MANAGER’S REPORT – MARCH 13, 2010

New Recreation Director – Erica Townsend has been hired for the Recreation Director position at Locust Lake Village. She will be starting work for Locust Lake officially on Monday, March 15^th, but has already visited LLV on several occasions.  Erica has a BA degree in Recreation, and has experience at Pocono Farms and Mount Airy  casino.  We look forward to wonderful activities with Erica this season, and I trust  our volunteers and residents will support her efforts.

Administration Building Rest Rooms – The restrooms in the administration building have been improved prior to installation of new carpeting in the  conference room and offices. There are problems with the functioning of the plumbing fixtures (lack of a vent pipe) which still needs to be addressed.

Trash Contract – We are in the final year of the current trash contract. We must establish the specifications for the  level of service so we can seek bids in late summer/early fall.  It is essential that work on this begin this spring so we do not find the village in a crisis situation at years end. I have asked Sharleen Skipper and the Long Range Planning Committee to work on this project. Part of their work will be to visit other communities to see what alternative trash removal methods are in use so these may be considered for LLV.

40^th Anniversary – 2010 is the 40^th anniversary of the incorporation of the Locust Lake Village Property Owners Association. Although the community was started in the 1960’s by the developer (Larson, etc.), the homeowners’ association was not started until 1970. The Communications Committee, along with Ike Wade (unofficial historian) and others, will be planning special activities and events to commemorate the anniversary. Look for more information in upcoming months.

Truck Ban – We have implemented the annual heavy truck ban for the next several weeks to minimize damage to the roads during the spring freeze and thaw cycle. Andy Gross and Jim Kowalski are monitoring the conditions of the roads so as to minimize inconveniences for homeowners and contractors.  The current weather pattern and forecasts indicate that the ban may not need to remain in effect for an extended period.

Ski Tow – We did encounter some mechanical breakdowns at the ski tow which caused interruptions of service.  This spring, an inspection of the tow line will be done by a consultant and an estimate of costs will be developed to promote reliable service during upcoming seasons.

Road Scarifier – An attachment for the existing grader has been purchased, installed, and tested. We are very pleased with the results, and will be using this equipment in our efforts to combat potholes in the dirt roads this season. There are other uses for the scarifier including dust control procedures and other road grading and maintenance projects.

Road Improvement Projects – We have identified several locations as the priority projects for road improvements during 2010. The road areas in question are Stag Road from Partridge to Selig, and Fawn Road from LC Larson to Fern. We will continue to address pot holes, drainage issues, emergency repairs as needed, but the major road improvements will be those identified above.

Snow Plowing Policy – The way snow has been plowed at LLV has varied in different years, based upon the conditions that prevailed at the time and the direction given to the maintenance crew.  Over the years, Boards of Directors  have attempted to find a policy that would satisfy the needs of all the residents, but that policy has been very elusive. The minutes of past Board meetings do not indicate that a specific policy was ever adopted. Over this winter, controversy has arisen over what should be our snow plowing policy. We have discussed this matter many times at Roads Committee meetings,  with varying opinions having been expressed. I am recommending that a policy be drawn up which recognizes that we need to minimize the amount of moisture which accumulates and is allowed to stand on the surface of the roads. This is the policy which promotes public safety, and minimizes road deterioration and public liability.  A policy which states that it is our policy to intentionally  leave snow on the roads to promote recreational vehicle use fosters increased road deterioration, invites liability claims, and impedes access for residents, public safety, and emergency service vehicles. The policy needs to recognize that different weather conditions may result in different plowing methods and measures. There is no one size fits all solution to this issue. The Manager, Chief of Security, and Maintenance Supervisor, along with the Chairman of the Roads Committee are working on drafting a proposed policy that implements the goals of minimizing moisture retention so as to advance public safety and road maintenance goals.