A little over a year ago, the association received several calls about the bushes, trees and shrubs that were removed from the top of the berm adjacent to the sewer plant on West Village Drive. After a few calls to the County, a meeting was held with the County Water & Waste Water Department to discuss the removal of the plants. The County explained that the Patriot Act considered water & waste water facilities as a potential targets for terrorists and suggested that municipalities review the protection provided these plants. The fence behind the berm needed repair and had to be raised and a road widened which required the removal of the plants and trees, but a commitment was made to the association that after the fence is installed new shrubs and trees will planted.

A second meeting was held last fall with the County staff and representatives from a engineering consulting firm that was working on plans for the project, including the new landscaping. The association expressed their concern about the lack of progress and provided suggestions for the new landscape plan.

At this writing, another meeting will be held the end of January for the Association to review the landscape plan and to discuss the schedule for the fence construction and landscaping. We're hoping that the landscaping can be completed by this summer, but County projects seem to find a way to be delayed. We will keep you advised.

     - Dan Ruskiewicz