Contributor opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the website owner - Your articles welcome
March 2004 – Issue 2.0
MISSION - FORUM - NOV03 - DEC03 - JAN04

In this issue: The Bond Panacea...Builder Violations...Reasons to Avoid Board Meetings...Untapped Funding Sources

The Bond Panacea

I met another resident walking the dog, who told me the Board is considering a five million dollar bond to fix up everything. I almost choked. This is the same board who has blown away uncountable sums on dysfunctional electric gates, unnecessary guard contracts, inconvenient trash disposal, substandard utility work, unqualified management and a dozen other financial fubars. But necessity may prevail according to some sources. My major concern is:

If you borrow money you have to pay it back!

I assume the "everything" refers to the clubhouse, all the roads and utilities and a big pork barrel fund for the GM. I'd like to know what happened to the Developer who was supposed to fix up the clubhouse, the gatehouse and the roads. I guess the critics were right - they are here to make money.

I'd like to see some accountability before I volunteer to have my assessment increased. Show me some improvements with my Road Money, and show me some justification and cost numbers - not vague generalities - and maybe I'll buy in.

Builder Violations

The Following e-mail text was sent to the LHCC office on 3/4/04 with copy to thesummitadvisor. Strict new rules were recently passed by the Architectural Committee regarding such violations. Let's see how they play out...

Good Afternoon,   At the intersection of Northwood and Northwood cir. there are two homes being built.  The builder and workers have tracked a great deal of mud onto the paved road that is being tracked for several blocks in both directions creating a very messy situation.   It would be appreciated by all in our area if you could brooch this issue with the builder as soon as possible.  The builders have the responsibility to insure that this does not happen and to clean it up immediately when it does. Thank You in advance for your time in this matter. -Bill Masters 

Reasons to Avoid Board Meetings

1. The Open Forum is reminiscent of the Gong Show.
2. You can't speak during the meeting even if you have pertinent information.
3. You can't hear because no one uses the mics.
4. You can't understand because of cryptic references to board book section and page.
5. You leave with more questions than you came with.
6. You can read about it next month on the website (but #4 still applies).
7. The worst they can do (with you present or not) is raise your annual assessment by a maximum percent set by law.
8. The really good stuff happens in executive session.
9. Booze and snacks are not allowed even if concealed.
10. Tuesday night TV is far more entertaining.

Untapped Funding Sources
by Bill Adams.

If I were on the board I would advocate...

1. Revisit use of the kiosk area for a county dumpsite. As of last fall the Public Works Department was still interested in relocation the Gainesboro facility. The area would be screened similar to the Albin facility and traffic increase would be minimal (Same as Gainesboro facility + 701 traffic). Visibly it would be no worse than the trailers parked nearby. Use the rent revenue for capital improvement such as the clubhouse and roads. The Summit would then have a convenient trash and recycle facility.

2. Next, get rid of the compactor. Use the remainder of the $50k budget allocation for capital improvements.

3. Then get rid of the compactor operator. Use the $20-30k/yr. for capital improvements.

4. Get rid of the roving patrol. Use the remainder of the $18k budget allocation for capital improvements.

5. Refill the GM job at the end of the three year commitment with a $44k person and allocate the $20k saved for capital improvements. Corporations do this all the time.

6. Rename the conformance/damage bond as a Construction Road Use Fee and keep it. Use the $80k/year (40 homes X $2000) for capital improvements. Charge an additional fee if incomplete in one year. Find other incentives to comply with final inspection by Architectural Committee.

7. Publicly acknowledge or reward savings by board members, committee members and hired personnel (an under-budget incentive). Scrutinize and reprimand spending to, or over the budget limit.

8. Rent the completed clubhouse for external meetings, receptions and other events. Use the income to fund capital improvements. The sooner funds are funneled into this project the sooner it can pay off. The above items in aggregate come close to funding completion in a year.