Author: 9278surf

Newsletter Comment Part 4 – The Signature Hole Charade

Ah yes, remember the call for donations to embellish Hole 10 as a Signature Hole, which made sense because of its visibility to folks near the crossroad from our entrance. Thousands of dollars were donated.  I donated thinking it was a good cause.  I never heard or saw anything after my donation.  I made an inquiry to Golf Pro Jonas, and he forwarded me the AGI Manager, who recently left.

I was told for which the funds were spent – and it was not for Hole 10.  Apparently, a drainage pond near  Hole 10 prevented them to do whatever by the pond. Any work to spruce up Hole 10, as we all know, would be at the tee box, which has all the visibility, and not the pond.  For example, see how donations were made to add sparkle to the tee box at Hole 9.

How were the funds spent?  They were spent basically on maintenance items throughout the course, which were touted as embellishments.  BTW – some members of the Board agreed with my assessment and recommended that the donations should be returned, which they were not.  I asked for my donation back because of the specious use of the Hole 10 donations.  Instead, I suggested an alternative way to use my donation, with a Hole 3 tournament, which Golf Pro Jonas took under advisement.  I’m still waiting for that suggestion to materialize.

Comment Part 3 – The Photo Ops that Hide the Truth –

Those Board newsletters with photos of folks having a good time can be a moral booster for the community, and it can foster camaraderie among the Residents – all good.  Well,  that’s the image put out by the Board’s newsletter, i.e. showing that all is fun and frolicking in Aquarina Land.  As what has been exposed and disclosed in this Blog, and known by other Residents, is that the Board has shown a community of happy inhabitants, while the Board’s real behind the scenes agenda is taking over the Residents’ funds, and recklessly spending those funds (along with  assessments without a Resident vote) for their own selfish purposes, e.g. Golf expenses and unnecessary construction expenses.

A cabal of supporters for the Board’s agenda has provided the Board, what the Board sees as, a mandate for the Board’s actions.  The Board coddles these supporters with good times in the community.  Question – what about the folks that are not enamored with golf and tennis?  What about the folks who bought into, at one time, a nicely groomed and kept up complex, i.e.  with maintained roadways, beach and river facilities, Clubhouses, gated and landscaped entrance, and restaurant facility, all of which are suffering from neglect.

It’s quite obvious that the Residents’ funds have not been spent in a measured manner to accommodate the needs of all our amenities and common elements.  The spending has been skewed to the wants of the Board and its cabal of acolytes and disciples.

Comment Part 2 – The Contrived Cloud over the AGI

The proposed Budget shows an equity transfer over to AGI from the Residents’ fees.  This is a masquerade statement for a subsidy to keep the Golf and the Tennis businesses financially afloat.   Surely, there are probably additional funds moved into these businesses through other payments; however, we, the Residents, are not permitted to know that information.  Just ask the Board for a detailed accounting of the Golf, Tennis, and Brassie Grille operations, and hear the response.  “We are not obligated to share that information.”  Really?  Hmm.  Our $200,000 subsidy goes down a black hole?

The most cost effective way to avoid the Board’s collusion with AGI , which then has Resident funds disappearing, is to hire a management team to independently run these businesses.   Aquarina could collect rent payments from these businesses for the use of Aquarina’s facilities, and have the ability to evaluate, but not control, these businesses, other than the ability to dismiss management if they do not perform.  The risk to have these businesses perform should be on the hired management and not the Residents.  The Residents should see rent payments to them, and not Resident deficit payments to the businesses.

More Reaction to the Newsletter Coming Soon. See Below.

  • The Contrived Cloud over AGI.
  • The Use/Abuse of the Brassie Grille.
  • The Photo Ops that hide the truth.
  • The Signature Hole Charade.
  • The Boasting of construction, which is actually Unnecessary Expenses.
  • The Non-participation of the Residents with the Budget.
  • The Budget Bluster Blur, which makes no sense.
  • The Budget Numbers (even when graphed) do not add up.
  • The unnamed similar communities to Aquarina that offer no helpful comparison at all.
  • Our Volunteers are great and are much appreciated; however, their hard work has no impact on our financial dilemma.

Comment Part 1 on the President’s and Board’s Newsletter

Has the Irrigation Well for the Golf Course Been Fully Vetted?

Here are some thoughts and questions to consider with this large capital investment.

  • There should have been a documented professional cost benefit analysis for the addition of this common element to the Aquarina Community. This documented analysis should be available for review by the Residents.
  • There will be consequences if this well is put in place, e.g. Aquarina Utilities will lose a significant revenue center, and the loss will need to be compensated by acquiring more business and or raising its rates. The Public Service Commission regulates this utility and will permit its rates to reasonably increase for it to stay in business.  Among the areas for increase would be Aquarina’s residential potable water rates.  Has this scenario been investigated?
  • Per our By-Laws, any loan amount over $50,000 needs to be voted on by the Residents. Considering all the Residents’ funds that support and subsidize the AGI businesses, the cost of this well will certainly require a significant loan placed on the backs of the Residents. Based on how the President and the Board have operated in the past with spending our money, do you believe they will offer the loan up for a community vote?  Hmm.