Fellow Bluffs on the Potomac Property Owners,

 

The BOTP Board has been busy since my last letter working on getting community improvements going including:

 

Roads

• Soliciting proposals and meeting with potential road contractors to determine capabilities in preparation for awarding a new road contract in August. The solicitation is now closed and we are interviewing interested contractors. Our procurement is not only to just “fix” the roads but to regrade them and bring them to a condition that allows annual maintenance to keep them in proper condition cost effectively annually.

• As approved in our last Board meeting, we are commencing repairs to the culvert washout above Gate 3 to include building a new rock/concrete wall at that point in the embankment. This is a necessary repair.

 

Gates

• Working with gate contractor to determine specific installation requirements for gates to determine costs and options for new gates.

• We are looking at the possibility of taking over certain portions Graces Cabin and Mill Run roads to reduce the number of required gates and increase security. There are several reasons for this. First, consolidating the number of gates reduces the overall cost of gates by $50,000 or more and reduces the overall maintenance cost of the electric gates by more than half. Second, it brings numerous Bluffs property owners on Graces Cabin Road behind gates thus enhancing their security. Third, it reduces the number of access points for trespassers on both Graces Cabin and Mill Run Roads.

 

Security/Safety

• We will be adding new trail cameras at strategic points in the community to better monitor and report trespassers to law enforcement.

• If gate consolidation is possible, we will redeploy boulders at legacy gates in areas of known unauthorized entry where possible.

• We are exploring more explicit signage at entry point to underscore our intent to prosecute trespassers on our roads and individual properties.

• We are also exploring adding speed limit signs within the community to encourage safer driving and more safety for property owners and their guests walking on our roads. More details on these efforts are available in the July 17 Board meeting minutes. If you haven’t had a chance to see them, they are in the file cabinet section of the BOTP website here (login required).

 

Seeking a New Treasurer

We are also seeking a new Board treasurer as our current Treasurer, Shirl Minster, will be leaving the board in September. This position will be responsible for managing the financial operation of the Association but also supporting the transition of financial management and some Association operations to a software-based platform. This is a critical Board position that lends itself to those with accounting skill and attention to detail. If you are interested in running for Treasurer or have more questions, please contact me at president@bluffsonthepotomac.com

 

2021 Annual Property Owners Meeting

Our 2021 Property Owners Annual Meeting will be held on Saturday, September 18 from 1PM to 4PM at Springfield Volunteer Fire Department at 239 Springfield Pike, Springfield, WV 26763 (location confirmation pending). A meeting agenda and additional materials will be provided via email and the BOTP Website File Cabinet no later than one week in advance of the meeting. Following the meeting POA will host a cookout at our river park pavilion. The POA will provide hamburgers and hotdogs as well as plates, napkins, cups, ice, and water. Please bring a side dish to share and beverages of your choice. There will be fired up charcoal grills, and if you prefer to bring your own meat or vegetables to grill other than the provided burgers or hot dogs please feel free to do so. Please keep in mind that all events are subject to change based upon state or federal COVID guidance or restrictions.

 

As I noted in my previous letter, I will be providing monthly updates via email for the next several months as the Board moves forward. You are welcome to reach out to me with questions at president@bluffsonthepotomac.com.

 

Thank you for your patience as we take on these initiatives to improve our roads and security for the safety and enjoyment of our community.

 

Doug McKenney

President Bluffs on the Potomac Property Owners Association

President@bluffsonthepotomac.com