Our Village

The Star Spangled Banner was played at the beginning of the meeting in lieu of reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. It was explained as honoring the veterans. Rules have changed for owners who speak out about agenda items when the owner who didn’t sign up to speak from lot 155 was allowed to speak even though the subject was a non- agenda item. Technically one could define it as “other”, but that’s a stretch when it’s a gripe about the board having too many closed “executive meetings”, some not about legal or personnel issues. Of course the Board did not agree with the gripe which then made for a back and forth conversation that took up to a good thirty minutes. Director Vasquez gave his assurances this was not so and Director McBride added that any Board action towards an executive issue has to be done in front of owners at a regular meeting. To be fair I believe the point lot 155 was trying to make is that in many instances owners have little knowledge as to what decisions are being made about legal matters within the executive meetings.
During “Manager’s Remarks” there was a motion approved to spend $2200.00 towards our restaurant’s ceiling. We heard so far this month condo fees were $67,775 in arrears, $37762 higher than the previous month. Director Vasquez asked the GM to start including in his remarks new home construction updates.
Charles Ortiz, district engineer for the Laguna Madre Water District, gave an update on the new program of non-potable water (pink water) for our golf course and found it will be about two years before it can be completed. Because LMWD’s preliminary contract request only states 48 cents per 1000 gallons will be charged the first three years, increasing to 57 cents the second three, and 66 cents for the third three, Director Steffensen asked Ortiz to put in writing what is going to happen to the water rate after the ninth year of the contract. He agreed to do so.
During the Minutes approval, Director Gunderson indicated a problem about recording what is being said and politely asked that everyone use the microphones and speak clearly. Director Vasquez blamed the recorder. Minutes were approved after Director McBride corrections. Director Gunderson also stated that it would help immensely if the Minutes were available prior to the Workshop so corrections could be done then. Director Vasquez who replaced Director Gunderson as Secretary appeared upset, claiming Director Gunderson never gave him instructions at doing it that way until today. Director Gunderson calmly said that doing it that way was in the folder given to you when you first started. That seemed to upset Director Vasquez even more who fired back saying Director Gunderson never gave him these instructions, then claimed she was nitpicker of the Minutes. Director Gunderson calmly replied that it was in the folder but more importantly my corrections to the Minutes was never intended to be” nitpicking” but instead to reflect accurate accounting as to what transpires in a meeting.
Director Steffensen said the Village was able to complete most of the major improvement projects this year and went on to mention the infrastructure account balance was $159,270. We heard confusion about rules to whether one could remove soil from LIV. The Board wishes to increase building permits to cover the increased construction dump volume and will be addressed in the upcoming building code revision meeting.
Activities are as follows, Nov. 28 Thanksgiving pot luck feast, Dec. 2 golf cart parade with chili dump afterward, Dec.7 trash and treasure, Dec.13 employee Christmas party, Dec. 15 Christmas choir, Dec 18 judging on who has the best lighted lot, and Dec. 31 the New Year’s Eve party.
It was said swim ban revenues are going to be used to improve the gazebo’s serving counter, the straightening of the fence pillars and light fixtures above. The outdoor pool needs drain work in order to be regulation compliant.
None of the replacement board candidates were at the meeting so it looks like December’s meeting will determine who’s appointed. Next month there should be a motion to buy a new computer register for the restaurant and pictures of the remodeled restaurant will be taken to put on LIV’s website. Most of the exercise equipment repairs have been done.
Director Vasquez wanted any volunteers for the election committee to report to him. Director Vasquez led a motion that was approved if the expenditure is reasonable for security golf carts to have LIV labels.
New American flags have been purchased. As a way to increase LIV revenues Director Steffensen brought up the idea to farm out the rental’s cleaning personnel to owners who wish to have cleaning services.