Moon Lake Property Owners Association Spring 2013 Annual Newsletter Special points of interest: Special Dates Annual Meeting Agenda Annual Election Lawsuit Update * Bylaw Information * Financial Overview * Investigative Committee * Easier Access * Volunteer ideas * Project List www.moonlakepoa.com P0 Box 446 Lewiston, MI 49756 moonlakepoa@yahoo.com 989-786-9070 It is the mission of the Moon Lake POA board of directors to secure a safe and prosperous future for the community of Moon Lake. We will work hard at keeping the best interest of our members in our decision making in regard to all common properties. Our goal is to maintain a Moon Lake community that is enjoyable for all our members, their families, friends and visitors. Welcome to the neighborhood! Welcome all new Moon Lake Members! We are sure you will enjoy this fabulous community! Annual Maintenance Fees The annual maintenance fee is $45.00 per lot. Please mail your dues in to the post office box address above. Members delinquent in dues as of June 16th will be assessed a late fee. Don t forget to indicate if you need boat stickers. They are provided free of charge. New stickers are required yearly for all boats on Moon Lake. The legal committee has been very active in recovering past dues. To avoid additional charges, please pay on time. All collection and court costs will be the homeowner s responsibility. Moon Lake Property Owners Association Annual Meeting Saturday, June 8th, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. Moon Lake Clubhouse Common Properties Please save for future reference. -------------- -------------- Memorial Day Weekend: Pool opening Saturday, May 25 th (Weather permitting) Memorial Day Picnic at Zeeb s Landing Saturday, May 25th at 3:00 (In case of rain, Clubhouse) Annual Membership Meeting Saturday, June 8 th at 10:00am at the MLPOA clubhouse Beautification Day Free Dumpster Day June 22-23 in the pool parking lot Hot Dog Roast at the Pool Saturday, July 6th at 3:00pm-Saturday after 4th of July (In case of rain, Clubhouse) Labor Day picnic at Zeeb s Landing Saturday, August 31st at 3:00pm (In case of rain, Clubhouse) Watch for fall, winter & spring events! Check the website or bulletin boards by the clubhouse and pool for additional dates. Pool: The pool will be open on Saturday of Memorial Day weekend if weather permits and will remain open until Labor Day. Pool and bathhouses are open 9:00am 8:00pm daily. Holiday weekends will have extended hours. Please remember to bring your membership pass with you. Membership passes are for the sole use of members, their families and guests. Anyone giving their pass to non-paid members or non-residents will have their pass revoked. Peninsula Park: What a great place for a family picnic! Take the kids down to check out the beautiful view of the lake and check out the play structures. The Clubhouse: All members in good standing are welcome to attend association events at the clubhouse. Reservations are available and great for birthdays, retirement, anniversary and graduations. The Clubhouse offers a full kitchen, along with an upper level for casual conversation and entertaining. Member Policy: There will be a $100 deposit with $75 returned if cleaned and in proper condition. We are equipped with a flat screen TV with cable, pool table and dartboard. Zeeb s Landing: The beautiful deck overlooking Moon Lake offers a great view of the lake and is a perfect spot to relax and perhaps have a picnic! It is located next to the pool and is where summer holiday social events for the association are held. Moon Lake Website: Moonlakepoa.com Thank you to Gary & Nina Gee! Not only has Gary been keeping up our beautiful website for several years, but they have also covered all costs of the site. Check us out on the web sometime! A new link has been added called Moon Lake Memories. Go to http://www.moonlakepoa.com/members_photos.htm, or from the website homepage follow the link under members then member photos. A very nice letter from a gentleman who had been at Moon Lake when it was just being developed was placed here. Please consider sending in your memories of Moon Lake and check out what others have added! Photos/memories can be either emailed or mailed to the Moon Lake Address.
