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Leatherwood Property Owners Board of Directors Meeting
April 22, 2006
Chuck Mann called the meeting to order at 10:00am, with
board members Randy Burke, David Beckett, Diane Ertel,
Lelia Ivey, Delaine Parker, and Mike Everett. Vance
Stine arrived later in the meeting and absent was Rex
Craig. Phil Whitson was present as a guest to explain
the process of how Ginn Development Company came to
purchase everything outside the gate, with the exception
of the Welcome Center and the land around it.
Phil Whitson stated that Dick Johnston has agreed to
sign the easement on the roads that had been requested
by the POA Board. Then he stated that Ginn had committed
that everything on the barns and restaurant side of Elk
Creek/ Darby Road would remain as an equestrian center.
There is about 108 acres outside the gate that will be
affected by the sale. The contract will not be final
until all details are worked out and Ginn has completed
the due diligence process. The board requested that the
POA Board be made aware of all decisions that will have
an impact on property owners. Phil requested that the
POA Board send him a letter listing all their concerns
and he will answer everything that he can at this point
in the negotiations. Phil also promised to discuss these
issues with Ginn.
The question was asked AWhat exactly is Leatherwood?@
Most owners assumed it was everything that made up the
Leatherwood atmosphere and lifestyle. Phil explained
that Dick Johnston holds the title to everything outside
the gate. The businesses outside the gate are owned by
Dick, which includes the rental program run by
Leatherwood Rentals, Inc., the restaurant, the barns and
pastures, the property across Elk Creek/Darby Road, and
the property that the horse rental program has operated
on. There will be four entities involved with the makeup
of ALeatherwood@Y..Ginn, who will own the restaurant,
barns, pastures, roads, and all the property that makes
up Leatherwood outside the gate, except the Welcome
Center area; Phil Rash and Phil Whitson with the house
rental program and the Welcome Center and the land
around it; Dick who owns undeveloped land inside the
gate; and the individual home owners who make up the POA.
Phil also informed the POA board that Dick is currently
developing about 500 acres above the Keys Cabin area
that will contain an undetermined number of roads and
lots.
Contracts and Agreements - Chuck Mann reported
that Gary Gibson will start work on the culverts. The
backhoe has been repaired. All keys to the backhoe and
to the tractor shed have been accounted for. The mowing
has started and that contractor is doing a good job.
Insurance/Legal - Vance Stine reported that he
had found out workers compensation would run about $1180
per year based on $20,000 payments to subcontractors.
Randy Burke responded that we cannot buy workers
compensation to cover contractors, only employees.
Contractors should carry their own insurance. Vance
stated his information gave coverage to employees and
any subcontractors who did not have their own workers
compensation and general liability. It was agreed that
further research is needed since Vance and Randy
received different answers. Randy also informed the
board that it does not have an umbrella of $5,000,000
liability insurance for Directors and Officers as
previously thought. Additional paperwork must be
submitted and it was agreed to do so.
Entertainment - Diane Ertel reported that the
events calendar has almost been worked out and that it
would be ready for internet posting in May. Vance Stine
suggested that a community fund raiser for the fire
department be added to the events calendar. Diane said
she would take that to her committee and perhaps combine
that with a community yard sale. She also stated that
the next event will be a bicycle ride on the Virginia
Creeper Trail on May 21, 2006, followed by a dinner in
Abingdon, Va. There will be a covered dish dinner at
6:00pm on Saturday, May 27th. There will be live music
by the Turkey Spurs following the meal. Delaine Parker
suggested the Board should look into building a shelter
near the pool for future events, since it is unclear at
this time whether the POA will have access to the
shelter outside the gate.
Roads - Delaine and Chuck reported that Huffman
Paving will begin moving Elk Ridge Road over at the
guard rail and then move the guard rail over where it
has sunken due to erosion. Then, about 2 mile up from
that, the road will be moved over again and a new guard
rail will be installed. Dick Johnston has agreed to pay
for fixing the roads turned over to us last year that
are in need of repair. He also plans to pave Rodeo Drive
this year and turn that road over to the POA. Delaine
continued the report adding that Holleridge and Granny=s
Ridge roads need major work, which will be a top
priority. Besides eventual repaving, the drainage needs
to be corrected. Pine Valley Road needs some attention,
including a tree that needs to be cut down. The road
signs that need to be replaced will get done, as well as
adding more signage for yielding and speed limits in
several dangerous areas. More signage is needed on the
trails and on roads marking trail crossings. The
committee will speak to Phil and Phil to share in cost
for this if the POA does the work. Vance Stine reported
that he contacted the county about standards for road
safety. He said that state law does not require any
developer of 10 acres or more to follow any road
specifications. County law allows 10 acre tracts to be
divided without meeting any specifications for roads.
Vance talked to a civil engineer who recommended that
the POA should work towards setting aside at least
$100,000 per road mile to help offset a major assessment
of property owners when/if the existing roads are
repaved. Leatherwood currently has approximately 25
miles of paved roads. Vance emphasized the importance of
building the reserves for this expected expense. He said
we may need to raise the dues or look for an assessment
in the future.
Fire and Safety - Delaine reported that Terry
Rash is donating his time to do plumbing for the fire
station at Darby. She informed us about the Leatherwood
volunteers that fought the recent forest fires at Buck
Mountain and the one on Ginn property. These were
serious fires that required personnel from the Forest
Service and air support to get control. Ginn may donate
additional equipment for fighting wood fires, since the
Darby unit lacks this type of equipment. David Beckett
stated that he had talked to Jody Brady at the Forest
Service and officials from there will come out to
Leatherwood to assess community readiness to prevent and
control forest fires and that they would also advise
individual landowners of ways to protect their homes and
property to prevent a forest fire from destroying it or
at least cut down on the damage. Delaine Parker made a
motion and it was seconded by Mike Everett and passed by
the Board that we make a formal request of the Forest
Service to do a “Fire Assessment” for those property
owners who would like to do so. It was mentioned that
Phil Rash has an area where water storage tanks can be
kept. On security issues, Lelia Ivey reported that the
inventory of POA property had been completed. She said
that new locks were going to be put on the maintenance
shed. Lelia made a motion to set aside the $40,000
reserved for the gate to go into a contingency fund
until the security and road issues is settled with Ginn.
The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
Other business - Chuck Mann reported that dues
are coming in and only two members are delinquent from
last year. These members have been notified that a lien
will be placed on their property if not paid by May 6.
Vance Stine made a motion that minutes be approved at
the next board meeting rather than through email. The
motion was seconded and passed unanimously. This will
delay the minutes from being posted on the internet, but
they will be voted on and approved by the board prior to
posting. Vance Stine also mentioned that Phil Whitson
had volunteered to draw up an updated copy of the
Bylaws. The motion was made and seconded to have Phil go
ahead with updating our bylaws, motion passed
unanimously. David Beckett volunteered his home for the
next Board meeting. Randy Burke made a motion to
adjourn. Mike Everett seconded the motion, motion
passed.
Meeting was adjourned at 1:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane Ertel
Secretary
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