IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT I TOOK A MEASURING TAPE WITH ME WHEN I TOOK THE PICTURES, AND THE BULK OF THIS OVERGROWN MESS, MEASURED 62 INCHES!
Yesterday, I had an
appointment on John Green. Once again,
as I drove down the street, I couldn’t help but notice the grassy lot pictured
below. A few things should be noted. 1)
This lot is located between two well kept – yards, house, etc., properties. 2) The
miserable conditions pictured have cropped up at least two consecutive
years. 3) The owner (don’t know who it
is), contracts with, pays the contracted amount in advance to the WPA to have
the lot maintained – mowed. 4) The WPA fails to keep the lot to acceptable
standards. The grounds chair, McMillin
sets the terms of the contract as to the number of mowings that will be
provided in the growing season, and the total cost of the service must be paid
in advance, prior to the growing season, as designated by grounds chair,
McMillin. 5) Last year, when questioned about the
deplorable conditions of this lot, and others under contract with the WPA,
McMillin stated that there were only 4 mowings built into the contract (he
develops the contract), and that we had had a particularly rainy season, and
that was the problem. It should be noted
that the lot adjacent to my home is under contract with the WPA, and IT WAS
ONLY MOWED ONCE IN THE ENTIRE MOWING SEASON LAST YEAR. 6) With all that said, this year – recently,
when I asked McMillin how many mowings were built into the contracts for
vacant, grassy lots, he said 4, and unfortunately, it was another rainy
year. He further stated that he wanted
to build in more mowings this year, but the board wouldn’t let him. 7)
These mowing contracts, which instruct the grounds contractor when to
mow, etc., are all built into the overall grounds contract. Who approves that contract? THE BOARD DOES! 8) The
ENTIRE BOARD therefore is responsible for the deplorable conditions of general
grounds maintenance; many of the individual grassy lots - unsightly conditions,
and are failing to set the standards required in our governing documents. While I hold the entire board responsible for
just raising their cohesive, old boys’ network, hands and approving this stuff,
even more blame falls on president Walton, and grounds chair McMillin. President Walton, who has property, and
additional condo property authority, voted to re-up the current grounds
contractor’s contract –WITH A RAISE, at the same time he was preparing to fire
– very same contractor for the condo area!
Once again, there was no discussion of this at the board table.
Who, and what is left in
miserable circumstances? You, me, and
all of Wedgefield, and our property values.
So what governing documents
are they ignoring this time? Our very
CONVENANTS are being ignored, which is the core of the promise of Wedgefield,
contained in our deeds.
COVENANTS
- # 6: “IT SHALL BE THE
RESONSIBILITY OF EACH LOT OWNER TO PREVENT THE DEVELOPMENT OF ANY UNCLEAN,
UNSIGHTLY OR UNKEMPT CONDITIONS OF BUILDINGS OR GROUNDS ON SUCH LOT, WHICH SHALL TEND TO SUBSTANTLY DECREASE THE BEAUTY OF
THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS A WHOLE OR THE SPECIFIC AREA.”