Sun City Anthem

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Liberty Center Closed

Sun Sets on Sun City Anthem Liberty Center


Building Closed
Immediately

Vestibule+Doors---Liberty+Center.jpg (640×478)

for Undetermined Time frame

At the Thursday evening, November 19, 2015 Members Meeting, a BOMBSHELL was dropped on the audience.

Apparently, THERE IS BOTH LEAKAGE AND A SEVERE MOLD PROBLEM associated with the building that has forced it to close due to a potential health hazard.

For those of you who resided here when that building was originally built on 2009 and opened in early 2010, controversy has been a part of that structure for years.

The Sun City Anthem master plan originally called for THREE golf courses; however, that was abandoned when the real estate market collapsed.

Instead, the people of Shadow Canyon and Desert Sky were supposedly promised a separate club house when that part of Sun City Anthem was built; but when it was originally abandoned by Pulte, the residents of those villages threatened legal action...stating they were promised a club house as a part of the Pulte sales presentation.

The building was built....but amazingly, no board member or any resident was allowed to visit or examine the site while it was being constructed.

And even worse, it was ACCEPTED by the Board at that time "AS IS", without any verification as to the structure's soundness or safety.

I do not know of any individual who would consider the purchase of any property without having a professional examination first performed, but once again, the INCOMPETENCE of that board, chaired by the wife of an alternative blogger at that time,  is perhaps the only person who can answer that question.

What will be the amount of the damage?  

That has yet to be determined and will be presented at the December 3, 2015 board meeting.

The lesson to be learned from this is simple...

ELECT THOSE WHO ARE COMPETENT and have the NECESSARY EXPERIENCE and COMMON SENSE to make financially sound decisions.

Not doing so will only prolong these costly mistakes.


Anthem Opinions Administration
  1. From Leslie H...to...Anthem Opinions

    Incredible!

    I can't believe such people would be allowed to be a Board Member.

    I guess we allowed this happen.

    We deserve the punishment!
    1. Leslie,

      I commend you for the comment.

      Yes indeed, we the resident voters placed such individuals on our Board in the past...and continue to do so in each succeeding year as evidenced by the many financial fiascos created as a result of incompetence directly related to complete inexperience that has been demonstrated again and again.

      We, the voters are ultimately at fault; but the blame has to be shared by some others....particularly by those who parade themselves as reporters or unofficial "big shots" who do little other than endorse these same types year after year.

      Last night I called on an alternate blogger to print the voting records of the candidates that may be running in the upcoming board election.

      It was my belief that FULL KNOWLEDGE of the past, would provide GOOD REASONING for casting a ballot for a particular individual.

      As usual, between his wife screeching "that's inappropriate...that's inappropriate" (the same individual who "appropriately" signed off on the "AS IS" Liberty Center building)...

      ...he, like a circus dancing bear, raced to the forefront to respond to my comment.

      Unfortunately, instead of answering the challenge in a positive manner, he decided to make a statement that he wanted to debate me a number of years ago....that I refused him.

      (What that had to do with the printing of voting records, I have no idea.)

      My response was "NOT TRUE"...that my terms for such a discussion were not acceptable to him.

      My terms...as he himself brought out...WE BOTH BE STRAPPED TO A LIE DETECTOR as we answered questions.

      He did however bring out the fact that his printing such material could easily be accessed on the SCA website by checking the minutes of past board meetings....

      ...something I am sure all of us do on a daily basis !

      Nonetheless, he never accepted the challenge of printing the voting records of candidates.

      Perhaps that might have taken valuable time from reprinting Cafe V menus.

      But he has a 100% record of endorsing all successful candidates in the past....

      What an achievement !

      1. From Elaine I...to Anthem Opinions

        Who buys a house without an inspection and walk-thru ?

        This is complete idiocy.

        That board and its president should be held accountable and not the residents!!!!
        1. From Kay Frank...to...Anthem Opinions

          The announcement fails to use the words "construction defect"

          Roger Cooper was project manager and Roz Berman was president of the board.

          I would like your opinion if the board would be liable and their
          insurance for not doing their fiduciary duty?

          My husband, Robert, objected to the process as long as he was on the board--but got no community support.
        2. Kay,

          I question if the argument "construction defect" can be made, and I also question whether any warranty would still be available.

