Harbour View Article by John Reinboldt   Aquia Harbour Board of directors.  12-15-02

 

BINGO! Hopefully everyone reading this article has already returned your post card questionnaire regarding the possibility of Bingo in the Harbour. We have been talking about bringing Bingo into the Harbour for the last six months or so for two reasons.  Bingo historically is a good fund raiser and it’s a great time to socialize with your friends & neighbors. Please take a moment and fill out the card or get a new one from the office or on line at the Harbour Website. www.aquiaharbour.org  Taking on Bingo is a big undertaking. Please give us as much feedback as possible.

 

With the new Board of Directors in place and the budget process starting, I believe this is a good opportunity to lay out my goals for the new session. I tried to get as much input as possible last year by bringing up various issues, and asking for your opinions. This endeavor does not stop. I am always looking for your opinion and potential solutions. Your input has dramatically changed, and driven my efforts on many projects. (john@reinboldt.com)  The following projects and issues are going to be my primary goals:

 

• Complete the storage facilities for the housing of Boats, Trailers, Campers, or other items that should be in a storage area rather than in front of our homes.
• Connect our parks with walking paths especially along our busiest roads. I want to be able to walk from Section 3 to the stables and have a path wide enough for two to walk next to each other.
• Strengthen or re-write and clarify our rules as they pertain to the homes and property in the Harbour. The condition of some homes in the Harbour is deplorable! Your home is your castle, and you have the right to keep it in the fashion that suits you, UNTIL that condition effects the value of the homes around you and in the Harbour. Simply putting liens on homes after laborious communications is not working. We will update our Rules and Regulations, then the By Laws and then the Covenants.
• Fix the roof on the Harbour Inn and add a kitchen.
• Complete a plan for the replacement of the Harbour Inn Pool. A pool committee is in the process of forming (Volunteers Needed!) to look at some of the options. In the near future I will have some “concept” drawings available for comment and review.
• Rebuild hole # 1 or #9 at the golf course. The Virginia State Golf Assn. and the U.S. Golf Assn.  recommend that these holes be replaced.
• Build a Pool House at the Country Club Pool to alleviate the wear and tear on the C.C. bathrooms.
• Create or task a committee to redesign the Country Club main floor. To include moving the Kitchen, the Bar and possibly expanding the Dining area.
• Continue the removal or reduction of the redundant or ridiculous signs we have around the Harbour as well as standardizing the design of Harbour amenities signs.

 

As always-unforeseen issues and projects will arise, but I hope to move forward in the next year as well as we did in the past year. Some of those successes were:

• An open and non-confrontational Board.

• Getting half the cost of the dredging project paid for by Stafford County.
• Moving forward with recognition of Government Island.
• Moving forward with the purchase and creation of wetlands by VDOT.
• September 11^th Memorial.
• Fencing in Section 1.
• Financial plan & program for “Capitol Improvements”.
• Storage facilities begun.
• Setting precedence for selling (or not selling) common property without resident approval.
• New paddocks for the stables.
• Significant movement on Harbour Beautification.
• Implementation of improved security procedures by our new police chief.
• Improved Web Site www.aquiaharbour.org. This site has developed nicely, and I would hope everyone takes the time to go through all the information. Especially the essay by Ben Blankenship concerning the history of the Harbour.

 

Storage Area’s are noted as the first item in my goals for next year. Although all the items are not listed in priority order, it is appropriate that it leads the list. We have finished our first of three sites. The area behind the tennis courts in Section One off Washington Drive is excepting items. The Harbour office will be happy to set you up with a site. Call 659-3050. The secure facility behind the Stables is still under construction as of this writing, but the office can give you an update as we expect it to be complete this year.  

Now that we have storage area’s available, NO storing of items (“items” include: boats, trailers, campers, commercial vehicles, construction equipment, etc.) will be allowed in the amenity parking areas.

This is the opportunity that a lot of us have been eagerly anticipating. I will finally have a place for my trusty old pickup to sit when I am not hauling fire wood or gardening stuff around. The front of my house will be that less cluttered. I am sure there are many of you in the same position. Campers, boats, trailers, commercial vehicles of all sorts seem to adorn many homes. This is your opportunity to move some of those items while keeping them close at hand.

 

Gardner’s Alert! One of the nice things about having horses in the Harbour is the manure available

to any one who wants it. This is the perfect time of year to collect it. There are two ways to use it. According to the Virginia Cooperative Extension Office, the easiest is to spread a layer of the manure over the garden and till it in. By spring the manure will have decomposed enough for planting. Composting is arguably the best way. If you use a commercial decomposer simply follow the instruction and you’re good to go. To make your own decomposer, lay a pallet in your garden (allows air to circulate) and surround it with straw bails. Fill with manure. Keep moist. The manure will naturally achieve a temperature of 110+ degrees which will kill the weed seeds and the bacteria. Steam is good! In the spring, till it all into the garden.

 

Sledding!!!  The best spot in the Harbour is the driving Range!  Just don’t tell anyone. My six year old wants to keep it a secret!

 

I look forward to the new year and truly hope all of you will continue to send emails and offer your help, support, or suggestions. I am very excited about the progress and direction we are taking. The future of Aquia Harbour has never been brighter!  Feel free to email me at john@reinboldt.com .

Please Have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

 

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