WPA MONTHLY MEETING MINUTES
October 19, 2021
Call to Order –Bob McMahan
Attendance – Bob McMahan, Adam Anderson, Stan Earnhart, Peggy Phillips, Tom Macedo, Jonathan Rutstein, Gary Dreher, Ken Gaspari
Absent– Gary Dreher
Quorum – Yes
Approval – Motion to approve September 21, 2021 minutes made by Jonathan Rutstein, Motion seconded by Stan Earnhart. All in favor. Motion carried.
Officer Reports
Presidents Report –Bob McMahan reports, Stan Earnhart resigns Sept 25th from the drainage chairman. Tom Macedo resigns from the board as of November 21st.
Thanks everyone for being here. The annual meeting is coming up and hope everyone attends.
Vice Presidents Report – No report
Secretary’s Report– Stan Earnhart reports, The annual meeting packets will not be mailed until the end of the week. We have waited as long as possible due to all the property changes. We have the venue set up at the Winyah Auditorium. The refreshment committee has handled all the coffee and refreshments.
Treasurer’s Report– Peggy Phillips reports As of September 30, 2021, our Operating Account with South State had a balance of $134,809.47. Our Debit Account with South Atlantic had a balance of $2,234.53. The ARC Escrow Account had a balance of $61,764.34.
Board members have been given an Update Reserves Report. The account balances were: Edward Jones $272,831.27, South Atlantic $159,726.42, and TD Bank $223,572.03. The following were paid from the South Atlantic Account: Drainage- J&M Sitework, $2,000 Governor Johnston, $1,500 Robert Conway, $1,200 William Screven, for total of $4,700 and Marina
$287.16 for lights. As of September 30, 2021, the total Reserves were $656,129.72.
Committee Reports
ARC– No report
Legal- Bob Garrison reports, asked to send letter to a resident for improper playground equipment in their front yard. Resident was sent a letter and the complainant was sent a letter letting them know our actions.
Finance– Peggy Phillips reports, This year’s annual meeting will be held November 20, 2021. Election packets are mailed to all property owners; however, members in arrears in payment of their yearly assessment within ten days prior to the Annual Meeting are not in good standing and are not entitled to vote.
Communications– Jonathan Rutstein reports, The Wragg was sent out. It was a little late because we were finding more articles.
Community Liaison– Adam Anderson reports, We had the following letters this month:
A complaint about contractors at a new home site on John Green. Tom went and took care of this.
A future resident with a house under construction asking if he can attend the HOA meetings. He was told not until he closes on the property and is actually an owner.
A letter from a resident suggesting that the WPA hire an engineering firm to map out our drainage system and plan out a future maintenance schedule. The suggestion is there for the new drainage committee chairman to consider.
A complaint that a lot on John Green is overgrown. A letter was sent to the owner. A suggestion that we start opening the office on Saturdays.
A complaint of overgrown shrubs on Francis Parker and Wedgefield Rd. A complaint of a manhole cover on Wedgefield Rd. and Possum Trot.
A request from a lender that needed a statement from the WPA that we are responsible for the roads in Wedgefield.
A request for 2 more speed bumps on Wraggs Ferry Rd.
The homeowner that hasn’t cut his grass in a while was sent a letter and the original complainant was sent a letter as well last month.
Welcome Committee– No report.
Drainage- No report
Water Amenities– Ken Gaspari reports, He has installed the navigation lights installed on the dock. The North dock should be repaired in a few weeks. He has gotten the wood and nails.
Condo Liaison– No Report.
Roads– Tom reads Gary Dreher’s report, The two speed humps that were purchased were installed by a crew of volunteers at locations on Wraggs Ferry Rd. and Wedgefield Rd. We have received additional requests to add more speed humps on Wraggs Ferry and Wedgefield roads, to further slow drivers from speeding along stretches of those roads. At this point we will review those requests for installation for implementation early next year.
Grounds– Gary Dreher reports, We had a request from a resident to cut back overgrowth near the road at the intersection of Wedgefield Rd. and the golf course crossing between holes 11 & 12.
The request was made to improve visibility for golfers and drivers to see each other better. Because the crossing is in the middle of a long curve, there is not always adequate time to react without adequate visibility. Because the overgrowth is on golf course property, I asked Mitch if he could have his people take care of it and he agreed to have it done. It was verified on October 15th that the area has been cleared and the visibility is much better.
On Sept. 20th we treated the pond with copper sulfate and may need to do it again to help clear the water of weeds and algae. I have purchased additional copper sulfate and we will be treating the pond soon to try to clear the algae bloom. The new golf course owners have cleared most of the ponds on the golf course of grasses and have offered to do the same for our pond through Adam. We have given them the approval to go ahead with clearing the grasses out of the pond.
Compliance– Bob Garrison reports, We had the second seminar with the prospective Board members. All four were in attendance. Thanks Bob McMahan and Jacky Walton, for helping him with that.
Website Committee- No report
Old Business- None
New Business– Stan Earnhart makes a motion to move WPA venue for Annual meeting on November 20th, to 1200 Highmarket St. Motion seconded by Jonathan Rutstein. All in favor. Motion carried.
Public Comments– Carolyn McBride asks if it would be possible to obtain the number of how many have voted. She says it shows how many votes a candidate got not how many people voted. She wants to know if it will deter people since it is going to be farther away and does it have handicap access. Bob Garrison lets her know that we do that because we have to know if we have a quorum. Stan Earnhart lets her know that there is a handicap ramp for those who cannot walk-up steps.
Jim Hughes asks about a resident’s property not being mowed and abandoned cars in the yard. He said he received a letter that he would be fined. He would like to know how the Board would like to handle this. Bob said Adam wrote a letter. He pretty much left it as if the board wanted to cut it, they were welcome to cut it. If we have enough volunteers to help him, they can or the Board can send someone to cut it and charge him. We would rather have someone talk to him to see the best remedy for this situation.
Mike Downes would like to take the time to thank Bob McMahan, Jacky Walton, Bob Garrison and Adam Anderson for taking the time to show us how the Board works.
Karl Gettman said he brought up the issue of posting the minutes shortly after the meeting and doesn’t understand why we don’t post them and mark them as unapproved. He also says the board should research a solution to the drainage at the condos. We expect some support from the HOA. Bob Garrison says, the idea of not publishing unapproved minutes goes back to when you were on the Board. The reason we don’t do it is because of the rumor mill that exists in Wedgefield. Bob lets him know he has made a recommendation concerning the drainage, but thinks the new Board coming in should handle this recommendation with the big turnover that is going to take place.
Jim Bennett takes a moment to thank everyone for all their time and support of this community and Tom for all the work he has done.
Golf Course Update– The new owners have closed the Manor House. It will be open for private events. They have turned the Pro Shop into a Bistro for the golfers during the day. They have pushed back on the cart part. The pool will be closed unless someone wants to lease it. The LLC will look into this since we did make money on it last year. The tennis courts will not be open. The golf course is the major project and will not be replacing the greens until next year due to the sodium content in the ground.
Next Monthly Board Meeting– Annual meeting November 20th at The Winyah Auditorium.
Adjourn – Bob McMahan