          I was made aware by a reliable source that when the initial problems were discovered, that board made an attempt to correct them without checking the warranty....the result....as a result of trying to hide the damage from the public and using association funds to fix the original construction defects...well into the hundreds of thousands of dollars....that action invalidated any warranty.

          As far as the construction defect argument, that too is likely to be a problem. I have an UNCONFIRMED opinion that Nevada law no longer allows an attorney to take such a case on a contingency basis....and...if that be the truth....my guess is that based on an hourly bill, the total would reach the $150,000 to $200,000 range.

          If these sources are correct, it would appear that we, the resident/owners, will be stuck for the bill.

          Now...add that to another comment made at this meeting that the budget passed has a substantial deficit, and that lead me to believe that the ultimate result of all of this will have to involve some form of increase in assessment.

          Is the board liable? That would be like suing ourselves. We, through our dues, would essentially be paying for their legal defense in addition to any legal fees we would also incur as the plaintiff on the case. It's lose--lose.

          There is only one feasible solution, and I hope my article brought that to light.

          LOOK CLOSELY AT THE EXPERIENCE LEVEL of those running for the Board positions. Failing to do that can only have one result....ADDITIONAL FAILURE.
          1. From Robert N...to...Anthem Opinions

            A Chicken comes home to Roost

            I read with abject horror and disgust the article regarding the closing of the Liberty Center due to water leakage and mold. It appears that the arrogant administrative incompetence of a previous HOA board has thrust SCA into a possible financial disaster. Depending on the extent of the mold infestation, remediation could cost tens of thousands of dollars. What was most disgusting was that the Board agreed to the proviso that “no board member or any resident was allowed to visit or examine the site while it was being constructed”. And to further this debacle, “it was ACCEPTED by the Board at that time "AS IS", without any verification as to the structure's soundness or safety”.

            As properly pointed out in the article, NO ONE would contract to have a house built under the condition that inspections of the construction were not permitted. In fact, when you borrow money from a Lending Institution, inspections are required throughout the construction process: the Lending Institution forwards the loan in installments; the next installment IS NOT made until the construction is inspected by a qualified individual(s). So even a bank, with pockets deeper than the entire population of SCA combined, would take due diligence in such construction endeavors.

            At best, this reflects Arrogant Administrative Incompetence; at worst, this reflects the result of a surreptitious financial gain for one or more individuals.

            I fear that the Liberty Center debacle will be greeted with the same level of apathy so pervasive in SCA. Perhaps people will wake up when their monthly maintenance fees suddenly jump an extra $100?

            Yes, I am aware that these actions were taken by previous Board members. However this rampant arrogant administrative incompetence, unfortunately, persists to this day. For example, if memory serves me correctly, a survey of SCA residents was taken prior to the current “Vic’s / Cafe V” debacle. The survey asked what type of restaurant should replace the former operation: a formal sit-down restaurant, OR an informal “hang-out” place where residents could meet some friends, have a burger, and maybe watch football on a big-screen TV. Insofar as I can remember the majority voted for the informal option. Yet, in complete defiance of the residents the Board was elected to represent, they went forward with a formal sit-down restaurant – and we all know how that turned out. Their decision has resulted in yet another ‘black hole’ of money for HOA funds that could be better-well spent elsewhere. And while on the subject of the restaurant, when and how was this SCA Amenity opened to the public? To use one of our pools, the Health Club, the Tennis Courts, etc. you MUST be a resident. Yet somewhere along the line the restaurant amenity was opened to the public – when and how? I don’t think the residents were every surveyed about surrendering one of OUR private amenities to the public.

            It is time that the Board stops acting like Royalty. SCA is NOT your Fiefdom and we are NOT your serfs.
            1. Ladies and Gentlemen, I feel it necessary to report this ridiculous posting recently placed on David's Anthem Journal

              This man enjoys using the word "attack". It seems to be a word frozen in his vocabulary whenever someone disagrees with him.
            2. A CHALLENGE WAS ISSUED to merely post the VOTING RECORDS OF CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR ELECTION.

              And...as is always the case, this man feels an insecure need to "fight back" in a manner in which his delusional mind somehow allows him to see the world in a manner in which only he sees it.

              Let me reiterate..NO SUCH ATTACK EXISTED...at least in the minds of those who speak the English language and actually listened to the words that were really spoken.

