Road Repairs

I met with the road repair contractor this morning. We plan on starting the road patches in two weeks.

We will follow the same procedure as last year. The patches will be cut, bad subgrade removed and then good subgrade will be installed. We will then leave the patches open for a while in an attempt to gain additional compaction. While leaving the patches open is an inconvenience to us all the method proved very effective last year. We will ultimately install the asphalt in the patches after the we believe optimum compaction has been obtained.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

thanks

Scott

Front Entrance Irrigation System

The irrigation system at the front entrance has been broken for some time. Recently we commissioned a local irrigation company to fix the system and the system is now functioning properly.

Scott

Lee County Master Plan Town Hall Meetings

Next week the Lee County Commissioners will be holding the second series of town hall meetings to gain citizen input regarding the development of the county's Master Plan. The county's master plan will establish goals and priorities for residential and commercial growth, infrastructure (water, sewer, roads), land use practices, community services, and economic development. Meeting locations, times and a summary report of the input received from the first series of town hall meetings can be found on the Lee County's website at www.leeco.us/masterplan/. I strongly encourage all Foxchase property owners to take an active interest and participate in the development of the county's master plan as it will undoubtedly impact our community.

I'm disappointed that on-going health problems have prevented me from attending the town hall meetings on behalf of the Lake Committee. Lakefront property owners have expressed concern over the large amount of sediment accumulating in Emerald Lake, which is symptomatic of a broader sediment control problem in our region and one I had hoped to raise at the meetings. For small lakeside communities like ours, maintaining water depth through dredging is simply cost-prohibitive. Unfortunately, Emerald Lake's sediment accumulation will continue to get worse unless the county makes protection of our water resources a top priority.

Photo 1 - Chewacla Creek Inlet (Emerald Lake)

Poor erosion control at development sites has had a significant adverse impact on our lake. This photo illustrates the heavy sediment loads that routinely dumped into Emerald Lake during the construction of several residential developments along branches of Chewacla Creek north of our subdivision in 2007-2008.



Photo 2 - Highway 51, silt fence near Robinson's Creek

This photo is a perfect illustration of lax erosion control measures in Lee County. Not only are these silt fences poorly maintained, but by creating a severe slope on erosion-prone soils, this developer has set the stage for long-term sediment dumping into nearby Robinson's Creek. This situation could have been prevented through use of best management practices, such as reducing the slope, selecting proper vegetation to stabilize soils, and installing a stormwater pond to catch runoff from the site before it enters the waterway.



Aging and/or inadequate infrastructures are also a concern for our community. For years our residents have been reporting problems with the City of Opelika's sewer line backing up and discharging into Chewacla Creek after heavy rains. Although ESG crews are quick to respond to leaks after they are discovered, it continues to be a re-occurring issue. Even though small leaks do not pose a significant public health risk to Emerald Lake users, they still threaten the lake's recreational and aesthetic value by fueling algae blooms and weed overgrowth. While the sewer system is operated and maintained by the City of Opelika, it is still important that the county's master plan addresses the immediate need for infrastructure improvements around the region as well as upgrades to support future demands.

Photo 1 - View of one of the spills from the sewer line located adjacent to Chewacla Creek just northwest of the Lee's Lake lift station.



Photo 2 - Raw effluent entering Emerald Lake from Chewacla Creek.



Next week's town meetings will provide a valuable opportunity for our residents to voice their thoughts and concerns about these and other broader issues, such as roads, schools, socio-economic impacts, etc. Again, I encourage everyone to try to attend.

Thanks,

Sharon

Front Entrance Landscaping

The Beautification Committee has approved a plan to install landscaping at the front entrance. We hope to have the work completed in the very near future.

Scott

Picnic

The neighborhood picnic was last Saturday and was a very nice.

Special thanks to all of the people who spent time organizing the event.

Scott