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October 2007 |
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10/30/2007
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10/30/2007 The planning board approved the plan for the Grande Pointe development. They really didn't have much choice, because the plan complies with the rules pertaining to that kind of project. They will build 33 houses. The board did put a couple of stipulations on the project. The houses cannot be sold individually. If any are sold, they all must go at the same time to the same buyer. Also, they are required to leave a 15 foot natural border between the development and the Lake Forest property. | ||||
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10/30/2007 Additional boat and trailer storage has been added at the Yacht Club. We will add around 20-25 spaces there, with each paying in excess of $30 per month. That will bring in an additional $8000 in cash to the association. If we can increase our slip rentals down there, perhaps the area could pay for itself one day. I guess the alternate program of closing it down could still exist. Or perhaps renting to a restaurant for public use? It just makes sense to maximize revenue from the marina operations to offset the subsidy from dues for the food and beverage operation. It is a revenue increasing option.
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10/29/2007
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10/27/2007 Congraulations, didn't think you could make the Yacht Club appear like a trailer park, I was wrong. You must be real proud of your Dock Master. | ||||
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10/26/2007
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10/25/2007 In response to my posting . . . yes, this has to do with the "homes" to be built on the Grande Pointe apartments' land . . . meeting is tonight (Thursday, Oct. 25) at 6:00 p.m. at City Council chambers . . . | ||||
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10/25/2007 Thursday evening's meeting re addition to Grande Pointe apartments at City Council chambers at 6 p.m.? Or, are we (Lake Forest) over this issue . . . I haven't seen it on the website . . . thanks.
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10/25/2007 Based on the results you posted, approximately 1750 votes were recorded. If 1300 were by proxies by Friday construction, that means only 450 out of 3000 homeowners voted. If this is correct, it is a dismal turnout and shows immense apathy by the homeowners. | ||||
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10/24/2007 Friday Construction had voted all 1320 votes in opposition to all matters. Actually, the voting membership would have voted to deny the dues increasing authority for the board, but would have voted all other matters in the affirmative. To say that the populace is voting down all items is a mischaracterization.
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10/23/2007 Horse manure, behind Henry's house doesn't mean the stables; it means #15 hole and the sod laid "in the rough". This is behind the Moss house to the Lawson's. I understand it was an agreement with the city to the effect that if they fix an age old drainage problem, we would handle the landscaping.
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10/23/2007
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10/23/2007
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10/22/2007 Mitch you can cut and paste or not but Maxie has been after Derek for a long time. Derek recently brought a thank you card, for me to read, from Maxies wife about how good the golf course was for there ladies event. How can it be that far apart. Maxie went on a rampage and got a bartender fired, is he running the club or is management. I have heard Derek ask Toni for things time and time again to be told NO! How can he be held accountable when he has been handcuffed. I know Derek was frustrated for the last week or 2 because most of his crew was working behind Henry's house. How can people expect things to be accomplished when Derek is sending his people to Henry's house, or to the new entrances. I also know that they removed close to thirty trees at the stables in the last 2 weeks, those folks could have been working on the course also. Hopefully he will fight through this like he has other obstacles. Like I told you once before I use to think he did nothing but have come to find he does a lot. I for one as a staff member support Derek 100% and hope that other members that do will let you know and you post it. He has told me in confidence that he wishes people would come spend a day with him to see what he does. Someone should I did and was shocked. Maybe you should give him a call to ride along for a day. | ||||
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10/21/2007
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10/20/2007 I would like to know what is taking so long to figure out the voting results! we know who got the board positions----! In all my years living in L.F., it has never taken this long to get the answers from a annual membership vote-- What's the problem?? | ||||
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10/17/2007
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10/16/2007
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10/16/2007
Well, that was the kind of thing we heard last night. Oh, woe is us. Costs are going up. Revenue is not keeping up. The members aren't doing their part. Ya dee dah dee dah! To make matters even worse, those who spoke either said very little or, as in the case of our finance chairman, didn't seem to know what they were talking about. The financial report was basically a few comments about the 2006 audit. Very little was said about 2007, except that we have problems. This is 2007, right? Shouldn't a report on 2007's performance say something specific about 2007? When the finance chairman did try to comment on current matters, he seemed to be looking around for some number that rang a bell. Clint Martin got up and told us how proud he was of the president's report of how bad things are. Previous presidents, he said, would not have done that. Well, that's true. Actually, the president really didn't say that much about it. He greeted the audience; introduced the directors; made a few brief comments and simply ran the meeting. He was very polite and let everyone say their piece while keeping the meeting going at the same time. What Clint was talking about is a little unclear. However, what the board should have been doing is