THE SANDS OF MARCO
CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION
2009 Sands Scoops

THE SANDS SCOOP             April, 2009

FROM THE BOARD
The Sands officers are:
President Bernie Sikorski
Vice-President George Bell
Treasurer Lorna Verrastro
Secretary Wayne Anderson

"The purpose of the Board of Directors is to maintain and enhance the value of The Sands and the quality of life for the owners."

COMMITTEES AND CHAIRPERSONS
Buildings Tom Whewell
Grounds Lynn Stiles
Communication Wayne Anderson
Executive Bernie Sikorski
Finance Lorna Verrastro
Insurance George Bell
Sales/Lease Joe Leone
Parking/Signage Lamar Persing
The above committees welcome your participation and cooperation. Please contact the chairperson and volunteer your time and talent.

THE PRESIDENTS CORNER
Many of you were not at the Annual meeting so let me once again thank Joe Nedza and Gail Hoopes for their great service to us all as our past Presidents. Joe was President through the Hurricane Wilma years and his leadership saved us all much grief and money. Gail took over from Joe and brought us all together as a very strong Sands Family which includes owners and valued renters. We all owe Joe and Gail A LOT!

I am going to try to enhance all that they both began. I will do my very best to keep you all informed about the SANDS. Here is the "open communications" schedule I am going to try to keep this year as your President.

On email, if you have owner friends who do not get emails from me please ask them to send me their email addresses. We had a great season and the new Board will work very hard to make the next season even better.
Bernie Sikorski

SYMPATHY
We extend our sincere sympathy and prayers to the family of long time owner Joyce Nilsen, B102, who died in a traffic accident April 3, 2009.

BOARD CHANGES
Following is the composition of the Board of Directors for 2009/10.

  1. There were four board positions to be elected this year. There was only one applicant, Lamar Persing, and he was automatically elected.
  2. Wayne Anderson agreed to serve another two year term.
  3. Bernie Sikorski agreed to serve another two year term.
  4. Gail Hoopes retired.
  5. Joe Nedza retired.
  6. Lynn Stiles was appointed to serve a two year term.
  7. Lorna Verastro was appointed to the remaining one year term of Duane Coplin.

BOARD MEETINGS NOTES
The CD elevator replacement process will begin approximately April 15 depending upon the permitting process. When it starts, the elevator will be placed out of service and persons will be required to use the stairs or the DE or BC elevators.

ANNUAL MEETING
Gail Hoopes announced the proxy vote results for the proposed changes in the Documents of Condominium:

  • Placing responsibility for water damage on the owner whose water leakage caused the damage:
    Yes 51 No 22 This issue needed 2/3 of those voting (49) for approval; the issue PASSED.
  • Lease money for units in arrears on their assessments to be paid directly to the association:
    Yes 63 No 9 This issue needed 2/3 of those voting (48) for approval; the issue PASSED.
Gail also announced the results of the other two proxy issues.
  • The 3rd issue was to approve a financial review in lieu of a full audit.
    Yes 66 No 6 This issue required a majority of all owners (65); the issue PASSED.
  • The 4th issue was an affirmation of staggered director terms necessitated by changes made by the State of Florida.
    Yes 70 No 1 This issue also required a majority of all owners; the issue PASSED.

CONDOMINIUM DOCUMENT
The recent proxy vote to change our document of condominium places legal responsibility for damage to a condominium caused by water leakage from another condominium, on the owner of the unit where the water leakage occurred. The document change “requires” owners to:

  • install metal washing machine hoses
  • Replace hot water tanks after 10 years
  • Contract for regular maintenance of their air conditioning units
If damage occurs owners will continue to notify their insurance company and, if there is damage to the common property, notify the association, just as before. The age of your hot water tank can be obtained by reading the tank’s serial number. For example, hot water tank is a Rheem and the serial number begins “0600…”, i.e., it was manufactured in June, 2000.
Once the new document is recorded in the county records, all owners will receive the revisions as notification that they are in effect.

