board of
directors for the lake development company. He fills the vacancy caused by resignation of Verle
Kramer, Gibson City.
1957, November 26, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Bayles Lake Country Club Incorporates”
Formation of a corporation to operate the new country club being developed west of Loda began
a meeting of Bayles Lake Development Corp. stockholders Monday night in Paxton.
The board of directors was directed to lease the clubhouse and golf course to an organization and
the new company is being established to take the lease. Nine directors were elected for the new
corporation.
They are Carl Heacock, Paxton, who was elected president; William Overstreet Sr., vice
president; Mrs. Weaver Healey, Loda, treasurer; Mrs. Charles M. Condit, Paxton, secretary;
Orren Pierce, Gibson City; Glen Collison, Bayles Lake; Mark Kaufmann, Buckley; John
McKinney, Gibson City, and Judge John Howard Benjamin, Paxton.
The group will apply for a state charter asking that it be incorporated under the name of Lake
Shore Country Club. If another club already is chartered under the name, however, a change will
be necessary.
The club previously has been referred to as Bayles Lake Country Club. The nine-hole golf
course and clubhouse under construction are on the south shore of the lake.
At another meeting scheduled for Friday night in Paxton, it is hoped that the charter and by-laws
will be ready for adoption. The new board will hire personnel to operate the dining room of the
clubhouse, maintain the golf course and plan for placing the facilities in operation.
Clarence Ringler, Gibson City, was elected a director of Bayles Lake Development Co. to
succeed Verle Kramer, Gibson City who resigned at the Monday session. The firm acquired the
land and is developing the facilities.
Good progress was reported in construction of the clubhouse, with a possibility that it will be
completed before May 1, the scheduled date, if the weather is favorable. The golf course also is
expected to be ready for play in the spring.
1957, November 30, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
Paxton Club Is “Lakeview”
Lakeview Country Club is the name approved for the corporation to operate the new country
club west of Loda, it was announced at the meeting of the Bayles Lake Development Corp.
Friday night in Paxton.
The name Lake Shore Country Club, originally was chosen, but it was reported by the secretary
of state office, which issued the charter, that another country club in Illinois already has that
name.
Charles Heacock, Paxton, president of the corporation announced the following committees: By-
laws and rules-William Overstreet, Sr., Paxton, chairman, Mrs. Weaver Healey, Loda, Charles
Condit, Paxton, and John J. Benjamin, Paxton, and budget-John McKinney, Gibson City,
chairman, Glen Collison, Bayles Lake, and Oren Price, Paxton.
The group will meet at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the CIPS building in Paxton for approval of by-
laws.
1958, March 9, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“Bayles Lake, Five Years Old, Boast 77 Homes”
By Josephine Davis
One mile west of Loda, where six years ago a small creek followed its course through a timber of
spreading oak trees, is now one of the most scenic spots in Illinois-beautiful manmade Bayles
Lake.
The project was started in 1952 by a corporation headed by D.B. Bayles and the rains in March
1953, filled the 200 acre lake.
Foundation for the first home was laid in the fall of 1952 by C.L. Ehresman and the first homes
were erected in 1953.
Five years later. On the fifth anniversary of the building program, 77 houses have been
completed. Two foundations have recently been laid, three more homes are under construction
and 12 more will begin as soon as weather permits, contractors reported.
All of the homes near the lake are built for “year round living” and range in value from $12,000
to $50,000, according to a survey of homeowners.
In addition, brush has been cleared away and roadside and park areas are maintained. Their
maintenance has been taken over by the Bayles Lake Lot Owners Association, officers of which
are Tracy Pitzen, president; Glenn Collison, vice president; Warren Pacey, Paxton, secretary;
Havard Keefe, Paxton, treasurer; and directors, William Bash, Champaign; C.K. West, Dale
Bayles and Dr. Carlton Meyers, Gifford.
Thirty-three families have established permanent residence and have school bus service, police
and fire protection, daily mail delivery and garbage collection.
About three and a half miles of blacktop road has been built and leads to every house. Each lot
has a waterfront and water mains, telephone and electricity are available.
Residents reported the large lake has been stocked with largemouth bass, blue gill, crappies,
channel cat and wall-eyed pike. A total of 2,500 pounds of channel cat catfish were added in
1956 and 2,500 of wall-eyed pike in 1957, reportedly making the lake “one of the best fishing
lakes in downstate Illinois.”
Swimming, boating and surf board riding will also be available in the approaching summer
months. Winter has also meant sports for the lake. As soon as the lake has frozen over, ice boat
and skaters have appeared. An estimated total of up to 500 persons have enjoyed the lake at one
time during the past winter.
In 1957, the Bayles Lake Development Co. was formed and in October, a ground-breaking
ceremony was held for a country clubhouse to be constructed at the south side of the lake.
Board of directors for the company which is building the clubhouse and a nine-hole golf course
includes Carl Hudson, president; D.C. Hummel, secretary; Dick Johnson, treasurer; S.H. Dilks,
J.A. Keefe, C.E, Wilson, all of Paxton; W.D. Kreitzer, Elliott; Duane Cultra, Onarga; and
Clarence Ringler, Gibson City.
Exterior of the clubhouse under construction will be of brick veneer. Plans call for the kitchen
and dining area to be on the top floor. On the ground floor will be located a bar, showers, locker
room and patio.
Large picture windows will overlook the attractive beach, lake and golf course when completed,
the directors reported.
Fred Kingren, Elliott, is contractor, and expects to complete construction of the clubhouse by
May 1. During the bad weather, a large tent was erected and work on the building continued.
Directors stated the golf course and clubhouse are expected to be ready for use by July 1.
Lakeview Country Club has been chosen for the name of the new lake center. Directors include
C.R. Heacock, president; William Overstreet, vice president; Mrs. Charles Condit, secretary; all
of Paxton; Mrs. Weaver Healey, Bayles Lake, treasurer; Mary Kaufman, Buckley; J.H.
Benjamin, Orrin Price, John McKinney, all of Paxton; and Glenn Collison.
Shares in the “country club” are still available and may be obtained by contacting officers or any
member of the club.
1958, July 1, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Bayles Lake Course Opens”
Nine-Hole Golf Layout Ready Wednesday
New nine-hole golf course of the Lakeview Country Club at Bayles Lake, one-mile west of
Loda, will be opened Wednesday for play by members.
Announcements of the opening along with regulations to be followed in operating the club
facilities have been mailed to members.
Completion of the clubhouse has been delayed by recent rainy weather. The club’s beach
developed at the south end of Bayles Lake will not be ready for swimming by the July 4th
holiday, but it is to open soon.
The nine-hole golf course, 3,300 yards long, was constructed on rolling land. It has grass greens,
watered fairways, water hazards and sand traps.
More than $86,000 has been spent so far for acquiring and developing facilities for the new
country club.
Green fees for member guests using the course will be $2 on week days and $3 on Saturdays and
holidays. Non-members living in the surrounding area cannot make more than three visits in one
year.
Persons living more than 35 miles from the club may be guests more frequently and member’s
house guests from outside the area may use the club without restrictions after payment of green
or beach fees. Special guest days will be arranged.
1958, September 9, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Bayles Lake Retains Board”
Directors and others of the Bayles Lake Development Co. were re-elected at the annual meeting
of shareholders Monday night at the Lakeview Country Club, west of Loda.
It was announced that 264 shares of the corporation have been sold at $500 each, indicating that
the amount of capital raised is about $130,500. The goal for full capitalization is 300 shares.
Renamed to the board were Carl Hudson, who was re-elected president when the board
reorganized; Sidney Dilks, vice president, D.C. Hummel, secretary, Richard Johnson, treasurer;
C.E. Wilson Jr., and J.A. Keefe, all of Paxton; W.D. Kretizer, Elliott; Clarence Ringler, Gibson
City, and Duane Cultra, Onarga.
The development firm contracted the golf course, clubhouse and beach for the new Lakeview
Country Club and is leasing the facilities to the club.
The nine-hole course was opened early in July and the clubhouse a few weeks later. The beach
was placed in use late in August. Landscaping and other work around the clubhouse and on the
beach still are to be completed.
1958, September 9, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“Bayles Lake Co. Elects Officers”
The Bayles Lake Development Co, elected the following officers at the clubhouse Tuesday: Carl
Hudson, president; Sid Dilks, vice president; Richard Johnson, treasurer, D.C. Hummel,
secretary.
Directors elected were Bud Kreitzer, Elliott; C.E. Wilson Jr., Paxton; Clarence Ringler, Gibson
City, J.A. Keefe, Paxton; and Duane Cultra, Onarga.
1959, January 2, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Sandberg Appointed By Bayles Lake Co.”
Arthur M. Sandberg of Paxton has been appointed treasurer of the Bayles Lake Development Co.
by the board of directors.
The firm owns the facilities of the new Lakeview Country Club at Bayles Lake, west of Loda.
The board is planning a drive for the sale of multiple shares of stock to stockholders in the
corporation.
A nine-hole golf course and beach were developed and a clubhouse built by the Development
Co. at a cost of $190,000.
1959, January 8, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“Arthur Sandberg Bayles Treasurer”
Arthur M. Sandberg, Paxton, was appointed treasurer of the Bayles Lake Development Co. at a
meeting of the board of directors.
The Bayles Lake Development Co. owns the facilities of Lakeview Country Club. Plans are
being made to promote the sale of multiple shares of stock to present stockholders in the
company, it was announced.
1959, September 15, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“Bayles Lake Owners Pick Directors”
Three directors of the Bayles Lake Lot Owners Assn. Monday were elected at the annual
meeting of the association at the Legion Hall, Loda.
Elected were: Havard W. Keefe, district one, reelected; Ed Rasmus, district two, replacing C.K.
Kent who resigned as of June 27; and Everett Puckett, district five, filling the vacancy caused by
the death of Paul Saldeen.
The association announced that a contract had been let to the Mason and Meents Co., Watseka,
for road improvement on all of the roads at the lake at a cost of $9,277 for all work and materials
after the grading which will be done by the Bayles Lake Construction Co., Loda.
1959, September 16, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“Improvements Planned for Bayles Lake”
One mile of road between Loda and the Bayles Lake entrance will be resurfaced within the next
week, it was announced at the annual meeting of the Bayles Lake Lot Owners Assn.
The road leading to the lake entrance will be closed for about a day or a day and a half when it
will be graded, oiled and chipped.
The cost to date of the grading and preparation of the road bed of all the roads at the lake, which
is expected to be completed Sept. 30 by the Bayles Lake Construction Co., Loda, is $670.
The work is in preparation for the road improvement, including oil and rock construction, on the
lake roads which will be done by the Mason and Meents Co., Watseka, which was the low bid
out of the 12 bids submitted for the work. The estimated cost is $9,277 for all work and
materials after grading is completed.
The association announced all of the lots in Section One of the lake have been sold and 127
houses have been built on the lots, 48 of which are permanent residences.
The terms of the three new directors are Havard W. Keefe, district one, two years; and Ed
Rasmus, district two; and Everett Puckett, district five, each one year.
1959, September 16, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“All Lots Sold At Lake Site; Road Bid Let”
All except one of the lots on the original Bayles Lake site have been sold and 147 houses have
been erected, it was announced Monday night at the annual meeting of Bayles Lake Lot Owners
Association.
The area in which the developments have been made adjoins the lake north of the bridge one
mile west of Loda. Forty-eight of the homes were built for use as permanent residences. The
others are occupied part of the year.
The association let a contract to Mason & Meents, Watseka contractors, for spreading oil and
chips on all roads at Bayles Lake. The low bid, one of 12 received was $9,277.00. Work is to be
completed by Sept. 30.
Bayles Lake Construction Co. is grading and repairing the roads. The road between Loda and
the lake is being leveled and oiled, and chips will be applied in a Loda Township project.
Three directors were named at the meeting at the American Legion Hall. Harvard Keefe of
Paxton was re-elected to represent the first district of the Bayles lake area.
Ed Rasmus of Bayles Lake was named to replace Chester West of Loda who resigned in June as
second district director. Everett Puckett was chosen to fill the district five post opened by the
death of Paul Saldeen. He will serve two years.
The late Tracy Pitzen was president of the association. Glenn Collison presided at the meeting.
Keefe has been treasurer. The board will reorganize soon.
1959, December 1, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Bayles Lake Group Elects New Board”
Two new directors were elected at the annual meeting of stockholders of Bayles Lake
Development Co. Monday night at Lakeview Country Club west of Loda.
They are Jeff Holmes of Piper City and Victor Springer of Rantoul. The succeed J.A. Keefe of
Paxton and D.B. Cultra of Onarga who retired from the board.
Five other directors whose terms expire we re-elected. They are C.E. Wilson Jr., Sidney Dilks
and Carl Hudson, all of Paxton; William D. Kretizer, Elliott, and Clarence Ringler, Gibson City.
All board members are named for one year.
Bayles Lake Development Co. owns the facilities of Lakeview Country Club. Members will
elect officers at a meeting Dec, 14 in the clubhouse. The Development Co. will reorganize at a
session there the same night, and the boards of the corporation and the club will hold a joint
meeting.
The number of shares of stock in the Development Co. sold for $500 each since it was formed
several years ago to construct the golf course and clubhouse now totals 287.
The country club has 160 members. A membership drive is planned.
1960’s
1960, October 5, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“Bayles Board Gets Four New Directors”
Four new members were elected to the board of directors of the Bayles Lake Development Corp.
at the annual meeting of stockholders Tuesday night at the Lakeview Country Club.
Elected were Gustin Riley, Piper City. C.I. Brown, Paxton; Charles Warlow, Roberts; and Roy
Miller, Paxton.
Reelected were Clarence Ringler, Gibson City, C.E. Wilson, Jr., Paxton; and Vic Springer,
Rantoul.
Retiring members are Carl Hudson, Paxton, who served as president for the past three years; Sid
Dilks, Paxton; Joe Holmes, Piper City; and W.D. Kreitzer, Elliott. Organization will be later.
1961, September 29, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“Date Not Set but Plan is Definite”
A second artificial lake near Loda will be added to the successful Bayles Lake subdivision which
has reversed a trend of dwindling population in this central Illinois farm community.
Loda Village Attorney Warren Pacey revealed plans for the new lake at a public hearing on
Interstate 57 held Thursday at Buckley.
D.B. Bayles, president of the Bayles Lake Corp., said the company now has 200 acres available
for the new project and hold options on 160 more acres.
“We will probably have considerably more land than we that before we go ahead with the second
lake” he said. The original Bayles Lake consists of approximately 200 acres of water and a total
of between 500 and 600 acres.
Bayles said it is too early to attach a date to completion of the project, but that it certainly will be
constructed.
When finished it probably will be comparable in size to the subdivision which already has 142
homes and sites for over 300 more. Bayles said that 300 of these have already been sold and
only a few remain.
Pacey, in presenting a petition for an interchange at Loda on the federal aid highway, told
officials that since 1956 the population of Loda has grown more than 10 percent.
He predicted that the population would double, or possibly triple before the 1970 census is taken.
“Loda, with a population of around 2,500 at the turn of the century, steadily dwindled until 1953.
But Bayles Lake reversed that trend.”
He pointed to population figures showing 1,031 residents in 1950 and 1,147 in 1960. “This is an
increase of more than 10 percent, most of which, I believe, took place after the construction of
Bayles Lake. I also believe there has been an increase of over 5 percent since the 1960 census,”
he said.
Pacey appeared at the hearing, in addition to his village attorney role, representing the Bayles
Lake Lot Owners Assn. and Bayles Lake Corp. He presented a petition by signers nearly
equaling half of the population of Loda. The 558 petitioners asked that one of the three
interchanges planned for Interstate 57 at Paxton, Buckley and Onarga, be shifted to Loda.
Now numbering about 150 permanent residents, the Bayles Lake area has become a popular east
central Illinois recreation center as well as a modern living facility. A modern golf course
adjoins the lake and Pacey said that land is available for aviation facilities at the present site.
The land for the new lake is located south of the existing lake, which extends northwest from the
village.
1961, November 14, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Country Club Elects Three”
Ralph McNarney of Gibson City and Maurice Mullinax and Emmett Pederson of Paxton were
elected directors at the annual meeting of Lakeview Country Club Monday night in the
clubhouse at Bayles Lake west of Loda.
Retiring directors are Dr. S.B. Furby of Paxton, who was secretary of the board; Lial Pollock of
Gilman and Dr. Harry D. Danforth of Cissna Park.
At the reorganization meeting of the board, Dr. Harvey Workman of Paxton, president and Ralph
Schimanski of Paxton, treasurer, were re-elected and McNarney was named secretary.
