Stickers? Barcodes? Hangtags?
How best to move residents of Seven Lakes North and South through the gates of Seven Lakes West was a topic of debate at the Tuesday, June 14 meeting of the Seven Lakes West Landowners Association [SLWLA] Board of Directors.
The West Side's Safety and Security Director Jim McCarthy and Community Manager Joan Frost, who had met with representatives of the Seven Lakes Landowners Association [SLLA] to discuss options, proposed issuing special windshield stickers to SLLA and SLWLA members who want easy access through the gates of the other community. However, it was clear during Tuesday’s meeting that the SLWLA Board would like to move towards a barcode-only entry system system for non-residents.
McCarthy told The Times that he thought using the special decals to allow North- and South-side residents to enter the community was all worked out, but “it’s back to the drawing board.”
The Westside Board on Tuesday unanimously approved a motion by Infrastructure Director John Goodman that calls for a new policy on community access by non-residents to be put into place by the end of August, based on the recommendations of an ad hoc committee that will include Community Manager Frost, along with Directors McCarthy, Goodman, John Hoffman, and possibly Adam Wimberly.
McCarthy told The Times: “I don’t want to be at odds with the other community . . . I want to make relations better.”
A Perennial Issue
Whether to use stickers or barcodes or some other solution to facilitate reciprocal access between SLWLA and SLLA turf has been an ongoing issue for both Boards. Infrastructure Director John Goodman on Tuesday suggested that the simplest solution might be to end the reciprocity.
“Sixty percent are rentals over there [on the North and South Sides]" Goodman said. "Now, there are no restrictions to them coming into our community. Nothing elitist or snobby -- we are looking to secure our residents.”
McCarthy said the SLLA has no objection to permitting Westsiders passage through the North and South gates, but added that the West Side would like to track who is coming through the gates -- for security reasons.
“They have a [security] patrol over there,” McCarthy told The Times. “We have a volunteer neighborhood watch that depends on its residents.”
McCarthy explained that, at present, any SLLA member can obtain a barcode for entry into the Westside community, as long as a valid reason is given, such as taking care of a family member or regularly attending a club meeting. However, access to all amenities, including Johnson Point, Lake Auman, the Westside Park Pool, etc., is limited to Westsiders and their accompanied guests.
During public comment, Charlie Flinchum supported that restriction, saying: “It is time to put our foot down. Let them [SLLA members] use their own amenities. Let their board get their problems in order, so they can stop bringing them over here.”
Currently, there are three options to enter either community: buying a barcode, using a windshield decal, or obtaining a hang tag from the gate guard. On the West Side, if a decal is used, then the license plate of the vehicle or the decal number is recorded for safety reasons. Lake and Dam Director Adam Wimberly told the Board that this is a matter of trying to "balance safety with convenience.”
In a recommendation aimed at avoiding the errors inherent in writing down and keeping track of decal numbers, Events Director Jim Ferguson said “Take the human element out,” and suggested issuing using barcodes only, and not decals.
For the time being, gate access into Seven Lakes West will remain as is, said President Mick Herdrich, but ultimately the goal is that in twelve months the Westside will only issue barcodes. Barcodes for the Westside expire every year at the end of May. The ad hoc committee studying the issue is expected to report back to the Board in August.
Town Hall Meeting on Mailhouse
Get your mail in West End, or build a new mailhouse? The West Side's Long Range Planning Committee will conduct a “Town Hall” meeting on Monday, June 20 at 7 pm in the West Side Park Community Center to discuss the options for mail delivery in Seven Lakes West. One option not on the table is the curbside delivery enjoyed by most non-Seven Lakers in the 27376 zip code.
The United States Post Office has told Seven Lakes West that it is not economical to deliver within the community. Add to that plans to replace the current gatehouse with a new one at roughly the location of the current mailhouse, and the SLWLA Board is expected to make a decision on mail delivery in the next few months.
According to Treasurer Don Freiert, the cost to build one to three mailhouses in the community would range from $260,000 to $500,000. However, the cost for each household in the community to rent a mail box at the West End Post Office would average $56 a year and could total up to $73,000 annually, if each of the West Side's roughly 1300 landowners rented a box at the post office.
Emergency Exit Signs
The installation of four emergency exit signs throughout the community was approved by the SLWLA Board during Tuesday's meeting, with John Goodman, Adam Wimberly, and Jane Sessler in opposition.
