Dear residents,
We hope that your family is healthy and enjoying the summer despite the limitations of the pandemic.
Several people have reached out to Dixie regarding the gym/clubhouse/pool, and we would like to communicate the status to all of the residents as well.
At the very onset of the pandemic shut-down, expecting that it would not be a prolonged shut-down, the board decided to accelerate some planned maintenance and improvements to the large clubhouse on Amberly to take advantage of the time and avoid having to close the clubhouse again to facilitate that work. We are pleased to announce that those maintenance items and improvements are complete. We are very anxious for the residents to be able to see and enjoy them. These improvements include enlargement of the gym space by reclaiming an adjacent storage room (we moved the tables/chairs stored in it to the empty office next to the entrance), painting of the entire interior of the clubhouse, replacement of the entry tile & childrens' room flooring, replacement of some of the great room lighting, replacement of the gym blinds, relocation of the childrens' room entrance from the great room to the gym, and acquisition of some new gym equipment. Some of the older but still functional commercial-grade gym equipment in the large clubhouse will be moved to the small clubhouse, which had been stocked by the developer (Woodside) with a lesser grade of equipment.
The gym is an interior space and is therefore higher risk for fostering disease transmission. The current health department guidelines allow for facilities such as this to open provided that we are able to meet certain criteria, which include increased cleaning and limiting occupancy to facilitate social distancing. Given that the gym is unstaffed, we do not have the ability to meet those criteria unless we hire someone to be there during all hours of operation. This would of course significantly increase operating costs. Opening without the recommended safeguards in place — particularly given the higher risk of interior spaces and the high-touch environment of the gym — is not a risk the board feels that it is wise based upon the advice of our legal counsel.
Several residents have questioned whether HOA fees would be reduced or rebated due to the inability to use the amenities. The vast majority of our expenses are fixed costs unimpacted by the shutdown such as landscaping maintenance costs, utilities, building upkeep, and management fees. Unfortunately even pool-related costs are not eliminated during this time because if we want to open the pool at all this season we still have to maintain it regardless of whether people are actually swimming in it yet. The only ongoing expenses that are reduced due to the pandemic are interior space cleaning and supplies while the clubhouse is completely closed, and that is not a significant cost. In fact, as we open the pool, our cleaning costs may be increased due to the need to have daily cleaning of the bathrooms, which must be accessible if the pool is open. Therefore, fees remain the same and cannot be rebated. We appreciate everyone's patience and understanding. It's a frustrating situation for all of us, and we're constantly looking for ways to get the most value possible out of our fees even as we navigate the pandemic.
Last week we sent out a communication regarding the tentative opening of the pool on July 6. We know that many families are anxious to enjoy the pool, and we are anxious to open. We are monitoring the Davis County Health Department and State of Utah communications and we are basing our decisions on the guidance we receive, particularly given the current significant uptick in Davis County cases, noting that North Salt Lake has the largest number of cases in the county. Please monitor our brand NEW HOA website for the latest status of opening: www.foxboronorth.com (Please note that we will be decommissioning the Facebook page and will be posting all updates on the website.)
Lastly, due to social distancing requirements, we had to postpone the annual meeting typically held in April. We are hoping to take advantage of the warm weather and pavilions at Legacy Park — which should allow for the necessary social distancing — and have the annual meeting in early August provided there are no pandemic-related restrictions placed on us by the county or state in the meantime. There will be 3 board seats open, and if you have a desire to serve on the board, please consider running. If you have questions about what that would entail, please reach out to any of the current board members and we would be happy to give you an idea of the time commitment involved. Stay tuned for an announcement of the exact date!