WPA MONTHLY MEETING MINUTES
March 16, 2021
Call to Order – Robert McMahan
Attendance – Robert McMahan, Adam Anderson, Stan Earnhart, Peggy Phillips, Tom Macedo, Bob Garrison, Jonathan Rutstein, Ken Gaspari, Gary Dreher
Absent– Quorum – Yes
Approval – Motion to approve February 16, 2021 Minutes made by Stan Earnhart. Motion seconded by Adam Anderson. All in favor. Motion Carried.
Officer Reports
Presidents Report – Robert McMahan reports, Thanks to everyone who came out tonight. We received a certificate from Adopt a Highway for the litter pickup on Wedgefield Road to 701. We see people who are interested in doing things for the community. Please join a committee or run for the board.
Vice Presidents Report – No report
Secretary’s Report– Stan Earnhart reports, Both of our recorders died during our last meeting. We have secured one new recorder for this meeting and will be purchasing another by our next meeting.
Treasurer’s Report– Peggy Phillips reports, As of February 28, 2021, our South State Operating had a balance of $210,651.68.
Our Reserve Account balances as of February 28, 2021, were: South Atlantic $186,588.73, Edward Jones $272,816.23, and TD Bank $133,365.25 for a total of $592,770.21. The Debit Card has a balance of $2,494.51 and the ARC Refundable Account has a balance of $18,514.34.
$75,000 was deposited into Reserves from the Operating Account per approval at our last meeting.
Committee Reports
ARC– Tom Macedo reports, The ARC Committee has been very busy. There are currently 16 new home applications. If its not a world record for the Plantation it should be close. There are numerous other ongoing projects.
Legal- Bob Garrison reports, Legal Committee had a meeting Tuesday night to deal with a few requests for a few very small strips of land to be quick claimed over to the adjacent property owner. Bob Garrison asks for the Board’s thoughts on doing this if the property owner is willing to pay for the survey, the WPA will pay for the cost of the Quick Claim deed. After discussion the Board agreed to this proposal.
The pending lawsuit has been referred to our insurance and they have appointed an attorney in Charleston that has filed an answer. There is a copy in our legal file and the complainant file.
Finance– Peggy Phillips reports, Per Policy, past due invoices along with copies of Association Policy pertaining to assessments were mailed in March to all accounts that had not paid for 2021.
Since then, we have collected 11 payments. We will continue to contact any owners that have not paid and will follow procedure in order to collect.
For this year, we have 58 unpaid accounts, 7 from previous years, and 22 from the undeveloped streets.
Per policy, property owners who have not paid their assessments, are no longer in good standing, not eligible to attend meetings, vote, receive marina cards and stickers, obtain approvals from ARC for improvements or renovations. Marina cards will be cancelled if payment is not received immediately.
Peggy makes a motion to deactivate marina cards that belong to residents who have not paid their 2021 assessments. Motion seconded by Tom Macedo. All in favor. Motion carried.
Communications– Jonathan Rutstein reports, The UPS store will print the Wragg for $1.78 per newsletter. If we print 400 copies, four times a year the cost will be $2,848 plus tax for a total cost of $3,018.80. We would have to label and mail them. Jonathan recommends that we provide the Wragg electronically and have copies available at the office.
The committee has discussed the need for an udate to the 2019 Association directory.
We have had a lot of new individuals purchase homes in Wedgefield and seems that the time is right to update the document. The Committee believes that we should add more information to the directory which would include email addresses. At present, we do not have a complete email list and have no uniform method of communication other than the quarterly WRAGG and WPA web page. Watch your mail boxes, we will be coming around with out flyers for updates.
The committee has also submitted to the Board information from Spectrum communications regarding a plan to cover the WPA with Spectrum cable and internet services. The plan was reviewed by the Board but no action was taken, although thee was some opposition by Board members to the Spectrum plan. See the full plan details below.
Until Covid-19 is not an issue and people feel safe for gatherings no events are scheduled.
Community Liaison– Adam Anderson reports, We have had the following letters: An anonymous complaint about the conditions of a home on Wraggs Ferry Rd.
A complaint about the elevation level of a new home under construction. Tom handles this. A complaint of a loose dog on Wraggs Ferry. The resident was told to call the sheriff’s department as we don’t have law enforcement capabilities.
A letter from a resident that her husband was asked to leave the February board meeting because he was not on the deed to their home therefore not a member of the WPA.
A complaint of conditions of a home on Duck Pond. The resident stated they were withholding 2021 dues until something was done about it.
A letter stating the website was not up to date. Michelle said it was and responded to the resident.
A request to place a mobile home on a lot while their home was being constructed. The covenants were explained to the lot owner.
A lot owner on Francis Parker asking to put up a chain barrier to keep people from driving on his vacant lot and tearing up the grass.
A question if solar panels are permitted.
Welcome Committee– Robert McMahan reports, The welcome committee has done ten welcomes this year already. They completed 19 in 2020.