Hold over directors are Schimanski, Dr. Workman, Dr. William Mabry of Piper City, Amos
Zander, Rantoul, John Wilson, Piper City, and Wayne O’Neal of Gibson City.
The resignation of Donald Schif of Paxton as club manager was announced. Tony Polilo
resigned earlier as greens keeper of the golf course and moved to Decatur to accept a similar
position.
1961, December 24, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Razzano Is Club Manager”
Louis Razzano of Watseka will begin his duties as groundskeeper, golf professional and club
manager at Lakeview Country Club, west of Loda, the first of the year.
He has held a similar position at Sewani Country Club near Watseka for two years. Razzano, a
well-known golfer, will succeed George Polilo as greenskeeper and Donald R. Schif of Paxton as
manager of the clubhouse.
A Watseka resident for 16 years, Razzano operated a restaurant until the building was destroyed
by fire in 1958. He later erected a new restaurant building.
He previously was manager and pro at the Benton Country Club, Fowler, Ind. Razzano is
planning to open a proshop at the club. His wife and brother and sister-in-law, Mr. and Mrs.
Andy Razzano will assist him in operating the club.
Polilo resigned as greenskeeper to accept a similar job at a Decatur country club. Schif is
resigning to devote full time to his business, the 102 lounge, in Paxton.
The Lakeview clubhouse will be open from 10:30 a.m. to midnight for 11 months beginning Feb.
1. The club will be closed during January.
1961, December 29, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“Bayles Lake Directors Elected”
Seven directors were elected for one-year terms at the annual meeting of the shareholders of the
Bayles Lake Development Co. Thursday at the Lakeview Country Club, Bayles Lake.
Donald Hasselbring Bayles Lake, and Loyal Cornelison, Paxton were the two new members
elected to the board.
The holdover members of the board of directors are Clarence Ringler, Gibson City; Charles
Warlow Roberts; Justine K. Reilly, Gilman; Victor Springer, Rantoul, and Charles I. Brown,
Paxton.
Cecil Wilson, Jr., Paxton, president, said officers will be elected at a later meeting of the
directors.
1962, January 2, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Directors Are Elected By Bayles Lake Group”
Loyal Cornelison of Paxton and Donald Hasselbring of Bayles Lake were elected to one-year
terms as directors of the Bayles Lake Development Co. at a meeting Thursday night.
Re-elected for one-year terms were directors Charles Warlow, Roberts; Justin Reilly, Piper City;
Vic Springer, Rantoul; Clarence Ringler, Gibson City, and Charles I. Brown, Paxton.
A reorganization meeting will be held later.
1962, March 22, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Bayles Lake Area: Water Co-op Being Formed”
A cooperative organization is being formed to develop and operate a water system which will
serve the residential areas adjoining Bayles Lake, west of Loda.
More than 200 water users have agreed to join. Tentative rates are being determined. A meeting
of property owners will be held March 30 in Loda Legion hall. The rate schedule is expected to
be adopted then.
Well systems now serving homes are expected to be kept in use. Directors of Bayles Lake Lot
owners Association have been planning to form a co-op.
1962, June 6, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Cornelison Heads Bayles Lake Corp.”
Loyal Cornelison of Paxton has been elected president of Bayles Lake Development Corp.,
which owns the Lakeview Country Club property west of Loda.
Other officers are Don Hasselbring of Loda, vice president, and Charles Warlow of Roberts,
secretary-treasurer.
Other directors include Vic Springer, Rantoul; Clarence Ringler, Gibson City; C.I. Brown,
Paxton, and Austin Riley, Gilman.
1962, September 16, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“Bayles Lake Access Roads to be Kept”
Requests of Loda residents for a local interchange with Interstate 57 have apparently been met
by plans for constructing a frontage road giving access to Bayles Lake from all directions.
A year ago Village Attorney Warren Pacey told highway engineers at a public hearing that
Bayles Lake expansion was reversing “a trend of dwindling population” in the community. He
asked that an interchange proposed at Buckley be moved south to Loda in order that Bayles Lake
not be cut off from easy access from Route 45 and territory east of the lake.
In plans presented by engineers here on Thursday the interchange remained northwest of
Buckley.
But added was a frontage road connecting main access township roads which enter Loda from
the north and west.
The frontage road will connect County Highway 12 (north) and County Highway 10 (west),
paralleling the course of Route 57 around the northwest corner of the town.
An overpass on Highway 10 in the west part of Loda will cure any problems which closing of
Highway 12 at the Route 57 location to the north would have created for access of Bayles Lake.
Only objections to the plan presented Thursday were by Clarence Wagner, Loda township road
commissioner and George Reid, Loda township farmer.
Wagner maintained that it would be cheaper to construct an overpass on Highway 12 and retain
the present network of local roads rather than building approximately one and one-quarter miles
of frontage road over “rough terrain.” Reid told the engineers closing Route 12 would add to his
grain-hauling cost.
1963, July 11, The Paxton Record reports
On July 9, a light airplane was demolished in an unplanned nose-dive type landing at the Bayles
Lake restricted landing area one mile west of Loda about 5 p.m. Monday, but the pilot escaped
without serious injury.
Paul A. Bruce of Paxton, told Trooper Dean Rhinehart of the State Police that he was coming in
to land about 200 feet over the lake, travelling about 85 miles per hour. The plane suddenly
nosed over in the air and hit the ground at about a 50 degree angle.
Mr. Bruce was taken to Paxton Community hospital by the Loda fire department ambulance and
was treated and discharged.
The plane was reported to be a total loss. Its value was estimated at about $3,000.00.
1964, September 15, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“Bayles Lake Directors Elected”
Annual meeting of the Bayles Lake Lot Owners Assn. was held at the Loda City Hall Monday
night with new directors being elected.
John Janssen, Buckley; S. Frank Brown, Rantoul; and Roy Otto, Bayles Lake, were chosen as
new directors. Reelected as a director was D.S. Kaufman, Buckley.
Officers for the year were reelected. They are: President, D.S. Kaufman; vice president, Wayne
Niewold, rural Loda; secretary, Warren Pacey, Paxton; and treasurer Harvard Keefe, Paxton.
One hundred fifty persons were present at the meeting.
Resolution to lower the lake during late October and in November to enable lot owners to work
on docks, clean out weeds and level the beach was voted down 74 to 48.
Motion to put a ceiling on assessments on all properties, the ceiling not to exceed $55 on any lot,
was also voted down, 87 to 30. Resolution to discontinue cutting of weeds and go back to
spraying method was approved.
1964, September 15, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“At Bayles Lake: Water Drop Plan Rejected”
A proposal to lower the water level in Bayles Lake in late October was rejected at the annual
meeting of the Bayles Lake Lot Owners Association Monday night.
The idea was offered to permit repair work on boat docks and some cleaning in the lake west of
Loda.
All officers were re-elected by vote of 150 members at the meeting in Loda Village Building.
They are D.F. Kaufmann of Buckley, president: Wayne Neiwold of near Loda, vice president;
Warren Pacey of Paxton, secretary, and Harvard Keefe of Paxton, treasurer.
Other directors are John Jansen of Buckley, F. Harold Brown of Rantoul and Roy Otto of Bayles
Lake.
1965, September 14, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“Bayles Lake Tax on Lots is Doubled”
The Iroquois County Board of Review in a surprise move has doubled the tax assessment on all
lots at Bayles Lake, it was announced Monday night at the annual meeting of lot owners.
There 300 lots at the lake with an average tax value of $800, making a total assessment of
$240.000. This amount has been doubled to make a new total of $480,000 assessed valuation.
Main objection of the lot owners to the move was that (1), they had no prior information that
there would be a tax increase and (2), they do their own road maintenance, provide their own gas
and lights and maintain the lake itself, with no help from the county.
Lot owners empowered the president, D.F. Kaufmann, to appoint a committee from the group to
meet with the board of review at Watseka this week.
In other action, new directors of the Association were elected for the coming year. They are:
District 1, Harvard Keefe; district 2, Ed Rasmus; and district 9, Wayne Niewold. All were
reelected.
The board of officers were also reelected. Members are D.F. Kaufmann, president; Burton
Saxton, vice president; Warren Pacey, secretary; Harvard Keefe, treasurer.
The Association agreed that a study will be made and an engineer will be consulted as to the best
method of cleaning the lake spillway.
Discussion of cleaning of the bays and problem algae in the water will take place at a later board
meeting. Meetings are held on the fourth Thursday of each month.
1965, September 15, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Bayles Lake Tax Increase Is Protested”
Bayles Lake Lot Owners Association will send representatives before the Iroquois County Board
of Review this week in an effort to secure a reduction in increased tax assessments for properties
at Bayles Lake, west of Loda.
The decision to meet with the board was reached at the annual meeting of the association
Monday night at Lakeview Country Club.
The board has doubled the assessed valuation of the properties around the lake. Harvard W.
Keefe of Paxton, treasurer of the association, explained that the approximately 300 lots had been
assessed at an average of $800 totaling about $240,000.
The new total, approximately $480,000, would result in tax increases amounting to about 46,640
a year. The tax rate for Bayles Lake property is $2.77 per $100 of assessed valuation.
It is estimated that about $3,670 of the additional revenue will go to the Buckley-Loda
Community Unit School District.
The board of review is hearing complaints on valuations this week in the courthouse in Watseka.
It has been pointed out that the Bayles Lake assessments have not been changed since the lake
was developed 13 years ago.
Keefe, Wayne Niewold of near Loda and Ed Rasmus of Bayles Lake were re-elected directors of
the association. Renamed as officers as the board reorganized were Donald (Sid) Kaufmann,
president; Bert Saxton, vice president; Warren Pacey, secretary and Keefe, treasurer.
1965, September 21, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“Bayles Lake Owners Discuss Tax Hike”
A group of five men representing lot owners at Bayles Lake met with the Iroquois county board
of review recently to discuss the decision to double tax assessments of Bayles Lake property.
It was decided the lot owners should be informed by the committee that if they have any unusual
or questionable taxation which they feel should be adjusted they may send this information to the
board of review within one week for consideration.
Representing lot owners at the meeting were Sid Kaufman, Havard Keefe, Warren Pacey, Louis
Razzano and Fred Otto.
1965, October 6, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Bayles Lake Country Club Lease to End”
Bayles Lake Development Co. will not renew the lease of the Lakeview Country Club board of
directors on the club grounds and building at Bayles Lake west of Loda.
A proposal to discontinue leasing of the property after the present agreement expires Dec. 1 was
approved Tuesday night at the annual meeting of shareholders of the development firm.
Plans for continued operation of the nine-hole course and clubhouse were not discussed, but it is
anticipated that the development company will arrange to run them.
The surprise action reportedly was assured by proxies approving it, obtained earlier from
shareholders who were not present at the meeting attended by approximately 35 persons.
The movement to eliminate the country club board reportedly sprang partly from the fact that
most members of the Lakeview board are not shareholders in the firm which developed the lake
and surrounding area for permanent homes and summer cottages.
It was explained that the country club board was created in order to provide machinery for the
payment of the excise tax when the club was developed in 1958.
With that tax now discontinued, a separate board no longer is needed to operate the club,
shareholders were told.
The country club board, of which Dr. Earl Ellis of Rantoul is president, will be notified of the
decision not to renew the lease.
Since present club memberships extend to next April 1, it is expected that members will be able
to use the club’s facilities until that time without paying dues under any new set up.
The development company’s action will be considered at the annual meeting of the club Oct. 27.
Carl Hudson of Paxton, Glen Collison of Bayles Lake and Wayne Hoffmann of Cissna Park were
elected directors of the development company. Holdover members of the board are L.B
Cornelison of Paxton, who has been president; Don Hasselbring of Bayles Lake and Emmett
Peterson of Paxton.
The board will reorganize next week.
1965, October 7, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“Country Club Board is Dissolved”
The board of directors of the Bayles Lake Development Co. has voted to disband the board of
directors of Lakeview Country Club.
The country club board was set up to govern the club and has been leasing the property from the
Bayles Lake Development Co.
The Bayles Lake Co. board decided that one board would control the entire operation. Members
of the club will hold their offices until December.
Newly elected members of the Bayles Lake Co. board of directors are Carl Hudson of Paxton,
Glen Collison of Bayles Lake, Orrin Price of Cissna Park.
Holdover members are Emmett Peterson and Loyal Corneilson, both of Paxton, and Don
Hasselbring of Loda. The board will hold an organizational meeting sometime next week.
The annual meeting of the country club board is Oct. 27. President of the board is Dr. Earl Ellis,
Rantoul. Other members are Harold Brown, Oscar Brown, Paul Weakley, Don Williams and Dr.
James Dunnan, all of Paxton.
1965, October 18, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Bayles Lake Group Elects”
Loyal B. Cornelison of Paxton was re-elected president of the Bayles Lake Development Co. at a
meeting of the board of directors Thursday night.
Elected vice president was Wayne Hoffman of Cissna Park.
In a surprise action Oct. 15 at the annual meeting of the development company, shareholders
voted not to renew the lease of the Lakeview Country Club board of directors on the club and
building at Bayles Lake west of Loda.
No further action was taken by the company’s directors at Thursday night’s meeting.
Lakeview Country Club officials met Wednesday night but a spokesman stated no action will be
taken until the annual meeting of the club Oct. 27.
1965, November 20, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Bayles Lake: Country Club Going Out Of Business”
The Lakeview Country Club will go out of existence soon after it turns over the club grounds
and building to the Bayles Lake Development Co. on Jan. 1.
Dr. Earl Ellis of Rantoul, president of the club, said the company had agreed to honor
memberships paid up until April.
Lyle Cornelision, president of the company, said he believed at this time, the company would
carry on as a country club without much change.
The company, which owns the facilities located west of Loda, had announced in October that it
would not renew the club’s lease.
It was explained that the country club board was created in order to provide machinery for
payment of the excise tax when the club was developed in 1958.
With that tax now discontinued, a separate board was no longer needed, it was stated.
Dr. Ellis said it was the feeling of the club’s board, voiced at the annual meeting held
Wednesday night, that the clubs contract ran until May, but that it decided to relinquish control
as of Jan. 1 since all employee contracts run from Jan. 1 to Jan.1.
It was also noted at the annual meeting that members of the company board had expressed a
feeling of apology to the country club board for the abruptness of the announcement of the
decision not to renew the lease.
The country club board went on record as recommending that the contract of Louis Razzano, pro
and groundskeeper, be renewed.
1966, September 16, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Bayles Lake Group Elects 2 Directors”
Edward Hayes and Harry Swanson have been elected new directors of the Bayles Lake Lot
Owners Association.
Burton Saxton and Harold Brown also re-elected to the board at the annual meeting in Lakeview
Country Club west of Loda. Members voted to change the annual meeting from the second
Monday in September to the first Monday in May.
The board was requested to study the possibilities for weed control around the lake and report
next May.
1966, September 13, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“Bayles Lake Elections”
The annual meeting of the Bayles Lake Lot Owners Assn. was Monday evening at the Lakeview
Country Club.
Elections were conducted for positions on the board of directors. From Block 2, Ed Hayes was
elected, replacing the late Ed Rasmus; Burton Saxton was reelected from Block 3 and Harry
Swanson was elected for the first time from Block 8. Harold Brown was reelected from Block
10.
The board decided to ask the state for a study of weed control in the lake.
An amendment to the by-laws changing the time of the annual meeting to the first Monday in
May was approved, to become effective in 1967.
1966, November 17, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“Bayles Lake Group Elects Wayne Huffner”
Wayne Huffner of Cissna Park was elected president of the Bayles Lake Corp. at its organization
meeting Wednesday night.
Other officers elected were Vic Springer, Rantoul, vice president; Havard Keefe, Paxton,
treasurer and John McGreal, secretary.
Also at the meeting three new board members were elected to 3-year terms of office. They are
M.J. Kendrick, Melvin; Cyril Anderson, Paxton; and Ralph Schockey, Gibson City.
Retiring from the board were Loyal Cornelsion, Paxton, this year’s president; Carl Hudson,
Paxton; and Don Hasselbring, Bayles Lake.
1966, November 21, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Bayles Lake Corp. Elects”
M.I. Kendrick, Melvin; Cyril Anderson, Paxton and Ralph Schockey, Gibson City were elected
director of Bayles lake Corp. Wednesday night at the annual meeting.
Retiring members of the board are Loyal Cornelison of Paxton, who has been president; Carl
Hudson, Paxton, and Don Hasselbring of Bayles Lake.
Officers chosen at the board’s reorganization meeting are Wayne Huffner of Cissna Park,
president; Vic Springer of Rantoul, vice president; Harvard Keefe of Paxton, treasurer, and John
McGreal of Rantoul, secretary.