telling us how they were going to turn things around. Apparently, they don't know. They are appreciative, though, of the members who participated in the survey. I'm just not sure they agree with what you said in your survey or if they will abide by your opinions on the survey. The members who stood up weren't much better. One has to wonder where they have been for the last couple of decades. One guy suggested that they close a pool and build a playground. I guess the four playgrounds we already have aren't enough. Of course, the survey results made it clear that the members like the pools the way they are. Several people wanted to talk about delinquent accounts. One person wanted to know why they don't publish the names of the delinquent accounts somewhere. That would solve the delinquency problem. Of course, our readers probably know that the association did that for a couple of years in the newsletter. They were still delinquent. I thought it was interesting that the association attorney mentioned that we had charged something like $48,000 in late fees. What do you know? Delinquent accounts are revenue generators! Boards have been working on delinquent accounts for years and will continue to do so. Another guy got up and complained that the golf course was not self-supporting. He said that the member's dues were being used to subsidize the operation. He has been saying the same thing for six years. The purpose of our dues is to maintain and support the amenities. If the only thing they did with dues was to subsidize golf, we would have over a million dollars left every year. The dues are being used for much more than that. User fees at the golf course pay most of its operating costs. Why couldn't someone up on that panel have said that? My friend, Hal Pierce, told us that we should be giving the board more money to take care of our amenities. On the bright side, the finance chairman did point out that our debt is closing in on nothing. We owe a total of about $268,000 on four and a half million dollars worth of assets. Actually, our assets are worth many millions of dollars more than that. More good news is that we are getting some new directors and there will be a new general manager. Hopefully this time, the board will search in places that have qualified managers and find one that can bring Lake Forest out of the malaise. | ||||
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10/14/2007 We had the opportunity to go to the Shrimp Festival at Gulf Shores this weekend. We believe that Gulf Shores has got it right, plenty of food and excellent entertainment, which included some well known bands. We were also very pleased of the fact that Hunter Beasley got the opportunity to sing Friday and Saturday, and she did an excellent job. Here are two pictures of her on stage singing. | ||||
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10/13/2007 I'm very disappointed that you have decided to use the tennis court to house additional "ugly" boats. If you need more money, raise the price of rentals, After all it is a Yacht Club. Please pick up trash around the club, including wood from pier. | ||||
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10/12/2007 Toni quit | ||||
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10/12/2007 Our General Mgr. turned in her two week notice today.
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10/12/2007 Mitch, Thank you and your reader for the compliments regarding the "common sense" article. However, I can not take credit for its creation, I only forwarded it. Nevertheless, I do totally agree with its content and while not personally that smart, I do possess a great deal of good old common sense. Accepting that premise, my common sense would not allow me to throw my hat in the ring to sit as a board member; but guess what - "I WOULD STILL SELL THAT YACHT CLUB IN A NEW YORK MINUTE." Your Golfing Buddy
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10/12/2007 Mitch, Some of your statements are incorrect in referencing the Mobile Register story on D'Olive Creek. To be sure, most of D'Olive Creek runs through our lake. Fortunately, the really bad water you see in the picture is coming through Joe's Branch. That branch intersects D'Olive Creek just below the dam. That is not to say that we don't get our share of bad water. It is just not factual to state that the picture you are seeing is water from the lake. It is not. The study has revealed that water into Tom's Cove has actually seen a marked improvement in quality since some time in May of this year. This was told to us by the hydrogelogist with the state doing the research. The Tom's Cove discharge is the only from that site into our lake. There is ongoing complaints and action concerning the discharge into Joe's Branch and I know that the city of Spanish Fort and Mobile Bay NEP were to meet with development officials and Bass Pro Shops to get something done. There is great concern about damage to submerged grass beds due this silt laden water. It blocks sunlight and the submerged grass dies. It is a very serious issue and hopefully they can get a handle on it's source. I hope this information is helpful.
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10/11/2007 In reference to the "Common Sense" link. A great read and right on the mark! The author needs to consider applying his or her common sense approach to leading this association in some capacity. You would have my vote and support.
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10/10/2007 Common Sense passed away today. | ||||
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10/10/2007 Mighty Webmaster I continue to be amused by the non-doers non-existent list of Improvements/Accomplishments. I would like to highlight a few of the things which I know were accomplished before these Johnny-come-lately World beaters arrived on the scene or decided to take and active or should that be inactive role in the community. The dredging of Toms Cove (twice) through legal action by the then board against the owner of the dirt pit. The dredging of the east end of the lake. The construction of two tennis courts and the bleachers.. The paving of the parking lot and the installation of new lights in the parking lot. The staining of the Clubhouse. The installation of continuous cart paths on the Forest Course and a new irrigation system on all 27 holes. The reactivation of the irrigation well on the Forest Course. The rebuilding of the 17th green. Convincing the City to put up 60,000 dollars for the Gayfer entrance refurbishment. These are but a few things which come to mind.
