ANNUAL POA MEETING RECAP
(Posted 7-26-11)

Pending entrance changes and covenant enforcement issues were among the most-discussed topics during the 2011 Ivy Hall Property Owners Association Annual Meeting.

Homeowners representing about 30 addresses -- approximately 12 percent of the neighborhood -- attended the meeting either in person or by proxy. The meeting lasted 90 minutes and was held July 26th at Eastbridge Presbyterian Church.

All nine Board members were in attendance, as was Lynette Nester, the Ivy Hall representative for Community Management Group. Guests included three officials involved with the U.S. Highway 17 widening project plus the CEO of the new Roper St. Francis Mount Pleasant Hospital.

Two incumbent board members -- Robin Richardson and Rebekah Whichard -- ran unopposed for two open seats and garnered additional terms. Board terms are for three years. Office positions for the 2011-12 year will be decided by vote at the next regular board meeting. The results of that meeting will be posted on this website.

Details from the Annual meeting:

• POA President William Ray Jr. opened the meeting with a prayer and then introduced the Board members and Mrs. Nester. He cut his opening remarks short to give time to the guests.
• Officials involved with the Highway 17 widening project explained why our entrance median needs to be narrowed and shortened to accommodate three exit lanes (instead of the existing two). They said a row of five palm trees would be spared and that existing irrigation and electrical lines altered during construction would be put back in working order. The renovation likely will start in the fall, they said. (Click here for more info on the entrance project.) For information on the Highway 17 widening project, residents may contact Gulf Stream Construction via the company's website, 17northwidening.com.
• John Sullivan, CEO of Mount Pleasant Hospital, invited residents to check out the new 85-bed state-of-the-art facility located a few minutes north of our neighborhood off Highway 17. The hospital, which opened Nov. 1, has been gradually taking on more patients as word of its services spreads, he said. (Click here for more info on the hospital.)
• ARC Chairman Rebekah Whichard provided an overview of the ARC review process.
• Bob Lang spoke about the state of our ponds, which he said were in good  condition considering the lack of rain this summer. He reminded residents to cut their grass all the way to the water's edge if their home backs up to a pond. He also cautioned residents not to introduce new aquatic plants into ponds, especially lily pads.
• Lang continued with an overview of the Ivy Hall website, ivyhall.org. He encouraged residents to email with contributions that other residents might find useful or interesting.
• Mrs. Nester of Community Management Group provided an overview of the covenant enforcement process, stating that company representatives drive through the neighborhood regularly looking for violations. When a violation is spotted, she said the offending resident is sent a warning letter and given 10 days to get in compliance. If there's no compliance, a second letter is sent with an imposed fine that will double every 10 days that there is continued noncompliance. Mrs. Nester pointed out that the goal of the letters isn't to collect fines but to keep the neighborhood looking as nice as possible to hold up home values.
• Sheila Anderson provided an overview of the Welcoming Committee, by which new residents are greeted by a Board member and presented a small gift certificate.
• Anderson, a Realtor, also gave a report on the real estate market in Ivy Hall. She said according to the Multiple Listing Service nine homes had sold here in the past year (down from 15 during the previous year), selling for about 97 percent of their list price and remaining on the market an average of 143 days. The average sales price was $219,000, (down from $227,000) and the average price per square foot was $154 (up from $141).
• Board Secretary Martine Wolfe-Miller provided an overview of the Yard of the Month program, which rewards homeowners with a gift certificate and yard sign for an exceptional lawn.
• Board Treasurer Tina Hutchinson, a CPA who checks over the accounting work of our management company, said our finances are "very healthy." Budget statements were made available to residents after the meeting.
• The following are some questions and comments from residents and answers from the Board and/or guest speakers:
  • Q: Can we install lights in our median when it's renovated? A: Yes. The Board plans to do that.
  • Q: Will the town continue to allow u-turns in front of our entrance when Highway 17 is widened? A: We believe so, but we'll check on that.
  • Q: Which hospital do ambulances take Ivy Hall residents to in emergencies? A: It's the patient's choice or, if the patient can't answer, it's the closest hospital.
  • Q: Are exemptions made for covenant violations? A: Covenant violations are settled on a case-by-case basis. The Board, with management's help, strives with a limited budget to keep the neighborhood looking the best it possibly can.
  • C: That was a really good idea to allow homeowners to split up their annual fee this year into two payments. A: Thank you. That's a winning policy introduced and implemented by Mrs. Nester and the Community Management Group.
  • Q: I am unhappy with the way Knology has dug up my yard. Whom do I call?  A: Call Brian Overeem at 843-225-1113 or        843-566-2377.
  • C: New homeowners and renters in Ivy Hall should be warned upon moving in NOT to place yard debris on their lawns for trash pickup because the pincher truck will damage the lawn. A: Excellent point. We'll do that.
  • Q: Has the Board contacted CPW about repairing the broken sidewalk on Seaborn Drive? (CPW broke the sidewalk while installing a sewage line this past year.) A: No. But we'll get on that. Thank you.
  • Q: How will that new development south of us called Gregory Ferry Landing affect the neighborhood? A: Plans call for a number of restaurants, businesses and housing units (condos and apartments). The Board will continue to monitor construction and update residents as necessary.
  • C: I don't think you should give us the budget statement AFTER the meeting. This is the second year you've done that. A: The reason we do that is so the meeting doesn't get bogged down by budgetary questions. Financial statements can be difficult to understand, especially ones in which only half of the budgetary year has been completed. That said, the Board will review its practice of releasing the statement after the meeting. Meantime, anyone with questions about the budget are encouraged to contact Mrs. Nester or Mrs. Hutchinson.
  • C: Residents riding ATV vehicles through the SCE&G power line easement should be aware that the area is full of rattlesnakes and copperheads. A: The Board is working to halt such vehicular intervention into what is mostly a federally protected wetland buffer.
  • Q: Will the new passive park at Laurel Hill Plantation have bathrooms and an entrance via Ivy Hall? A: We're not sure about the bathrooms. At this time, there are no plans for an entrance into the park via Ivy Hall. The Board likely would oppose such a plan in order to keep traffic down.
  • C: Wildlife netting really works at keeping deer from eating plants. A: Thank you. The netting can be found at most home improvement stores.