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The Waterford Community Website was developed and is maintained by a Web Site Committee to serve as an informative resource for the residents and lot owners in our community. Waterford is a lovely planned community located in Southeastern North Carolina on the north end of Brunswick County and within 5-10 minutes drive of Downtown Wilmington, NC.
We live in 19 smaller neighborhoods (link to map), each protected by a privacy gate with all neighborhoods connected by a series of recreational pathways, bridges, and streets to allow residents to walk and bike throughout the community and visit Osprey Lake. In addition, a series of waterways and canals let residents kayak or canoe from one area to another. We hope you enjoy your visit to this Website and, if registered, use the information contained herein to participate in the activities and committees which are a part of our community.
Please feel free to contact us with your comments and suggestions.
The Developer of our Community, Bert Exum, operates his own web site at www.waterfordlifestyles.com. Feel free to visit it to learn more about homes and homesites available in Waterford.
The Waterford Village Shoppes in front of our community have their own website. You can visit that site at www.waterfordvillageshoppes.com.
In case of Emergency please follow the procedure described in the link below:
Neighborhood News |
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ALL NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
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The transition to Smart Cards for access to the Waterford facilities begins next week.
Please click on the link below for important information about the changes that will occur and the schedule for receiving your smart card,
(If you wish to respond to this message, please use the Message Board for that purpose)
POOL INCIDENT UPDATE
Dear Neighbors:
Good news! Having found no other evidence of broken glass, the pool has been "cleared" for usage by Aquatics Inc. While our pool monitors continue to remind patrons of our rules, please do not be annoyed if they need to remind you of them. They are a critical component of our security and safety measures and their actions are only to ensure your further enjoyment of our amenities.
Regards,
Joe Mickley
President, HOA
BROKEN GLASS ALERT AT CLUBHOUSE POOL
As I write this message at 1:45 p.m. on Thursday, June 24, 2010, our swimming pool contractor, Aquatics Inc., is at our pool attempting to determine if there are any remnants of broken glass either on the deck of the surrounding pool area, or in the pool.
They were called as a result of a little girl who incurred a small cut on her foot late this morning. The pool was immediately closed and all pool patrons evacuated. If during Aquatics Inc. inspection, any additional glass is discovered in the pool, we will be mandated by law to drain the entire pool and conduct a special cleaning of the area. Should this be necessary, we may possibly incur a $5,000 expense for the draining, cleaning, and refilling of the pool.
It is incredible that our pool monitors must still continue to remind our pool patrons that glass containers are PROHIBITED in the pool area. So why we must apologize for the pool closing inconvenience, we believe that this glass is probably the result of someone’s negligence. It appears that this may have occurred during the evening hours on Wednesday, June 23rd, or possibly early this morning. Our monitor went off duty at 7:00 p.m. and then resumed their role at 11:00 a.m. today. During activities this morning, no pool patron saw any activity that may have resulted in broken glass.
If you are able to offer any insights into the circumstances surrounding this broken glass incident, please contact me at your earliest convenience. Let’s not have a reoccurrence of this in the future. It is up to all of us to abide by the pool rules.
Thank you for your cooperation in spreading the news about this unfortunate situation.
Regards,
Joe Mickley
Pool, ETC Updates - Urgent
Dear Neighbors:
In an attempt to keep you abreast of community developments, I am including several alterations to protocol and policies for your information. The following may already be available on our web-site, but nonetheless, are highlighted below.
SECURITY ISSUES
Based upon incidents that have been occurring over the past twelve months you have read about the efforts of our Safety & Security Coordinating Committee (SSCC). The following plans are being incorporated:
1. The major initiative of the SSCC is the issuing of the photo ID “Smart Cards”, of which you recently received communication. Please be sure to thoroughly read this document and comply with the request for information at your earliest convenience.
2. The second event of our security effort is the employment of a security firm who will be patrolling our clubhouse, pool, and tennis courts area on a regular basis. While I have heard the criticisms of some that we are becoming a police state, I will weather these disparagements in order to better insure our community’s enjoyment of its amenities without offensive intrusions.
