The Seven Lakes Landowners Association [SLLA] could soon have a new management company -- or not.
President Bob Darr announced during the Wednesday, June 26 Open Meeting that the Board had asked seven management companies to submit proposals, and would be interviewing two finalists during the next week. He told The Times that a decision could be made as early as the middle of next week -- right around the July 4 holiday.
The decision to look at management alternatives is a part of the Board's broader scrutiny of expenses, Darr said.
"One of the things that I and this Board have talked about for over a year is that we have been in the business of looking at all of our expenditures," he said. He noted that the Board had recently switched to a new vendor of security services, and saved money in the process.
"We've taken a look at almost everything we can look at, and we are going to continue to do that," Darr said. "One of the issues that we are taking a look at is the expenses as it relates to our management company. We have promised all of you that we are looking at every dollar that we spend, and we are continuing to do that, and we need to get the most bang for our buck."
Darr said that he had asked seven companies for proposals, including the current management company, Talis. Four responded.
"Two of the four are so cotton-picking expensive that we aren't going there," Darr said. That left two to be interviewed, with one interview scheduled for Thursday, June 28 and another for Tuesday, July 3. After interviews are concluded, he said, the Board will meet to make a decision.
"At that particular time, we will, from one of those two companies, be signing a new contract," he explained, noting that the current contract with Talis allows it to be cancelled with 60 days notice.
"You will know at the end of all of that what it means as it relates to finances," Darr said. "It's one of those issues that we need to do as a Board and then come back to you and let you know what we did," rather than involving the community in the selection process.
Darr refused to name the companies involved, or to confirm that Talis was one of the two finalists. One resident asked whether the Board had considered foregoing a management company and instead hiring a manager and staff. Darr said that was not an option under consideration.
Another resident asked whether the landscaping contract with Davenport could also be renegotiated.
"We are locked into Davenport for three years, unless they really, really mess up," Darr replied. Community Manager Alina Cochran confirmed that the Davenport contract runs through 2014.
