In an effort to improve safety around Lake Auman docks, the Architectural Review Committee [ARC] has won initial approval from the Seven Lakes West Landowners Association [SLWLA] Board of Directors for a change to the rules and regulations that would increase the maximum length of a dock to 23 feet. The motion carried 8-to-1 during the Board's Tuesday, July 12 Work Session, with Infrastructure Director John Goodman in opposition.
A second and final reading and vote on the proposed change will take place at the Tuesday, July 26 Work Session.
Presenting the proposed increase in permitted dock length, ARC Director John Hoffmann said President Mick Herdrich had asked the ARC committee to look into the matter, since the largest boats legally allowed on Lake Auman are 22.8 feet long.
Safety was cited as the primary reason for the change. Hoffmann explained that, for example, a 22-foot pontoon boat, with a rear gas tank, moored at a too-short dock, can be both inconvenient and potentially dangerous -- and could create a potential gasoline spill into the lake.
The motion approved by the Board reads as follows:
Applicable rules and regulations and ARC standards should be changed to allow docks to be built or extended a maximum distance of 23 feet from the shoreline for the purpose of increased safety. If such extension results in the maximum dock area of 360 square feet being exceeded, the required application shall reflect same and must be approved by ARC in advance on a strict case by case basis to address specific concerns regarding safety congestion in narrow coves etc. An ARC application continues to be required for all dock construction, modifications, and extensions.
Goodman objected to the motion not because he felt 23 feet was too long, but rather because it did not specify a preference for building a 23 foot long dock parallel to the shore rather than perpendicular. Hoffmann said that building a parallel dock in some areas may pose a problem, particularly for people who have a sandbar at their shoreline. Other variables including property widths and location in coves, can mitigate against docks sited parallel to shore, he added.
“There are so many variables here,” said Hoffmann, “I don’t think you can start stating preferences.”
Lake and Dam Director Adam Wimberly said the trick is to not make the rules so specific that they prevent some flexibility in particualr cases.
Hoffmann said the role of ARC is to take the homeowner’s plan and try to facilitate it. Only when it presents a significant problem should it be denied. All docks -- whether newly built or refurbished -- will continue to need an application and approval from the ARC committee before they can be constructed, with each application being reviewed on a case by case basis.
In other ARC business, Hoffmann said updated ARC standards could be presented to the Board for a first reading in the next couple of weeks. He also urged landowners to be certain of their property lines, particularly when it comes to clearing debris or installing landscaping.
Westside Pool Operations Extended
The Board voted during Tuesday's Work Session to extend the West Side's swim season, keeping the Westside Park pool open seven days a week from noon to 5 pm through September and October. Making the request for a longer season, Events Director Jim Ferguson asked that the pool remain open into the Fall as long as weather and attendance is good.
Director Hoffman estimated the cost of maintenance and personnel for the two extra months would total $5,000. Community Manager Joan Frost said that funding to cover that extra cost is not available in the pool budget. Frost said she was compiling an average of pool attendance over the last few months to get an idea of what would represent an adequate number to keep the pool running for the two additional months.
Ferguson proposed, but then withdrew, a motion to establish a "lending locker" at West Side Park Community Center[WSPCC] that would allow grandparents to store strollers, highchairs, or other items used for grandchildren that could be lent and borrowed as needed.
In an effort to avoid having the Association take on any responsibility and liability that might result from the lending locker idea, both Ferguson and Secretary Jane Sessler accepted responsibility for implementing a "virtual lending locker" on the community website -- an alternative proposed by Director Wimberly. When the “virtual lending locker” will be set up has yet to be determined.
Ferguson thanked volunteers who worked on the Fourth of July for doing an “outstanding” job on the island. Dale Erickson thanked Sessler for getting the word out about illegal fireworks use in the community, saying he noticed fewer private fireworks.
Ferguson said the Events Committee is exploring the possibility of hosting an Oktoberfest in September.
Guards Making an Impact at Johnson Point
The use of guards to check membership at the entrance to Johnson Point seems to be having an impact, Lake and Dam Director Wimberly suggested.
“[I am] Amazed at how much better Johnson Point is," Wimberly told his fellow Board members. "Call it the guards, call it karma, call it whatever you want; it is night and day down there.”
Wimberly said he is at Lake Auman every weekend and has noticed that it isn’t as busy as it used to be, adding that the guards were “clearly something that was needed.” The guards told Wimberly that a lot of people turn around when they see them checking people in -- so, at a minimum, it is a deterrent to unauthorized use. "And there haven’t been a lot of violations on the lake," Wimberly added.
Secretary Sessler said she had observed tubers being pulled across the ski area; Wimberly said he would alert the lake patrol to that problem.
As a result of the Lake Patrol, “a lot” of people without current boat stickers will be receiving a ticket, Wimberly said, noting that, in one section alone, volunteers found fifteen boats without stickers.
Non-resident property owners and part-year residents who have not had the opportunity to affix current stickers to their boats are exempt from receiving a ticket, but this is being handled on a case-by-case basis.
Boat Slip Docks "Tuned-up"
Since the Board has yet to decide what type of material to use to replace the top boards on the Johnson Point boat slip docks, the existing boards have been tightened and “should hold up for the Summer,” Community Manager Frost reported.
The current docks were built almost twenty years ago by Jamie Cagle, who has recommended using kiln dried wood to replace the top boards -- which he estimated could increase the lifespan of the docks by as much as fifteen years.
