Every year Solterra residents discuss defects in the operation and management of the pool. Here are two postings with significant discussion from 2017:
https://nextdoor.com/news_feed/?post=55695643
https://nextdoor.com/news_feed/?post=60731616
Here is a posting with significant discussion from 2018:
https://nextdoor.com/news_feed/?post=84467214
Here is the posting with significant discussion from just a few days ago:
https://nextdoor.com/news_feed/?post=117938437
If it was possible to go back further on Next Door I am confident there would be the same discussion repeated again and again and again.
As with any issue there are many answers. Here are just a couple that present themselves
1.Those who have the power to make the changes aren’t really listening.
When I attended my first meeting with the retreat and pool committee back in 2017, the reception was hostile. The leadership at the time did not like residents talking about the issue on Next Door.
But the leadership at that time had only heard about it from others. She explained that she never read Next Door. She explained that she did not find any value whatsoever to information and concerns expressed on Next Door.
The retreat and pool committee’s conclusion in 2017 was that there were no problems and they continued the YMCA contract.
With the most recent discussion, at least the new leadership is responding to concerns raised on Next Door. Although it appears that much of the response blamed the residents.
And this year as with past years, the conclusion appears to be the same. Here is what she wrote last week in the announcement from “Solterra Connect”:
“Despite a rocky start to the pool season with cool and stormy weather and several instances of chemical imbalances the pool season has run smoothly this year”
“All inquiries and concerns should be addressed to the [FRMD} board members via email or by attending regularly scheduled board meetings”
I guess the pool season ran as smoothly as it has every year – which isn’t really very smooth at all.
And if you have concerns, they don’t invite you to attend meetings of the pool committee. And they don’t appreciate folks talking about the concerns on Next Door. Instead we are directed to privately email a board member or attend a meeting.
Problem is the board only meets four times a year. You only get three minutes to speak. And the agenda and board packet is (sometimes) available only the day before the meetings.
And they will tell you that they are guided by the pool committee’s recommendations.
2. Overlook is still the management company. They are a captive management company for Brookfield, the developer. Their orientation has always been focused on selling houses, not serving residents after they move in.
In fact, even after the residents had moved in and before the recall of the Brookfield employees from the boards, Brookfield was still given priority in scheduling the Retreat for sales activities.
Overlook and the YMCA pool management have a close relationship.
We, as a community, need to critically evaluate whether or not our community should be managed by Overlook and the pool by YMCA. We pay a considerable amount of money to both and the service, particularly with respect to pool management, is problematic.
There are folks in the community who care. And there is a retreat and pool committee. If pressed, the present leadership will tell you when those meetings are scheduled. And you can post it on Next Door.
Or those who care can form their own committee, research other options, educate the community through Next Door and generate a movement for change. This is our community and it won’t improve unless we take action.
Or, I can recycle this post next year. All over again. 🙂
John Henderson