The staff in the Business Office has a New Year's resolution to provide even more personalized service for our residents. Should you have difficulty getting to the office or have a problem please call, FAX or E-mail and we will try and find a way to provide service to meet your needs.

The budget cycle is well underway with the Finance Committee meeting almost every Wednesday evening to go through all the requirements by functional area. One area that is getting a close look is the feasibility of contracting out the management of the pools. This committee review should finish by late January with a recommended budget being provided to the Board of Directors for finalization. There is a limited amount of discretionary money for projects until the CIP is paid off (early in 2006) and some hard choices will be necessary. Do we start design of a new Harbor Inn Pool, rebuild golf green #1 or #9, start the Marina upgrade or any of several other desired projects? It's not going to be an easy call.

We have already had a taste of snow removal. The Roads and Grounds crew will continue trimming back trees on the road shoulders that impede the snowplows. Of critical importance is that when it snows all vehicles parked along the road be moved as far away from the road edge as possible. There has to be room for the plow to pass and space to push the snow. Most jurisdictions tow if you are in the way. We really don't want to do that but if that's what's necessary to keep the road open we may have to occasionally tow. Please help us avoid this.

The vehicle storage lot behind the stable should be open as you read this. It culminates a lot of work by the staff and several board members who have volunteered many hours. Likewise, the Virginia Department of Transportation Wetlands Trade Off Project should be well underway. This should open up the area on top of the hill off Harpoon Drive and give us the new bulkhead and canoe ramp at the end of Delaware Drive.

The cooperation with the Rescue Squad on their proposed new facility continues to move forward. The Rescue Squad is working their end of the project with their members and Stafford County. Simultaneously, the association attorney is putting together a package with options for transferring the necessary property.

Langley McDonald, Inc. has delivered the long awaited study of a time phased marina upgrade. Among other things the study increases the average slip size, adds slips, moves the Ships Store onshore and gives new utility lines and hookups. It's envisioned to be a multiple year project with the end result being a long overdue state of the art marina.

Thank you to the individuals and organizations that contributed toward the 2 defibulators the police recently purchased. We now have one in each of the patrol cars. The intent is to eventually have additional units at the Golf Course, Business Office and Marina.

Recently there has been a spate of insecure cars being pilfered and items stolen. The pattern and items taken indicate early to mid teens are the offenders. Please keep your cars locked. If you even suspect something wrong is going on call the gate and an officer will respond. To those with teens I ask do you know where your son or daughter is in the early hours of the morning? When the offenders are caught the charges will be serious enough that young lives could be ruined.

Please take note the January 2004 board meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. January 29th at the Country Club.