5/3/2024
Memorandum
To: LOWA Board of Directors
From: Phil Rodenberg, General Manager PR
Date: April 26, 2024
Re: General Manager’s Report
LAKES MANAGEMENT REPORT: We have postponed the Semi-Annual Report to the June 5 meeting to allow our new Environmental Resources Manager Elizabeth Meadows time to compile and understand the water testing data. SOLitude Lake Management was hired to help train our staff on lake testing best practices and to help us update the data tables in the semi-annual report.
LAKES & DREDGING UPDATE: The Keatons Lake winter / spring dredging pilot program is nearing completion and is expected to finish on time, April 30. Soil samples were sent to ESS in Culpeper for testing and staff will report all the results no later than June 5.
LOVE THE LAKES DAY: LOWA hosted our second Annual Love the Lakes Day on April 20. Over 40 volunteers came out to support the day of service. The day consisted of a Touch-A-Truck / educational event in the Lower-Level Clubhouse Parking Lot, trash and debris clean up around the Clubhouse / Vets Dam / Front Entrance Pond areas, Golf Committee installation of a goose fence at Golf Course Hole #10, and an Eagle Scout ditch restoration / conservation project on Golf Course Hole #3.
9.9 LEAF & BRUSH DROP AREA OPEN: LOWA’s Contractor Williams completed removal and tub-grinding of the brush, leaves and debris at the 9.9 Leaf and Brush Drop area the week of April 22. The LOWA Roads crews worked to improve the road conditions grading them and adding gravel to prevent wet spots and to make them more user friendly for members. The 9.9 Leaf & Brush Drop area will reopen Saturday, April 27.
LEAF REMOVAL UPDATE: Roads Crew has completed 60% of leaf removal. Removal has been hindered by the fact that our region has had one of the wettest winters on record.
CLUBHOUSE DECK GRAND OPENING: The Clubhouse Deck opens for the season on Saturday, April 27. The grand opening dinner is by reservation only and will feature a musical performance by Hokie Joe. The Clubhouse Facelift Grand Opening has been delayed until we receive our new furniture. We will receive furniture shipments in May, June, and July.
ASSESSMENT SEASON: Assessment season is in full swing. Members pay their annual assessments in person at the Holcomb Building Member Services desk and online using the Zego electronic payment platform. Staff have been working to process member payments and registrations as quickly as possible and appreciate the patience and cooperation of our members.
BOAT REGISTRATION: To date, LOWA has received 1,799 boat registrations, of which there are 1,109 human-powered watercrafts, and 690 powered watercrafts. We expect to register about 3,000 watercrafts in total.
FULL-TIME BARN STAFF: The General Manager is pleased to announce we have promoted Kattie Ferrebee to the full-time barn staff position. Kattie has been with LOW since November and has been riding horses since she was two years-old and says that she looks forward to expanding her responsibility for teaching lessons and supporting summer camp. Congratulations Kattie.
LOWA EMPLOYMENT HIGHLIGHTS: In the March 8 to April 26 time period the head count went from 137 to 151. During this period we hired 14 new employees and lost six employees who terminated for various reasons. Both Clubhouse and Fareways continue to need additional staff, especially cooks and servers. We have been actively recruiting a Fareways Shift Supervisor. During this time we also hired two key positions, Environmental Resources Manager and Capital Projects Manager. We are in various stages of the recruiting process for all positions. However, we continue to advertise to identify qualified candidates. (See the attached report).
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