Talking TLA - The Landings Association

Let’s Talk Roads! By Karl Stephens, CMCA, AMS, PCAM General Manager/COO It’s 2024 and there is much to do, including the annual Roads Repairs and Repaving Project led by our Public Works Team. Each year, staff, in conjunction with the Public Works Committee and an engineering firm review all Association-owned roads and make recommendations for the annual repaving program. These recommendations are based on the condition of the roads, the amount of root intrusions and ride-altering bumps, whether separation of asphalt exists, along with a determination of whether roads are impacted by curb or drainage issues. With more than 91 miles of roads in the community, this task is never a small undertaking. However, it is vital to ensuring the roads in The Landings are in good order. Join Construction Manager Bill Campbell and me as we discuss some deteriorating conditions the 2024 project will address, why it is important to spend the nearly $1.7M budgeted for the work, and the Main Gate entrance portion of the project set to begin in February. Click here to watch the video.  

By Karl Stephens, CMCA, AMS, PCAM General Manager/COO The renovations to the Landings Harbor Marina Parking Lot Project are almost complete. If you haven’t seen the improvements, we encourage you to take a trip down to Landings Harbor Marina today to take a look.  This project was part of the Priest Landing Paving Capital Project and included reconfiguring parking at the Marina to create a larger, circular driving area wide enough to accommodate boats and larger vehicles, as well as accommodate more golf cart parking.  Join Construction Manager Bill Campbell and me as we discuss the benefits of this project and the new walking path constructed nearby.  Click here to watch the video.

Featuring Security Director Tim Cook and Public Works Director Sean Burgess Like a dreaded house guest we hate to see coming, Hurricane Idalia will soon make its way to our area.  Now is the time to ensure your emergency plan is in place. Click here to view CEMA's Hurricane Preparedness Guide. Click here to view a recap of the 2023 Hurricane Town Hall Meeting, which includes links to helpful resources.  Currently, Landings Public Works and The Landings Marinas are prepping for the storm, including testing equipment and lagoon overflow structures and securing assets. Join Security Director Tim Cook and Public Works Director Sean Burgess as they discuss the expected impact to our area from Hurricane Idalia, what your Association is doing to prepare for the storm, and why you also should be preparing during this time.  Click here to watch the video. 

By Karl Stephens, CMCA, AMS, PCAM General Manager/COO Work is nearing completion on the repair and replacement of the Landings Harbor Pier deck and railings. The work strategy used the combined forces of in-house staff and subcontractors, keeping costs low, while centering on the Public Works Department’s mantra of “let’s touch it once and do such a great job, we don’t have to touch it again for a long, long time!” This much-loved amenity is used by residents and their guests for walking, fishing, watching sunrises and sunsets, and accessing their vessels. Over time, the condition of the deck boards and railings had fallen below acceptable Landings Association standards. Additionally, the gaps in the deck boards created a safety hazard for users. However, you wouldn’t be able to guess these conditions ever existed by the new look of the Pier. Join Construction Manager Bill Campbell and me as we discuss how the repairs are going and when we can expect the project to be completed. Click here to watch the video.

By Karl Stephens, CMCA, AMS, PCAM General Manager/COO   Work is underway on the repair and replacement of the Landings Harbor Pier deck and railings. The work strategy uses the combined forces of in-house staff and subcontractors, keeping costs low and the return on investment (ROI) of repairing the structure high. Landings Harbor Pier is a much-loved amenity used by residents and their guests for walking, fishing, watching sunrises and sunsets, and accessing their vessels. Over time, the condition of the deck boards and railings had fallen below acceptable Landings Association standards. Additionally, the gaps in the deck boards created a safety hazard for users. Join Public Works Director Sean Burgess and me as we discuss the strategy for repairing the structure, along with lessons learned from the Islands of Deer Creek Bridge project that will be helpful in completing this project. Click here to watch the video.

By Karl Stephens, CMCA, AMS, PCAM General Manager/COO My! How time flies! It’s the first anniversary of our Online Payment Portal, and we could not be more pleased. Since its inception on June 8, 2022, the portal has gained a following of nearly 1,000 users, with 104 of those users opting to use the autopay feature. The online payment portal is an additional tool that residents can use to view non-assessment transactions, historical information for charges and payments, and initiate a secure payment via credit card for charges placed on account. Join Finance Director Jessica Henderson and me as we discuss the features of the portal and the convenience of using it. Click here to watch the video.

By Karl Stephens, CMCA, AMS, PCAM General Manager/COO Phase 1 of the Dry Rack Replacement Project at Landings Harbor Marina is complete, and Phase 2 is set to begin by the end of the year. Phase 1 included replacing one full-rack storage building and the addition of a smaller rack at the end of the aisle way. The new racks provide more uniform spaces for the boat sizes that have become more popular over the past several years. With the completion of Phase l, approximately 19 spaces were added, allowing some members to come off the waitlist for boat space. Join Marinas Director Larry Sincoskie and me as we discuss the completion of Phase 1 and where we are headed next with this project. Click here to watch the video.

By Karl Stephens, CMCA, AMS, PCAM General Manager/COO Southeast Pipe currently is working on the repair and cured-in-place (CIPP) lining of the damaged storm drain pipes located on Priest Landing Drive in the Marshwood area of the community. The storm drain system in Marshwood, the oldest phase in the community, has aged to a point where many storm drain pipes have failed due to root intrusions or separation of pipe, or are on the verge of failing as a direct result of their age (45 years old). No worries...there is a silver lining to this issue. CIPP technology, which lines the pipes with a fiberglass material, has a guaranteed lifespan of 40 years and allows for a less intrusive impact on the property owners in and around the repair areas along with a significant reduction in restoration costs. Southeast Pipe will repair the storm drain pipes in two phases, for a total project cost of $713,493. Join Construction Manager Bill Campbell and me as we talk with Southeast Pipe’s Project Manager Stacy Paschall about this work. Click here to watch the video.   