              I NEVER rely on the Berman publication for ANYTHING in which I am seeking honesty and truth. 
            3. I've learned over the years his obvious enjoyment in composing articles defaming others...the worst of which was a piece written during an election period, inferring that members of the Woodchips Club were somehow responsible for a tragic suicide...going so far as making every attempt to convince a grieving widow to BRING LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THEM....for what many realized was the sole purpose of defeating 2 members of that wonderful club who were running for the Board at that time. 
            4. That sadistic writing somehow brings a form of entertainment to an element of Sun City Anthem, an element that has always supported him and the numerous failed policies of past administrations...those same policies that have brought you...
            5. ... a series of failing restaurants
            6. ... overpayments of numerous expenditures
            7. ... a senseless and expensive name change of the former Security Patrol
            8. ...,  refusal of allowing any form of resident input to oversee various projects
            9. ... two television broadcasts on Channel 13 naming HIM and a former president to the "HOA Hall of Shame"
            10. ...and now....
            11. ...the Liberty Center's closing as a result of a former association president who by coincidence happens to have been his wife, having accepted a building on an "AS IS" basis when common sense would have had any rational individual employ a professional to examine a multii-million dollar facility prior to accepting it. 
            12. Let me  assure all of you that I have my own sources.
            13. And...let me also assure you that none of the above concerns have ever been FULLY brought to the attention of a community BY HIM. 
            14. The result of that biased and slanted form of reporting thus created others in the community to TELL THE FULL STORY...
            15. ...and as a result of that UNSELFISH DEDICATION toward helping others, WITH NO ULTERIOR MOTIVES....and NO POLITICAL AMBITIONS....
            16. ...such community blogs as Ron Johnson's Today's Anthem View, Anthem Today, Anthem Voice, and Anthem Opinions, were established.
            17. All of our publications are different, and some provide information others do not...but one thing in common all of the latter blogs are in strong agreement with is very simple....
            18. WE WANT YOU TO KNOW EVERYTHING YOU ARE ENTITLED TO KNOW, not just a part of it.
            19. ...and we sleep each night knowing.... if it happens to be our last...we have not deceived others.
            20. Finally, to be called lazy IS an attack....NO SUCH INSULT WAS HURLED AT Mr, Berman IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER, and I, UNLIKE HIM, on behalf of Anthem Opinions, will not stoop to this sad level of what he refers to as journalism.,..... but to call readers or others in the community who do not visit a website that is difficult at best to navigate....as LAZY...is incomprehensible.

              Let this be an end to this newest crusade on this individual's attempt to create additional untruths in order to restore his continual decline in readership.

              And now I hope you enjoy the comments of this insecure figure who has little to say of anything other then report recent deaths, Cafe V menus, and reproductions of President Reports.

              Have a pleasant day, Mr. Berman. Your words say it all !

              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

              "I experienced somewhat of a surreal moment when SCA blogger Dick Arendt used his member comment time to call me out by name, leveling a verbal attack at me. Member comment periods are not supposed to be used for one member to attack another, but he did it anyway.

              Among other things, Mr. Arendt challenged me to report the votes of Board members on various issues that come before them.

              This caused me to respond at the microphone, which was not an easy thing to do because Mr. Arendt kept interrupting me from the audience and had to be told to be quiet and allow me my turn to speak.

              Essentially, my response was that I DO report the votes of Board members on significant issues, taking pains to note which way specific directors voted when they are in disagreement. Mr. Arendt himself probably has to rely on my Board-meeting reports for information on this, since he rarely attends a Board meeting.

              In addition, as I noted in my comments, the published minutes of each Board meeting, available to all homeowners on the SCA website and in the Board books, detail the issues voted on by directors, and how they voted.

              Essentially, it seemed to me, Mr. Arendt was acknowledging his laziness and the laziness of others who choose not to access this readily available information."
              ..



7 comments:

  1. From Leslie H...to...Anthem Opinions

    Incredible!

    I can't believe such people would be allowed to be a Board Member.

    I guess we allowed this happen.

    We deserve the punishment!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Leslie,

    I commend you for the comment.

