One final reminder about the annual budget meeting that is next Tuesday evening at 7:30 pm. Your vote matters so please attend the meeting to view the presentation, ask questions and submit your ballot if you have not already voted.
So those of you who know me will understand that I am an open book. It is time for this issue to be addressed. First of all, the overwhelming majority of members are appreciative, supportive and kind. The entire office and operations staff is thankful for you. However, there are people who address the team in a demeaning and demanding way. For those people we would like you to know that we too are human, have feelings and are doing our best under the circumstances. We spend each day following the rules, deed of restrictions and other guidelines given to us by the Board of Directors. We also have our own lives and challenges. Yet we show up each day doing our best to serve each member equally; it does not matter whether you live here full or part-time, what your name is or how reasonable or unreasonable the request. Remember we are just the messenger; we do not make the rules. So, for those to which this topic applies, please treat the Association team with the same respect that you expect others to treat you.
The trend continues for members performing work on the Association parkway or other property without permission or a permit. Please remember that the parkway in front of your property or nearby is not yours to do what you want. There are rules that must be followed, and permission granted to perform work in those areas. It places the Lake Improvement Board and the office in a precarious position when people are asked to tear out work performed without permission. There are also discussions underway to fine or dramatically increase fees for those who do unpermitted work. If you have any questions whatsoever, please contact the office for guidance or clarification BEFORE the work is done.
For those paying close attention to the budget, you will see about $100,000 to support the removal of silt from our silt ponds. That amount is only a drop in the bucket of the total needed to complete this task since at this time all of the silt ponds are full. We will have a dredge plan to present at the Annual meeting next spring to address some of the needs of coves that have an abundance of silt in them.
Finally, the fall effort to clean out the road ditches will soon begin. The old suction tube for the vacuum had to be replaced, among other maintenance items. We are asking for everyone’s cooperation by not depositing your leaves from your yard in the road ditches. First off, it is not fair to the membership as a whole that we are acting as a personal lawn service for certain members, second by depositing your leaves in the ditches tends to plug up the surrounding culverts, and finally the ditch cleaning process is dramatically slowed by the multiple extra trips to the Martin property because of the vast increase in the volume of leaves needing removal. Also, you are reminded not to deposit leaves into the lake. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Please call 816.578.4272 if we can be of help to you or answer your question(s). I also can be reached at 913.305.7181 or email me at haroldmitts@lakelotawana.net. Continue to be safe! Harold