October 26, 2012 DID YOU KNOW?
If you missed October’s Community Meeting, you missed POA Board Larry Knapp’s update. You can watch a video of the meeting. Contact the POA office for details. Below, a summary of what’s been happening, and what plans the POA Board has for the near future. (See the POA website http://www.hoatown.com/fhpoa2 for the complete text)
Larry began the meeting by expressing appreciation for our management company, CAS, and our security, the BUDD Group. CAS manages more than 200 communities, including nearby Taberna, and BUDD is the ultimate in professionalism. He stated that we now have no POA employees, with no liability, and yet function at a similar cost.
Next, he praised the new Engineering Assistance Committee, the members of which volunteered themselves in service to our community. The four members, Herman Bozenhardt, Ed Buglovsky, George Ross, and Joe Schulties began by renegotiating our Suddenlink phone contract and saving the community more than $300 per month, or $3600+ per year! They are presently investigating solutions for our aging gates
Larry then explained that the Board had invited experts to assess the entrance fountains and what it would take to repair them. Plumbing and wiring were labeled dysfunctional, dangerous, and very expensive to repair. Our fountains themselves? 70’s and 80’s style – out of date, and, an insurance liability without required four foot fencing. Current North Carolina code deems them pools, and the fencing would have to have slats no more than 4” apart to meet regulations. The other option? Chain link.
A few find change difficult to accept; fortunately, most of us realize that, sometimes, change can be a positive thing. The proposed design will modernize our entrance and save us money as well. We should see the results in a few weeks.
Next on the agenda was Shoreline. Larry recognized that the deplorable condition of what once was the Shoreline golf course is first on our list, and he acknowledged letters and e-mails spurred by Don Taylor’s recent plea to owners of properties bordering the defunct course. Safety is a primary concern since the wild area harbors mosquitoes, coyotes and poisonous snakes among the fields of dog-fennel. It has been of primary concern for the Board, as well. He explained that Billy Casper Golf manages the marinas and the Harbour Pointe course, but they have tried to help with their limited manpower and equipment, despite being criticized by several homeowners.
A pending engineering report commissioned by MidSouth is expected to recommend the demolition of the clubhouse and cart shed.
What has been considered?
A “controlled burn” planned for the cart barn, and agreed to by MidSouth and the fire department had to be abandoned because the cart barn contains asbestos.
Asbestos removal is prohibitively expensive.
Farmers who were invited to mow for forage for their animals had equipment designed to plow, not mow. It was too heavy for the ground to support without damage to the property.
After an initial mowing, property owners could volunteer to maintain the areas behind their homes. The potential liability issues frightened our lawyers and our insurance company.
The POA could purchase the heavy-duty equipment needed, but the POA does not own the property.
Suing MidSouth would be expensive, and fruitless. (We are still waiting for the $1.45 million.) However, the POA is still exploring MidSouth options, as well as third-party options which it can’t discuss now, but will, if something happens.
The courts have determined that our Exhibit E can use POA funds to maintain properties. That said, although the POA is reluctant to use POA funds to maintain MidSouth property, the maintenance would be cost-effective, enhancing the appearance of the community, and raising morale – and property values. The cost of seasonal mowing would be $90,000 per nine-month period, or $31.87 per property owner, per year.
MidSouth has agreed, in an e-mail from their Chief Financial Officer, to engage a POA identified “Company” directly, to have Steve Parker of Billy Casper Golf review the Shoreline area with the selected Comapny to develop a Purchase Order outlining the scope of work needed – debris removal first, then brush mowing. MidSouth will execute the Order with the Company. The initial scope of work will not exceed four days at $1950 per day, with MidSouth coordinating with Billy Casper Golf prior to the winter season to continue the proposed cleanup through the winter season.
However, as a contingency, and to protect the health and welfare of this community, the Board plans to budget for mowing, so that mowing will occur even should other solutions fail to materialize.
Larry then spoke of the ongoing conspiracy lawsuit and read the charges made by the 24 litigants against the POA Board and, by extension, the community. He stated that, judging from the depositions given by those litigants and their supporters, he and the other Directors were more certain than ever that the POA would prevail. He then assured the audience that neither lawsuits nor the County Compass’ negative press would deter the POA Board from continuing to seek the best solutions for the community.
The Hurricane Irene Cleanup, Neighborhood Watch, Harbour Helpers and all of our many volunteer groups, Craven County 300, Billy Casper Golf, the beautiful waterways and the many other good things about Fairfield Harbour had received positive attention, Larry said. We have been recognized for the progress we’ve made, the good things we are, and the positive plans we have for the future.
The Community Association Institute (CAI) evaluated 900 associations in North Carolina, 50 of them classified as “extra large mixed-use,” and named Fairfield Harbour Extra Large Mixed Use Community of the Year!
Mystre’ Van Horn was awarded CAI’s On Site Community Manager of Distinction! See Breaking News for details. Larry thanked Bob Dumon, Kathie King, Margaret Rose, Chris Skrotsky, Gloria Hodgert, Ruth Mitchell, and Sarah Herman for helping to make the award possible.
What’s on the horizon besides mowing?
- The second Wednesday of every month, two POA Directors will meet for coffee with property owners in the Activity Center to learn needs and concerns. The first is November 14 at 9 am.
- Our difficult to maintain gate system will replaced and augmented by video surveillance at all entrances.
- Our guard houses improved or replaced, and traffic flow improved
- Storm water and drainage control will be ongoing
- Community Center and Firehouse improvement project will continue
- Tennis courts and boat ramps will be repaired
- Red Sail Park will have enhanced security lighting
- The POA will have a new and friendlier web site
- Needed equipment will be acquired
- Lane markers on roads will be replaced
- Backup generators will be in place for use during outages
If you have other ideas or suggestions for the 2013 budget year, now’s the time to tell the POA!
November 11, Veterans Day, Fairfield Harbour will have its own flag ceremony at 2 pm. Flags of each service will be added to our entrance. A reception at the Community Center will follow.
ALERT! From Ann Simpson, president of the Garden Club
The Southern Pine Beetle, 1/8 inch long, voracious and prolific, threaten our pines, particularly those stressed by water deprivation or lawn encroachment. Give your trees room to breathe, and watch for tops that turn yellow, then yellow orange, then brown. They may be infected, and the infection may spread. Click on the link below for more details.
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/O&T/trees/note82/note82.html