Dry Rack Storage Project at Landings Harbor Marina By Karl Stephens, CMCA, AMS, PCAM General Manager/COO Phase 1 of the Dry Rack Replacement Project at Landings Harbor Marina is well underway and should be completed within the next few weeks. This first phase of the project consists of replacing one full-rack storage building, and the addition of a smaller rack at the end of the aisle way. The new racks will provide more uniform spaces for the larger boat sizes that have become more popular over the past several years. Join Marinas Director Larry Sincoskie and me as we discuss where we are with the project and where we are headed next. Click here to watch the video.  

By Karl Stephens, CMCA, AMS, PCAM General Manager/COO Inflation has touched all aspects of our lives in recent years, including the cost of insurance. Thanks to the work of The Landings Association’s Insurance and Finance committees, along with the Board and staff, we recently secured better than expected rates for Property and Casualty Insurance. The total cost for the 2023 insurance renewal is $727,565. This cost represents a 2.56% decrease over 2022, and savings of $102K below budget, with a decrease in cost of $96,864 since the preliminary pricing was approved. Join Finance Director Jessica Henderson and me as we chat about this exceptional rate and what was involved in securing it. Click here to watch the video. 

By Karl Stephens, CMCA, AMS, PCAM General Manager/COO Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote in the recent 2024-2026 Annual Dues Vote! Your commitment to the infrastructure of our 50+-year-old community is much appreciated. Your approval ensures the Association’s revenue stream for the next three years, and keeps us on course for budgeting future repairs and replacements. Join Finance Director Jessica Henderson and me as we discuss the positive benefits of the approved vote. Click here to view the video. 

TLA Talks Annual Dues Dollars and Cents By Karl Stephens, CMCA, AMS, PCAM General Manager/COO Thanks to our Members, we are at 49% turnout for our Annual Dues Vote! Remember, we must reach a quorum of 60% for a valid vote. If you have not voted, please do so today. In the meantime, let’s take a look at how some of your Association dollars are used to improve the infrastructure throughout the community to keep your property values high and ensure The Landings remains a competitive choice for home buyers. Join Public Works Director Sean Burgess and me as we review the conversion of our community paths from asphalt to concrete, which saves your Association money in the long-term. We have been working toward this transition for the past decade, and the work soon will be complete. Click here to view the video, and don’t forget to vote “Yes” to protect your community assets and ensure The Landings’ next 50 years are even better than the first.

Talking TLA: Annual Dues Vote By Karl Stephens General Manager/COO Did you know The Landings Association has a new podcast called Talking TLA? Join Finance Director Jessica Henderson and me on the first episode of Talking TLA as we discuss the upcoming Annual Dues Vote and our goal of being 30 percent funded in our Restricted Capital Reserves Fund. Then be sure to follow Talking TLA wherever you get your podcasts. You also can listen on The Landings Association’s website (www.landings.org/podcast).

Join TLA's Communications Manager Lynn Lewis as she chats with Alosant's Customer Success Manager Chelsea Anderson about creating The Landings Association's mobile phone app and what makes it so unique.  

Budget Talk: TLA's 2022 Audit Results By Karl Stephens, CMCA, AMS, PCAM General Manager/COO The Landings Association's Finance Team has closed the calendar year 2022 and received an unmodified audit opinion. These results may sound Greek to some people. However, they are the results we wanted and mean the Association's financial health is in excellent shape.  Join Finance Director Jessica Henderson and me as we discuss the audit process and what these results mean. Click here to watch the video. 

By Karl Stephens, CMCA, AMS, PCAM General Manager/COO If you’ve been to Landings Harbor lately, you’ve noticed a buzz of activity. That’s the sound of our annual dredging program that removes silt from the basin, allowing boats to come and go. Join Marinas Director Larry Sincoskie and me as we discuss this year’s work, and touch on a new bubbler curtain system that now has been approved, to try to keep silt out of the basin in the first place, which would save money over time. Click here to watch the video version.

By Karl Stephens, CMCA, AMS, PCAM Landings Association General Manager/COO I’m not sure if it’s a coincidence, but ever since Jaws, boats have gotten wider and taller. Great for enjoying our coastal environment, but not so great for The Landings Association’s aging dry storage racks at Landings Harbor Marina. Those racks are due for replacement, based on reaching the end of their lifespan, and we are taking this opportunity to increase the width and height of each space, to better accommodate today’s popular boat sizes. This also will provide some additional spaces for some of those on the waitlist. Join Marinas Director Larry Sincoskie and me as we discuss Phase 1 of this project, that begins today (January 23) with the construction of the ground level racks. Click here to watch the video version.   

By Karl Stephens, CMCA, AMS, PCAM Landings Association General Manager/COO The repair and replacement of the Islands of Deer Creek bridge is now complete. When this project was first bid out to contractors, the cost came in at close to $600,000. Through re-engineering and bringing much of the work in house, the updated price was $341,000. But thanks to diligent work by staff to work with the engineers to make modifications during the project, based on the condition of the portions that could be reused, we brought that cost down to just around $200,000. That savings helps offset overages in other areas, like Storm Drain repairs, as we continue to maintain our 50-year-old infrastructure. Join Construction/Project Management Manger Bill Campbell and me as we explore the now completed project. Click here to watch the video version.