Other directors are Orrin Price of Paxton, and Glenn Collison of Bayles Lake. The corporation
operates Lakeview Country Club at Bayles Lake west of Loda.
1967, January 7, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Bayles Lake Group Elects New Officers”
Wayne Hoffman of Cissna Park has been elected president of the Bayles Lake Development Co.
Hoffman, an executive and partner in S.J. Hoffman and Sons Silo Co. succeeds Loyal B.
Cornelison of Paxton as president.
Other officers are Vic Springer, Rantoul, vice president; John McGreal, Rantoul, secretary, and
Havard Keefe, Paxton, treasurer.
1967, March 30, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Group Buys Bayles Farm”
D.B. Bayles of Bayles Lake has announced the sale of a farm of almost 500 acres, formerly used
for breeding and raising race horses, to the Ministers Aid Society of the Central Illinois
Methodist Conference.
The land is south of Buckley on the east side of U.S 45. Grain farming will be continued on the
land, and the society hopes to rent the former horse barns, possibly to a cattle breeder or
dairyman.
Income from the farm is to be placed in the pension fund for retired pastors.
1967, November 16, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Bayles Lake Group Is Reorganized”
Stockholders of Bayles Lake Development Co. voted Wednesday night to change the name of
the corporation to Lakeview Country Club, Inc.
The firm owns and operates Lakeview Country Club at Bayles Lake west of Loda. The facilities
include a nine-hole golf course and clubhouse.
Bayles Lake Development leased the property to the country club board until two years ago. The
board then was dissolved, and the corporation took over operation.
The country club board was formed originally to provide machinery for the payment of the
excise tax. When the tax was discontinued, a separate board no longer was needed to operate the
club.
Bayles Lake Development developed the lake and surrounding area to provide sites for
permanent homes and summer cottages.
About 50 stockholders attended the meeting at which Paul Danforth of Roberts and Harvard
Keefe of Paxton were elected directors to succeed Glenn Collison of Bayles Lake and Vic
Springer of Rantoul.
In the board’s reorganization meeting, Orrin Price of Paxton was named president; Cyril
Anderson was named vice president; Keefe, treasurer and John McGreal of Rantoul was re-
elected secretary.
1967, November 16, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“Bayles Now Lakeview”
About 50 stockholders attended the annual meeting of the Bayles Lake Development Company
Wednesday at the Lakeview Country Club.
The group voted to change the name of the Bayles Lake Development Company to Lakeview
Country Club, Inc.
Two new board members were elected. They are Paul Danforth of Roberts and Harvard Keefe
of Paxton. Glenn Collison of Bayles Lake and Vic Springer of Rantoul retired from the board.
An Election of officers was completed at the organization meeting. Orren Price, Paxton, was
elected president. He succeeds Wayne Hoffman of Cissna Park.
Other Officers were: Cyril Anderson, Paxton, vice president; Harvard Keefe, Paxton, reelected
treasurer; John McGreel, Rantoul, reelected secretary.
Other members of the board include Carl Hudson, M.I. Kendrick, and Ralph Schockey.
1968, January 19, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“At Bayles Lake: New Rules on Fishing”
Regulations governing fishing on Bayles Lake, west of Loda, have been adopted by the Lot
Owners Association and approved by the Bayles Lake Corp.
They provide that a written permit, signed by the host lot owner, must be obtained for each day
of fishing in the lake except from the boat of the host or on the shore line in front of the property.
The permits must be shown to the game warden or any other officer who requests to see it. Any
person who fishes in the lake without permission will be prosecuted as a trespasser under the
regulations.
The daily catch limits are two wall-eyed pike and five channel catfish.
Ice fishing is not permitted within 150 feet of any shoreline. Each lot owner can have one ice
fishing shelter which can be moved by hand; carries identification numbers used on boats and is
removed from the lake before sundown. Other uses of shelters are prohibited.
1968, January 24, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“Bayles Lake Fishing Rules Are Adopted”
A resolution outlining new fishing regulations was adopted at a meeting of the Bayles Lake Lot
Owners Assn. with the approval of the Bayles Lake Corporation. The fishing regulations cover
daily catch limits and winter activities at Bayles Lake near Loda.
The new resolution states that a written permit, signed by the host lot owner, clearly specifying
the name of the person to whom it is issued and the “one day only” for which it is valid, will be
required on the person of anyone fishing in Bayles Lake unless fishing is being done from the
boat of the host lot owner or the shoreline in front of his property.
The permit must show lot and block number of the property owned or occupied by the host lot
owner and be available to exhibit to any game warden or peace officer upon request. Anyone
fishing in Bayles Lake without a valid permit will be considered a trespasser and so prosecuted.
Also considered a trespasser will be anyone fishing and possessing more than the daily limit set
at two walleyed pike and five channel catfish.
Ice fishing is a very popular sport at Bayles Lake during the winter months. New regulations
state that ice fishing is prohibited within 150 feet of any shoreline. Ice fishing shelters are
prohibited except that each lot owner may be allowed not more than one shelter if it is manually
portable, marked in the same manner as boats or floats with the lot and block of the lot owner,
the shelter be removed from the lake before sundown each day, leaving the area in which it was
used in the following conditions: cleared of the equipment and debris, clean and unobstructed.
1968, July 22, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“$4 Million Residential Development Starts Immediately Near Bayles Lake”
A $4,000,000 residential and recreational development extending over 500 acres and containing
800 lots just north of and adjacent to Bayles Lake, will be started immediately, according to the
developer Development Services, Inc., of Rock Creek, Ohio.
Bayles Lake is located one mile west of Loda.
The water area will total 120 acres of the 500 acres, officials of the development company said.
The new development will be completely separate from Bayles Lake and the company will
install streets, curbs and gutters and central water and sewage facilities.
A new dam will be constructed at the north end of the development, and the present dam at
Bayles Lake will form the south end.
Total cost is to be between $3.8 and $4.6 million dollars and construction is expected to be
completed within 18 months.
It is planned to begin the sale of lots by Oct. 1, and a grand opening is planned for next spring.
Kenneth Gorman, president of Lake Iroquois Corp., which is doing the developing, said the lake
would use the “same source” of water as the present Bayles Lake.
“Our engineers tell us this will be more than adequate water supply,” Gorman said.
Lake Iroquois Corp. is a subsidiary of Development Services, Inc.
About 450 of the 500 acres was purchased from Bayles Lake, Inc. D.B. Bayles of Paxton is the
president of this company. The remaining 50 acres was purchased from landowners who owned
property adjoining the development.
“All contracting will be on a competitive bid basis,” Gorman said. “It is our policy to use local
labor and local contractors whenever possible. We’ll take bids on the dam construction, bids on
road construction and so on. The building will actually be tightly restricted. Our building codes
are usually higher than is general in the area.”
Ohio Development Corp. has built more than 50 residential and recreational facilities throughout
the country, according to Gorman.
The closest to this area is Holiday Shores at Edwardsville, where nearly 1800 lots have been sold
in about four years.
“We expect most of our buyers will be from the nearby area-Champaign, Urbana, Rantoul,
Danville,” Gorman said. “Although it might extend farther. People from the Chicago area will
just flock to water,” he added. “The development will have its own 24-hour police force and will
maintain its own streets and sewage facilities.”
There will be community beaches, boats docks and children’s playground areas.
1969, August 9, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Residents Fight Development Plan at Bayles Lake”
East shore residents of Bayles Lake are up in arms over a 200-unit trailer court and three marinas
proposed for the west shore.
Dr. Earl Ellis of Rantoul, president of the Lot Owners Association said his group “is opposed to
the influx of people the development would mean” and also is concerned about “increased traffic
on the lake.”
The development of Lake Iroquois in the area will also mean a substantial gain in the area’s
population, Ellis pointed out.
“Our biggest concern, however,” he said, “is to find out just how much control we would have
on boat traffic.”
He said the current restriction limiting motors to six horsepower would be retained. There are no
marinas on the lake. Residents with lake-frontage can arrange their own boat docking.
The development, proposed by Dale Bayles and Don Hasselbring, would include three marinas;
two would be adjacent to single lakefront lots and one to a property with three adjoining
lakefront lots.
The lake is deeded to the Lot Owners Association with the provision that Bayles has access to
certain lakefront properties, the ones for which the current controversial plans have been made.
Dr. Ellis said his group’s intention is to “see what control we have legally; have over the
developments.”
Several heated meetings have been held this week. Another is scheduled for Wednesday.
The Lot Owner’s secretary, Warren Pacey, resigned this week, because he is a legal
representative for the Bayles Lake Development Corp. and wanted to avoid a conflict of interest.
Two other Lot Owner directors also resigned, but Ellis said their resignations were not connected
to the controversy. Clifton Robinson resigned after serving many years on the board and Robert
Coddington because of “increased business commitments in the East.”
Dr. John Sillicker, who owns a summer home on the lake, has been appointed to fill one of the
vacancies.
Ellis said a committee will interview attorneys and report to the board on their recommendations
for a legal representative.
1969, August 12, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“Bayles Lake Meet Set On Owners Rights”
The Bayles Lake Lot Owners Association, Board of Directors will meet to hear a report from a
special committee on the legal rights of the property owners to control use of and access to the
lake, according to association president Dr. Earl Ellis, Rantoul.
Dr. Ellis said that the group is seeking control of the use of boats on the lake in advance of a
proposed development program, which would include three marinas and a 200 unit mobile home
park.
The trailer park site and the three marinas are slated for property owned by Dale Bayles and
Ronald Hasselbring, original developers of the lake area. The trailer park will be located on land
presently used for a landing strip, Dr. Ellis said.
At present, no marinas or trailers are allowed on the lake but restrictive covenants on the use of
most of the land were not attached to the land involved in the proposed development, Dr. Ellis
said.
The association committee is slated to contact and hire an attorney before the meeting.
1969, September 13, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“To Outline Bayles Lake Boat Rules”
The Bayles Lake Lot Owners Association board of directors has authorized Harold Baker, their
attorney, to draw up a resolution outlining boating regulations on the lake.
The board is seeking to control the use of boats on Bayles Lake west of Loda preceding
projected developments including three marinas on the lake and the establishment of a 200-unit
mobile home court east of the lake.
The resolution would regulate the number and size of boats on the lake and the number of boats
at the marinas, said Dr. Earl Ellis, board chairman.
Ellis said the developers of Bayles Lake deeded the lake to the Lot Owners Association in
March.
The board will vote on the adoption of the regulations in the next week or two, according to
Ellis.
1969, August 20, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Lot Owners Study Rights”
A meeting of the board of directors for the Bayles Lake Lot Owners Association is to be
scheduled to hear an attorney’s report on the legal rights of property owners to control use and
access to the lake.
Harold Baker, Champaign attorney engaged by the board, met with a special committee Monday
night. He will report his findings in a study to the full board at a session which probably will be
held Sept. 10, according to Dr. Earl Ellis, board chairman.
The board is seeking to control the use of boats on Bayles Lake west of Loda preceding
projected developments including three marinas on the lake and the establishment of a 200-unit
mobile home court east of the lake.
Dr. Ellis announced the appointment of Mrs. Betty Thompson of Paxton as secretary of the
association.
1970’s
1971, June 7, The Paxton Record reports
“David Maggard Drowns Sunday in Bayles Lake”
Find victim in shallow water near pier; rites held Tuesday afternoon
David Lyn Maggard, 17, drowned Sunday afternoon while swimming with friends in Bayles
Lake, near Loda.
The youth, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Erroll Maggard, was last seen alive about 3:30 Sunday.
Searchers found his body about 8 p.m. in chest deep water 10 feet from the pier at the Raymond
Younger residence. (342 Kaufmann Drive)
Rescuers from the Iroquois County Civil Defense unit, the Iroquois County Sherriff’s
department, the Ford County Sherriff department and the Paxton fire department spent about
three and a half hours searching for the body. Paxton Fire Chief Mike Siebert, Eddie Mize,
Darrell Swan and Jim Robinson assisted in dragging operations. The youth was reported missing
about 4:30.
J.L. Joyce of Paxton joined five other divers from Kankakee, Rantoul and Champaign in an
underwater search for the body.
Two youths who had been swimming with the victim said Maggard dived out of the boat 60
yards from the shore and that was the last they saw of him. Persons on the shore reported seeing
someone diving off the pier between the time young Maggard was last seen and when he was
found. However, they could not say for certain that it was the victim.
His funeral was held at 2 p.m., Tuesday at Ford-Baier funeral home, Paxton, with Rayford Faires
of the Rantoul Church of Christ officiated. Burial followed in Maplewood Cemetery, Rantoul.
David was born November 11, 1953 at Glasgow, Ky., a son of Erroll and Margaret Barrick
Maggard. He spent the first ten years of his life in Kentucky and moved with his parents to the
Loda area in 1963.
Surviving are his parents; two brothers, Gary, Riverdale, Md; and Clifton, Pontiac; a sister
Deborah, at home; paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Maggard, Glasgow, Ky.; and
maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Barrick, Glasgow, Ky.
He had just finish his junior year at Buckley-Loda high school. He was to start work this
summer for Paxton Electronics Components Co.
1974, July 26, The Paxton Record reports
“Looking Back”…on this date in history:
Mr. and Mrs. D.B. Bayles moved in to their ultra-modernistic home on Wolfe Drive at Bayles
Lake this week. It was Mr. Bayles, known to his intimates as “Doc”, whose idea it was to
develop the once wooded slopping area a mile west of Loda into a lake. The five room home,
which has two baths, two terraces and a two-car carport, was recently completed. It commands
one of the most beautiful views of the Lake area.
1977, September 9, The Champaign Urbana Courier reports
“Hearing Slated on Loda Prison”
A hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday in the Iroquois County Courthouse, Watseka, to
receive opinions on the proposal to build a state medium security prison south of Loda.
Clarence Gehle of Buckley said that the site under consideration is a 400-acre tract owned by
Russell Lachenmyer of near Thomasboro. The land, which now is farmed is in Iroquois County
about two miles north of Clarence and adjacent to the Ford County Line.
Charles Rowe, director of the Illinois Department of Corrections, recently notified Gehle that the
hearing would be conducted.
Lachenmyer has offered to sell some of his land to the state.
Iroquois County is one of 18 counties being considered as sites for two prisons. A site near
Beaverville proposed by county officials was rejected because the Illinois Department of
Conservation plans to expand recreational use of the state-owned land now used as public
shooting grounds.
The corrections department asked the county to recommend another site. County board
members, however, agreed to have the county withdrawn from the list of counties under
consideration because no other site was available.
The new proposal was submitted after Lachenmyer’s attorney to Gelhe that Lachenmyer was
willing to sell part of his land.
Each of the new prisons is expected to cost about $25 million, have an operating budget of more
than $8 million and employ more than 350 persons.
Bill Shayne, chief of program services for the corrections department, said the purpose of the
hearing “is to answer concerns and questions” of the residents in the area under consideration
and “to judge public reaction.”
State officials expected to attend the hearing include Rowe, Gayle Francea, assistant to Gov.
James R. Thompson, Ethel Gingold, who heads the department’s adult advisory board, and
Shayne.
1980’s
1980, August 13, The Paxton Record reports
“Drowned Youth’s Body Found”
The body of 16-year old William McDuffie, rural Mahomet, was recovered from Bayles Lake
about 2:10 p.m., Friday.
Iroquois County Coroner Phyllis Jameson said an inquest is pending probably in about two
weeks.
Searchers had been scanning Bayles Lake since early Thursday morning after the youth went
under while swimming with a friend, Scott Percival, 18, from Urbana.
The youth’s body surfaced about 2:10 p.m. and was quickly spotted about 200 yards from Bayles
Lake road. (near 140 Sunrise Court) The youth’s body surfaced about 100 yards northwest of
where Percival said he believed the accident occurred.
McDuffie was taken by ambulance to Ford-Baier Funeral Home, Paxton, shortly after his body
was found. His funeral was Sunday afternoon, the Rev. Dorotha Russell officiating. Burial was
in Shiloh Cemetery, Fisher.
He was born November 18, 1963 in Champaign, a son of Clifford E. and Shirley J. Schuman
McDuffie.
Surviving besides his parents of rural Mahomet are two sisters, Peggy Hardyman and Denise
Arie, both of Urbana; three brothers, Patrick, at sea with the Navy; and Clifford and Kevin, both
at home; paternal grandfather, Eddie McDuffie, Champaign; and maternal grandmother, Rosalie
Schuman, Decatur.
He would have been a senior at Mahomet-Seymour High School. He worked with his father at
Cliff’s Auto Body Shop.
William McDuffie was a member of DeMolay, a Masonic youth organization, for several years,
and had just served as master counselor of the group.
Memorials may be made to the burn center of Shirner’s hospitals.