    Yes indeed, we the resident voters placed such individuals on our Board in the past...and continue to do so in each succeeding year as evidenced by the many financial fiascos created as a result of incompetence directly related to complete inexperience that has been demonstrated again and again.

    We, the voters are ultimately at fault; but the blame has to be shared by some others....particularly by those who parade themselves as reporters or unofficial "big shots" who do little other than endorse these same types year after year.

    Last night I called on an alternate blogger to print the voting records of the candidates that may be running in the upcoming board election.

    It was my belief that FULL KNOWLEDGE of the past, would provide GOOD REASONING for casting a ballot for a particular individual.

    As usual, between his wife screeching "that's inappropriate...that's inappropriate" (the same individual who "appropriately" signed off on the "AS IS" Liberty Center building)...

    ...he, like a circus dancing bear, raced to the forefront to respond to my comment.

    Unfortunately, instead of answering the challenge in a positive manner, he decided to make a statement that he wanted to debate me a number of years ago....that I refused him.

    (What that had to do with the printing of voting records, I have no idea.)

    My response was "NOT TRUE"...that my terms for such a discussion were not acceptable to him.

    My terms...as he himself brought out...WE BOTH BE STRAPPED TO A LIE DETECTOR as we answered questions.

    He did however bring out the fact that his printing such material could easily be accessed on the SCA website by checking the minutes of past board meetings....

    ...something I am sure all of us do on a daily basis !

    Nonetheless, he never accepted the challenge of printing the voting records of candidates.

    Perhaps that might have taken valuable time from reprinting Cafe V menus.

    But he has a 100% record of endorsing all successful candidates in the past....

    What an achievement !








    ReplyDelete

  3. From Elaine I...to Anthem Opinions

    Who buys a house without an inspection and walk-thru ?

    This is complete idiocy.

    That board and its president should be held accountable and not the residents!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. From Kay Frank...to...Anthem Opinions

    The announcement fails to use the words "construction defect"

    Roger Cooper was project manager and Roz Berman was president of the board.

    I would like your opinion if the board would be liable and their
    insurance for not doing their fiduciary duty?

    My husband, Robert, objected to the process as long as he was on the board--but got no community support.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Kay,

    I question if the argument "construction defect" can be made, and I also question whether any warranty would still be available.

    I was made aware by a reliable source that when the initial problems were discovered, that board made an attempt to correct them without checking the warranty....the result....as a result of trying to hide the damage from the public and using association funds to fix the original construction defects...well into the hundreds of thousands of dollars....that action invalidated any warranty.

    As far as the construction defect argument, that too is likely to be a problem. I have an UNCONFIRMED opinion that Nevada law no longer allows an attorney to take such a case on a contingency basis....and...if that be the truth....my guess is that based on an hourly bill, the total would reach the $150,000 to $200,000 range.

    If these sources are correct, it would appear that we, the resident/owners, will be stuck for the bill.

    Now...add that to another comment made at this meeting that the budget passed has a substantial deficit, and that lead me to believe that the ultimate result of all of this will have to involve some form of increase in assessment.

    Is the board liable? That would be like suing ourselves. We, through our does, would essentially be paying for their legal defense in addition to any legal fees we would also incur as the plaintiff on the case. It's lose--lose.

    There is only one feasible solution, and I hope my article brought that to light.

    LOOK CLOSELY AT THE EXPERIENCE LEVEL of those running for the Board positions. Failing to do that can only have one result....ADDITIONAL FAILURE.

    ReplyDelete
  6. From Robert N...to...Anthem Opinions

    A Chicken comes home to Roost

    I read with abject horror and disgust the article regarding the closing of the Liberty Center due to water leakage and mold. It appears that the arrogant administrative incompetence of a previous HOA board has thrust SCA into a possible financial disaster. Depending on the extent of the mold infestation, remediation could cost tens of thousands of dollars. What was most disgusting was that the Board agreed to the proviso that “no board member or any resident was allowed to visit or examine the site while it was being constructed”. And to further this debacle, “it was ACCEPTED by the Board at that time "AS IS", without any verification as to the structure's soundness or safety”.

    As properly pointed out in the article, NO ONE would contract to have a house built under the condition that inspections of the construction were not permitted. In fact, when you borrow money from a Lending Institution, inspections are required throughout the construction process: the Lending Institution forwards the loan in installments; the next installment IS NOT made until the construction is inspected by a qualified individual(s). So even a bank, with pockets deeper than the entire population of SCA combined, would take due diligence in such construction endeavors.

