Hello, Team LMOA!

We apologize for not being able to provide live streaming/broadcasting of the LMOA Board of Directors’ meeting last night. The Broadcast Group faced a technical issue when a piece of equipment failed. We’re actively looking into the best replacement options and hope to resume live coverage for the September meeting. The broadcast volunteers did capture footage, and they’ll do their best to have a recording posted early next week. Below, we highlight the key points from August’s meeting and share some other important news. Thank you for staying informed and engaged with us!

AUGUST BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

GM Report:

Lake Health Update

• LMOA is working with Dominion Energy and Clean Flo to prepare for the Tufton Pond Oxygenation & Bio Dredging Project. This is a proactive plan to prevent algae growth. If successful, it could lead to a similar, but much more expensive project on the Main Lake. 

• In 2026, LMOA plans to use Harbor Dredge & Dock again for the dredging of the Main Lake. This time, we plan to start in February or March to prevent cloudy water during boating season. We are also exploring a plan to extend dredging options for residents. More on this soon!

• Lake health reports can always be found on the website, but are now also posted at the Marina! Did you know that the Marina also sells worms, fishing rods, ice, sunscreen, oil, flags, and a whole lot of other boating needs? Go check it out! The Marina Team - Denice Flynn, Jim Luxhoj, Jeremy Hall, and Josh Myers - are happy to help you. 

VDOT

LMOA accepted an offer of $8000 from VDOT for small easements and right-of-way access to land needed to complete the turning lane at the Lake Monticello Road- South Boston intersection. The "600/618" Project is set to begin in December 2026 and is expected to last about a year.

Staff Update

• Ken Winton, our F&O Manager, retired, and Denise Flynn also announced her plan to retire. We wish them both the best!

• David Wells, Public Safety Director, found a new opportunity at the Fluvanna County Sheriff's Department. Officer Jim Mooney has been selected as interim Public Safety Director/Police Chief. 

• Laura Payne, the Finance Director, and her team successfully completed the 2023 & 2024 audit fieldwork, restoring our schedule to the annual timeline.

• William Patrick completed the CompTIA A+ certification, teeing him up to become LMOA’s qualified IT Specialist. He will continue training, supported by OFM Computer Systems in Charlotteville, and should have all of the necessary credentials by next summer. Congratulations Will! 

• 16 public-facing Team Members received an exciting FISH! training and team-building opportunity from Gib Kerr, our neighbor and Volunteer Water Safety Team Co-President. He donated an entire afternoon 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 welcome opportunities to improve. Thank you, Gib, for making the training possible!

Treasurer’s Report: As LMOA’s newest Treasurer, Director Scott Murdoch aims to provide a monthly report that breaks down LMOA finances for Lake residents with the goal to make it easier to understand. Last night, he gave his first presentation, which featured lots of positive news. His slides CAN BE FOUND HERE. He welcomes feedback - what would you like to see at future meetings? You can reach him through the Contact the Board option on the website (log into lmoa.org and navigate to the brown toolbar at the top).

Golf: At the August Board Meeting, Golf Committee Chair Jim Beach emphasized effective efforts to boost revenue through initiatives like public play, course improvements, and diverse programming. The course had a surplus last year, a significant achievement that had not been reached before. He discussed working with staff, maintaining course features, assessing sprinkler system needs, and planning future renovations. LMOA has over $2 million in reserves for replacing the irrigation system within three to five years. Tournament updates included the cancellation of the Member Guest event due to costs, but also successes like the Peggy Kirk Bell Tournament, where young women from all over the country come to play. Also, Public Play remains a major revenue driver without sacrificing community engagement. Earlier this week, LMOA met with Troon for their annual review. Troon - our partners who manage our golf and pool operations - reported that the cold winter, rainy summer, and hot, humid weather impacted revenue and affected the grass this summer, but discussions on short- and long-term solutions look promising. Golf Course Director Mark Marshall highlighted that our course is more than just a daily fee course. The Lake Monticello Golf Club plays a vital role in the community and county, hosting numerous programs for all demographics as well as tournaments, many of which are charity and school events where use of the course is donated.

