SAPOA Newsletter
 Winter 2004
SUNSHINE PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION
 P.O. BOX 824, SEQUIM WA 98382-0824    


President’s Message

Well the ballots are in and counted.  The issue has been decided. We’ve had a great turn out of voters.  Most likely a record.  Bush and Kerry?  Rossi and Gregoire?  Murray and Nethercutt?  Nope, the Mussel Beach Road Repair Project.  Nearly 68% of our paid members returned their ballots and over 70% of the votes were in the affirmative.  As in the national and local political races the results do not set well with everyone, but the majority of our property owners have voiced their wishes after hopefully studying the issue.  Democracy has played its vital role.
Following the ballot approval, our selected contractor, Olympic Excavating of Sequim was signed to a contract to begin immediate repairs to Mussel Beach Road per engineer Dave Hanna’s revised design.  Our appreciation should go to SAPOA Vice President Everett Stauffer for his efforts in structuring that contract with the aid of our SAPOA attorney J. Tierney.  In addition we should recognize the collective efforts of the Mussel Beach Road Committee members and their chairman Sam Mrakovich.  Guys and gals, “well done”.
Now that the design and funding issues have been addressed the really hard work has began.  Digging dirt, hauling rock, and laying pipe.  Not to overlook the need, at least the hope, for cooperative weather.  The Mussel Beach Road Committee has a more detailed update in this newsletter.
The national election results will require the support of all Americans if we hope to persevere over the next 4 years and beyond.  Likewise SAPOA needs the support of its members over the upcoming years relative to the Mussel Beach Road and other hurdles that may come.  What can you do to provide this support?  Several things!  If you have not already done so, pay your 2004-2005 Dues.  Attend Annual and Semi Annual Membership meetings and whenever presented with the opportunity, VOTE!

Respectfully
Dave Taney
SAPOA President

Architectural Committees

WHEW!  Finally Plat 1 and Plat 6 & 7 have elected Architectural Committee Representatives.  Thanks to the persistence of our Vice President Everett Stauffer and the willingness of Steve Ramsey and Woody Hill to volunteer their services.
Steve Ramsey will serve Plat 1 and can be reached at 457-5205.  Woody Hill will serve the combined Plats 6&7 and can be reached at 683-4914.  Everett will continue to serve the industrial Plat until such time as an elected member is available.
Thanks guys for your commitment!

SAPOA Reader Board

In concert with the Greater Diamond Point group SAPOA has a freshly painted new and larger reader board.  SAPOA member Neil Eckerson is working with GDP member Hugh VanderHeul to work out the specifics of its use.  Currently SAPOA items will be found at the upper level and GDP items below.  Thanks guys!  Please send any comments and suggestions to SAPOA via sapoasequim@olypen.com or mail to P.O. Box 824.

Board of Directors Elections

Everett Stauffer and Lew Morello graciously volunteered to run for a second term on the SAPOA Board of Directors in the absence of other volunteer candidates.  The ballots were counted on August 16th and both Everett and Lew were elected to new terms expiring August 31, 2007.  In 2005 no Director’s currently serving will have terms expiring.  The next scheduled Board of Directors elections will come in the summer of 2006 unless a prior vacancy should occur through a director’s resignation or sale of their SAPOA property.

Diamond Point Emergency Siren

    District 3 Volunteer Fire Department Captain Marydee Countryman has advised SAPOA that the expected emergency siren which was to have been installed at the Fire Station this summer/fall did arrive but proved to be inadequate for the job.  Subsequently a surplus tested siren from the Gardiner station was acquired and is awaiting installation.  Still to be worked out is a back up electrical source for the siren in case of a power failure accompanying a disaster.



2004-2005 SAPOA Dues

    SAPOA Annual Dues in the amount of $100.00 were due and payable September 1, 2004 and delinquent October 15, 2004.  As of this newsletter’s publishing, @ 280 members had paid 2004-2005 dues.  A trickle have even paid 2005-2006 dues.  Reminder letters are being sent to those members who are not current.  For the handful, who are delinquent more than 1 year, late fees will be imposed and their accounts turned over to Peninsula Collection Services.