Moon Lake Property Owners Association Page 2 Annual Meeting: Saturday, June 8, 2013-10:00am at the Moon Lake Agenda 1. Call to Order/Pledge of Allegiance/Introduction of board 2. Selection of Election judges to certify counting of ballots/vote to destroy 2011/2012 ballots 3. Member Comments 4. Report of Officers, Committees and Directors 5. Old Business 6. New Business 7. Election Results 8. Member Comment/Adjournment Current Officers President: Vacancy* Vice President: Jennifer Marinkovski* Treasurer: Amy Griffith Secretary: Linda Argue* Current Directors Secluded Moon Lake: Ross Argue* Woodridge Estates: Tom McCauley Woodridge Estates 2: David Raub Woodland Manor: Pete McLean (interim)* Valleywood Estates: Dave Evans* *Positions up for election 2013 Annual Election Candidates for Officer Positions President: Amy Brow Vice President: Jennifer Marinkovski Secretary: Linda Argue & Beverly Raub Candidates for Director Positions Secluded Moon Lake Ross Argue Woodland Manor: Pete McLean & Deborah Hazzard Valleywood Estates: Dave Evans Status of lawsuit and finances: In the Spring of 2011, William Raub, a member of the association, filed a lawsuit against MLPOA making a multitude of allegations and seeking damages in excess of $35,000. After 8 months of pre-trial procedures, the case went to trial. At the end of the trial, and at the behest of the judge, the parties negotiated a settlement involving a review of MLPOA by-laws and an informational public meeting of MLPOA members. Those requirements have now been completed, and the case dismissed, with no finding of wrongdoing by MLPOA, and no money paid to Mr. Raub. Unfortunately, MLPOA was forced to spend nearly $15,000 to defend the lawsuit. The consequence of this expenditure is that some ongoing and future projects will have to be delayed due to a lack of funds. The Board thanks you for your patience, and support as we move forward. Bylaw updates: Proposed changes to the bylaws were presented to members last year with the annual mailing and discussed at the annual meeting. They were voted on and approved as written by members at a special meeting last Labor Day weekend. The revised bylaws are included with this mailing. Financial overview (fiscal year of April 2012 through March 2013) The association was on target in revenue generation from membership fees and clubhouse rentals. Generosity of our members surpassed our projections for additional donations to our pool, clubhouse and the general fund taking in an additional $1374.59. Total revenue for the twelve month period was $33,776.20. Expenses came in at $31,184.33. This was higher than expected and due to the final legal expenses incurred in defending the association against the lawsuit brought by William Raub. We were still able to complete several small projects last year. The old deck on the back of the clubhouse was removed and the painting finished. At the pool, the sand filter was refurbished and a basin dug for the pool drain prior to opening. We also purchased a new winter tarp and buckets to fill and weight it down more securely during the winter months. Tom McCauley made beautiful wooden signs for the Moon Lake Pool and Zeeb s Landing. (A more complete financial review will be provided at the annual meeting along with the detailed financial report to be completed by the CPA.)
Moon Lake Property Owners Association Page 3 A Special Investigative Committee was appointed at the March 16, 2013 regularly scheduled monthly board meeting. The committee members were selected from members in attendance at the meeting. The committee was appointed to review allegations of William Raub s disruptive, hostile behavior at the January 19, 2013 monthly board meeting. The board notified William Raub in writing of a committee meeting scheduled for April 6, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. to review the incident. Mr. Raub was provided the opportunity to address the committee and present his response to any allegations or charges. The board referred him to Article 3, Section 7 of the Moon Lake Property Owners Association Bylaws. The board was later informed by email that he would not be attending the meeting. The committee heard statements from: Linda Argue, Amy Griffith, Jennifer Marinkovski, Tom McCauley and Pete McLean. Because 911 had been called, a police report was created and also provided to the committee. The committee concluded that William Raub acted in a manner that was disruptive, hostile and in a manner that frightened various board members. There were also statements that Mr. Raub has sent upsetting emails to board members, as well as left upsetting messages on the telephones of board members. Their determination was that William Raub exploded during his initial statement, never calmed down and acted in a manner that was hostile, threatening and totally disruptive. The committee recommended that the Board of Directors be satisfied of the truth of this special committee report and that William Raub be censured and has a partial loss of privileges. The committee recommended the following: 1. That for a period of six months, William Raub not be entitled to attend any meeting of the Moon Lake Property Owners Association. 2. That for the six months following this ban, William Raub be allowed to attend but not be allowed to speak at the above-referenced meetings. 