What Really Happened at the Liberty
Center meeting of the Property and Grounds Committee
I'm
convinced that I must have been at a different meeting of the Property and
Grounds Committee on Tuesday, November 12th, because what I
saw, was a lot different than what was reported on an
alternative blog.
The
manner in which it was reported there made it appear as if the room jumped for
joy at the very mention of a miniature golf
project.
NOT !!!!!
...Now let's tell you
the real UNBIASED story of what took
place.
A number of options were discussed
which included the following:
1. Merely completing the bocce
courts.
2. Building a horseshoe
pit.
3. Building a croquet
park.
4. Building a miniature golf
park
5. Expanding the parking facilities
at Liberty Center
6. Building convertible shuffle
board courts.
7. Building an additional tennis
court.
...and each individual who presented
alternatives should be commended for the time they took in presenting the
various ideas.
...as well as a special commendation
to P & G chairman, Burt Davis, who did a GREAT JOB of moderating it along with a coordinated
effort on the part of all committee members, of what many
originally believed, would be chaotic.
This was a GOOD
MEETING, and I walked away from it believing that this committee consisted of REASONABLE INDIVIDUALS who would look
at the numerous proposals in an objective
manner.
Now...to those who presented the
various concepts in a brief, but HONEST critique.....as well as the audience and
committee commentary.
The "filling in
the hole" by merely completing the existing bocce courts, as well as, the
horseshoe pits were rejected by the committee for further
vetting.
In those particular cases, it
appeared that the bocce completion was less than what people preferred for that
site, and the horseshoe pit was rejected saying that we already had one and was
not being used.
What was rather humorous was the P
& G Chairman saying "until now, I didn't even realize we had one"---with
almost the entire audience looking at each other with expressions that indicated
"me either". But...we shall revisit the horseshoe pit
a bit later in this discussion.
A croquet
park was presented by Today's Anthem View owner, Ron Johnson. His
proposal suggested removing the entire bocce court unfinished area, and covering
it with "astro turf". The approximate cost of this option was estimated at
$60,000; however, this estimate did not include the
costs of demolition of the existing bocce courts.
The croquet park
was ACCEPTED for VETTING.
The miniature golf course was then
presented by David Berman.
Yes, it was
ACCEPTED for VETTING...but unlike the version told on his
publication...there was A LOT MORE to the
story.
In a written statement that was read
to the committee and audience, Mr. Berman proudly proclaimed that this venture
had the signatures of about 650-670 people on
a petition in its support. He mentioned that it would be costly,
somewhere in the neighborhood of between $80,000 and
$100,000; plus between $10,000 and $12,500 every three to seven years to resurface the
putting greens; that this option would literally be "God's gift" to Sun
City Anthem !
He demonstrated an artist's
conception and he proceeded to attempt to dazzle the audience with rhetoric of
how clubs would be established, that it would benefit everyone, no
noise, and..even a special putter for those who played !
Then it came
time for a few comments and questions...
..and this is
the rest of the miniature golf story that took
place.
A real estate agent made a comment
that "this would enhance property values, that baby boomers would flock to Sun
City Anthem" if this was constructed.
...and the committee promptly cut
her off by saying "We get it, you're for it".
Then up came Anthem Today's Rana Goodman with a slide presentation of the Summerlin
miniature golf course...but...before she began her critique, something else took place....
...she looked at
Mr. Berman and asked him a few questions.
Rana would ask
him....did that $80,000-$100,000 estimate include demolition, landscaping,
regular maintenance, additional water usage, draining, and on and on, and if his
petition included any such costs?
A rather frustrated Mr.
Berman, obviously not expecting such a detailed rebuttal, then looked at her
and in what appeared to be a "4th and 10"
situation....
...and "punted" that question by saying, the Asset Enhancement Fee would pick up the tab, that it wouldn't have any bearing on increasing
dues...avoiding the direct questions she had asked.
Then...Board member, Dan Forgeron, spoke... paraphrasing him, saying "David that's not correct". This isn't
free; there is a cost, and
it does have a bearing on dues and funds; that
the Asset Enhancement Fund does cost residents money when they sell their
homes, and maintenance costs do have a direct bearing
on the dues payments.
I was told by two individuals
that the confident Mr. Berman, appeared quite frustrated at Mr. Forgeron's
comment.
This was supposed to be "his day in
the sun", but the storm clouds were beginning to form in questions and comments
which appeared to catch the ears and attention of both the committee and the
audience.
Where were those
650 petitioners ?
Not here...except one or
two!
Suddenly a man named Dwight Leurssen rose to make this statement.