The search for the youth’s body included efforts by divers from numerous area law enforcement
agencies; dragging operations; use of a seine net; scanning of the lake by a State Police airplane;
and efforts by psychic Greta Alexander of Delavan.
McDuffie was swimming with Percival about 12:30 a.m. Thursday when the youth, who
reportedly could not swim, went under.
The two were staying at a friend’s cottage at Bayles Lake. They were seen swimming in a
shallow area south of the Bayles Lake road as early as dusk.
However, they were told to get out of the lake and instead boated through an area underneath the
road and began swimming in deeper water.
When McDuffie called for help Percival reportedly was able to bring him to the surface.
McDuffie said he was okay, and Percival swam back to the boat.
When he turned around, McDuffie has disappeared. Percival searched the area for McDuffie,
but could not find the youth.
Percival then boated back to the cottage, could not find a phone and drove to Loda where he
telephoned his parents from a pay phone.
His parents notified police.
1983, March 30, The Paxton Record reports
“D.B. (Doc) Bayles, 82, dies; was developer of Bayles Lake”
D.B. (Doc) Bayles, 82, of 236 E. Center Street, Paxton, founder and developer of Bayles Lake in
Iroquois County, died at 1:00 pm (March 25, 1983) at Illinois Knight Templar Home, Paxton.
His funeral was Sunday at Ford-Baier Funeral Home, Paxton, the Rev. Larry D. Manship
officiating. Burial was in the Glen Cemetery, Paxton.
Pallbearers were Don Roisland, Warren Pacey, Richard Bennett, Dale Meyer, Frank Johnson and
Wilbur Ogle. Honorary bearers were Howard Thomas, George Riemenschneider Wallace
Judkins and Marcus Spencer. Organist was Francis Robertson.
He was born Nov. 5, 1900 at Xenia, IL, a son of Austin and Martha Ellen Burkett Bayles. He
married Ethel Harriett Johnson Nov. 11, 1922 at Walnut, IL. She survives.
Also surviving are a daughter, Betty J. Burgrabe, Paxton; a son, Cleo B. Bayles, Bayles Lake:
three sisters, Wreathea Cuvelier, Hobart, IN; Bertha Bartelt, Salem, IL and Lillie Whitsell,
Mount Vernon, IL; a brother, Fred Bayles, Xenia, IL; six grandchildren, a step grandson; eight
great grandchildren and a step great grandson.
He was preceded in death by a son, three brothers, a sister, three grandchildren and a great
grandchild.
Mr. Bayles attended Xenia schools and lived in Walnut, IL for several years before moving to
Paxton, IL in June 1936.
He was a member of Paxton Church of Christ; Paxton Masonic Lodge; the Royal Arch Masons;
Mt. Olive Commandery; Prospect Chapter Order of the Eastern Star; Danville Consistory; Ansar
Shrine, Springfield; Shrine Club, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; And Paxton Chamber of Commerce. He
was a charter member of the Lakeview Country Club and a member of the board of Directors of
Farmers Merchants Bank, Paxton
1984, April 13, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“Tornadoes Sweep Central Illinois”
Tornadoes and high winds raked portions of East Central Illinois, damaging or unroofing houses,
smashing trailers and ripping down power lines but apparently sparing anyone serious injury.
The twisters, spinning out of clod-laden skies that dumped rain across the state throughout
Thursday, whipped into Cumberland, Effingham, Iroquois, Jasper and Vermillion counties at
day’s end.
1984, April 13, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“Sky Filled with Wood as Storm hits Homes”
By Steve Bauer
The idyllic lakeside neighborhood was jarred as a small tornado skipped through the Bayles Lake
area, tossing pontoon boats like bathtub toys and smashing the home of one couple.
“All of a sudden, I heard this roar, it sounded like 50 freight trains,” said Bill Archer, a resident
on the southwest side of the lake. Bayles Lake is a residential development west of Loda.
“I looked up and I saw it coming. The air was swirling and the water was going up like a water
spout, maybe 50 to 60 feet in the air,” Archer said. “Then it followed the lake and hopped
around”
Archer said he watched the funnel come back down in the area of Rulison Drive and Kaufman
Drive on the east side of the lake.
“I saw it hit by the porch on Saranel Mosier’s on Kaufman and the whole thing exploded and the
sky filled up with wood,” Archer said.
Archer said he was stunned by the experience, which lasted no longer than 40 seconds. The
sound and sudden appearance of the twister caught him by surprise, he said.
“The funny thing was that the storm, which started about 4:30 p.m. was dissipating, he said. The
main brunt of the storm was done.”
A Bayles Lake neighbor, John Anderson, said he saw the funnel cloud wreak havoc about 5:00
p.m. in front of his home on the lakes west side.
Houses on Ocala Drive on Bayles Lake also were damaged. The high winds overturned boats,
knocked down trees and power lines and ruptured a gas line, according to police reports.
“I saw it and heard the tornado while looking out my picture window,” he said. “I had heard on
my scanner that one was seen near Paxton’s Big Wheels plant. About that time the rain quit and
it got quiet.
“I saw the funnel in the air over the lake. It touched down and just sucked the water up into the
air. The funnel moved down the lake in the water and as it moved out of sight, I remember
thinking to myself, “Boy, if that thing hits a house, it’s a goner.”
1990’s
1991, September 15, The Champaign News-Gazette reports
“Assessment Flap has Residents Thinking Secession”
By Greg Kline
They aren’t donning gray uniforms or waving the stars and bars, but whopping increases in
property assessments have folks in Loda Township sounding like Southerners, circa 1860.
Around the township’s Bayles Lake community, in particular, there’s talk of seceding from
Iroquois County and joining Ford County a few miles south.
“Really, Ford County is right down the road from us,” Bayles Lake resident Bill Archer said last
week. “Paxton is only four miles and that’s the county seat.”
Such a split in the Iroquois County union, however, is unlikely. It would require countywide
referendums in both counties, with little chance they’d win approval.
But the assessment flap has a battle brewing in other ways. The major fronts include:
A referendum on the November ballot to have the Iroquois County supervisor of
assessments elected rather than appointed by the county board. The switch supposedly
would make the person filling the job more accountable.
A wave of assessment appeals to the county Board of Review that could number near
900. (By contrast, Vermillion County, with three times the population, will have 600 to
700 appeals.) As many as 50 percent of Loda Township’s homeowners may argue that
their assessments should be lowered.
The threat of a class action lawsuit by township residents if their appeals fail.
For now, the lawsuit is on hold until the appeals process, which includes the county review board
and then, if necessary, the state Property Tax Appeal Board, runs its course, said Paxton attorney
Jerry Niemann, who’s been advising the Bayles Lake Lot Owners Association.
“The jury’s out at this point,” Niemann said. “Maybe the system will work.”
At the center of the controversy is an increase in assessments on lots, houses and improvements
ranging from 18 to 87 percent this year at Bayles Lake.
Those assessments, determined through a complex state formula used by township and county
officials, form the basis for resident’s property tax bills.
In Archer’s case, for example, he said the value of his lot and house jumped by 18 percent which
will cost him about $400 more in property taxes.
“Some people’s taxes are doubling and tripling from what they have been in the past,” said Jim
Calloway, president of the Bayles Lake Lot Owners Association board.
Lake Iroquois and Kellart Lake residents experienced increases too, although not as great. So
did off-the-water Loda Township property owners and some people in other Iroquois County
communities, such as Buckley and Gilman.
Nonetheless, many of Bayles Lake’s more than 250 lot owners feel they’re being soaked because
they own lakefront property. But “that’s not the case at all,” according county Supervisor of
Assessments Gene Bruns.
In reality, Bruns said, property in the lake area, and much of the county was under-assessed for a
long time.
Officials needed a sufficient number of sales to use as benchmarks in reassessing of property
values. But there weren’t many sales in most area of this sparsely populated county of 33,000
residents.
But a spate of sales the last two to three years finally allowed the reassessment process to
resume, Bruns said, and the property owners are feeling the effects of the lag.
The selling prices for Bayles Lake property has “dramatically increased,” he said. “Gradually,
(assessments) are getting to where they should be.”
Recent changes in state law also have mandated additional training for township assessors and
pushed them to do reassessments more regularly.
In addition, 1991 is a quadrennial assessment year when, theoretically anyway, all property in
the state is reassessed.
Bayles Lake residents don’t argue those points. But they still feel they’re being treated unfairly.
For one thing, the reassessments are based on a handful of sales that may not reflect reality, said
Fran Martin, a Paxton Realtor who specializes in lake property.
“I think the biggest problem is they take one sale and try to evaluate the whole lake on one sale,
or two or three sales,” she said. They’re all individuals, and they should be individually looked
at.”
And some of those sales were at inflated prices, made to Chicago-area residents willing to pay
mightily for a country retirement home on a lake, maintained Ralph Schimanski, a Bayles Lake
homeowner and retired Realtor.
“They might pay $80,000 or $90,000.” he said. “For property around a lake, they think that is a
steal.”
The other problem, according to the lake residents is that while Loda Township Assessor Pat
Freed has been diligent in do her reassessments many of the county township assessors have not.
We get increased, and the rest of them get only insignificant increases, if any at all,” Galloway
said. “We think it’s kind of discriminatory.”
Bruns said there’s little he can do to force the assessors, who are independent, elected, local
officials, to perform their duties.
But the county board can have Brun’s office to the reassessments and bill the townships for their
work, said Tom Basso of the Illinois Department of Revenue. In the extreme, he said, the county
also could take recalcitrant assessors to court.
Some of the assessors complain the job just isn’t worth the money it pays, especially with the
increasing amount of paperwork required by the state. Most of them, who salaries are set by
township boards, earn less than $5,000 annually.
“I would have to work eight hours a day, 365 days a year, and for $3,000 I’m not going do it,”
said Douglas Township Assessor June Wilms, one of those behind in her reassessments.
Meanwhile, at Bayles Lake, Galloway said he worries the tax increases are going to drive some
longtime residents out of the community.
“A number of elderly people live here on the lake. They have pensions, fixed pensions,” he said.
“It’ll actually cause some of them to have to sell their property.”
1998, January 14, The Paxton Record reports
“Bayles Lake Man Injured in House Fire”
Lake resident Frank Brocato, 110 Sunset Drive, is in serious condition Wednesday after a fire
destroyed his home Tuesday afternoon.
Loda EMS took Brocato to Carle Hospital, and from there he was transferred to the burn unit at
Springfield Memorial Hospital.
About two dozen firemen from Loda and Buckley were on the scene for about two hours.
Rich DeAtley, Loda Fire Chief, said a neighbor called in the fire around 1 p.m. When firemen
arrived they found Brocato standing outside.
“He told me he was watching TV and when the heater kicked on he heard an explosion,”
DeAtley said.
The fire was contained to the utility room but the rest of the house was heavily damaged by
smoke and water.
There are also some rafters that are pretty badly charred,” DeAtley said.
In order to enter the house firemen had to wear air masks. “It was black inside,” DeAtley said.
“We kept in close contact because it was easy to get lost.”
Firemen also had to cut holes in the roof in order to get smoke out and to get to the fire in the
upper part of the structure.
The fire chief said the cause of the fire is unknown. “But with the smoke and water damage the
house is pretty well gutted,” he said.
1999, September, The Paxton Record reports
“Neighbors save Woman in Blaze”
By Dave Hinton
Nancy Davis had just walked in the door when the phone rang Sunday morning.
The caller said she had heard a scanner report that an elderly woman at 221 Sunrise Drive was in
a wheelchair and her house was on fire. The caller wanted to know how close Davis lived to that
address.
Mrs. Davis recognized it was Lucy Goff’s house, two doors down from hers.
She ran to the house with husband Jim and sister, Arla Boehme not far behind, and when she
flung open the door, there stood the disoriented Mrs. Goff in a house filled with smoke. Mrs.
Davis picked up her elderly neighbor and quickly got her out of the house.
“She had stood up in front of her wheelchair,” Mrs. Davis said. “She did not have her walker.
She cannot walk alone. She was standing with one arm on the refrigerator and the phone in the
other hand.
“I was afraid of hurting her. I put my arms around her waist and lifted her out. I got her and my
husband and sister got the wheelchair out.”
The Davis and Mrs. Boehme got Mrs. Goff out in the yard and told her to take some deep
breaths.
Soon after, Loda ambulance and fire department arrived. Mrs. Goff, who is 89, was admitted for
observation to Gibson Area Hospital and suffered minor smoke inhalation.
The phone call (Mrs. Davis did not want to name the caller) and the neighbor’s quick action no
doubt saved Mrs. Goff from serious medical problems, if not suffocation.
Mrs. Davis said the smoke was so thick “you could not see across the kitchen.”
Mrs. Goff had discovered the fire after hearing a pop, she told a friend, Jan Archer, also of
Bayles Lake. “She said she opened the door to her utility room where the furnace and hot water
heater are. She said, “The flames came at me,” said Mrs. Archer.
Mrs. Goff shut the door, phoned for the fire department and got a wrong number on the first try.
After reporting the fire she wheeled herself to the back of the house where she normally exits
through the garage, but the door would not open.
So she turned herself around and went the length of the house to try to get out the kitchen door.
It was then the Davises arrived.
The interior of the house, which shows little exterior damage, was burned to a crisp.
Even so, some of Mrs. Goff’s most prized possessions were saved.
Her photo albums and scrapbooks that include so many memories from her family and her days
with the USO were not burned. And a metal recipe box that holds all of her friend’s phone
numbers and addresses came out in fairly good shape.
The box was blackened on the outside, and the tops of the cards are a little brown, but they are
readable, said Mrs. Archer.
“That was the first thing she asked for, “Just get my card box,” Mrs. Archer said with a laugh.
And, perhaps as a sign, those who went through the burned-out house found a gold pen with a
guardian angel on it lying on the floor, untouched by the inferno.
“I told her, “That guardian angel was watching over you Lucy,” Mrs. Archer said.
Loda firefighters with mutual aid from Buckley battled the fire, which was called in about 10:30
a.m. Strong winds fanned the flames.
Flames could be seen coming from the house when firefighters arrived
Friends are call Mrs. Davis a hero, but she dismisses the idea.
“Anybody else would have done it if they had known about it,” she said during a break from
hanging wall paper Tuesday morning.
Sunday was Mrs. Davis’ 60th birthday, but she remembers little other than the incident with Mrs.
Goff. “It’s just blank,” she said. “I said that was just a good birthday present,” being able to
help Mrs. Goff, whom she and her husband have known since moving to the lake in 1977.
“We are gone an awful lot, I’m just glad we were home.”
Mrs. Goff will celebrate a birthday of her own, her 90th, Oct. 15 and friends are planning an open
house 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 17 at Lakeview Country Club, Bayles Lake. Beginning Tuesday she will
reside in room 126 at the Ford County Nursing Home.
2000’s
2000, May, The Loda Times reports
“Bayles Lake Home Destroyed by Blaze”
Fire, fueled by strong winds, destroyed a Bayles Lake family’s home Thursday night.
The home of Don and Janet Ward, 606 Skyline Drive was a total loss.
Loda, Buckley and Roberts firefighters battled the blaze into the early morning hours.
Firefighters were called out about 9:30 p.m.
“The biggest problem we had was the high winds from the south,” said Don Jones, Loda Fire
Protection District training officer.
“It was a cathedral roof. It goes to a peak and there’s a dead place between the outer roof and the
cathedral roof. The fire got into that, and with the wind blowing it was like a blow torch. Once
it got started doing that we couldn’t commit people to be inside. It is too bad. It was a beautiful
house.”
Neil Kaufmann, assistant Buckley fire chief, said the fire was “one of the most miserable ones
I’ve been on. The roof fell in.”
“The fire was burning under the roof. You basically has to pull it piece by piece. There was a
lot of manual labor involved.”
Buckley remained on the scene until about 1 a.m., Kaufmann estimated, and Loda firefighters
until 3:30 a.m., said Jones.
Kaufmann said he was told fire was starting through the roof when Loda fireman arrived. “With
the wind venting it, there was no way to getting that thing shut down,” he said.
“If we had had eight of 10 lines in there right away we might have been able to contain it, but
there’s no way a volunteer fire department can do that.”
Water was transported from Loda. Jones said firefighters weren’t able to take water from Bayles
Lake because a good approach was not available. If a truck had been parked on bare ground it
would have sunk in and could not have been driven out, Jones said.
In addition to the home, a new Cadillac parked in the garage was lost.
Firefighters were able to save surrounding structures. “It was so hot it had a tree burning in the
front,” Jones said.
Loda fireman were called out at 6:30 Friday morning on a rekindle.
