WPA MONTHLY MEETING MINUTES
May 17, 2022
Call to Order –Gary Dreher
Attendance – Gary Dreher, Stan Earnhart, Peggy Phillips, Bob Ramsey, Joe Myers, Stan Earnhart, Dave DeCreny
Absent– Tom Cobb, Jonathan Rutstein, Ken Gaspari,
Quorum – Yes
Approval – Motion to approve April Minutes made by Stan Earnhart. Motion seconded by Bob Ramsey. All in favor. Motion carried.
Officer Reports
Presidents Report – Gary Dreher reports, Gary welcomes new residents to the meeting and lets them know public comments until the end of the meeting. In an effort to better handle complaints and correct issues that our residents bring to the WPA board, we require that ll complaints be submitted through the WPA office either by email or by filling out forms that are available in the office. This will improve tracing of requests and any resolutions and to properly record any important details pertaining to the complaint. We do require specific information such as date of any infractions, addresses where issues occurred, and if possible, any ideas of what the best solution for the issue might be.
To better serve the residents of our community and to make our meetings less stressful for all, we will be changing the format of the meeting to eliminate the public comments section at the end of the meetings. Instead, we will allow up two residents to apply to make a public comment at each monthly meeting with a time duration of five minutes per resident. We will require that you submit a request to speak at the meeting at least one week before the meeting and to submit a summary of the subject matter to be addressed. The WPA Board can either respond at that time or agree to address them at a later date. We feel by that asking our residents to write their issues down and present them in a more organized manner that it will allow for a respectful and less stressful environment that is more concerned with solving the issues that vent frustrations.
Vice Presidents Report – No report
Secretary’s Report– Stan Earnhart reports, We have the new computer hooked up and are trying our first zoom meeting. Zoom will provide the Wedgefield members from anywhere with an internet connection. The WPA will post the meeting invitation on the WPA website for each meeting. A meeting invitation can also be obtained by sending an email request to the WPA office. We will not accept any late requests to join the meeting. All members should mute their connection during the meeting unless the Presiding officer requests otherwise. The meetings will be recorded. We have a stationary camera and it will be focused on the President’s table.
Stan has tentatively reserved Winyah Auditorium for our Annual Meeting on November 19, 2022 and expect to sign the contract with in two weeks.
This will be the last meeting the public comments will appear on the meeting agenda. This part of the agenda is not listed in the Bylaws Article VII Section 12, which lists the order of business. Board Policy Section IV 2.03, provides for members to be placed on the meeting agenda and speak at a Regular monthly board meeting. According to the policy, members wishing to be placed on the agenda, must notify the President one week prior to the board meeting and provide the subject to be addressed. There are other guidelines that need to be followed listed in the policy. Members have the option to write a letter, phone, or email the office to answer questions, concerns, or complaints.
Treasurer’s Report– Peggy Phillips reports, As of April 30, 2022, our Operating Account with South State had a balance of $230,463.01. The Debit Card account with South Atlantic had a balance of $2,440.01. This reflected a debit card payment to Bullguard for $59.99 for internet security. The ARC Refundable Deposit Account with South Atlantic had a balance of $90,585.64. The Reserve Account balances were: South Atlantic- $197,513.30, Anderson Brothers- $100,050.00, Edward Jones- $272,846.48, TD Bank- $223,739.31 for a total of $794,149.09.
Committee Reports
ARC– Bob Ramsey reports, ARC held a meeting on May 16th to review 5 new home applications. Lot 90 review was completed and permit approved. Lot 441 is awaiting another signature after 3 more items are submitted. Lot V46 application is incomplete and has been returned to owner for their completion. Lot 453 is incomplete and has been returned to owner for their completion. The tree plan was not approvable. Lot 9 application is approvable under two conditions. They need to show installation of sidewalk and patio, the second is the design for a silt fence to be added to the plan. The committee all approved these reviews.
Legal– Stan Earnhart reports, The legal committee met on May 10, 2022. The legal committee discussed the contract with Spectrum and trying to develop a program that will work for Wedgefield. If negotiations are successful, there will be policy changes needed, which can be voted on at the annual meeting
Finance– Peggy Phillips reports, Letters ere sent to all property owners who have not paid their assessment for 2022, explaining they are no longer in good standing, not eligible to attend meetings, vote, use the marina, or obtain approvals from ARC for any improvements, or renovations to their properties. Per policy, “any delinquent assessment will have a lien placed after six months”. A 30-day notice of action will be sent prior to filing any liens.
