WPA MONTHLY MEETING MINUTES
December 19, 2023
Call to Order –Stan Earnhart
Attendance – Stan Earnhart, Dave DeCreny, Bob Ramsey, Valerie Cooper, Trina Davis, Marilyn Weitz, Meredith Marsh, Joe Myers, Jonathan Rutstein
Absent– none
Quorum– Yes
Resident Speaker– Mark Ricketts spoke concerning a lack of communication between the Board and the WVA and would like someone who would relay information to and from the Board and the WVA. Robert’s Rules of Order specify a time for opinions to be heard. Stan lets Mr. Ricketts know they will look into this.
Minutes- October 17, 2023 minutes approved. October 30, 2023 minutes approved. December 5th, 2023 minutes approved.
Officer Reports
Presidents Report – Stan Earnhart reports, The tree lighting event was a good event and Hanna Fesperman represented Saint Francis at the event. Stan makes a motion to charge the office repairs to the building reserve account. The motion failed after discussion. The repairs will come out of the budgeted operating fund.
Vice Presidents Report – Dave DeCreney reports, “He and Stan rode through the community after the storm. The damage was minimal. Dave makes a motion to dissolve the CI committee due to the referendum vote . The motion was tabled after discussion.
Secretary’s Report– Bob Ramsey reports, Our HOA Reorgainzation meeting was held on December 5, 2023. Jonathan Rutstein made a motion to accept the Minutes as presented. Motion was seconded by Joe Myers and approved.
Treasurer’s Report– Valerie Cooper reports, As of November 20, 2023, our account balances were: Operating Account with South State had a balance of $163,612.70. Our debit account with South Atlantic had a balance of $454.98 (UPS store, Office Depot and Walmart) The ARC Account with South Atlantic had a balance of $8,501.33. The Reserve Accounts balances as of 11/30/2023 were, South Atlantic Money Market $6,574.66, Edward Jones Money Market $289,316.45, EJ CD 5/15/24 $50,000, EJ CD 2/01/24 $ 50,000, EJ CD 2/23/24 $50,000, TD Bank $4,016.45, TD CD $223,760.85 and Anderson Brothers Bank $50. The Edward Jones Bank of America CD is set aside for operating funds per the August Board meeting vote.
Valerie makes a motion to close the Anderson Brothers account and transfer the $50 to South Atlantic. Motion seconded by Marilyn. Motion Carried.
Committee Reports
ARC– Marilyn Weitz reports, Marilyn makes a motion to add Al DeMarchi, Bob McMahan, Brian Gause, Mike & Tom Macedo, Nate Nadeau and Bob Garrison to the ARC committee. Motion seconded and passed.
Legal– Trina Davis reports, She met with our attorney to review the new Spectrum contract. He asked for us to give him a few weeks to review the contract.
Finance-Valerie Cooper reports, The Committee last met on September 15th and will meet again on January 11th to review in detail the 2022 Audit report with Joan Hodges, CPA.
Once the audit is approved, the new CPA, Kelly Moore can begin producing financial statements for 2023. It is suggested by both CPA’s that the HOA begin 2024 using the accrual method of accounting. This will need to be approved by the finance committee, voted on by the Board, and the policy manual changed. In looking ahead at the Reserve needs, the Finance Committee will again review the Reserve Study and begin the discussion of determining the 2025 association dues increase.
Valerie makes a motion to add the following members to the finance committee: Mike Downes, Stan Earnhart, Inge Ebert, Peggy Phillips, Bob Garrison, Bob McMahan, Cindy Fry and Jonathan Rutstein. Seven in favor, two nays. Motion carried.
Communications/Website- Trina Davis reports, Finding Nemo movie night went well. We will be doing Polar Express on Thursday, December 20th at the Cypress Room at no charge.
The tree lighting went well. We had fifteen donors participate in the blood drive.
Trina makes a motion to approve Peggy Phillips, Megan Nowak, Cindy Fry, and Marilyn Weitz to the Communications committee. Motion seconded and carried.
The Wragg will be sent out via email by the end of January.
Trina and Dave are working on obtaining quotes to update the website.
Condo Liaison-
Community Liaison-Stan Earnhart reports, There are two unresolved complaints that the President has reassigned to the Compliance Committee: The shed on lot 444 Francis Parker and the commercial truck parked on Lot 31.
Welcome Committee– Meridith Marsh reports, Cindy Fry will be her main chairperson for the Welcome Committee.
Drainage- Joe Myers made a motion to add Al DeMarchi, Mike Downes, and Wyndell Peacock to the drainage committee. Motion seconded and passed.
The storm on December 17, 2023 dumped over 14 inches of rain into Wedgefield, setting a new historical maximum for rainfall. Swales became ditches, ditches became streams, low areas became ponds and lakes, intersections were underwater, water washed across the streets, and the golf course lost sand and dirt into our canals. Meanwhile, the golf course gained dirt and flood waters from our members’ lots. A joint drainage system with problems needing a joint study and, hopefully, joint remedy is needed. We sympathize with our members who experienced flooding in their homes, despite all the efforts made over the years to make the drainage system function better.
This is the Low Country. Heavy rains, high tides, wind from the North all add up to problems.
New construction with roofs, driveways, and other non-pervious surfaces increases storm effects on the community.
We are discussing the prospect of hiring a hydrologist to study our trouble spots and offer any solutions. We would welcome any constructive feedback from the members via email to the office. Joe will be getting a quote and bring back to the board.
Water Amenities– Joe Myers makes a motion to approve Adam Anderson, Chris Carroll, Jamie Cristello, Brad Davis, Mike Downes, Steve Garman, Carolyn McBride, Maureen & Steve Vasey and Ed Wozniak to the Water Amenities committee. Motion seconded and carried.
Our current Canal Depth Maintenance project continues to slowly work its way through the grueling Government agencies and their regulations. We have cleared the US Army Corps of Engineers, which has turned over our permit application to the DHEC, of which five agencies claim jurisdiction over our canals. We are in #2 with a second 30-day public notice of intent to dredge.
We are continuing to study the aspects of maintaining our two floating docks and the safety for our members. Several float devices need replacing, and the pipe railing leading to the North float needs reattached or replaced. The estmate to repair and replace is $45,000.
Stan and Dave investigated the ongoing complaint of drainage on the 500 block of Francis Parker.
Drainage has initiated contact with contractors to discuss the best remedy for all concerned.
Roads– Dave Decreny reports, Dave makes a motion to approve, Dean Floyd, Valerie Cooper and Jonathan Rutstein for the roads committee. Motion seconded and carried.
We are waiting for the completion of homes on Duckpond and Ballard before we begin paving these roads. A pothole that was reported on Wraggs Ferry has been filled.
Grounds– Meredith Marsh reports, Candles for luminaries are available at the office, and sand is available behind the tennis courts. Meredith makes a motion to add Gary Dreher, Marge Miller, Trina Davis and Nate Nadeau to the Grounds committee. Motion seconded and passed.
Compliance– There are two unresolved complaints the president has assigned to the compliance committee: The shed on Lot 444 and the commercial tow truck on Lot 31.
Capital Improvement-
Old Business–
New Business– Valerie Cooper makes a motion to approve the audit for 2022. Motion seconded and passed.
Bob McMahan presents the first reading of the ARC Policy Manual changes.
Next Monthly Board Meeting– January 16, 2024
Adjourn –