Lake Front Royal Advisory Board chair: It’s getting better all the time

During his May 16 remarks in favor of the proposed Capital Improvement Plan for the Lake Front Royal Sanitary District, the district’s Advisory Board Chairman Charles Gornowich told County officials the response to road maintenance work thus far done by the County had been “overwhelmingly positive.”

In fact, Gornowich enthused that, “countless residents who said they were against the sanitary district now see what’s happened and now say they are for it – and that’s in five months.”

Lake Front Royal Sanitary District Advisory Board Chairman Charles Gornowich told County officials more and more residents who initially opposed the district are coming around in the wake of County road maintenance improvements. However, a recent exchange between the County and the POA board president tells a different story. Photos/Roger Bianchini

According to a survey done by the County last summer, a 60% majority of Lake Front Royal residents, including the entire Property Owners Association Board, opposed creation of the Lake Front Royal Sanitary District.  Some accused a minority of newer residents and renters of conspiring with the county to create the district behind the majority’s back.  Opponents claimed they were not notified of the court hearing on creation of the district, resulting in only supporters and County officials speaking at that hearing.

Proponents accused opponents of intimidation and questioned the POA board’s ability to effectively manage the subdivision’s business.  In fact, during his May 16 remarks to the county supervisors, Gornowich lauded the County’s influence, calling it “a real form of government that actually works,” adding, “I never thought government would be a good thing.”

As for improved relations, a March letter from Lake Front Royal POA Board President Azlee Bates to County Administrator Doug Stanley indicated lingering suspicion and mistrust.  Bates was addressing a county request to turn over “responsible ownership” of the 15-acre common area.  That area includes the lake and dam near the subdivision entrance off Lake Front Royal Road.

The Lake Front Royal Sanitary District Advisory Board’s May 16 meeting agenda included the POA president-county staff exchange over ownership of the lake and dam-centered commons area.

County staff explained the request to facilitate its maintenance responsibilities in the newly-created Sanitary District.  Bates’ letter and the County’s response were discussed at the Lake Front Royal Sanitary District Advisory Board meeting of Monday, May 15.

“Signing over ‘responsible ownership’ of the dam sounds a lot to me like ‘signing the lake and dam over to the county’,” Bates wrote Stanley on March 9, adding, “that may not be the case but I’m not willing to take that risk at this point.  After everything that has happened, there is not a lot of trust on behalf of the owners where the county is concerned.”

The county attorney and county administrator remain at ground zero of discontent among some Lake Front Royal property owners and POA officials.

An April 20 response, not from Stanley but County Attorney Dan Whitten, states the County has determined it has the authority to assume ownership of the 15.51 acre “common area” including the lake and dam in order to carry out its Sanitary District maintenance responsibilities.

“The Sanitary District cannot legally assume maintenance responsibility for the lake and dam until the Property’s Owners Association signs the required transfer of ownership responsibility agreement,” Whitten wrote POA President Bates.

Noting the county administrator’s request for a legal determination, the county attorney added, “Indeed, the Petition and Order creating the Lake Front Royal Sanitary District included all the existing and platted streets and other common area within the Lake Front Royal subdivision.”

Whitten concludes by advising the POA to terminate any maintenance contracts it has on the common area near the subdivision entrance.