Smoke over Regency Cove

Tampa Fire Rescue firefighters have contained what earlier today was a raging fire at a scrap metal and recycling business at the Port of Tampa.
The fire was reported at about 3:30 p.m. today at Trademark Metals Recycling, 4201 Maritime Blvd., Tampa.
No one was injured in the blaze.
The fire started in a pile of household machinery and appliances which is about 2 1/2 stories high and the length of a football field, said Capt. Lonnie Benniefield, a fire department spokesman. The pile of metal ultimately was going to be transferred to a shredder, he said.
It is unknown exactly how or where the fire began. Benniefield speculates it started in the middle of the pile.
Large plumes of smoke from the blaze can be seen throughout much of the Tampa Bay area. Smoke is drifting over Davis Islands and Hillsborough Bay.
The fire department hasn't issued safety or hazardous warnings. Benniefield cautioned that no one should stand in an area where they can inhale the smoke.
The cause of the fire is considered accidental, Bennefield said.
"When you are moving piles of metal, they touch and there could be a spark," he said. "This is not uncommon for this to happen."
It isn't known how long it will take firefighters to put out the fire. It might take days, Benniefield said.
In November 2007, a large fire broke out at Trademark Metals, in an area where scrap metal was piled. Like today's fire, that fire caused a plume of smoke that could be seen for miles.
Stay with TBO.com for updates.

Oct Board Meeting Notes

Forty-three residents were in attendance when the meeting opened. During the committee reports, Ron Jeffries announced that it was legal for any resident to fish off any HORC dock, a numbered dock. Please don't trespass on the private docks.
Manager Dawn Simmons gave a thorough report. We are in the first phase of our recycling program. A company in St. Pete is paying us for our stuff, but restrictions apply. The newspaper bin is for NEWSPAPER ONLY. Glass is white only, no colored glass. Curb service for recycles will begin on Nov 1, 2011. Please find an appropriate bin for glass, plastic and newspaper.
Nov 9 2011 - Regency Cove Junk Day. Put everything curbside for pickup.
Nov 14 2011 - Four side home inspections will begin. No junk is allowed around your home.
Pool repair delays have occurred. Pool may open Monday.
Bright House will soon provide to its customers a designated community TV channel for FREE. They plan to send a rep to the next town hall meeting to sign up new customers.
The Board approved a new credit card for Office expenses, with a $1500 limit before board approval is needed.
A motion was made and approved to begin the replacement of apartment windows. New doors will follow. The lowest bid was not accepted.
Three new bids for lawn and tree care have been received. The manager is dissatisfied with the current company. Item was tabled.
Old Business
The residents who use the Pelican Point kayak ramp requested car access to the Point. President Kralick offered unloading only privileges, but the group refused to negotiate.
Please be specific when filling out Incident Reports. Document time, date, vehicle description, tag number, person/s involved, and behaviors.
Property on B5, formerly owned by Mr. Lindenberg,was not sold on the court house steps, and has reverted back to park.
The board attorney will be present at the November board meeting.
The final item of business involved the purchase of a new financial program, Quick Books, to bring the finances back to the Office. Jerry Sullivan will return as our accountant, and folks with questions about their payments will be handled immediately by our staff. The current company is slow to respond to questions or other issues.

Town Hall Meeting Today

Five residents sat at the table in front of the Town Hall Meeting this morning: Ellen Nimon, Ron Herb, Pat Hecker, Diane Woods, and Rosemary Mann. Ron opened the meeting with a prayer and recognized the couples newly returned to the park. He announced that the coffee and donuts were provided by Lisa Wheaton of the Barefoot Realty Group. The following represents some tidbits of the meeting:
The Town Hall meetings are held to insure transparency and to keep communication alive. Residents have concerns about the board meetings, i.e. the routine waiving of the minutes at meetings, financial reports could be more detailed by describing the financial activities. Another concern is how are board conclusions are arrived at, because of the volume of emailing among board members.
 Pat continued by questioning the use of a proxy to select a board member at the last board meeting, and cited the section in our documents prohibiting this very thing. The president Dennis Kralick was available for comment and said that the board was unaware of the resignation and the proxy before the meeting started. Why are some board members so secretive that they can't even share among themselves?
Residents were encouraged to read our documents. Whether you have a gray book or a blue book, they are our governing documents and are, by law, required for inspection before the sale of every unit. The seller should be held liable for providing the buyer with the documents, not the board and not the manager. If you don't have them, buy them. R&Rs should also be provided for inspection before the sale.
On Respect-
Residents are discouraged from booing at board meetings. Conversely, board members are encouraged to listen to the residents and show equal respect. Workshops and Town Hall meetings will be used to promote open discussion after the agendas are posted. The agenda lately has been posted on the website.
On The Survey-
Support was overwhelming in favor of the recently distributed survey. Not every item was favorable i.e. equal maintenance fees. There was discussion on the size of the board, and the feeling I got is that the folks in charge are looking forward to a 7 man board. Many opinions were voiced.
On Parking and Motorcycles-
A committee has been formed to study the issue. Again. The motorcycle rule was omitted in a very sneaky way, when the board approved the rules that were written by a very secretive president.  Rule changes have historically been presented to the people with bold print and strike-throughs.These were not. Let's see how this shakes out.
On double lots-
Equitable maintenance fees, taxes, and sale of partial lots were discussed and will become future agenda items. Although one past board member admitted to promoting the idea years ago, no one person is to blame. Its a park issue that arose during the Ron Herb administration, was turned over immediately to our attorney, and needs to be resolved quickly.
More than two people in a home-
Please refer to section C of our documents, in the Master Occupancy Agreements, Article Four. You can't get any clearer than that.
The 2 Year Rental Rule-
I happened to be on the board when that was changed, and it was understood then that the change was only temporary. Its time to discuss this again. Another future agenda item.
The Canadian Flag-
Fly it or not? Most people said to leave it alone.
The next board meeting is Oct. 19 at 1:00. After that, Nov 16, with the agenda posted around the 6th. The next Town Hall is scheduled for Nov 12.
First Friendship Club dinner Oct 17.
First Yacht Club Dance is Oct. 22.

This was a good meeting. We've had good Town Hall meetings in the past. Let's hope this movement stays alive and strong, and  that the board  listens to the residents.

Town Hall Meeting

A Town Hall Meeting is scheduled for this Saturday at 10:00 am. Come to listen. Bring your concerns.


Just a thought... please complete the Surveys that were included in October's newsletter. The manager is interested in your comments and ideas. If you're still up north, mail them back to the office. 

Can You Identify?

As in all organizations involving the transfer of information, small glitches occasionally occur. One such glitch is the crashing of the hard drive which contained the contents of the veteran's memories and all their photos.We are in the process of recovering the information from the printed copies we have, and hope that our program will still be held in January 2012.


 We have a photo, but can't identify the soldier. Can someone please comment below if you have any ideas. The words "England 1943" appear on the back of the photo.

 Who is this man?

Tai Chi Class

Jan Platt Library will hold FREE Tai Chi exercise classes every Fri 1-2 pm.

This is a great class for everyone. It highlights deep breathing and gentle movements.

It will benefit those with balance problems, wheelchair bound, and those who just HATE

the very thought of exercise.

 

The teacher is Bonnie Thomas Birdsall, well known for her work in Assisted Living facilities including Grand Court. Resident Mary Lou Mittel has volunteered to drive a few on a first come-first served basis. Contact her directly, her name can in found in the residents' directory.

 Thanks, Mary Lou!