Music Video filmed at Waterfall Number One

Waterfall #1

A couple of days ago I saw a young couple videotaping at the waterfall.  As they left the waterfall I asked them some questions. They told me they have lived here for about 6 years, and that the waterfall and stream "is beautiful." They told me they were in the process of making a music video.

This waterfall is one of three on the property.  That waterfall had major maintenance performed on it this year as did another one.

In 2010-2011 I asked the board how serious they were about an "austerity program". As an owner I saw boards from 2009-2010 discussing methods to control fees. Upon achieving a board position I asked the pertinent questions and I pointed out that the stream system was a significant user of water and needed some serious maintenance, including replacement of all three pump pits, and major repairs on two streams.  I also pointed out that our grounds were a major feature of the property, and that included these waterfalls and streams.

I asked the board if they wanted to maintain the stream system or abandon it. I added that "this is the time to make a decision, before significant funds are expended."  That board decided to maintain the streams.

Of course, I had my own opinion about this, but the owners had elected seven board members. I had but one vote. It was entirely up to the other six members to determine how to proceed, and they did.

So, from 2011 to 2018 I presented my proposed maintenance to each board. This association did major repairs on all identified issues with the stream systems, replaced all three pump pits and repaired or replaced pumps that failed.

It took me seven years to accomplish this, and it was not easy for me, because I had to do the work. Each year I created my priority list, crunched the numbers and then  presented my list of projects to the board. I submitted a video of the issues at one stream system, and a diagram with the worst sections. Then the board hemmed and hawed.  But I did make it an easy decision. All they had to do was attend the meeting, sit back and vote.

1. I did the cost analysis prior to submitting the the board. 
2. I submitted the project to the boards of 2012-2018 in stages. 
3. Major stream repairs were delayed in my submittals until the roofing project was complete, and the replacement of Lakecliffe Blvd was complete.
4. I included all of this in the reserve studies of 2015 to the present. 
5. I sequenced the work, beginning with the pump pits, and then did major stream repairs in four areas. One of those had been passed over by the boards of 1990-2010.

First Action of the New HOA Board

I had a conversation with management. It seems the new board is back to the old tricks. This was my email response to management, copied to all of the board members of 9/26/2018:

"[To the Management;]

This is pursuant to our conversation yesterday, which I initiated. I was informed I can expect a letter from the Association’s Attorney, as directed by the current board.

Please forward this [email] to the entire board. I am only copying the board members for whom I had an email address as of 9/26/2018.

I provided a link to owners and board members who attended the Sept 2018 annual meeting. That link is for a video I prepared for my address to owners and the board who attended that annual meeting.

It is not a copy of a video of the meeting. Apparently this has become a concern to one or more of the board of 2019.  I suggest they focus on the real issues, including moving forward the water main transition to the City of Wheaton.   Being on the board is not supposed to be a game of “Trivial Pursuit.”

The link is an unlisted one on my YouTube channel.  In other words, it is not available to everyone who stumbles across my YouTube channel. It is a “hidden” link.  It was provided to those owners who attended the September annual meeting. It was provided for specific purpose, including information, education and guidance for owners, board members and candidates. As were all of the newsletter articles I wrote for eight years.

1.       I didn’t publish the video I made of the annual meeting of 2016. In fact, there is no copy but on my hard drives.  I made several tens of thousands of files, including spread sheets and reports including photographs, videos and so on. These were for my personal education, the education of the board and for performing my myriad of duties for this association. However, I began this work several years before achieving a board position.

2.       I did create a separate “slideshow” presentation of the data I presented to those who attended that annual meeting in September 2016.

3.       That separate presentation is what was published on YouTube.

4.       It might be too much to expect that my work will be of aid to the board.

Here’s a link of the video which is apparently of such grave concern to the new board (GHUA).  This is consistent with my goal to mentor, educate and pass on critical information to owners, boards and board candidates:

https://youtu.be/_ui4nr44ldw

Norman Retzke

Mobile [xxx.xxx.xxxx]

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