3. If you have used the pool over the past few days, you will have noticed several changes. First, there is only “one” entry and exit at the pool and monitors during their regular hours will be required to log-in all guests. The Board has also decreed, to some disfavor, that no one shall be allowed to enter the pool without a FOB. If a FOB is left home, lost, or doesn’t work, there shall be no admittance – no exceptions. Please do not be offended or become confrontational if you are not allowed access without your FOB.
4. As related in a previous Neighborhood News Article from Bill Taylor, our Chair of the SSCC, we need to have volunteers to assist in the resumption of our Neighborhood Watch. Please consider participation in this effort and be in touch with Bill at: ssccom@ec.rr.com
CLUBHOUSE POLICY
Please note the following addition: “An event approved by the Board of Directors, managed by a Waterford Committee, and open to all Waterford residents, may be held at the clubhouse for no charge.” Additionally, “Non-members of the association may be present if a significant number of association members are also present.” In the event the clubhouse is not returned to the condition it was in prior to the event and a professional cleaning is required… “any cleaning or damage charges will be assessed and a deposit will be required for any further events held by the group.” This change provides some latitude for committees to better utilize the clubhouse area.
GROUNDS AND MAINTENANCE POLICIES
For undeveloped lots and existing homes, one significant change that we have previously discussed, which is now part of our policy is as follows: “Lots bordering a waterway may leave a 24” x 24” natural barrier along the waterway, adjacent to the lot. With the exception of mature trees, no vegetation (shrubs, bushes, or other growth) in this barrier may exceed 24” in height, nor may the barrier extend inward from the water any farther than 24” except as approved by the Board or Developer. All emerging trees less than 4 feet tall must be removed in this area. Mature trees within the barrier that are over 4 feet in height need not be removed UNLESS they:
1. Block the water view for adjacent and nearby lots
2. Fall inside the 20’ waterway maintenance easement and have not been approved by the Architectural Review Committee
3. Combined with too many shrubs or trees, appears unsightly in the sole judgment of the Board
While grasses/reeds in the water are not subject to removal and cutting, clippings from mowing and trimming of vegetation and grass are not to enter the waterways to the best of your ability.
Please be reminded that any clippings that enter our waterways may contribute to expensive dredging efforts in the future.
We are hopeful that the actions taken by the Board will benefit your safety, create some flexibility in our rules, and offer potential relief for future excessive expenditures. Should you have comments for further improvements, please do not hesitate contacting the Board.
Best regards,
Joe Mickley
President, HOA
New Security Initiative
In an effort to keep you all informed following is information regarding our progress on the security issues explained previously by Joe Mickley. I have researched and discussed the security issues with Bill Taylor, the chair of the Safety and Security Committee, Karen Durso, the chair of the Finance Committee and Jane Hall, the chair of the Pool Committee. All of us are in concurrence that we have to visibly increase our security as quickly as possible. Pool monitors safety and the safety of our residents is paramount in any decision.
Bill Taylor and I have met with a security firm and discussed our needs to get a handle on what they can provide and at what cost. We have met with Jane Hall and discussed the changes we would implement immediately and further changes that will be implemented as we learn more. As Treasurer, Karen Durso and I have discussed how we would finance new security. Although we are not budgeted for this expense there is contingency money. Also we have negotiated what we feel is a very good price and an open ended contract.
With all of this in place, we hope to have the new security in place later this week.
Joe Metell
Treasurer, WMRA
(If you wish to respond to this message, please use the Message Board for that purpose)
URGENT INFORMATION FROM THE HOA BOARD PRESIDENT
Dear Neighbors:
During the past few weeks Waterford pool patrons have been subjected to inappropriate, adverse behaviors by young adults and also children under the ages of 16 without adult supervision. Due to this abrasive behavior, some community members have elected to leave the pool area rather than face further disturbance and/or confrontation with these unruly individuals. It is noted that not all these children are residents of Waterford but are allowed access by Waterford children. We, of course, are also subject to intruders entering the pool by climbing over the wall. Very often much of this behavior described above is observed in the early evening and maybe extended well into the morning hours. Some of what we are experiencing is as follows:
• A total disregard of our pool rules by diving, doing flips into the water, wood chips from the playground area being thrown into the water, blowing one’s nose into the pool, squirting soda into the pool, and being a general nuisance to the pool patrons.