Jones estimated Loda had between 15 and 18 firemen on the scene, while Buckley had about 12,
said Kaufmann.
Roberts responded with volunteers and one truck at the scene and another on standby at the
Buckley fire house due to Buckley sending out all of its trucks.
No injuries were reported.
2004, July 18, The News-Gazette reports
“A Little Bit of Paradise In Southern Iroquois County” By Tom Kacich
Cleo Bayle’s father decided more than 50 years ago that the flat and humdrum landscape around
Paxton needed some help.
So D.B. “Doc” Bayles, who owned a construction company in Paxton bought some rolling
pastureland west of Loda and slowly, at first just in his spare time started building a lake. He
surveyed the property, yanked out some of the old Oak and Walnut trees on the bottomland,
dredged some of what would be the lake bed, built up a dam and within a few years “Doc”
Bayles had done what God had neglected to do. Bayles put a beautiful lake in southern Iroquois
County, less than a mile from Loda and about four miles north of Paxton.
“My dad just decided we needed a lake here,” said Cleo Bayles who, with his wife Mary, still
lives in a ranch house with a beautiful view of the lake that bears his father’s name. “We did a
bunch of the work on it in the early ‘40s and then again in ’45 or ’46 or around there,” said Cleo
Bayles. “Gov. (Dwight) Green got wind of it and he wanted to take the land and turn it into a
state park. But then Green got thrown out of office (1949) and we were able to build it again.”
Much of the site preparation for the lake had been done by nature, Cleo Bayles said. : It was like
a natural valley down there,” he said. “It was all solid clay and the water just drained off the
surrounding land.”
“He really didn’t build it to make money,” Bayles said of his father. “He just built it as a place
where families could go and have some recreation.”
By May 1952 “Doc” Bayles had signed up about 30 more shareholders and began completing the
lake. By the following September, the 200 acre lake was filled. And later that year the first
homes, some of them little more than wood frame fishing cottages, were being used.
By 1956, there were 75 homes at Bayles Lake, about one-third of them permanent residences.
Many of the rest were summer homes for people from Champaign, Urbana, Rantoul, Paxton,
Gibson City, Gilman, Onarga and even as far as Chicago.
Originally, said Cleo Bayles, lots at Bayles Lake-almost-all of which are on the lake-went for
$1,500 apiece, or two for $2,500.
Today, said Fran Martin, an agent with Rosenboom Realty in Paxton, even the least expensive
home on the lake is worth at least $100,000.
“Most of the houses at Bayles will go for anywhere from $175,000 to $200,000” she said.
Martin, who moved to the adjacent Lake Iroquois (which was built in the late 1960’s and is on
the other side of the dam) about 30 years ago, said housing prices at that time were $35,000 to
$40,000.
“I’ve always said that a house is your best investment,” she said “But a waterfront home is an
even better investment, whether it’s on the water in California or Florida or at Bayles Lake.”
“People are hard-working today and there’s a lot of stress,” she said. “That’s why people love to
go to a home on a lake, with lots of trees and just relax. Everyone tells me it’s a little like
paradise here.”
Mary Dean Bayles, Cleo’s wife, agreed. “I think a lot of us who live here a while take it all for
granted.” she said. “People are just floored by how beautiful it is.”
There are about 285 homes on Bayles Lake, said John Healey, whose father sold several acres to
“Doc” Bayles that was used to build the lake and whose family began living there in 1955. He
and his wife own a permanent home that he lives in most of the year. Next door, he is almost
done refurbishing one of the original knotty pine-walled fishing cabins.
“I love living on the water where it’s peaceful and it’s not so crowded,” I enjoy getting up in the
morning and just looking out at the lake.”
He also has a small, electric powered boat that can ferry several people around the lake. There’s
a 10-horsepower limit on the lake, making pontoon boats the favorite among residents. Lake
Iroquois is larger and permits faster boats and water skiing. And if fishing, boating and relaxing
isn’t enough, the Lakeview Country Club with its nine-hole golf course, restaurant and bar sit at
the south end of Bayles Lake.
Although most of the residents of Bayles Lake and Lake Iroquois are from east central Illinois,
an increasing number are from the Chicago area. Among her neighbors, Martin said, are a
retired Chicago policeman, a young couple who moved from the Chicago area to raise their
children in a rural area and the retired owner of a suburban insurance firm. “And three different
people from Tinley Park just bought three different homes on the lakes,” said Martin.
“I think a lot of Chicagoans are looking here rather than going to Wisconsin,” said Healey.
“There is more traffic going up there on summer weekends, plus you really get to enjoy a place
here about a month longer than you do a place in Wisconsin.”
“The baby boomers are buying these places now,” said Martin. “They are looking ahead now
and buying something for when they’re retired.”
It was time for her to go. Back home, many of her family of two children and nine grandchildren
were enjoying the water. “I want to be with them,” she said. What better time after all, to enjoy
a house on a lake than in the middle of July?
2006, June 24, The News-Gazette reports
“Bayles Lake Has a Relaxing Appeal, Sense Of Seclusion”
By Meg Thilmony
Bev Jeffers never thought she’d love a dwelling more than the apartment on the 76th floor of the
Hancock Building in downtown Chicago.
But when she and husband John got involved in a business in East Central Illinois in the mid-
1990’s, they started looking for homes in the area. A Champaign real estate agent led them to
Bayles Lake, where they rented the only house available.
“A week after they moved, the business deal fell through,” John said. “But we thought, “This is
kind of a neat place. Let’s stay.”
The Jeffers bought what Bev called “an old 50’s boat house” and remodeled it extensively. It
features an enormous two-story deck attached to the house’s lakeside and features a wall of
soaring windows. Binoculars sit on the windowsill for Bev, John and their guests to observe
boaters and wildlife on the lake.
Now, Bev says because of the friends and neighbors she’s met, she’d never return to downtown
Chicago.
“More people lived in the Hancock Building than in Loda or at Bayles Lake,” Bev said. “But we
never even got to know anyone’s name. We got down here and it wasn’t long before we were
active in the community.”
Her husband agreed, “Its family.”
Bayles Lake is located in Iroquois County, about a mile west of Loda. It was constructed by the
late D.B. Bayles and completed in 1952. Most of its 220 acres of water is located north of
Bayles Lake road, which bridges it.
In this area, the road gracefully follows the curves of the lake. On the west side of the lake,
water spills over a dam in a rushing waterfall and into adjacent Lake Iroquois.
The area also features several parks filled with Oak trees and flowers in the summer. Nearby
Lakeview Country Club boasts a golf course and restaurant.
Since its construction, weekenders and full time residents have built almost 300 houses and
cottages, said Stephen Schroeder, a Realtor at Rosenboom Realty in Paxton. Many of those are
located on the water.
Schroeder and his family live at Bayles Lake and he said many residents are buying small
weekend cabins and razing them to make room for larger, year-round homes on the sites.
“Size is more important today,” Schroeder said. “The one-bedroom cottages are almost
exclusive to vacationers.”
Schroeder said he thinks those new to the lake are attracted by its secluded feeling and the
combination of the water and densely wooded areas.
“It has a relaxing appeal,” Schroeder said. “It has the vacation sense to it.”
The Bayles Lake Lot Owners Association places limits on the horsepower of boats on the lake.
Pontoon boats can have 10 horsepower motors, run-about boats heavier than 250 pounds can
have 8-horsepower engines and run-about boats lighter than 250 pounds can have 6 horsepower
motors.
“Many people just have pontoon boats,” Schroeder said.
All homeowners are required to join the owners association, which maintains the area’s parks
and roads. The lake has 9 miles of shoreline and 7 miles of road, according to a brochure
distributed by Rosenboom Reality. Both are maintained by the Bayles Lake Lot Owners
Association, along with parks and timbers in the area.
All homeowners are required to join the association and pay about $700 per year in dues, said
Don Ward, former association president. That fee includes water and sewer service.
Ward and his wife, Jan, started as Bayles Lake weekenders. They were both employed at the
University of Illinois-Jan as faculty and staff benefits coordinator and Don as assistant vice
president for human resource management.
“We came in contact with people who lived here and we explored the area,” Ward said. “We
bought a weekend place and would come up once or twice per week.”
They made the move permanent in 1992 after retiring. Ward said he enjoys the lake, but
emphasized his affection for the laid-back community there.
“It’s quiet and peaceful-relaxing,” Ward said. “It’s a great place to be.”
2006, December, The Paxton Record reports
“Concerns Voiced Over Proposed Developments at Bayles Lake”
Many questions, concerns and misunderstandings were addressed Wednesday, Dec. 6 during a
meeting of the Bayles Lake Lot Owners Association.
Developers have expressed interest in building two new developments in the Bayles Lake area.
The developers told the lot owner’s association members one of their plans is to build 12
duplexes, consisting of 24 residences.
Developer Bruno Pelech said, “We would like to do it right with quadplexes rather than
duplexes. Quadplexes just look much better. It is a growing trend right now that golf course
communities are all putting in townhomes.”
Current residents of the lake expressed concern at the meeting Wednesday night over the
development of multi-family residences and its impact on the lake community. How water and
sewer systems at the lake could handle the extra load and overcrowding of the lake were among
the major concerns addressed to the board by members of the lot owners association.
Many members of the lot owners association stated they were under the impression that the
developments were a “done deal.” The association members were assured by attorney Bob
Martensen and board members that the new developments are “not a done deal”.
Martensen said before any new multi-family developments can be built in the lake community
they must first be approved by the Bayles Lake Lot Owners Association Board and the Iroquois
County Board.
Martensen said the Covenants of Bayles Lake imply that duplexes can be installed in the lake
community, but Iroquois County has all of Bayles Lake zoned as R-1, single family residential.
The Covenants do not have a provision for quadplexes. Martensen stated that the Covenants
cannot be changes until three years from now, on the 10th anniversary of their installation.
The developers want to build two separate developments. One of the areas where the developers
want to build is already annexed into the Bayles Lake Subdivision and subject to lake privileges
and inclusion into the lot owners association. The other area is not annexed into Bayles Lake
Subdivision and is only subject to the jurisdiction of Iroquois County.
Lot owner’s association members stated to the board that they want a public meeting held to put
to rest any rumors. The board said they will hold another meeting in the future to summarize the
information.
(Editor’s note; through a series of lawsuits / countersuits and legal maneuvering’s the lawsuit
between BLHOA and the B.A. Higgins Development Company was settled. BLHOA received
final paperwork from Barmann, Bohlen and Jacobi, attorneys representing BLHOA and the
Iroquois County Recorder’s Office in November 2014.)
(The B.A. Higgins Development Company conveyed to Bayles Lake, 8.06 acres, south of
Country Club Lane, along the county road, 100 East, near Lakeview Country Club in return for
all legal proceedings be dropped against them.)
2010, February 17, The Paxton Record reports
“Lakes, Loda Might Meet to Discuss Project”
By Will Brumleve
Proposed Sanitary Sewer System, Joint Sewage Treatment Plant Still an Option.
Engineers are trying to set up a public meeting for the near future in which officials with three
communities in southern Iroquois County would try to resolve issues any of them might have
with combining their respective sanitary sewer plant projects into one.
Officials with the unincorporated communities of Bayles Lake and Lake Iroquois and the Village
of Loda had been invited to attend a meeting originally for this Friday evening at Loda Village
Hall, but one of the parties has a conflict that caused the meeting to be postponed, according to
Roger Meyer, engineer for Bern’s, Clancy & Associations, Urbana.
Meyer wants the three entities to meet with the Loda Sanitary Sewer District Board to resolve
issues he has said needed to be addressed before it would be possible to combine the three
community’s sewer projects. The combination of the projects would involve Lake Iroquois plant
being rebuilt and expanded to serve residents of all three entities.
Lake Iroquois is already planning to build and expanded plant-but only to serve its own
residents-while both Bayles Lake and Loda are exploring building their own separate sewage
treatment plants. Meyers, whose firm is working on the Bayles Lake and Loda projects, is
encouraging Lake Iroquois to combine its project with the others as a way to reduce resident’s
user fees.
But Steve Garbaciak, chairman of the Lake Iroquois Association’s water/wastewater committee,
said last week, after Meyer had made a presentation to Lake Iroquois officials that the
homeowner’s association still has not received the answers it needs about the exact cost savings
to Lake Iroquois residents.
“We’re still waiting for definitive answers to our questions,” Garbaciak said. “They still have
not provided the answers, and it was reiterated to them last night at the meeting.”
Meyer had acknowledged last month that “further study is required to study and document the
possible cost savings available.”
The upcoming meeting between all three groups and the sanitary district board would involve
discussion about monetary issues as well as several “non-monetary” issues that need to be
addressed, Meyer said. Meyer last month asked that the non-monetary concerns be fully
addressed within the next 60 days, to keep negotiation’s progressing.
Among the issues is that Lake Iroquois would need to give up ownership of its wastewater
treatment plant to a public entity.
“For it to become a multi-community facility, Lake Iroquois either must create a public utility or
have to join the Loda Sanitary Sewer District so that there’s a public entity that owns and
operated the wastewater treatment plant,” Meyers said last month.
If Lake Iroquois wanted to join the sanitary district, it could be done through two means: (1)
through a referendum, in which voters from Bayles Lake and Loda would vote on the issue
separately from Lake Iroquois voters, and both sides would need to be in favor; or (2) through a
vote that only involves Lake Iroquois residents, followed by a vote of the sanitary sewer district
board, which is comprised of two Bayles Lake residents, Jay Ross and Warren Hamby and one
Loda resident, Alan Johnson.
Lake Iroquois project, David Shafer, an engineer with Bloomington based Shive-Hattery
Architecture and Engineering, which is designing the Lake Iroquois plant, said he anticipates
three weeks would be required to redesign the plant to accommodate sewage coming from
Bayles Lake and Loda. Lake Iroquois officials have indicated they would not delay construction
of the currently proposed plant to accommodate plans for a combined plant that would serve
Bayles Lake and Loda.
Shafer said Friday that Lake Iroquois is “still working with the (Illinois) EPA on the permit” for
the plant it plans to build by the end of this year. Lake Iroquois is also currently seeking loans
for the plant through the United States Department of Agriculture.
“I don’t see any issues with the funding,” Shafer said. “We had some discussions with them
before we submitted any paperwork, so we’re fairly comfortable with it.”
(Regarding the) Loda project, if the three communities do not team up to complete one sewage
plant to serve all three entities, one of them might not be able to complete its own project due to
financial constraints.
In Loda, village officials are still not sure how they can keep pursuing a sewage plant on their
own, especially given the village’s lack of payments from the state.
Bern’s, Clancy & Associates had asked the village to make a decision whether to spend more
than $100,000 on an engineering study for the proposed plant, which would serve just the village
residents. But the board has decided to keep the money out of the village’s budget.
The need to build a sanitary sewer system in Loda has been prompted by environmental
regulations that are going to be strictly enforced regarding discharge of waste into waterways.
The same holds true for the nearby Bayles Lake and Lake Iroquois.
2011, October, “Bayles Lake Homeowners Association, Fall Newsletter” reports
BAYLES LAKE SANITARY SEWER NEWS UPDATE
Water and Sewer Committee Report
Ed Killen
Dale Foster
Nick Schuit
Update on the Bayles Lake Sanitary Sewer Project
Since September 2006, The Bayles Lake Homeowners Association (BLHOA) in partnership with
the Loda Sanitary District (LSD) has been researching and planning a sanitary sewer facility to
serve the Bayles Lake subdivision. It has been seven (7) years since that undertaking began and
we realize that there have been many turnovers on the Bayles Lake Board and numerous new
home-owners added to our subdivision who may not be fully informed about this proposed
project.
To keep you informed and with assistance from Ted Jeurissen and Greg Gustafson, Berns Clancy
and Associates (BCA), we prepared this brief history of the proposed sanitary sewer project
specifically articulating the reasons why it needs to be done. We also include a status update of
the project.
Why is the Bayles Lake Home Owners Association considering a centralized sanitary sewer
system? What’s wrong with what we have?
The answer to that question dates back to a September, 2006 written notice from the Ford-
Iroquois Counties Public Health Department (FICPHD) to the Bayles Lake Lot Owners
Association (BLLOA) stating that the perimeter tile(s) that collect the outflow of our private
septic tanks violates EPA regulations.
The notice cited two specific violations of the law:
(1) We exceed daily discharge limitations of 1500 gallons of effluent per day.
(2) We exceed the maximum allowable number of hook-ups per tile. Only three (3) individual
hook-ups per tile are allowed. (We have six (6) tiles and numerous individuals connected to the
tile lines.)
The notice went on to inform us that no new on-site sewage disposal systems will be permitted to
connect to the perimeter tile(s) and no existing on-site sewage disposal system requiring repairs
or replacement will be permitted to reconnect to the perimeter tile(s).