Paraphrasing him he stated "I did sign that petition, but no one
ever explained the total costs associated with it, and I wish I never would have, now that
I am better informed".
Then yours truly took the microphone
and brought out a couple of additional aspects not previously addressed...a closed miniature golf course close to Sun City Anthem (a
detailed article will follow)...
...and LIABILITY....the
associated problems with such a facility that I learned after contacting a large insurance brokerage
firm in Chicago and speaking with a former associate who did have experience at
insuring homeowners associations, one of which had a miniature golf
course.
I owned an insurance agency for 35
years prior to my retirement.
The concerns included law suit
possibilities resulting from tripping and falling on cement areas used
to enclose the balls when putted, and the possibility of some child not being
observed properly, taking a hack at a ball as if he were Tiger Woods, striking
another player, a pedestrian, or a car windshield...
...that this venture would not fall
within the general association coverage, and would have a special insurance
assessment....if accepted at all, by an insurer...
...that to avoid the possibilility of "golf balls" injuring others or damaging property, a fence completely surrouding the project should be considered...with yet additional expense.
The committee appeared to listen
attentively to that, and I urged them to contact the association insurance
broker and company to get clarification of these concerns if this project would
be vetted.
One of the
committee members asked Dan Forgeron if this was a concern, and he was
silent....obviously not aware of such matters.
During my
presentation, I, and others, observed Mr. Berman's
laughter while making my comments.
...and this FORMER attorney...then jumped up saying that by playing on
a miniature golf course, one assumes personal liability, that it was of little
concern.
...That would
stop a lawyer from filing a law suit ????
...That would avoid the costs of defending any action, or the bearing on insurance premiums...no matter who would win or lose ????
Then yet another resident stood and
brought out that a miniature golf course would involve daily maintenance of
cleaning leaves and other trash if used...adding yet additional
cost.
Oh well, that's the rest of the
"mini-golf" story....and...needless to say, it had the most
opponents...all of which brought detailed and helpful
information...with one
objective....
GET THE FULL
FACTS...NOT JUST THE ONES SOMEONE WANTS YOU TO HEAR
!
Then came the other presenters...one
by one.
Expansion of the
parking facilities. This individual making the proposal, Dwight Luerssen, made a great deal of sense. The
Liberty Center has finally been "discovered" by many residents, is being used
with much greater regularity, and the parking area is quite limited, and
that the bocce space could be used to expand it...to accommodate the increasing
patronage.
This item was
ACCEPTED for VETTING...without any objections.
A tennis
court was proposed for the area by Tennis Club president, Ed Ritz, stating that membership in that club was rapidly
increasing..and in need of additional courts as a a result of the substantial increase.. There were a few questions as to need due to having such facilities
at Anthem Center, but nonetheless....
This item was
ACCEPTED for VETTING.
Finally, our own Mr. Fix-It proposed
a concept of using the existing bocce facilities by first
completing their original construction, but also
purchasing removable "shuffleboard" courts that could be placed on top of the existing bocce
area...thus providing a DUAL
purpose.
This idea caught the attention of
the committee, one even asking...
"Could two of
the courts be converted to a horseshoe pit with the others offering bocce and/or
shuffleboard?
The answer was YES.
...A multi-purpose facility allowing
residents an opportunity for a CHOICE, and the likelihood of more people using
that area due to having that choice.
The cost (not including the
horseshoe pit idea) was approximately $14,000.
Forrest Fetherolf's shuffleboard
presentation included a formal quote for the project detailing all costs of material and labor.
Maintenance would be minimal, there
would be no need for landscaping or irrigation draining
changes.
...and an announcement that I was
able to confirm as part of The Vegas Voice staff...that The
Vegas Voice would SPONSOR TWO SHUFFLEBOARD TOURNAMENTS A YEAR if this option is chosen.
This too was
UNAMIMOUSLY ACCEPTED for VETTING.
So that's the "real
story"
...but to make sure all residents
have a say in this matter, a suggestion was made by Board Member, Jim Long, that a special "email address box" be
established for
your comments pro and con these various vetted alternatives...a great
idea !
We will provide you that email
address once it is established.
So...to conclude this article, let
me summarize it by saying...
1. We
have a bunch of choices.
2. This
committee appeared to show true concern for doing the right
thing.
3. Don't
believe EVERYHING YOU READ.
4. Don't sign any petition that affects your financial well-being
without knowing ALL THE FACTS.
I am confident that the Property and
Grounds Committee can come to a conclusion based on FULL
FACTS, and the NEEDS and WANTS of an entire community.
Dick
Arendt
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