A push to change the company that manages Walden Lake has splintered the board that governs the community.
Several members of the Walden Lake Community Association left the board’s Aug. 1 meeting abruptly, after nearly an hour of heated discussion regarding the possible change.
Proponents of the change say Walden Lake’s current property manager, St. Petersburg-based Rampart Properties, has grown more distant since it was purchased by Texas-based Associa.
“They are just not there,” said WLCA President Jan Griffin, a longtime member of the board.
Furthermore, there have been some concerns regarding Rampart’s software and the letters it sends to residents regarding delinquencies and violations.
Griffin said a seven-member committee formed to examine potential changes. The committee received proposals from three other companies — New Port Richey-based Qualified Property Management; Resource Property Management, which has offices in Seminole, St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Lakewood Ranch; and Ruskin-based L.E. Wilson & Associates Inc.
Rampart President and CEO Patti DuBuque said none of the concerns raised by the WLCA was brought to her attention prior to the board beginning its replacement process.
“I was a little surprised to hear there were some issues that hadn’t been escalated to me,” she said.
Board members Bob Hunter and Ray Page echoed DuBuque’s sentiment and questioned motivation and timing of changing management companies. Specifically, they said they worry about how a change would affect the four employees currently working in Walden Lake. Currently, those employees are considered Rampart employees, DuBuque said, and Hunter and Page say a change could result in those employees becoming the responsibility of the WLCA.
“I don’t think the people of Walden Lake want to be responsible for hiring people,” Page said. “I just don’t think we’ve done our due diligence. We should be representing the people of Walden Lake, not our own interests.”
L.E. Wilson and Associates founder Lou Ellen Wilson said her company would utilize a third-party payroll service to manage the employees. Hunter said the costs associated with that service weren’t included in Wilson’s proposal, and he fears those lingering questions could result in higher dues from residents.
“Those costs have not been explored,” he said. “That is a major concern.”
Furthermore, Hunter said he believes Rampart deserves an opportunity to respond to some of the WLCA’s concerns regarding its service.
“I think we owe it to them,” he said. “I just don’t think it’s good business to do this.”
DuBuque said she plans to attend the WLCA’s next board meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 19, at the WLCA building, 3035 Griffin Blvd. Furthermore, she said Associa’s purchase of Rampart took place three years ago and has since given her company the ability to provide better service. She also said Walden Lake’s On-Site Manager Tom Daramus serves as her company’s liaison at every board meeting.
“We come with a great deal of industry knowledge, and we’re an accredited management company — one of only a handful in Florida,” DuBuque said.
DuBuque said with the help of Associa, her company will roll out a new software package in October that will enhance communication between Rampart, the WLCA and the residents of Walden Lake.
Rampart’s current contract with Walden Lake will expire in December 2013. Wilson said her firm could be ready to take over the property management duties within 60 days of a contract.
Contact Michael Eng at meng@plantcityobserver.com.