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10/10/2007 Talking about the lake? I think the time of talking about getting people doing things has been long gone. Currently there is real progress in the lake issue. The State of Alabama has spent thousands studying the runoff into the lake. The reports have been coming in and the information will lead to greater awareness of our problem from here to Montgomery and even to Washington. Just last month, a group meeting was held where we actually were given numbers for sediment, in terms of tons per year, for each tributary coming in. This information was so extraordinary that it was decided that our representatives in Washington needed to be presented with it. Our lake is being looked at as a case for remediation funding. Who knows when, or if the funding will be established. After fifteen years of talking about doing something, or even digging a little dirt out, we finally seem to be breaking into where the real dollar decisions come from. It has taken almost two years of focus meetings and working with many agencies to come this far. This effort should not be considered useless or even futile, or even just talking about it. The work has been real and the progress has been steady. Every lakefront owner can have some hope in the fact that this information should force the hands of government. It is not a forgotten or hopeless cause at this point. It is just now beginning to gain momentum. Watch over the next year as real progress is made. The other aspect of these studies is that they provide information on D'Olive Bay sediment, which impacts our marina. There is also work underway to change the causeway to allow Shellbanks river to flow under it. This would provide much needed flushing of sediment and freshwater flows to be re-established. This would be accompanied by a remediation effort and possibly a channel dredging in front of the Yacht Club. It will be studied to see if it will keep the channel through the Blakely Bar open and navigable. That would insure the Yacht Club would be the best harbor on the northern Mobile Bay, without a doubt. Maybe we are dreaming big in this area, but there are many agencies, including the Corps of Engineers who think it will happen. Thought I might clear the air about who is talking and who is doing.
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10/10/2007 To the contributor on 10/9/07, you are not off the mark at all on the state of Lake Forest. I would encourage you to get involved as opposed to leave, however. Too many feel as though Lake Forest is so big they can't make a difference. You can play an integral role if you contact a Board member and join the good effort. -Clint Martin, 458-8999 | ||||
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10/9/2007 Apparently you didn't get one of the little the packets that someone has been tossing in yards around Lake Forest. It lists a bunch of "improvements" that the Improvement Movement made. Most of them are almost funny. For example, they were responsible for the Crepe Myrtles being planted in Lake Forest. Nowhere do they mention that the State of Alabama demanded that the City of Daphne get them off of Highway 98 and the city decided to move them to Lake Forest. What did the Improvement Movement have to do with it? They say that they have been talking about the lake with outside parties. How can talking about something be an improvement? Haven't they been talking about the lake for years? The flyer says that they were responsible for the defeat of the apartment expansion. Did they do that? Is that an improvement? They do mention the new entrances. Now those are improvements. All in all I would say that they are really reaching for something to brag about.
On another matter, why vote for anyone this year? All each candidate needs is one vote and he or she has won. Why should we validate any of these candidates, since we have no choice. Maybe I'm just pretending that I know the difference when I choose between candidates, but I should have more than one choice. I think I'll just vote on by-laws this year. | ||||
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10/9/2007 Why would anyone run for office in a rigged election? The misuse of Proxies to elect gangs of 5 two years in a row makes it impossible to run as an independent free thinking human being. We accept one person getting votes for the rest of the gang albeit 5 or 3. This is absurd! Add this to the fact that we run our Facilities for the benefit of less than 5% of our families. I for one find it untenable to live here. When I moved here I wondered why folks came for 2 to 4 years and moved on. Now I know why! My dues support a bloated bureaucracy and also fund the dining of the few. Soon we too will become one of those families who used to live in Lake Forest.
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10/8/2007
Section 2.4 Dues, Charges and Assessments Members of the Association shall be obligated to pay dues, charges and assessments imposed by the Association. Dues may increase annually with board of Directors approval at the annual meeting. Said increase shall not exceed the annual inflation rate as calculated by the government's Consumer Price Index. The Board has no authority to otherwise increase dues. The power and authority of the Board do Directors is limited to one (1) assessment annual, if deemed necessary, for the preservation of the Association. This assessment cannot exceed fifty ($50.00) per member annually.
Section 5.25 Re-Election Any Director of the Association who has been elected a full three (3) year term in office shall not be eligible for re-election to the Board of Directors for one year.
