The Official Newsletter of the Lake of the Woods Association, Inc.

Main Gate Capital Project Member Comment Period Ends Feb. 8

Family Date Night

Saturday, Feb 18th 6:00-9:00pm LOW Clubhouse (Reservations required)

Menu

Garden Salad with White Balsamic or Garlic Ranch Dressing Garlic Bread Sticks

Entrees

Penne or Bow Tie Pasta with your choice of Marinara Sauce with Meatballs or Alfredo Sauce with Chicken

Porcini Mushroom Ravioli in a Sherry Cream Sauce

Seasonal Vegetable Medley Cookies and Brownies

Purchase tickets with QR code or Online at www.tix.com/ticket-sales/tix/5430/ Buffet Dinner – Tickets: $15.95 Adults

$10.95 Children under 10 (Children under 3 free)

LOWA is seeking member feedback regarding the proposed Main Gate Capital Project

For more information about the proposed project or to submit your feedback, please scan the QR Code or go to: www.LOWA.org/CapitalProjects (Member login required)

MAIN GATE: Construction Notes

Main Gate Construction Diagram (Numbers relate to yellow circles in diagram.)

1. Add Member Lane to RIGHT of existing Member Lane. Existing Member Lane becomes Visitor Lane 2. Visitor Lane 1 remains as is.

2. Install new paved U-turn 25 yards before existing Gate House (COMPLETED END OF OCTOBER 2022)

3. Install TekWave AllBox next to Visitor Lane 1 just before new paved U-turn area

4. Install Access Control Officer 2 (ACO 2) Kiosk in median level with TekWave AllBox. This will require widening of the median. ACO 2 Kiosk must have a sliding door to Visitor Lane 2, electricity, heating, air conditioning, radio and telephone communications, and TekControl computer.

5. Install License Plate Reader to read license plates of vehicles in Visitor Lane 2.

See Main Gate p. 4

LOWA Website Links TEKControl (Visitor Management) LOWA.ORG/TEKCONTROL

President’s Letter

by Teri Vickery

We are beginning to see the light at the end of the budget tunnel! The General Manager presented the draft budget at the Town Hall on Jan. 17. About 50 people attended in person or by Zoom and nine members asked probing questions. All Board members were in attendance and paid close attention to the discussion. The current proposed assessment is $1,962 per lot, which is a $116 increase (6.3%). Budget amendments proposed by Board Directors will be discussed and voted on at the Feb. 4 Board meeting. The General Manager and Director of Finance will use the information from these two events to finalize the budget, which will then be voted on by the Board at its Feb. 15 meeting. At that time, members will be informed of the assessment amount due May 1, 2023.

Many members have asked me “what’s this about fences?” Yes, a group of members requested the ECC to consider proposing a change to our regulations to allow for a fenced-in play area. Like the current rules for dog runs, if approved by the Board, the regulations would specifically state maximum size and height and allowed location and materials. The key point right now is that this is not a request to allow perimeter fences. ECC representatives will be present at the Feb. 15 Board meeting to explain their various proposed amendments to Regulations V and XVI and answer questions from the Board. I encourage members who are interested in the subject of fences, pro or con, to attend this meeting. Given the sensitivity of the subject, it is likely will open up a member comment period as part of the process to decide how to best move forward.

I just read an article that stated, “communicating frequently is key to customer service.” The entire Board and the General Manager agree that frequent communication with our membership using various means is of the utmost importance. That is why we reinstituted Coffee and Conversation with the Board. The next event is on Tuesday Feb. 7 at 10 AM at Fareways. Rick Rappoport (Vice President) and Leif Henecke (Secretary) will be there to take questions and comments from members.

That is also why we have held various Town Halls recently. Now that we have had town halls for both the 10th Fairway Stormwater Management, Downstream Drainage Improvement, and Green Replacement Project and the Main Gate/Third Gate Project, we have established links on the LOWA website (www.LOWA.org/CapitalProjects) so that members can send their comments, questions, and observations about these two projects. The comment period closes on Feb. 8.

The Wake Boat Moratorium was extended for one year to April 22, 2024, at the Jan. 18 Board meeting. This is to allow A. Morton Thomas to complete its analysis. We expect AMT to submit a draft report to the Board by the end of January. A Special Board Meeting will be held on March 13 at 7 PM in the Community Center for AMT to present their findings and recommendations to the Board as well as the membership. Afterward, I will update you as soon as we decide on the next steps.

I’m sure many of you are enjoying this unseasonable weather we’re having, and others are wishing we had snow. I’m just glad that there isn’t a foot of snow in my driveway, and that the days are slowly getting longer. Remember, the Clubhouse has reopened and Fareways serves breakfast all day long. Both are great places to meet with friends, regardless of the weather!