With the most recent annual meeting of Section 22 HOA behind us, we are embarking on a new year for our community. An old adage is that Change is Inevitable, and How You Adapt to Change Defines Who You Are. Though we all would like to be in total control, the fact is we cannot control many of the changes that occur around us. So, how do we make the best of those changes? The Section 22 HOA Board looks at changes that occur constantly in our community as opportunities to move forward, and make the Burnt Store Marina better, every chance we get.
In mid-2024, I knew I wanted to get more involved in our community. I attended monthly board meetings regularly, and started attending the weekly workshops for many months prior to submitting my name for election. I thought I had a good idea what was going on in our community, but last year, being a board member has taught me so much more. The changes in the past, and some that needed to occur to make our community better, happened with regularity. Adapting to change requires some forethought, and an open mind. We are so fortunate to have a very dedicated group of community volunteers who provide insight, and help us to make the best of needed changes.
My goal for this communication to our owners, is to focus on the past, present and future. Since this is being written the end of January, for the March Beacon, some may be “old news,” but still needs to be addressed.
Our new Board of Directors: At the annual meeting, Section 22 elected a new BOD for our community. With the retirement from the Board of Mike McFeeley, we are now fortunate to have long-time board member Jerry Newmin, as President. Mark Murphy is the Vice President, Mike Sage, Treasurer, and I am honored to serve as Secretary. Lynda Vail and Greg Beaton will serve as Directors. In the past we have had a seven-member board, however with three openings this year, only two submitted a Notice of Intent to run for the Board, so at this time there are six members. In the next month, the current members will have to decide whether we remain at six, or seek some interested owners for appointment as the seventh member. One of the first things that I noticed on being elected is the wonderful diversity of knowledge that we enjoy. Like any board, we do not always agree on issues, but we enjoy and respect each other, and have the will to do what is best for our community.
OUR PAST, MOVING US TO THE FUTURE
• Amenities Purchase: In 2017, the membership of Section 22 approved a ten-year assessment to purchase the amenities that were at that time privately owned, and were being quietly offered for sale. That Board realized the potential drastic negative consequences the sale of our amenities; irrigation, golf course and Linkside Café, and the Fitness Center and pool could have on our owners. An outside owner could buy these amenities, have little or no concern for the residents and raise rates to simply make money. The Board took a proposal to the members, educated owners on the need, and passed a ten-year assessment to purchase these amenities. The result has been that we, the members of Section 22 control our property and the amenities that our members and their families enjoy.
• The Marina: The marina complex was sold many years ago to Safe Harbor, a private company who then was acquired by Blackstone Capital Management, an investment company. While initially concerning as it relates to the future of our marina, the changes that have been made, and are being made will solidify the marina for decades.
• The Burnt Store Road Corridor: Many years ago, it was nothing more than a country road that went from Fort Myers to Punta Gorda. Then came Cape Coral and a few developments in Lee and Charlotte Counties. Burnt Store Marina for many years was the ONLY residential development. Cape Coral exploded, and was once labeled one of the fastest growing cities in all the United States. Now we are seeing the same thing along Burnt Store Rd. What has already been built has created a great amount of stress on Burnt Store Rd. What is even more concerning is that there are over 20,000 residential properties approved to be built in this corridor in coming years. Lee and Charlotte Counties do not seem to have any concern on the effect all these developments will have on our infrastructure. Section 22 has been blessed with dozens of our neighbors who have stepped up, and served as board members and volunteers on committees to make and keep our community the best in the area.
THE PRESENT
• Irrigation Wells: To address one of, if not the most important amenity to our property owners, in the last year we have drilled two new irrigation wells that replaced the three wells that were drilled when the marina was built. They have deteriorated to the point that they do not provide sufficient irrigation water for our community. The new wells are over 900 feet deep, and are sleeved to ensure they will not collapse. It was reported that one well, running six hours a day, will provide almost 1 million gallons of water a week. More than enough to support the golf course and our community. The added benefit of us owning our own wells is cost to our community. If we had to buy our irrigation water from Charlotte County, the cost would reportedly be almost six times what we can provide our property owners by having and running our own wells.
• Burnt Store Road: We are actively involved in the Burnt Store Road Coalition. This Coalition is comprised of a group of communities and property owners along Burnt Store Road who are dedicated to making sure that the road is designed and maintained to adequately handle traffic. The focus is on the safety of the motoring public, as well as insuring adequate traffic flow as a hurricane evacuation route.
