Posts

Final Report on Lawsuit?

Will the Board of Directors direct the management company or the Covenants or the Finance Committee to prepare a full report on the lawsuit that was started by Danny Trapp in December 2024 against resident Gus Philpott (me)? The lawsuit was dismissed, with prejudice, on January 13, 2026 The report should include: how it got started without a vote by the Board of Directors (and who was on the Board at the time); how it got started without a request to the Voting Members to approve the lawsuit? who was/were the point(s) of contact with the lawyers; were the other directors told not to contact the lawyers; whether then-Board President Danny Trapp got an estimate of the costs of starting and continuing the lawsuit; whether Danny Trapp kept the entire Board of Directors informed continually of the status and costs of the lawsuit; whether the full Board was consulted each time a major expense was about to be incurred; how the amounts paid to the law firm and reported in monthly financial sta...

How Are Complaints Handled?

The Procedures Reference Manual (PRM) spells out exactly how a resident's complaint about a CC&R violation is supposed to be handled. I wonder how many Voting Members are aware of this and how many accept the responsibility of receiving complaints from homeowners and residents in their neighborhoods. Here are the rules: Art. III Administration (Page 32) P. Residential Complaints 1) General a. When a resident has a concern or sees what he believes is a CC&R violation, the resident should discuss the concern with the neighborhood chair (voting member/representative). b. The neighborhood representative may address the concern with the violator or transmit the concern to the board of directors. c. The board of directors may designate the property manager and its onsite management staff to receive and address the CC&R complaints and concerns. d. If the complaint is not addressed to the satisfaction of the resident and representative by  the property manager, the concern is ...

New Crosswalk Signs, Summit Parkway

Watch for the new crosswalk signs on Summit Parkway, at the crest of the hill east of Summit Ridge Drive. Thanks to the Richland County Roads & Drainage Department for their prompt response to my message on February 16th that signs were needed in both directions. The crosswalk was marked on the pavement, but there were no signs to alert drivers. Drivers, you do know what to do when a pedestrian is standing at the curb, waiting to enter the crosswalk, don't you? A. Step on the gas and speed up? B. Slam on your brakes and stop, causing the driver behind you to smash into you? C. Stop and wave the pedestrian to cross in front of you, regardless of traffic in the adjacent lane? D. Honk your car's horn. Hope the pedestrian doesn't step off the curb in front of you? E. Slow and stop far enough back that the pedestrian can see other oncoming traffic? F. Don't know what to do. G. None of the above.

Brick Wall - still not repaired

What's the delay in getting the brick wall on Summit Parkway repaired, where it was damaged in December west of Summit Parkway Middle School? It's the wall behind 14 Ricemill Ferry Drive. Repair work has started. It should have been finished long before now. The HOA should have an established procedure for brick wall repairs, due to the frequency of damage. The HOA should have a trusted vendor for brick repairs. If the right procedures were in place, about five minutes of office time would be required. Just call the vendor; tell him where the damage is, to fix it, and send the bill. The Property Manager reported at the February 3rd board meeting that funds had been received. Presumably, he meant from or on behalf of the driver who caused the damage. Repair should have been made in early January. A Board Resolution passed 20+ years ago directs the  repairs, regardless of any anticipated claim against the party causing the damage. In the PRM, Art. II, §D Resolutions, ¶5 (Page 11)...

Will HOA Board Address $25,000+ in Illegal Disbursements?

How will The Summit's Board of Directors address the $25,000+ in illegal disbursements of HOA funds for the lawsuit against Gus Philpott (me)? What is the accurate total of costs and fees for that litigation? Will the HOA recover those funds? Why were disbursements (for legal fees and costs) illegal? Because the Board of Directors never approved the litigation! In fact, the litigation was prohibited by the CC&Rs (Art. XIII, §10). After the Covenants Committee informed the Board at the Board's August 5, 2025 board meeting that the litigation violated the Covenants, the Board did not address that violation at its August, September, or October Board Meetings. Danny Trapp was President then.  Will the current Board investigate those expenditures? Was a crime committed? What action will the Board take to recover those funds? Who was responsible for spending that money? The Board President? The Board Treasurers? The Board members who silently allowed it? CAMS? Who will investiga...

Butler's Case Against Four Residents - What's To Know?

On December 12, 2025 Vernell Butler filed a case in Richland County Magistrate's Court against four residents of The Summit.  Butler is a former Alternate for Summit Hills V (until Dec. 2020), Director of the HOA (Dec. 2020-Nov. 2023), past Treasurer, and unsuccessful candidate for the Board in November 2025.  Butler filed a Compl aint (Case Number   2025CV4010405381)  against Brenda Bryant, Linda Potter, Jeff Lummel , and Angelo Turley-Moore. The case was originally filed in the Dentsville Magistrate's Court and was transferred to the Blythewood Magistrate's Court. The allegations in the Complaint are:  "BRENDA BRYANT, THOMAS LUMMEL, ANGELO TURLEY-MOORE and LINDA POTTER [ emphasis in the original ] have violated the South Carolina Nonprofit Corporation Act by holding an invalid election to improperly seat board members, which is in clear violation of this act." The Complaint continues,  "I believe, because of the above information, that The Summit is...

Pet Peeve - tinted license plates covers

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  (S.C.) WBX 831 This guy went flying by me on Hard Scrabble last week. Guess who was stopped right in front of me, when we got to Clemson Road? Obscured licenses plates are one of my biggest pet peeves. The driver knows it's illegal; he covers his license plate for two reasons. It's hard to get reported to police, when the plate can't be read. He can drive like a wild man, knowing he won't get reported. I'd love it if the Highway Patrol would stop these guys. Cite them and remove the cover and the plate for evidence. Then have the car towed, because there is no license plate on it. I can just hear the caterwauling and gnashing of teeth now ....