Hello, Team LMOA!

Thank you for taking the time to stay informed about your Owners’ Association! This week we have news about the July board meeting, fireworks on August 28, VDOT, and more! If you prefer to receive news via text, you can sign up for Everbridge. Read all about this option HERE.

July Board Meeting Recap:

• In August, Chief Wells is returning to the Fluvanna County Sheriff’s Office after serving three years as LMOA’s Director of Public Safety. During the July Board Meeting, he expressed his gratitude to LMOA and said he looked forward to continuing to support the community through his role at the Sheriff’s Office. Starting July 28th, Officer Jim Mooney will act as Interim Director of Public Safety and Police Chief. With over 30 years of law enforcement experience, Officer Mooney will manage police, security, and barcodes. Furthermore, Rebecca Mathews, our HR Director, will assist with Residential Standards to maintain service and support for residents. We appreciate Chief Wells for his dedication, leadership, and contributions to LMOA, and we are confident he will succeed in his new position.

• The Racquet Sports Committee presented a report to the Board, outlining its history and objectives. Established in 2021, the committee was tasked with making recommendations about the shared tennis and pickleball courts at Ashlawn and Lafayette. It has eight members, including a chair and representatives for both sports. The committee reported having 104 Ashlawn Court Members, generating $17.5K this year from memberships and daily fees. In 2024, the courts were resurfaced and repainted, featuring a layout of four tennis courts and eight pickleball courts. Recent work includes surface repairs due to winter cracking, scheduled for August. The committee also supported PATA-sponsored activities this summer for junior tennis. Beyond collaborating with management on youth activities, as outlined in its charter, the committee organizes charity events, such as the “In the Pink” event at Ashlawn in October to support breast cancer resources through The Women’s Committee of Martha Jefferson Hospital. In 2024, the same event at Ashlawn raised over $10K. A pickleball tournament supporting the Lake Monticello Community Foundation is also planned for October.

• Due to a technical issue, the Broadcast Group was unable to live stream to YouTube last night. If this caused you to miss the Board Meeting last night, a recording is now available on the website. Please log in and search for the video under GOVERNANCE, BOARD MEETING DETAILS. Sorry for the inconvenience!

Fireworks: We are excited to announce that fireworks will return to the Lake at a new location—the Lake Monticello Golf Course! In 2026, LMOA plans to celebrate the United States’ 250th anniversary (Semiquincentennial) with fireworks on July 2, 2026. Before the 250th celebration next year, we’ll test this spot with a 15-minute display to kick off Labor Day Weekend. The show starts at 8 PM on August 28, 2025, firing from the dam behind the cart barn at the golf course. Holding the fireworks on Thursday is intended to minimize disruption to golf operations and revenue during this busy weekend. Also, there is still foliage in the trees, which will help identify the best viewing spots. This practice run allows LMOA to refine plans for a larger July 4, 2026, celebration, and we are thankful for the residents who have volunteered to help run the event. Volunteers and staff will be on-site to remind folks to sit on the fairways and not the greens, which will also be roped off. We also encourage viewers to sit on blankets instead of chairs, bring a flashlight, and use the available trash bins. More details on viewing and parking will be shared soon!

Offices Closed for Training: Please note that the LMOA Offices will be CLOSED on July 30 from 10 AM to 2 PM for an exciting training and team-building opportunity. Gibb Kerr, our neighbor and Volunteer Water Safety Team Co-Chair, will be donating his time to give LMOA Staff a fun refresher on creating positive work environments. Our team does a fantastic job managing the daily needs of our community. We strive to provide excellent customer service and look forward to learning new ways to handle challenging situations.

Monish Gate: It appears utility repairs near the Monish Gate are causing disruptions, and the gate is not operational today. Please consider this when planning your route.

Pool Season in August: Can you believe kids are returning to school on August 12 already? When that happens, most of our lifeguards will be heading back to school as well. Each year, we face the challenge of keeping the pool adequately staffed once school resumes, and this year is no exception. Please know that we will do our best to stay open as usual, though we might encounter some capacity challenges on weekdays. Thanks so much for your understanding and support!
VDOT: Select senior staff and board members met with a VDOT representative this week to discuss how upcoming changes to the Lake Monticello Road and South Boston Intersection will affect the community. The "600/618" Project is set to begin in December 2026 and is expected to last about a year. VDOT will need to access and buy small parcels of land on LMOA property for the project, and they have made an offer. LMOA will review this offer and may submit a counteroffer within the next week. More details will be shared soon.

Bunker Bistro News from Jacie: On Friday, August 1, come and rock with Jefferson Speedboat on the patio! Also, save the date for our next Wine Dinner, scheduled for Monday, August 25th, at Ashlawn Clubhouse - menu will be forthcoming. Check out our calendar at www.bunkerbistro.com for other events or read Karis’ Plan Your Month email coming out this Monday. Finally, we are closing on Monday, August 4, for Staff Appreciation Day! Thank you for your understanding.

VWST: Have you been enjoying the water safety tips, like the one below? These have been provided by the Water Safety Team volunteers, who have made a tremendous effort to educate the community about water safety this year. Their efforts include (but are not limited to!) being present on the water during the weekends, distributing life vests and orange flags, and giving out lollipops to kids and adults, fostering a ‘Neighbors Helping Neighbors’ approach to water safety promotion. About 275 bags filled with helpful information, safety items, and goodies have been distributed at the Marina. They also created the “Bat Phone,” a contact list to reach volunteers who dedicate time to towing stranded boaters. Despite these efforts, we still see boaters without Personal Flotation Devices, speed violations, unsafe swimming, and towing without a spotter. Their work remains essential! Please support them by reading the weekly safety tips, watching their videos, and picking up an information bag at the marina. Thank you, VWST!

WATER SAFETY TIP OF THE WEEK
brought to you by the Volunteer Water Safety Team

Did you know that Lake Monticello has special safety rules for towing skiers and tubers? Some of those include:

• two people must be onboard - one driver and one responsible observer,

• the orange flag must be flown (not waved) when a towed person is in the water,

• the towline for multiple tows must be of equal length and appropriate for the purpose,

• all persons being towed must wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket specific for towed sports,

• the motor of the boat should be turned off during pick-up, loading/unloading from the water, dock and shoreline;

• towing is prohibited within 75 feet of shore, swimming areas, docks, coves, and no wake areas.

• See LMOA Policy Section 6.04 for more information, and watch this fun VIDEO for more info on safe towing.

For more boating safety videos, subscribe to the Volunteer Water Safety YouTube Channel .
Have a wonderful weekend!

Kind Regards,

Tom Schauder
LMOA General Manager