Owners,

 

Here is the latest pool update from the Board of Directors:

 

We are getting close, but not without frustrations.  The following is an update, but I am intentionally leaving out some of the specifics that cause all manner of consternation for the Board.  They would likely generate more questions than answers, and it’s our hope that these matters will be resolved soon, so rather than boring owners with the “sausage making process,” I’ll be providing a generalized update that will, hopefully, give all a sense of where we are.

 

One of our Board members taught high school drafting, thus was able to use a CAD program to design the secondary gate for our pool based on the specifications of the fire marshal.  The fire marshal received the drawings and has approved the design.  Something not shared with the owners previously is that we have to design exits to the pool deck, specifically the doors next to the exercise room and the one on the opposite side, in accordance with requirements from the Health Department.  This is being done currently.  So, the gate, the steps that are part of the gate, and the exit doors are all under way.

  

As for the pool and pool deck specifically, our biggest issue has been with the pool company that we hired to build the pool deck, pool, and hot tub.  At the time of the hurricanes, they were the only company to bid on the project.  They have been impossibly difficult to deal with.  There have been countless issues that they don’t want to take responsibility for, large periods of time when they simply “disappear” from the job, they feel no obligation to communicate, and the list goes on.  After hurricane Milton, several components of the filtration system were ruined because they were flooded.  We later discovered that one of the components was installed backwards . . . and the list goes on.  I share this only so owners can understand why this process has been so slow.

  

Yesterday, we put the pool company on notice.  We let them know that the remaining issues must be resolved immediately or we will move forward with civil litigation.  Today, 4 individuals showed up to address the remaining issues.  Some were resolved today.  Resolution on the remaining issues has begun.  It would appear that they have realized that we are no longer going to tolerate excesses or delays.  If all goes well, they will resolve these matters in short order, and we will be able to open the pool as soon as possible.  If they don’t, we will hire other companies as need to resolve these issues and include this in our civil action.

 

Thank you to all owners who understand that these matters are not as simple as one may think.  Between the two hurricanes that destroyed our seawall, pool deck, and parking lot, as well as hurricane Milton, and the State mandated Milestone Study, we have been inundated with project after project and every entity and company imaginable.  We are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel though, and we hope we will have good news soon.  Based on what the Board has dealt with , we don’t want to make predictions or promises, but we hope to have good news soon.

Owners,

 

We wanted to provide an update on the status of the gate.  We have reached out to the fire marshal about the temporary gate multiple times, only to find out that he was on vacation last week.  We are moving forward with a gate via the gate company as they have said they will expedite this for us.  Below are the steps that have to be taken or have been taken to complete this work.

 

As many of you may have seen from Facebook posts, the health inspector came out to do an inspection of the pool and hot tub.  There was another inspector there as well, but the important part is that we passed our inspection.  The frustrating part is that the fire marshal was supposed to be there as well, but didn’t show up.  A day or two later, the fire marshal came by for his inspection.  Previously, it was mentioned that we were going to have to install a second gate (at the same height as the one leading to the beach) along the fence line running parallel to the parking lot.  We asked why this was needed and we were told it was “in case of a fire, there will be two exits from the pool deck.”  Sometime after, we were told that, in fact, it was not going to be needed.  At this last inspection, the fire marshal reversed course and is now requiring the gate.  This is indicative of what we have faced throughout these projects.  The gate will have to be ordered and then sent for coating.  It must also have a crash bar on it allowing people to exit but not enter via the gate.  This will take some time, so in order to open as soon as we can, we are asking trying to get a permit to put a temporary gate in place with a crash bar.  This will not be the permanent gate, but if approved, we won’t have to wait for the permanent before opening the pool.  We will keep owners updated as soon as we have information about this.