Heard on the Street

Did you read Phil Bentz’s Treasurer’s Report in the August Cider Press? He is again beating the drums for an Assessment increase.  It is interesting that a select group here at AV keep wanting more money, but refuse to acknowledge that since Harmer came our staff has increase from about 7 or 11people to 32 people.  Why? 

In 1992 the average Ohio income was $20,062 and our assessment was $60 per lot, which was 0.3% of our income.  In 2008 the average income was $46,597 and the lot assessment was $189, which was 0.41% and that was a percentage increase of 37%.  Percentage wise we are paying more each year.  Maybe it is time to get a manager who is skilled in keeping costs down.

Did you hear that 109 owners signed a petition asking that the temperatures at the indoor pool be returned to their previous warmer temperatures?  It has been said that the reaction of the majority of the Board was “NO” and that Harmer’s reaction was that he would not do it, which seems to be his new management style.  When did it become acceptable for a manager to do what he wants regardless of the owners’ needs?

Margaret Elliott, Editor

Committee Highlights

Budget and Finance Committee:  June 2009  Bob Sichel is Chairman and members are, Dick Anderson, Bob Blue, Betty Cea, Moe Cea, Margaret Elliott, Judy Fagert, Bob Meldrum, Dick Myers, Marlyn Reaser, Kathy Riley, Nellie Robinson, and Angie Ward.

The June minutes were read and approved.  The June Financial Statement was reviewed and approved.  Repairs and Replacement costs have been kept at a minimum.  Elliott asked Sichel whether he had gotten an answer to her question in May about whether the boat repair/washing person is reimbursing the AV for use of the marina space and utilities.  Sichel waited until Harmer was present so that Jeff could answer the question.  Harmer said that this is a case of “one hand helping the other”.  The Marina cannot provide that service so it is advantageous to let the man use our facilities.  Sometimes in return, he will wash a marina boat.  Harmer did not know whether the Association has any liability in this situation and he will check into that.  When questioned further Harmer stated that if there was another situation similar to this, he would grant the same privileges to another AV business entrepreneur.

Editor’s Note:  Times are tough and this might be a golden opportunity for an enterprising individual. Maybe someone wants to give private swimming lessons. In return maybe that person could give a free synchronized swimming lesson, or help the guard pickup the locker room, or whatever.  Maybe a mechanic would like to use the maintenance building to work on AV owners’ cars and he could give a free engine tune up to AV….just figure out what you can do that is “one hand helping the other” at one of our common areas.  Does this kind of thinking make sense??? I do not think so, Mr. Harmer. 

Properties Committee (July 6, 2009)   Judy Fagert and Julie Arnold are Co Chairmen and members are Ed Arnold, Bob Blue, Margaret Elliott, Chris Gustafson, Sharon Harper, Sharon Holmes, Vince Marcellino, Lorraine Stanson, Don Ward, Carol Webb, and D.J. Young.

The July meeting minutes were read and approved.  The Committee was asked by the Chairmen to prioritize the list of wanted repairs and improvements.  There was general agreement by the committee that more picnic table, benches, grills, benches for the common areas plus shade for the outdoor pool was the number one need. Number two was to use the lot across from the Marina that we are renting from the County for the derelict boats that are now being stored at the Marina. 

Next choice was a privacy screen in the upstairs Club House bathroom, paint the paneling at Floral Valley, and do something about the erratic air conditioning at the Club House. Number four was adding docks in the cove on the north side of Davis Beach and getting parking area closer to the Beach.  Number 5 was to build a storage area in the upstairs of the Club House for tables and chairs.  It was agreed by the Committee that next month they would meet at Davis Beach to see if there is any other solution to the docking and parking problems at that area.

The Committee was informed that they are not permitted to place articles in the Cider Press without Board approval.  The Board rejected the following: 

Going Green

Our Apple Valley Properties Committee is looking for ways to make Apple Valley more eco-friendly and be cost effective.  Current suggestions include enquiring into optional curb side recycling services from our current trash removal companies and large receptacles at the beaches and common areas to provide for pre-sorting of aluminum, plastics, and glass from all other reuse.