In January 2007, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) published a notice
(NPDES Permit Number 64) concerning the agency’s intent to begin enforcing existing
regulations requiring a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general
permit for all surface eliminating private disposal systems discharging into the waters of the
State of Illinois. In our case, those waters are Spring Creek and Bayles Lake.
The impact of these two actions is of paramount importance to the homeowners of the Bayles
Lake subdivision.
The first action forces all new and all repaired private sewer systems to discharge to
somewhere other than the perimeter tile(s) and stipulates that no more than three (3)
existing private sanitary sewer systems may lawfully connect to the perimeter tile(s).
It further implied that at some point in the future, FICPHD will begin to enforce this
regulation by requiring the disconnection of all of the remaining private disposal systems.
What does this mean for the residents of Bayles Lake?
Since 2006-07, no new private disposal sewer systems have been allowed to discharge to the
perimeter tile(s), with all of the systems that have been permitted since then are discharging into
the lake. Furthermore, only a few private sanitary sewage systems, requiring only very minor
repairs, have been allowed to remain connected to the perimeter tile(s).
We must be prepared for the eventuality that all 260 + private sewage disposal systems at Bayles
Lake will require major repairs or total replacement within 25-40 years.
What are the lawful options?
Two things are certain, we cannot continue to use our existing sanitary sewage disposal methods
and, our lawful sanitary sewage disposal options are extremely limited:
We may discharge **some of the “effluent” directly into our lake. IEPA regulations
allow the “effluent” discharge of up to two (2) private sanitary sewer systems per surface
acre of water. (This option assumes a compliant private sanitary sewer system that
produces secondarily treated “effluent” and that each such system discharging into the
lake will still be subject to the conditions of a general NPDES permit requirement at an
average annual cost of around $500).
**It is important to note that this option CANNOT solve the entire problem simply because we
don’t have enough surface area and volume of lake water to accommodate everyone. The lake
has a surface area of 130 acres and therefore could only be utilized by 130 systems into a 3 to 5
foot depth requirement AND achieving the adequate dilution required.
All other solutions will require some type of EPA approved sanitary sewer collection and
treatment system.
What actions has the Board of Directors taken?
The Board of Directors has taken the position that dumping our “effluent” into Bayles Lake is
NOT AN OPTION! The public health, safety and economic risks are simply too great. The lake
is the reason we’re all here and the protection of that asset ought to be our primary focus in this
matter.
Therefore, the Bayles Lake Board of Directors, understanding the compelling need to protect the
health and welfare of Bayles Lake and its homeowners while at the same time assuming the
responsibility for achieving compliance with IEPA, authorized a planning study to evaluate the
feasibility of constructing a central sanitary sewer facility.
Since 2007, numerous meetings have been held to discuss and evaluate alternative sewer
systems. Many leads have been followed and suggestions investigated including partnering with
the Village of Loda, Lake Iroquois and the City of Paxton. Uncounted articles have been written
and published in the Paxton Record, The Loda Times, The Champaign-Urbana News Gazette
and our own Quarterly Newsletter.
Detailed information has been disseminated, questions raised, investigated and discussed during
numerous open meetings including; Bayles Lake Board of Directors monthly meetings, Bayles
Lake Homeowners Association annual meetings, Loda Village Board meetings and Loda
Sanitary District meetings.
After digesting all of the information, the Bayles Lake Board of Directors settled on pursuing a
low-pressure, small diameter effluent collection system and recirculating sand filter treatment
system. This collection system is a combination gravity / low pressure collection system. This
option allows us to reline and repair segments of our existing perimeter collection tile in areas
where reuse is possible and install the low pressure lines in those areas where it is impractical or
cost prohibitive to reuse our existing tiles.
The board selected this option for two reasons; first, it is the least costly system to build and
second, it is the least disruptive construction option.
Latest events:
All preliminary engineering work has been completed. An updated Loda Sanitary District
Facilities Plan has been submitted to and approved by IEPA. The Bayles Lake Board of
Directors and the Loda Sanitary District board (legal authority who will own and operate the
proposed system) were recently informed that a final NDPES permit could be issued by the EPA
within the next 30 days moving the process of authorizing construction forward.
Before being able to move on to the construction stage however, the project engineer and sub-
engineer need to complete the Final Design work, prepare Bid Documents/Specifications and
submit all to the IEPA for construction permits. We are scheduled to complete that work during
our next fiscal year (2013) and if affordable funding can be arranged we may begin construction
in 2014.
As a final note, the Bayles Lake Homeowners Association Board of Directors urge you to
become involved in this project by attending the regular board meetings and by talking with your
State and BLHOA District Representatives. Please ask questions or offer advice, the board wants
and needs your input.
2012, April 24, The Paxton Record reports
“Bayles Lake Expected to Proceed with Final Design Plans for Sewage Plant”
By Will Brumleve
The Bayles Lake Home Owners Association is expected to authorize an engineering firm
Wednesday to prepare final design plans for a long-discussed sanitary sewer plant that would
serve the unincorporated Iroquois County community.
Rod Cardinal, president of the homeowner’s association that governs Bayles Lake, said its board
of directors likely will take action at a meeting Wednesday to allow Urbana-based Berns, Clancy
& Associates to proceed.
The process of preparing the final design is expected to last through the end of 2012, Cardinal
said.
In preparation for the final design work, Cardinal said, the engineering firm has completed a
“significant portion” of a video analysis of the existing septic system in Bayles Lake.
The final design cost would be about $70,000, engineer Ted Jeurissen said last year, when
preliminary design engineering for the sewer plant was still under way. At that time, Bayles Lake
officials questioned whether to move forward with paying for more engineering work, after
learning that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) had denied grant funding to
build the $4.7 million sewer system and treatment plant.
Cardinal said funding for the plant remains an unresolved issue.
“We’re still trying to seek out how it’s going to be paid,” Cardinal said, adding that the
association may seek grants or loans, for example, but won’t know what it can do until the
design process is finalized.
Some funding options may be available through the Loda Sanitary Sewer District, of which
Bayles Lake is a part, according to the district’s attorney, Bob Martensen, who lives at the lake.
Martensen said he expects Bayles Lake to seek “any and all sources of revenue to assist in the
project.”
Bayles Lake applied for a grant through the sanitary sewer district but was denied the awarding
of funds last year because there was not enough money left to give out through the IEPA’s
Unsewered Communities Grant Program. Without the grant funding, the 260 homeowners in
Bayles Lake would need to pay what the IEPA referred to as “unaffordable” monthly sewer
charges to pay for the plant — estimated at $106 — and as a result of that unaffordability, the
IEPA requested that the sanitary district submit a “facility plan amendment” to the agency prior
to the IEPA continuing to review the project.
Jeurissen said Tuesday that he expects Bayles Lake to be ready to apply for a new permit
through the IEPA after the final design engineering is completed. Funding options would also be
pursued at that time, he said.
“There are other programs that are available (to fund the project), depending on whether or not
they get fully funded or not through the EPA or through Rural Development,” Jeurissen said.
“We’re going to pursue those.
“I guess the bottom line is that the system will be built when it becomes affordable to the users,
and if it’s not affordable for the users, it won’t be built.”
The sewer system is being sought as a result of IEPA regulations regarding the discharge of
sewage into natural waterways. The existing septic tanks at Bayles Lake discharge into a
diversion channel that goes along the east side of the lake and is part of Spring Creek, according
to Cardinal. For the same reason, the nearby village of Loda also was at one time considering its
own sewage treatment plant — or perhaps building a sewer system that would connect with the
one proposed for Bayles Lake — but plans for Loda’s proposed sewage system remain on hold.
“(Village officials) think they have other priorities, so they’re working on those and this is in the
back burner, at this point anyway,” Martensen said.
2012, May 16, The Paxton Record reports
Loda wants out of sewer district
The Loda Village Board voted unanimously last week to place a referendum on next April’s
election ballot that would ask voters to allow the village to detach itself from the Loda Sanitary
District, a taxing body that also includes Bayles Lake.
Residents of both Bayles Lake and Loda would vote on the referendum, which if approved
would allow Loda to set up a separate sanitary district exclusively for the village, officials said.
The village board’s decision came just a few weeks after the Bayles Lake Home Owners
Association’s board of directors approved moving forward with final engineering design work
for a proposed $4.7 million sanitary sewer plant and septic system.
The sewer plant would only serve Bayles Lake, an unincorporated community west of Loda that
was notified several years ago that it is in violation of regulations regarding the discharge of
sewage into public streams.
But some Loda officials voiced concerns last week that the village could end up supporting some
of the cost of Bayles Lake’s project.
Funding for the project is likely to be made possible through user fees charged to Bayles Lake
residents, as well as potentially grants or loans sought through the sanitary district, according to
Jay Ross, the sanitary district board’s president, and Ted Jeurissen, the district’s engineer, who
both live at Bayles Lake. Ross stressed that tax increases through the sanitary district would not
be possible without a referendum or change of tax structure.
"All taxing districts are governed by taxing limits, and we are at our limit,” Ross noted.
Nonetheless, Loda residents, who have been paying taxes to support the sanitary district, wanted
to be sure their taxes would not be affected as a result of the project.
Pulling out of the sanitary district also seems like a good idea, according to some village board
members, because it would make sure that taxes paid by Loda residents would be used only for
Loda’s benefit, not Bayles Lake’s. Board member John Zalaker said there has been some
concern brought up about what benefit Loda has received by paying taxes to the sanitary district.
J.R. Ptacek, a former village board member, has created yard signs in support of Loda detaching
from the district. Ptacek said Loda taxpayers have paid more than $20,000 in property taxes to
the sanitary district over the years, but the only benefit Loda has received has been a $5,000
expense the district made when applying for a grant on the village’s behalf.
Ptacek called the proposal to detach from the district “an excellent thing for Loda.”
Ptacek noted that it would not only keep Loda taxes in the village’s control, but it would also
help the village when seeking grants if it ever pursues a sewage treatment plant of its own. That
is because Bayles Lake, a higher-income community, would never be factored into any grant
application made by the village of Loda, a lower-income community.
“The city is well-documented that it meets income requirements for these types of loans and
grants,” Ptacek said. “Whereas the Loda Sanitation District, as it stands now, may not fall under
those economic guidelines (with Bayles Lake factored in).”
Zalaker said Loda exiting the sanitary district would also simplify decisions. Right now, “it’s just
not working” having both Loda and Bayles Lake in the district together, he said.
The Loda Sanitary District’s three-member board of trustees is currently composed of two
Bayles Lake residents but only one Loda resident, giving Loda residents less of a say in the
district’s decisions, Zalaker added.
“People in Loda feel we have no voice on the board,” Zalaker said. “I’m not saying it’s a bad
thing to leave (the district) together, but we feel it would be a whole lot better to be left on our
own. To me, it just hasn’t worked like it should.”
Zalaker said the move would also give the village more “flexibility,” allowing the village to
choose its own engineers and architects for its own sanitary district. Loda would also have its
own sanitary board made up only of Loda residents.
Loda Village Board President Carol Arseneau said she supports exiting the district, with “mixed
emotions.” She said her only concern is that if Loda decides to set up its own sanitary district,
any tax money received be earmarked for an intended use.
Zalaker said the taxes paid by Loda residents to the sanitary district would remain the same if a
separate district was formed for Loda.
“Once a year they would recommend they put that money received from the taxes into a savings
account. If we do it that way, then 10 to 20 years down the road, whoever has to deal with (a
potential project) ... is going to have a little bit of money,” Zalaker said.
The sanitary district’s engineers completed a feasibility study for a proposed sewage treatment
plant for Loda a few years ago, but the $3 million plant is no longer being considered by the
village due to the unaffordable costs involved.
And Zalaker stressed that Loda has no plans currently to further pursue a sewage treatment plant
for Loda — which, unlike Bayles Lake, has not yet received notice from the Illinois
Environmental Protection Agency of the need to do so, he said.
“It’s not going to happen today or tomorrow,” Zalaker said. “Whatever we do, it’s basically
making sure that whoever is sitting here 20 years down the road will have something to work
with.”
The village board plans to schedule a public hearing on the proposal to exit the district in
upcoming months, Arseneau said.
The board plans to then file a petition with the county to have the referendum placed on the
ballot for the April 9, 2013, consolidated election. That action must be taken at least 180 days
prior to the election.
2015, April 1, Letter to all Bayles Lake Residents, From the Board of Directors
To: Bayles Lake Residents
From: Board of Directors
Date: April 1, 2015
RE: Updating the Wastewater / Sanitary Sewer Project
In 2006 the Bayles Lake Homeowners Association (BLHOA) began consulting with the
engineering firm of Berns Clancy and Associates (BCA), to help guide our homeowners
association through the complexities of upgrading our wastewater / sanitary sewer system and
bring it in line with Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) standards. The Board of
Directors (BOD) authorized a planning study with BCA, not to exceed $13,500, to evaluate the
feasibility of constructing a central wastewater / sanitary sewer facility.
For nine years, our Board of Directors has trusted BCA and their professional judgment. We
expected that their time and effort would be productive and timely as they walked us down this
path.
Why did we seek their professional help?
In September 2006 BLHOA was notified by BCA that we were in violation with the
Ford-Iroquois Counties Public Health Department; that our perimeter tile(s) that collect
the outflow of our private septic tanks violates Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
regulations. Primarily we exceed daily discharge limitations of 1,500 gallons of effluent
per day.
Since 2006 no new private disposal sewer systems have been allowed to discharge to the
perimeter tile(s), with all of the systems that have been permitted since then are dripping
treated effluent into the lake. Furthermore, only a few private sanitary sewage systems,
requiring only very minor repairs, have been allowed to remain connected to the
perimeter tile(s).
In January 2007 IEPA published a notice (NPDES Permit Number 64) concerning the
agency’s intent to begin enforcing existing regulations requiring a National Pollution
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general permit for all surface eliminating private
disposal systems discharging into the waters of the State of Illinois. In our case, those
waters are Spring Creek, our diversion channel and Bayles Lake.
BLHOA currently has five (5) homes that now drip treated effluent into the lake. New
State of Illinois Law, Section 905.20 (q) Maintenance of Private Sewage Disposal
Systems states in part:
“An aerobic treatment unit (ATU) requires evaluation and maintenance at least once every
six (6) months. The systems may be evaluated by a Private Sewage Disposal Installation
Contractor, a licensed Environmental Health Practitioner, an Illinois licensed Professional
Engineer, a representative of the Department, or an agent of the Department or local health
department. The inspection and maintenance shall be performed per the manufacturer’s
requirements to assure proper operation. If the required inspection and maintenance are not
preformed, the system is in violation of the Act and this Part.”
In the short term, because these five (5) homes drip treated effluent into the lake, through
our Rules and Regulations, the BOD is asking these residents to provide the board with a
copy of their maintenance / service contract at least once every six (6) months.
The BOD has taken the position that allowing treated effluent into Bayles Lake is not a
long term option. The public health, safety and economic risks are simply too great. The
lake is the reason we’re all here and the protection of that asset ought to be our primary
focus in this matter. In the past the BOD took the position of understanding the need to
protect the health and welfare of Bayles Lake and its homeowners while at the same time
assuming the responsibility for achieving compliance with IEPA.
BCA progress seemed minimal and at times confusing. This past fall, our BOD questioned the
cost and the pace of the project as they were being asked to sign off on bills that seemed to
provide minimal details. The BOD has asked for more information and BCA has provided us
with some addition material. We are currently waiting for the final few pieces of information.
Where do we go from here?
Our questions need answers before we can move on and our professional relationship with BCA
has deteriorated to the point where neither side is comfortable talking to each other.
In February 2014 the BOD created a Sewer Advisory Committee (SAC). Their responsibilities
are to gather information and bring their knowledge and suggestions to the BOD for discussion
and decisions. This committee will stay in place until the completion of the sewer project. The
reason for forming this committee is to retain the same people and all the knowledge they have
accumulated about the project. This will aid in bringing new board members up to speed every
year.
At our October 2014 board meeting, the BOD approved retaining an investigator to review all
the tasks that BCA has performed to date. The BOD has made a request to BCA that no further
bills should accrue until the SAC can review the nine year paper trail as to what actually was
done.
At the February 2015 board meeting, the BOD reaffirmed its desire to upgrade our wastewater /
sanitary sewer system and began to review the investigative report:
The BOD has made multiple requests for additional details; copies of all documents,
reports and work related items and we are waiting for the final pieces of information.
It appears to the SAC and BOD that materials BCA indicated were prepared for our
project were actually not specific to our project and not compatible and not cost efficient
in today’s market place.
