A resident recently reported seeing someone entering the lake while the gate was down by driving from the circular drive and going behind the guard's shack. This area was checked on New Year's Eve and indeed tire tracks were discovered indicating illegal entry had occurred on more than one occasion. We have taken steps in an effort to block the driver from using this method to bypass the entry gate.

There has been concern expressed by some property owners who were unable to access the gate beginning on January 1. There are several reasons this has occurred.

First, only a fraction of the lake's owners responded with the survey forms that were published in the November newsletter. This was an effort to get an accurate inventory of who should have valid gate passes. Roger, using a master list of the gate passes possessed by property owners, left most of the information intact in the computer at the gate. Where there was uncertainty, he deleted the information.

Several people who could not gain access to the lake this past week telephoned either Roger or me, and he has been able to rectify the files and re-enter the information at the gate. We know that some people have sold their property here at the lake but have retained their cards. Since they have no right of access any longer, Roger is removing their names from our files. Anyone experiencing problems with their gate pass is advised to call Roger Hovis at 274 7019.

Roger has not removed anyone's identification at the gate, or their card access, if they are known by him to be a current property owner. However, he needs the information from the card (five numerals appear on each card) so that he can update his records.

Concurrent with that issue, Roger learned that there was some form of computer malfunction on January 1. One visitor to the lake who came to see his parents and who could not gain access broke the gate bar. This violation was videotaped, and when Roger was able to identify the offender, that person promised to pay us for the damage to the gate. This should serve as a reminder that we will demand payment for damages to the gate, or pursue charges through the Sheriff's department.

Last Friday the gate would not again open in the morning to allow access to the school bus, and Roger deactivated the gate until a repairman could ascertain the problem. This afternoon, Kurt from Signature Control was here and determined there is an apparent transformer that will require replacement, and a chip in the card reader which is causing the gate to lose the correct time and date. The gate is now operational while we await the replacement parts. We will save money because Roger has the ability to replace the defective parts once they are delivered here.

There will occasionally be malfunctions due to the computer equipment at the gate. When a property owner observes a problem, we'd appreciate being notified so that immediate steps can be taken to correct the situation. When someone is unable to gain access when the gate is lowered, both Roger and I would appreciate it if we were called at home from the gate. This is a much better resolution than just breaking the gate and entering.

We continue to receive complaints about the manner in which some people operate their vehicles on our roadways. There is particular concern about one young man who evokes comments from a number of people who witness his careless operation of a small gray car on the lake's south side roads. Unfortunately for us, the Sheriff's deputies are not empowered to enforce any speed limitations due to the width of our roads here in the subdivision. Hopefully, this young man will get some sense one of these days, before the careless operation of his vehicle seriously injures or maims someone ... and before he injures himself. Within several months the temperatures will be warming and children once again will be playing near their homes. We endeavor to keep them safe.

There have been no other reports of vandalism or damage in the subdivision during the past month.

Ray Lauer