We want to hear from you.  Please submit your ideas and feedback on these suggestions to jarnold0406@yahoo.com orjitterj@aol.com
mail  357 Baldwin Dr. , Howard, OH  or 77 Grand Valley Court, Howard, OH 43028 or phone 397-7194 or 392-8138

The Committee was informed by our Board liaison that there is no leak at Bennett Pond, but rather that the well in the pond cannot provide enough water since the pond has been enlarged.  Good rainfall will help bring the pond level up higher.

There was extensive discussion about the dirty beaches.  The problem seems to be that either the beaches are not being cleaned as often with the machinery purchased several years ago or the goose/duck population is increasing.  The Committee was told that the beaches are cleaned every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The majority of the members agreed that the weekends are the time of heavy owner usage and that the beaches and beach area need to be cleaned on Saturday and Sunday.  A motion was passed asking the Board to take under consideration ways of controlling this problem.

Editor’s Note:  The following are pictures were taken on Thursday, August 6^th.  This would have been just one day after they were cleaned!!  Something needs to be done! 

King Beach

Sutton Beach  Horse Doo Doo

Prior to adjourning there was a motion passed moving the Committee meeting time back to 4 PM on the first Monday of each month.

Lake Committee (July 6, 2009)   Bob Neumann is Chairman and members are Bob Blue, Curt Campbell, Maurice Cea, Margaret Elliott, Judy Fagert, Bill Gordon, Carl Holmes, Roy Landskroner, Bob McLaughlin, Sally Slonaker, and Carol Webb.

The July minutes were read and approved.  Reports were given on the lake water testing and they were not as good as last month, but still good.  The clarity at the dam was 72” and 40-54” in the rest of the lake.  The dissolve oxygen was 10-11.  The more extensive testing done by Curt Campbell and Bob Neuman was basically normal.

The weed problem is less now than last month. 

The Fish Club had 43 children signed up for the July tournament, but because of weather rescheduling on 28 children were able to attend.  The Bass Tournament is scheduled for September 19^th.  A Fish Seminar is schedule for January 2010. October 15^th the Fish Club will be having a Casino Trip to The Meadows in Washington, PA.

The dredging report was finally received.  The dredging will be from the head of the channel to where it was dredged last time. The side of the channel that has the sewer line will not be dredged.  It was recommended that Little Apple Island be emptied of previously dredged soil until it resembles a soup bowl.  This will probably be done by using a conveyer belt. 

Once this is done the newly dredge soil will be put there and it is estimated that it will be able to hold all the new dredgings.  This is a one step move and the soil will drain back into the lake thus there should be no problem with the EPA.  The soil removed from the island will have to be tested before it is moved from the Valley because it has organic soil in it.  The cost of the dredging is estimated in the report at $300,000.  If this is the course that is followed, then the island has to be prepared this Fall and there needs to be bids taken.  A motion was made and passed to accept the study and obtain bids for excavation of 996 feet and to accept the techniques and mechanics of the study.

Editor’s Note:  One member, who had spent personal money, to have the Little Apple Island soil tested was very concerned about the study’s projected dredging costs.  As with the soil question, this person had explored what actual costs of dredging should be in these economic times. Although the soil information had been readily accepted and is being instrumental in the dredging decisions, the information and questions about dredging costs seemed to cause tension.  Several of the Committee seemed to feel that discussing costs and bids was best left to the manager.

A major problem at AV seems to be that too many Board members, committee people, etc. are unwilling to question or challenge any of Harmer’s actions.  This leaves Harmer free to be unresponsive to owners’ needs, continue frivolous spending (such as hundreds of dollars a month for staff AV clothing and the cleaning costs of this clothing), maintaining secrecy about salaries, not having line item accountability, and etc. Where will his actions eventually take us?  We already are over spending and becoming a divided community.  What is the answer to this problem?

Margaret Elliott, Editor and Publisher