KEYS INSURANCE CLAIM
As we have informed all owners, the Association hired Keys Claims Consultants to investigate whether or not we received all we were entitled to from our insurance company for damages incurred from Hurricane Wilma in 2005. As part of that process, Keys has given each owner a simple form to complete. It is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that every owner fill out the form and return it in the supplied prepaid, pre-addressed envelope. If you have any questions contact any board member or the Sands office.

HELPFUL HINTS – CONDO SHUT-DOWN LIST

  • Set thermostat at 75 and humidistat at 60.
  • Garbage Disposal – 2 TBSP salad oil
  • Disconnect all TV’s, microwave, refrigerator. If you prefer to not unplug your refrigerator, and many people are recommending you don’t, empty it of all perishables. Use it to store your spices, candles and batteries and set at low setting. Shut off icemaker.
  • Empty ice cube trays and prop open refrigerator doors if unplugged.
  • Open closet doors and cabinet doors.
  • If you do not have storm shutters, put all lanai furniture inside unit.
  • Lock all windows.
  • Remove all batteries from flashlights, radios, VCR’s, etc.
  • Place DAMP RID in closets and baking soda in refrigerator.
  • Place small amount of boric acid under sinks in corners.
  • Place roach and ant motels in kitchen and baths.
  • Pull plugs on computer and phone lines
  • Close shades in Master bedroom.
  • Flush drain line for air conditioner (be sure drain is open).
  • Make a final ‘pit stop’; add bleach and stretch plastic wrap over commodes.
  • Turn off main water valve.
  • Upon return, after water is turned on, run bathtub faucet for a few minutes to clear any debris from pipes. Then run other faucets and flush commodes.
  • Switch off all circuit breakers except air conditioner (and refrigerator if not unplugged).
  • Put your door mat inside.
This list is meant to guide you but there are other steps you may take. Each owner has his/her method. If you have a question, check with Tim in the office.
Make sure your main water valve is shut off when you leave, even for a few days. Several water heaters have failed with water damage to that unit and the one below. Many owners have changed to a single lever shutoff for the washers and main water valve because the older faucets do not shut off completely. Tim needs to be notified if you want this done because the plumber will need to shut off the stack valve.

SUMMER OFFICE HOURS
A reminder that the summer office hours will begin May 15th and end September 30th. The office will be open from 1PM to 3PM to enable our staff to avoid some of the summer heat.

PRINTER CARTRIGES
Please give your used printer cartridges to Tim for recycling. We ship them postage free and receive cash – about $100 per year to help pay for office expenses (every little bit helps!). So save your cartridges, wrap them in a paper towel and give them to Tim.

ADDRESS/PHONE CHANGES
Please help us keep the owners’ list current and save postage by notifying us of any address, telephone or e-mail changes. Notify the Sands office at thesandsofmarco@marcocable.com or email Wayne Anderson at wayneohio@gmail.com or telephone Tim at the office at 239-642-5575.

SUGGESTIONS, COMMENTS TO THE EDITOR.
If you have any suggestions for articles or comments for THE SANDS SCOOP, please contact the editor. Also, if you received this via the USPS and have internet access, please share your email address with us. It saves us all money to communicate via e-mail whenever possible. The Sands Scoop is also available on The Sands web site, thanks to owner Joe Ferris, (E101), at thesandsofmarco.com – check it out!

Wayne Anderson (D306) - Editor

THE SANDS SCOOP             February, 2009

FROM THE BOARD
The Sands officers are:
President Gail Hoopes
Vice-President Joe Nedza
Treasurer Bernie Sikorski
Secretary Wayne Anderson

"The purpose of the Board of Directors is to maintain and enhance the value of The Sands and the quality of life for the owners."

COMMITTEES AND CHAIRPERSONS
Buildings Tom Whewell
Grounds George Bell
Communication Wayne Anderson
Executive Gail Hoopes (Officers)
Finance Bernie Sikorski
Insurance Open
Sales/Lease Joe Leone
Parking Wayne Anderson
The above committees welcome your participation and cooperation. Please contact the chairperson and volunteer your time and talent.

