These notes reflect Nancy’s viewpoint only.
The official minutes of the Columbia Association Board meetings can be found on the CA website at: https://www.columbiaassociation.org/about-us/board-of-directors
Nancy encourages you to send her your comments on her notes. Please reply to her directly at Nancy.McCord@ca-board.org
Columbia Association Board of Directors Work Session
July 12, 2018
NANCY’S NOTES
There were no residents in attendance to speak out.
Discussion of the Most Recent Columbia Development Tracker
I expressed concern about Route 108 and the development in Clarksville. The River Hill Garden Center changes will include a bank, offices and other retail. Also the potential Erickson Senior Living community will create traffic issues. When will Route 108 be expanded – or widened to make it more user friendly? Currently, it can be a disaster to be stuck on Route 108 and that is before all the proposed construction takes place. (The other evening I needed to go to Clarksville from Downtown Columbia. I reached Route 108 at Ten Mills, right across from Centennial Park. The traffic was backed up and stopped – so I took 29 South to 32 to get there instead of trying to get through the mess on 108.)
There is concern about the environmental impact on the storage facility under construction in Kings Contrivance. There was also concern voiced that all these projects need to demonstrate what the impact will be on the land. For those interested, it appears the storage facility in Kings Contrivance is already under construction. CA needs to do a better job of monitoring and responding to changes taking place in and around Columbia.
During the tracker discussion, someone raised the issue about how the Board can request information about any issue. At work sessions votes are not taken so motions are not used. But one person did make a motion to change that rule to not vote at work sessions. Time is lost by essentially only meeting once a month when votes can be taken. This topic needs discussion as well.
Capital Projects and Open Space Updates
The pump-house is now complete at Wilde Lake. Also Lake Elkhorn has game tables which look great and are popular. Hopewell Path was repaired. A new training area was created at Supreme Sports. There is new LED lighting at Faulkner Ridge Pool. There are other projects that have been completed or in the process of being completed. Spring and summer are very busy times for Open Space Division of CA.
CA now has three stewards who are around on the pathways on bikes or on foot. They are mostly around lakes and on the more frequently used pathways.
There is a stream restoration project taking place on Whetstone Road.
One member said we need to look at stabilizing streams, especially adjacent to people’s properties and come up with a policy. There are SHA grants that help CA stabilize the streams. A determination must be made about how to prioritize properties to be stabilized. The storms are coming more frequently and violently. We need to be prepared.
There has been some bamboo eradication. But many homeowners don’t want it removed from their property. It is a problem because bamboo is so prolific. The roots are shallow, but insistent. It is a very invasive plant. CA will only remove it from their property, not from private property.
Annual Charge Rate and Cap for the Conditional FY2020 Budget
The Board discussed whether or not the annual charge rate should be changed. Currently it is $.68 per thousand of assessed value. If it is increased to $.69 from $.68, it would bring in about $600,000. This one cent increase would impact stakeholders with about $15 average increase on average. The cap could be up to 10% but is currently 3.5%. There were no questions about raising the cap.
Milton Matthews, Columbia Association President/CEO, says he feels the $.68 is sufficient now. CA income is increasing because of the new development in downtown. Mr. Matthews feels that CA is making the changes and moving along well at the current pace. Therefore it is unlikely the rate will be changed for the upcoming fiscal year.
Advisory Committees Annual Reports for FY2018 and Proposed Charges for FY2019
Additional committee reports are online along with those above. Click here if you are interested in reading them.
President/CEO’s Proposed FY2019 Strategic Objectives
Milton Matthews presented his goals for the year. There was discussion about these initiatives and some negotiation. A new strategic plan will be developed this year and will hopefully be completed by April. This is a many step process before it is finished.
Feel free to contact me at the email address below with any questions or concerns about CA.
Best regards, Nancy McCord
Paid!