Taking Care of the Ducklings

One of the issues in our association is saving the ducklings. Now, that is a real issue and it is a priority for some residents.

There is a real disconnect in our community. One of our board members is scrutinizing every bill and recently complained about a $25 bank charge. I'm attempting to find ways to reduce costs without reducing services while properly maintaining the property and build necessary reserves and keep fee increases below 3 percent each year.  Other board members are attempting to keep the peace between all of the differing viewpoints of our owners.

Now, it is true we can do anything; all it takes is time and money. Our 2017 budget is more than $1.3 million. The infrastructure is insured for about $90 million and we span about 40 acres with 15 acres of turf and 44 buildings.

A $25 charge is about 7 cents per owner per year, or about .002 percent of our annual budget.

Can we make improvements to save the duckling who come to our property, fed illeglly by owners? Of course we can. "All it takes is time and money." In fact, in the most recent association newsletter I stated that it takes "sweat equity." The sweat of the board and the equity of the owners.

I'm sure for a couple of $thousand we can deal with the ducklings. That's about $6 per owner, plus many hours of the board's time. But wait, we're sweating a cost of $0.07 per owner. So spending about 100 time more is the easy thing to do?

This, by the way, is precisely why this association ran into serious financial trouble. A lack of setting priorities, a lack of proper maintenance, a lack of reserves and pandering to owners. Back in the good old days "the squeaky wheels got the grease."

Now, if enough owners complain about "saving the ducklings" perhaps the board will make completing the deck and stream behind Thames a priority. Or maybe not. I'm not holding my breath.

In fact, we really need to begin building reserves and we have some major issues to deal with, No "Mega Projects" like that $2 million roofing project, thank God.