In an unexpected announcement during the Monday, January 10, Seven Lakes Landowners Association [SLLA] Work Session, Community Manager Alina Cochran reported that she had received bids from three of six companies contacted for quotes on handling landscape maintenance for the Association -- a task that has up 'til now been handled by the in-house maintenance department.

The Board did not discuss of the proposals, but quickly approved the item for action on the January 26 Open Meeting agenda. But it was clear that the idea of outsourcing landscape maintenance has been on the table during frequent closed sessions held by the Board this year to discuss legal and personnel issues.

If a landscaping contract is awarded, the change would be in keeping with other decisions over the last few years that have moved day-to-day functions of the Association -- such as security and administration -- from in-house staffing to contracted service agreements.

Tuesday morning's Westside Work Session, already scheduled for a two-hour delay, has now been cancelled, Seven Lakes West Landowners Association [SLWLA] President Ron Shepard told The Times. Roads throughout the greater Seven Lakes area are ice-covered and treacherous, and non-critical travel is ill-advised.

Shepard said Thomas Trucking, which handles sand spreading and other snow and ice cleanup for Seven Lakes West, had been unable to roll its trucks, as of 9:30 am Tuesday.

The SLWLA Board is exploring options for an abbreviated meeting later today or later in the week in order to hold a vote on the proposed FY 2011-2012 budget, necessary before annual meeting packets can be finalized and the mailing readied by month's end.

The offices of both the Seven Lakes and Seven Lakes West Landowners Associations were closed Tuesday morning.

Moore County Schools are closed for a second day, with make-up days scheduled for the next two Saturdays. County offices are expected to open at 1:00 pm, though visitors would be wise to call the One Call Center at 910-947-4636 before making a trip.

As a beautiful blanket of fluffy white snow covers Seven Lakes Monday afternoon, weather perfect for sledding is interrupting and delaying business around town and around the county.

The start of the Seven Lakes West Landowners Association [SLWLA] Work Session scheduled for 9:00 am on Tuesday has been delayed until 11:00 am, according to Community Manager Joan Frost. Any decision about further delay or postponement will be made Tuesday Morning, Frost told The Times

The Seven Lakes Landowners Association [SLLA] Board of Directors braved an inch or two of the white stuff to complete their scheduled Work Session this morning. But the SLLA Office closed early, at 2:00 pm, and plans for opening on Tuesday are up in the air. Residents are encouraged to call 673-4931 before coming to the office to conduct business on Tuesday, to make sure it is open.

Moore County Schools [MCS] were closed today, and tonight's Board of Education meeting has been postponed. A make-up day has not yet been scheduled for the Board meeting.

Tim Lussier, MCS Advisor for Community Relations, told The Times that MCS will use Saturday, January 15 as a make up day for the missed day of school, in order to avoid cutting into the five-day Spring Break scheduled for the last week in March. If wintry weather closes school on Tuesday, as well, a second Saturday session or a shorter Spring Break, could be possible. Updates are available on the MCS website.

Moore County's Administrative and other offices were also closed on Monday, with Tuesday's status uncertain as of mid-afternoon Monday. Updates are available on the county website.

With a limited agenda and only three councilmen present, Mayor Pro Tem Ed Lauer presided over a short meeting of the Foxfire Village Council on Tuesday, December 14.

Taking another step towards completing the Woodland Circle Extension project, the Council unanimously approved a resolution to assess 100 percent of the cost of the improvement to the fourteen affected property owners.

Prior to the project’s commencement, ten of the fourteen owners, representing 67 percent of the linear frontage of the proposed road, signed a petition approving construction. Assessed property owners may elect to pay in full without interest within thirty days of notification, or over a five year period at a five percent rate of interest.

A Public Hearing on the Woodland Circle Extension will be held Thursday, January 13 at 7:00 pm in the Village Hall.

A major culvert replacement project on Longleaf Drive scheduled for the first week of January will effectively cut the community in half – with one side restricted to entering and exiting at the Seven Lakes West front gate, and the other side restricted to the back gate.

Barricades will be located at the culvert between Vanore Road and Wagoner Court. Work is anticipated to commence on Monday, January 3, and conclude on Friday, January 7.

A temporary guardhouse will be installed at the back gate and guards will be checking with vendors at the gates to determine if they need to be redirected to the other gate to reach their destination.