Final details on implementing the three and a half-year-old driving range agreement between the Seven Lakes Landowners Association [SLLA] and Seven Lakes Country Club [SLCC] may be resolved by the end of the year, with attorneys from both sides meeting during Thanksgiving week to work out a few remaining differences.
“We’re very, very close to the covenants being finished and agreed upon,” President Randy Zielsdorf reported at the SLLA Open Meeting on Wednesday, November 17.
As the only current Board member who participated in the contentious 4-3 split vote that approved the agreement in July 2007, Zielsdorf has indicated his interest in seeing the matter finally put to rest.
Prompted by the SLCC’s desire to sell the old driving range for residential development, the agreement lays out five bullet points concerning the future use of the five acre tract and the Club's other landholdings.
Specifically, the agreement:
• Gave the Club the right to draft its own covenants limiting the use of all its property to golf course and country club operations, with review and approval by the SLLA attorney;
• Granted the Association a ten-foot easement along Seven Lakes Drive to be written by the SLLA attorney;
• Required the Country Club to provide sufficient land for at least five additional parking spaces at the Southside Mail House;
• Subjected any future residential development of Country Club property to the Southside Covenants; and
• Allowed for construction of up to fourteen residential units on the old driving range property, with the SLLA pledging to work with any developer of the property "in an open, efficient and cooperative fashion."
In addition to final review and approval of the covenants, Zielsdorf said other outstanding issues under discussion between the SLCC and SLLA attorneys included a request by the Club that the extra land for extra mailhouse parking spaces revert to the Club if, at some point, the Associaiton no longer needs the extra parking. The attorneys are also working to clarify the final sentence of the original agreement, which states the Association will work with a proposed future developer of the old driving range in an open, efficient, and cooperative fashion.
“What is open? What is cooperative?” asked Zielsdorf. “It’s open to interpretation, so we’ve asked both attorneys to get together to draft a letter of understanding to be an addendum to the original agreement.”
Directors wanted -- no experience necessary
Four seats will be open for election on the SLLA Board this Spring ; and, with few candidates showing interest thus far, SLLA Nominating Committee Chair Melinda Scott is concerned about voter interest and turnout.
“I want residents to understand how important this process is," Scott said. "Voting in landowners elections is typically low, and that is unacceptable."
"We have a community that is changing rapidly, and your input and feedback is so import to what this Board does in the future,” she continued. She said Seven Lakes is increasingly diverse, but many residents are looking for an enhanced feeling of community.
Scott reported that the Nominating Committee is developing a survey that touches on "big picture" questions, such as, “Where do you envision the community in five years?” and, “What are the top three priority issues you see facing the community, and what does the Board have to do to effectively address those concerns?”
The survey has been emailed to residents and is also available at the office and in the mail houses; it should be retuned by December 13.
In addition to feedback, Scott said she he hopes it will spur potential Board candidates to throw their hats in the ring.
“I want people to come forward who are really interested in the betterment of community," she said. "Some feel the need to identify specific qualifications to serve, but I feel that is an exclusive policy and could exclude people that are more than qualified.”
“If you possess an open mind and enjoy being a member of problem-solving team, that is all the qualifications you need to have. This is a team process. We all have a voice and say in the decisions, and this needs to occur in a cooperative and respectful manner.”
If you are interested in learning more or would like to nominate someone as a candidate to the Association Board, please contact the SLLA office at 673-4931.
Vicious dogs
The SLLA Judicial Panel on Thursday, November 18, heard the complaint against the owner of two pit bull terriers that were declared vicious by Moore County Animal Control following an attack on another resident’s pet. However, the outcome of that hearing has not yet been made public.
“I have been in communication with Animal Control, and they have been in contact with the animal owners, and the Association is currently working to have the matter resolved,” reported SLLA Community Manager Alina Cochran at the Open Meeting. In a telephone interview with The Times on Monday, November 22, Cochran said an announcement would be forthcoming.
Residents are urged to always report animal attacks -- of both persons and other animals.
“Animal Control cannot enforce our rules, only North Carolina laws,"said Security Director Chuck Mims. "But they do wish to be notified of any attacks or bites. We were told at our last Board meeting of four instances of these dogs attacking, but only two were on file.”
