The March 17, 2009 Apple Valley Board minutes were read, corrected and approved.

Editor’s Note:  It is unpleasant to attend meetings at the Administration Building.  Only about  thirty five people and cars can be accommodated at at this facility, the acoustics remain poor, and a clear view of the Board is physically obstructed by Harmer, the secretary, and the AV lawyer. It clearly is not an owner friendly setting.    

The Manager reported that we now have 32 staff members and he is trying to delay more seasonal hiring as long as he can.  The maintenance staff has been cleaning up the spillway area.  A Kenyon College geology class came to observe some of the formations in the spillway.  The maintenance staff has also been involved in pump repair at Floral Valley and readying Campers Village for its opening.  Harmer stated that even though there are not RV’s on all the sites that all sites have been reserved and money tendered.

People have also begun making reservations at the various shelters.  He further stated that ninety eight access cards have been sold to the workout room and that people like the time flexibility and no one has safety concerns.  They have gotten rid of the weight bars and bench and have substituted dumbbells. 

Editor’s Note:  Is this what Jeff thought he heard people say?  Has he issued an access card to the emergency squad in case an owner gets in trouble and manages to call the squad?

Committee Reports

Activities Committee report - Sharon Holmes

They have had a couple of new members join their committee.  The Easter Event was a success with 188 children registered.  The Committee is planning to have a boat parade on the Fourth of July and the monthly potlucks are now the responsibility of this Committee.

Architecture Committee Report - Moe Cea

Moe’s report reflected that new house construction etc is down.

Old Business

The Board has had a sub committee considering how to enforce the Covenant that says that there shall be no businesses in the home.  The policy will be published in the Cider Press so that owners have a chance to give input before the Board passes it.

Editor’s Note:  It seems that the goal of the Board is that home businesses in the Valley be invisible.  This would mean that people should not advertise their AV address, have minimal foot traffic, and not have trucks in their driveways that advertise their business.  This is the way that it has always been, but in the past few years while Harmer was tightening down on cutting trees, etc he neglected enforcing one of our Covenants.  If you do not agree with the Board’s enforcement of this Covenant, then I suggest that you call a Director and express your concerns.

Property Owners’ Time

Julie Arnold said that at 12:45PM last Sunday she saw hunters on the land that AV is leasing from the county.  They were dressed in hunting cloths and had guns.  Julie called the AV emergency telephone number and is still waiting for a call back. 

There was some discussion with Jackie Pirics saying that they were not hunters, Dee Zarbaugh saying that they were paint ballers, and Harmer saying that the people were not trespassing because the land is not posted and they were using air guns.  Julie held her ground and said that there was a shot gun and it had been identified as such by another property owner.

Editor’s Note:  The overall impression I got was that Harmer was resentful about a property owner complaining and that if you want to make sure that a situation of this type is looked into you probably need to call the Sheriff’s Office.  This is in my opinion just another example of Harmer’s poor management skills.

On a more positive note, I was impressed that the Board seemed more relaxed and made spontaneous comments.  Also they allowed Julie to have rebuttal from the floor.

The meeting was adjourned.

AV Information Heard on the Street

This Editor has been told that Kegler and Brown law firm has been replaced by the local firm Zelkowitz, Barry, and Cullers and to support this is the fact that the attorney present at this Board meeting was Noel Alden of that firm.  However, the present lawsuit against Harmer, Cea, and past and present Directors is still represented by Kegler and Brown so the status of our legal representation is unclear.  I would hope that when Kegler and Brown is completely out of our AV business that the new law firm will recommend mediation.

Also heard is that Betty Cea has resigned as Election Committee Chairman and Helen McClauglin and Marilyn Reaser have been appointed as co-chairmen of this committee. Many concessions have been made by Harmer in regards to building a bigger ballot box, closer oversight of the mail, etc.  However, supposedly Harmer has pooh poohed the idea of the ballots being collected by a third party and has kept it all in house in “his” office….I wonder why????

Margaret Elliott, Publisher and Editor