Last week, I picked some friends up to exercise, and noticed two vacant lots on John Green, set between homes, that were an over grown mess. After my exercise, I picked up my camera, and went out and took some pictures. Why? I have a vacant, mostly grassy lot, next to my home. In the past, the lot owner, appeared to have contracted with the WPA, to mow the lot, and it was mowed regularly, by the WPA grounds contractor.
The lot next to me, has not been mowed, since the late summer of 2014. Board Member, McMillin, is chair of the grounds committee, which puts him in charge of the lawn mowing contractor, who mows the vacant lots of owners, who contract with the WPA.
Since the board won't answer my resident letters, I asked my questions during the resident comment section of the July 21 board meeting. I asked, and commented:
1. If any of the vacant lots under contract with the WPA had been mowed this year?
2. I said that I didn't believe that the board had to respond as to whether the lot owner next to me, had contracted with the WPA for lot mowing, but I would like someone on the board to check, and see if they had, and if so, determine why the lot had not been mowed in over a year.
3. I stated that both the By-Laws, and Covenants stated that the board has the responsibility of preserving the natural setting and beauty of the Development.
McMillin, Grounds Chair, stated that the lawns mentioned on John Green have been mowed twice. He said something about they can't keep mowing them, because the contract with the WPA only provided 4 mowings. I said that was the board's problem, for allowing contracts to be developed, with too few mowings for the season, when the board was responsible for maintaining a standard, for the residents who trusted them. The grounds chair has had problems year, after year, with this particular contract, and yet, it appears that your board approves it, without proper review. Year after year, we live with the messes they allow this board member to make.
In my view, is it possible that the vacant lot next to to me, is in the miserable condition that it is, because the grounds chair has failed intentionally to instruct the grounds crew to mow the lot, for over a year? Yes, based on actions he has previously taken. I have no right to ask whether the lot owner next to me, contracted with the WPA, for 2015. I've been here for 11 years, and this lot owner has always done the right thing. I've done nothing to the grounds chair personally. The blog covers his, and all the board's actions from the board table. I've repeated his words, actions, etc., as with the other board members, and sent you to the minutes, tapes of the meeting, and legitimate documents. If he is upset, possibly, he should act in a manner, that doesn't embarrass him, or his family members, when his own words, votes, etc. are reported.
The problem, for our community is bigger than the issues of the lot next to me. Whether, or not, a lot owner has contracted with the board for mowing services, is some what of a moot point. Your board has a responsibility to monitor, and see that these lots are maintained to a standard that benefits the property owners in Wedgefield. Here is what I observed, and then photographed, as I drove on John Green today. Both of these lots, are adjacent to homes.
At best, the grass is knee high, in these lots. In some areas, on one of them, the weeds, are almost to my shoulder.
Article I - Purpose, Section I, of the ByLaws, states. "These are the By-Laws of the Wedgefield Plantation Association, hereinafter referred to as The Association, a non-profit corporation existing under the laws of the State of South Carolina, which has been organized for the purpose of preserving the natural setting and beauty of the Development, of establishing and preserving a harmonious and aesthetically pleasing design for the Development, and of conducting the affairs of the Plantation for the benefit of the property owners in a manner which will maintain the high standards of the Wedgefield Plantation Subdivision within Georgetown County, South Carolina. This includes enforcing the Covenants of the subdivision and these By-Laws, "
Number 8 of the Covenants states, "In Order to implement effective insect, reptile and woods fire control, the grantor reserves for itself and its agents, heirs, successors and assigns, the right to enter upon any residential lot on which a residence has not been constructed and upon which no landscaping plan has been implemented (with prior written approval of the grantor for such plan), at the expense of the grantee, his heirs, successors; distributes and assigns, such entry to be made by personnel with tractors or other suitable devices, for the purpose of mowing, removing, clearing, cutting or pruning underbrush, weeds or other unsightly growth, which in the opinion of the grantor detracts from the overall beauty, setting and safety of the subdivision."
Since the July 21 meeting, has any officer, Pres., Vice Pres., Sec., or Treasurer, reviewed the contracts, payments to the grounds contractor, and verified that ALL lots are being maintained? The board became aware in 2014, that the grounds chair, had failed to fulfill the prepaid services of some of the contracts, and attempted at the board table, to declare a profit on the lot mowing program?
Trying to maintain your property, with a similar situation next door? Trying to sell your home, when potential buyers observe these conditions as they drive to your address? There are homes totaling over $3,000,000 in listings, whose potential buyers, have to drive by this mess on my street. Perhaps, you should write the board. If you are one of their special residents, you may get an answer. If you aren't, Christmas is coming, and your board may allow, cover, and condone, the grounds chair, putting your address on a extremely large obscene sign, and hanging it on his house.
If the board doesn't answer your questions, fails to blatantly, to "preserve the natural setting and beauty of the Development, of establishing and preserving a harmonious and aesthetically pleasing design for the Development", as it relates to issues to lot and property maintenance around you, should you pay your assessment? At some point, that may be a decision some here in Wedgefield have to make.
If the board doesn't answer your questions, fails to blatantly, to "preserve the natural setting and beauty of the Development, of establishing and preserving a harmonious and aesthetically pleasing design for the Development", as it relates to issues to lot and property maintenance around you, should you pay your assessment? At some point, that may be a decision some here in Wedgefield have to make.
