The long-awaited, new Seven Lakes West mailhouse is scheduled to begin operation on Monday, March 11, Community Manager Jeanette Mendence announced during the Seven Lakes West Landowners Association’s [SLWLA] Board Meeting on Tuesday, February 26.
The last day to receive mail at the old mailhouse is on Saturday, March 9. Mendence asked that residents leave their mail box key in their old mail box after collecting mail on that day. On March 18, US Postal Service employees will go through the boxes in the old mailhouse and return any uncollected mail to the senders.
Residents will be issued two keys for their new mailbox by CAS staff in the landowners office, beginning Wednesday, February 27. Additional keys will be available upon request.
Posting items on the walls of the new mailhouse will be prohibited, but two cork boards have been installed on which items may be posted for up to two weeks.
An electronic message board in the new mailhouse will be used to announce community activities, post weather alerts, and highlight other Association information.
Mendence thanked the volunteers who helped with the mailhouse project, including John Hoffmann, who served as manager for the $350,000 project.
Walking Trails Proposed at West Side Park
In response to resident requests, Mendence and Jeremy Rust, a member of the Long Range Planning Committee, presented a proposal for walking trails at West Side Park.
The proposal envisions trails totaling a bit more than one-mile in length, with a crushed granite surface suitable for walking, bike-riding, and pushing strollers.
“I wanted it so that a one-year-old to a ninety-year-old could use it,” said Mendence. “All age groups could walk and ride.”
The initial proposal did not put a price tag on the project. Mendence said, if the Board expressed an interest in moving forward with the project, price quotes could be assembled.
If the Board does agree to install walking trails near the WSPCC, it would be at least two to three years before it is complete, she added.
Road Study Planned
The Association has hired the firm US Infrastructures to work with Infrastructure Director Jim Pierman to evaluate the roads in Seven Lakes West.
The $19,500 project will include:
• Inspecting roads, at a cost of $12,500.
• Developing a Road Maintenance Plan for five years for $5,400.
• Developing a Long Range Plan for the next fifteen to twenty years for $1,000.
• Drafting Road Specifications and Standards for $650.
The Infrastructure Committee allocated $20,000 for the project in the current year’s budget.
Safety and Security
Plans to install siren-activated gates over Lake Auman Dam have been put on hold, reported Safety and Security Director Ed Cockman.
Moore County is in the midst of an Emergency Services study that may result in the realignment of fire and emergency responder districts -- a realignment that may or may not affect Seven Lakes West.
Cockman explained that the Association will delay its decision about siren-activated gates until the County has completed its study and made any necessary adjustments to response districts. He noted that Moore County Fire Marshall Ken Skipper supports postponing the decision.
In other safety and security news, Cockman said that speeding continues to be a concern, but he was reassured by Deputy Sheriff Mike Kantarowski that speeding tickets will be issued.
Cockman reminded residents to be sure to observe stop signs in the community to avoid accidents.
The Seven Lakes West Neighborhood Watch Patrol is being reinstated, and anyone interested in volunteering should contact Cockman.
Yoga class causes concern
Events Director Rosemary Weber expressed concern that yoga classes are being offered in the Community Center by an instructor who is not a resident of Seven Lakes West. This caused quite a stir with some residents, who questioned why a for-profit business was teaching classes at West Side Park.
President Mick Herdrich explained that the class was authorized four years ago by a previous Board in an effort to increase use of the Great Room. Former Board member Karen Milligan initially brought the class to the community, Herdrich said.
Although the Board has since stopped authorizing use of the Community Center for classes taught by non-residents, he continued, both the yoga and tai chi classes have been grandfathered in.
“It’s something we really need to look into,” said Weber. “I don’t think it is something we should continue, because I don’t think it is fair to those people who would not be allowed to conduct their business here.”
In other Events news, Weber announced that the next "Cooking with Camela" class will be held on March 16 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.
"Cooking with Camela" will also host a class during Spring Break on March 27 from 10:00 am to Noon.
Reservations for these classes should be made with the CAS office.
Lake and Dam
In an eight-to-one vote, with Director Dan Blue opposed, the Board approved submitting an application for a permit to allow the Association to take measures to control the non-migratory Canada Goose population in Seven Lakes West.
The Board also named Geo Technologies, Inc. of Raleigh to serve as the community’s new dam engineering firm, as requested by Lake and Dam Director Bruce Keyser.
In other Lake and Dam news, the road at Johnson Point was resurfaced last month, Keyser reported. However, work on replacement of the drain from the roadway to the Lake has been delayed due to the the weather.
Johnson Point boat slip agreements are due in the CAS office by March 1, Keyser announced; and boat registration will run through April 30.
Treasurer’s Report
The SLWLA began Fiscal Year 2012-2013 in May with more than $1 million in reserves. The Association is expected to finish the year with a little more than $500,000 in reserves, Treasurer Don Freiert reported.
Projects planned -- like the new mailhouse -- and unplanned -- like the repair of the dam at Pond #3 -- resulted in significant withdrawals from the reserve funds, Freiert explained.
Year to date, Association revenues are tracking $107,000 over budget, primarily because of the prepayment of landowners dues.
“We look pretty solid for the year,” said Freiert, adding, “We are up and down in each of the accounts, but, overall, we are in good shape.”
January’s cash disbursements were $257,000. Expenses in excess of normal operations included: $90,000 to Bill Reaves Constuction for work on the new mailhouse; $33,000 to Raleigh Paving for street improvements; $14,000 to Cagle Landscaping for Pond #3 dam guardrails; $10,000 in insurance costs; and $6,600 in additional mailhouse expenses.
Other Business
Other business conducted during the SLWLA’s Tuesday, February 26 meeting included:
• The Board approved reducing the number of Board members from nine to seven, effective in March of 2014. This vote will officially change the By-Laws of the Association.
• ARC Director Dan Blue said there have been fewer small projects throughout the community, which he attributed to a “seasonal slow down.” Three new homes are currently under construction, Blue said, adding, “It’s a more positive trend than it’s been in the last seven to eight months.”
• Community Manager Mendence reported that landowners are requesting more classes at West Side Park -- specifically, water aerobics.
• Mendence said the Community Center Great Room will now rent for $100 plus a $100 setup fee for parties of less than 75 people. For parties over 75, the rate will remain $400.
• Communications Director Jane Sessler said that the new electronic message board in the mailhouse will help with the timeliness of announcements, because the system can be controlled from the CAS office. Sessler noted that a new WiFi system has been installed that covers the entire Community Center, as well as the mailhouse and pool area.
• Legal Director Jack Stevens asked that residents be mindful of septic system compliance, especially when it comes to maintenance and inspection. “One might want to regard that a $65 inspection fee might prove to be a reasonably-priced insurance policy,” said Stevens.
• Long Range Planning Committee meetings have been canceled for February and March, Director Freiert reported. Due to Board elections approaching in March, Freiert said, the next Long Range Planning Director can select new individuals to serve on the committee. Freiert thanked all the volunteers who have served on the Long Range Planning Committee during his time on the Board.
• Starting March 1, yard waste hours will be Saturday from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm and Wednesday 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. The yard waste site will be closed March 30 due to the Easter weekend
• The SLWLA Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday, March 17 at 2:00 pm.
• The next SLWLA Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 26 at 7:00 pm.
