It's hard to believe that September is already here and we are nine months into this year. I'm hopeful that summer is coming to an end with some cooler weather approaching soon. Considering the record hear we have been experiencing it will be a welcome change. I hope all had a safe summer. We have lots going on in our community, which is keeping everyone busy.
Our Security Gate added a voice mail system last month which will come on when the gate personnel is on the phone. This is for you to leave only your name, lot number and phone number as the message. PLEASE do not leave any other information since it will not be accepted. The messages will be checked after each call. The guard will then call you back to get the additional information from you. This process will hopefully improve your experience in calling the gate. We are also looking at other systems we may use in the future.
I would like to thank our social committee for the great event last month for the HAWL children “Bouncing on the Beach”. It was a super time for our community children and their parents; we had terrific attendance. The idea for this activity came from some new members. This presents a fine example of what can happen when you, the property owners, become involved. They planned the entire function perfectly for which I thank them. Please see page 10 for information on how you can get involved in your community. It works!!!
As you read this, our big capital improvement for this year should be, hopefully, finishing up. The project will cover two miles of roads which will include the following streets:
Fairwood Circle, East Lakeshore Drive, 1107 block to 1134 block
Millbrook Lane, East Lakeshore Drive, 1200 block to 1300 block
East Lakeshore Drive, 1417 block to 1506 block
Hide-A-Way Lane, 1605 block to 1817 block
West Lakeshore Drive, 300 block to 530 block
In addition, we will pave the road to the lower level of the lodge for a handicap parking area which will give easier accessibility to the office and lower level. The entire parking lot will be re-paved as well. The cost of the project is $214,200.00 with striping following at a cost of $12,185.00 for a total capital improvement of $226,385.00.
I have received numerous calls regarding the grass in the lake. Our Lake Quality Committee is working diligently with the County Extension Office through Mississippi State University to address this problem. It has been identified as “hair grass”; however, the best approach for its removal has not been determined. More information will be forthcoming as it is available.
Last month, HAWL invited the Pearl River County Utility Authority, Dungan Engineering, Mississippi State Department of Health and Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality to attend our meetings to discuss the possibility of installing a sewage system in our community. The primary purpose for these meetings was for HAWL residents and the Board of Directors to obtain information. I was very pleased that so many property owners attended. Should HAWL proceed with sewage is a major decision that you, the property owners, have to make. The presentation and questions and answers from these meetings are on our website: hawlms.com for your review or you may pick up a copy from the office.
Last September 2006, HAWL hired Dungan Engineering to perform a preliminary engineering report to install a sewer system in HAWL. Their purpose was to see what the cost would be and what could the UA offer the HAWL community. There are now three options presented in Dungan’s report:
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Description
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Option 1
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Option 2
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Option 3
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Initial Costs
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Lots With Houses (Lines and Pump)
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$ 9,000.00
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$7,000.00
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$2,000.00
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Lots Only (Lines only)
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$ 4,000.00
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$2,000.00
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$2,000.00
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Yearly Assessment – Initial Costs Financed for 20 Years at 5.50% Annual Interest
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Lots With Houses
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$ 750.00
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$600.00
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------**
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Lots Only
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$ 350.00
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$200.00
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------**
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Estimated Monthly Sewer Bill
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Monthly Sewer Bill–Operation and Maintenance
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$25.00*
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$45.00*
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$30.00
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*The difference between Option 1 & 2 is the treatment cost.
**With Option 3, each owner has the option to connect to the sewage line when so desired. There will be a tap fee that will cost approximately $5,000.00 to $6,000.00.
The two major items, on which I am getting the most questions from property owners, and on which I need clarification is the final cost and the process of property owner voting. The UA has stated that these quoted costs are “worst case scenario” costs. There is the possibility of grant money for the treatment infrastructure thereby reducing these costs. The final cost as well as the option of yearly assessment needs to be clearly stated prior to a voting taking place. As to voting, the process must be clearly delineated. HAWL Board of Directors has stated that if HAWL proceeds after these questions and many others are answered, it will be the decision of the majority of the property owners.
Items presented by the Health Department which need further consideration in the debate of septic vs. sewage are as follows. In addition to increased property value, the protection of our ground water and the protection of the purity of our beautiful lake should be an important factor in the decision-making process. In growing communities, such as our own, septic tanks seriously impact the ground and surface water. The reason is fairly obvious since with a septic tank, raw sewage is held in a sealed tank while it decomposes. Bacteria digest the solid waste; however, the liquid waste goes to a drain field or seepage pit and eventually percolates down to the groundwater. The sludge left behind in the tank accumulates until it must be pumped out, generally every two to five years. Conversely with sewers, the solid and liquid waste is carried to a central treatment plant. There it undergoes a sanitation process before it is discharged. There is no opportunity for the contaminated water to leach back into the groundwater. Though the initial cost of sewer infrastructure is inhibitive, particularly in existing developments, the result is a cleaner, safer, and healthier environment.
Last month, (July 19, 2007), our Board of Director Vice President, Mr. Ray Holman, lost his battle with cancer. Mr. Holman was very dedicated to HAWL. At the end of his long illness, even though he could not physically attend the meeting, he still remained very active by telephone. I looked to “Mr. Ray” as a mentor and friend. I, along with my staff and the HAWL community, will deeply miss him.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please give me a call at the office.
General Manager
