Indigo Lakes - Emergency Order

The office of The Summit's HOA emailed homeowners today:

"You are receiving this message to inform you that Indigo Lake Dam is currently under an Emergency Order issued by the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES).

"The spillway conduit has separated in two known areas, resulting in significant erosion in the surrounding area. In response, the water level of the lake will be lowered for safety concerns and to allow the engineer to develop a comprehensive repair plan.

"We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work to ensure the safety and long-term stability of the dam."

For how many months (years) have the Ponds & Lakes Committee and the Board known about this and related problems? For many months the Board has heard reports from the Committee. There was a DHEC engineer involved until he retired, and there was some dispute over his services and the amount he was to be paid.

Now there is an Emergency Order.

What are the "safety concerns"? Are there "personal-safety" concerns of homes or lives at risk of being lost? I doubt it. Just what are they?

How will lowering the lake affect irrigation of Common Property by the water from the lake?

How much has the maintenance and repair of the Dam cost so far? How much will it cost until the problem is no longer a problem? Does the Board know? Has it ever asked?

This is just one of the expensive problems that has lingered. I suspect the longer it lingers, the more it costs.

Like the falls at the entrance from Clemson Road. Is there a comprehensive plan with a realistic estimated cost? Are the Reserves sufficient to pay the cost?

Or, since Reserves have been significantly shorted since 2020, is there a reasonable expectation of a Special Assessment to restore the financial stability of the HOA?

History of Budgeted Reserves contributions (Line 8000):
2020 $163,965 ($66.11 per home)
2021 $146,155 ($58.93 per home)
2022 $  91,610 ($36.94 per home)
2023 $  39,677 ($16.00 per home)
2024 $           0 ($  0.00 per home)
2025 $    3,000 ($  1.21 per home)

The contributions to your Reserves went down, but your dues did not go down. Operating Expenses went up. 

Shorting the Reserves is why your dues did not go up. Over the years the Treasurers and the Board should have been telling you this. 

Reserves should not have been shorted. Dues should have gone up each year.

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