POA discusses projects, plans to table trail connection
A plan to add a section of trail leading to the new parking lot at Branchwood will be tabled, according to a discussion at Thursday’s work session. It was part of a $127,000 proposal for work outside the building.
Work on the interior of the building is budgeted and will begin in January, general manager Tom Judson said.
He explained that a new parking lot has already been completed beside the building, but many trail users park in front of the building and that lot is often full. Adding a trailhead and about 550 feet of concrete path will encourage trail users to park in the
new lot. That part of the proposal is about $40,000 and includes an 8-foot concrete trail that would match the existing Branchwood trail.
Board member Bruce Portillo pointed out that trail users can access the trail from the parking lot without the 8-foot concrete path.
Judson suggested he could investigate the cost of an asphalt path. Since the work won’t be done until spring, the board has plenty of time to decide.
The rest of the exterior plan, including a new canopy, exterior painting and some stonework will probably be approved at the Dec. 21 board meeting.
Two bylaw changes were discussed at the work session and will be up for a vote at the next meeting.
First, Article IV, Section 3C, states that board actions do not set precedents. Judson said that staff attorney Doug McCash recommended the change. Board members will be able to determine if their action is to be used as a precedent or not.
A second change is in Article X, Section 2, and gives the board the right to cast the votes of lots owned by the POA in elections other than for the board of directors.
After the meeting, McCash said there have been questions about the board casting the votes of POA-owned lots, although they have voted for them in the past. The bylaw change will clarify that the board does have the right to cast the votes of POA-owned lots.
Judson told the board that the hydrology study that will help determine the fate of the Berksdale Golf Course has been delayed. The study is underway, but it won’t be finished by the December date that was set early on. The report may be available by mid-January, but the board will need some time to study it.
Berksdale Golf Course has been partially closed since it was flooded in late April 2016. The study will help determine if it’s safe and cost-effective to repair damage to the creek bed and reopen the course.
Board member David Brandenburg reminded the others that the hydrology study will only outline some options and it’s still the board’s decision whether to reopen the course.
“It’s a complex issue,” Judson said, proposing that public meetings to discuss the issues be scheduled for March 13 and 15. Representatives of the engineering firm, Burns McDonnell, will be present as well. The meetings will give the public the chance to express opinions about the golf courses.