SYMPATHY
Duane E. Coplin, C404, passed away on February 15, 2009. Funeral services were held February 15 in Naples. Duane was a Sands director, serving as treasurer as well as the chairman of the insurance committee. We extend our profound sympathy to his wife Pat and to the rest of his family.
Michael J. Kilkelly, D302, passed away on January 12. Funeral services were held in Wakefield, Massachusetts. The Sands community extends our deepest sympathy to his entire family.

BOARD CHANGES
At the February 19, 2009, Board meeting, Bernie Sikorski was elected Treasurer to replace Duane Coplin and Wayne Anderson was elected Secretary to replace Bernie. Bernie and Wayne will hold these offices until immediately after the Annual Meeting. New Officers will be elected at the Organizational meeting.

WELCOME NEW OWNERS
D101 - Bob & Gloria Levos from Fargo, ND
C401 - Bradley Vargo & Lisa Kolpit from Kirtland, OH

BOARD MEETINGS NOTES

  1. Grounds Committee - The committee made a proposal to beautify the pool deck area with some large, strategically placed, potted plants. Committee member Jane DaMado discussed the extensive research she and her fellow committee members performed through her presentation and received a positive vote from the Board for their proposal. The plants were strategically placed around the pool deck on February 27! Check them out!
  2. Memorial Tree Planting - The procedures for purchasing a memorial tree along with a plaque to be planted at the Sands were published in the April, 2008 Scoop. Attached is the form to be used for requesting a memorial tree planting.
  3. New Shopping Carts - The Board voted to purchase four new shopping carts for residents to use to replace the existing carts. They will be primarily plastic which should allow them to last longer and certainly will look better than the existing ones. The cost is $119 each plus $400 for shipping for a total of a little over $1,000.
  4. Board of Directors Election - There was one owner that submitted the proper form for director candidacy. Since there were four openings, Lamar Persing, D202, is automatically elected to a two year term beginning at the annual meeting on March 19. Additionally, both Wayne Anderson and Bernie Sikorski agreed to remain on the Board for the two year terms beginning March 19. Gail Hoopes and Joe Nedza will retire effective at the completion of the annual meeting.

ANNUAL MEETING
By now all owners should have received their annual meeting packet containing a proxy on the issues to be voted on at the meeting. Please contact me immediately if you have not received the mailing. We encourage all owners to return the proxy and hope that everyone is able to attend the meeting on March 19!

WEBMASTER NEEDED
The Sands web site has been very well received by owners, renters and others seeking information and/or assistance. There is a lot of information there and it can even be looked upon as a selling tool when prospective buyers are made aware of its existence. We are very grateful for all the effort that Joe Ferris (E101), has put into creating and maintaining the site for many years. Joe and Elaine Ferris have put their unit up for sale so we will be in need of someone with the expertise to maintain the site. Joe has agreed to continue in the role until they are able to sell their condo. I wish I could tell you what expertise is needed but if you have it you already know! It would be a shame to lose this tool. Contact the office if you can help us out! We NEED a WEBMASTER!

MISCELLANEOUS - 1
If you have misplaced something, perhaps at the pool, you may find it in the Sands Lost and Found Department located in the Association office. Every year we accumulate articles found at the pool, primarily, that have been separated from their owners. We may have something of yours!

MISCELLANEOUS - 2
When using the grill in the corral area, it is, of course, necessary to remove the cover and, when we are finished cooking, the grill is too hot to replace the cover. It would help Jackie and prolong the life of the grill if you happen to see that the cover is off, you would cover the grill after checking to be sure it is sufficiently cooled!

MISCELLANEOUS - 3
A lot of heat escapes from the spa when the cover is off. During the day, the spa gets a lot of use but not as much use in the evening and almost none at night. If you use the spa late in the day, please place the cover on it and help keep the heat (read dollar$) from escaping into the ether. We’ll all be richer for it!

