As you drive through down Eastern
Avenue entering the Anthem communities, you're going to be in for a traffic jam,
and that traffic jam will be the result of a recent decision to fix the
waterfall display that has been inoperative for some time
now.
The cost?
$200,000
...and though Sun City Anthem is merely
one aspect of the Anthem subdivisions that compose Anthem
Council...
...Sun City Anthem
pays...
52%
Resident Nelson
Orth, a longtime resident "watch dog", did
some investigation and asked that we publish the
following:
Anthem Council Strikes
Again
by
Nelson Orth
After I read the eblast below, I was concerned
about the impact on the traffic flow around the waterfall, especially during the
rush hours. I was also surprised that the City of Henderson would issue the
required permits to allow such a project to proceed.
Because the elast was sent by Sun City
Anthem General Manager, Sandy Seddon, I questioned
if this project could commence without such permits, and sent the following
email to Ms. Seddon:
"Would you please tell me
who authorized the distribution of this email?"
After acknowledging she
was the individual who authorized it's release, I then sent Ms. Seddon the
following email in response:
"You must realize that
Anthem Council is the most corrupt outside entity that SCA deals with, and that
everything they say or do must be independently verified. In this case I visited
the City of Henderson on Tuesday, and verified that neither Anthem Council, its management company, or its
contractor has applied for the necessary permits to
begin this project.
I now have put in place
the process to halt any attempt by Anthem Council to proceed, and a process to
stop this project if they attempt to obtain the required
permits.
I am hopeful you will
notify the SCA homeowners of this information."
To which, I received the following
reply from her:
"I was
able to connect with FSR (the managing agent for Anthem Council).
Below is the
response:
Here's
the response from the vendor:
There is no permit required to basically waterproof the
fountain. We are removing boulders to allow us to run the waterproofing liner
throughout the basins then placing protective concrete, then resetting the
boulders. This is considered a repair not a new project that
would require a permit.
I've copied our Anthem
Council representatives on this email."
That in turn, was
followed up by my email correspondence to
her.
"Good Morning
Sandy,
I cannot believe you expect me to
believe what some unnamed person from FSR says. Just the letters FSR
connotes incompetence. FSR has been terminated from so many HOAs, it is
difficult to keep track.
I suggest you review again your
original post. It says: LANE
CLOSURES.
THAT REQUIRES A
PERMIT.
If you doubt my word,
call Eric Hawkins at (702)267-3084."
(Eric Hawkins is the Senior
Traffic Engineer for the City of Henderson Public Works Department. He reports to his superior , a Mr. Robert Herr, who in turn reports directly to the City
Council)
- - - - - - - - - - - -
- -
Now you may ask - How could this happen?
The only answer I can think of is to
consider who is president of Anthem Council.
It is our former Sun City Anthem
President, Jean
Capillupo....
...the same person whose past actions
as a Sun City Anthem Board member...
1. greatly
influenced the "Carver method" of management that subsequently altered the
governance of the Sun City Anthem community.
2. approved
two loans to a former restaurant owner that cost Sun City Anthem residents
$40,000 in defaulted unpaid loans.
3. took it
upon herself without consulting former Sun City Anthem Board members to enter
into an agreement with the Foundation Assisting Seniors whereby FAS would pay a
monthly rent of $1,000, but that the Association would donate the $1,000 back to
FAS...an action that was subsequently nullified by her follow board members as
an UNAUTHORIZED action....an action that ultimately resulted in the conflict
that eventually resulted in the loss of the FAS lease, causing their upcoming
departure from the Sun City Anthem community.
4. was then
subsequently named as an "at large member" of Anthem
Council.
5. and in
now President of Anthem Council.
....a person whose
track record of wasteful spending habits has cost Sun City Anthem residents
thousands of dollars.
So, if one sees any interruption in the flow of
traffic around the waterfall, simply call Tom Bailey,
who is the Henderson Enforcement Officer, at (702)267-3085.
