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Speed Tables: A Permanent Solution for Longleaf?
Written by Greg Hankins, Editor   
Saturday, 13 February 2010

    Hiring off-duty sheriff's officers occasionally to nab Westside speeders is not working, Longleaf Drive resident Wendy Fisher told the Seven Lakes West Landowners Association [SLWLA] Board of Directors during the public comment portion of the Tuesday, February 9 Board Meeting.
Image    "Our speeding problem is beyond the pale," Fisher said, noting that some folks won't walk or let their kids ride bikes on Longleaf Drive. "If I wanted to live on [NC HIghway] 211, I would have moved there," Fisher added, noting that speeders whiz by her house "every day, all day long."
    Fisher encouraged the Board to install speed tables in the roadway. Unlike narrow speed bumps or speed humps, speed tables are long, raised sections of asphalt -- as long as the wheelbase of most cars. They are engineered to prevent speeding while allowing vehicles to maintain normal residential speeds, rather than forcing cars to come to a near stop before crossing over them.
    "It's a permanent solution," Fisher said. "You don't have to pay anyone to enforce it. Part-time enforcement is not working. It hasn't worked."
    Security Director John Hoffmann was sympathetic to Fisher's complaint, but wary of her solution.
    "We have an equally passionate view in the community," Hoffmann said, "that speed tables are the worst possible solution. Nothing could be worse." Hoffmann said one Corvette driver had threatened to sue the Association if speed calming devices were installed.
    Instead, Hoffmann advocated asking the Sheriff's Office to provide traffic enforcement — at no cost to the Association — in the vicinity of Fisher's home during the morning and evening "rush hours."
    "It doesn't cost anything to have them in there while they are on duty," Hoffmann said. "Before I go to speed tables, I want to try enforcement . . . We're going to do something about it and we're going to do something about it in your neighborhood."
    Director Mick Herdrich was more willing to adopt Fisher's "permanent" solution.
    "If there's a problem, let's fix the problem," Herdrich said. "Having the police come in apparently doesn't fix the problem. We need to publicize that, if this doesn't work, then we are going to go with speed tables."
    The Board also discussed trying to publicize the names of residents given tickets.
    Legal Director Ed Silberhorn noted that the SLWLA Rules and Regulations include the mechanism necessary for the Association to set up speed enforcement and issue tickets. He said former Security Director Blaine Rowland had found it more cost effective to use off-duty sheriff's deputies than to train and equip association guards for the task.

 

   
  • Snow Removal
    Hoffmann presented the Board with a draft Snow and Ice Response Plan. While a process is already in place for dealing with snow and ice on the West Side, recent weather prompted Hoffmann to formalize those procedures.
    Hoffmann said the Association currently contracts with Thomas Construction for snow removal. The firm has an end-loader rather than a snow plow to use for the purpose, and thus must be careful when removing snow not to damage the surface of the roadway. Thomas tends to respond to a snow or ice incident mid-morning, which is of little use to those attempting to leave earlier for work. He said the Association can also use Cedar Pines Landscaping to sand or salt icy patches in the mornings.
    Hoffmann's draft plan included the idea of pretreating areas that tend to become ice covered with salt or urea when an ice or snow event is forecast. That aspect of the plan met with skepticism from several directors, concerned about the possible impact of runoff on Lake Auman water quality. Taking note of that sentiment, Hoffmann said he, Infrastructure Director John Goodman, and Community Manager Joan Frost would modify the plan accordingly and bring it back to the Board for approval.
    
Other Security Items
    Noting that there has been some public discussion about a $20,000 allocation for security equipment in the proposed Fiscal Year 2010-2011 budget, Hoffmann said that total was not exclusively for security cameras. But having cameras that can reliably capture license plates at the back gate is essential, he said. "It's important for the Sheriff to be able to use it in a court of law," he noted.
    Hoffmann said a contract had been signed with ECS — a company that will install lightening protection for equipment at the back gate — noting that the Association has spent more than $15,000 in the past two-to-three years repairing equipment damaged by nearby lightning strikes. Community Manger Frost said the contractor expects to complete the job during the first week in March.
    Twenty-four volunteers are currently serving on Neighborhood Watch roving patrols, Hoffmann reported. During February, those volunteers will run a total of 24-30 three-to-four-hour patrols. "The program is up and running," Hoffmann said. "I think it is serving its purpose."
    