PRINTER CARTRIDGES
Please give your used printer cartridges to Tim for recycling. We ship them postage free and receive cash – about $100 per year to help pay for office expenses (every little bit helps!). So save your cartridges, wrap them in a paper towel and give them to Tim.

ADDRESS/PHONE CHANGES
Please help us keep the owners’ list current and save postage by notifying us of any address, telephone or e-mail changes. Notify the Sands office at thesandsofmarco@marcocable.com or email Wayne Anderson at wayneohio@gmail.com or telephone Tim at the office at 239-642-5575.

SUGGESTIONS, COMMENTS TO THE EDITOR.
If you have any suggestions for articles or comments for THE SANDS SCOOP, please contact the editor. Also, if you received this via the USPS and have internet access, please share your email address with us. It saves us all money to communicate via e-mail whenever possible. The Sands Scoop is also available on The Sands web site, thanks to owner Joe Ferris, (E101), at thesandsofmarco.com – check it out!

Wayne Anderson (D306) - Editor

THE SANDS SCOOP             January, 2009

FROM THE BOARD
The Sands officers are:
President Gail Hoopes
Vice-President Joe Nedza
Treasurer Duane Coplin
Secretary Bernie Sikorski

"The purpose of the Board of Directors is to maintain and enhance the value of The Sands and the quality of life for the owners."

COMMITTEES AND CHAIRPERSONS
Buildings Tom Whewell
Grounds George Bell
Communication Bernie Sikorski
Executive Gail Hoopes (Officers)
Finance Duane Coplin
Insurance Duane Coplin
Sales/Lease Joe Leone
Parking Wayne Anderson
The above committees welcome your participation and cooperation. Please contact the chairperson and volunteer your time and talent.

BOARD CHANGES
Board member and Buildings Committee chairman Bill Gorski resigned from the Board in November, 2008 as he has sold his Sands unit. As a result, Tom Whewell, D304, was appointed to fill the remainder of his term. Tom, a retired engineer, was also named as Building Committee chairman. Bill was an outstanding board member and contributed significantly to our efforts to make the Sands one of the premier condominiums on the Island.

SYMPATHY
RICHART, MARILYN D. passed away peacefully at her home October 21, 2008, after courageously battling cancer for many months. She was born in Sanford, FL. In 1966 Marilyn moved to Seymour, IN, to run a successful clothing store and raise a family with her husband Tim, our property manager. She and Tim returned to Florida in 1993. She was able to do what she loved -- work with people and use her talent and passion of landscaping to help beautify The Sands. Marilyn is survived by her husband of 40 years, Tim, her two sons and 5 grandchildren. A mass celebrating her life was conducted in San Marco Catholic Church.

WELCOME NEW OWNERS
B101 - Marc and Shirley Nokken, from Moorhead, MN.
B105 - Pamela Geppert, from Northville, MI.
B406 - Mark Cammaroto, from Port Jefferson, NY.
B505 - David & Marlene Wohleber, from Bethel Park, PA.
D107 - John and Nancy Kava, from Shelby, MI.

