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Grapevine Archive May 2008 |
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| About Us | Clubs | Calendar of Events | Boating | Golf | Swimming | Tennis | Stables | Restaurants | ||
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Grapevine Archive May 2008 |
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| About Us | Clubs | Calendar of Events | Boating | Golf | Swimming | Tennis | Stables | Restaurants | ||
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5/25/2008
I hope we don't lose any more kids to
reckless driving in Lake Forest. This is in exactly the same spot
where a young man died last year for exactly the same reason.
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5/25/2008
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5/25/2008 Just my 2 cents on the ROW (I call it the "powerlines trail"). I have been running on parts of this trail from the south fork of D'Olive creek down to the creek behind the high school (I believe this is the north fork of Tiawasee creek) for several years now, including the Lawson area. The dirt-bikes, 4-wheelers are a distraction for me at worst. I could sympathize with the homeowners along the ROW, especially those with homes along #6 and #7 fairways, which run parallel with this ROW. If I lived in one of those homes, I could see myself being a bit agitated by the noise, etc, depending on the frequency. I'll bet some of the golfers are annoyed with it too, but it seems it's fairly easy to annoy that bunch anyway (just a friendly joke, relax).
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5/25/2008 A large portion of the "row" is inbounds for our golf course. From a selfish standpoint, the game is tough enough without a noisy machine roaring by on your back swing, also not very impressive to our playing guest - real classy for our prime asset. Last, but not least, is the danger posed to the rider himself; one day they are going to meet a errant drive in the face while moving into it at 30 to 40 mph.
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5/23/2008 The ROW you are speaking of is clearly LFPOA property and we have paid taxes on that land since we were created. The PPIN of the parcel is 24758 and you can view the ownership and tax records at the tax assessor's website. The fact is we own it and it is encumbered by the power line easement. What can and cannot be done on that property is determined by the limits set forth within the easement document. All vehicles on that ROW, short of Alabama Power trucks, are trespassing.
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5/22/2008 About the ROW by Lawson, it is for power poles and lines. Lake Forest has nothing to do with this area. Honestly, neither have permission to walk or ride in this area. But I guess like everything else, if you complain to the right people, they can block it off and no one can enjoy it. Honestly, I ride my four-wheeler there from time to time, respectful of walkers I might add. I have run across these same boys on minibikes, and they are good kids. Better to be out enjoying the trails than running the streets, no? Next time I see them, I'll ask them to take it easy near people who are walking. | |
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5/21/2008 My family is in total agreement with Ed Kirby's submission. Property owners need to step up and stop this board from changing the by laws. This board has given us no reason to have any confidence in them. I will not even go into my many reasons for my last sentence. (Not enough space or time) How much of our money did they spend on a survey that they have ignored. They have brought back the $50.00 assessments which had been removed by previous boards and now they want to change the by laws so they can borrow 1.8 million dollars? How do they expect to repay this debt when they can't keep up with what we have now? If they can keep up with what we already have, than why the assessments? I for one do not have stupid written across my forhead. Please pass my name and number on to Ed if I can be of any help. Maybe a sign campaign like the one we used a few years ago to stop the giving away of our amenities would help make more people aware and get involved. Some of us have also been known to stand at the entrances and hand out information. Just a couple of suggestions. | |
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5/20/2008 Taste of the Eastern Shore Some of you may have an interest in attending this. If you choose to, please designate support for Daphne Baseball on your tickets. | |
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5/20/2008
I was saddened the other day when a
person I was talking with who lives on the Eastern Shore described Lake
Forest as a "transient neighborhood." I thought about this today
as I took a walk with my three year old daughter. We were walking
up the ROW path beside the golf course just inside the Lawson Road
entrance. Sure enough, three youths on motorbikes sped by my
daughter and I, kicking up dirt on us both, scaring my daughter, making
her cry and want to go home. This is not the first time I have seen
youths on motorbikes ride up and down this ROW directly inside the
Lawson Road entrance beside the golf course. In fact, I see them
there almost on a daily basis when I take my afternoon runs. Is this
type of behavior condoned? Is this ROW a motorbike area? If
so, we should put up signs warning young parents not to take their
children on walks, else they may be run over by youths on motorbikes
with no concern for pedestrians. It's this type of experience that makes
me wonder if the comment about Lake Forest being a "transient
neighborhood" has any validity. I know that we are now trying to
clean up Lake Forest with the new leadership and that it will take time.