Section 5.5 Stated Meetings The Board of Directors shall hold one schedule meeting per month on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. The Board of Directors may, by resolution adopted by vote of a majority of the whole board, from time to time, appoint the time and place of these meetings of the Board. Such stated meetings shall be held at the time and place so appointed without giving special notice with regard thereto. In case the day appointed for the stated meeting shall fall on a legal holiday, such meeting shall be held on the next following, day, not a legal holiday at the regular appointed hour.
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10/8/2007
The signs this year indicate they are sponsored by the "Improvement Movement". The "Slate" name must have too bad a connotation now. Does this refer to the Improvement Committee, which is sponsored by the Board of Directors? Is the Board of Directors endorsing candidates for the board these days? Why could they only come up with three candidates? In the past, the board would always try to encourage more people to run than there were offices to be had. Have attitudes in the association deteriorated so much that no one is willing to serve? That would be a shame. While we are talking about it, now would be a good time to discuss all the improvements that have been made over the last two years. Can you think of any? Surely, the guys in charge should be able to come up with a few. Your Weblord has already given you his list from prior years. I will be more than happy to publish the latest batch. Have the facilities improved? Well, I've visited the Racquet Club a few times and haven't seen any improvement. What about the golf course? Can you golfers out there give us a few? We certainly haven't read about any lately. What about the Yacht Club? The marina? The lake? None that I have heard. There is a nice new grate on the dam. I'm not sure you can call that an improvement for the members. though. It just makes it easier to maintain by the staff. I think that the newsletter has been improved. Yes! I found one! Granted, I don't read many of the new segments. But, then, the newsletter should have a broader appeal to the members than just those of us interested in the financials and services. The new version under Tomasina Werner's direction does that. Can anyone else suggest any "improvements"? | ||||
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10/4/2007
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10/4/2007 I hope people will take time to visit the Lake Forest Stables! We are in the process of painting (at no cost or effort to Lake Forest), and pray daily that our stables won't be sold or discontinued. The stables don't cost Lake Forest anything as they are self-supporting. The great thing about this place is that anyone can visit and enjoy seeing the horses (and many people do!) Subdivisions with stables are considered "high-end" in other places; it's very unusual for a subdivision to have stables and are certainly thought of as up-scale. At this date, there are nine wonderful horses boarded there. Come visit: Prince (thoroughbred ex-racehorse), Manchac (Arabian), Bentley (dressage), Stormy, Molly (Tennessee Walker), Minnie, Joya (thoroughbred mare), Red-Man and Kit (quarter horses). They would love to see you and have a carrot as a treat. Thank you all for supporting this stable!
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10/2/2007 Concerning the ballots or proxies. Please remember to initial every page of your ballot. This requirement was in response to criticism that people may have fraudulently gotten signatures by switching the pages attached to the signature page. The idea of initialing each and every page was brought forth. Regretfully, it will likely lead to many votes not being counted due to missing initials of the member. Please, initial every page. If you do not remember initialing every page, go get a new ballot and make sure you have. The latest dated ballot will be counted. The matter of allowing the board to act as a proxy for matters not marked seems irrelevant. Would someone not vote on one of the issues on a ballot filled out? If they would, I would expect that those would be voted in favor of the prevailing side from the marked ballots. And remember, there will be no additional items being brought forward to the membership. Thanks | ||||
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10/2/2007 A new maintenance supervisor has been hired by the Lake Forest, so apparently they finally sent the old one packing. Also, the news you got the other day is right. The current accountant has also quit, so that does make three. | ||||
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10/1/2007 Is it legal to send out proxies with voting choices marked ?? I really find it offensive how this board of "Gov's" are suggesting my vote choices--although, isn't this typical of this board of ???// and how they operate !
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© 2007 Michael Davis All Rights Reserved |
We've heard a
little more about the work the golf course crew has been doing behind
Moss and Lawson's houses. Apparently, a deal was struck with the
city to fix runoff back there and Lake Forest would do the landscape
work to clean it up. The reporter said the it did not appear to
really do much for Moss. The point is that there are runoff
problems at a number of homes bordering the golf course. The
association has always taken the position that the golf course was there
first. Unless work was done by the association to create a new
runoff problem, there was nothing the association could do about it.
We took that position for several reasons. First, it was true.
Also, there was no way we could tell if the problem really was caused by
the golf course or just poor sitework by the builder. It was not
Lake Forest's water. It was rain. Finally, if we ever did
fix a problem like that without evidence that it was caused by Lake
Forest after the house was built, then we feared that a great big can of
worms would be opened. Now, if any property owners have
runoff problems, they can cite a precedence.