Year End President's Letter - 2013
Hi Everyone,
It’s again a pleasure for me to send holiday wishes to all co-owners/neighbors on behalf of your BoD. By all accounts, 2013 was another good year for our association and we would briefly like to touch upon some of those areas of accomplishment.
This year was definitely a very active year when it comes to our landscaping.
Probably the most significant event was the resignation of Walt as our Landscaping Committee Chairperson and his replacement by John Higgins. I have expressed my gratitude to both Walt and John thanking them in earlier emails for stepping up to the plate when it was needed. I have always maintained that two of the most important elements of a well run associations are its financials and physical appearance/landscaping. I am confident that the landscaping torch will be successfully transferred and we will continue to look upon our landscaping with pride.
We also successfully completed two fairly major projects that will better prepare us for the future. The first was the replacement of the garage islands stones and sea grasses with natural turf and the addition of irrigation capability to those areas. They had exceeded their natural life and would have required extensive rework, cost, and future maintenance to continue with the original design theme. The new "look" turned out very nice and special thanks should go to Walt and Wendy, who managed this project.
The second project was installation of a new in ground well and submergible pump to resolve our on-going lake filter irrigation problems, which have haunted us since day one. This required that we take a completely new direction on how we acquired clean water to irrigate our landscape at a reasonable cost and minimal baby-sitting. Although this new system has yet to be verified once the warm weather returns, we are very encouraged with the initial results we have seen so far and experience that others have reported with similar systems. I handled the management of this project, which also included the removal of three trees at the north end of the property next to Unit #1.
Dave Mielock and his Maintenance & Repair Committee continue to stay on top of our minor repairs and preventative maintenance items. Deck repairs, minor siding leaks, gate adjustments, and beach erosion protection, are all examples of the little things that are done on an on-going basis that pay dividends for us in the long term. This committee has also been very helpful to the BoD in reviewing the Maintenance Responsibility Matrix and providing communications to the co-owner on their responsibility.
Dave Groulx and his Architecture Review Committee continue to address architectural items as they arise and this year saw the approval of garage door keypads.
Laurie Irish and her Activities and Welcoming Committee hosted another fine 4th of July party for the association co-owners and their guests. Laurie has suggested that we might want to consider other activities that meet the original intent of this committee to replace the picnic. More discussion will be held on this topic next year.
It should be noted that besides the actual work that committees perform; they also provide a very valuable service to the BoD by spreading the work across non-BoD members. Things like making follow-up contacts with co-owners on their requests, directing them to pertinent decisions, policies, and other information, and researching the pros and cons of any recommendations that are made.
Finally, we retain a strong financial balance sheet both in our short-term budget performance and with our long-term asset repair/replacement program (reserve funding).
As I look back over the past 12 months -- I am very pleased! We continue to set the competitive benchmark for area condominiums with our high selling price/value, low property taxes, low maintenance fees, low total cost of ownership. But, beyond the physical asset management items for our association, I am most impressed with the friendships and comadarie that has developed between all association members. We have learned to live in harmony with each other and to enjoy the company of our new “circle of friends.” To me, this embodies the true spirit of the holiday season and we get to have it the entire year!
On behalf of the BoD, we wish you a safe, healthy and happy holiday and hope that the next year will be as good as the last.
Regards,
Your Board of Directors
Joe Kushuba Mary Connolly Wendy Burdgick