    At best, this reflects Arrogant Administrative Incompetence; at worst, this reflects the result of a surreptitious financial gain for one or more individuals.

    I fear that the Liberty Center debacle will be greeted with the same level of apathy so persuasive in SCA. Perhaps people will wake up when their monthly maintenance fees suddenly jump an extra $100?

    Yes, I am aware that these actions were taken by previous Board members. However this rampant arrogant administrative incompetence, unfortunately, persists to this day. For example, if memory serves me correctly, a survey of SCA residents was taken prior to the current “Vic’s / Cafe V” debacle. The survey asked what type of restaurant should replace the former operation: a formal sit-down restaurant, OR an informal “hang-out” place where residents could meet some friends, have a burger, and maybe watch football on a big-screen TV. Insofar as I can remember the majority voted for the informal option. Yet, in complete defiance of the residents the Board was elected to represent, they went forward with a formal sit-down restaurant – and we all know how that turned out. Their decision has resulted in yet another ‘black hole’ of money for HOA funds that could be better-well spent elsewhere. And while on the subject of the restaurant, when and how was this SCA Amenity opened to the public? To use one of our pools, the Health Club, the Tennis Courts, etc. you MUST be a resident. Yet somewhere along the line the restaurant amenity was opened to the public – when and how? I don’t think the residents were every surveyed about surrendering one of OUR private amenities to the public.

    It is time that the Board stops acting like Royalty. SCA is NOT your Fiefdom and we are NOT your serfs.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Ladies and Gentlemen, I feel it necessary to report this ridiculous posting recently placed on David's Anthem Journal.

    This man enjoys using the word "attack". It seems to be a word frozen in his vocabulary whenever someone disagrees with him.

    A CHALLENGE WAS ISSUED to merely post the VOTING RECORDS OF CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR ELECTION.

    And...as is always the case, this man feels an insecure need to "fight back" in a manner in which his delusional mind somehow allows him to see the world in a manner in which only he sees it.

    Let me reiterate..NO SUCH ATTACK EXISTED...at least in the minds of those who speak the English language and actually listened to the words that were really spoken.

    I NEVER rely on the Berman publication for ANYTHING in which I am seeking honesty and truth.
    I've learned over the years through his articles defaming others...especially those of the wonderful Woodchips Club when he strongly inferred that organization was responsible for a tragic suicide...going so far as making every attempt to convince a grieving widow to BRING LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THEM.

    I can assure all of you that I have my own sources.

    To be called lazy IS an attack....NO SUCH INSULT WAS HURLED AT HIM IN ANY WAY, WHATSOEVER, and I, UNLIKE HIM, will not stoop to this sad level of what he refers to as journalism,

    BUT TO CALL READERS LAZY AS WELL....is beyond comprehension.

    Let this be an end to this newest crusade on this individual's attempt to create additional untruths in order to restore his continual decline in readership.

    And now I hope you enjoy the comments of this insecure figure who has little to say of anything other then report recent deaths, Cafe V menus, and reproductions of President Reports.

    Have a pleasant day, Mr. Berman. Your words say it all !

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    "I experienced somewhat of a surreal moment when SCA blogger Dick Arendt used his member comment time to call me out by name, leveling a verbal attack at me. Member comment periods are not supposed to be used for one member to attack another, but he did it anyway.

    Among other things, Mr. Arendt challenged me to report the votes of Board members on various issues that come before them.

    This caused me to respond at the microphone, which was not an easy thing to do because Mr. Arendt kept interrupting me from the audience and had to be told to be quiet and allow me my turn to speak.

    Essentially, my response was that I DO report the votes of Board members on significant issues, taking pains to note which way specific directors voted when they are in disagreement. Mr. Arendt himself probably has to rely on my Board-meeting reports for information on this, since he rarely attends a Board meeting.

    In addition, as I noted in my comments, the published minutes of each Board meeting, available to all homeowners on the SCA website and in the Board books, detail the issues voted on by directors, and how they voted.

    Essentially, it seemed to me, Mr. Arendt was acknowledging his laziness and the laziness of others who choose not to access this readily available information."
    ..

    ReplyDelete