• Irrigation System: The irrigation system has been run by a dedicated group of volunteers. The infrastructure of the system is old, and in need of update. The board is currently exploring a number of options to ensure that our system is dependable, sustainable, and makes sure that every property owner in Section 22 pays their fair share to operate and maintain the system.
• Infrastructure: The infrastructure of Section 22 is aging. It has been well maintained and continues to be a focus. With all the new communities being built around us, we must keep up our property so that we are a place people want to own and visit. In the last few years, roads have been repaved. Currently the water feature at the main gate is being rebuilt. Signage was updated, and all our Section 22 owned properties have been painted. That is only a small part, much more goes on behind the scenes.
• Amenities: The amenity properties are owned by Section 22, but all are run by either contract providers or volunteers. In January, the loan to purchase all the amenities was paid off. The remaining money of the 2026 assessment will be reserved to provide the funds needed for the upkeep of the properties.
• The Marina: In 2024, Morris Depew was contracted to evaluate our community and provide direction for the future. What they found was that we have a solid, comprehensive community. Their most important finding was what we all knew, but may not think about. We have something that no other community has or can have, our marina. We are THE ONLY community from Punta Gorda to Cape Harbor, on the mainland, that has our own marina inside our community. That alone makes us one of the most desirable communities in SW Florida. With the investment that Safe Harbor is making, reported to be over $25 million, and their stated desire to have Burnt Store Marina being the “showpiece marina” in SW Florida, this will insure we are the place people want to be.
• The Golf Course: The golf course has always been a strong draw for our community. This year has been a challenge with the ongoing drought, the lack of dependable water for irrigation, and now the loss of our General Manager. But it is still strong, and will continue to get stronger. Hopefully by the time this Beacon is published, we will have a new General Manger in place who not only has a strong golf course operational background, but also has the skills to run the overall operation of the BSCC, which includes Linkside Café. The board and Troon, our management company, have been focused on making sure the business of running a golf and restaurant operation are strong. The new irrigation well will ensure enough water to the course. Hopefully the cold weather we experienced in late January is in the past, so grass will grow, and the courses get back to what we have come to expect. Also in late January, we brought in outside chefs to evaluate and work with our kitchen staff at Linkside Café to improve our food operation. We all know that our front of the house at Linkside Café, our waitstaff, is wonderful. We need to make sure that all the pieces work well in the future.
• Communications: My goal when elected to the board was to improve our communication, by keeping our members involved in what is going on in the community. In late January after our Annual meeting, as Secretary I had Alliant send out notes on what went on at the annual meeting. By law, minutes cannot be approved until the next annual meeting, which is January of 2027. We can send out notes or updates on what is going on. As the year goes on, we will be sending out communications to keep our owners as knowledgeable as possible on what is being done in our community.
By Florida law, to receive electronic communication from our management company, an owner must authorize receiving emails. The easiest way to sign up for electronic communication is online, on your owner portal (Vantaca). Log into your account, go to MY PROFILE (under your name), ACCOUNT PREFERENCES, and below will be the tabs for General Communications, which will get you timely notices on community issues. If you want to get your billing notices online, and not be dependent on the US Mail, you can also tab email for billing, and your billing for annual assessments will be sent to you electronically. You can also allow your email and telephone number to be listed in the directory under HOMEOWNER DIRECTORY PREFERENCES.
If you are not yet signed up for Vantaca access, call Alliant Property Management at 239-454-1101 or email them at [email protected] and request to sign up for electronic communications.
THE FUTURE
• With a community as large and diverse as BSM, we cannot just look at next month, or even six months or a year. We must formulate a long-term plan for the community. This was done with the Project 2025. We now need to look to 2030 and beyond for both community growth, and to insure the funding for our future needs. We have started this with the Morris Depew study and will undertake other efforts, in the near future, to look ahead.
• Our Board Officers, Alliant, our management company, and other professional organizations such as insurance advisors, Safe Harbor, Platinum Point Yacht Club, and even Cass Cay, the Trading Post and other businesses that operate inside our community are all dedicated to making Burnt Store Marina the most desired community in our area. We are all dedicated to that goal, and I am confident that we will continue to attain that goal.
• The most important item for your future is YOU. We need all our owners to be involved in your community. Attending board meetings will allow you to meet other owners, and know what is going on. Patronize businesses in our gates. This will put you in contact with other owners, and you will be able to learn more about our community. In short, we ask you to BE INVOLVED.
As I have said before, and will say whenever I am given the chance, I am humbled and appreciative of the opportunity to serve on the Section 22 Board of Directors, and will strive every day to earn your trust.
