Roads, Dues, and … Who Cares? The Annual Meeting.
The Marsh Creek Owners Association held its Annual General Meeting Thursday evening before a raucous, pulsating crowd of … maybe, just maybe, 20 homeowners, at Anastasia Catholic Church.
How about those numbers, huh?
“Ah, yes, but Marsh Creek is being handled so well, right? They don’t need me”. (Full disclosure: this reporter didn’t make it either – recovering from a surgery. But like 5 others, DID join the Zoom broadcast).
Anyway, there was plenty at stake: our skyrocketing homeowner dues, the uncertainty of our reserves for the impending 2027 road project, and the need to fill some seats on the board that will make those important decisions. And finally, maybe attend as a tip-of-the-hat and thank you to the board members who spent the last year working hard on our behalf. Just sayin’ …
The Takeaways
Yes, dues have again increased (to $680 / Q) because the board feels, according to Treasurer Tracey Gallagher, that Marsh Creek is racing against time. The community needs to accumulate enough cash to repair our deteriorating roads. No micro-paving this time, but a full and costly repave and repair. Also teeing up as a drain to future cash reserves is an array of other infrastructure repairs and improvements in our 30+ year community, including possibly a seawall. The road project alone will cost between $2.5-$3M. The community currently has $2.7M in assets. So things are tight. Bylaws say the HOA cannot raise fees by more than 10% a year, and Gallagher painted a picture of futility around any attempt to impose a special assessment because that avenue requires a 2/3 vote of support from all homeowners. (Note the sparse attendance above).
In hopes of cost-sharing, the next board will resume negotiations already started with the owners of the Marsh Creek Country Club to have the Club carry some of the cost of repaving the road from the Mizell Gate to the tennis courts, since much of the Club’s traffic now comes from that direction as well as the Main Gate.
On the bright side, Gallagher predicted a year-end budget surplus of about $100k.
As for dues in coming years. the Treasurer said, “22% of next years dues will to into reserves.” She conceded they are “significantly higher than required”, but are aimed at meeting the cost of future infrastructure projects.
“I hope the dues won’t keep going up at this rate”, she added.
New Board
The Board was able to recruit just one new member for the board. As a result, Tracey Gallagher in the words of the President Ken Gentile, has “re-upped” for another 3 year term. The remaining open seat will be filled by the new board in January. Candidates are welcome to apply.
Note to the New Board
Next year, how about holding this meeting at 9:00am and spring for coffee and donuts? Just a thought. Maybe the turnout will improve.
Brian,
I appreciate your thoughtful comments about actions reported at the recent MCOA Annual Meeting. It is a shame that more residents did not elect to attend the meeting. Perhaps moving the meeting time to 9AM would draw a larger crowd.
I am completing my first year as a member of the Board of Directors, and I applaud your efforts to inform your readers of the work that the Board and the Committees must do to ensure that our community maintains that standards for appearance and functionaity that we currently enjoy. I have been impressed by the quality and quantity of work done by individuals who volunteer their time to benefit the residentds of our wonderful community.
Best wishes to you and yours for a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.
Bill Abare
Thank you, Bill, for being part of the solution and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family. Brian
Scott, what about renting the clubhouse for.the annual meeting for a few hours … Maybe if it’s in the morning, it wouldn’t cut into their revenue stream… Just a thought!
I agree with Scott. We have many new residents who have so much to offer, yet are reluctant to “give back.” Community service in our HOA is not as time-consuming as it sounds. Start by attending a committee of interest. The learning process of what makes our community tick is invaluable. Dip your toe in the water…it’s not as cold as you think!
Our dues are relatively low. We need to build up reserves so we don’t face an assessment in the future.
Marsh Creek Country Club has not allowed us to have the AGM at the club for the last 3 years. That’s why we are at the church. I agree, it should be at the club….more people would attend.
Have the meeting at Marsh Creek clubhouse.
Thank you to all the Boardembers, Committee, Heads and volunteers who make Marsh Creek a well maintained and wonderful place to live. It’s disappointing that more homeowners didn’t attend. Perhaps having the annual meeting earlier in the day would garner more participation. Good job HOA! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
This is a busy time of the year. Attendance is down for a lot of reasons. I couldn’t attend as I had another board meeting. Do the by-laws allow any flexibility to a meeting earlier in December?
Interesting article. Our dues are not “ skyrocketing “. They are rising as per our founding documents at a maximum of 10 % a year to cover the costs of contractual obligations and what the community has asked for. As a comparison, I pay more per month for a 2 bedroom 2 bath condo at the end of 16th street than I do here for my beautiful home in MC. I think what we get for what we pay is a good ROI. Our board and committee members are all volunteers. It has been very difficult to get new residents to participate . If you have an issue about how things are run in YOUR community, then step forward and add your expertise as a committee or board member. It was a very low turnout for the AGM tonight, which means most residents are satisfied with how things are being run, or didn’t care enough to show up and advocate for change. I am satisfied with how things are being run, and care enough to show up to support the volunteers doing the thankless work of running our community. Please, do not complain if you don’t show up to help. If you want to get involved, please come to a committee or board meeting. Thank you to the board of directors and the committee chairs and members. I appreciate all you do.
Scott Herrington.