Identifying the need for and basic objectives of a new policy are the easy part; nailing down the precise language to accomplish that goal often proves to be more difficult.
Tangling with terms, and short-staffed, with two Directors absent from the table on Wednesday, September 28, the Seven Lakes Landowners Association [SLLA] Board of Directors hashed over three proposed boating rules before sending two amendments back to the Lakes & Dams Committee for fine tuning.
The Board was in agreement with the basic premise of proposed rule 8.4.4.2, which would loosen the existing regulation that all powerboats must travel in a counter-clockwise direction. Instead, the Lakes & Dams Committee proposed that powerboats only be required to travel in such a manner when operating within the designated skiing area. Powerboats motoring slowly along the shoreline would be allowed to freely travel in either direction.
But the rule went back to committee because it specifically addressed only Lake Sequoia and not Lake Echo, which, while smaller in size, also permits powerboats and skiers.
A proposed amendment to 8.3.3 also quickly derailed during the approval process. As recommended, the rule would continue to restrict swimming in the boat launch and marina areas, but also within the designated ski area.
“The new rule only applies to Lake Sequoia because it has the heavier recreation area,” explained SLLA Vice President Don Fentzlaff, who presided over the meeting. “There are swimmers who are going across the lake, and that is the reason this came up. We want to encourage people to swim in safer areas, such as the coves.”
SLLA Treasurer Conrad Meyer said he understood the safety concern but felt the rule, as written, was too restrictive.
“This also prohibits anyone from swimming off a pontoon boat or any craft out in the ski area,” he argued.
Director Andy Lowe also opposed the rule, stating that many swim off their boats in the ski area during quieter mid-week periods.
Director Bud Shaver suggested that more consideration should be given to the previous Board’s informal proposal to relocate the Sequoia Point swimming beach to the western side of the park, away from the marina and boat launch.
Noting that any new boating rules would not take effect until March 1, 2012, Fentzlaff called for a motion to table the amendments for further discussion at the committee level.
The third proposed rule, which strictly prohibits damaging, dunking, or otherwise disturbing lake buoys, was unanimously approved.
“Our buoys took a tremendous beating this Summer and last," Fentzlaff said. "They have big cuts in them, some have had the printed sleeve torn off, and some have been half-submerged when swimmers fill them with water.”
The rule also prohibits boats from tying up to the buoys, or using them as skiing markers.
Little Juniper Lake
Turning from lakes to dams, the Board unanimously approved spending up to $15,000 to repair an area of seepage that has been identified along the left downstream side of Little Juniper Dam.
Fentzlaff recommended approval of the S&ME contract for design, engineering, and permitting, anticipated to cost $9,700; the repair work itself is expected to cost less than $5,000.
“These dams are thirty years old, so there are bound to be a few problems,” said Shaver. “Don’s [Fentzlaff] committee is doing a good job in taking care of things.”
Turning another concern at Little J, Fentzlaff explained that a submerged valve had been partially open and feeding water from Lake Windemere on the Seven Lakes Country Club to the shallow Northside lake for at least five years. Connected to the golf course irrigation system, the open valve required their sprinkler system to pump non-stop year round. While the leak was a known problem, it was difficult to pinpoint because of the seventy-five foot difference between the two bodies of water.
“I would like to offer a huge thanks to Ed Dunn and Jerry Johnson for their work in finding out where the water was coming from and shutting it off,” said Fentzlaff. “I really commend these guys. Keep up the good work.”
Fetzlaff said he hopes that the water quality in Little J will improve due to a decrease in chemicals thought to be coming into the lake along with water from Lake Windemere.
He reported that the Lakes & Dams Committee will be keeping a close eye on Little J, monitoring the lake level as compared to other lakes in the community.
“There is no spring or at least it is a very weak spring that feeds Little J. And because it is small and shallow, evaporation has a tremendous effect,” Fentzlaff explained.
Echo Dam
Dam engineer S&ME conducted stability tests and have that confirmed Echo Dam is stable and there is no threat of sloughing.
“A repair is needed, but it is not state-mandated so there is no hurry," Fentzlaff explained. "We will do the repair once additional information is received from S&ME.”
Summarizing factors that led to concerns about the dam, he said turbidity was noted in water at the foot of the dam in May. Early inspections indicated the problem was minor and mostly cosmetic. Based on water testing, that report was updated again in August, suggesting a more serious concern. However, the recent stability test alleviated the worry.
Election and counting ballots
Without a formal written policy in the By-laws or Rules & Regulations concerning election ballots, historically, an ad hoc committee of volunteers has been tasked with overseeing the collection and counting of the actual ballots.
Director Bud Shaver proposed an addition to the rules that would place responsibility for the annual process with the Judicial Committee.
“I have spoken to the current Judicial Committee chairman, and he has agreed that they could perform the task,” Shaver said.
However, Director Bob Racine opposed the motion, suggesting it was premature and inappropriate, because the Board had not yet weighed in on the proposed policy.
