Walden Lake Community Association leaders approved May 12, a change to the way it accepts homeowners association dues from residents.
Beginning July, resident who pay their dues and payment plans at the Community Association Building, 3035 Griffin Blvd., will have to do so using a check or money order.
The changes come following the advice of an auditor who has examined the WLCA’s records.
“We have a few residents who come in and pay cash,” said WLCA President Jim Chancey. “Standard accounting practices today say it’s not good policy to accept cash, because of the possibility of theft, misuse and then, you have to handle it and deposit it. … It’s an extra burden on the office staff.”
Bette Guarino, of the WLCA, still will be able to print payment coupons for residents, and smaller transactions — including those associated with the dog park and obtaining resident decals — still will be payable with cash.
WLCA board members also discussed adding the ability to use debit and credit cards at the association building.
SAFETY FIRST
Based on recommendations from Plant City Police Department Interim Police Chief John Borders, WLCA leaders discussed adding additional security cameras at the community’s guard gatehouses.
“We need to update our security systems at our egress points, because, a lot of times, they (police) come to us looking for information,” Chancey said. “Today’s homeowners associations that have gated guards usually have a camera that records the license tag … and also a camera that focuses on the car.”
Moreover, Borders recommended that the feeds from the cameras be viewable at the Community Association Building during the daytime hours, when the guard gatehouses are not staffed.
On-site Manager Lee Weiss is obtaining bids for adding the cameras at the gatehouses as well as one for the park.
NEW VP
WLCA directors elected Rich Glorioso as its new vice president.
Glorioso was appointed to the board last November, following the resignation of then-Vice President Marcus Alexich.
Originally from Danbury, Conn., Glorioso moved in 1994, to Plant City. He previously served on the WLCA board, as well as a Plant City commissioner from 1998 to 2004.
After six years on the commission, Glorioso was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2004 and re-elected for three more terms.
He served from 1998 to 2004 on the Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization; as vice chairman of the Hillsborough County from 1998-2004; on the State Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council from 1999 to 2004; and on the West Central Florida Chairs Coordinating Committee from 1999 to 2004. Before his political career, Glorioso spent 27 years in the U.S. Air Force and retired as a colonel.
The WLCA’s 2014 officers also include Treasurer Bob Hunter and Secretary Heather Updike.
PARK PROBLEMS
As the weather continues to warm, WLCA directors said they expect an increase in non-Walden Lake residents visiting the community’s park — which is only open to residents.
Any cars parked at the park parking lot are required to have a sticker indicating residency. In the past, the WLCA has utilized an unarmed officer and a patrol car to deter un-permitted visitors. WLCA ing a new sign warning that vehicles without stickers would be towed.
“The residents paying the dues that they pay should be entitled to have the park available when they want it,” Chancey said.
Contact Michael Eng at meng@plantcityobserver.com.
IN OTHER NEWS
• The new information signs have been installed at the Turkey Creek and Mud Lake entrances to Walden Lake.
• Sarasota-based Hoover Pressure Cleaning will be in Walden Lake May 16, to begin pressure-washing the community’s five entrances. Once the work is approved by On-site Manager Lee Weiss, the WLCA will enter into a contract — which includes a $500 initial fee followed by quarterly $300 fees — to maintain the entrances on a regular basis.
• Weiss and guards from U.S. Security are working to determine the suspects responsible for repeated vandalism in Silverstone.
• The WLCA still is seeking bids to improve the parking area in front of the dog park. The area floods during heavy rains, and cars can get stuck in the mud. WLCA Treasurer Bob Hunter said he suspects it may be a substantial engineering problem that could require more work than installing a new surface on the grounds.
• WLCA board members amended its motion opposing Visions Golf LLC’s submitted redevelopment plans for the country club and golf course. The amendment adds more details regarding the reasons the board opposes the plans.