It is these types of experiences that make young parents like myself
wonder whether we want to continue to raise our children in this type of
environment. Please, would you consider doing something about youths
turning the ROW along the Thanks,
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5/7/2008 Hi, Mitch . . . Just wanted to let everyone know that the initial meeting of the LF Neighborhood Watch Program for volunteer Block Captains will be held Saturday, June 14, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. in the Lake Room at the Country Club. This meeting will allow those who have already volunteered to be Block Captains, and those who would like to volunteer, to meet and discuss the program. Also at this time, the Block Captain handbooks and a review of the program and the responsibilities of the Block Captains will be presented. If anyone would like to volunteer as a NWP Block Captain, please go to the Lake Forest website and click on Improvement Committee and then scroll down the page and click on "Neighborhood Watch Program" and get the details. See you all June 14! | |
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5/6/2008
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5/6/2008 Hi, Mitch . . . thanks so much for posting the info on the LF Neighborhood Watch Program. I'll get back with you in the next few days as to the date and place of the initial Block Captains' meeting . . . so far, we have 13 volunteers who represent approximately 10 "units" within LF. We will obviously need many more Block Captains and, hopefully, as the word gets out about the program, many more residents will participate. I'll keep you posted.
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5/6/2008 I recently bought a house near the swim and racket pool. I was told by my real estate agent that we would be able to use this pool. I am paying dues, this is my neighborhood pool. You can't advertise to potential buyers that you have a pool in the neighboorhood near a house they might purchase and them not let the members use the pool. What kind of idiots are running this place? Do the real estate people know about this scam? Could this be a violation of my contract? It's in the paper, house in Lake Forest near the main swim and racket pool. No one tells you, oh, by the way, residents can't use it! | |
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5/6/2008 I was speaking with Jim Moss today. I wanted to let the board know that myself and my neighbors have seen positive changes take place in Lake Forest since the change over of leadership. Please continue to keep up the good work! You efforts are being noticed! Thanks.
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5/3/2008 | |
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5/3/2008 Haven't read the website for awhile and just finished catching up. I have to say I am surprised. The current board seemed to have been doing a good job with the exception of closing down the S&R pool except to outsiders. But now suddenly they want to obligate us to a million plus in debt for some nebulous plan - saying there will be meetings, etc. Isn't that what the survey was supposed to have been about. As I have said before, when the survey didn't come out like they wanted it they just forged ahead with their own plans anyway. Is this all of the board or just a couple of trouble makers? | |
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5/3/2008 This By-laws controversy brings to mind the old say "Those that ignore history are doomed to repeat it" or something to that effect. There are $1 million reasons why LFPOA boards have been denied the authority to change the by-laws. Several years ago a board had the "brilliant" idea to dredge the channel at the Yacht Club. They wasted a million or so dollars because they couldn't then maintain it and as we all know it is silted back in to a near unnavigable depth. I think it's disingenuous of Mr. Moss to imply that the "membership" supported the 2003 by-laws change allowing the board to have control of the by-laws. In fact the vote on that amendment at the 2003 annual meeting was 1545 for and 759 against. This was obviously a developer vote. I also take issue with Mr, Moss' "rumor mongering" assertion. I would like to know what "rumor" has been asserted concerning the summary of what happened at the meeting? I think his defense of what they did confirms that the facts are accurate. | |
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5/2/2008 Hi, Mitch . . . just wondered if you could put the message out that Lake Forest is starting a Neighborhood Watch Program. We already have the okay from the Daphne Police Department - which was able to obtain the NWP signs for free with free installation from the City once we implement the program. We have about a dozen Block Captain volunteers at this point, but will need more. For more information on this program, please go the the LFPOA website and click on Improvement Committee and scroll down to Neighborhood Watch Program and click on that entry . . . the re is an article plus a form to print, fill in and mail to me. Thanks so much for your assistance!
