East Georgetown Shores Lake Association
P.O. Box 552, Hudsonville, MI 49426
From: East Georgetown Shores Lake Association Advisory Committee
To: Residents of East Georgetown Shores
Re: Proposed Increase to Annual Assessments & Turn-Over Agreement
The need to increase the annual assessments for maintenance and improvements was brought up by the residents at our last annual meeting, where it was decided to take the issue under advisement and come back with a proposal based on a careful review of our circumstances.
After careful consideration, it is the recommendation of the Georgetown Shores Advisory Committee to increase the annual assessment from $200 to $300 in order to more adequately cover our current budgetary needs and meet the expectations that our residents have for the operations and appearance of Georgetown Shores.
The association has operated at barely breakeven for the past several years, spending the majority of the funds collected from annual assessments on maintenance of our lakes and common areas, while delivering just a few minor common area improvements along the way, such as the beach and boat launch area, as well as a much needed aeration system for the small lake. Current financial statements and a proposed budget for 2013 are available for your review. (EGSLA-2010-2012-Financials-and-2013-Budget) They continue to show how the level of maintenance and improvements to our common areas has been restricted, and in some cases delayed, by the lack of any extra funds.
The treatment of algae and weeds in our lakes is our single largest expenditure. As it should be, water quality is our top priority. In 2010 and 2011, the cost for lake treatment consumed just under half of the total assessment collected. In 2012, the water quality was significantly improved; however, that came with additional cost as the expenditure for the lake treatment rose to 67% of the total annual assessment collected. It is important to stay on top of the lake treatments and our water quality, or it will be even more expensive to play catch up again.
It has also been mentioned that there are several maintenance issues that need to be addressed and long-term projects that need to be planned for. A few examples of these include:
- We have a sediment pier created by rain storms that allowed sand to be driven into the lake. It is ankle depth in these areas, hazardous to boaters, and needs to be removed due to the safety concerns.
- We have sprinkler systems that require relocation along the berms because they are no longer effective at covering the area due to the majority of heads being totally blocked out by trees that have reached mature size.
- Our entrance signs to the development are in disrepair and badly in need of upgrade.
- The beach and recreation area near the boat launch, which has become a very popular family play area for our residents, needs to be regularly maintained with removal of weeds from the sand and fertilization and irrigation of the lawn areas.
- Once control of the association is effectively passed to the residents, new administrative expenses will also be assumed by the residents, including Association liability insurance and professional fees.
The East Georgetown Shores Lake Association has scraped by financially for the past several years, operating on a shoestring budget and waiting for the turn-over of control from the developer. Our goal is to put the association in a financial position to properly maintain our common areas, address the maintenance projects we are aware of, and begin to build a reserve for other issues that most certainly will arise in the future.
Georgetown Shores is our home, a home we are proud of, and a home we need to maintain. Based on a careful review of the numbers, we think we can accomplish this with an additional $100 per lot on an annual basis. This still places Georgetown Shores well under the threshold for maintenance fees paid by comparable lake associations.
We have scheduled a meeting to take place on February 16, 2013, at 9:00 A.M., for the purpose of discussing and voting on two issues: (1) to increase the annual assessment to $300 to meet our current needs under Section 3 of the Declaration of Restrictions, and (2) to ratify the Turn-Over Agreement that has been proposed by the developer (Turn Over Agreement or can be found on our Association web site at: http://www.georgetownshores.org/private ), thereby empowering the residents with full voting control for the Association. The meeting will be held at the Hudsonville City Hall in the downstairs community room. Please block the date and make every effort to attend this important gathering.
If the Turn-Over Agreement is approved by the residents, it is proposed that the Advisory Committee, previously appointed by the developer, will continue serving as an interim Board of Directors to manage the business, property and affairs of the Association until the next regularly scheduled annual meeting, at which time we will vote on amending the Association Bylaws to have Board and Officer elections in the ordinary course.
If you cannot attend the February 16, 2013 meeting , we will accept proxy ballots by e-mail (egsla@georgetownshores.org) or USPS to (EGSLA, PO Box 552, Hudsonville, MI 49426) up until and including Feb. 14, 2013.
If you will be voting by proxy, please answer the following questions:
1. First and Last Name (please print)
2. Lot Number:
3. Turn-Over Agreement approval: Yes or No
4. Annual Assessment increase from $200 to $300/yr: Yes or No