Pool: At the meeting with Troon, there was also a lot of praise for a successful pool season, largely credited to Pool Manager Chris Markham's excellent management and teamwork, which helped LMOA staff achieve great results. Chris was supported by LMOA staff who provided manpower when necessary, good communication tools, and knowledge. We have come far with our partnership with Troon, which has grown into a strong and rewarding collaboration.

OTHER NEWS

Fireworks Are Back, Here’s Why: Last year, when the fireworks contract needed to be secured, there were serious concerns surrounding safety, as the event had grown too large to be facilitated on the Main Beach. The Board, supported by a workgroup and staff, spent the next several months researching ways to mitigate risk so that we could continue a beloved tradition. Their findings led to a new location - the golf course. Since next July 4th marks the 250th anniversary of the United States, we anticipate a large crowd and have decided to hold a practice round on August 28 to help ensure a smooth event next year. It will be held on a Thursday to minimize loss of revenue at the golf course. We appreciate everyone’s patience with this decision and hope you will come out and enjoy the show! Everything you need to know about the event can be found HERE. Your feedback after the event is important, and we will provide a platform to collect your input. Meanwhile, if you are available, please sign up to volunteer for the August 28 practice run by filling out THIS FORM. Thank you!

Job Opportunities: LMOA is a great place to work where the work-life balance is valued! We are often looking for qualified people, and you can keep an eye on our career opportunities at lmoa.org (CAREERS) and on Indeed. Current Job Opportunities at LMOA:

• Police Officer

• Maintenance Technician

• Communications Coordinator (formerly Executive Assistant & Communications Assistant)

News From Bunker Bistro: Jacie says, “The Shark Tank has been closed frequently due to the weather and staffing since many of our staff have headed back to school!  We will again be a bit short-staffed next week, but will have all hands on deck the final weekend of the pool - Labor Day Weekend and Labor Day!  The Bistro is looking for a Lead Line Cook for a full-time position with a flexible schedule of days and evenings. Please contact us at [email protected] and attach your resume. Also looking for a Dishwasher for some days and some evenings. Again, contact us at the above email. Sunday, August 31, join us for Labor Day Brunch Buffet 10-2 pm. Call for a reservation 434-591-0106. On Labor Day Monday, we will be open for burgers and hot dogs, and the bar will be open from 11 AM to 3 PM. No lunch service. Finally, is your company or family looking for a place to have a holiday party or other get-together? Call our new banquet manager, Madison Pond, to find out about our holiday packages serving as few as 20 people and as many as 200! You can leave a message on the Lakeside banquet phone at 434-282-5997 or email Madison at [email protected]. Holiday, birthday, anniversary, memorial service - any reason for a gathering where we do all the work - call Madison!”

Learn About Fluvanna Elections: Join the Fluvanna County Electoral Board and Registrar for an informational session on the upcoming elections in Fluvanna County! The 30-minute presentation will take place on Tuesday, September 2, at 7 PM at the Fluvanna County Public Library (214 Commons Blvd, Palmyra, VA), covering how elections are conducted in the county, including election types, voting options, and security measures. Attendees will then have the chance to participate in a Q&A session. This is a valuable opportunity to learn about the electoral process and get involved!

Monish Gate Closure: LMOA staff met with S&N Communications today. In about two weeks, the company will need to shut off power for less than an hour to transition some Dominion lines near the Tufton (Monish) Gate. This will impact a few homes and the gate. The S&N representative stated they will provide LMOA with a 24-hour notice before starting, and our staff will do their best to inform residents. Communication with utility companies can be challenging, but we strive to alert the community whenever possible.

WATER SAFETY TIP OF THE WEEK

brought to you by the Volunteer Water Safety Team

Did you know...

There are some simple steps to follow to safely fuel your boat! First, make sure all passengers are off the boat when fueling. Turn off anything that may cause a spark, never smoke during fueling, have a fire extinguisher on board, make sure that no gas goes into the water (protect our lake wildlife), and before restarting your boat, make sure there are no gas fumes in the air (sniff for fumes). Watch THIS VIDEO for more information on staying safe and subscribe to the Volunteer Water Safety YouTube Channel.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Kind Regards,

Tom Schauder
LMOA General Manager