GILLETTE WOODS HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATION

Minutes of the May 30, 2015 SPRING MEETING

Jim Steckel, President of the 2015 Board of Directors welcomed members to the 2015 GWA business and social meeting. We had a good turnout of 40 residents.

He introduced the current Board of Directors, Kathy Gross and John Ryan, Vice-Presidents, Louis McCray, Treasurer, Bill Cumming, Secretary, Parky Flanagan and Stephanie Kaneps, Welcome Committee, Libby Rauch and Paty Ausum, Directors. Louis, Libby and Paty were not able to join us due to other commitments.

Jim thanked three outgoing Board Members. Kathy Gross and Paty Ausum will be leaving the board having served two 3-year terms.Libby Rauche has been a board member for the past two years, but has requested to be relieved due to family commitments. All will be missed along with their knowledge and advice provided over this past year

Three names were then placed into nomination to replace the outgoing Board Members. Iain Fitch, 131 Glenwalden Circle, Jacqueline Brown-Williams, 1345 Braewick Road and Hewitt “Buck” Lovelace, 90 Dogwood Trail were unanimously elected for three-year terms.

Bill Cumming, GWA Secretary representing Treasurer, Louis McCray, gave an update on our current financials. As of 5/30/15, we have $7,000 in the savings account and $1,200 in the checking account. Our income comes solely from the $20 per home annual dues. In 2014, 77 owners paid a total of $1,534. So far in 2015, 49 owners, including 15 today, paid a total of $980. Thanks to those of you who have already paid. We would appreciate those who have not to send $20 to GWA, P.O. Box 552, Tryon, NC 28782.
Bill thengave anupdate on Gillette Woods membership.

  • There are 350 lots in Gillette Woods recorded in the May 2015 Polk County Tax rolls:
  • 291 lot owners are listed in our database, one entry for each plat number on the Polk County tax roll. Some of these are empty lots, some are summer-only homes and a few are rentals. 59 empty lots are owned by those who also own homes in GW.
  • 88 owners on our list we consider GWA members, meaning they paid dues in 2014 and/or 2015. These are our core members, and we rely on them to support our Association and help promote the benefits of living in Gillette Woods. They help keep this the friendly, private and peaceful place we all enjoy.
  • 78 owners are on our membership list and may have paid dues in the past, but they have not paid dues in 2014 or 2015. These are people we need to recruit to join our association. We use Blast E-mails, newsletters and social meetings like this to encourage residents who have not yet joined to come out to meet their neighbors and help promote GWA as the friendliest neighborhood in Tryon. If you know neighbors are not yet members, encourage them to join, as the more people we have in the Association, the more we can spread the brand of Gillette Woods within the Tryon community.
  • The remaining 124 lot owners are not considered members, since they do not respond to our mailings, have never paid dues and we do not have E-mail or phone numbers for them. For the most part, these are absentee owners, corporations or trusts and they often own empty lots. We no longer attempt to reach out to these lot owners through U.S. Mail notices or newsletters.
  • Our Blast E-mails are the quickest, cheapest and most effective way for us to communicate with our GWA membership. It costs us nothing to send E-mails. We have 128 lot owners like you, who have email addresses.Unfortunately, many GW residents do not use E-mail or have not yet provided it to us, so we need to use U.S. Mail to send the newsletters and invitations to those folks at a cost of about $1.50 each. We used U.S. Mail to send 163 May 2015 Newsletters to Gillette Woods owners without email this month. Only 44 of these owners are considered members. The remaining 119 are lot owners we would like to see join GWA. So if you received our recent invitation by US Mail, and you have an email account, please let me know it is so we can save the Association some money by eliminating some of the future U.S. mailings.

Jim then spoke about several topics that have been brought up as concerns of our neighbors in GW:

1)Barking dogs:

There is currently an unenforceable town ordinance to deal with barking dog disturbances.The police will issue a citation combined with an amount of a fine.There is no legal basis for collecting the fine other than through small claims court, and the city maintains the time and expense of doing so is excessive.Currently the fines issued to the resident at50 GlengarnockRoad amount to $350,and the town has now taken action to collect it.Town Councilman George Baker, who lives on Marion St. in GW, has been working on the issue and at the last Town Council meeting he requested the Council modify the ordinance to align it with “disturbing the peace”or otherwise strengthened it to become a criminal offense, which would then be enforceable through Magistrates’ Court. He requested Town Attorney Bailey Nager to look into strengtheningthis ordinance. On June 3, following our meeting, the Town Manager Joey Davis sent an email saying “FYI we understand Mr. Brock has gotten rid of his dogs that we discussed at your meeting” so the current problem may be resolved. In the future, GW residents are encouraged to bring such problems to the Town Council meeting to request resolution.

2)Roaming dogs:

Dogs off leash may or may not be a threat, and should be addressed by residents on an individual basis.The most effective solution is to call the Polk County Animal Control to report with time, date, location and description of the dog(s) roaming.Tryon should create or enforce a “leash law” and prohibit dogs from roaming wild.

