It was a sincere but brief farewell that outgoing President Bob Darr gave concluding his last Seven Lakes Landowners Association Open Meeting on Wednesday, February 27.
“It’s been a real ride with this group in front,” Darr said, referring to his fellow Directors. “What I have accomplished I did because of these gentleman sitting here at this table.”
Resident Bob Stephan did not let Darr fade quietly into the sunset, but stood up and said, “I think we owe a great deal of thanks to Bob Darr for a hell of a job that he has done — and to this board.”
Full Pond for Lakes Longleaf and Sequoia
Mother Nature is finally cooperating with ample rainfall and helping to refill Lake Echo. The SLLA Board discussed ways to take advantage of the steady rainfall and reduce the expense of pumping water from Lake Sequoia into Lake Echo.
Community Manager Ray Sohl proposed “as an alternate plan” the following: The first phase of pumping from Sequoia to Echo will begin the week of March 3 and last for seven days. After seven days, the Board will access the levels and decide then whether to continue pumping. If the rain continues and Lake Echo reaches a reasonable level, the pumping may then be discontinued, realizing a savings of about forty percent of the nearly $10,000 projected cost of the pumping project.
“I think it is important to get on with this as soon as possible,” Director Conrad Meter said. “Longleaf is above full pond and overflowing into Sequoia. Sequoia is over full-level by two inches. If we can immediately pump from Sequoia to Echo, we could take advantage of that water going over the dam.”
A resident in the audience brought to the Board attention smaller lakes Ramapo and Timber. “You are still not addressing the problem of the other two lakes that are also below level,” she said.
“If we were to raise Lake Echo ten inches and see what kind of rain we will get, we would then have the opportunity to attend Ramapo and Timber,” said Director Don Fentzlaff. “We haven’t forgotten you.”
Resident George Temple also urged the Board to begin pumping as soon as possible. “The important thing is to do it. Go ahead and approve the whole works. Look at the first stage and if we have to go forward then we can go forward.”
A motion was made by Racine to begin pumping and reassess after the first week. The Board would then decide whether to continue pumping. The total cost would not exceed $10,500.
[In fact, pumping from Lake Sequoia to Lake Echo began on Tuesday, March 5. — GH.]
In other lake level news, Director Fentzlaff told the Board: “I want to let everybody know that Little Juniper Lake is probably seeing a milestone here. For the first time in its history, it is less than 2 inches below full. When it is full, we will shut off that pump. It has done a yeoman’s job and didn’t break down once.”
New Visible Signs
Visitors and first responders will soon find it easier to navigate within Seven Lakes North and South; the SLLA plans to replace all street signs over a two year period.
Resident Donna Stephan informed the board that Devonshire Avenue did not register on GPS systems. Guests relying on GPS to find Devonshire Ave had already brought it to Moore County’s attention.
“That was the trigger that caused them to come see us,” SLLA President Darr explained. “They said that we had to get this straightened out, especially for first responders.
Darr added that his nephew recently got lost trying to read the signs at night. “It’s tough,” he said. “This is a thing that we really need to do.”
The most obvious and egregious errors are in spelling.
“Moore County advised us we needed to replace twenty-four misspelled or hard-to-read street signs,” Director Chuck Leach said. “When they came out, we discovered forty-six more signs that also need to be replaced.”
Leach began inspecting signs during his daily walks and recommended the board should consider replacing all signs. “There are many other signs that are rotting and have deteriorated,” he explained.
Agreeing with Leach, Darr confirmed the condition of the signs. “Some are really old, and some are relatively new,” he said. “But most of them are old. They were maintained for many years by the Kiwanis. Some have been repainted many times. This will be a nice step forward.”
The sign replacement would be conducted in two phases. Phase 1 would prioritize signs that were recommended by the County for replacement on the North Side and replace all signs on the South Side, at an expected cost not to exceed $9,000.
The second phase would be conducted the following year, replacing the remainder of signs on the North Side. All work would be conducted by the SLLA maintenance crew.
Board Member Bob Racine asked whether this would put an undue burden on the staff.
“Do they have enough time?” asked Racine. “They are already stretched so thin.”
SLLA Manager Ray Sohl was encouraging. “We are projecting one-half hour per sign,” he said. “That’s 30 hours per side, and that is very doable.”
Before the Association purchases any signs, a mock up of all signs will go to Moore County for approval. Once the signs are compliant they will be maintained by the County.
The signs will conform to signs in neighboring towns.
“It is my understanding we are not going to replace them with 4x4 vertical [wooden post],” Director Meyer said. “But they will be replaced with a standard galvanized pole and with a horizontal standard sign.”
“I think it will be a big improvement,” said Leach.
The Board will vote on the sign replacement program at the March Open Meeting.
Pool Guest Fees
Also during the February 27 Open Meeting, the Directors unanimously approved new fees for guest use of the Northside pool.
The fee will be $3.00 per guest to use the pool. A package of ten passes can be purchased for $25. The passes can be purchased only by resident at the office with cash or check or at the pool with check. A resident is required to stay with their guests at the pool.
Moving Forward
Slow economic growth at the national level is being felt close to home.
“In essence, what is happening in our community is like any other across the nation,” said Director Meyer. “There are some homeowners that are in foreclosure or have gone through foreclosure. It makes it nearly impossible to collect any past dues.”
Meyer and Sohl recommended and the Board unanimously approved removing two foreclosed properties from the Association’s books.
“We don’t like doing it but that is the situation we find ourselves in,” said Meyer.
In brighter economic news, the Architectural Review Board has recently approved construction of two new houses.
Grounds & Maintenance
Necessary repairs on the pool will need to begin soon to have it ready for the May opening, Director Leach reported. The work will include replacing the decking and repairs to the basin and tile at an expense of $11,000.
The grounds and maintenance committee has two new members: Archie Stevens and Chuck Stephenson. They have joined just in time to help oversee other immediate and Spring maintenance projects will include:
• Roadway marking will resume as weather permits.
• Barn repairs will begin next week.
• Roofs will be replaced at Sequoia Pavilion, the Pool Pump House, the Landowners Office, and the North Clubhouse, at a total expense of $30,000.
• The swim platform at Lake Sequoia will be rebuilt.
• Dam repairs at Little Juniper will begin the first of April.
Recreation
Director Bob Racine announced that the annual Easter Egg Hunt is need of volunteers.