It takes all property owners paying their share to maintain this community. We receive no financial assistance from the County. The assessments pay for the common area maintenance and this has a direct impact on all our individual properties.
Peggy plans to have a Finance Committee meeting in the next few weeks to review our actual expenditures this year versus the budget. This will give us direction for the remainder of 2022.
Communications/Website– Dave DeCreny reports, We had our yard sale July 30th.There was great participation within the community. He authorized $52 to for a yard sale sign to be made which can be used each time we have a yard sale.
Condo Liaison– David Decreny reports, The board received a request to clean up the pond behind Daniel Moral. They referenced the pond behind the condos being cleared by the HOA. That was paid for by the WVA and not the WPA.
Community Liaison– No report
Welcome Committee-No report
Drainage- Joe Myers reports, He had 2 companies bid on unclogging the street drain pipes with 7 declining to bid. Joe Myers makes a motion to approve up to $8,000 and award Badger Daylight the contract for unclogging the 12 street drain pipes. We will provide water required through a permit from Georgetown Water Dept that will cost $231 for 15,000 gallons of water via fire hydrant. Motion seconded By Bob Ramsey. All in favor. Motion carried. Scope of work is in the office.
Water Amenities– Joe Myers reports, Joe makes a motion to accept a bid from Coastal Asphalt for $18,007.46 to place and compact 3” of asphalt millings material to existing road surface at marina from gate to ramp to be charged to roads. Motion seconded by Dave Decreny. After discussion it was decided to be charged to Marina reserve. Subject to change. All in favor. Motion carried. This will be a two-day project with the road closed to any traffic. We will post closing on the sign, website and Facebook page.
The Water amenities committee has undertaken the construction of a dock/pier at the HOA owned island with 6×6 pilings, 2×6 and 2×8 stringers and decking will be treated lumber. Joe Myers makes a motion to approve up to $5000 and to be charged to Grounds. Motion seconded by Dave DeCreny. After discussion it was decided it will come out of Marina, subject to change. All in favor. Motion carried.
Joe Myers makes a motion to approve Land services of Georgetown bid of $3000 charged to grounds for an herbicide application at the spoil site and burning of the reeds. Motion seconded by Bob Ramsey.
After discussion funds will be charged to canals. 5 in favor. 1 opposed.
Roads– Gary Dreher reports, The roads committee met on January 7th and discussed four projects, depression on Wedgefield road near the entrance to the dock, cul-de-sac on Francis Parker, cul-de sac on Swamp Fox, cul-de-sac on Ricefield, install 3 speed humps, two on Wedgefield rd, one on Wraggs Ferry (places to be determined).
Gary Dreher makes a motion to approve $33,650 to Superior Blacktop. Motion seconded by Stan Earnhart. All in favor. Motion carried.
Grounds– Gary Dreher reports, This month we had another accident that caused damage the brick work at the front entrance. We were able to get information on the person that damaged the wall and have submitted an insurance claim to their insurance for repairing the wall. We were able to use a local contractor and have already repaired the damage while we wat for resolution of the insurance claim.
The grounds committee has decided that we will go ahead with planting similar flowers as we have in the past using volunteers as we were not able to get a proposal in time for this board meeting and we need to get flowers in the two beds.
We had a complaint about excess algae in the pond on Wraggs Ferry this month. The pond was treated using a natural algaecide last week and we will monitor it for improvement in clarity and reduction in algae on the surface of the pond. We are also in the process of having this pond added to the contract for treating the entrance pond that is owned by the HOA.
Compliance– Stan Earnhart reports, The compliance committee has met twice this month. We have resolved six compliance complaints. There were no additional reports until yesterday which we will discuss with our committee at our next meeting. Complaints must be submitted in writing through the HOA office. The WPA does not disclose the names of residents who make complaints.
Old Business- Second reading of ARC policy manual change. Bob Ramsey makes a motion to approve the second reading of ARC policy manual changes to ARC 6.0, appendixes III-1, and III-5. Motion seconded by Dave DeCreny. All in favor. Motion carried.
New Business-
Public Comments- Jean Merchant lets the Board know she is concerned about removal of a tree at Daniel Moral and wants to know if there is anything we can do. Gary says he hates that we are losing a lot of our trees, but that lot is not owned by the HOA. Bob has looked into the plans. If you cover or cut into the roots or tree you might destroy the tree. The permit was approved in 2021 dependent on the county’s approval.
Next Monthly Board Meeting– June 21, 2022
Adjourn – Gary Dreher