Meeting Called to Order
Joann called the meeting to order and turned it over to Kathleen Poague.
Kathleen Poague — Research Committee Chair
Sub-Committees — Volunteers Still Needed
- Outreach — Contacting local politicians and interested parties to seek support. Tasks include writing emails and letters.
- Fundraising — Kathleen Craig is assembling a committee to develop fundraising ideas.
- Research / Legal / Appraiser — John has found a highly regarded appraiser specializing in commercial real estate. The estimated cost is $2,500–$4,000, though we can reduce that figure by conducting much of the research and investigation ourselves. This appraisal is necessary because the owner, Joe, has not shared the information needed for an accurate assessment. The sale has not gone public, and there are known concerns including aging infrastructure and other potential hidden expenses.
- Power costs — The power company has provided an estimate of usage and projected costs, which can be factored into the appraisal.
Kathleen also reported that John is working to secure a lawyer willing to assist the committee. The immediate priority, however, is obtaining the appraisal to determine whether pursuing the purchase is viable. Without a true appraised value, there is no way to assess affordability. Notably, if Joe lowers the selling price — even modestly — the Department of Commerce is required to notify ROC NW, which would trigger a return to negotiations.
Motion
To pursue a professional appraisal on behalf of the committee to establish the property’s true market value.
- Seconded by: Nadine Legas
- Result: Motion passed — unanimous in favor, none opposed
Financial Update
Donations have continued to come in to the Alonda Villa Acquisition Account at Heritage Bank. The account currently holds approximately $2,500.
Karen, the Committee Treasurer, made a special request to residents using the locked donation box: please ensure all required information is included on your check and request a paper receipt for your records. “We are committed to full transparency.”
Meeting Frequency and Scheduling
Kathleen acknowledged feedback from some residents who feel meetings are repetitive with little new to report. Given that summer schedules are busy, the committee is considering moving to one meeting per month. Kathleen also plans to schedule a special evening meeting to accommodate residents who work during the day. Joann noted that the clubhouse calendar is filling up quickly, which may make near-term scheduling challenging. Kathleen will review the calendar and develop a plan.
Kathleen also reported that a webmaster has been secured for the committee’s website. She asked residents to be patient, noting that ROC NW involvement typically spans 12 to 18 months on average. “We will hang in there. I’m not going anywhere — they’ll have to carry me out feet first before I give up.”
John Setterstrom — Remarks to Residents
John addressed the group, noting that over a professional career involving several multi-million dollar initiatives, this committee ranks among the most capable and committed he has worked with.
John has been involved in the committee in a professional consulting capacity. He surveyed residents on their preferred communication method — U.S. mail versus electronic. The majority preferred text or email. Sy offered a counterpoint from his experience in computer systems, noting that people often pay less attention to digital messages.
John expressed his professional opinion that a mailed letter to each resident requesting financial support would be the most effective approach. He can facilitate the mailing for approximately $49 total due to a professional administrative discount. Mike countered that text messaging would reach the most residents most reliably.
Kathleen indicated the matter would be referred back to the committee for a decision on the best communication approach.
Harry — Distribution and Signage Update
Harry reported that he has been diligently developing a map grid for paper and electronic information distribution. He reminded residents that sign-up sheets are available at each meeting and thanked everyone for their continued engagement.
Closing Remarks — Kathleen Poague
Kathleen noted that a bulletin board will serve as an additional information resource for residents. She encouraged residents to bring forward any topics they would like the committee to research and to share their thoughts and concerns.
On the subject of declining meeting attendance, Kathleen expressed confidence that it does not reflect a loss of interest. “I think residents are saying, ‘You’ve got this.'” She pointed to increasing donations and residents stopping by personally with questions and words of support as evidence that engagement remains strong.
Meeting Adjourned: 1:45 PM
Recorded by: JY