FIPOA- (Property Owners Association) ANNUAL MEETING- 4/12 – was a delight. It was thorough yet concise and the newly expanded Chapel was fairly full. Paul Hummer (Pres) introduced the Board as well as the new directors & the staff members. Kate Hines (Gen Mgr) apologized for the lack of teleconferencing at this meeting but the phone lines had been removed. Kate gave a brief capsulation of this past years activities covering: 1) the appeals, 2) the bridges, 3)communications. In that regard the Trawler is mailed 6 times/year and there are frequent updates to the website as well as e-blasts. Also, the newly revised copy of the Island “Rules & Regulations” was handed out to all attendees & will be handed to all guests on entry. 4) Covenants we’ve mentioned above. In April, the Board hired a marketing consultant to help explain to owners the need for a positive vote in Jan ’09 to transfer the responsibility for the governance of the covenants, the rules & regs, and the ARB to the POA in 4/09. 5) Crossovers were mentioned & have been repaired over the year as needed. 6) The deer program – signs are good for the first significant deer population decline in ’08. HSUS say there is about 7%/year decline between 2005 and 2007 – I have not found this March ’08 study on the FIPOA website 3 so far. 7) Future Finance – and the need to have a revenue increase to maintain adequate reserve fund levels. (More at 5 the May FIPOA meeting). 8) Grounds- the Earthworx contract for common grounds, etc was extended another 2 years and a committee was created to insure the beautification of the Island. They have concentrated on the areas at the front of the island & around the flagpole. The POA also donated $1000 towards the Tower Garden area (at the mid-island water tower which is a combined Garden Club, Resort, FI-POA & FI-PSD project with the Women’s Club donating an adult double-swing. 9) Vacation availability for employees was extended to 2 weeks 10) Lake & lagoons are presently fine (although there was a fish-kill last Fall). 11) Roads & Draining – Marlin Drive, Dolphin, Rock Beauty & Tarpon have been resurfaced (with Tarpon being widened). Some roads still have only temporary repairs from the PSD’s vacuum sewer system installation and will be done when the budget allows. Unpaved roads were scraped and regraded twice. 12) Security–Fines were increased for driving without a license. There are new stickers for golf carts available AND everyone including rental homes can pick them up at the POA office. The Fripp Citation schedule of fees was increased this month - & a copy is available. 13) The Trawler (under Tina Reeves) thanked the hardworking writing & editorial panel & Stewart deWitt (advertising). Bill Buschur covered the Treasurer’s Report showing $2,140,560 income. But expenses increased by $485,625 to $2,217,970 mostly from bridge repairs which went up to $364,660 because of the Inlet Bridge work this year. There was a net loss for the year of $77,410. Buck Mathews did a remarkable job coving a brief power point presentation of the committee’s look at the long range planning committee report. He covered the responses that came from the recent survey of property owners. The main highlights showed: The BEACH is of the highest importance & got a 64% satisfaction rating. Next was SAFETY with 95% importance and 87% satisfaction. SECURITY GATE FOLLOWED with 94% importance and 90% satisfaction, BRIDGE was 91% of importance with 85% satisfaction, BEACH ACCESS was 82% importance and only 53% satisfaction 6th was Roads & Drainage got 77% importance with only 46% satisfaction. (This survey was for ALL Fripp owners & not accurate with respect to the full-time homeowners who probably would have put golf on that list!). President Paul Hummer talked about the last 2 years and the importance of the new covenants. He then covered our Reserve Study and the Investment Policy Study and the Long Range Plan .Our future spending cannot be funded by our existing assessment formula & earnings on our reserves. Questions from the owners included topics such as excessive noise, pet waste (on the beach & elsewhere), the 7-day amenity card advance notification program, the fitness center which ranked as 48% in importance received only 7% in satisfaction (& the Resort explained that they are trying to relocate & expand), the high bridge expenses, the Hunting Island renourishment (PSD is talking with DHEC about having a monitoring requirement in the permit, lack of beach parking, & unsightly beach tents left up. Also, a final thought: Current vehicle decals expire 5/31 and owners will be receiving new decal applications in May. Now a PPS: there is wireless Internet at the FIPOA building and if that should be closed on the weekends or evenings, you can still use your lap tops from your cars at the office site. After the meeting was a social gather-ing catered by a local favorite – Harry Merrill, Jr.
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