It appears to the SAC and the BOD that we have paid BCA more money than was
initially estimated for the completed sewer project and we have not received a final
design plan for the project and BCA has requested $340,000 to complete this project.
The investigator and the SAC was asked to review the work and billing of BCA. The
investigator reported that he has been hired in the past to do forensic analysis of public
and private work projects for insurance companies and attorneys.
The investigator has compared the original fee quotes with the work that was purported to
be done and billed for. His conclusion was that the fee schedule was set up with 12 work
tasks, the first 6 originally quoted for initial plans, ours beginning 2005, 2006, 2007,
2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 with a total quoted which should have at that point produced
a final plan, should have cost $134,000 and has now cost the BLHOA in excess of
$278,000, and he found that the designs are 85% incomplete.
The investigator and the SAC are hoping to salvage the project without a lot of additional
cost to the homeowners, but the only thing that is usable going forward is the
topographical plans.
The investigator advanced the suggestion of a new generation of wastewater treatment
which offers the highest quality effluent possible on the market as being the most cost-
effective way to address the wastewater / sanitary sewer requirements.
The investigator suggested having an engineering consultant which has used the system,
produce a plan in a cost-effective manner using information from the topographical maps.
Their engineering costs are figured into the costs of the whole system with an initial
retainer for preliminary design and site work at a fee of $10,080, which will include an
estimate of construction costs.
The investigator suggests that BLHOA hire their own in-house, construction manager to
oversee the project on behalf of the homeowner’s association, with the assistance of an
environmental engineer, to complete the project in a more economical way. There has to
be a better internal checks and balance system.
The total project, including the consulting and contracting commissions, would all be part
of the total cost of the project for the purposes of obtaining a loan.
The investigator and the SAC is hoping to obtain the remaining documents, reports and
work performed by BCA so as to go forward with a system without having to re-do all of
the engineering work.
At the March 2015 Board of Directors meeting, after reviewing the investigative report relating
to work done on our wastewater / sanitary sewer project, the Board of Directors approved
terminating our professional and working relationship with Berns Clancy and Associates.
2015, June 10, “The Paxton Record” reports
After 43 years, Loda Sanitary District to be dissolved
By Will Brumleve
One thing is clear: The Loda Sanitary District is coming to an end after 43 years of serving the
village of Loda and unincorporated community of Bayles Lake.
What isn’t clear is when the dissolution will happen, and how the district’s $43,646 in funds on
hand will be distributed to the two Iroquois County communities.
The Loda Sanitary District, in existence since 1972, was formed with the intent of collecting
property taxes to help fund sanitary sewer projects for both communities. But years of efforts to
bring proposed sanitary sewage treatment plants to fruition have been unsuccessful.
With too little funds to proceed, Loda is no longer even considering a sewage treatment facility
— either in conjunction with Bayles Lake or on its own. That has left Bayles Lake independently
moving forward with its own treatment plant that would serve only its own residents.
Dissolution talks have been ongoing for a while because Loda residents think it is not fair they
are being taxed by the sanitary district when it is serving them no purpose. Another issue is that
Bayles Lake, which had been using the sanitary district to apply for grants for a proposed sewage
treatment plant, has not been able to acquire any grants through the district — and the prospects
for getting such a grant appear increasingly unlikely.
With that in mind, the sanitary district’s three-member board agreed Monday that the district
should be dissolved. The board voted unanimously to publicly state that as its goal.
“We’re talking (about dissolution) because there is no desire on the part of the village of Loda to
proceed with a (sanitary sewer) system as a part of the sanitary district,” said Loda Sanitary
District Board President Jay Ross, a Bayles Lake resident. “Meanwhile, Bayles Lake is
proceeding independently (on a sewage treatment plant of its own), and there is no grant money
that we can help them acquire, so we’re really serving no purpose.”
As a first step toward dissolution, the board directed its attorney, Bayles Lake resident Bob
Martensen, to prepare a tentative budget and appropriation ordinance for this fiscal year that
would allocate about $5,000 of the $43,646 in funds on hand for “administrative costs”
associated with the legal steps of dissolving the district.
The remaining $38,000-plus will be budgeted with the intent of distributing those funds between
Loda and Bayles Lake.
The board set a meeting for 5 p.m. June 15 at the Loda firehouse for the purpose of approving
the tentative budget. A final budget will be approved before the end of July, after public notices
are published in local newspapers.
Martensen had suggested to the board that the funds on hand be “brought down to a small,
reasonable sum” — perhaps something like $5,000 — and that the board figure out a way to
fairly distribute the rest of the money between Loda and Bayles Lake through intergovernmental
agreements. Martensen said he would prefer that all of that happen before the sanitary district
board files a petition in Iroquois County Circuit Court seeking to dissolve the district.
“I’d just assume that the board come to an agreement that everyone can live with and spend this
money down to, say, $5,000 ... as opposed to telling the judge we’ve got $40,000,” Martensen
told the board. “I don’t want to go up there (to court) and have somebody from the village of
Loda say, ‘We need $10,000 more,’ and I don’t want somebody from Bayles Lake saying, ‘We
want $10,000 more.’ I want all that to be resolved before we go up there.”
According to Martensen, in order for the board to file the petition, the Sanitary District Act of
1917 requires a sanitary district to have no outstanding and unpaid revenue bonds, have a
population of fewer than 5,000, and have an intergovernmental agreement entered into “with a
municipality for the mutual expenditure of funds in joint work and for the transfer of assets under
the Municipality and Sanitary District Mutual Expenditures Act.”
Martensen said the sanitary district meets the first two criteria and needs to come to an
agreement with Loda and Bayles Lake on a fair way to divide the funds on hand to meet the third
one.
The Sanitary District Act of 1917 only mentions the requirement of having an intergovernmental
agreement with a “municipality” — such as Loda. It does not say an intergovernmental
agreement is required or even allowed for a nonprofit corporation such as Bayles Lake.
However, Martensen said the Illinois Constitution explicitly allows for intergovernmental
agreements with nonprofit entities, so it will be legal for the sanitary district to divide its funds
between both communities.
Ellen Lee, an attorney representing the Bayles Lake Home Owners Association, asked Martensen
if it was the sanitary district’s intent to divide the funds between each community based
proportionately on their tax support to the district.
That means Loda, with a lower population, would receive less money than Bayles Lake.
“That’s what these three guys get paid the big bucks for,” Martensen said, referring to the
sanitary district board. “But my guess is they’d say, ‘yes.’”
Ross said the sanitary district board intends to do “this as fairly as we can possibly do within the
laws as it’s understood.”
Meanwhile, J.R. Ptacek, a Loda resident, disagreed with the board’s intentions. Ptacek urged the
board to instead put all of the money into a CD account and then have a judge decide which
community gets what.
“Don’t spend this money. I am asking you, ‘Don’t spend this money,” Ptacek told the board.
Martensen said that if the district distributes the money to the two communities, “the only strings
put on it is it must be used for sanitary purposes.”
“We will not give them one dime to spend on roads; we will not give them one dime to spend on
a water system; we will enter into an agreement with them to distribute money to them to spend
for sanitary purposes,” Martensen said.
Martensen and the sanitary district board stressed that the dissolution process will likely take
some time and that there is no rush to move forward because no taxes are being collected
anymore on behalf of the district.
When filing the required petition in court, the district will need to state its reasons for dissolving
the district; state that no debts of the district are outstanding or that there are sufficient funds on
hand to satisfy those debts; state that no contract or federal or state permit or grant will be
impaired by the dissolution of the district; state that all assets and responsibilities of the district
have been assigned to the “successor municipality”; and state that the district will pay any and all
court costs incurred in connection with the petition.
“Once the petition is filed, the judge will determine what kind of notice of the hearing on the
petition should be given, and any notices given must include the Illinois Environmental
Protection Agency,” Martensen explained. “A hearing is then held to determine whether or not
the district should be dissolved.”
The Loda Village Board is expected to discuss the impending dissolution further during its
monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 10, at Village Hall. The meeting is open to the
public.
2015, June 17, “The Paxton Record” reports
Loda Sanitary District to divide funds between Bayles Lake, Loda
By Will Brumleve
Before it is dissolved, the Loda Sanitary District plans to divide most of its $44,271 in funds on
hand between the village of Loda and unincorporated community of Bayles Lake.
The sanitary district’s three-member board voted unanimously Monday to approve a tentative
combined budget and appropriation ordinance for the fiscal year that runs from May 1, 2015,
through April 30, 2016 — which is expected to be the district’s last.
The budget shows $44,271 in total expenditures, including $7,500 for the compensation of the
district’s trustees and attorney, $600 for printing and publication expenses, and the rest —
$36,171 — for “sewer capital projects.”
Of the $36,171, the budget shows $7,823 for sewer projects in Loda and $28,347 for sewer
projects in Bayles Lake — the two communities that make up the district. The sanitary district’s
attorney, Bob Martensen, said those numbers reflect the amount the district would be giving to
each community — to be used exclusively on sanitary sewer projects — prior to the district’s
dissolution.
Martensen said the proposed distributions are based on the property tax support each community
has provided the district in the past. According to Martensen, the total assessed valuation of the
sanitary district was $16.1 million in 2013, and Loda’s total assessed valuation was $3.48
million.
By subtracting Loda’s assessed value from the districts, Martensen said, Bayles Lake has an
“assumed” assessed valuation of $12.6 million.
That means Loda’s assessed value makes up 21.6 percent of the district, while Bayles Lake’s
makes up 78 percent.
The tentative budget and appropriations ordinance will be put on public display for 30 days.
Then, a hearing will be held at 5:30 p.m. on either July 20 or July 27. The final ordinance will
then be approved.
Martensen stressed to Loda and Bayles Lake officials in attendance Monday that the money each
community receives must not be used for any purpose other than what the sanitary district had
originally levied taxes for. Prior to its dissolution, the sanitary district intends to enter into
intergovernmental agreements with Loda and Bayles Lake stating that the funds can only be used
for sanitary sewer purposes.
“As I pointed out at the last meeting, this is not for road purposes; this is for sewer projects,”
Martensen said.
Martensen asked Loda officials to think about what sewer-related project they would pursue with
the $7,823 the village would receive.
“We would like to know what the plan is,” Martensen said.
“Right off the top of our head, I don’t know that we have a sewer project (in mind),” said Loda
Village Board member Jon Boone. “But we can do it; I’m sure we can do it.”
Meanwhile, Loda resident J.R. Ptacek argued that only Loda should receive any of the sanitary
district’s funds — not Bayles Lake. Ptacek noted that the Sanitary District Act of 1917 — the
state law governing the district’s dissolution — only mentions the requirement of having an
intergovernmental agreement with a “municipality,” such as Loda. It does not say an
intergovernmental agreement is required or even allowed for a nonprofit corporation such as
Bayles Lake.
However, Martensen said the Illinois Constitution explicitly allows for intergovernmental
agreements with nonprofit entities, so it will be legal for the sanitary district to divide its funds
between both communities.
Loda Sanitary District Vice President Warren Hamby stressed that everything will be done
legally.
“It’s all going to be legal,” Hamby told Ptacek. “I don’t care what you say. It’s going to be legal.
Understand that. Get it through your head. It’s going to be by the laws of the state of Illinois, not
by what you think are the laws of Illinois.”
Meanwhile, at last week’s Loda Village Board meeting, Ptacek claimed the taxes collected from
Loda residents to support the sanitary district have never been used for Loda’s benefit — only
Bayles Lake’s.
“Since 2006, this village has given over $4,000 a year to that entity,” Ptacek said. “That entity
has spent zero dollars in Loda. So I wouldn’t feel bad whatsoever about taking that $40,000 from
them.
“They took $25 a year from me. I’ll never see it again, but I’d like the whole city to get that and
spend it on anything you want.”
Ptacek asked Loda’s attorney, Dale Strough, whether the sanitary district would legally be
allowed to give money to Bayles Lake, since it is not a municipality.
“I do have some experience on such matters,” Strough said, noting he represented the
Chebanse/Clifton Sanitary District when it dissolved and divided its assets between Clifton and
Chebanse proportionately.
Strough, however, said he did not immediately know the answer to Ptacek’s question.
“Before I give a formal opinion on that, I would have to check out (the law),” Strough said.
The Loda Sanitary District voted last week to move forward with dissolving the district. The
district was formed in 1972 to assist Loda and Bayles Lake with pursuing sanitary sewer
projects.
“We’re talking (about dissolution) because there is no desire on the part of the village of Loda to
proceed with a (sanitary sewer) system as a part of the sanitary district,” Loda Sanitary District
Board President Jay Ross, a Bayles Lake resident, said last week. “Meanwhile, Bayles Lake is
proceeding independently (on a sewage treatment plant of its own), and there is no grant money
that we can help them acquire, so we’re really serving no purpose.”
2015, August 19, “The Paxton Record” reports
Loda man continues to argue district can't give Bayles Lake any money By Will Brumleve
The Loda Sanitary District’s three-member board still intends to divide its remaining funds on
hand, whenever it dissolves, between the village of Loda and unincorporated community of
Bayles Lake — despite a Loda resident’s contention that the village legally is entitled to all of
that money.
The board on Monday restated its intention to split all but about $8,000 of its $44,271 in funds
on hand between the two entities that make up the district, with Loda receiving 21 percent, or
$7,823, and Bayles Lake getting 78 percent, or $28,347, based on the amount of property taxes
each has contributed to the district.
Meanwhile, Loda resident J.R. Ptacek continued to argue, as he has done in past meetings, that
only Loda should receive any of the sanitary district’s funds — not Bayles Lake.
Ptacek noted that the Sanitary District Act of 1917 — the state law governing the district’s
dissolution — only mentions the requirement of having an intergovernmental agreement with a
“municipality,” such as Loda. It does not say an intergovernmental agreement is required or even
allowed for a nonprofit corporation such as Bayles Lake.
“You are bound by these laws,” Ptacek told the board. “I’m sure a judge will decide that the
$40,000 should go to the village.”
However, sanitary district attorney Bob Martensen said Monday that the Illinois Constitution
explicitly allows for intergovernmental agreements with nonprofit entities, so it would be legal
for the sanitary district to divide its funds between both communities through intergovernmental
agreements.
Martensen’s opinion differs, however, from attorney Ross Sorensen, a partner in Martensen’s
law firm who filled in for Martensen at a sanitary district board meeting last month. Sorensen
told the board that he belives the district cannot write checks directly to Bayles Lake because it is
not a “municipality,” and that it can only write a check and execute an agreement with Loda.
As a possible solution to the issue, Sorensen suggested Bayles Lake provide its bills to the
district and allow the district to pay them. Sorensen also suggested Loda and Bayles Lake discuss
coming up with an amicable split of the remaining monies.
Meanwhile, Loda village board members indicated last week that they felt a judge should decide
how the funds are split, not the Loda Sanitary District board.
According to officials at Monday’s meeting, Loda’s attorney, Dale Strough of Watseka, said the
village board still needs to vote on a resolution to direct him to start working on the legal matter
through “billable hours.” The board, however, did not vote to do so at last week’s meeting.
Because Strough was not present Monday, and nor was Bayles Lake’s attorney, Ellen Lee, the
sanitary district board tabled further discussion on the dissolution process until its next meeting,
which has yet to be scheduled.
In the meantime, Martensen was directed by the sanitary district board to contact Strough to
discuss the matter. Strough will be asked to attend the next sanitary district board meeting, as
well.
The Loda Sanitary District voted earlier this year to move forward with dissolving the district,
which was formed in 1972 to assist Loda and Bayles Lake with pursuing sanitary sewer projects.
“We’re talking (about dissolution) because there is no desire on the part of the village of Loda to
proceed with a (sanitary sewer) system as a part of the sanitary district,” Loda Sanitary District
Board President Jay Ross, a Bayles Lake resident, said. “Meanwhile, Bayles Lake is proceeding
independently (on a sewage treatment plant of its own), and there is no grant money that we can
help them acquire, so we’re really serving no purpose.”
Other business Also at Monday’s meeting:
— The sanitary district board voted 3-0 to not pay a $5,061 bill from the Illinois Environmental
Protection Agency (IEPA). The bill, due Aug. 10, represents a renewal fee for Bayles Lake’s
NPDES permit, Martensen said. Bayles Lake officials said the bill appears to have been sent in
error. They explained that about a year ago, Bayles Lake received a $2,500 bill from the IEPA,
and they were later told the bill was sent out “prematurely.” Earlier this year, Bayles Lake
received another $2,500 bill. But the fees charged to Bayles Lake do not seem to apply to the
community. “The permit is for a municipality that generates 100,000 to 500,000 gallons per day
of water discharge use,” Bayles Lake resident James Clarage said. “We have documentation that
Bayles Lake uses only 41,000 gallons per day.” Bayles Lake Homeowners Association Board
President Nick Schuit said a former engineer for the village applied for the permit and told
Bayles Lake officials it needed to be done. Schuit said the permit “never should have been
applied for.” Bayles Lake officials said they would like to work with the sanitary district board to
get the fees “thrown out.” They asked the sanitary district board to not pay the bill until the
correct usage amounts can be established through research.
