The Board of Directors of Quivira, Inc. met for the regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, July 27, 2010. Following is a summary of the discussion and actions occurring at the meeting.
City Update
City Councilman Wayne Hidalgo provided an update on recent actions by the Lake Quivira City Council. He noted the Council discussed the engineering study being completed to determine necessary repairs to the dam. He noted the report is expected in September.
Mr. Hidalgo also indicated the City received a presentation from Johnson County Wastewater regarding the sanitary sewer improvements scheduled to begin early next year. He noted the cost to the City is approximately $2,500,000, which will be paid off over a 20-year bond. The annual cost to the City is expected to be in the $175,000-$200,000 range, which Mr. Hidalgo indicated will likely necessitate a mill levy increase of 7-8 mills beginning in 2012.
Mr. Hidalgo also indicated the City Council discussed the upcoming deer season, and that the City will once again allow deer harvest in the city limits. Later in the meeting Ron Chapman reported the committee coordinating the deer harvest last year was beginning plans for a similar program this fall. He noted the program would be extended into the newly acquired property east of the golf course, and there is also an interest in finding areas on the west side of the community.
Mr. Hidalgo reported the City Council held the public hearing on the 2011 budget at its last meeting, and the proposed budget was approved by the City Council.
Finally, Mr. Hidalgo indicated the Mayor and City Council are reviewing the police services for the City. He noted Police Chief Burdel Welsh has informed the City Council he is seeking another position. The City Council has discussed recruitment of a new Police Chief, but they are also considering the possibility of contracting with a neighboring city for police services. Later in the meeting, the Board of Directors continued discussion on the concept of contracting for police services. Mr. Hidalgo indicated the City Council would like input from Quivira, Inc. and residents of Lake Quivira on whether the concept of contracting for police services is something the community would be interested in pursuing.
Several members of the Board indicated they like the current situation with a local police department offering a better opportunity for residents to know the police officers who patrol the community, and would prefer to continue with the local department approach. However, it was noted there are potential savings that could be realized by contracting for services with a neighboring city. Given concerns expressed recently in the community about the combined cost for police and security services at Lake Quivira, it made sense to at least evaluate this alternative. Residents are encouraged to express their opinion of the concept of contracting police services with another city to the Mayor, members of the City Council, or members of the Quivira, Inc. Board.
Financial Report
John Miller, General Manager, reported the net operating loss for the month of June was about $14,000, which exceeded the budget for the month by about $8,000. Mr. Miller noted operating revenues were nearly $14,000 less than budgeted for the month, with the majority of the shortfall in lower than expected banquet sales in the clubhouse. He indicated operating expenses were held nearly $6,000 below budget for the month. Year-to-date the net operating deficit stands at $74,000, which is about $34,000 greater than projected through the first half of the year. Treasurer Martha Voight noted the Finance Committee would be meeting later in the week to review the mid-year operating results and evaluate the projections for the rest of the year.
New Kansas Statute
Board President Jeff Kembel reported the Kansas Legislature passed a new statute during the recent session which is commonly referred to as the Kansas Uniform Common Interest Owners Bill of Rights Act. John Miller explained the new statute creates requirements for organizations like Quivira, Inc. similar to the requirements faced by City Councils when it comes to publishing notices and holding hearings for budget adoptions, open meetings, executive sessions, etc. Mr. Miller also noted the new law requires amendments to the Bylaws must be approved by a vote of the membership. The new law takes effect on January 1, 2011, and will require some modifications to the Q. Inc. Bylaws prior to that time in order to be in compliance with the new requirements. Mr. Kembel indicated he would like an Ad-Hoc Committee from the Board to evaluate the Bylaws and, in conjunction with the Corporate Attorney for Quivira, Inc., prepare a recommended amendment to the Bylaws for consideration later this year. Chuck White and Ed Brennan agreed to serve on the committee along with Vice President Russ French and Mr. Kembel.