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5/2/2008 | |
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5/2/2008 As a board member and officer of the LFPOA, let me address some of the concerns regarding what happened at the the last stated meeting. First of all, it is regrettable that there is still so much distrust and disdain by some members towards the board and others. Apparently most of this stems from activities that occurred around the turn of the century here at Lake Forest and some people just can't move on. Fortunately, these attitudes are being quickly diluted with new members that are re-locating to Lake Forest and will inevetably demand high returns, accomplishments and superior quality of life for their investments. I can say that after 3 years of serving Lake Forest, there are board members both past and present that honestly want to do the best thing for this community and in addition to their own careers, put forth a commendable effort to labor over difficult decisions. The board voted to rescind a motion that was passed by a previous board in 2003. Is there precedent for this? Yes. Boards rescind or amend previuos motions all the time. Why was this done? First, to honor and uphold the amendment change that was voted on by the members at the annual meeting which was later rescinded in the form of a motion by the board at the next stated meeting. Second, to provide opportunity to draft a new and better amendment that will be more helpful to future boards and insure better checks and balances. Third, to get people involved ! This board does not intend to use this measure as a tool to increase fees this year or to usurp the wishes of the general membership. The developer is very much aware of the capital investment plan we intend to pursue and we will obviously be working very closely with them as well as the members at large to see that this plan is what we want and can be a success. You will see the renderings hopefully soon and we will have community meetings to discuss the benefits and begin putting the final plan together so that the general membership can be satisfied and willing to support such a vital investment to our community. What do I mean by drafting better amendment proposals? Just that. For example, to say that the board can borrow $100,000 each year but has absolutely no authority to change fee amounts is questionable at best for the solvency of the LFPOA. $100,000 is too much to borrow for maintenance and operations and too little for real capital investment that provides a return or ability to recapture the investment. This allows future boards to simply borrow each year for maintenance and operational issues with no hope of repayment and piling on additional debt to LFPOA year after year with undoubtedly rising interest rates and no change in the quality and efficiency of our properties. In fact the opposite is destined to happen. Believe it or not, even though there is an annual cap on the borrowing, the lifetime cap is unlimited and without any hope of repayment under existing conditions without completely shutting down amenities in the future. Thats just one example. So, with all of this in mind, lets use the opportunity to prepare Lakeforest for the huge onslaught of corporate investment in this area and population growth. Lets come together with solutions and rational thoughts instead of rumor mongering. Before this board is denounced for repealing the motion that was made in 2003, I'm trying to understand why the amendment change was made to begin with. Why would any member in their right mind vote for an amendment change on the promise that the same amendment change would be rescinded in the next stated meeting? Just my thoughts. Joe Mosley, Treasurer
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5/2/2008 Another item came up during member comments. Member was upset that they had closed the swim & racquet pool. Following the request from the member to compromise on the hours VP Moss moved to suspend the rules which passed then made a motion to open the pool with posted signage informing anyone using the pool that they would be swimming at their own risk as there would be no supervision (lifeguards or anyone else on duty) when this pool was open. Moss advised this would eliminate all liability should something happen. President Peterson wisely pointed out that it would be very likely that this unsupervised pool would draw attendance from those that desire to be unsupervised, causing all kinds of issues. Another point was that even if the assoc wasn't held responsible, how would they feel if someone did get hurt or worse. Finally was tabled to be discussed at next working meeting May 15 6PM.
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5/1/2008 Mitch, I was the board member back in 2003 who seconded the motion to remove the right of the board to change the by-laws. As you have pointed out, we did it because we promised the membership that we would do it. As I remember, the only reason they agreed to let us have that privilege in the first place was to accomplish a very specific matter. Like you, at this time I don’t remember what that issue was, but I intend to go back and research some of the minutes during that period to see if I can jog my memory. In any case, this action of the board to try and shanghai the right to change by-laws from the membership is completely out of order. I’m not going to comment on any of the issues over the last couple of years that I have agreed or disagreed with regarding other actions of the board. However, this one goes way beyond the boundary of ethics and in my opinion it cannot be allowed to stand. Therefore, I am proposing that we take whatever necessary action we must to have this vote overturned. I am willing to contribute to the cost and I hope that other concerned members will join me. If you will please put this out and ask those who might be willing to support the effort to contact me or you, I will appreciate it. Ed Kirby, Former President of the LFPOA
Mitch Davis, Former President of the LFPOA | |
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5/1/2008 Mitch, I was just reading your contribution about the board's action to take control of the by-laws. I don't know why you're so surprised. They've been trying to get around the will of the membership since the day they took over. Don't your remember when Lawson wanted to vote the common property? They would have done it too, if you had not pointed out that the idea had already been struck down in court. They then tried to get Friday Construction to back their plans and he refused. Now, they think they have struck on this great idea. They have totally ignored that survey even though it was their own idea. Apparently, they are so far out to lunch, that they just can't believe that the whole membership doesn't agree with them. I believe we are dealing with a bunch of elitists, who really don't care what the members think. I hope this doesn't offend you, Mitch, but I think you've been way too nice to them!
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This accident occurred this week.
Ye olde Web Lord
will be out of town next week, so you won't see any updates for a while.
However, watch for news. I'm expecting something interesting soon.