Post by lou on Jan 21, 2014 16:15:40 GMT -5
This note is not intended to be critical or insulting, but points out that the GHPOA Board of Directors needs to focus on an important community need. This Board's response and performance for addressing the road maintenance and the need for sand barrels is far from stellar.
Because there has been much snow and ice accumulation this season and no action had been taken by the Board to salt or sand the roads, Cyndy and I inquired about the sand barrels. This inquiry about the barrels was an attempt to ensure that something was on hand if need be so as a last resort residents could volunteer to spread the sand by hand. The Board’s only follow-up action was to put three barrels out. I even thanked the Board for doing this, but it was a premature gesture on my part. Oh, yes, the Board clearly demonstrated that it had the capability of strategically placing the three barrels on Marilyn Avenue from Connie Avenue to the entrance at Bakerton Road; however, did any Board Officer or Director look inside? Did whoever placed them take notice that they were not heavy? Each barrel contained one unopened 50 lb. bag of barn sand and two empty bags. Hello! I could pick up the barrels without effort, and barn sand does not have the properties (as it is smooth and soft) to readily melt ice and prevent skidding. Also, one barrel contained some other trash. One is missing any kind of scoop and the other two have small plastic scoops with holes in the handles that leak the sand, and, of course, the barrels state “self-serve.” I spread some of this sand last Saturday.
Our inquiring about the sand barrels did not mean that it is acceptable for the Board to not have a primary means to handle ice on the roads. The sand barrels are to be used as a supplemental source of sanding, not the only means of sanding. I had heard previously and it is clearly obvious that the sand barrels or salting of the roads is not a priority of the Board. This is unacceptable.
There are two entrances and they are the only ingress and egress for all residents and visitors of Glen Haven. They are also the only way for emergency vehicles to get to anyone in need. Has it not occurred to the Board that an ambulance or fire equipment might have a problem entering and exiting the development or at least be slowed down because of the road conditions? Seconds and minutes count and those wasted can cause a life to be lost. It is foreseeable that something bad will happen. It is not whether it will happen, it is a matter of when it will happen. Is the Board collectively and each member individually up to accepting responsibility for that happening? Does the Board really want to find that through their negligence they contributed to an accident or prevented assistance getting to someone because they didn't take corrective or preventative measures. Is this type of liability covered by the GHPOA's insurance carrier?
Why is road safety not a concern to the Board? Instead, the major concern of the Board is its decision to use monies ($30,000.00 plus) from the general fund to hire an attorney to challenge one neighbor’s property rights for which it is earnestly soliciting support. But, there is no concern for all neighbors and their properties to ensure that the roadway is safe. It appears that the Board is so consumed with dislike and hatred that they can’t get beyond this state of mind to focus on other more necessary issues.
Since the Board is so intent on spending the GHPOA funds, an immediate use of such funds should be to:
1) hire a contractor to put down salt or sand/cinders or have the existing contractor who plows the roads if he/she is equipped do it--this is an absolute; and
2) fill (really fill) the barrels with road sand/cinders or salt and provide proper metal shovels/large metal scoops.
The worst place is the entrance on Marilyn Avenue from Bakerton Road to far past Connie Avenue, which is overly shaded. It’s the top of a hill, and appears to be the only place in Glen Haven that this is a major problem, with perhaps the exception of Mason Drive also near Bakerton Road. Snow and ice remain the longest on these sections after all other roads in the development have cleared. The other roads are more level and are a bit safer, but they still need sanding/salting too. Last year, a lady’s car slid and hit the stone Glen Haven sign. I don't know if she was injured and, if so, how badly, but her car had a lot of damage and the stone wall was damaged. This warrants repeating that it is foreseeable that even something more damaging to property or a person could happen because of these road conditions. This is one situation that the Board has ultimate control over and can fix immediately. The Board has been put on notice that this must be done. If private roads are to remain in this community, then as decision makers and managers for the expenditure and use of the GHPOA funds, the Board must take responsibility to minimize to the best of its ability unsafe conditions. Otherwise, let the roads be publicly owned and maintained by the county so we can feel safer. I am asking the Board to step back, think about helping your neighbors, and then move quickly taking immediate action to remedy this matter. At this time, resident and road safety should be the Board’s number one priority. This needs to be done today.
