Wary of a re-placement that could cost $10,000, the Seven Lakes West Land-owners Association Board of Directors, during their Tuesday, February 28 meeting, asked Community Manager Joan Frost to explore more options for dealing with a broken entry gate at the boat and trailer storage area.
Replacing the current gate with an electronically-activated gate would cost an estimated $10,000 plus a $125 monthly equipment fee from Time Warner Cable.
Alternatives suggested by Board members included making the gate wider, placing a chain across the entrance, or installing a swinging gate.
“So what we want to do then is look at this where safety and security isn’t necessarily the number one priority?” asked Lake and Dam Director Adam Wimberly. “We want to look at cost?”
Events Director Rosemary Weber suggested keeping the gate open during the day and having security personnel lock it in the evenings — similar to the practice at Johnson Point — and that idea seemed popular among Board members.
“I think that was an excellent idea to at least try before we go spending money on a new gate,” said President Mick Herdrich.
Wimberly said the Board made a decision last year to charge the same price for boat and trailer storage at the smaller Johnson Point lot as at the fenced Longleaf boat and trailer storage area.
“Johnson Point storage is wide open and any one can get in there any time of the day,” said Wimberly.
The gate at the Longleaf storage area has been damaged many times and is often not locked up properly by individuals leaving the lot.
Johnson Point Docks
Dock repairs at Johnson Point are complete, reported Wimberly, who reminded the community that all boats need to be tied up properly at the docks.
After spending $73,000 to repair and upgrade the docks, Wimberly said, there is now a “baseline of quality,” and any damage done to a boat slip will incur a fee for those repairs.
The Lake and Dam Committee has sent out information on how to properly tie up boats at the dock, he noted.
Westsider Charlie Flinchum said, as Dock Manager at the Marina, he will make sure every boat in the marina is properly moored. If not, he will tie it up properly and charge $20 for the rope, to ensure that the docks are maintained.
The Board approved hiring Jamie Cagle to resurface the swim platform for $2500. Flinchum offered to donate a ladder for the platform to help defray the cost of the repairs.
Architectural Review
According to Architectural Review [ARC] Director John Hoffmann, three types of compliance violations are constantly being reported: boats and trailers being kept at a homeowners property instead of at the storage area, HVAC systems and tanks not screened from public view, and vehicles parked on the pine straw in someone’s yard.
“People believe that, if they have to follow those rules and regulations, they would appreciate everyone else following those rules and regulations,” said Hoffmann.
Hoffmann asked that homeowners contemplating tree removal ask ARC or refer to the rules and regulations for guidelines. If a tree is “sick” or “encroaching” on a home, he said, ARC will not “fight” the homeowner if they want to remove it — and it will not incur a fee.
ARC “strongly” suggests using a licensed and bonded vendor to remove the tree, Hoffmann added. The removal of healthy trees is discouraged. “We want to preserve trees in our neighborhood to the greatest extent possible,” he explained.
Hoffmann reminded the Community that there are still two more weeks to make comments on the proposed changes to the variance application procedure and the form, which are part of the ARC standards. The proposed changes are posted on the Community website and in the mailhouse; the Board is expected to take up the proposed changes at their next Work Session.
Update on Mailhouse
Working as the interim project manager, Hoffmann gave an update on the mailhouse project, which involves not just the mailhouse, but also a new guard house, and the designing of each. The project also includes potentially redesigning the back gate.
The Association has sent a Request For Proposal [RFP] on the project to three vendors, who have until March 14 to submit their proposals.
According to Hoffmann, if everything goes as scheduled, a bid for construction on the mailhouse should be ready by early July. The mailhouse will be located in the “vicinity” of the West Side Park Community Center, said Hoffmann.
Sessler said updates on the mailhouse process will be posted on the Community website.
Treasurer’s Report
A review by the Association’s Insurance Committee, has determined the newly installed guardrails at the lower Lakeway Pond are sufficent to meet safety needs in the area, Treasurer Don Freiert reported.
The Committee will ‘reevaluate” the guardrail on the upstream side of Lake Auman after the proposed dam work by the Long Range Planning Committee is complete.
Freiert also reported that the Association has paid $169,400 to the Aberdeen Carolina Western Railroad [ACWR] per the contract agreement for the upgrade of the Lakeway Drive rail crossing.
With the completion of work at the lower Lakeway Drive pond dam, the final payment of $91,500 has also been made. The total cost of the project was $221,000, said Freiert, who complimented the newly designed area as “fabulous” work. Secretary Jane Sessler said the Board has received many emails with positive feedback about the work done in the area.
The Johnson Point dock resurfacing is also complete, with a final payment of $36,300 being paid to Hussey’s Home Improvement, bringing the total project cost to $73,000.
Turning to investments, Freiert said the Association has sold one callable CD. Merrill Lynch has recommended retaining two other CDs until they mature in 2019.
SLWLA Signage
The Long Range Planning Committee continues to study the cost to replace and install consistent signage throughout the Community.
The Board began discussing this issue after the Association was asked to fund the $1,000 replacement cost of a sign stolen from the entrance to Morgan Wood. There are believed to be sixteen signs of this type sprinkled throughout the West Side.
Amenities Policies
Another two weeks remain in the comment period for proposed changes to policies governing the Association’s amenities. The proposed changes are posted on the SLWLA website and in the mailhouse, Sessler reported.
Infrastructure Report
Bids on adding guard rails and a walking path along Longleaf ponds number 2 and number 3 have been received and are “well below budget,” Infrastructure Director John Goodman reported.
Goodman will meet with Dam Engineer Dr. Dan Marks on that project, and Wimberly will meet with Marks on data from the new peziometers and the overall health of the Lake Auman Dam.
Goodman said he is still pursuing a quote on installing a metal building for Association storage, and awaiting quotes for repaving the top of the dam. Cagle Landscaping can begin work on curbs at the dam in two weeks, contingent on the weather.
Other News
Other business conducted by the SLWLA Board during their February 28 meeting included:
• After a hunter’s tree stand was found on a landowners property, Safety and Security Director Jim McCarthy reiterated that hunting is prohibited in Seven Lakes West.
• New rules for access into the community are posted on the Association’s website and in the mailhouse for Community review and input, McCarthy said.
• Due to “fiscal constraint” an event to recognize volunteers in the community will be postponed until next year, Sessler reported. Volunteers will still be recognized at this year’s annual event.
• The Board’s next work session will be held on March 13 at 9:00 am, with the Annual meeting scheduled for Sunday, March 18 at 2:00 pm. The Board will not hold a second work session for the month of March.
• Legal Director Jack Stevens was absent from Tuesday night’s meeting.
