Facts mixed with conjecture to create a blizzard of emails and a maelstrom of controversy in Seven Lakes West over the past few days. At the center of the storm was a request for a hardship variance that would reduce the minimum square footage requirement for homes that will be built on several lots in the Stonegate development.

The flurry of emails become a lengthy debate during the Seven Lakes West Landowners Association [SLWLA] Board's Tuesday, December 13 Work Session. But that discussion offered President Mick Herdrich the chance to clarify several key points of contention -- and to emphasize that the variance will not be granted unless developer Ron Myers can justify the request.

“As it stands now, that has not been presented," Herdrich said. "We still have a long way to go on this."

He also clarified that the request is for a variance to the annexation agreement, not the community’s covenants. Specifically, the developer is seeking a reduction in the minimum square footage requirement from 2,000 to 1,600 square feet for eight of the twelve proposed homes, citing concerns over impervious soils and the possibility that the current size requirements could force him to construct two-story dwellings.

Herdrich said economic considerations or marketability issues are not considered a justifiable reason for approval of a hardship variance.

He further explained that the majority of the SLWLA Board of Directors had been unaware of the variance request -- and of its approval by the Architectural Review Committee [ARC] in a split vote -- until after reading minutes from the ARC meeting. ARC Director John Hoffmann was traveling and unable to attend Tuesday's Work Session; but Herdrich explained that, following the ARC decision, Hoffmann contacted him for clarification on hardship variances and determined that the request should be reconsidered at the committee level.

“They [ARC] will take up the request once again," Herdrich said. "They will make a decision, and it will be reviewed by the Board in open session . . . . Yes, he [Hoffmann] was wrong, but I’m not sure he realized that at the time. That is why, once he had more facts, he decided to kick it back to the committee for more discussion.”

Three candidates boasting a diverse set of backgrounds and interests will run for a seat on the 2012-2013 Board of Directors of the Seven Lakes West Landowners Association [SLWLA].

Jim Pierman, Dan Blue, and Bruce Keyser, Sr. will formally introduce themselves at a Candidate’s Night event during the Board Work Session on Tuesday, January 24, Nominating Committee Chair Jane Sessler announced at the Tuesday, December 13 Board Meeting.

“I would like to thank them for stepping forward -- and also thank the committee for the many hours spent interviewing many people in the community,” Sessler said. “We have some very qualified candidates, and these gentlemen will bring some very different perspectives to our Board.”

Bruce Keyser is a longtime area resident, living in Seven Lakes North for fourteen years before later settling in Seven Lakes West, where he and his wife, Sandi, have lived for fifteen years. Now semi-retired, he has owned several area businesses. Keyser is involved with various civic organizations, and currently serves as Commodore of the Seven Lakes Sailing Club. He was recently appointed to the Lake & Dam Committee and previously served on the Johnson Point subcommittee. He is a member of the Seven Lakes Sports Club and has participated in Neighborhood Watch. In addition, he is an active member of the West End United Methodist Church. Keyser’s primary interests in serving on the SLWLA Board are lakes, infrastructure, and communication.

Moore County native Dan Blue is also a longtime resident of Seven Lakes West, owning property in the community for twenty-four years. He is the owner of BlueWeb Design and has professional experience in recruitment, sales, and event management. Blue is a member of the Seven Lakes Sailing Club and an avid racer. In addition, he tutors computer science at Sandhills Community College and volunteers with the Moore County Literacy Council. Blue maintains websites for the Sunrise Theatre and the Sailing Club. His primary interests in serving on the SLWLA Board are in long range planning, particularly infrastructure issues related to roads, drainage, and amenities.

Jim Pierman retired from nearly thirty years with Ford Motor Company in Michigan, settling in Seven Lakes West in 2007. He writes the Sports Line newsletter for the Seven Lakes Sports Club and volunteers at Moore Regional Hospital, repairing and maintaining wheelchairs and stretchers. He particularly enjoys tinkering with motors and digital circuits, in addition to pursuing a range of pastimes that include motorcycles, snowmobiling, and rifle and pistol shooting, among other interests. His professional background includes experience in planning, product development, facility projects, budgeting, and environmental issues.

