An independent source of news and commentary concerning Lake Holiday POA in Cross Junction, VA
February 2006 – Issue 02/26
thesummitadvisor.com ... Links & Archive ... Bulletin Board

Board OKs Clubhouse

The Board of Directors approved the Clubhouse Community Task Force recommendation Feb 8th to proceed with the renovation of the existing clubhouse. The replacement was too small, had too few rooms and in general did not meet the needs of the community. The renovation is to be based on the 2004 plans with some modifications. John Conrad of LHLLC was present and agreed this was the best approach. The materials presented to the Board are available at the Lake Holiday website at http://www.lake-holiday.org/CCTFArticles.html

The Project Schedule posted there indicates the next steps - The Architect will incorporate features identified by the CCTF into the plans and the RFP Task Force will package the plans into a RFP, with reviews and approvals along the way.

Response Letter to be Sent

The Board of Directors approved a response supported by counsel to the recent Ogunquit allegations and solicitation regarding the Utility Company, to be distributed shortly. It may be wise to hear the official Lake Holiday side, and some of the possible implications of jumping to the Ogunquit "you may be entitled..." conclusion. If this complaint gets SCC attention, there could be a domino effect which stalls the transition of the utility, keeps the rates at current LHEUC levels, delays the reduced Aqua rates, and impairs the funding of future projects including the clubhouse and dam. Always know what you are signing...You can't take it back.

A Brighter Future

Despite the criticism we print in the Advisor, things are actually pretty good. It is the nature of journalism to focus on singular issues and exploit them to the favor of the reader. But more often than not, the majority of good things are ignored. In the national press it's the prospering economy and spread of democracy in a post 9/11 world. In Lake Holiday its the appreciation of property values coincident with the resumption of development.

This year we may actually see the clubhouse open. The Board will decide direction Feb 8 based on clubhouse task force recommendations. Most of the documentation is available on the Lake Holiday website under the LHCC Clubhouse link. A new Lake Holiday website "Roundtable" community forum is also accessible. The sale of the utility company to Aqua America, while disputed by some, is a positive step toward professional management of our system. Private management by volunteers has long been a costly and makeshift operation.

We are often critical of the Board of Directors, usually with some constructive intent. But often overlooked is the hundreds of hours per month that some put into this volunteer effort. I for one believe that there is no intentional wrongdoing by any Board members. Faced with dozens of decisions each Month, with often little time to prepare, there are bound to be miscues. If we fired everyone that ever make a mistake, there would be no one left.

Town Hall meetings are a under utilized conduit for truth and reality. Disclosures and rationale discussed at these meetings mitigate a lot of the suspicions and allegations we see in our forum and BB. The utility rates, for example were rationalized and projected as early as late summer, and were apparently missed by some of our contributors. If more were to attend, and voice their comments and questions directly, much of the unrest would be put to bed early.

Lastly, we are fortunate to live in a community with many amenities and activities. It is really difficult to find a better place to live. Everywhere I have looked, I would give up something. So while we remain vigilant with respect to community direction, we are also appreciative of the efforts of the many volunteers and staff, past and present, who are responsible for making Lake Holiday what it is today. Our Forum and BB remain open for rebuttal. - Bill Adams

Speed Bumps Installed

The long awaited arrival of speed bumps on Lake Holiday Drive is over. Residents may now feel secure that reckless speeders will be sent helplessly careening off the road, disabled and humiliated. The bright yellow plastic additions replace the makeshift sunken ditch version left by the utility company, and are sure to be a hit with those with low clearance vehicles.

Mankind has long searched for an effective way to impede traffic. Speed bumps were first employed by Paleolithic hunters to slow game so that they may be speared easily. Today they help cull the population by preventing emergency equipment from arriving in a timely manner. They enhance the economy by creating automotive work resulting from rear end collisions and broken suspension parts. They put excess capital to use by insuring early replacement of snow plowing equipment. They help dislodge excess payload from overburdened vehicles and force cyclists to the shoulder where they belong.

Impediments are the product of focused minds. Without them we would drift through life without purpose. It takes tenacity to insist on decisions in the face of unanimous opposition, which solve a single problem and ignore the consequences. We trust that most do not drive with the same blinders they use in decision making. When hear that familiar thump-thump-rattle-crunch, think of how void life would be without speed bumps.

Update: The speed bumps were reported removed. See e-mail below.

Residents Forum Section

Residents e-mails for the Month are printed below to simplify your navigation and our maintenance. Be a star reporter or commentator and sent your e-mail to forum@thesummitadvisor.com <--note new address!

Your e-mails are listed below in chronological order. Entries may be archived or removed every Month and/or at our discretion. Entry text is limited to 500 words (about 25 lines in this format) and may be edited to conform to standards of heading format, font and length. We do not correct spelling or grammer. By sending e-mail to forum@thesummitadvisor.com, you indicate your permission to publish here, unless you state otherwise. Retractions from same e-mail IDs will be honored - please indicate subject and date. Date and Subject will be included from the heading. If you wish your name or pseudonym known please include it in the text. Please do not send attachments - text only!

