May 2024 Update
Good day all!
WEB UPDATE:
The HOA is currently migrating its website. During this process, which is expected to last no more than 24-36 hours, the HOA website may be inaccessible. We will notify the neighborhood once the new site is live! If you have any questions during this time, please contact Nick our Lake Manager.
NO WAKE BAN:
The lake remains under a NO WAKE advisory due to high water levels. Once our new website is live, you'll find a LAKE STATUS visual on the homepage for current and future updates.
With the Papio Creek returning to normal levels, we hope the lake will drain back to normal levels soon, allowing us to lift the NO WAKE ban.
On behalf of the HOA, we extend our sympathies to those affected by tornado that swept through our neighborhood almost 3 weeks ago now. While the destruction is overwhelming, we are grateful that there were no serious injuries and that what has been lost can be rebuilt.
We would like to express our gratitude to all the neighbors, friends, family, and volunteers who have come together to assist with the cleanup efforts in the aftermath of the storm.
We wanted to provide an update on activities around the lake. Our work is still not yet complete.
Lake Cleanup:
The Bennington Fire Department and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office have conducted three sonar scans of the lake. During these scans, the HOA identified several large items that are too heavy to be removed without proper equipment. If you see orange buoys, please avoid those areas as they mark the locations of these items, which are scheduled for removal soon.
Nick and I dredged three coves last Friday, removing multiple pieces of roof flashing, roof tarping paper, and other miscellaneous debris. These dredging efforts will continue until all debris is cleared, which we anticipate will last through May.
As a result:
Boating in the coves impacted by the tornado (southern most/south east coves) are STILL CLOSED while clean-up happens. (If you do not live in those coves, please stay out of them during this time)
Cove water cleanup is volunteers assisting Nick at this time. The HOA is looking into commercial options, however trying to mitigate cost amongst all lake cleanup.
The HOA is creating a plan for grading of the common areas leading up to the path, grinding of tree stumps and replanting of trees.
National Guard Update
We wanted to share some information from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office regarding the National Guard that was communicated to the HOA.
“
The National Guard will be pulling out of the neighborhoods this afternoon (5/14/24) at 1:00. They are ending their stay with us. Our dedicated law enforcement patrols will stay on until 5:00pm this evening. As homes have been boarded up and secured to the best they can and people are moving onto the repair phase, plays into the decision to conclude the mission.
Special Attentions have been created for each area we are at and the Road Patrol Deputies have been directed to patrol the areas as call load allows. I have also contacted the Omaha Citizens Patrol to see if they can give a roving presence. The Citizens Patrol is attached with the Omaha Police Department. They are trained, but are not police officers and will not approach or engage anyone who is breaking the law. They are eyes and ears and will call 911 if they see something occurring. They will have placards on their vehicles, identifying themselves and should have amber lights as well.
”
Removal of Damaged Boat Lifts & Docks
We understand that dealing with the aftermath of a tornado is challenging as members of the HOA board were impacted as well. It's crucial to ensure that damaged items are promptly removed from your property. We strongly encourage you to contact your insurance company as soon as possible to report any damage and arrange for the removal of debris and damaged belongings. Timely removal not only aids in the cleanup process but also helps prevent any potential health and safety hazards.
The HOA is fully aware of debris, dock parts, lift parts and misc over by the boat ramp. Nick is working with appropriate parties to clean this area up as quickly as possible. We thank you for your patience - this will take some time.
Rebuilding and Redesigning: Approval Process
As you begin to think about rebuilding or redesigning your homes and properties, please remember that any new construction or major renovations will need to be approved by the HOA.
Now, we fully understand the LAST thing anyone wants to do during this process is have designs reviewed and approved by the HOA. However, our goal is to make this process as painless as possible for you.
To facilitate a smoother experience, we recommend submitting your plans for approval early. Getting ahead of these elements will save time and reduce stress, ensuring that your projects meet all necessary guidelines and standards from the start.
If you have any questions or need assistance during this process, please do not hesitate to reach out to Nick for guidance.
We are here to support you every step of the way as we rebuild and strengthen our community together.