WPA MONTHLY MEETING MINUTES
September 20, 2022
Call to Order –Gary Dreher
Attendance –Gary Dreher, Jonathan Rutstein, Stan Earnhart, Peggy Phillips, Joe Myers, Ken Gaspari, Bob Ramsey
Absent– Dave Decreny
Quorum – Yes
Approval – Motion to approve Minutes made by Stan Earnhart. Motion seconded by Jonathan Rutstein. All in favor. Motion carried.
Resident Speaker– None
Officer Reports
Presidents Report –Gary Dreher reports, Last month we sent out copies of the Wragg to all residents. The Wragg contained a description of the Spectrum proposal that asked resident to reply either for or against a group rate for the plantation. The response so far is less than half of what is needed to move forward. Gary will go back to Spectrum to see if there is any offer that might work for the 150 residents that are interested in reducing internet & cable costs.
Vice Presidents Report – No report
Secretary’s Report– Stan Earnhart reports, Things are moving along for the Annual Meeting. The nomination committee, Eileen Kramer, Candy Sorensen, Kim Forbes, has six candidates running for 3 three-year positions and 1 two-year replacement position. The six candidates are: Simon Benjamin Forbes, Meredith Hall, Meredith Marsh, Robert C Ramsey, Georgeanne Ridgill, and Trina Wilson.
Stan Earnhart makes a motion to approve the following members to the election committee: Inge Ebert, Pam Gross, Diane Macedo, Neena McMahan, Kathleen Hayes, and John Sasso. Motion seconded by Jonathan Rutstein. All in favor. Motion carried.
There was discussion concerning checking with the attorney about the validity of the ballots.
There will be a “Meet the Candidates Night” on Monday, October 3rd at 7:00 in the WPA office. Each candidate has received the format and questions for the event. There will be information of each candidate in the Annual Meeting Packet.
In October the Annual Meeting Election Packet is mailed to every property owner in the Association. Target date for Mailing of Packets: October 5th
Target date for packet assembler: October 3rd Target date for printing all materials: October 1st
As Secretary, Stan is responsible for keeping the Manual up to date. The status of the ARC section III of the Manual remains the same as last month.
Treasurer’s Report– Peggy Phillips reports, On August 31, 2022, our Operating Account with South State had a balance of $175,769.56. The South Atlantic Debit Account had a balance of $1,949.35. The ARC Escrow Account had a balance of $89,085.64.
The Reserve Account Balances were: Anderson Brothers- $100,050.00, Edward Jones- $273,236.36, TD Bank- $223,814.72, South Atlantic- $210,446.67 which includes expenditures of $2,969.06 for a fountain for the Patio Homes area, and $1,800 for Live Oak for work at the marina for a balance in Reserves of $807,547.75.
Committee Reports
ARC– Ken Gaspari reports, We have had 4 Minor ARC application. 2 for tree removal, 1 for roof, 1 for a fence and 1 for a shed. The shed is denied until they come up with plans and a description. He has signed off on several minor ARC applications.
Bob Ramsey reports, He participated remotely through the summer reviewing permit applications. Members of the ARC committee assisted him. Many permits were granted over the summer. A new joint subcommittee, is operating to streamline reviewing applicant’s Site Plans. ARC members, Drainage committee member and Water amenities members are together, reviewing the completed Site Plan permit applications. Drainage is automatically included. The joint effort is working well to speed things up and avoid duplication of effort.
ARC is drowning in paper. We are spending so much time issuing new permits that there is not enough time left over to properly administer the permits that we have already issued. There is precious little time to inspect hob sites during construction. During the building process our big issues have been failure to control silt runoff reliably and builders not stopping soil erosion and mud discharge and not following prevention measures called for in their issued permits.
During the July 20 Board meeting, that he monitored via Zoom, ARC’s Draft Policy Manual was discussed as needing more work. ARC and Bob will redo the draft and fix all issues. In the meantime, they are following the Draft version, for immediate use and ARC guidance, during current new permit reviews.
Joe Myers reports, The drainage committee interacted with ARC over the summer. We have a 2 phase set of guidelines that needs to be put in our manual. We have over 30 homes under construction. There are a few that are done that can get their money back. There is one who shouldn’t get his money back. Drainage and ARC need to be integrated.
