Lake Griffin Project
Latest Updates
The construction, which started July 19th , is proceeding as scheduled and is due to be completed on September 10th. To date, the lake has been lowered, the road excavated, and the old pipes removed. Next, the trench that housed the old pipes will be filled and the vertical culvert box (shown in the photos) will be installed. In addition to the project being on time and on budget, the City of Tallahassee has performed all utility relocations during the dig, which has been helpful. Any specific project questions should be directed to Bill Leseman at the POA office email address at MySummerBrooke@EmbarqMail.com.
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Background
SummerBrooke is fortunate to enjoy a number of beautiful lakes within our neighborhood boundaries. Located along the 11th fairway at the intersection of Summerbrooke Drive and Preservation Road, Lake Griffin is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable and highly visible lakes in the entire system.
To control water levels and maintain the natural flow of water as much as possible when the neighborhood was initially developed, a series of overflow control structures were installed, including large conveyance pipes that run under Summerbrooke Drive. Unfortunately, these two conduits are leaking at an excessive rate, and have been since at least 2003, resulting in two detrimental conditions:
- General instability to the soils under the heavily traveled Summerbrooke Drive, which pose a safety threat due to the potential for road collapse.
- Continued water level drops in Lake Griffin that are getting progressively worse and could have a serious environmental impact to the lake and the entire lake ecosystem.
In the interest of legal obligations and proactive public protection, the board has secured the services of a local engineering firm to design, permit, and construct the replacement of the pipes. The project is scheduled to start July 2010 and is expected to take 12 months to complete.
Why is this our responsibility?
Determining ownership “of the problem” was one of the first steps taken. The POA’s Articles of Incorporation very clearly outline that the board has the legal obligation to maintain the infrastructure and common areas owned by the Association. But, because of several transfers of ownership and the annexation of the neighborhood by the City, there were questions regarding ownership. Current and previous board administrations have worked tirelessly through various legal and political channels to determine the responsible party. Unfortunately, all legal opinions have reached the conclusion that we are the owning entity and therefore, are responsible for the fix. How and why did my dues increase?
The POA has had to borrow $375,000 to fund the repair and replacement of the conveyance pipes. Knowing that this was going to be the situation, the board planned for a three-year 10% annual increase in dues, beginning in 2008-2009, to pay for the loan. While this increase is allowable under the Articles of Incorporation, the board did not take lightly the fact that it could be a financial hardship for some homeowners. Unfortunately, the fact that the decision might be unpopular doesn’t relieve us from the legal and safety obligation we are faced with. Can’t we get help paying for this?
Several attempts have been made over the years to apply for and secure grant funding; and discussions are still ongoing to see if we can get some in-kind services provided or various fees waived. But as of right now, the financial obligations rests solely with the POA.
What would happen if we didn’t fix it?
Eventually, the pipes would fail. Exactly what would happen at that point is speculation, but in all likelihood, there would be some sort of collapse of the roadway. Then, not only would we have to replace the pipes, but we’d be faced with reimbursing the City for emergency repair of the road. We are hoping by proactively addressing the issue, we can avoid paying the increased fees that would be associated with an unplanned fix, but more importantly, that we can avoid someone getting hurt.
How will construction impact the neighborhood?
The details of construction are still being worked out as we are still several months away from project start. Obviously, Summerbrooke Drive is a heavily traveled road and some level of disruption is inevitable. However, every effort will be made to coordinate construction activities in a manner that will get the job done as quickly as possible. How can I find out more as well as stay current on the situation?
We plan to provide updates on this page. In addition, board Vice-President, Bill Leseman, has been leading most of the board’s activities related to Lake Griffin since the issue was first identified in 2003 and typically gives updates at every board meeting. Residents are encouraged to attend and learn more.