Hello, Team LMOA!

On behalf of the LMOA Board of Directors and Staff, we wish our Finance Director Mike Warner a happy retirement. His dedication and hard work have left a lasting, positive impact on our Association. Since he arrived in 2021, Mike has made significant improvements to the Finance Department, raising the bar for the next Finance Director. He will be greatly missed by the Team. Thank you, Mike, for a job well done. We wish you a happy retirement and look forward to running into you as a neighbor relaxing at the pool and enjoying the Lake life!
 
Please continue reading for a summary of this month’s Board meeting and other LMOA official news:
 
August Board Meeting

Fireworks 2024: Our Police Chief David Wells expressed his concerns about safety and security during major events, especially the Independence Day fireworks show. Lack of adequate parking and crowd control, traffic congestion, limited staffing, and the inability of emergency vehicles to reach the Main Beach are among his main concerns. With only two ill-designed exit points, the Main Beach is not a safe venue for a large crowd, Chief Wells stated. He urged the Board and Staff to take a critical look at planning for next year’s event. His detailed report can be read HERE.

Board Decisions in August:
Approved policy changes include:

• prohibiting all powered vehicles on beaches (except LMOA and emergency vehicles) and entering docked boats without owners’ permission;

• aligning  the process for removing a board director and the ability to pass assessments with the Virginia Code (removing the 3% dues increase cap did not pass);

• creating a Special Membership for the Lake Monticello Volunteer Fire & Rescue (LMVFR) so they can purchase LMOA golf and pool memberships at the same cost as property owners. Water Rescue Chief, John Lye, spoke on behalf of LMVFR saying LMVFR is a separate corporation from LMOA and 100% run by volunteers. Since many of the volunteers are not residents of Lake Monticello, the Special Membership would be greatly appreciated. 

Other approvals and actions include:

• the purchase of a pool-access wheelchair to assist those with disabilities

• granting Lake Monticello Community Foundation (LMCF) permission to build a family pavilion at the Lake. The proposed location is beside the Ashlawn Clubhouse. The 30 x 40-foot pavilion will be funded by donations, and the foundation has already raised about a third of the $100K needed to facilitate the project, said Alan Stewart, president of LMCF. For more details, please click HERE.

• purchasing a new pool chlorine controller 

• tabling the proposal to realign committees. The Board will revisit the topic after the annual committee chair report in early 2025. 

More News

Free Boat Rides: The Young Residents & Families Committee is partnering with the Volunteer Free Boat Ride Group on September 7. They will be providing free boat rides to Lake Monticello residents at 5:30 PM. The ride takes about 60 - 90 minutes, and participants are welcome to bring their own snacks and drinks. Life vests will be provided by the volunteers, but if you have a small child, you may want to bring your own to make sure it fits well. All children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. There is no raindate, but the Volunteer Free Boat Ride Group is happy to reschedule if necessary. They can be reached at [email protected]. Get the full details and sign up to participate HERE!

Please Do Not Flush Wipes: The Water Workgroup and Aqua Virginia urge Lake Monticello residents not to flush any kind of wipes, not even ones marked “flushable". Paper towels, feminine products, and diapers should also not be flushed. These items do not break down and can cause backups which lead to costly clogs that can prevent the wastewater systems from working effectively.

Lost & Found: Do you think you’ve lost something over the summer? Check our Lost & Found box at the Ashlawn Clubhouse and the Marina during business hours! We have accumulated many water bottles, some bags, a chair, clothing, and a few other knick-knacks. We will be donating everything after September 1st, so come by soon!

Plan Your Month: For more fun events in the month of September, please read Plan Your Month Monday coming out August 26, 2024!

Have a great weekend!

Tom Schauder

LMOA General Manager