Hello, Team LMOA!

Please continue reading for LMOA's latest official news update and summary of last night's board meeting:

July Board Meeting Summary:

• LMOA Vehicle Savings: The Board of Directors approved the purchase of a used 2023 Toyota Corolla to replace the failing LMOA vehicle used mainly by the General Manager. Also known as Unit 35, the vehicle was scheduled to be replaced in 2022 but pushed to 2027. The Association was able to get two more years out of the vehicle than originally planned. The Corolla with less than 6K miles was purchased for $26,500, and LMOA received $7,600 for the sale of the failing Ford Escape. The new draft Reserve Study has the 2027 Major Repairs & Replacements (MR&R) funds set at $38,245 meaning 19,345 fewer dollars were spent than planned.
   

• Other Cost Savings: Troon and RocDun Hospitality are both performing well. In the past, Troon’s Golf Operations were losing about $200K per year but are at $13K profit year to date. Also, only 50 LMOA Members used a paper ballot this year. The transition to postcard/electronic notices has reduced Annual Meeting costs by more than $5000.
   

• New Budget Cycle: Planning for the 2025 Budget and Fee Schedule starts in August. The work sessions that will occur from August - November are open to all LMOA Members. The first meeting is scheduled to take place in the Ashlawn Clubhouse on August 21 from 1 - 3 PM. We encourage Members to attend and provide feedback throughout the budget planning process. The newest Reserve Study is expected to be completed by late September and will play an important role during the budget planning process. LMOA is required by the Virginia Property Owners Association Act to conduct a reserve study every 5 years which is performed by a qualified third party. LMOA has partnered with Reserve Advisors since 1992. The contractor physically inspects LMOA assets and develops a 30-year financial update for LMOA’s Major Repairs & Replacements. Their report includes a component inventory, condition assessment, estimated useful life, remaining useful life, and replacement cost as well as a financial analysis of LMOA’s fund status and funding plan.
   

• First Readings: As advised by legal counsel, LMOA has started the process of better aligning its bylaws with state law. These include proposed changes to Chapter 2 regarding dues, fees, assessments, and the removal of a board member and Chapter 6 regarding conduct on our beaches. Staff also proposed realigning committees to make them more robust (Chapter 16) and creating a Special Membership for members of the Lake Monticello Volunteer Fire & Rescue Squad, granting them privileges to purchase golf and pool memberships at LMOA at the same cost as property owners (Chapter 20). All of these will be discussed further at the next board meeting; however, realigning committees will take longer than the regular two-reading process allowing committee chairs opportunities to provide ample input. The proposed changes to Chapter 2 include a.) the removal of the annual 3% dues increase cap b.) allowing assessments without a member vote and c.) needing a majority member vote to remove a board member. These proposals are being reviewed by legal and staff. All corrections will be reviewed at the next Board meeting.

 
Job Openings: LMOA’s Facilities & Operations Department is still interviewing for a full-time Operations Technician as well as a Seasonal Groundskeeper. If interested, please find more information and apply at CAREERS at lmoa.org. Additionally, our Public Safety Team has an opening for another part-time Security Officer, this time for the for the 3 - 11 PM shift. Please apply via Allied Security’s website HERE. Can’t wait to hear from you!

Black Bear Cub Sponsors: When the Wildlife Center of Virginia’s ambassador animal, Marigold the Opossum, passed away, the LMOA Wildlife Committee decided to sponsor the center’s bear cub program. The Wildlife Center of Virginia is the only facility in our state that is permitted to treat black bears. Each year, the Center admits dozens of injured and orphaned black bears, most of them cubs that need assistance. They typically spend close to a year there, growing and learning the skills needed to survive in the wild. The current group of cubs can be watched live on the Center’s “Critter Cams” 2 & 3: https://wildlifecenter.org/critter-corner/critter-cams#.
 
Bluebird Boxes: Speaking of webcams, did you know the LMOA Wildlife Committee keeps an eye on the Lake’s bluebird population? Throughout the course of each year, the committee monitors 25 bluebird nesting boxes that are placed around the golf course, at Bunker Park, and at the Ashlawn Clubhouse. Committee Member Cathy Gibbs coordinates the project which provides protected spaces that allow the bluebirds to raise their young in safety. Every week a committee member drives a golf cart marked with a bluebird checking banner to inspect the boxes for nests, eggs, and hatchlings. If hatchlings are found, the member checks a printed sheet provided by the Virginia Bluebird Society to determine how many days old they are. The young birds are fed by their mothers for about 15 days before they are "fledged" and fly out on their own. So when you see these bluebird boxes, look around and you may just see the parents and some very new members of the bluebird community. Of course, please do not touch the nesting boxes or disturb the birds. Thank you!

Newcomers & Old Friends: Newcomers and Old Friends (NOF) will be at the Bunker Bistro from 5 PM – 7 PM on August 6 and 14 for early sign-ups. NOF is a social club that is open to all residents of Lake Monticello. Membership is $10 per person for the year. Please plan to come, sign up, and meet the new board. They will also be collecting school supplies for the county schools and ask club members to donate some items during sign-up. There will be a raffle prize drawing at the first meeting of the year at Ashlawn Clubhouse on Sunday, September 15 from 3:30 – 5 PM for those donating school supplies. More information about NOF will be attached to the Plan Your Month email that is going out this Monday.
 
Residential Standards Forms: The forms to request property changes and construction can be found by logging into lmoa.org and selecting Residential Standards Office under the Public Safety & Standards tab. The forms have been updated, so please be sure to access them through the website and discard any old versions you may have downloaded or printed to avoid having to redo work. Thank you!

July 30 Lake Food Drive: A food drive to help refill local food banks will be organized July 30 by the Lake’s Gifting Ladies. Residents are asked to place donated food by their mailboxes by 9 AM on Tuesday, and Gifting Ladies will collect it and take it to the food bank. Any kind of nonperishables are welcome, as are checks made out to Fluvanna County Food Bank. Information is available by emailing [email protected].

Have a great weekend!

Tom Schauder
LMOA General Manager