Because there has been much snow and ice accumulation this season and no action had been taken by the Board to salt or sand the roads, Cyndy and I inquired about the sand barrels. This inquiry about the barrels was an attempt to ensure that something was on hand if need be so as a last resort residents could volunteer to spread the sand by hand. The Board’s only follow-up action was to put three barrels out. I even thanked the Board for doing this, but it was a premature gesture on my part. Oh, yes, the Board clearly demonstrated that it had the capability of strategically placing the three barrels on Marilyn Avenue from Connie Avenue to the entrance at Bakerton Road; however, did any Board Officer or Director look inside? Did whoever placed them take notice that they were not heavy? Each barrel contained one unopened 50 lb. bag of barn sand and two empty bags. Hello! I could pick up the barrels without effort, and barn sand does not have the properties (as it is smooth and soft) to readily melt ice and prevent skidding. Also, one barrel contained some other trash. One is missing any kind of scoop and the other two have small plastic scoops with holes in the handles that leak the sand, and, of course, the barrels state “self-serve.” I spread some of this sand last Saturday.
Our inquiring about the sand barrels did not mean that it is acceptable for the Board to not have a primary means to handle ice on the roads. The sand barrels are to be used as a supplemental source of sanding, not the only means of sanding. I had heard previously and it is clearly obvious that the sand barrels or salting of the roads is not a priority of the Board. This is unacceptable.
There are two entrances and they are the only ingress and egress for all residents and visitors of Glen Haven. They are also the only way for emergency vehicles to get to anyone in need. Has it not occurred to the Board that an ambulance or fire equipment might have a problem entering and exiting the development or at least be slowed down because of the road conditions? Seconds and minutes count and those wasted can cause a life to be lost. It is foreseeable that something bad will happen. It is not whether it will happen, it is a matter of when it will happen. Is the Board collectively and each member individually up to accepting responsibility for that happening? Does the Board really want to find that through their negligence they contributed to an accident or prevented assistance getting to someone because they didn't take corrective or preventative measures. Is this type of liability covered by the GHPOA's insurance carrier?
Why is road safety not a concern to the Board? Instead, the major concern of the Board is its decision to use monies ($30,000.00 plus) from the general fund to hire an attorney to challenge one neighbor’s property rights for which it is earnestly soliciting support. But, there is no concern for all neighbors and their properties to ensure that the roadway is safe. It appears that the Board is so consumed with dislike and hatred that they can’t get beyond this state of mind to focus on other more necessary issues.
Since the Board is so intent on spending the GHPOA funds, an immediate use of such funds should be to:
1) hire a contractor to put down salt or sand/cinders or have the existing contractor who plows the roads if he/she is equipped do it--this is an absolute; and
2) fill (really fill) the barrels with road sand/cinders or salt and provide proper metal shovels/large metal scoops.
The worst place is the entrance on Marilyn Avenue from Bakerton Road to far past Connie Avenue, which is overly shaded. It’s the top of a hill, and appears to be the only place in Glen Haven that this is a major problem, with perhaps the exception of Mason Drive also near Bakerton Road. Snow and ice remain the longest on these sections after all other roads in the development have cleared. The other roads are more level and are a bit safer, but they still need sanding/salting too. Last year, a lady’s car slid and hit the stone Glen Haven sign. I don't know if she was injured and, if so, how badly, but her car had a lot of damage and the stone wall was damaged. This warrants repeating that it is foreseeable that even something more damaging to property or a person could happen because of these road conditions. This is one situation that the Board has ultimate control over and can fix immediately. The Board has been put on notice that this must be done. If private roads are to remain in this community, then as decision makers and managers for the expenditure and use of the GHPOA funds, the Board must take responsibility to minimize to the best of its ability unsafe conditions. Otherwise, let the roads be publicly owned and maintained by the county so we can feel safer. I am asking the Board to step back, think about helping your neighbors, and then move quickly taking immediate action to remedy this matter. At this time, resident and road safety should be the Board’s number one priority. This needs to be done today.