Legal– Stan Earnhart reports, The Legal Committee voted to support the Compliance committee’s recommendation to foreclose on the lien we have had on a resident’s property for years. We have spent a great deal of effort to resolve the compliance as well as the humanitarian issues that have existed for years in this case, but feel it best for the welfare of Wedgefield and the neighbors of this lot to take drastic action. There are several years of unpaid assessments and neglect for proper maintenance that must be addressed. Stan makes a motion to foreclose on this lot. After discussion original motion was amended to give him 30 days to see if he had received a grant to fix the home. The amended motion is withdrawn. Original motion to foreclose is passed with 5 for and 2 opposed.
Peggy and Stan met with Joe Crosby on August 19. Joe recommended that the proposal to amend the Board of Directors Agenda included changes that are redundant. The legal committee agreed not to recommend this proposal to the Board for inclusion to the Annual Meeting packet. Stan Earnhart makes a motion to not include the proposed Agenda bylaw change for the Annual ballot. Motion seconded by Bob Ramsey. 5 for, 1 abstained and 1 opposed. Motion carried.
Finance– Peggy Phillips reports, The finance committee met on September 19, 2022. They prepared three proposed budgets for 2023. Peggy Phillips proposed the budget to increase Annual Assessment dues to $575 next year. Motion seconded by Jonathan Rutstein. All in favor. Motion carried.
Communications/Website– No report
Condo Liaison– No report
Community Liaison– No report
Welcome Committee– Trina Davis is the new Welcome Committee chairperson.
Drainage- Joe Myers reports, The sink hole on John Waties is a storm sewer and is out for bids with the Water department. Drainage is working closely with ARC.
Water Amenities– Joe Myers reports, The Water Committee held a community wide informational meeting last evening.
Steve Strickland, PE with earthworks Environmental Engineering, presented an explanation of the total dredging project.
We discussed Full Dredge vs Down the Middle Dredge and the cost differences. Funding was analyzed in detail. The Committee has chosen a Down the Middle dredge to return the canals to original depth of 8 feet in main canals and 6 feet in finger canals at an Average Low Tide.
Cost Estimate projection to dredge itself is $300,000+. Committee voted to finance this dredge the same as last dredge 2017-18 which had Canal Lot Owners responsible for 2/3 and WPA HOA for 1/3 based on ownership of the water front. We have 79 Canal Lots. If each pay 1/70 of $200,000 there payment will be $2532. If any renege then their share would have to be picked up by their neighbors.
Last dredging several of canal lot owners, including Joe, paid $4000+.
We are looking for a system that will allow partial payments over time, like a lay away plan, between now and late 2023 when the Canal Lot Owners will need to have $200,00+/- on hand so we can entera contract to dredge. We have less than a year to collect the 2/3 amount.
We are in the process of the engineering studies of the Spoil Basin and the Canals themselves that are required by government agencies before the issuances of Permit
Roads– Gary Dreher reports, The work that was approved to be done on Francis Parker Road is scheduled to be done in October, but we do not have a firm date at this time. We will make sure that residents that will be affected will be notified so that they can allow extra driving time. While the work is being done.
Grounds– Gary Dreher reports, To install the fountain that was purchased for the pond on Wraggs Ferry, we have requested Santee Electric to give us the cost to provide a separate power line to power the fountain. We had looked at reimbursing a resident for providing power to the fountain, but after consideration it will be better to have a separate meter that records the power used and bills the HOA directly. The estimated cost to provide power to a drop is about $2,000 and we will need an electrician to install the meter housing.
Gary Dreher makes a motion that we budget up to $3,000 to cover the cost or installing an electrical drop at the Wraggs Ferry location to power the fountain, and this money be charged to grounds. Motion seconded by Stan Earnhart. All in favor. Motion carried.
Compliance– Stan Earnhart reports, Compliance met once since the last meeting. We dealt with 4 issues. Gary has contacted all parties concerned with the reports about construction and storage equipment on Jericho court. He was told it would be moved by October 1.
Stan contacted a homeowner on Francis Parker concerning a blue tarp. Repairs are complete and the tarp has been removed.
The committee approved Stan sending a letter explaining the board will recommend foreclosure on a lien on a Duck Pond home if no improvements are made withing 30 days.
Stan called a homeowner on Wedgefield Road concerning a complaint and the homeowner is now compliant.
Old Business- ARC Policy changes tabled until it has been redrafted.
New Business-
Next Monthly Board Meeting– October 18, 2022
Adjourn – Gary Dreher