Community Activities
    Community Activities Director Karen Milligan said she is looking for volunteers to join her committee; she lost four members at the end of the year, likely because of the substantial amount of work committee members put in.
    This year's activities schedule includes:
    •    An Easter Egg Hunt and a visit with the Easter Bunny on March 28.
    •    Support Our Troops Day in May — an event that allows residents young and old to drop by the Community Center and prepare a handmade card to be delivered to wounded service personnel or resident veterans at the VA Hospital in Fayetteville.
    •    The First Friday Summer Concert Series in June, July, August, and possibly September.
    •    A Wine Tasting in September, if the committee can attract enough new members to manage it.
    •    Trunk or Treat on Halloween, which has bee placed back on the schedule after a year's hiatus, based on feedback from residents. Milligan said those willing to decorate their vehicles and hand out treats will be asked to sign up in advance; at least twenty will be needed if the event is to be held.
    •    A Holiday Social on December 3 and the kids' Christmas party with Santa on December 5.
    Director Hoffmann suggested the Board consider establishing the position of "volunteer coordinator" -- which might be a volunteer -- to help with recruitment, as well as monitor the need for volunteers and the need to replenish their numbers. He suggested that Board members ponder the idea and share their thoughts via email, so that it could be placed on the agenda for a future Board Meeting. Director Silberhorn said recognizing and rewarding volunteers is important, noting that he has five separate committees in the legal area.
    
Architectural Review
    Architectural Review [ARC] Director Adam Wimberly  presented the first reading of a proposed amendment to the SLWLA Rules and Regulations that will make clear that manufactured or modular homes are not permitted in the community. Legal Director Silberhorn noted that the second reading and public hearing on the change could be handled during the February 23 Board Meeting.
    Wimberly said the ARC Committee is attempting to work on language to present to the Board that would govern the use of hydroseeding rather than sodding to establish lawns. Infrastructure Director John Goodman said it is important to specify the fertilizers and other amendments that are included in an hydroseeding operation as well as what constitutes "establishment" of a lawn.
    Both Director Hoffmann and President Ron Shepard said they were skeptical of allowing hydroseeding, since policing conformance to the specifications could be difficult. Shepard noted that sod is relatively inexpensive in Moore County.
    Wimberly reported that two ARC and one Community standards issue will be coming before the Judicial Panel in hearings to be held on February 22 at 7:00 pm. Meetings of the panel are open to the public.
    
Other Business
    In other business during the Tuesday, February 9 Board meeting:
    •    Resident Jim Barrett said during public comment that he and Bill Gorman, an accountant, had developed an alternative to the Board's proposed FY 2010-2011 budget that would meet the community's needs for cash, but involves only a fifteen precent dues increase in FY 2010-2011 and a ten percent increase the following year — compared to the much larger increase the Board has proposed.] Barrett asked the Board to adopt the alternative budget and inform Association members of that decision in a letter prior to the Annual Meeting.
    •    Infrastructure Director Goodman reported that he has filled his Landscaping Committee, which will be doing an analysis of landscaping at West Side Park and elsewhere in the community, and still needs volunteers for his Roads and Storm Drainage Committee, which will be building on previous Director Ray MacKay's work, adding drainage to the existing road paving plan.
    •    Lake & Dam Director Herdrich reported that work has begun clearing trees and shrubs from the dams that impound the community's ponds. Herdrich said state engineers have inspected the remediation work done on Lake Auman dam; however, the Association is still waiting for the state to issue final approval of the work.
    •    The Board settled on May 1  for the mailing of a ballot and supporting information on a covenant change needed in connection with the purchase and repurposing of two lots in the Colton's Corner development near the back gate. The Board has voted to acquire the lots at a cost of $45,000, anticipating that they could be used for a bus shelter, mailhouse, commuter parking lot or other uses. But community approval is needed to move the properties from residential to other uses. Goodman said he would draft a document explaining the benefits of the covenant change while asking Ray MacKay to draft a document arguing the cons.
    •    Director Silberhorn reported that the developer Lakeside Properties has offered to transfer ownership of James Drive to the Association. He said the Infrastructure committee is examining the proposal.
    •    Nominating Committee Chair Karen Milligan is seeking four or five landowners to fill her committee. Secretary and 2009-2010 Nominating Committee Chairman Ed Tuton volunteered to serve.
    •    Community Manager Frost reported that the total amount owed by delinquent accounts is down to $15,900, compared to more than $69,000 when Community Association Services, Inc. [CAS] took over management of the community. Frost said Wingfield properties — owner of Beacon Ridge Country Club, has begun to bring its account up to date.
    •    Frost said copies of the newly-revised rule book are available for new members. Existing members may drop off their binders at the office to have them updated.
    •    Frost reported that she will be rescheduling previously cancelled courses in the operation of the Association's recently purchased Automated External Defibrillator.
    •    At the request of President Shepard, the Board approved action by the Greater Seven Lakes Community Council to send a letter to the Moore County Board of Commissioners, asking that Seven Lakes have a seat at the table in regular meetings the Commissioners have begun with the county's municipalities.
    
   
 
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