Wimberly said the issue of emergency exits is something that has been left over from the Dam Road being closed and the ongoing argument about “what happens if there is an emergency.” During the public comment period John Oravetz said the community needs to “curtail the signs.” Roger Brooke echoed Oravetz saying the proliferation of signs is “not very attractive . . . and cheapens the community.”
Westside Speeding
Safety and Security Director McCarthy asked for feedback from his fellow Directors on the issue of speeding in the community. Fearing legal ramifications if, for example, the community issues a ticket and it remains unpaid by a non-resident member of the Beacon Ridge Golf Club -- which is not owned by Seven Lakes West -- McCarthy asked for input on the matter.
An unpaid ticket could result in a non-resident BRCC member being denied entry into the community, McCarthy noted.
Director Goodman reminded McCarthy that the community has a legal committee and funds to address such a problem were it to arise. ARC Director John Hoffman agreed to help the Safety and Security Committee put together an enforcement plan and present it to the Board at the second work session in July.
Personal Fireworks Not Permitted
The use of personal fireworks is not allowed in Seven Lakes West. Member Joan Erikson told the Board that she has heard firework use in the community and feared it could cause a fire due to the dry weather and pine straw. The West Side's annual fireworks display is scheduled for Monday, July 4.
Lake and Dam
The Board during Tuesday's Work Session approved a request by Director Goodman to post additional guards at the gate of Johnson Point for the next one or two months for the purpose of checking the membership status of those entering the area.
The two guards will be posted during the weekends, holidays, and other times that are deemed necessary. Boat monitor guards will also be checking people’s identification to make sure those in the area are either a resident or a guest of a resident. A grace period of one week is being allotted for members to have their membership cards or a picture ID with them and to verify what lot they belong to if asked.
Lake and Dam Director Wimberly reminded members to abide by the speed limits while on the Lake -- which also apply to boats pulling tubers. Boats should have new stickers affixed by June 1; $25 fines will be issued starting June 15 for boats without current stickers.
The Board approved a motion by Wimberly to begin investigating different options for reinstalling a swim platform at Johnson Point at a cost not to exceed $5,000.
Wimberly will also investigate the possibility of installing a gate at Johnson Point identical to the one at Lake Auman Dam.
Architectural Review
Three new members were appointed to the Architectural Review Committee [ARC], including Joshua Haire, Bill Carl, and Maurice Martin. Ed Schempp and Dick Williams were named ARC Deputy Co-Chairs.
ARC Director Hoffmann told The Times that regular notices will be sent to the gate house identifying construction vehicles that are authorized to enter the community. Anyone who has not had construction services approved by ARC will not be on the list at the gate house, and those vehicles will not be allowed to enter the community. Hoffman said this is being enforced to help uphold community standards.
ARC requirements, as well as by-laws, covenants, standards, and rules and regulations, will be given to real estate offices that sell in Seven Lakes West so that future residents will be aware of them before purchasing in the community, Hoffmann said.
Culvert Repairs
Infrastructure Director Goodman announced that a temporary guard shack will be installed at the back gate for approximately one month while culvert repairs on Longleaf Drive are completed. The location of some culverts do not afford the opportunity for detours, so some residents will be able to use only the front gate or the back gate. The repairs were scheduled to begin on Thursday, June 16.
Other Business
Other business conducted at the Tuesday, June 14 SLWLA Work Session included:
• The Board approved the Nominating Committee for 2012: Ron Shepard, Ed Cockman, Ed Silberhorn, Kathy Kirst, Jane Sessler, Johanna Moran, Jim Ballew, and Pat Land.
• President Herdrich asked Board members to respond to emails in a timely manner and research the topic before sending anything out. He also asked for Board members to be copied on responses.
• President Herdrich questioned the lag time in the back gate mechanism, which Joan Frost confirmed is programmed to have a five second delay. McCarthy said a lot of maintenance has been done to the back gate, and it may be more beneficial to get a new one, which could cost as much as $7,000.
• During public comment period, Roger Brooke asked for the Long Range Planning Committee to look at adding walking trails in the community.
• The next Johnson Point Concert Series will be held on Friday, July 1, featuring the Loaded Dice.
• Community Manager Frost will seek another bid for road repairs to the Boat dock and yard waste area. Director Goodman will be involved in the review of bids.