C.E.R.T. Fundraiser

    SAPOA and GDP Community Emergency Response Team members are joining with area artisans and crafters at the Discovery Bay Crafts Fair on November 27, 2004 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Gardiner Community Center.  Their goal is to raise funds for equipment and supplies through sales of goods and donations.  In addition to arts and crafts items, donated baked goods will be sold by the C.E.R.T group.  Please support this endeavor by attending and taking home some great gifts and or sumptuous desserts.  This is one of the few ways this group has to fund their preparations for helping our Diamond Point community in the case of serious natural or man made disasters.  You could be the family they show up to assist.  See ya there!  Yum Yum Yum.



SAPOA Semi Annual Meeting

Monday January 8, 2004
Gardiner Community Center
Potluck at Noon
Meeting at 1:00 p.m.

Agenda Items

2003-2004 YTD Financial Report
2004-2005 Dues Payments
DNR Boat Launch Lease
Mussel Beach Road Repair Update
2005-2006 SAPOA Dues
C.E.R.T. Activities
Animal Control


Loose Aggressive Dogs

Loose dogs continue to be a SAPOA and Diamond Point problem, especially aggressive singles and packs.  Although you may not receive appropriate help from the Clallam County Sheriffs office at 417-2259 and most likely will be referred to the Clallam County Humane Society Animal Control Officer Jonathan Schenefeld at 460-0542 (cell#) or 457-8206 (office#), please continue to call those numbers.  Squeaky wheels get oiled.  It’s either that approach or if you or your animals are being attacked, then s***t first ask questions later.



THE BEACH ROAD PROJECT UPDATE

The Beach Road Committee (BRC) thanks you very much for your overwhelming approval of the project go-ahead and the assessment extension.
Anticipating passage of ballot item 1, SAPOA Vice President Everett Stauffer and BRC member and project overseer Steve Ramsey met with Olympic Excavating, the BRC and Board approved contractor choice for the project, to finalize negotiations on contract details. This allowed signing of the contract the evening of the ballot count day.

Prior to Olympic being able to start, BRC member Barry Olson had organized work parties to jump start the project.  The guys and gals of the BRC pitched in and did great work in opening up the area, cutting overhanging trees and clearing brush, letting in more light and making the ditches easily visible. Some of the ditches had been eroded over the years to more than 5 feet deep.

See photo (here and sapoasequim.com web site) for an idea of what Olympic has already accomplished.  Quarry spalls have been placed in the old drainage ditches to provide solid support for the side banks and the road has been graded and shaped in preparation for the half-round pipe on both sides.  It’s hard to believe the transformation that has already taken place.  Removal of the side vegetation and overhanging trees, and the ditch work and road grading has created an open path 24 or more feet wide. With the increased sight distance it doesn’t look nearly as imposing.

A first shipment of the half-round drain pipe is expected about the 19th of this month and Olympic is planning to immediately begin installing it. Even with the off-and-on weather, if it doesn’t get any worse, this is still doable this fall.  Though the necessary SAPOA By Law requirement of 30 day membership input on major expenditure items pushed the project start more into the fall weather than we would have liked, the project is proceeding nicely.

With our normal fall dues collection time, delays in receipt of dues payment for this year can delay the funds necessary to complete this phase of the project.  If you have not as yet made your dues payment for this the 2004-2005 business year, please do so.  When all these payments are in we will have sufficient funds for this phase (the essential drainage system and a drivable, though not finished, road).

While we know the funds to complete the final phases are committed by the passing vote of the assessment extension, the old cash flow bug-a-boo that faces many of us is also a reality for the BRC. For those of you who can, an advance payment of next years dues would be much appreciated. It will help even out the cash flow into the project and allow more efficient management. The next phase, which we hope to plan for next spring, will be the final paving.  Thank you for doing this.
 
Sam Mrakovich
Chairman