2019 Annual Meeting Highlights

More than 300 residents turned out for The Landings Association’s 2019 Annual Meeting on Thursday, February 28 in Plantation’s Ballroom.

2019 Landings Association President LeeAnn Williams opened the meeting, welcomed the group, and gave an overview of the agenda for the meeting. She then introduced 2018 Landings Association President Rick Cunningham, who recognized retired Directors T.J. Hollis and Joyce Marble for their service on the Board. He then recognized 2018 Volunteer of the Year Bob Longueira for his work with Adaptive Golf Clinic for Challenged Veterans, Habitat for Humanity, Kiwanis Club of Skidaway, Landings Military Family Relief Fund, and Landings Security Gate Volunteer, to name just a few of the organizations for which Longueira volunteers. Cunningham then acknowledged the 2018 Volunteer Group of the Year – Sustainable Skidaway. The group spearheaded the effort which led the Landings community to earn the designation as the first sustainable community in Georgia in 2018.

Cunningham covered some 2018 highlights for The Landings Association. Topping the list was The Landings being named the first Audubon International Certified Sustainable Community in Georgia, Renovation and Renewal Initiatives for aging properties, preparing for 5G, completing storm renovation after Tropical Storm Hermine and Hurricanes Matthew and Irma, the unsuccessful 2018 Assessment Vote, and Incorporation Status. Following are some details on each of the subject areas.

• The Landings Named the first Sustainable Community in Georgia - Thanks to the efforts of Sustainable Skidaway, The Landings earned the status of being the first Audubon International Certified Sustainable Community in Georgia in 2018. Not only does this milestone bring with it bragging rights, it also signifies the community’s commitment to a healthy, active community that embraces the environment and economic vitality.
• Renovation and Renewal Initiatives - A committee led by Board Director Diane Thompson has been formed to support property values within the community and improve the quality of life on the island by assisting interested residents with developing a plan to renovate their property.
• Prepare for 5G - The Landings Association continues to stay on the cutting edge of technology to continue to provide the highest level of customer service to residents.  5G is the latest generation of cellular mobile communications that succeeds the 4G, 3G, and 2G systems. It’s performance targets high data rate, reduced latency, energy saving, cost reduction, higher system capacity, and massive device connectivity.
• Storm Renovation Completed - It took some time to get the community back to normal after Tropical Storm Hermine, Hurricane Matthew, and Hurricane Irma. By the end of 2018, The Landings Association had reestablished common property, removed trees (including stump grinding), regraded areas, delineated beds and applied pine straw, replanted trees and shrubbery, and hydroseeded. The costs for this work, above the Special Assessment equaled ~$700,000.
• 2018 Assessment Vote - The vote received 66% approval by residents. However, to pass, a 66.7% approval was needed. Some capital projects and new proposals were deferred due to the vote not passing. Some of the deferred projects included Landings Harbor Dry Stack Refurbishment, Playground Replacement and Upgrade, Athletic Field Lighting and Track Replacement, Street Sign Lighting, Disaster and Flood Mitigation, and Increased Perimeter Security.
• Incorporation Study - On March 19, Skidaway Island residents will have the opportunity to vote on whether or not Skidaway Island should become its own city. The decision to explore Incorporation was part of the 2014 Landings Association Strategic Plan. The plan was further reviewed with the community in Town Halls and written communications in 2015. In 2016-17, an Incorporation Feasibility Study found a city of Skidaway Island would be financially feasible. These results were shared via Town Halls in 2017, and to continue to explore the subject of Incorporation was met with clear support from those who attended the meetings. In spring of 2017, five Study Committees formed and confirmed that more/better services could be provided by a City of Skidaway for less cost. Five town halls were held in late 2017 and attended by more than 1,000 Skidaway Island residents (including residents from Modena, South Harbor, and The Marshes of Skidaway), who again provided clear support to bring this issue to a vote. The Landings, South Harbor, and Modena each passed a resolution requesting legislation allowing a vote, and a 2018 survey to all island resident reveled that 66% said they’d be inclined to vote “yes” for incorporation. In 2018, legislation allowing a vote passed State House and Senate and was signed into law by the governor for a November 2018 vote. However, the Incorporation Steering Committee discovered a drafting error, causing the vote to have to be postponed. In 2019, the Charter was amended to fix the error, and the governor signed the Charter into law leading to the upcoming vote.

2018 Treasurer Joyce Marble covered the financial results for the Association and its subsidiary, The Landings Company. She shared with attendees that for the 2018 year-end, the reallocation for The Landings Association’s Annual Assessment was adjusted from the original budget, to transfer $685,100 to the Capital Reserve Fund. This was possible because there were several expense account line items that were under budget as well as several revenue line items that were better than budget expectations, and the Association also reduced the cash on hand in the Operating Fund.

Marble also highlighted that there were higher revenues in the Capital Reserve fund in 2017 due to the fact that 63% of the special assessment was received in that year, with the remaining. 37% received in 2018, concluding the collection of the special assessment.

Marble reported that The Landings Company continues its upward trend in leading home sales and expects an even stronger 2019.

“The Landings Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Landings Association,” she said. “The Landings Association is a not-for-profit organization, while The Landings Company is a for-profit organization. However, we don’t expect them to make a profit because all profits are put back into marketing The Landings. The net loss after depreciation that you see is due in part to spending more on marketing in 2018 versus 2017, as well as paying for new sales lead tracking software in 2018.”

Marble added that the audit of the Association’s report for 2018 has been concluded and that the Association received a clean opinion.

“The Annual Report containing the 2018 audited financial statements and an excellent review of the financial and operating results has been posted on the Association’s website,” she said. “I hope you will take the time to visit the website, where you can download or read the report online.”

Landings Association Board President LeeAnn Williams wrapped up the meeting by introducing Landings Association Department Directors and reminded attendees staff are here to help answer questions now and in the future.

To view the PowerPoint presentation from the 2018 Annual Meeting, click here. To read the 2018 Annual Report, click here.

2018 Landings Association Board President Rick Cunningham (right) poses with 2018 Volunteer of the Year Bob Longueira.

2018 Landings Association Board President Rick Cunningham (right) poses with Mal Welch (left) who accepted the award for 2018 Volunteer Group of the Year on behalf of Sustainable Skidaway.