Smoke Signals Online - News from Big Canoe

James said the questions-which ranged from requesting a copy of the POA's recruitment letter for general manager candidates to the name of the architect hired to design the new marina-were compiled from concerns voiced to him personally over the last six weeks by more than 20 property owners who, he described as representing a broad spectrum of the Big Canoe community.

He had submitted the list to Buckelew prior to the regularly scheduled board meeting, he said, hoping to elicit a response from the POA on behalf of those property owners.

"At my invitation, Bob Crouch, POA president, came to the meeting this morning" said Buckelew. "I sent Bob the questions and stressed the list was not the result of HOA board action but reflected one member's interest. He immediately asked to speak with us."

The other board members were not privy to the questions or James' request, prior to the meeting, she said.

"As leaders of the community, it is important to have information when property owners ask questions; we need to have facts not rumors to provide. "Some of these questions," Crouch said, pointing to the list, "imply HOA oversight of the POA."

After reviewing the questions, which the HOA board did not ask him to answer, Crouch said, "If an individual seeks information he or she needs to sit down with [Interim] General Manager Klask to get that information."  

On the question of qualifications for the permanent general manager, he said, "We [the POA board] felt it would be unfair to bring someone new in until certain projects in process were completed or at a point closer to completion. The search will begin again in fall of '08 or first quarter of '09. I expect Roger to stay as general manager for another year."

If a property owner has a policy question go to a POA board member; said Crouch, but if it's operational go to Klask.

The POA's two main priorities now, he said, are funding a capital reserve and opening the new clubhouse.

"I believe it's universally accepted that we need a capital reserve fund. We've received about 450 feedback questionnaires so far and they indicate overwhelming support for a capital reserve fund but there are broad suggestions on the ‘how' of raising those funds. The Long Range Finance Committee has made recommendations - but the board has not decided yet."

How do we communicate?

"The fundamental question here is: How does this community communicate with one another?" said HOA Director Dick Scharf. "Most of the time it seems we communicate by rumor. There is a segment that doesn't want to be confused by facts."

Scharf suggested another priority be added to the POA's list. "The POA has got to have a general manager not perceived as one of you [POA Board]."

"The GM search committee is inactive at this time but it may be taking steps to move forward," said Crouch.

In a telephone interview Tuesday afternoon, James said, he decided to submit questions because the people in the community who had contacted him felt their voices weren't being heard. "A couple of individuals mentioned that they had called [Interim GM] Klask but their calls either hadn't been returned or ‘had fallen on deaf ears'."

Next time he gets asked a POA-related question, James said, he will point property owners in the right direction, sending those with policy questions to a POA director and those with operational questions to the general manager.

"I thought the questions sounded reasonable," he said. When he submitted the questions he thought the general manager might come to the board meeting in good faith and respond. "All in all, it was a waste of Crouch's time and the HOA board's as well."

Roger Klask responds

"The comment about unreturned calls troubles me," Roger Klask said, during a telephone interview Wednesday morning in response to James' statements.

"One of my priorities is to encourage calls from the community on issues and to respond to them as promptly as possible."

Whether calls are forwarded to him or he receives voice mail messages, Klask said, every call to him is entered into a call log. "And I go down the list and return everyone, usually within 24-hours."

He invites individuals to contact him about their concerns and, he says, "let's discuss it one on one."

As to why he didn't show up at the HOA meeting personally, Klask said, "I'm sorry about that perception but Bob [Crouch] took the lead for the POA on this."

His last word on the subject: "If you have a question for me, give me a call. I can't please everyone on all the issues but I will listen and try to answer individual questions."

Community Relations Committee

In other business, Carl Deane reported on the revised charter for the Community Relations Committee (CRC), which will now be under the umbrella of the HOA and POA boards.

"All those appointed to the CRC must now be members of the POA and/or HOA. The POA will appoint the Chair and the HOA will name the Vice-Chair. The Chair and Vice Chair will each appoint six members with input from the HOA and POA."  

The HOA will take the lead on any advocacy issues that may be perceived by the CRC.

"Today, the HOA board approved the charter for a joint Community Relations Committee, which ‘will assist the HOA in strategy, advice and counsel for the initiation of public action to influence external decisions that affect the Community'. . . . Its purpose is to establish and maintain relationships and to advise the Community of issues of potential interest," said Buckelew. "The joint CRC will enhance the ability of the HOA to serve as the advocate for the homeowner."

Energy Committee

The Energy Committee, an HOA subcommittee that manages the Propane Consortium, is considering a two-tiered pricing structure beginning in March 2009. While all consortium members will have a contract with the selected propane provider, those belonging to the HOA will have the advantage of the best pricing.

"When you consider the annual savings of $300 or more through the Propane Consortium, the $45 cost of HOA membership is a bargain," said Deane. A letter of notification outlining the details will be sent to the current 753 consortium members. In addition to propane, the consortium now includes window and chimney cleaning services at substantial savings.

Upgrades in Fire Station #6

HOA Director Tom Alexander reported on the status of upgrades to Fire Station # 6 in accordance with an agreement with the Dawson County Board of Elections.

Work to provide additional outdoor lighting, decking and insulation in the attic to make the heating and air conditioning more effective are underway. Requests for bids for indoor lighting and shuttle services are in process.

With the move of Purdys Precinct's polling place to the Dawson Middle School, parking and congestion will be ameliorated.

SwiftReach presentation

Richard Sims, director of Dawson County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) demonstrated the emergency response notification system used by the county. The system produces email, pager and phone contact for tornado and other weather alerts, fire evacuation, school emergencies, hostage and law enforcement emergencies.