Towns County Homeowners Association
Board of Directors Meeting, January 15, 2008
TCHA Board and Representatives in Attendance:
Charley Kraus, Pres; Wes Lerdon, V.P. & Acting Sec.; Tony Branan, Treas.; Bob Crawford, Dir.; Bob Keys Dir.; Diane Baggett, Dir.
Invited Guests/Associates:
Dudley Hall - Hidden Fields Estates HOA, Carl Schultz, TCHA Rep. to Water and Sewer Meetings
Activity Reports:
Minutes of the Dec 11th meeting had been reviewed by e-mail with Wes Lerdon, and were approved, as revised and issued to the Board by Wes.
Tony Branan distributed the Financial Report as of Jan 15th to all attendees. In summary, Balance on Hand $2,437.47, plus two CDs of $2,062.73 for Total Cash Assets of $4,500.20.
Tony was unable to attend the Y. Harris Council meeting, but no significant items have come to his attention.
Bob Keys addressed the need for the TCHA to complete review of the TC Commissioner's Draft of the "1st Amendment to Ordinance Providing for Georgia State Minimum Standard Code for Administration and Enforcement of Same as Adopted on September 21, 2006, effective January 1, 2007". The ordinance places enforcement responsibility for the Mountain Protection Act in the office of the Building Inspector and codifies the set back rules for lot construction which have been used for some years without legal authority. It also provides protection for existing lots and structures which do not conform to these rules.
Questions received at the Sheriff’s Debates suggested the need for improving the county’s emergency communications ability through the use of our local Amateur Radio group and also a need for a command protocol clearly identifying who is to in charge in emergency situations. Bob Keys is working with Bob Scott to identify the appropriate participants. Once they are all identified they will be invited along with our local government managers to a round table discussion designed to get everybody working together to make the best use in the most proper way of all our available resources. Key participants will likely include Fire Chief Mitch Floyd; Sheriff Clinton, US Forestry Service. (Commissioner Kendall will contact the Forestry Service, both Mayors, Ham Radio organization, Red Cross and the city police chiefs.)
Keys also drew attention to the need for TCHA observation of the Influenza Pandemic Drill to be held at the TC High School computer area on Saturday, January 26 at 8:30.
Diane Baggett reported the Planning Board granted final approval to Sweetwater Cove for 41 lots, off Route 288, that will include some boat slips. The fifth phase permit for Bell Meadows has expired, so Lloyd Atkins will need to start with Preliminary for the fifth phase.
Bob Crawford reported on the Hiawassee City Council Meeting. Newly elected members, Allen and Runion were sworn in. The auditors report gave the city a "clean" review. Mayor Mathis announced the following new rules for Council Meetings: "Only items on the Agenda will be discussed, No Smoking and No Hats". There will be a vote at the February meeting to select a Mayor Pro Tem. Hayes-James engineers reported the belt press assembly fell off Its mounting and was returned to Texas for repair. It is due back in February. Southern Champion won the bid for construction of the 24 by 50 feet belt press building at a projected cost of $535,936. A discussion on a water useage surcharge recommended by the City Manager of 10% over 3,000 gallons, but a tentative agreement was reached at 10% for over 10,000 gallons as first reading.
Charley reported for Mike Brock that we have joined the Commissioner and the Towns County Sheriff in re-establishing the Neighborhood Watch program in the county. The county will provide the signs and written material and Mike Brock will be available to brief interested groups on the installation of the program.
Charley proceeded to an update of Interstate 3. An alternate route through South Carolina is being offered by 10th District Rep. Paul Broun. If effected, this routing would be a change to the study direction, deleting the study of the road through the mountains. It is not supported by either of our two Senators and thus not likely to pass. In the meantime, FHWA is deferring the study until this issue works itself out.
The Stop I-3 coalition is also working another issue that impacts I-3. The Tennessee and North Carolina DOTS are pushing ahead with developing justification for a new road which would run through what is called Corridor K from Chattanooga to Ashville, NC. This road has long been in the planning stage but never pushed until recently. An economic study was performed by a Knoxville firm which attempts to justify the need for the road. Meanwhile, the TDOT is advertising for bidders for a new section of US 64 which would either upgrade the road through the Ocoee Gorge or design a cut through the mountains around it; and the NCDOT is proposing a cut off from US 74 at Andrews which would run through the mountains to Robbinsville, NC and then east towards Ashville This route involves a mile long tunnel and impacts the lower end of the Dragon Tail route (US 129) where the I-3 route would go. Stop I-3 is not opposing the improvements per se because there are sections like the Ocoee Gorge area which badly need either improvement or rerouting but is urging that further study of alternates such as improving either US 64 or US 74 be done before pushing another new road through undeveloped mountains.
Carl Schultz presented a comprehensive number of issues on capabilities of the sewer and water treatment plants. Carl is both the Clean Water Consultant for TC and Advisor to TCHA on these subjects. He reported on progress toward getting grant dollars as an outcome of an October meeting. On 28 November approval was given by the GA Environmental. Protection Div. for the 500,000 gallon per day TC sewerage treatment facility. Carl revealed that the EPD and City of Hiawassee disagreed with a public education effort that would have used a monthly newspaper format to report treatment results in simple pounds per day, not percentages or technical formulae not easily understood by the citizen readers. Samples are taken at the plant. There is a plan to report nitrates and phosphorous in accord with Bill Blumreich's continued preliminary work on the subject. Odor problems have continued at the Road Runner station across route 76 from Benny's Sanitation and the Shoney's/Beach Station. TC and the Hiawassee have worked out who will pay, but the Road Runner work has been further complicated by GA DOT requirement of a guard rail, as the station was built on the highway right of way.
Callie Moore, of the Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition, supports a study of the NC sewer system effects on Lake Chatuge. There is no person designated responsible for TC planning for sewerage and water. Callie Moore may have a reply in March to her request for grant money to initiate work on water quality improvements.
At this point, unanimous approval was given to send a $500 check to the Watershed Coalition for a cumulative total of $1,000 donated in the two years 2007 and 2008.
Tony Branan continues his work on developing a TCHA position paper for forwarding to the TVA, on their Operations Study, on the various sites TVA has listed for potential development of ramps, resorts, etcetera.
Charley has made progress on a non political way to respond to the request, from Congressman Broun to gain exposure to the citizens of Towns County. Cathy Cox, President of Y. Harris College, agreed to have Broun come to the College to tell of his first six months in Congress. Cox has offered either of the two auditoriums on the campus. One hall seats about 100 and the other, used for plays, is much larger. She has suggested a week night at 7:00 PM. Charley will work with others to plan an agenda.. Charley suggested that Callie Moore be invited to meet Dr. Broun and that we use the meeting to present her our donation.
Charley wrapped up the business portion of the meeting by introducing some needs of the Sheriff's Department for uniforms and other supplies that may not be budgeted.
TCHA and Guest Homeowner Assoc. and Developer Representative Discussions:
Mike Brock continues his work on a baseline set of HOA covenants.
A draft of the Association agreement is ready and will be presented in the next few weeks to the interested HOAs. Dudley Hall, of Hidden Fields, reviewed their activities and took a copy of the agreement with him for review with his membership.
The next TCHA Board meeting was set for Tuesday, February 19th, 9-11 AM, in the Y. Harris Library Conference Room. The motion was made, seconded and passed, to adjourn.
Submitted by Wes Lerdon, TCHA V. Pres. and Acting Secretary