BOARD MEETINGS NOTES

  1. New Sands Employee - We extend a big welcome to Jackie Hogsett, a new employee hired to assist Tim. Jackie brings us over 20 years of experience in the condo maintenance “business”, most recently at Eagles Nest.
  2. Building - Property Manager Tim Richart reported that the Building wash down on the courtyard side was completed last fall. Wash down and repainting of the stairs was also completed last fall. The stairs color is a little darker than the old color to hide the wear so evident on the old paint.
  3. Parking Lot - The repaving of the parking lot was completed in the fall. The lot was brought up to city code with the installation of stop signs at all three Sands exits.
  4. Board Walk Around - Each Spring, the newly elected Board performs a “walk around” of the property. From that a list of repairs and/or improvements is prepared as an action list for the coming year. Some of those items are the responsibility of individual owners. A letter was sent to those owners last year itemizing what repairs were needed and establishing a completion deadline of January, 2009. The letter also stated that if the items were not completed by the deadline, the Association would make the repairs and bill the owners. There are some that have not completed the repairs and therefore Tim will have the necessary work done and bill the expense to the ten owners involved.
  5. Elevator Rehabilitation - The Board voted to award the contract for the repair and rehabilitation of the C/D elevator to our current supplier at a price of $69,000. The work will be done “off season” to minimize the inconvenience and should commence within the next 120 days. The A/B elevator was rebuilt last year and is working well. The two remaining elevators are scheduled to be rebuilt over the next several years.
  6. Board of Directors Election - Secretary Bernie Sikorski announced that four director seats will be up for election at the annual meeting in March. It is critical that we have a slate of candidates for our owners to choose from. Bernie also stressed that owners should not assume that the four incumbents will all stand for re-election. If there are an insufficient number of candidates, newly enacted Florida law states that the appropriate number of incumbent directors will continue to serve and that the Board can then appoint person(s) to replace them if or after they resign. The State of Florida has also enacted changes to Condominium law that requires candidates to deliver written notice of their intent to be a candidate for election by submitting a CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION CANDIDATE CERTIFICATION form. The form was included with the first notification of the annual meeting mailing to all owners and is also available at the office. It is a simple form and only requires a candidate to verify that he or she has read the Association’s documents and by-laws. There is no other way an eligible person can become a candidate! The deadline for the required form to be received at the Association office is 5:00 PM EST, February 7, 2009.
  7. Insurance Policy Warning - Insurance Committee chairman Duane Coplin cautioned owners to check with their insurance agent to be sure their homeowners policy provides protection while their unit is being leased. Duane related that someone at another condominium on the Island experienced severe property damage but because the unit was being rented, the insurance policy did not provide coverage!

TENNIS PLAYERS NEEDED
George Bell reports that tennis players are needed to play each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 8:30 AM at our tennis courts. All levels are welcome to participate. Call 239-389-1290 to sign up.

WATER HEATERS
We have mentioned the problems caused by the failure of hot water tanks in what seems like every Scoop issue lately. During the course of inspecting each unit for Hurricane Wilma damage this summer and fall, the Board asked the insurance inspectors to gather information for us regarding the age of each unit’s hot water heater. Preliminary examination of the list reveals that there are twelve (12) tanks that are 20-21 years old, three 11-12 years old and seven are 9-10 years old! There are 13 units that the inspectors were unable to either gain unit access or else the age of the tank could not be determined. Specifics remain to be decided but the Board voted to ask our attorney to begin to prepare revisions to our condo docs for approval by owners. The proposed changes would require that hot water tanks be replaced after they are “X” years old and, if they are not, the association will replace them and bill the owner. Of course, one of the specifics to be determined is the value of “X”. Plumbers tell us that it should be 10 years while some owners suggest that plumbers are trying to sell tanks and the number should be 15. An informal vote of the owners at the last Board meeting favored 10 years but a significant number supported 15 years. The Board will determine this time period and other issues at its next board meeting on February 19.

PRINTER CARTRIDGES
Please give your used printer cartridges to Tim for recycling. We ship them postage free and receive cash – about $100 per year to help pay for office expenses (every little bit helps!). So save your cartridges, wrap them in a paper towel and give them to Tim.

ADDRESS/PHONE CHANGES
Please help us keep the owners’ list current and save postage by notifying us of any address, telephone or e-mail changes. Notify the Sands office at thesandsofmarco@marcocable.com or Bernie Sikorski at sikorskiba@comcast.net or call Tim at the office at 239-642-5575.

SUGGESTIONS, COMMENTS TO THE EDITOR.
If you have any suggestions for articles or comments for THE SANDS SCOOP, please contact the editor. Also, if you received this via the USPS and have internet access, please share your email address with us. It saves us all money to communicate via e-mail whenever possible. The Sands Scoop is also available on The Sands web site, thanks to owner Joe Ferris, (E101), at thesandsofmarco.com – check it out!

Wayne Anderson (D306) - Editor