3)Jervey Palmer Tree Cutting:

This is the issue everyone in Gillette Woods is concerned about, but before Jim got into this part of the presentation, he gave everyone a little history. It was not clear exactly when, but the old St. Luke’s hospital began construction in approximately 1926, about the same time as the boundaries were drawn for the 700 acres, which were to become known as Gillette Woods, an “exclusive and prestigious residential community”, emphasizing the “natural features of paths and trails”.The first lot was sold on January 7, 1926 for $125.00 and the registered deed limited the use of the land to a “single family residence”.Gillette Woods has continued since then and will continue to exist as an “exclusive and prestigious residential community”.About three years later, St. Luke’s Hospital opened for business in 1929 within the boundaries of our “exclusive and prestigious residential neighborhood”.

In recent years following the closure of the hospital after it moved to its new location in Columbus, the building sawnumerous uses, such as the County Community Services Center, Thermal Belt Community College, where one of our Board members Paty Ausum taught French, and County Offices.It was then abandoned, sitting vacant for years after being offered for sale.

Mr. Jerry Thomas purchased the property from the county for $50,000. In 2013, Mr. Thomas met with the Gillette Woods Board at the timeand represented that the purchasing of his properties was“not about the money, but wanting to help the community and individuals.”At that time he was suggesting he may develop the building into professional offices, or a craft center, a coffee shop such as Open Road, and perhaps a “high level catering business”.There was no timeline given as he would have to determine the environmental concerns within the building.

Well, that was two years ago.The current board of directors with three past presidents, Paula Jordan, Cliff Joens, and Jim Wright, met with Marsche Pittman the Polk County manager and Melissa in the Tax department.We were informed at that time the Jervey Palmer property along with the old mill in Lynn, which Thomas also owns, had moved into foreclosure proceeding and that if payment in full or payment arrangementswere not forthcoming by April 30, the matter would then be turned over to the county attorney.It was suggested we attempt to make contact with Mr. Thomas to discuss his current plans.

Our Treasurer, Louis McCray contacted the NC Department of Forestry who sent out a forestry agent.The agent reported to Louis that there was no state violation of tree cutting unless there was a stream running through the property.

Two months ago, I extended an invitation to Mr. Thomas via email to meet with me and or the board to present an update on his work on the property.I noted in the email invitation that there were concerns with the current activity on his property (treeing) that surely it must be related to his plans to improve the property.There was no response.The phone number noted on his NO TRESSPASSING signs is disconnected.

I contacted Marsche Pittman this past Thursday.He indicated that the case has since been referred to a law firm in Hendersonville to manage the foreclosure process. I then spoke with Melissa in the tax department, she advised a 10 day demand letter has been sent to Mr. Thomas on May 27 requiring payment in full or payment arrangements by no later than June 5. If no arrangements are made, or if any date is missed, the property will be foreclosed upon.

We all share the disappointment and heartache over the removal of trees at the old St. Luke’s Hospital property.I’ve been asked, “Why won’t the Gillette Woods Association do something to stop this senseless removal of all the trees?” It’s an easy question to ask. It’s a very hard answer. Sadly, the Gillette Woods Association is helpless to do anything to curtail, stop or intervene in any way.This property, while within the boundary of GW, is not a single family residence, but a commercial property. There is also no C&R listed on the current deed. Unfortunately it is currently owned by an individual with unknown designs and intent for the property.

Jim reported that Dianne Bachman who lived at 364 Melrose Avenue, passed away in May.

Finally, Jim reminded everyone that Peggy Wyllie has organized the 2015 Gillette Woods Spring Ladies Luncheon for Wednesday, June 10 at the Melrose Inn at noon. Peggy has sold her home in Gillette Woods, so this may be the last luncheon she plans, so let’s have a good turnout. Please send your reservation and choice of salad or wrap to Peggy Wyllie, 828-859-6339or

Payment is due by June 5, so mail your $20 check toPeggy Wyllie,811 Carolina Drive, Tryon, NC 28782

Jim closed with this statement: Our Association is dedicated to the preservation of “an exclusive and prestigious residential community” as was intended by the founders in 1926.Our neighbors voluntarily comply with our covenants and restrictions.Where someone wants to remove trees, they have contacted the board or a board member. Where a resident wants to build or add to his property, the board or a board member has been contacted.I sincerely believe we are a congenial and collegial community of friendly, committed, and responsible friends and neighbors who are committed to maintaining the pristine nature of Gillette Woods and the vision that our founders had way back in 1926.

After a spirited question and answer period, two lottery drawings for $25 IGA certificates were held. The winning families were David Pedersen, 611 Dogwood Trail and Buck and Linda Lovelace (Buck is our newest Board member).

We adjourned to enjoy refreshments and conversation with our neighbors.

Bill Cumming,

GWA Secretary

Gillette Woods Association, P.O. Box 552, Tryon, NC 28782 .E-mail address:

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