Sometimes the rumor mill in Tellico Village is entertaining. Sometimes it unnecessarily stirs people up and causes strife in our community.
Last week a Villager posted online what they believed was accurate information about the progress of one of the project implementation committees. The specific project addressed was the Kahite Activity Center complex.
The post used words like, “The plan is in the final stages and will soon be approved by our POA,” and “Expect the project to start sometime soon — my guess early 2017.” Those words are inaccurate, premature and misleading.
Here’s the straight scoop on the Kahite complex PIC. That PIC has met four times since April with three of those meetings with the architects, Benefield and Richters. At the July 20 POA Board of Directors meeting, Jeff Gagley presented an update on this project and the Toqua clubhouse and Tanasi parking projects. Those PICs have also met four times so far.
The PICs will continue to meet until their work is done and they have met the board’s charge to them. In the case of the Kahite PIC, their scope is: “Taking the data gathered by the last PIC, do an engineering study for the amenity portion of the project, with phases not including the restaurant portion, to get better numbers for the cost of the project and options.” They are close to completing that scope and will bring another update to the Aug. 2 board workshop for further discussion.
After they have met their scope, a project will be discussed at various committee and board meetings and may or may not enter the detailed and comprehensive budget and five-year plan process. This year’s budget process gets cranked up in August. This project is nowhere close to being in its final stages and is not close to being approved. There is much work and discussion to be done before it is considered for inclusion in the budget or five-year plan.
Before the POA board approves a project of this nature, the details will be posted on the POA website for feedback and comments. We will place reminders in the Tell-E-Gram so Villagers have ample opportunity to view the details and provide feedback and input.
PICs are part of managing projects and are very important in ensuring the projects that move toward construction have sufficient input from a variety of sources, both internal and external. PIC membership may include architects, the public works director, departmental managers and advisory committee representatives from the department for which the effort is being done, a ACC member, a Public Services Committee member, Village residents not affiliated with any specific committee and others as needed. The responsibilities of the PIC include specifying project requirements, schedules, budgets, cost controls and change order assessments.
The Kahite clubhouse, Toqua clubhouse and Tanasi parking projects will all be discussed at the board workshop at 10 a.m. Aug. 2 in the POA conference room. I encourage all Villagers interested in hearing firsthand some details of these projects to attend the workshop.
Volunteers needed
The POA will begin accepting applications for volunteers to fill seats on several of the advisory committees beginning in August. If you are interested in serving the community by sitting on one of the committees, application packets are available at the POA administrative building.
I encourage anyone thinking about serving on a committee to attend a committee meeting or two over the next couple of months to see how the process works here in Tellico Village. Schedules of committee meetings may be found in The Connection, on Tellico Village Broadcasting or in the Tell-E-Gram. Minutes from past committee meetings may be found on the POA website on the committee page.
Applications will be accepted until Oct. 3. Later in October, managers will schedule meetings with applicants to put the best folks on the committee that matches their expertise and fills a need for the POA. The Board of Directors will approve and appoint new committee members at the December board meeting.
Budget meetings
It’s that time of year again — time for budget meetings as the POA staff begins the process of looking at the 2017 budget and five-year plan. August is the month the individual departments start looking at budgetary items with their committees. We always encourage interested Villagers to attend committee meetings.
The entire budget meeting calendar will be posted in the Tell-E-Gram and on the website in August. Finance Director Parker Owen details the budget process in his article in this edition of The Connection and in the July 22 Tell-E-Gram. Expect to see that meeting calendar in the August edition of The Connection as well.
POA 101
The next edition of POA 101 is 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3, at the Yacht Club. POA 101 is a session for newcomers or Villagers who would like a refresher on Village governance and finances. Attendees will receive a comprehensive packet of information about Tellico Village and the complementary Tellico Village license plate.
Anyone wanting to attend is strongly encouraged to RSVP with Patty Robichaud in the public relations department at 865-458-5408, ext. 4115. Your RSVP will ensure that we have enough handouts for all attendees.
