The following is also a comment left by Neil, C-208, about another property he owns. This was an email he sent tonight to the entire “board” and Joey.”
Judge for yourself: Which property is operated better?
Please bear with me… And Yes, WAY, WAY Down the Thread, after my Rant,
Is the Example the Daily Report…. From Leonard…..This is an example of a Gulf Highlands Board member giving an almost daily, clear, complete reporting of activities, ” Most Days Photos,” Kinda Like Robert and his blog, AND an example of a well run clearly defined use of Association Fees, RESERVE FUND usage and availability, “Yes it is a property with many more owners/members, BUT even more expenses, more complexity, more personalities, some are abrasive, some are very agreeable folks, some so financially uptight they squeak, and make others squeak….
It is a pleasure to visit the office, and REALLY have a conversation with the manager and all assoc. employees: no stress, no past foibles, no wondering if you…
By the way, We have an independent VERY profitable property management Company ON SITE. They pay market rent to the Owners Association, and a percentage back to the Owners Assoc. THEY have only a 28% management fee – and sill make a nice profit, and bid yearly to stay on site…
About 7 other companies manage units, some charge as little as 25% some as MUCH as 35% All inclusive. Yes, some owners even rent using V.R.B.O.com, Vacations4U.com. etc. thereby keeping all the Unit Rental Dollars. They pay an independent cleaning service a fee of about $35-40, not giving up a 30-40% a DAY… It is amazing, all really get along…mo one accuses an owner of “stealing” from other owners, if they use an outside rental company or means of rental of their choice.
This thing called competition makes every one better, and accountable to the folks that have a financial interest in them…
The board members in a situation like that, don’t have to worry if the independent management company. has cash handling issues, has any personnel problems, any late or unpaid workmen’s comp premiums, any occupancy worries, any advertising costs, any legal liabilities for an accident involving guests. The board doesn’t waste time and energy on anything to do with PROPERTY MANAGEMENT RISKS OR HEADACHES…
The board there has ONLY the well being of the OWNERS interests, it makes for a nice reserve account balances and there has been NOT ONE Assessment for road paving, Painting, Nuts Bolts, Fencing, Beach Erosion, Tearing out of Strong, Stable, Sturdy Walkway Railings –ALL– Large Predictable, Normal Maintenance & Financial concerns have a Fully Funded RESERVE Account and the board understands that they have an OBLIGATION To keep the OWNERS on an even, steady monthly fee of……… a Giant $143.00!
Not having to spend TIME figuring out how to JUGGLE /SWAP/ BORROW OWNERS money back and forth from a NOT SO PROFITABLE Rental Management Company and the HOME OWNERS Association lets the board concentrate on the property and the owners.
That Property also has 18 hour a day security guard force, 3 controlled entry gates. The Manager at a $48K/yr salary keeps all 7 of the employees, $7.00 to $18.00/hr. busy doing scheduled PREVENTIVE maintenance, and Yes, they do pick up the trash from All 703 townhouses ONCE a day also. Unlike Deer Ridge, it is not a 3 times a day pick up, which leaves almost no time for PREVENTATIVE Maintenance here in the mountains…
Another RANT from the OLD GRUMBLE BOX Neil…. Can’t help myself… it’s a Sad Sad Way To Have To Live….
See below for Leonard the Board Members Daily Report, Looks like Guests there really enjoy the Shuffle Board Courts there…
I remember an Owner / Resident here at Deer Ridge VOLUNTEERING ALL LABOR to Build a Shuffle Board Court asking the board ONLY For The Cement Costs. He was turned down but more importantly, the reasons were talked about after he left the room, and guess what….
What the board and Joe said, Was NOT in the OFFICIAL MINUTES….
Interesting … Why are the Board Members –SO– Opposed to Digitally Recording and sharing what they say in the Meetings???
Best regards, Neil
——————————————————————————–
From Leonard…..
Have you ever wondered what all our snowbirds do here in the winter besides walk on the beach and go play golf? I have compiled a list from channel five and this may not be all events done in the resort.
- Shuffleboard is a big draw to our northern friends, they have leagues at the six Damon courts.
- Monday Shuffle League
- Tuesday Shuffle League
- Wednesday Shuffle League
- Thursday Shuffle League
- Friday Shuffle League
- Saturday Shuffle League
- Sunday Shuffle League
We are sorry that we don’t have more practice courts around the resort but maybe in the future.
- The exercise room is available 8-11 all week with a $10 deposit for a key
- Putt putt is available everyday but on Tuesday they have a miniature golf tournament at 1 pm
- They have social Tennis at all tennis courts, they meet regularly but I didn’t catch the times and dates
- Darts are on Tues and Thurs evenings
- Aerobics is every morning Mon – Fri
- Line dancing late morning on Weds & Fri
- Wood Carving on Thurs noon
- Crafts on Thursdays late morning
- Bridge on Wed & Fri
- Cribbage on Mondays
- Dance night every Tues evening
- Tai Chi on Tues
- Bid Euchre on Thurs & Sun
That is a good portion of their activities, we used to have water aerobics in the past so their is room for more activities. I believe it isn’t posted but their is Dominoes on Fridays. Bottom line is there is a lot to do here and the happy hours parties are all over the place.
