Lake Linganore
Association, Inc.
April 17, 2006
The meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. at the LLA Coldstream Drive office.
Board members present were: Jim Cates, Jay Decker, Jim DiMeglio, Alan Dinkelacker, Brandon Frazier, Lisa Rogers, Grant Sheehan.
Staff in attendance: GM Edwards, CRM Gurley.
Minutes of the April 3, 2006 regular board meeting were approved as written.
DEVELOPER’S REPORT
John Clarke of Land Stewards told the board that his company went before the Frederick Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) on April 4 about its proposed Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO) text amendment, which he noted was approved by a vote of 3 -2. He also said the county Board of Education (BoE) supports the amendment and that the Frederick County Planning Commission (FcPc) voted in favor of it. Mr. Clarke thanked the board for supporting the amendment in public meetings during the past several months. He said that not all the information in the newspapers was factual and he passed out a packet of information to show the financials involved and how it impacted school construction in the New Market region. He noted that the three commissioners who supported the amendment were under great pressure and criticism for doing so. Mr. Clarke said that Land Stewards would continue to work with the BoE and the FcPc to work out a final agreement. Mr. Clarke said that the opposition complaint is that the amendment sets a precedent. He added that Eaglehead is a unique project and that throughout the years, as well as now, no one at the county level came forward to see to it that the project had a workable opportunity to be completed. He said the approval of the APFO text amendment was a big step but that there were several more steps that needed to take place before anything of substance could occur.
Director Dinkelacker asked the directors if they wanted to make a motion to send a letter to the BoCC regarding the LLA’s continued support of the APFO text amendment. Director DiMeglio said that most of the people who have weighed in on the subject are not from Eaglehead and that he thought it would be best if those who are most affected by the matter would speak to the BoCC. Director Sheehan suggested that Mr. Clarke put the information he had distributed earlier in the May issue of LakeTalk and on the LLA web site. Mr. Clarke said he was already in the process of doing that. Resident Larry Dusold asked if the information had also been sent to local media, which Mr. Clarke said he would do. Mr. Clarke said that Land Stewards and the BoE were having another meeting with the BoCC the next day.
MOTION: Director Frazier made a motion that the LLA board reaffirm its support of the APFO to the BoCC in another letter. The motion was seconded by Director Rogers. DISCUSSION: It was decided that a letter would be drafted by directors Frazier and Rogers and sent the next day and that the letter would be followed up with an email. VOTE: six directors voted in favor of the motion; none of the directors voted against the motion.
•Aspen Village— Resident Kathy Williams attended in place of committee chairperson Kathy Brown. She thanked the LLA for the road improvements on Ilex and Picea courts.
•Pinehurst Village — Committee chairperson Guy Reese reported to the board on the results of a survey done in March about village amenities. More than 600 surveys were mailed out to lot owners and 208 surveys were returned. Of that, 172 supported the idea of creating a multi-use park at the open space area at the intersection of Pinehurst Drive and E. Lakeridge Road; 11 respondents supported the splash park option; 12 respondents supported leaving the area as it is; three respondents gave no opinion; two respondents supported having a swimming pool in the village. The report in full is attached to the minutes.
•Finance Committee — Director Frazier said the financial statements in the packets were end-of-the-year and had not yet been audited. He noted that expenses for the year were under budget by approximately $300,000. He said that income for the year exceeded projections by $125,000. Mr. Frazier said that $252,844 in cash was carried forward and he noted that the finance committee recommendation was to carry the cash forward to the Lake Anita Louise farm pond and the Aspen North CDA project. He said the committee added a caution about proceeding and that the projects be carefully monitored. He also reported that the LLA reserves were at $1,014,000.
Director Frazier said that future discussions for the LLA board will need to revolve around how much the association is going to contribute toward the Villages of Linganore CDA.
Director Dinkelacker asked about interest earned during the year on the money in the reserve accounts. Director Frazier said the rate was 2.41 percent and year-to-date accrued for the association $19,500 on the reserves funds.
MOTION: Director Frazier made a motion to put the cash forward to use for the Lake Anita Louise repairs. Director Cates seconded the motion. VOTE: Six directors voted in favor of the motion; none of the directors voted against the motion.
Aspen North lot owner Eric Struntz asked about the status of the Aspen North CDA line of credit. Director Frazier said that one bank had made an offer but that the association needed to get other offers. He also noted that the LLA needed to finally determine what the collateral structure would be for applying for the line of credit.
Developer Roads— Director Dinkelacker said that the developer has asked what the LLA wants in terms of the future roads Land Stewards will be building within the community. He said that the idea has been broached that the roads in future villages be built so that they are “county ready.” Director Dinkelacker said he thought this was a great idea because the LLA could turn them over to the county and the association would not have to be responsible for them. He said the board would have to pass a resolution to take this position, and that doing so would allow Land Stewards to address the issue with county officials who continue to ask about the future roads.
Director DiMeglio said that the PUD already has roads that are now county owned and that settling the issue would allow Land Stewards to start on future villages. He said that Land Stewards is constantly asked by the county about what the road status will be. Mr. DiMeglio said that it makes sense to make the roads public.
Director Frazier said that one good reason to consider otherwise is whether Eaglehead pursues municipality status in the future and would have to take back that asset from the county or whether that would be a problem. Director Sheehan said that there was a reason the LLA was plowing the county owned roads within Eaglehead.
Director Dinkelacker said that GM Edwards was looking into turning over North Shore and Audubon roads to the county and that turning them over the county would lessen the LLA costs.
Director DiMeglio said that whether the roads were to be private or public, Land Stewards will be building the roads. GM Edwards said that the county has been more responsive nowadays and noted that some villages have big problem ahead.
Director Frazier said that information about what it would take to turn over Audubon and North Shore roads to the county should be presented to the board and then discussed as to whether it would really benefit the LLA to do so.
MATTERS FOR BOARD
INFORMATION
Boy Scout Troop 268— BSA Troop 268 requested and was granted permission to use Lake Linganore and the Nightingale Beach area for the troops summer aquatics program, which includes swimming, fishing, canoeing and basic scout skills.
ADJOURNMENT
Director Cates made a motion to adjourn the regular meeting
and convene the annual candidate forum. Director Rogers seconded the
motion. The meeting was adjourned at 7:35
p.m.