Date: 2/1/2006 18:48:59 -0500
Subject: Golf Course
Mr. Field and Dueweke bring up good points about the water use if a golf course is ever opened here again. I've asked the same questions in the past and no one on any of the past boards could give me correct figures on what possible usage could be in drought conditions. (It's really simple, you can call the grounds keeper at a local club and get a pretty good idea.) My brother, who managed a golf course in VA, has told me the cost to repair the greens and fairways and water usage in the summer in this area. He has seen the cow path we call a golf course. Chemical run off will happen and according to the VA Fish and Game it will have a tremendous effect on our only resource pleasure in the Summit. You can bet some of the idiots on the board haven't thought of water usage or run off, only how they can charge for water or right of ways. We will screw this beautiful lake up the question is when???

You'd have to ask why anybody would want to invest in the course at the Summit when there are a dozen courses in our area that will always be better than this one. I guess someone could be crazy enough to think the Summit could support it with all of the homes. But I doubt it.

Jack Sperry

Date: 2/5/2006 22:55:17 -0500
Subject: Speed Bumps
Here and gone already. They were taken up Saturday. They used the wrong type anyway, to high and they couldn't run a snow plow over them. They need the wider and a lower profile. These were actually parking curbs used at the end of parking spaces I think.

Date: 2/9/2006 13:15:07 -0500
Subject: speed bumps
Your dramatization of speed bumps was a bit over zealous and shortsighted and instigating. Of course no one likes speed bumps and that includes me. Yes the design was all wrong and unfortunately costly . And yes there are speed bumps that will work and accommodate emergency vehicle traffic and plows.

It is totally sad that lake Holiday rd has become an extreme speedway, and even sadder that children are restricted from using their bikes, and families are always on edge pulling in and out of their driveways while some human has the need to go 60 mph and you can always count on 45 mph 24/7. I have seen speeds countless times without exaggeration of 70 mph + and races, now combine that with large construction trucks coming in and out all day 6 days a week people yakking on cell phones as they drive and you are sitting on a time bomb.

DUH,, IS ANY BODY OUT THERE !!!

If any one can not see this inherent danger than you are no where near tuned in to the realities of this situation. This hill combined with the 4 blind spots poses a special problem and has to be realized in that context. Now that the school bus stop has been moved the children are walking down Lake Holiday rd and Colonial ( which also is narrow and has blind spots ) where as they used to cut through the Goof course. That means the hazard has become even more so.

I have proposed an electronic system that is pretty much off the shelf stuff that would eliminate the need for speed bumps . If you knowingly speed you get caught, if you don't speed you won't, simple as that. Ever since rubber hit the roads speeding has been a problem and there is no total cure. As long as there are people who have no regard, or respect for others safety the problem will continue.So what in the hell do you do ?? And whatever that may be it HAS to be done before someone gets killed THAT MEANS NOW.

So now that "hopefully" you are tuned in and want to be vocal and want to do something positive why don't you send out a email/letter asking for every ones verbal promise that they will obey the laws of this establishment . If you can get them all to commit to that then the need for preventative medicine won't be necessary will it.. Let's see how far you get with that approach. Good luck.

As an editor you should start using your head more than your pen for your head. That's a wake up call for you not a put down if you can objectively accept it that way. Chance

Date: 2/11/2006 13:36:03 -0500
Subject: Is any body out there? Reply.
Speeding is a big problem but it isn't the only one. How about we parents teach our school bus bound kids to walk, not in the MIDDLE of the road but on the SIDE of the road, FACING the oncoming traffic? I wish I had a dime for every walker I've seen strolling along with their back to the oncoming traffic! You're not in the city, folks! No sidewalks! And, how about those of you who walk the dog at night wearing dark clothes? Just asking to be hit. I'm surprised that we haven't had a tragedy.

Date: 2/12/2006 21:35:26 -0500
Subject: Bulletin Board
Hope all look at the <http://thesummitadvisor.com/phpBB>; Bulletin Board
One there click on the different items. One can read as well as join in by simply clicking on reply. I is open to all.

Date: 2/13/2006 12:12:07 EST
Subject: more money, more money
Well it looks like the board is on its heels again explaining why the rates went up. I still want to know how we ended on the short end of the largest land steal in the state of Virginia. What are all those lots worth now? Ask the developer. And quit telling us how the boards wonderful decisions have raised our property values up. EVERYONES WENT UP DOH!! So stop riding that horse. Now were going to fix up the club house. I can't wait to see how many committee's there are for that. Chuck and Chris can't possibly have that much time on there hands. The roads need re paved now, not whenever. I think a moratorium on the board should be put in place. No money spent on anything but roads, sewer and water and dam. And finally, no more crap about how the board is on the side of the people not the developer. Do you really think we are that stupid? Bus stop, gate, new mailboxes, village signs, selected paving. Bill we need the Advisor as a place to vent without fear of reprisals. Small sips of there kool-aid will lead to gulps, so please don't hang us out to dry.