• As indicated earlier, individuals without FOBS being allowed to enter the area by young Waterford residents, or others climbing over the wall to enter
• If the offending parties are confronted by pool monitors or on some occasion, by other community members, the offending parties on several occasions have become extremely antagonistic, verbally abusive, and display threatening, physically, assaultive behavior.
• In the clubhouse area, there has been alleged underage drinking, smoking in non-designated areas theft, vandalism and total disrespect for the furnishings therein.
Needless to say, this behavior cannot and will not be tolerated whether in the pool area, club house area, or any part of our community.
Within the past 24 hours, while I am in Pennsylvania, I have been notified that the police were called and were able to prevent a probable escalation of fisticuffs in order for the adult residents to defend themselves from threatening teenagers.
Due to this type of disrespectful and/or threatening behavior, it may now be necessary for the Homeowner’s Association to consider the employment of professional security people or Leland police officers to control the situation. If we take this action, we of course, can expect a significant dollar expense for this protective service. Also, let me perfectly clear, if you have a family member that displays any of the above behavior, your access to all amenities will be nullified through the disabling of your FOB for a significant period of time.
Those of you who may question our need to expend budget dollars for heightened security have obviously not been exposed or threatened by the dangers described above and the rationale outlined in the articles that have been printed regarding our Safety & Security Coordinating Counsel.
Please assume your responsibility as a parent and speak to your children about appropriate, respectful behaviors and avoid sanctions by the HOA or intervention by the police department.
Sincerely,
Joe Mickley
President, HOA
Locked gates at the pool
Residents have expressed concerns regarding the locked gates on the playground side of the pool. The gates are locked because the motherboard which controls the gates is broken. The decision has been made to not repair the motherboard because of the transition to the "Smart Card" access system. For additional information please click on the link below.
Help Keep Our Waterways Free From Clippings
Many of you who reside on a waterfront lot can appreciate the wonderful ambiance of our waterways system. As you may or may not know, we do allow a barrier or buffer zone that may not exceed two feet in depth from the water on to the lot, nor two feet in height for any shrubs and/or vegetation (this is known as the "2 x 2 zone" or "No Mow zone"). Of course, you may choose to have a manicured shoreline, but in either case, whether you are mowing down to the water or pruning your 2 x 2 zone, it is imperative that you remove all clippings from the waterways. If this requirement is not observed, and it becomes necessary for the Home Owners' Association to remove clippings, there will be a charge to the property owner that will include a 15% service fee, in addition to the actual cost of the removal. Since I have been receiving complaints regarding excessive clippings in the water, this message is a reminder of the requirement.
Please see that this obligation is enforced to protect our waterways and lessen the need for expensive dredging in the future. Thank you very much for your consideration of this request.
Joe Mickley
HOA Board President
Parents - The 2010 Swim Lessons Schedule and Newsletter has been posted on the Parents/Children Activities Page.
Wildlife Animal Alert
It has been recently reported that a large Orange sleek cougar-looking animal has been seen in the area of Osprey Lake. For more information click the link below.
Waterways Magazine
The current version of the Waterways magazine is available online. The Waterways link on the left side of this page will bring you to the page where all past Waterays magazines are available.
Information From The Board President
Dear Neighbors,
In an attempt to provide you a timely update to new or revised policies or initiatives, the following information is presented:
WATERFRONT LAWN BUFFER ZONE: Although not a new rule, and as highlighted in a previous Waterways Magazine Article, our “2 x 2 no mow zone” is becoming a critical component of resident’s attention. Of course, it remains the homeowner’s choice of whether to have a buffer zone or manicured water’s edge. As currently defined by the Board:
Lots bordering a waterway may leave a 24 inch by 24 inch natural barrier along the waterway adjacent to the lot. With the exception of mature trees, no vegetation (shrubs, bushes, or other growth) in this barrier may exceed 24 inches in height, nor may the barrier extend inward from the water any farther than 24 inches, except as approved by the Board or Developer. All emerging trees less than 4 feet tall must be removed in this area. Mature trees within the barrier that are over 4 feet in height need not be removed UNLESS they:
1) Block the water view for adjacent and nearby lots
2) Fall inside the 20 foot waterway maintenance easement and have not been approved by the Architectural Review Committee
3) Combined with too many shrubs or trees appear unsightly in the sole judgment of the Board
WATER PATROL: This is a corollary to the above policy and whose members are responsible for inspecting our waterways shorelines for violations of the 2 x 2 rule, and also to collect trash. SO, YOU MAY ASK WHY THE EFFORT? While as stated, the 2 x 2 rule is an option to property owners, what we have observed is that the options assumed by the waterways property owners exceed those who choose a manicured shoreline and those who opt for the 2 x 2 barrier. Other residents on the waterways fall into two groups: those who choose the 2 x 2 rule and sometimes need encouragement to prune and trim, and then those who have no concern for the shoreline and allow the growth to become an uncontrollable and unsightly mass of shrubs, scrubby vegetation, bushes and trees; they have no consideration for maintaining a controlled natural growth. These individuals will receive violation notices, while those who require just some nudging may receive a friendly or casual reminder to partake of some trimming and pruning. The Board’s concern is that when the vegetation growth along the shorelines becomes too thick, too high, and unsightly, it has already or will become uncontrollable in the future. When this occurs it will no longer be subject to trimming and pruning procedures, but will require large machinery and excessive effort and cost to correct, costs that could ultimately become the responsibility of our Home Owner’s Association budget!
