April 2008

2/29/2008

this was an interesting Friday night !!  We drove over to the yacht club at 8:30pm. and found it was empty and completely closed down--- now what is going on??? The biggest money making night and the lights are OUT !!! Does anybody know the story???????

2/26/2008

Just letting ya'll know that Hunter will be singing in Mobile, Al at the Mobile Fair Grounds on Zeigler Rd. on March 8th At 12:45.

This event is called The Hog Wild Bar-B-Q Festival and it will benefit Cerebral Palsy.

2/24/2008

  We have just received a report that long-time Lake Forest resident, Peter Werner, is extremely ill and is in the hospital.  As some of you know, Mr. Werner's wife, Tomasina, has been very active in the community of many years.  Tomasina has been the one most responsible for the many new features that we have enjoyed in our Lake Forest newsletter over the last couple of years.   While it has been recommended that we not call the family at this time, I would like to ask that we all remember the Werner family in prayers as they go through this difficult time.

2/22/2008

  Well, what do you think about the Daphne City Council giving themselves a big raise?  I found Councilwoman Barnett's quote in the paper that some of them lose money "when they work for the city" to be very interesting.   Doesn't it seem that if one cannot afford to serve or doesn't have time to serve, that he or she should quit?  How much do other councils earn in cities of similar size?   The Florence, Alabama mayor's salary stands at $96,364 a year.  The city council president gets 18% of that, $17,345, and the council members get $14,454 a year.  That city council is also considering a raise.  With the proposed ordinance, the mayor's salary will stay the same, while the council presidents salary will increase to $20,236, and the city council members will be bumped up to 18% to $17,345. This is according to WAFF 48 news reporter, Josh Ault.  According to Tom Smith, senior staff writer of TimesDaily.com, the Red Bay, AL city council just voted to reduce their salary from $500/month to $350 per month.  Sounds like Red Bay citizens are getting a real bargain.  In Jasper, Al the council members earn $7,200/year with a $600/month expense allowance.  The Jasper mayor earns a base salary of $56,000.  This is according to James O. Phillips of the Daily Mountain Eagle.  Jasper has a population of just over 14,000.  Red Bay has a population of about 3,300 and getting smaller.  Florence has about 37,000 residents.  Daphne has a population of about 19,000.

I'm glad that the State of Alabama's Attorney General office was able to explain to them that they cannot just make the mayor's job part time.  A city the size of Daphne needs someone in charge fulltime.

2/18/2008

I just received my latest water bill today and I was shocked at the amount, just under $300! Last month was also up in around $200.   Last year, the norm was around $80.   I remember a couple months ago, there were two water main breaks on Lakeview LP.   I don't remember the exact dates, but I think it was about the same time my water bills started being higher than normal. I was wondering if it is possible that the city over pressurized the water system causing the water main breaks and possibly causing one on my underground lines to break.  Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks!! DRW

  Unless you have a whole bunch of kids and are washing clothes 24/7 or watering your yard a lot, that sounds like you do have a major water leak in your house.   If your house is on a slab, then it could be in the lines underground or it could be in the walls or between floors.  However, in any of those events, it would seem that you would be able to see some indication, such as a developing sink hole in your yard or water stains appearing around the house.  If your house is on piers, then you could have a break in the solder joints of the water lines under the house.  The only real danger to that possibility, besides the high bill, is that the moisture can attract termites.  Whatever the case, you need a plumber.  Your utility bill includes not only your water, but also your sewer bill and garbage/trash collection fees.  To make matters worse, your sewer bill is based on your water consumption, so this leak is giving you a double whammy.  If you will get the plumber out there to find and fix the problem, the Utility Board will give you a credit for the sewer portion of the bill, when you present them with the evidence that the leak has been fixed, the plumber's bill.   I wouldn't count on the Utility Board admitting that something they did on up the line caused your problem.  Maybe one of our readers has another suggestion.

2/14/2008

Mitch, don’t know if this is something you would like to post on the site.  This is a FREE event being held at the Grand Hotel, would love to pack it out with local ladies.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

It will be my pleasure.

Please RSVP to Rebecca.Dawson@marriottgrand.com

2/9/2008

Mitch, Lots of municipality's require that when a capital item is purchased built etc that the depreciation taken each year be put into an account. That way once the "truck" for instance needs to be replaced they have the purchase amount already in an account. That ensures that the capital improvement money is always around.

Absolutely true!  Some think that depreciation is only important as a tax deduction for taxable companies, since this particular expense does not come out of cash flow.  That is not so.  Depreciation represents a loss in value due to the aging or use of assets.  Accountants will tell you that the company should do exactly as you said.  Put that amount away so that when the asset needs to be maintained or replaced, the money will be there.

2/8/2008

Increase dues? The fact that we do not invest capital in our facilities leads one to believe that an increase would be needed. What good would an increase do if it was not earmarked for capital investment. Any dues increase should be matched only by a by-law amendment that sets aside a fixed percent of dues for capital investment into the facilities. Say, for example there was a $50.00 dues request. If the by-laws required 20% to be capital investment or reserved for capital, that would give us $10.00 of it for capital. This would, over time, allow the facilities to be improved and in much better condition. We could replace or repair the amenities to insure their value to our properties. In fact the $10.00 number would create almost $300,000 annually to plow back into our clubhouse, pools, tennis courts, stables and Yacht Club. Instead of our assets being diminished by depreciation, we see them increasing in value and benefit. That would be one approach. To say that members would get nothing from an increase is not exactly correct, necessarily.

2/8/2008

Here is the report from Alabama Geological Survey. It is posted at Mobile Bay NEP. It shows exactly where the sediment flows from and the amounts. http://www.mobilebaynep.com/site/news_pubs/Publications/D'Olive and Tiawasee Creeks Sedimentation Final Report.pdf

This site is asking for a password, but the document will still appear.

2/7/2008

I would go for the $10 increase if it would really make a difference. $37.50 or $47.50, we still have the same old houses, same people. What would the average LF member get out of it?

Average LF member?  Probably not much.

2/6/2008

Rumor has it that the board plans to try and convince Friday Construction to use their votes to allow the board of directors to borrow a couple of million dollars.  The by-laws presently limits the borrowing power of the board to $100,000 per year.  If that is true, then one has to wonder how we will service that debt, when we have come up short on cash flow to cover operating expenses for the last two years.  Maybe Friday will also back a dues increase.  A couple of million financed over ten years would be close to twenty-five thousand dollars a month, I believe.  An annual assessment wouldn't even cover that.  Increasing the dues about ten bucks a month would do it.  On the other hand, somebody could just be pulling our leg.

2/6/2008

I am glad to see Steve get the chance he has earned. Should have happened last time!!

2/2/2008

In case you haven't heard, Steve is no longer our "acting" general manager.  He is the official general manager.  Your writer is certain that he will do a great job and the future of the association looks bright with Steve at the helm.

2/2/2008

Here is a picture of Lake Forest's own Hunter Beasley singing with Cross Country the Band at a Mardi Gras event last night.  There has also been a change in Hunter's schedule.  Due to to schedule conflicts, the show in Mobile on Fat Tuesday was canceled, but she will be singing at Pickers Paradise in Stapleton Tuesday night at 7:00. 

2/1/2008

Lake pictures.

2/1/2008

Hello, $85,000 a year for Mayor, are you kidding? And benefits? Don't think so......I don't care if he's mayor or city manager, that kind of money is paid in larger cities only.....I think very few city employees should make that kind of money.

A mayor is not just a city employee.  However, I don't know what kind of salary is considered fair for the mayor of a city the size of Daphne.  Is that what he's paid now or is that a proposal for later?

2/1/2008