2016, June 16, “The Ford County Record” reports:
Loda man: It’s illegal to give Bayles Lake any of district’s funds By Will Brumleve
A Loda resident Monday night questioned the legality of the Loda Sanitary District board’s plans
to help pay engineering fees for a proposed sanitary sewer system that would exclusively serve
the Bayles Lake Home Owners Association.
J.R. Ptacek repeatedly asked the sanitary district board’s attorney, Bob Martensen, a Bayles Lake
resident, which section of the Sanitary District Act of 1917, under which the district was created,
allows the district to give money to an unincorporated community like Bayles Lake.
Ptacek’s question was preceded by the board’s approval of a tentative combined budget and
appropriation ordinance for the fiscal year that runs from May 1, 2016, through April 30, 2017.
The budget shows $44,874 in potential expenses, including $9,705 allotted for sewer-related
capital projects in Loda and $35,168 for Bayles Lake — the two communities that comprise the
sanitary district.
The board discussed the possibility of using some of the funds budgeted for Bayles Lake to help
that community pay for engineering expenses incurred in applying for a permit from the Illinois
Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) for a proposed sanitary sewer system. A proposed
contract requiring the sanitary district to reimburse the homeowners association had been listed
on Monday’s agenda for approval, but Bayles Lake was not quite ready to move forward.
Meanwhile, Ptacek contended that the district cannot legally give money to Bayles Lake, but
only Loda, because Bayles Lake is not a municipality.
The sanitary district board, however, said it is not only legal but is the fair thing to do. Although
the proposed division of the budgeted funds is not equal — with 79 percent of the expenses
allotted for Bayles Lake and only 21 percent for Loda — it is equitable, board members said,
since the percentages are based on the amount of property taxes each community has paid to
support the district.
Ptacek disagreed.
“That money is not yours to give away,” Ptacek said. “This 80/20 thing is a fallacy. It actually
sounds like you’re trying to get around the intergovernmental agreement of the (Sanitary
District) Act by paying (Bayles Lake’s) bills.”
Martensen responded by noting that the district was created 44 years ago to assist with the
sanitary sewer needs of both Bayles Lake and Loda — and it will continue to fulfill its mission
until the day it is dissolved.
The dissolution of the district remains a possibility in the future. A year ago, the district’s three-
member board agreed that the district should be dissolved, as it voted unanimously to publicly
state that as its goal.
The sanitary district board’s president, Jay Ross of Bayles Lake, said the dissolution talks are
currently “in limbo.”
If dissolution ends up occurring, the remaining funds on hand would be distributed between
Loda and Bayles Lake based on each community’s assessed valuation. Martensen has suggested
to the board that the funds on hand be “brought down to a small, reasonable sum” — perhaps
something like $5,000 — and that the board figure out a way to fairly distribute the rest through
intergovernmental agreements. Martensen said he would prefer that all of that happen before the
sanitary district board files a petition in Iroquois County Circuit Court seeking to dissolve the
district.
Ptacek thinks Loda is entitled to all of the remaining funds, since the Sanitary District Act of
1917 only mentions the requirement of having an intergovernmental agreement with a
“municipality,” such as Loda. It does not say an intergovernmental agreement is required or even
allowed for a nonprofit corporation such as Bayles Lake.
However, Martensen said the Illinois Constitution explicitly allows for intergovernmental
agreements with nonprofit entities, so it would be legal for the sanitary district to divide its funds
between both communities.
“If you think that the people of the village of Loda think that they are going to get $30,000 that’s
been paid (to the district) by Bayles Lake to be put into the treasury of the village of Loda,
you’ve got another thing coming,” Martensen told Ptacek.
“I’m saying it’s the law,” Ptacek responded. “You’ve got to follow the law.”
Ross told Ptacek the board would consider his opinion.
“We will take your comments seriously. We will consider your opinion, (although) it doesn’t
have to prevail,” Ross said.
Responded Ptacek: “Just know that if what they’re doing is not the letter of the law, when it
comes to dissolution time, the Bayles Lake Home Owners Association is going to cut a check to
the village of Loda to make up for the shortfall that they are (responsible for). Everybody, do the
proper thing.”
“We intend to do the proper thing,” Ross responded. “We’ve never tried to do anything else.”
In response to Ptacek’s concerns that Loda has seen little benefit from belonging to the sanitary
district, Ed Killen, representing Bayles Lake, noted that the district has not just spent money on
Bayles Lake, but also Loda.
“The village of Loda was given $6,000 to apply for a grant,” Killen said. “It was approved by the
same three people who have been on this board for a long time, and there was no gripe by Bayles
Lake.
“If that was legal and within the law, what’s on the table now surely has to be within the law.”
Budget up for vote in July The board voted 2-0, with board member Alan Johnson absent, to approve the tentative
combined budget and appropriation ordinance.
The ordinance will be put on public display for 30 days, as legally required, prior to a public
hearing being held at 5:15 p.m. Monday, July 25, at the Loda firehouse. Immediately after the
hearing, a final combined budget and appropriation ordinance will be up for approval.
New member to be appointed The board also voted 2-0 to accept the resignation of Johnson. Johnson was forced to give up his
position because he moved from Loda to outside of the district’s boundaries.
Board member Warren Hamby immediately made a motion to recommend that the Iroquois
County Board appoint former Loda Village Board president Ron Dudley as Johnson’s
replacement on the sanitary district board.
But before Ross could second Hamby’s motion, Loda Village Board President Carol Arseneau
asked that Loda resident Paula Rossow also be considered for the position.
Rossow has lived in Loda for 3 1/2 years and “is very up on things” in the community, as she has
attended all of the village board’s meetings since she arrived in town, Arseneau said.
Ross asked Rossow about her qualifications for the position.
“Apart from being committed to the village of Loda and its interests and trying to follow
everything, I have the time (to serve), being retired, and I’m interested in this,” Rossow said.
“I’m not coming in with some kind of agenda other than representing the village of Loda to
whatever extent necessary.”
Martensen asked Dudley and Rossow to each submit to him a letter outlining why they would be
a good fit for the trustee seat. Martensen said he would forward the letters to the county board for
its consideration. The county board is expected to vote on the appointment at its July meeting.
2016, November 8, “The Ford County Record” reports:
Loda Sanitary District to reimburse Bayles Lake $23,242 for project
By Will Brumleve
The Loda Sanitary District board approved Monday reimbursing the Bayles Lake Homeowners
Association a portion of the $95,000 in costs it expects to incur to televise and clean its sanitary
sewer lines.
The $23,242 reimbursement will come out of funds allotted specifically for sewer-related capital
projects in Bayles Lake. Of the sanitary district’s $41,144 in cash on hand, about $32,000 is
budgeted for projects in Bayles Lake, while the rest — about $9,000 — is allotted for potential
sewer-related capital projects in the village of Loda.
“All of this money that is paid out will come out of the ‘Bayles Lake’ column (in the budget),”
said the sanitary district’s attorney, Bob Martensen.
That will leave about $9,000 available in the sanitary district’s budget for use on Bayles Lake
projects in the future. Loda, meanwhile, is still trying to figure out a way to spend its allotted
amount on an eligible sewer-related project.
Once the remaining funds are exhausted, the sanitary district board intends to dissolve the
district, which was formed in 1972 and comprises Bayles Lake and Loda.
The board’s president, Jay Ross, said Bayles Lake is pursuing the cleaning and televising of its
main sanitary sewer lines in preparation for moving forward with the construction of a sanitary
sewage treatment plant that would exclusively serve Bayles Lake. Bayles Lake would be solely
responsible for funding the construction of the proposed treatment plant, Ross noted.
Martensen said the work that is expected to be completed this fall will help Bayles Lake
determine “the cheapest way to do it.” It will help answer questions such as, “Do you put in a
whole new (sewer) line around Bayles Lake, or do you repair the existing line that is there, etc.?”
Martensen said.
“So this is preliminary to engineering and (determining) what’s the next step,” Martensen said.
“We hope to do the televising so we can see what’s going on underground so we can see the
problem spots, get those fixed, and eventually put a filtration system in down the road
somewhere,” said Nick Schuit, president of the Bayles Lake board.
Martensen said the sanitary district will provide the $23,242 in reimbursement to Bayles Lake
only after the contractor doing the work — Peoria-based Hoerr Construction Inc. — completes it,
Bayles Lake’s board signs off on it, and Bayles Lake submits a written request for payment to
the sanitary district board.
Under the terms of Bayles Lake’s contract with Hoerr Construction, the firm has agreed to
complete the project by Dec. 21. The contractor was expected to formally start the project on
Nov. 1, but delays have occurred, according to Schuit.
Martensen said Bayles Lake will be responsible for making sure the work is done according to
plan, not the sanitary district.
“We don’t inspect; we don’t supervise; we just care that the work gets done,” Martensen said.
Once the work is done, the sanitary district board will call a meeting to authorize payment of the
reimbursable costs, Ross said.
Meanwhile, Loda resident J.R. Ptacek questioned the legality of the sanitary district giving any
of its money to Bayles Lake, a nonprofit corporation. Ptacek claims the district cannot legally
give money to Bayles Lake, but only Loda, because Bayles Lake is not a municipality. Ptacek
contends that under the Sanitary District Act of 1917 — the state law that was used to form the
Loda Sanitary District — the only legal option the board has is for it to give all of its remaining
funds to Loda.
Martensen, however, has said that the Illinois Constitution explicitly allows for
intergovernmental agreements with nonprofit entities, so it is legal for the district to divide its
funds between both communities.
The proposed division of the budgeted funds — with 79 percent of the expenses allotted for
Bayles Lake and 21 percent for Loda — is based on the amount of property taxes each
community has historically paid to support the district. The amounts are not equal, but they are
equitable, sanitary district board members said.
“It’s a simple effort to try and be fair,” said Ross said last summer.
With dissolution of the district seemingly imminent, the board has agreed to not levy any
property taxes this year. It is the second year in a row that the board has opted not to have a tax
levy to support its operation.
The tax levy was eliminated over concerns, mainly from Loda residents, about what benefit they
are getting out of the district. Most of the tax revenue paid into the district over the years has
been used to assist Bayles Lake, not Loda, some have complained.
OTHER NOTES
2015, August 23, “The News-Gazette, The Answer Book” reports
Article by Will Brumleve
Welcome to Loda…Addison Goodell, born in Ohio in 1822, Addison Goodell moved to Loda in
1855, ten years after the town had been platted and became a successful banker and investor. In
1861, the stalwart Republican-a supporter of President Abraham Lincoln-was elected as a state
representative. In 1870, Goodell was chosen a member of the Illinois Constitutional Convention
and took an active role in framing the state’s constitution. He also was deeply interested in
churches, schools and other public interests in Loda and generously contributed to them.
Goodell continued to be active in the banking business until his death in 1903. “It is safe to say
that no man in Loda ever held the place in the hearts of his fellow citizens that Addison Goodell
did, and wherever he was known he was not only honored and respected but loved, as well,”
reads a chapter about Goodell in the 1907 book “Past and Present of Iroquois County, Illinois.”
Historical Note: The Past… The Distillery Closes in 1869.
The closure-for its failure to pay the government a million dollars in back revenue-was a blow to
the small Iroquois County village that had prospered during the Civil War era. “Nothing like
that distillery has been seen in Loda since those days,” News-Gazette staff writer Harold E.
Hutchings wrote in a 1930 story. “It was a monstrous establishment with its low, wooden
buildings scattered over an enormous tract of land southwest of the present village. Morning
after morning, just as the smoke began to roll from its many stacks, workmen could be seen
making their way across the fields to “the brewery.”
The distillery, which opened in 1858 or 1859, employed about 100 men. It was owned by three
brothers-Frank, William and Archie Leckey. Frank, the eldest brother, died in an accident at the
distillery. “Rumor got busy in the little Loda community when government officials from
Washington one day came with padlocks and fastened the brewery buildings forever.” Hutching
wrote. “The rumors explained, in their inaccurate way, that less revenue had been paid than
should have been because of a ruse of the brewery owners…however this might be, it is
generally conceded that almost a million dollars in back revenue was due the government when
they finally closed the brewery and put a watchman over it.”
Then, just after midnight in 1869, the brewery, which had remained idle for the previous two
years, caught fire and burned to the ground. “That was the final blow for Loda’s hopes to
become a large industrial city.” Hutchings wrote.
Town of Bairdton July 17, 2014
The town of Bairdton was plated in 1856. (Loda was plated in 1854.) Plat recorded July 21,
1856, Book “I” of Deeds, Page 703. Towns like Bairdton were known as “paper towns”
because, to start with, they only existed on paper. The land or railroad surveyors would plat out
towns and then investors like banks, railroad executives or other prospective land speculators
would travel to Chicago or out east and try to line up town investors. Detailed and colorful
stories, maps and drawings depicting these paradise destinations were early marketing and
advertising ploys to entice investors. These were competitive efforts and failure to line up
financial support meant the demise of these “paper towns”.
I am not sure where the name Baird or Bairdton comes from. Also called Baird Town or Town
of Bairdton.
Bairdton was plated south- southwest of Loda, with Washington Street, extending to the west,
serving as the northern boundary and Franklin Street, extending to the south, serving as the
eastern boundary. The town was plated south and west of Washington Street and Franklin
Street.
I presume this area would have included parts of Spring Creek, Interstate 57, south of the
overpass, and extended into the area of the south lake of Bayles Lake and Lakeview Country
Club.
On the copy of the Town of Bairdton map that I got from the Iroquois County Recorder’s Office,
the civil engineers and surveyors laid out a typical town of 36 sections.
East/West Streets (going north to south)
Washington
Henry
Webster
Marshall
Clay
Hancock
Carrol
North/South Streets (going east to west)
Franklin
Adams
Jefferson
Madison
Monroe
Jackson
Harrison
Description of the Town of Bairdton, from the Iroquois County Recorder’s Office Plat:
Block #18 is donated to the inhabitants of Bairdton for purpose there in expressed. (Cemetery)
N ½ Block #14 is donated for Courthouse or if no Courthouse is built for a Public Square.
S ½ Block #23 is donated as a sight for a College or Schools.
Lot 8 Block 36 is donated as a sight for a Baptist Church.
Lot 4 Block 2 is donated as a sight for a Methodist Church.
Lot 4 Block 17 is donated as a sight for a Presbyterian Church.
Lot 8 Block 21 is donated as a sight for a Episcopalian Church.
It must be distinctly understood that the Lots or Blocks herein donated and given are to be used
for the express purpose designated and none other; and if not used are to revert back to the
proprietor.
The proprietor reserves for his own use and benefit all the trees and timber necessary to be
removed to beautify the town, the streets and alleys.
Signed ????
Civil Eng. & Surveyor, Loda ????
1954, June 25, The Loda Times / Paxton Record reports
“Establish Sausage Factory in Loda”
Expect to be under production by September 1st
When September 1st rolls around the first Hungarian Salami ever made in the United States will
be on the market, the product of A.L. Riha and Company of Loda, IL.
Mr. Riha, who brought with him to this country the secret of proper use of spices to make this
premium salami, has the “know-how” (and worked) for years in the old country. For it was there
in Yugoslavia that he had his own sausage factory until Marshal Tito came along and
appropriated it.
Escaped With Life
Riha escaped with his life from a concentration camp, his reward for having property and a
thriving factory. Coming to the U.S. as a displaced person his desire was to start up a sausage
factory here.
The opportunity came when he met Mrs. Mary Lupatin of Cleveland, Ohio. They formed a
partnership and the plant now under construction in the former site of the Loda Café, is the home
of the A. L. Riha and Company Sausage Factory.
Originally they planned to start a plant in Waterloo, IA., but found they had interstate licensing
complications. So they moved to Loda and plan to use the Chicago marker primarily.
Install Large Cooler
Thus far they have installed a 13 by 32-foot cooler and have constructed a partition across the
front of the former restaurant building. All in all they expect it will be another two months
before they will be ready to roll into production.
Visiting Mrs. Lupatin and helping get the factory in readiness this summer is one son Raymond,
20, who will start his junior year at Ohio State University this fall; Albert, 18, who will complete
his last year in high school at Waterloo this fall and one daughter, Mrs. Leona Britt, and two
other children.
(Needless to say everyone in the community wishes the new concern the best of success in their
venture. Ed. Note)