Seven Lakes ended the decade just past with 1,674 more residents than when it began — a 52 percent jump that took the community’s total population from 3,214 to 4,888.

But that hefty growth rate is by no means the county’s highest. Just released early figures from the 2010 US Census show that the Village of Foxfire increased its population from 478 to 901, a 91 percent gain that represents the county’s fastest growth rate.

Though Seven Lakes is not officially a town (the Census Bureau calls it a “Census-Designated Place”), it is Moore County’s fourth largest community, trailing only Pinehurst (13,124), Southern Pines (12,334), and Aberdeen (6,350). Among the big towns, Pinehurst is, in the 2010 Census, now larger than Southern Pines, having added 3,418 to its population in ten years, compared to 1,416 for Southern Pines.

Aberdeen is not only significantly larger than Seven Lakes, it is growing much faster, posting an 87% gain in ten years, versus 52% for Seven Lakes.

Overall, the county’s population grew by 18%, from 74,769 to 88,247.

Two weeks prior to the end of his term, Treasurer Denny Galford resigned his position on the Seven Lakes Landowners Association [SLLA] Board of Directors in a surprise announcement at the conclusion of the Monday, March 14 Work Session.

Unwilling to violate a self-imposed code of silence that has become common practice for sitting SLLA directors, Galford first peppered Community Manager Alina Cochran with a to-do list of financially-related items and then read a statement of his intent to resign and explained his decision to directly address his critics.

“Early in my term as a volunteer board member, there were many unfavorable comments directed only to me,” Galford said. “However, recently the tone is a return to what we had four or five years ago. It is unbelievable what Board members are receiving; and, as volunteers, we do not deserve that level of abuse.”

He specifically cited criticism alleging director incompetence over a recently approved amendment to the 2007 Agreement between the Association and the Seven Lakes Country Club [SLCC] over future development of the old driving range. Galford expressed his disappointment in The Times for being “quick to print” negative viewpoints.

“Saying we allowed the Club to destroy property values ignores what members understand: when the property values will drop is when the Club ceases to exist,” Galford said. “The Club is not an adversary of the landowners. It brings in 9,000 to 10,000 guests a year to Seven Lakes and is ranked eighty-third in the state. The Club needs the community and, likewise, the community needs the Club.”

The only fellow board member to ask Galford to reconsider, Director Kent Droppers said he respected his position; but expressed concerns about the time frame. [Galford is not running for reelection and his term was set to expire at the Annual Meeting, less than two weeks away.]

“We often approached things differently, but I would ask that you reconsider,” Droppers said.

“By virtue of resigning, it sets a precedent. This is difficult for all of us, but you’re elected to this Board to do what is in the best interest of the community. We can all disagree without being disagreeable.”

Immediately prior to their March 14 Work Session, the Seven Lakes Landowners Association [SLLA] Board held a closed meeting to discuss dues collections policies with Community Manager Alina Cochran and the Talis upper management team.

“The collection policy brought forward will codify the steps that will be taken, with various notices,” explained Vince Matal, President of Talis Management Group. “The idea is to get a firm stable policy that can be addressed uniformly across the board.”

The proposed collection policy outlines steps for a first notice, second notice, third notice, and then how the matter could be potentially resolved with a lien or foreclosure proceeding. Matal described the policy as standard practice, with a slightly modified approach for Seven Lakes.

It was noted that an account that had been delinquent for years was recently paid in full after a lien was filed on the property.

“It’s fair. It’s equitable. It’s consistent, and it will get us our money,” said Director Kent Droppers. “This is a great step.”

The proposed policy will be posted on the community website and is available at the office for review. Action on the policy will be considered by the incoming Board at a future meeting.

“Our intent is to get this on the table and to get landowners to start looking ahead. It will be up to the next Board to, hopefully, approve it at the end of April,” explained SLLA President Randy Zielsdorf.

The Seven Lakes West Landowners Association Board unanimously approved, during its Tuesday, March 8 Work Session, a Financial Investment Strategy Policy that will be used for the Association’s cash and reserves. Treasurer Don Freiert outlined the policy’s three goals for his fellow directors. They are:

• First, to preserve the principal or the safety of invested funds.

• Second, to allow the Association ready access to funds needed on a short term basis.

• Third, to attain the highest yield possible on invested funds. Implementation of the Investment Strategy Policy will be coordinated with the goals of the Long Range Planning Committee so that the availability of cash is scheduled to coincide with future projects.

Events Committee Director Jane Sessler said she was “happy to see long range planning” coupled with “long range finances.”

Freiert emphasized that the goals of the new policy can be met by having both short and long term strategies. The short term strategy is to have enough money in a checking or money market account to meet three months worth of operating expenses, which Freiert estimated at $225,000.

The long term strategy would take the balance of the Association’s funds and distribute it into three categories: Safety, Liquidity, and Yield Maximization. “Safety” would be invested in Certificates of Deposit, US debt instruments such as treasury obligations, and corporate debt with “investment grade” ratings.

“Liquidity” investments should be set up so that money can be removed from accounts before maturity at a very minimal cost, Freiert said. “Yield Maximization” funds will allow the Treasurer to examine alternate investments and find the best yields available at any time for the Association.

On a quarterly basis, the Treasurer will report to the Board on upcoming financial needs, investments, and reinvestments of available funds — and also report on the principal activities in the Association’s investment portfolio.

The Greater Seven Lake Community Council [GSLCC] met with the Moore County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, March 8 to discuss water, zoning, the county budget, and road standards in private communities.

Though the Council also wanted to weigh in on the proposed Pine Forest subdivision, County Attorney Misty Leland told Council members and the audience that the Board of Commissioners could not receive any comments or questions pertaining to the Pine Forest development because quasi-judicial public hearings are still underway. The next Pine Forest hearing is scheduled for a Special Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, March 29 at 5 pm in Carthage.

Seven?Lakes Water

In response to Council questions, Public Works Director Dennis Brobst laid out three water supply options for Seven Lakes.

The first option is to simply continue to use the one million gallons per day water piped from Pinehurst to Seven Lakes through a water main that parallels NC Highway 21. Though this is adequate to meet Seven Lakes’ needs on most days, on peak irrigation days in the Summer, Seven Lakers have consumed more than 800,000 gallons per day. Without some additional supply, Brobst said, the Seven Lakes community could “tap out” of water.

The county has expanded the supply of water produced in Pinehurst with new wells 5A, 6A, and 3A. Water supply management will be enhanced through a newly completed computerized SCADA system that can report exactly where improvements are needed, so the community can get the “biggest bang for the buck” said Brobst.

A second option for providing more water to Seven Lakes is to extend a water line down NC Highway 73 from the Dormie Club, another private community, to Seven Lakes. That $1.5 million upgrade would provide some redundancy to the NC Highway 211 water line, Brobst said, but would would not actually increase the amount of water available in the overall system.