3. That William Raub not be allowed to have any email or telephone contact with any board member, but instead be limited to official contact only, without threats to the association s site or telephone number. 4. That no one representing his interests or acting as his agent or conduit likewise be allowed email or telephone contact with any board member. 5. That he retain all other privileges of membership of the Moon Lake Property Owners Association. 6. That any violation of these conditions will result in a further six month ban from all meetings from the date of the violation, followed by a six month period of attendance at meetings with no communication. At the regular monthly board meeting on April 20, 2013, the board voted on the above recommendations. These were approved by more than two thirds of the board members present at the meeting and effective immediately following the meeting. Easier Access for Everyone: We are continuing to update our common areas, including providing for barrier free access whenever possible. As you might expect with volunteer labor, donations, and limited finances, this remains a long-term project being completed one step at a time. Certain members have questioned whether the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies. A preliminary review by Board members and the association attorney indicates that the ADA only applies to public accommodations, not to private entities such as MLPOA, which only provides amenities to members of the association. Further, it is the actions of the entity (public v private accommodations), not the name ( resort v association ) which control. That being said, we still want to be as inclusive as possible. We ask that you join with us cooperatively in finding ways to wisely spend our limited resources to keep our facilities safe and open to as many as possible. Moon Lake Beautification Days June 22-23: Please help clean up our neighborhood. Each property owner has a responsibility to do their part in keeping Moon Lake a beautiful place to live. Take the time to do some spring cleaning outdoors this year and make the environment a safe and pleasant place to be. The association is having a free dumpster weekend on June 22 nd and 23 rd in the pool parking lot. Let the spring weather motivate you to start clearing things out. The dumpster is open to Moon Lake Residents only. Please have your membership pass with you. The transfer site takes scrap metal year round if you have metal to dispose of.
Moon Lake Property Owners Association Page 4 Volunteers and Donations: Member s generosity again shined through with the additional money sent in for Moon Lake! Last year we hit an all time high of $1374.59! Please consider making a donation by including it with your dues designated for the general fund or a particular area of interest such as the Clubhouse or Pool. Please see annual billing statement. A huge THANKS to everyone who contributed time, talent and donations. Without you, we could not have accomplished all that we did! Service/Labor Appreciated: Please see this season s Project List for areas where you can contribute. (Electrical work, building experience, plumbing, general labor, etc.) We do our best to complete projects with volunteers whenever possible, but we need your specialty for specific projects! If you can help, your time is very much appreciated! Please contact the office and a board member will be in touch. 2013 Project List *Replace rotted wood on picnic tables at Peninsula Park, Zeeb's Landing & clubhouse - Pete *Paint playground equipment at Peninsula Park-Linda *Have sand brought in for the "point" on Peninsula Park - Linda/Jennifer *Power wash and stain deck - Zeeb's Landing - Ross and Tom *Create level area on beach by Zeeb's Landing/purchase & install volleyball net/balls - Jennifer *Peninsula Park - confirm availability of barrier free portajohn - Linda *Pool area - convert emergency gate into an easily accessible entry Ross & Dave Evans *Pool house - create barrier free/unisex restroom/shower - Linda *Clubhouse - alterations to men's restroom to create a barrier free/unisex restroom - Linda *Clubhouse - replace front double entry doors to open out for barrier free access- Ross/Tom/Pete/Dave Evans *Pool/Zeeb's Landing parking lot-designate 4 handicap parking spaces (2 by pool and 2 by Zeeb's Landing) - Tom *Zeeb's Landing - build ramp/platform to the deck area from the sidewalk - Ross/Pete Place your ad here! Anyone wishing to place an Ad in our annual newsletter next Spring should contact our association secretary for information on pricing and options at the clubhouse office (989) 786-9070. CURBSIDE TRASH & DUMPSTER SERVICES Price is good if you act now! Local Curbside Trash Pickup Weekly $20.00 Per Month Bi-weekly $15.00 Per Month Dumpsters: Weekly, Bi-weekly and Monthly Service 2 yard 4 yard 6 yard Roll Off Dumpsters: 20 Yard 15 Yard 10 Yard Pro Rated P.O. Box 385 Lewiston, MI 49756 www.lewistonseptic.com LEWISTON SEPTIC SERVICE SEPTIC SERVICES Septic Pumping Drain Field and Septic Installation and Repair Power Snaking for Sewer Lines Portable Toilet Rental Root X Treatments Install Risers Party Package E-Mail: val@lewistonseptic.com Phone: (989) 786-4762 Fax: (989) 786-5395