Date: 2/13/2006 15:06:27 -0500
Subject: Is anybody out there!
Ah, yes we are out there! There are inherent problems any time you have cars with people around especially if those cars are speeding and are ignorant of those people around them. What is being done about it? Speed bumps become deterrents for continual “high” speed but don’t eliminate the “jack rabbitting” from one bump to the other. I agree the appropriate type of speed bumps will help, but what about the other traffics issues we have here? Just spend some time at a stop sign and see how many people stop, even if it’s a rolling stop, or cut you off when you have the right of way. And how about the dumpsters and building materials stacked on the already narrow roadways? Compliance Committee, where are you?

Speeding and road obstacles are but a growing list of safety issues that continue to be ignored. Maybe reporting these individuals will do the trick as well as posting the offenders cars and tag number on the website and newsletter. If as stated above that speeding at 45 mph is 24/7 in a particular area, I’m sure it won’t take long to obtain a list of offenders. That list should be forwarded to the office AND to the Frederick Co. Sheriffs Office.

Secondly, the Summit Advisor is just that, an advisor to the community and one that I feel is an asset to that community. Try writing the same things to the “Round Table” on Lake Holiday’s website and see if it gets posted. Everyone is entitled to address issues, respond to issues or just ignore them. What we do is the important thing. Criticism of this site is frivolous as we all have a choice of whether or not we go to this site. If you don’t like what’s written, ignore it or don’t view it. At least here freedom of speech is alive and well and I tip my hat to Bill for his hard work. If it’s instigating, than instigate on.

The safety of our community is paramount and it will take all of us to make changes occur. I for one will take my own advice and start reporting those “offenders”, and I would encourage others to do the same. Gary

Date: 2/16/2006 21:45:35 -0500
Subject: SPEED BUMPS
Where are the Speed bumps? If you lived on Lake Holiday Road, your head would spin, literally due to the high volume of speeders along this long, straight stretch of road. The original speed bumps were totally out of character and did not work. Whoever purchased them had no idea what they were doing. They need to be in place, soon.

Date: 2/16/2006 22:27:54 -0500
Subject: good folks live here
Thank you for posting my past article on speed bumps. I must say that we all are genuinely concerned and it shows in some of the responses. I must add further that to make positive and constructive changes we all must start attending the regular monthly meetings . There and then only will you as community residents have the numbers to control your destiny .Meaning if you are not there the elected board will make what they consider the right thing to do they have no other choice.Our establishment is overwhelmed with problems that all need solved ASAP but that is an impossibility unless we all join in and assist.

In the 9 years I have resided here I have seen a lot of folks come and go including office personnel and board members and maintenance as well.In all reality we as residents bought into this establishment with hopes of a peaceful existence and a clean decent place to retire and finish out our days. On the surface it seemed that YES this would be a good choice so we bought in. But in truth we all ended up with the realization that a lot of bad has transpired and we are left to pick up the pieces and pay for those mistakes and sour unintelligent decisions. Those who are in the business of selling properties don't tell you the history and the current situations do they !! However in all honesty I still feel that this could be a wonderful place to live but we all must realize that as long as we are not there in person the road will continue to be a long and expensive one . I also believe that there still exists a possibility of strong community " UNITY " .

I see the need for involving our communities youth and affording them the needs and necessities that are normal . Like fishing tournaments ( from the bank or boat ) theater plays that develope character and many other functions that are regularly scheduled events they can count on.I volunteered once to come out at no charge and supply music including a full Karaoke system for the youth for a community picnic the response I got back was " WE LIKE IT THE WAY IT IS " That's about as mundane as you can get.Anyways I hope to see you all at the next meeting , we all together can turn this around .
UNITY, WORKS .Chance

Date: 2/17/2006 06:33:36
Subject: Not Speed Bumps
I kinda like the idea of a speed trap on Lake Holiday Road. Get the County in here and issue citations. Or even volunteers with a speed gun and camera. If a few buddies are ticketed, habitual speeders will think twice.

Date: 2/25/2006 21:50:37 -0500
Subject: Surprise, Surprise
I guess you can fool some of the people, some of the time, but you can't fool the SCC. It looks like the band of gypsies running LHCC have stepped in it again. It's one blunder after another and we're stuck with them. Either they're over spending or over charging. If we weren't living here, it would be comical to read about the stupidity that runs LHCC. But there's more on the horizon. We now have a chance to own the golf course. How much would you be willing to bet that the " Attractive Business Venture" involves the developer. They'll buy the golf course so they can build expensive homes on the lots that are include and we get a piece of land that will never be a golf course. We get to pay the taxes and fight the Russian Olive trees that run rampant on the course. Sounds like another idea made in heaven in the minds of the board. I wonder how badly we will get screwed on this deal and how much it will cost us down the road.

The Dam repairs loom in the near future. We've know for years that we needed to get this done but it's always a back burner project. How much have the repair costs gone up in the last 4 or 5 years?

Where are the "DOC's"?? How come Pat and the crew aren't out touting the changes. Surely the developer is waiting. Could all of the wasted money the last 6 months have made them nervous about bringing them up while the membership is looking for heads??

Awaiting your E-Mail...

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