On behalf of your board, here is an update on our activities and a motion to invest in our community that requires your attention.
The board has been meeting virtually since the summer. During the summer, we met (socially distanced) in the community. We have had a busy slate of issues to discuss as we look forward to a successful and hopefully active summer.
As many people enjoyed, we had our most-attended skating-curling-“crokicurl”-campfire Christmas season ever. It is wonderful to see the community becoming even more of a four-season getaway! Thanks to Ryan Nixon for his incredible, hard work on the ice. Ryan had his trusty assistants Daryl Baxendall and Dennis Thorhaug working tirelessly as well. It seems to get better each year. With an ice resurfacer, Ryan has made our pond ice better than most indoor arenas! I can see the winter wonderland becoming a greater playground every year!
The board recently met with the county to discuss the path system throughout the community and discuss the county’s responsibility to care for pathways. The county seemed willing to step up their game. The county will cut back trees along all the paths to bring them back to their original plan through the community. The county will be adding a culvert leading from the pond to the lake to create a large grass area by the bridge, giving some land back to the lot owners. And the county will clean out the existing culverts and install grates to prevent muskrats from taking up residence inside. The only disappointment was learning that the bridge behind the first house on the left as you enter the community is not approved. Consequently, the bridge will be removed. We will be discussing the options with the county in an effort to keep it, as it is essential to access the path system.
The ability for the county to do required maintenance is limited by funding cuts. The county will only be cutting grass every three weeks. So our community will be responsible for the in-between maintenance of the paths. The board will be submitting a request for some work to be done on the existing pathways that require leveling and better drainage, as well, at the garbage bins to clean up the area and dry the ground so we don’t have to jump around in the mud to drop off garbage!
The board discussed signage in the community for paths and our new entrance sign and message board. We were presented with some funding options to assist with the projects and will submit our requests shortly so that funding and signs will be in place! After great participation in the the logo and slogan contest, we have a winner: “Buffalo Sands Lake Life and Play.” Congratulations to Richard Peter for the submission! He has donated one of the annual dues to the runner up in the slogan contest. Congratulations go to Aleysha Busse for her runner-up slogan, “Where Memories are Made”
As mentioned at the beginning of the update, the board is asking for member feedback on a motion. The board is considering spending $16,000 on the beach areas prior to the spring thaw. In the past we have spent approximately the same amount at two year intervals. The work will make the beaches better for summer. The majority of the work would take place on the “east” beach since the last major capital expenditure on beaches was to the “west” beach. We have submitted an application to amend our License of occupation for the “Beaches” to increase the size substantially. The board can make this decision but we want to gauge member support. The expense will put the community into a deficit spend for this fiscal year which will cause us to dip into our reserve fund. The work on the beaches is expected to be an ongoing expenditure. This initiative as well as others being proposed, along with our continued annual spending have increased over the years. Our fees have not increased accordingly and this has forced us into the reserve twice in the last few years. As such this is not a sustainable financial position for the community. The Board is now in discussion regarding a fee increase which will be brought to the AGM for debate and approval (we currently do not have a number to which we will be increasing to)
This is the motion the board will vote on. Your input and comments will help give us direction on this important and costly initiative.
The Board of Buffalo Sands Residents Association will invest in beach upgrades prior to the 2021 summer season and every second year thereafter until the community’s License of Occupation is met or the community deems enough has been done. The investment in 2021 will be $16,000.
Please send your direction and questions by midnight on March 28,2021
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