If the two additional alleged attacks had been on file, Animal Control could have legally removed the pit bulls from the home under the county’s "three strikes you’re out" policy. As written, the Moore County Animal Ordinance allows vicious dogs that have been involved in only one or two reported attacks to be kept under restricted conditions; however, SLLA regulations are stricter, and explicitly prohibit keeping vicious dogs.
“If you witness an animal attack then you should call the incident in and not wait for the Association to do it,” said Cochran. “The office can then obtain the report from Animal Control.”
Moore County Animal Control can be reached at 910-947-2858.
Roving Security
Roving Security officer Steve McVey has been notably absent from his position following a late night altercation in early October with a driver involved in a single-vehicle crash on Echo Dam.
According to the police report, nineteen-year old Jonathan Buell, of Asheboro, ran off the road and struck a guardrail on Firetree Lane at Echo Dam. McVey told officers that Buell was verbally abusive when he arrived and attempted to leave the scene. McVey pursued him, and the incident escalated when Buell removed his belt and began swinging it as a weapon. McVey said he defended himself, striking Buell once in the head with a heavy MagLite type flashlight, before handcuffing him.
As a result of Buell's injuries, charges were filed against McVey.
During public comment, Northsider Pearl Keene pushed the Board for answers.
“The security guard was discharged for doing his job -- why?” Keene asked.
However, both Cochran and Zielsdorf refused to answer, citing that the incident was a personnel issue with personal information involved that could not be disclosed.
Finance
In what he called a sign of the times, Treasurer Denny Galford expressed concern about some properties in the Seven Lakes area that may be financed beyond their value and said more foreclosures are anticipated.
“We will need to discuss how the Board can best protect the interests of the community,” said Galford.
In addition, he that reported that the Finance Committee had discussed the paving project and is reviewing a question brought up by Manager Cochran related to the soil base analysis.
Looking forward, Galford said the committee is revising the SLLA registration form with an eye toward simplifying and expediting the annual process.
“We would like to mail the registration form to members in February and have them returned directly to the office with information completed. Then, in March, we will have the annual meeting statement of dues going out,” Galford said, noting that payments made directly to the lock box will eliminate long waits at the office and reduce the administrative workload.
Galford anticipated the Fiscal Year 2011-2012 Budget would be ready for Board review in January and approved in mid-February.
Infrastructure
Offering a quick summation of the completed Reserve Study, Director Bud Shaver said that reviewing and implementing the long range plan is an extremely critical process for the future of the community and should be of particular interest to the younger residents, who may still be living here twenty years from now.
A comprehensive presentation of the Reserve Study results will be scheduled for a future meeting.
Community Standards
Director Kent Droppers reported that the Community Standards Committee is continuing work on a backlog of violations, but that progress has been made. Eight unresolved issues were sent to Judicial Panel this month. In addition, the committee is also clarifying language on rules concerning commercial vehicles within the gates.
He thanked The Times for front page coverage of the "Neighbors helping Neighbors" clean-up effort held on October 2, and encouraged interested residents to contact him or call the office for more information on joining the Community Standards Committee.
Recreation
The kids' Halloween Party brought in a record crowd this year, reported Director Bruce Keyser, Jr., thanking the Recreation Committee for their dedicated efforts. Painted pumpkin crafts, games, music, and refreshments kept lots of little goblins busy. Keyser thanked Seven Lakes EMS for a donation of safety glo-sticks and Martha Gentry’s ReMax Prime Properties for providing goodie bags of treats.
Santa is headed to Seven Lakes on Friday, December 17, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the North Clubhouse. Good little boys and girls are cordially invited to join Santa for cookies and milk, plus fun games and crafts in the holiday spirit. Keyser thanked the Women of Seven Lakes for their generous annual donation to this event.
Elves and other volunteers are needed to help decorate at 9:00 am on December 17, and also to serve refreshments from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Please call Laura Douglass at 673-1817 or the SLLA office at 673-4931 for more information.
Keyser reported that a good response was received for the Recreation Survey distributed last month. Recreation Committee member Bob Racine is tallying results and Keyser will offer a formal report to the Board at a later date.
Also under recreation, Cochran reported that new pool fencing regulations will require some modifications to the existing facility, in particular, a requirement to install self-closing and latching doors between the North Clubhouse and pool.