Replacing the top boards with a composite material will cost more than twice as much as using kiln-treated wood, Frost told the Board. Wimberly said the docks generate $39,000 in revenue a year and would essentially pay for any repairs themselves. Along with the top boards, the bumpers around the docks will also be replaced. Frost is still receiving quotes to repair the docks and will present the bids to the Board at a later date.
Frost reported that the existing swimming platform cannot be put back into service because it is "too high," leaving the options of buying or building a replacement. The Board took no action on either option during Tuesday's meeting.
Board Approves Landscape Easement
The Board approved during Tuesday's meeting a request by Infrastructure Director Goodman to prepare a landscape easement for lot #3209, located off of Lakeway Mall when entering the community. Goodman said the owner of the lot, Jeffrey Scott Ellis, has volunteered to give a fifty foot easement on the property to the community for the purpose of installing landscaping in harmony with the rest of the front entranceway.
The only cost to the community is legal fees associated with the easement, explained Goodman. The legal work will be handled by Goodman, Legal Director Jack Stevens, and SLWLA attorney Steven Later. The goal is to incorporate this area into the Lakeview Mall landscaping, said Goodman, since the “front entrance is a big selling point of the community.”
Pond repairs. Dam Engineer Dr. Dan Marks and a surveyor were expected to visit Seven Lakes West on Wednesday, July 15 to examine the overflow pipe at the lower pond dam, Goodman reported.
Goodman said the Board had already approved repairs to the area in concept, but will need to review the detailed design, which he expected would be available in two or three weeks. The lower pond will have to be fully drained during the repairs, which could begin as early as September. However, Frost reminded Goodman that irrigation water for Westside Park, The Pinnacle, and Lakeway Mall is taken from the lower pond dam and irrigation normally continues through the month of October. With the current dry weather conditions in the area, irrigation from the lower pond dam area is likely to be needed throughout September and October.
Culvert repairs. The average repair cost for each of the last eight culverts came to $25,600, Goodman reported. Two culverts are left to be repaired in the current round: one on Anchor Point, which was expected to be completed by Thursday, July 14, and a final culvert repair on Callis.
Safety and Security
Community Manager Frost said the front exit gate bracket is being replaced so that the arm can lower. This is the oldest gate mechanism in the community and every effort is being made to repair the gate instead of replacing until the new gate house is built. The back gate PVC pipe which was broken has also been replaced.
Director Hoffmann announced that two new volunteers have been added to the neighborhood watch.
Treasurer’s Report
Treasurer Don Freiert reported cash disbursements for the month of June at $118,500, due in part to culvert replacement work; fireworks; start-up costs for the pool; pool staff; boat dock and pool repairs; and purchase of gate passes. Freiert said everything is “running at normal operating level” since all of the expenses mentioned were budgeted items.
On the investment side of things, Freiert reported that a CD for $97,000 that was held at Woodland Bank matured and was moved to a Merrill Lynch money market fund for the time being. Also, funds exceeding the FDIC-insured limit of $200,000 were placed into two money market funds -- one at First Bank and the other at Merrill Lynch. Freiert said the Finance Committee has decided to hold it there until it can further evaluate cash flow requirements, particularly those associated with the payments for the culvert work.
Community Manager’s Report
Boat registration is complete, reported Community Manager Frost; and, based on a recent audit of the boat and trailer storage area, CAS is in the process of notifying those individuals who have not paid their fees. Approximately seventy-two compliance letters have been sent out, including storage violations.
Frost reported that the two small ponds on Longleaf Drive have been treated twice with herbicide for weed control -- a process that will take most of the summer to complete. Wooden fence rails were found in one of the ponds and removed. New light fixtures at the entrance to Timber Drive have been installed.
Approximately 150 decals have been sold for entrance into Seven Lakes North and South, Frost said.
Communications Report
With approximately 565 people registered at the Seven Lakes West website, Secretary Jane Sessler has decided to continue to produce written media in the form of the newsletter for those individuals not online.
Information that would otherwise be sent out electronically will be posted at the mail house and a copy will be available at the Community Center.
The Communications Committee has decided to shorten the newsletter by eliminating current events from the publication -- but such events will still be posted on the website. Secretary Sessler will also start including links in her e-blasts that will connect individuals with particular information from the website, including the newsletter. Anyone who still does not know how to use the website is encouraged to contact Sessler.
Other Business:
Other business conducted at the SLWLA Tuesday, July 12 meeting included:
• During member comments, Westsider Pete Chase said he would like to see more storage room allotted to the design of the mail house(s) which could also include room for an expanded library. Chase asked how a mailhouse addressing system could utilize street addresses -- an option that the Postal Service offered the West Side in the past and that, according to the Long Range Planning Committee, was well-received by community members who provided input on the mailhouse question. Community Manager Frost told The Times that the post office has yet to agree to any changes to the mail box delivery system currently used in Seven Lakes West. Frost said a list of criteria from the Post Office will have to be reviewed before any decisions are made for the new mailhouse(s).
• The Board approved the report and recommendations of the Long Range Planning subcommittee to continue ongoing studies of mail delivery, entries planning, the possibility of an alternate road near the dam, and ideas for use of the crest of the dam itself.
• The Board voted to proceed with the the Chandler Hills and Parkwood Development annexations.
• The West Side Park Community Center [WSPCC] has been repainted and the outside doors have been refinished, Frost reported, adding that some umbrellas and cushions at the pool will need to be repaired at the end of the season.
• HVAC issues at the WSPCC will be fixed shortly, Frost said, with major trimming of bushes around the Community Center being done to allow more light into windows.
• Exit signs have been installed near the Community Center and on Bainbridge.