Current Directors Adam Wimberly, John Goodman, and John Hoffman will all be retiring from the Board, each after completing one three-year term of service.

Former Foxfire Police Chief Rick Rhyne was killed in the line of duty Thursday afternoon, December 8.

Rhyne, 58, has served as a deputy with the Moore County Sheriff's Office since 2007. According to a news release from Sheriff Lane Carter, Rhyne was shot while attempting to arrest Martin Abel Poynter on a child support warrant.

Responding to a report of trespassing at a home in Lobelia, Rhyne stopped two suspects. Checking to see whether there were outstanding warrants for either of the suspects, he was informed of an outstanding child support warrant for Poynter.

According to the Sheriff's Office, when Rhyne attempted to arrest Poynter, the suspect pulled out a pistol, shot Rhyne, and then shot himself. Poynter died at the scene.

Rhyne served as the Chief of Police for Foxfire Village for twenty six years and served for seven years before that with the Village of Pinehurst police force.

The Budd Group, a Charlotte-based firm, was awarded the security contract for the Seven Lakes Landowners Association [SLLA], in a unanimous decision during the November 16 Board of Directors Open Meeting.

While the new contract will offer a reduced rate overall, SLLA President Bob Darr noted that cost was not the primary motivation for selecting Budd over SFI, the current vendor.

“We wanted to make sure we were getting the most bang for our buck," Darr said, "and whether we were getting the services we wanted. The Budd Group is a fairly local and a relatively small business. The feedback we received on them was excellent; and what they do, that I find appealing, is they are very locally-oriented. They look at each contract individually to zero in on and solve any problems.”

“Yes, there will be a reduction in costs," Darr concluded, "but I am also very hopeful that we will get much better security.”

Security Director Andy Lowe said he was particularly impressed by The Budd Group’s training programs, which will bring all security staff up to NC standards.

Recognizing that the final decision was made swiftly, SLLA Treasurer Conrad Meyer reported that six firms had submitted bids and, of those, current security contractor SFI and two others were invited to participate in a more-detailed interview process. He said the cost differences between the top three candidates had been insignificant, prompting the Board to consider other aspects of each contract.

“Price wasn’t the driving factor," Meyer said. "We looked at other intangible factors, such as their willingness to customize services to the Association.”

He noted that The Budd Group will be interviewing for positions and anticipated that community residents will see some new faces at the gatehouses, as well as a few familiar individuals.

“It’s not like all of our present force will lose their jobs, and we will have all new guards,” said Meyer.

In addition, he noted that the annual contract includes an initial thirty-day provisional period, which allows the option for either entity to back out.

A proposed expansion of the Carthage Extraterritorial Jurisdication [ETJ] was unanimously rejected by the Moore County Board of Commissioners during their Tuesday, November 15 meeting. More than eighty Moore County residents who attended the meeting greeted the decision with a standing ovation.

The Carthage Board of Commissioners had asked to extend the ETJ to include 371 parcels of land -- a total of 5,700 acres.

"All we want is the one mile around our town to protect our boundaries,” Town Manager Carol Sparks explained during the public hearing.

North Carolina General Statutes allow towns one-mile -- and, in some cases, two-mile -- ETJs, so that they can exert some control over development in areas just outside the city limits. But the General Statutes also make the enlargement of a town's ETJ subject to approval by the county Board of Commissioners.

Because Carthage has annexed areas in its ETJ, making them part of the town, the ETJ in some spots no longer extends a full mile from the municipal limits.

When questioned by Commissioner Tim Lea about whether or not the expanded ETJ would eventually lead to annexation, Sparks denied that was the motive. Referring to the residents of the areas that would be rolled into the expanded ETJ, Sparks said, “They're not paying any taxes. They're not going to pay any taxes.”

"The whole purpose of this is to protect the town," she added.

Tom Brady, a landowner in the proposed ETJ expansion area, told the Commissioners, “It is one thing to say today that there will be no tax implications with expanding the ETJ. But it is a foot in the door for future fees, more regulation, and taxes.”