Our goal is to maintain the beauty of our waterways with a manicured or a controlled natural growth shoreline. We want our waterways to continue to be the highlight of our community. A friendly or casual reminder from CEPCO in the form of a VIL00 will nicely ask to have the shoreline trimmed and pruned. A violation notice or VIL01 will be more dramatic and state that further negligence through a subsequent inspection will result in a VIL02 violation and a fine. Please respond appropriately to our urgings. We will be most appreciative of your efforts.
The above initiatives are a continual attempt to sustain the beauty and ambiance of our community, and “Enhance the Livability of Waterford.” Should you have some viable recommendations that may improve what we are advancing, please submit them to me at your earliest convenience. As I continue to state we are an evolving organization that requires responses and reaction from our residents and subsequent corrections by the Board.
Regards,
Joe Mickley
HOA Board President
Dear Neighbors:
Having viewed comments regarding Appearance Violations on the Waterford Message Board, I can empathize with the frustrations being expressed. The Board is sensitive to the concerns that you have, and would certainly welcome any valid suggestions or recommendations that would create more reasonable guidelines to ensure appearance standards we could all embrace.
Our Appearance Guidelines for existing homes and empty lots may be found on the Document Listing of our web-site under Policies and Guidelines. The language is pretty straight forward and I believe, easy to understand. These Guidelines were recently published in our Waterways Magazine.
As regards, the Board’s alleged refusal to review violations and fines, please know that we have, based upon individual circumstances, and on many occasions, waived both violations and fines. Also, please know that builders / contractors do receive violation notices on a regular basis, and we now have an individual resident who inspects building sites weekly on a volunteer basis. His reports are the basis for violations sent to the builder / contractor for various infractions of our rules.
I also recognize your frustrations concerning unfinished homes that have excessively exceeded the required completion timelines. We share those same feelings in our constant communication with our legal counsel regarding what we may or may not do at any one time. Appropriate avenues are always explored, and yet we sometimes are unable to create the closure we require. We were hopeful one particular home would have the exterior completed by a certain date, as was agreed upon in a confidential settlement through the owner, the North Carolina Housing Officials, and the Board. This has not occurred and the Board will now be taking more aggressive action.
Again, we welcome your criticism, especially if they are accompanied by suggestions and recommendations. If you are able to share with us your feelings regarding rules that are not reasonable or fair, we certainly will listen to your suggestions for change. Further, if our enforcement procedures are likewise, in your opinion, unreasonable, we can alter them as well. Tell us how we can create a better means of maintaining the beautiful ambience of our community. You may e-mail me at: jmickley@ec.rr.com with your suggestions or schedule a time for us to meet and further review these concerns.
Please understand we are an evolving organization that will require much introspection from you and therefore subject to much correction by us. We are, after all, residents of Waterford just as you, and volunteer our time and effort in an attempt to “Enhance the Livability of Waterford” and not create unpleasant conditions for you but to better enjoy where you live. Help us help you.
Best regards,
Joe Mickley
President, HOA
(Comments expressed above are solely my own, and not necessarily a reflection of all individuals on the Board.)
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