Reports bring mostly good news at board meeting

By Clayta Richards / crichards@crossville-chronicle.com

The Fairfield Glade Community Club board of directors met on Sept. 27 at the Multi Purpose Building in Fairfield Glade. The following board committees and departments presented reports:

Architectural Control Committee

Bob Henderson reported on new home construction and completions:

116 single family dwellings (last year YTD 218)

197 homes under construction

176 homes completed

Nathan Casteel, the ACC inspector, was introduced to speak about tree-removal policy. Gerry Miller asked if the club could prevent builders/owners from removing all the trees on a lot. Casteel answered, "No, not as long as they have the option of replacing all trees with new ones at least 2 inches in diameter."

By the end of this discussion, it was decided the tree-removal policy would be reviewed.

Henderson ended his report with an appeal to members for volunteers to serve on the ACC since two committee members will retire this year. Call Henderson at 707-1365 if you are interested.

Government liaison committee

Ralph Seeh made the same appeal for volunteers to serve on the committee. He stated his committee is very sparse at the moment.

Attending the city of Crossville meetings, Seeh says the sales tax receipts continue to go higher and higher. About a month ago, they were about $650,000.

UCC gas says their summer loss in revenue is unfavorable to their budget. Rates could fluctuate and they're hoping to cope with their losses through a bond issue. A recent citation of violation from the state was on paper only, so no cause for concern for safety.

The water commission has urged that all areas in the Upper Cumberland conserve water.

He feels that the county commission and the board of education are both taking hardline positions instead of compromising on the budget for county schools.

Board Secretary Glenn Harper asked Seeh to send him typewritten copies of their report since he has been unable to read the handwritten copy.

Lakes

Carl Westergard reported that with the lakes impounded, algae growth is a concern. They have also stopped harvesting minnows due to the hot weather.

The Bass Club has put some small mouth bass into at least one lake. They are also putting pallets under docks to increase fish habitat. If you'd like them to install pallets under your dock, call someone on the lakes committee.

A sample water garden is being built near Robinhood Park. It will feature the plants that are best raised near the lakes (and the fertilizers to be used).

A little controversy arose over the fire department's need to perform a pumping capacity test at one of the Glade's lakes, most probably at Lake Oxford. A lakeside resident said they don't want heavy fire equipment there upsetting the natural habitat. Fire Chief Bob Citkovic said additional discussion would take place at the upcoming lakes committee meeting, but that the lake has been used for a 20 years for these tests and hasn't upset the natural habitat yet. The fire department does want to add some gravel to the area so the truck won't sink into the ground there. He also noted the pumping test actually aerates the lake somewhat.

Long range planning

Ron Levora said his committee is working on quite a list of projects, but topping the list are these:

•Stonehenge purchase possibilities.

•Competive community costs in a 200-mile radius.

•Land use study, with pathways being an important item.

•Senior citizen needs. The committee plans four more meetings on this topic before presenting their report.

•The pluses and minuses of the community. This is an ongoing project.

•Timber harvest. The committee is determining which trees can be harvested from the wastewater treatment facility's grounds.

•10-year capital expenditure budget. Ths report is being worked on and will be presented to the budget committee when completed.

Additionally, Levora also made a plea to the community for three people to serve on the committee.

Tennis

Chris Evans said the Ron Raulston Charity Ball Tennis Tournament raised funds which are being distributed between three charities, Bread of Life, the Plateau Crisis Pregnancy Center, and for the mission school in Soloy, Panama (where Ron Raulston was on his mission trip). Next year, the charity tournament will not be named for an individual.

The Club Championships began on Oct. 5-6 and will continue Nov. 2-3.

Tennis manager Pat Tingle is retiring and will help her husband with his real estate business.

Some from the audience raised objections to the way the tennis draw for time on the indoor courts is done. No solutions were given for the moment.

Volunteer fire

Pat Donohue invited everyone to the fire department's upcoming open house on Saturday, Oct. 13, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the main fire station on Peavine Rd. The county's fire safety house will be onsite, offering lots of safety ideas for everyone and excitement for children. Refreshments will be served and everyone is invited. It will be a great opportunity to meet the firefighters.

Donohue said many have asked how the firemen are able to get to fire scenes so quickly. In answer, he pointed to the recently updated street guide, which quickly guides firefighters to the address. The guide is carried by all firefighters.

The fire department now has a chaplain. He is Charlie Bider.

The nominating committee is busy getting names together to submit for officers for the coming year.

Food and beverage

Chip Brennan, the interim manager at Legends, says for the three (now five) weeks he's been here, he's been listening to what members are telling him they want. So far, there have been some staff changes, new menus and ongoing staff training.

Departments:

Controller Regina Rector reported positive growth compared to the budget; the club has $5.7M cash on hand.

Public Safety

Radar time, 17 hours; citations issued, 14 (11/speeding, 3/seat belts), arrests, 6 (2/driving on revoked, 1/suspended driver's license, 1/no driver's license, 1/DUI, 1/warrant/violation of probation); ambulance emergency calls, 38; vehicle accidents with injury, 2; vehicle accidents without injury, 6; fishermen all checked out OK.

From public safety reports:

Aug. 9: two incidences of theft of copper wire, Dewsbury Ct.

Aug. 13: Wire stolen at Heatherhurst Townhomes, only range wire, 24 and 26

Aug. 15: Boyfriend and girlfriend separated; male reported some household items were missing, St. George Dr.

Aug. 17: Money was taken from a purse at Catholic church.

Aug. 26: Wire taken, Maplewood Ct.

Aug. 31: Wire missing from Lafayette Point

The officer noted that two people have been apprehended in the wire theft cases.

Fire department

Incidents:

Aug. 17: 110 Howard Terrace, vehicle hit house stoop

Aug. 20: 130 Stonehenge Dr., false alarm

Meetings this month for the fire department included the safety committee, fire committee, fire department, communication center (three times), FGCC board, and planning committee.

Training for the fire department in August 2007 included a Tennessee One Call seminar regarding a national 1-888 number for natural gas, fire department training on equipment, engineer training for fire scene procedures and lakeside pumping, and a second session of equipment training.

Miscellaneous activities for the department in August included the pancake breakfast setup, a funeral service for Dale Huggler, and a service call to 128 Windsor Rd. where all the smoke alarms were sounding.

Community Services

Director Jeff Warren said street paving is completed, but some chip and seal activity continues. The county has also lined up their chip and seal program for the Glade.

A study regarding the depth of the lakes is being worked on as well as dam safety.

Recreation

Manager Sue Blevins reported the department is unfavorable to budget in August, however, they are favorable to the 2006 figures.

Blevins encouraged everyone to participate in the department's many activities, which are outlined in the four-page insert of FGCC pages in the center of the Glade Sun.

Golf

Director Steve Kraft said August accumulated 910 golf rounds over budget at Glade courses. This was slightly behind 2006, by 347 rounds. August totals included 18,060 rounds and 21,667 people serviced at the pro shop. National averages for August were 3,663 per course; Tennessee average for July was 2,897. Glade courses stood at 5,098 for Druid Hills, 5,713 for Dorchester and 12,133 for Heatherhurst — much better than the national and Tennessee averages.

Golf shop sales exceeded expectations in August, being positive to budget.

All aerification of the golf courses should be finished by now. Dorchester was the only one remaining at the time of the meeting, and it was to be accomplished the next week.

"We appreciate the golfers' efforts to keep our courses nice," said Kraft, that in spite of the long, hot, dry summer.

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