President’s Comments – September 2012

Projects update: The clubhouse parking lot and road paving (chip & sealing) was completed.  The basketball courts have been sealed and the Beach 2 tent has been removed in  preparation for the construction of the new pavilion.  The Weed Harvester is now being prepared for major repairs this winter.

Recently, I was invited to give a presentation regarding our dredging plans to the women’s aerobics club.  They were hearing conflicting rumors about our dredging plans.  Lee Shaffer and I prepared a presentation that lasted about 2 hours covering everything from our cash flow monthly report, to how the Association will pay for both the operating costs and the capital costs, the estimated costs of all of the equipment needed, a PERT diagram (a critical path of the project milestones), and the individual expertise that each member of dredging team brings to the table.  Afterwards, the attendees suggested that we should do the same presentation for other groups within the Association.  So, here’s my offer to the members: If you want to learn more about the project and resolve the conflicting rumors and issues regarding dredging, then give me a call at the Association Office (440-563-3170) or at home(440-563-9337).  I’ll be happy to schedule more presentations.

You may be surprised to learn that the dredging project group contains two (2) Mechanical Engineers, one of them is a Registered Professional Engineer and the other is an expert in hydraulics.  There is also one Chemical Engineer who taught the hourly workforce at Perfection Corporation in Madison, Ohio how to heat fuse polyethylene pipe.  Polyethylene pipe is going to be used in the dredging piping.  These individuals are all local people, RRA members who have agreed to bring their individual expertise to the dredging project. I know there must be many members who have special talents that we can use on this project.  Again, let me know and I will include you in the planning group.

Allow me to dispel other rumors that I have heard:  Dredging will tie up the lake and interfere with boating and fishing.  Wrong!  The Fall dredging program was planned to start in September of each year for two reasons: to avoid the fish spawning season and the summer boating season.  The dredging operation will only affect the specific area being dredged; it will not affect the whole lake.  After the dredging is completed in an area, the floating piping will be removed and reinstalled in the next area.  When the dredging season is over, all of the floating pipe will be removed from the lake and the submerged piping will remain in deep water for the next season.

Last, and probably the most important issue being discussed in the Association is whether or not there will be an increase in Dues and Assessments in 2013.  No, there will NOT be an increase in the Dues and Assessments in 2013!  Why not?  The Assessments were raised in 2012 to pay for the yearly dredging operating costs, i.e., fuel, maintenance, lubricating fluids, etc.  We have the funds to operate the dredger.  The equipment is being paid via bank financing.  We do not need any more funds for the dredging project.

The cash flow position as of the end of August for the Association is as follows:

Barry O’Connell, President
RRA Board of Directors