I have been assured that he will respond
immediately, and shut down that operation.
Additionally, I have asked the City of Henderson
to inform me if Anthem Council or one of its associated organizations requests
the permits.
Upon notification I will attempt to have all sides
heard on the validity of issuing these permits.
I do not believe this $200,000 project is necessary, especially since SCA is
paying 52% of the cost.
Additionally, I have
discovered that the waterfall and the surrounding area is rat infested.
I have contacted the Southern Nevada Health
District, and have been informed that it is the responsibility of Anthem Council
to correct this problem.
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-
Anthem Opinions sends our thanks to
Nelson Orth for "watching the
purse strings of Sun City Anthem" and now wants your input and
comments.
First, do
you believe that Sun City Anthem's financial commitment to Anthem Council should
be altered due to the increasing number of Anthem communities that have been
developed over the years?
Second, do
you believe that the percentage paid by the Sun City Anthem community should be
in direct proportion to the total number of homes in all the respective Anthem
subdivisions?
Third, do
you believe Sun City Anthem's representation (total representatives) should be
in direct proportion to the financial commitment and/or number of all combined
homes within the Anthem communities?
Fourth,
should the matter be brought before the community in a vote to remove Sun City
Anthem from Anthem Council?
Fifth,
should the new Sun City Anthem Board take steps to remove Jean Capillupo as our
Anthem Council representative?
Sixth, when
you enter the Anthem Community from Eastern Avenue and travel just past the
"split" in the road...
...when was the last time you noticed that the water wasn't running...or did you not notice it at all, merely looking at the sign? In other words, should it be repaired at all considering the $200,000 cost and resulting traffic congestion?
She...those like her, and THOSE WHO HAVE RECOMMENDED HER...and THOSE WHO HAVE BLINDLY VOTED for this type of selfish and destructive individual...
....are WHAT IS WRONG...with Sun City Anthem.
And the blogger who has been a part of all of this since day one, has been a literal CURSE to the community for the incompetence he has recommended AGAIN and AGAIN, yet never has the guts to ever print ANY RESULTS of any damage they have created YEAR AFTER YEAR.
That, plain and simply stated, is how you define CORRUPTION.
I would like to thank Nelson Orth for this enlightening update regarding the Fountain ‘Repair.”
This note also brings to light an all too common issue with the actions of certain individuals who believe themselves to be ‘entitled’ or ‘blessed with an inordinate amount of authority’ to make decisions for a rather large community.
As I read through the six suggestions for immediate remedy, I must submit all six are prudent and necessary in light of the most recent attempts to spend money needlessly.
Once again, it must be left up to a conscientious board of directors to shut this frivolous activity down or claim the inability to act and resign.
Kudos to Mr. Orth for describing yet another waste of residents' money. There is absolutely NO reason to have a waterfall in the middle of the Mojave Desert. It represents a display of "opulence" that residents can no longer afford.
IF we're paying 52% of the estimated cost(s) - this debacle will cost SCA Residents over $100,000 (ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS).....of course the HOA fees can always be raised (again) to cover the costs.
IF the waterfall is repaired, think of the waste of precious water; yes, I know it's recycled through the waterfall-
B U T -
I'll bet a tremendous amount of water is lost through evaporation-only so that visitors and residents can get a false sense of wealth.
Most importantly...always 'follow the money'
This amount sounds like a kick-back?
Maybe it's time for someone to upgrade to a new Mercedes Benz?
Those waterfalls were the first thing we saw when we came to investigate SCA and it helped make this community as magical as it is.
No matter what they would put in there would need upkeep and never be as beautiful. Even Seven Hills just upgraded their entrance.
Sadly, they also had a beautiful water feature where the old guard house stands and removed that. Our community is beautiful and if it costs a few bucks to keep it up, we think it is well worth it. That is what separates us from other communities.
Keep in mind all of this beauty adds to the values of our homes collectively and over the years it becomes worth it.
...but when 52% of the funds come from Sun City Anthem coffers, is that fair?