LEADERSHIP
We wish you and your families a very happy holiday season.
On behalf of the entire Board and Leadership Team...
Patty Ashbrook, General Manager / COO Dirck Iacobelli, Board President
Dear Fellow Members:
At the November 20, 2023 Board meeting, the new officers were elected for the 2024 calendar year for the Association and Utility companies. The officers for the Association are: President – Dave Stearns Vice-President – Jeff Schrock
The Wastewater Treatment Plant roof repair is also in progress. We have been informed by Highlands Fire District the
slash piles along 89A and the Meadow will be burned this winter once we have received sufficient snowfall and we have received our Certificate of Recognition as a Firewise Community for the 2024 calendar year. One of the most important tasks accomplished during the November Board meeting is review and approval of the Operating and Capital & Reserve budgets for 2024 as proposed by the Leadership Team and recommended by the Finance Committee. The board reviewed the budget presentation in detail. The budget includes specific price increases in services and products to ensure fair and competitive price-to-value ratios. The board carefully weighed options and opportunities for expense reductions as well as the potential of generating additional revenues. There was lengthy discussion on the proposed increase to the House Watch service fee. After various suggestions, consensus was reached on raising the fee from the current $60/month to $125/month. These targeted increases in revenues assist in offsetting operating expense increases related to fuel, utilities, food prices, inflationary impacts and continued supply chain constraints. Labor and related payroll and personnel costs comprise 71% of our annual expense budget so the impact of the 3.5% mandated increase in the Flagstaff minimum wage for 2024, the salary and benefit package provided to the new GM/COO, and the pressure of the Flagstaff labor market results in the approved operating dues increase for 2024 of $60 (5.7%). The review of the Capital budget noted there are 32 NOCC’s budgeted and the fee is proposed to be increased by 5% to $105,000. There are 10 Special Memberships budgeted
Treasurer – Dirck Iacobelli Secretary – Sara Rhodes
The officers for the Water and Wastewater Reclamation companies are: President – Jeff Schrock Vice-President – Dave Stearns
Treasurer – Dirck Iacobelli Secretary – Kim Rushing
Dates for the monthly Board meetings, the Annual Member Meeting and Town Hall meeting for calendar year 2024 were approved and will be added to the Member Event Calendar on the website and in the printed Season Calendar of Events. Other topics discussed during the Board meeting included a modification to the winter dining hours at the Meadow beginning in December to be open for dinner on Thursdays and to be closed on Sundays due to minimal business at the Sunday brunch. Waste Management has notified us they will be increasing the monthly cost for home trash and recycle service effective 1-1-2024. Home trash will now be $13.25 per month and the voluntary home recycle service will be $9.00. This is the first increase in the fees since 2015 and is a result of increased environmental fees, labor expenses and fuel. The warm and dry weather in October & November has been advantageous to our construction projects and we are making excellent progress on both the tennis and restroom buildings. Concrete footings will be poured for the tennis pavilion and the exterior walls on the restroom will be up by mid-December.
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