Dear Neighbors,
The TSHOA Board continues to progress on the Pond Remediation proposal expected to be taken to a vote on or before our December 13 Board meeting. Here’s a brief update.
On November 10, a meeting of Pond Owners, the TSHOA Board, and interested stakeholders was held to discuss in more detail the Pond Remediation proposal, and to take questions from this group pertaining to it. The meeting was well attended, with roughly 50% of the pond owners represented. Alex Arrequin of Aquatic Features Inc presented the technical part of the offering, explaining first the conditions that have created the decline of our ponds, and then the 3-prong approach of Clean-up, Phoslock Treatment, and Aeration as the recommended approach to remediation. Neighbors, Larry Jolly and Tony Garrant, filled in the details related to Tonkawa Springs, and Jolly wrapped it up with an overview of the proposed options under consideration.
The overall mood was supportive and enthusiastic. Good questions were asked, and lots of discussion of various issues ensued. An overwhelming majority of pond owners present indicated they would support some form of the Pond Remediation proposal, which we were very excited to see! Thanks to all who attended. A community-wide meeting is being planned for Thursday, December 8 at 5:30pm.
An updated Q&A is included herein that contains much of the content discussed in the meeting, and information gathered since. A few items of note:
• It was acknowledged that there may be a leak in the dam/spillway just in front of the park. We discussed necessary steps to determine any presence of leaks (dye chasing, etc.) and remediation measures depending on our findings. It was determined that since this is likely an infrastructure issue and on the HOA property, initial efforts toward remediation of any leaks should be shouldered by the HOA. We also acknowledge that though a potential leak should be part of the overall Pond Remediation effort—and fixed before anything else is done—it does not materially affect the rest of the Rehab/Remediation plan as presented to the neighborhood for consideration.
• It should be emphasized that regardless of which plan is chosen for HOA involvement, the greatest financial and material burden for pond remediation lays appropriately on individual pond owners.
* We acknowledged that the scope of the project at hand is far larger than any homeowner or group of homeowners can manage alone, and that without HOA support the effort to help our ponds would likely fail as history has shown.
• We also acknowledge that in spite of heroic efforts of some pond owners to keep their portion of the ponds tidy, over 40 years of systemic neglect have brought us to a tipping point of choosing to do something together, or together watching our ponds die. In spite of what a heavy rain and crisp temperatures do to temporarily mask things, we agreed our ponds are in trouble. The results if we do nothing – algae continues to grow, absorbing all the oxygen leading to fish kills, putrid smells, and more mosquitos, and an embarrassing visual mess that will repel future homebuyers for any home in Tonkawa Springs, rather than attract them.
* Therefore, we acknowledge that all property owners in Tonkawa Springs—pond owners and non-pond owners alike—will benefit from healthy, beautiful ponds, and that we ALL bear some responsibility for good stewardship of them.
* Finally, though there are many levels of participation in this cause, we are not asking for any kind of special assessment or additional dues to support this effort. However, because a number of residents who don’t live on ponds have expressed a desire to help contribute to the cause, a Friend of the Ponds Fund will be set up to accommodate these heroes! Many thanks to these people for stepping up!
* Following the meeting, the Board met informally to review the current reserves. Based on our current reserve and the expected need for repairs to the dam, the Board revised the options for consideration.
We invite you to read the attached Updated Pond Remediation Q&A, and join us on Thursday, December 8 at the tennis courts at 5:30pm for a community meeting. We look forward to taking your questions. The Board continues to canvass individual pond owners to assess interest, and of course looking at appropriate, fiscally responsible, levels of resource commitment.
Tonkawa Springs HOA Board