Golf Committee Report
John Hoover, Committee Chair, reported the committee held a tour of the golf course at its July meeting. He noted the committee also reviewed the report received following an inspection by an agronomist with the USGA. Mr. Hoover also noted Golf Professional Tom Aikmus is continuing to work on a plan to install junior tees to better accommodate younger players on the golf course. He described briefly how this program would work. There was discussion regarding the distress visible in several of the greens on the golf course. It was noted the weather conditions and other factors are causing the problems. Superintendent Jeff White is taking all necessary steps to limit the distress and restore the greens to good condition. Finally, Jeff Kembel noted he and Mr. Hoover had discussed the possibility of adding an Ad-Hoc Committee to work with the Golf Course Superintendent on capital planning and agronomic matters. He requested the concept of an Ad-Hoc Committee for these purposes be discussed by the Golf Committee and brought back for discussion at the next Board meeting.
Lake & Residential Committee
Ron Chapman, Committee Chair, reported the Lake & Residential Committee also had a tour for its July meeting, in this case a pontoon boat tour to observe docksites and the lakeshore. He noted, all in all, docksites are in good condition. He indicated there was discussion about the possibility of planting some additional trees around the lakeshore in common areas. He also noted the committee is quite concerned there are still about 70 floating docks with un-encapsulated foam which Quivira, Inc. rules require to be removed by the end of next year. Mr. Chapman also noted the Fishing Club was having a meeting on Wednesday evening to discuss a concern among some fishermen that the number and size of fish has diminished. He said there is a question whether perhaps there was a fish kill over the winter months due to the heavy ice and snow covering the lake, noting fishermen are not catching the larger bass typical in prior years.
Safety & Security Committee
Randy Treas, Committee Chair, reported Mendy Jarman met with the committee at its July meeting to discuss an upcoming triathlon at Lake Quivira that she and others are planning. Mr. Treas explained the event would occur in and around Blessing East Side Park with the swimming off the shore near the park, biking around the lake, and running south from the park to a point and then returning to the park. He noted Ms. Jarman would be meeting with the committee at its August meeting to discuss the event in more detail.
Mr. Treas also noted the committee discussed perimeter security and the possibility of placing more signs on fences to note it is private property and no trespassing allowed. He noted Brent Chapman had attended the meeting and indicated during the deer harvest process last year it was noted several areas along are perimeter are not posted with signs. It was also indicated by Mr. Chapman state law allows painting a purple stripe around a tree along a border line to indicate trespassing is not allowed. Mr. Treas indicated the committee would look into the perimeter signage issue at a future meeting.
Finally, Mr. Treas indicated the committee discussed with Police Chief Burdel Welsh the possibility of the City acquiring a speed sign trailer. Mr. Treas noted Chief Welsh shared information on a trailer device as well as a speed sign device that could be purchased for use within the community. Mr. Treas indicated the Safety & Security Committee voted to recommend to the Board that Quivira, Inc. request the City consider purchasing a speed trailer. The Board discussed the recommendation. Several Board members indicated they would prefer to see the City enforce the speed limit more strictly rather than spend money on a sign. Some members of the Board also felt the speed trailer was not an attractive device to have in the community. After further discussion, the Board decided not to request the City acquire a speed trailer as recommended by the committee.
Public Relations Committee
Russ French, Committee Chair, reported the committee discussed the program for recruiting new Associate Members. He indicated it was the committee’s recommendation the current program be revised and extended. The revisions he described were to reduce the special initiation fee for Country Club Golf memberships to $5,000 from the $7,500 level, but to eliminate the monthly credit incentives currently part of the program for Country Club Golf memberships. Mr. French also indicated the committee thought it would like to include a provision where a portion of the value of the Country Club Membership would be transferable if a member needed to relinquish his membership and was able to recruit another person to join and take over the membership. In this event, the resigning member would recover a portion of the initiation fee paid for the membership. Mr. French indicated the committee recommended this revision to the Country Club Golf Membership promotion be limited to the next 25 members who join. After further discussion, the Board agreed to amend the membership recruitment program as recommended and to extend the program through the end of the year.
In other discussion and action the Board:
- Extended golf privileges through the end of the year for the daughter of a resident who resides full time in the household. This extends the privileges first approved at the June meeting.
- Approved extension of membership privileges to a member of the household of a Lake Quivira resident.
