The rift between the Walden Lake Community Association and the residents it represents deepened this week following the WLCA’s Sept. 16 board meeting.
Following criticisms from residents and pleas for transparency and term limits for board members, Vice President Marcus Alexich resigned from his post and left the meeting abruptly.
“I’m done with this,” he said as he walked out.
Alexich’s resignation followed a particularly heated board meeting, during which resident Don Marshall questioned WLCA President Jan Griffin and Treasurer Karen Olson regarding meetings they had had with Walden Lake Golf & Country Club Managing Partner Steve Mercer.
Marshall, a 20-year resident of Walden Lake, said the board’s actions since the Hills course closed earlier this year have him questioning board members’ motives. Marshall said he learned — and later confirmed with a WLCA representative — that Olson, WLCA Secretary/Parliamentarian Jim Chancey and a representative for Griffin met with Mercer Aug. 22. During that meeting, Mercer presented a five-page document, titled, “Development and Renovation of Walden Lake Golf & Country Club,” which included details regarding his plans to alter the golf courses and accompanying property.
No minutes were taken at the meeting, and no copies of the document were distributed to residents, per Mercer’s request, Olson said.
“It had no information of importance in it — just Mercer’s dreams, which I’ve been listening to for years,” Olson said. “When I called [Mercer] and asked if this could be shared, he said, ‘No, just with the board.’ Because he stated it was only for the board, I respected his statement, put it in a file and forgot about it.”
However, Marshall said he received a copy of the document from an anonymous source. The document includes a map and a bulleted list of details regarding the redevelopment project, including the addition of about 200 single-family homes, about 60 town homes or villas and independent and assisted-living villas and a memory care facility. It also details renovations and improvements to the golf course and country club, including a new clubhouse and maintenance facility, renovated fitness center, aquatic center and tennis courts, and an 18-hole course and a nine-hole par-3 course.
Not all board members knew about the meeting between Mercer and the WLCA.
“I was not aware of it, and nor have I been informed of it,” WLCA board member Bob Hunter said.
Resident Shelly Orrico, who has spearheaded the residents’ campaign against the golf course redevelopment, said she has been disappointed with the communication between the WLCA and the residents. During the board’s July 15 meeting, held at HCC Plant City’s John R. Trinkle Center, about 10 residents took the microphone to ask questions. At that time, WLCA attorney Web Melton said he would conduct research and find the answers.
However, more than two months later, Melton still has not responded to those questions.
Why not?
Simply put: The WLCA does not have a record of those questions. The minutes from the meeting do not include comments made from the residents who spoke — a fact that shocked Orrico.
“It was an official board meeting,” Orrico said. “Everybody knew exactly what would be brought up at this meeting. It was a very important meeting, so the residents should be able to get the answers to the questions that [they asked].
“The residents came there specifically asking questions,” she said. “He [Melton] said he would answer them. He said he would get back to them. This is the board’s responsibility.”
Marshall said these behaviors have called into question some board members’ trustworthiness. He asked the board to consider imposing term limits and also supplying disclosure statements.
“Your confidence as a board … has been lost in the community,” he said. “You cannot un-ring a bell, and the bell got rung.”
Contact Michael Eng at meng@plantcityobserver.com.
IN OTHER NEWS
• The WLCA voted 5-3 to hire L.E. Wilson & Associates Inc. as its new property management company, beginning Jan. 1, 2014. Secretary/Parliamentarian Jim Chancey was not present. WLCA’s attorneys now will work with L.E. Wilson & Associates to draft a formal contract. L.E. Wilson & Associates replaces Rampart Properties, which had served as Walden Lake’s property management company for 11 years. Secretary Karen Olson said the change would save about $40,000. However, the official contract amount has not yet been finalized.
• WLCA board member Steve Swantek said the annual Howl-O-Ween party will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, at the polo field. The board is working with a $3,000 budget.
• On-site Manager Tom Daramus said his crew will paint all the Walden Lake bridges with a non-slip paint, as a safety precaution.
• Daramus said several arrests have been made regarding recent burglaries in Walden Lake. He said officials from the Plant City Police Department expect more arrests soon.