Shaver countered that the previous Board had initiated the discussion; but Racine was undeterred, successfully tabling the amendment until further discussion by the current Board.
“We can clarify what recommendations will be given to Judicial; and, since the election isn’t until March, we have time to put it together in a neater package,” Racine said.
Finance
The month of September was on target for expenses, reported Community Manager Alina Cochran, though there was a noticeable negative variance in the salary line due to three pay periods in the same month. In addition, bad debt and unanticipated repairs for lightning damage at the gates increased the overall year-to-date variance to approximately $29,000.
Treasurer Conrad Meyer highlighted several items of concern that the Finance Committee is working on, including: improving the 2011-2012 registration and billing process, resolving a few outstanding issues related to the recent improved lot audit, drafting a new proposed travel policy, and improving the standard financial statement report.
Meyer said the annual audit report being completed by Dixon Hughes is long overdue; and, thus far, the firm has not been able to provide an anticipated completion date.
“The audit impacts the timing on other tasks we must complete, such as an asset inventory and final transfers for the last fiscal year,” he explained.
Meyer also reported a matured $200,000 CD had been reinvested last month and that funds from a matured $160,000 CD had been moved into the operating account.
Grounds & Maintenance
Reporting for Director Bruce Keyser, Jr., who was unable to attend, Director Shaver noted that nine boat trailers without SLLA registration stickers have been identified at the Sequoia Point storage lot. One trailer in the lot has a boat sticker instead of a trailer sticker. In addition, thirteen power boats at the marina area have expired stickers, eleven boats have expired NC Wildlife registration stickers, and another two boats are not registered with the State. Request notices for compliance have been sent to all boat and trailer owners.
Keyser’s report also noted that community grounds are looking better than ever and that fertilization work is underway by Davenport Landscaping.
Community Standards
The list of reported violations is down from twenty-nine pages in August to just twelve pages in September, reported Director Racine.
“The Community Standards Committee is doing an excellent job of observing and reporting violations," he said. "The office is following up in a timely fashion and we appreciate everyone’s cooperation. And we could always use more help on the committee.”
Recreation
Estimating that one hundred or more children enjoyed the mid-September S’Mores Party at Sequoia Point, Manager Cochran thanked the Recreation Committee for their work in planning and organizing this fun event.
Director Racine thanked Cochran for her creative ideas as the driving force behind both the S’Mores Party and the Dog Day of Summer, which included a new partnership this year with the Moore Humane Society. Northsiders Barbara Keating and Elizabeth Siebenhar were thanked for their work at the Dog Day event, and Laura Douglass and Jackie Wells for their efforts with the S’Mores Party.
Planning is underway for the annual children’s Halloween Party, and more volunteers are desperately needed to assist the Recreation Committee.
Architectural Review
A laundry list of recently approved projects has kept the Architectural Review Board [ARB] busy, including three decks, a screened porch, one siding project, an enclosed porch, one addition, installation of a new parking space, a dock repair, and one new home construction.
In addition, ARB members are drawing up a list of documents and other requirements that should be submitted with application requests.
“This basically will detail what they need to bring forward to the committee, so we don’t waste the homeowner’s time or the committee’s,” said Fentzlaff. “It will streamline the whole process, and we want to make it as easy as possible for everybody.”
Security
A new camera at the Yard Debris Site can be adjusted to provide better resolution and results, reported Director Andy Lowe. The old camera has been reinstalled at another location to check license plates of entering vehicles.
“Anyone caught leaving non-yard debris items will be detected and notified,” warned Lowe. “Disposal of these items is costing the Association money.”
In a related discussion of items stored at the Yard Debris and maintenance area, Meyer asked whether boat owners could be charged a compensation fee to the Association for removal or towing costs.
Lowe responded that owners, if known, have been asked to remove the boats, sell the boats, or to give the boats to the Association for removal -- but costs have not been discussed.
“I just want to make sure that we don’t become a bone yard for old boats and trailers; and when people want to get rid of them, they don’t abandon them,” Meyer said. “Owners should be responsible for any costs associated with getting rid of these boats.”
Lowe said there are three trailers frames at the Debris Site that will be sold as scarp metal. Regarding the boats, he said there is a lengthy documentation necessary and estimated that he is at step three of six steps in the disposal process.
Director Shaver complimented Lowe for his detailed research work and moving the project forward.
Other Business
In other business on Wednesday, September 28, the SLLA Board:
• Appointed Director Bob Racine to chair the 2011-2012 Nominating Committee. In this capacity, Racine will also preside over the Organizational Meeting following the annual election until a new president is seated. Racine asked for volunteers to serve on the search committee.
• Heard from Racine that nine cases were scheduled for hearing before the Judicial Committee, including three cases related to boating violations.
• Heard from Shaver a second request for Board members to submit to SLLA President Darr a list of their top three candidates for the paving engineer contract.
• Heard from Shaver a request for Board members to review the existing SLLA Disaster Plan and determine whether it needs to be updated.