Now for some assoc notes.
- There is a property Committee meeting March 15th at 1 pm at Grand Island Club House. I didn’t join this year so I may have to drop in as a guest, join me and lets see what is up.
- BOD meetings this year will be on April 17th, June 5th, August 21st, Oct 8th. Annual meeting is Oct 9th this year. Don’t forget to put your name in to run to replace me on the board. We will be holding a special phone conference meeting in mid March to discuss and make funds available from reserves for these items if approved. I’ll let you know when it has been posted. Leonard
- Porcelain tile in conference center
- Resurface parking lot at new office building and new parking areas
- Two new golf carts for maintenance
- Two new heating and cooling systems for new building. The one large one that used to take care of our new office and Emerald Coast has bite the dust. Each section will receive a new unit instead of sharing.
Robert here….thanks Neil! Folks, compare all of that to Deer Ridge – and the secrecy, insider deals, illegitimate activities, Master Deed and Bylaw violations, illegal board compensation, wasted money, attempted intimidation and complete lack of transparency by the current “board” and Joe Thomas.
It is past time for a change at Deer Ridge. There is a MUCH better way to do things here, like Neil described.
Get rid of the current “board” members. Get rid of Joe Thomas.
Donate to the Deer Ridge Litigation Fund by clicking the graphic below – or send a check to me made out to “Deer Ridge Litigation Fund.”
Thanks so much to those of you who have already contributed!
We already have a separate bank account set up for these donations which will only be used to help get us the injunction against this Asinine Assessment and to have a judge force boards and general managers at Deer Ridge to abide by our controlling documents. BTW, all contributing owners DO get to see all of THESE books and records related to the litigation!
Please donate today. Thanks!
Tags: attorney, RML, HOA lawsuit, wasted money, Tennessee, Board of Directors, Cobbly Nob, Deer Ridge, bad management, budgets, bylaws, HOA fees, secrecy, Asinine Assessment, secret deals, gross negligence, Sell RML, Deer Ridge Mountain Resort, master deed
To All Owners,
Ever notice in the days before Joe Thomas arrived on property, things were different at Deer Ridge?
Notice, too, the next time you visit Deer Ridge how many little things our two maintenance folks could fix very easily – but instead have been ignored for years as a result of bad management by Joe Thomas.
Do you know exactly what all the money you pay to Deer Ridge goes towards (what, if anything, is being fixed, maintained?) It seems to me that all we get from two maintenance people on our payroll is getting the trash emptied. What do they have in the way of a checklist and timetable for taking care of maintenance, repairs and preventative maintenance that could save all owners a lot of money so that outside contractors do not need to be hired on our nickel?
Neil has an excellent guest post here with the comparison of Deer Ridge to another property and how a well managed property should and can be run.
I notice Neil speaks of the property that he is comparing to Deer Ridge is a larger property and he also speaks of seven employees. Our tiny 84 Unit Deer Ridge has like 11 employees – way too many employees.
What exactly are these folks who “work” for us accomplishing everyday?
Neil,
What an exceptional posting! Thank you for a great apples to apples comparison that everyone should be able to understand.
Some owners wish to believe Joe and his followers. A few owners are of the opinion that it is just Robert’s word against the board.
The latest should convince everyone this is the opinion of a reputable, independent lawyer. As it turns out, it looks like Robert has been about 100% right all along.
Things are not being done properly with our funds at Deer Ridge.
Owners: Do NOT pay another penny toward this assessment as it is not being managed properly at all. This is the advice of legal counsel – not just any owner or just any employee like Joe Thomas here at Deer Ridge reporting this opinion back. This is sound legal advice – and it looks like four different major reasons why this assessment is completely invalid.
Don’t let Joe Thomas try to falsely intimidate you into paying what is really not owed! They have no legal ground to stand on. None!
This comparing of properties proves how poorly Deer Ridge has been managed. With our 84 unit owners paying in all the funds we have paid for over 20 years, we should have accomplished a LOT more with our past money.
And, we should not pay new money until these problems are properly solved.
Hey Katherine,
I was a little off on the number of units at the other property, it’s actually 797. An interesting fact is also that the complex covers approx. 64 Acres of land. That’s a lot of grass to cut…5 miles of roads to keep up, 11 pools, 4 of them Heated, 4 tennis courts an 18 hole putt-putt course, 14 Shuffle Board Courts, 2 club houses. All this obviously compounds the work and expense there, vs. the work here at Deer Ridge.
I really wish we knew where all our monthly dollars go, and wish we had a system set up for reserves for at least 3 major long term maintenance needs, Roofs, Building Painting, & Road / Parking Lot.
By the way, that is the POINT of this post, Knowing where each dollar goes and making sure it gets there…
Take care, Neil C-208