Drainage- Stan Earnhart reports, The drainage project to fix the drainpipe on Joanna Gillard has been completed and is effectively draining. The ground was graded and seeded yesterday.
Stan Earnhart makes a motion to pay Live Oak the bid price of $10,650. Motion seconded by Gary Dreher. 8 in favor. Bob Garrison opposed. Motion Carried.
Water Amenities– Ken Gaspari reports, Cameras have been installed at the marina. The building had to be cleaned out and a shelf was made to put the monitor on. We were going to install the new door but it was the wrong size. We will be painting the facial boards and repairing the two lights that are out.
Condo Liaison– Jonathan Rutstein reports, No Report. The condo board has not met since December.
Roads– Gary Dreher reports, The stop sign that had been broken off has had a new post and plastic sleeve replaced and put back in its proper place.
Grounds– Gary Dreher reports, The pond pump has been cleaned out so now it operates properly. The pond has been treated to remove weeds and will need to be treated once again.
A new contract is in place with Howards Quick Cut as they continue to do the grounds maintenance on a weekly basis where needed.
It is getting time to order plants soon for our entrance. Gary makes a motion for up to $2,000 to order plants. Motion seconded by Bob Garrison. All in favor. Motion carried.
Gary would like to thank all the members in the community who have volunteered with some of the past projects and especially to Tom Macedo and Peggy Phillips.
Compliance– Bob Garrison reports, Tuesday Compliance had a meeting to evaluate resident interest in bettering the community and their ability to get involved. We would like to have street captains encouraging people to adopt a cul de sac for general improvement.
We need to look at what we should do about a policy for the cameras at the landing. Water amenities should look after this.
Website Committee- Jonathan Rutstein reports, no report.
Old Business- 2nd reading on Appendix III-4.6 Addition of:
In the event that (2) adjacent sites are owned by the same person/s or company and the same contractor is being used on both properties, one (1) sanitary toilet and one (1) dumpster of adequate size to serve both home sites will be allowed upon approval of the Georgetown County Building Department and the Wedgefield ARC Committee.
Motion to approve Appendix III-4.6 made by Tom Macedo. Motion seconded by Bob Garrison. 2nd reading on additions to WPA Office Clerk Job Description.
Motion to approve Office Clerk Evaluation form addition to Policy Manual. Motion seconded by Bob Garrison. All in favor. Motion Carried.
Motion to approve Office Clerk job description made by Stan Earnhart. Motion seconded by Bob Garrison. All in favor. Motion Carried.
Spectrum update- We would have to sign a 5-year contract with Spectrum. The WPA would receive $100 for each household at the beginning of the contract and the WPA would receive one monthly bill to be paid by us. We would have to bill each household for their monthly fee.
Each household would receive 3 HD set top boxes, the Spectrum Bronze plan, 217 channels and 400×20 Mbps for internet (free 1 standard modem and 1 wireless router).
The monthly fee at the beginning of the contract would be $50 plus taxes (around $6)
We do not have to guarantee 100% participation. Spectrum would go as low as 70% of households.
Jonathan recommends to let the committee speak with Jennifer Zellner from Spectrum for further details and come back to the Board in April with a final proposal for Board consideration.
New Business-
Public Comments– Mike Downs says he has never been on the website. He knows a lot of people look at the Wedgefield Community Support group on Facebook. He says that would be one place that people could look at the Wragg. The admin can turn comments on and off.
Bob Buice makes a suggestion to put a mailbox out for people to pick up a Wragg.
Jim Hughes says the situation on Francis Parker is still out of hand. He says it looks like port-a- potty alley. The port-a-potties are 2 feet off the road. He says it seems like nothing is being done to enforce policy. He shows a bag full of litter he has picked up from around the dumpster.
Everyone on Francis Parker is upset about this. Jim also states that the trucks are parking in the road.
Bob Garrison says he suspects the septic people placed them by the road for pumping issues. Tom Macedo says he will contact the contractor again tomorrow about complaints. The trucks parking in the road are no more intrusive than the landscapers who park in the road while they are doing their landscaping work. Tom lets him know he is not happy about what is going on and in hopes that the weather will stay nice enough they can hurry up and get out of here.
Mike Downs comments, In Hagley they have to pay $600 up front for Spectrum. You would bill it with the assessment. In the last month he has had 4 people contact him who are concerned about people going in their vehicles. People are asking about getting a gate put in. Bob McMahan lets him know this is not a gated community. Someone has to file a police report to view the camera footage.
Bob Buice says he has lived here for 40 years. You can’t please everybody. Years ago a woman complained about golfers peeing on her tree. The Board told her that she couldn’t see that far. She said with her binoculars she could see a lot of things.
Neena McMahan says she is really pleased that we got the award for the litter pick-up, but we haven’t done that in a while. Gary said he will try to schedule this.
Golf Course Update– Jonathan Rutstein reports, There will be a meeting next Monday the 22nd. The LLC has secured financing for purchase.
Next Monthly Board Meeting– April 20, 2021
Adjourn – Robert McMahan