Front of Sugar Beach

Sugar Beach Condominium is located in Orange Beach, Alabama
  Updated Last updated  July 20, 2010

A Resource for Sugar Beach Owners
and a work in  progress.
  

For information on how to file a claim for damages resulting from the oil spill go here
https://www.bp.com/secure/iframe.do?categoryId=9033722&contentId=7062138

Advice on filing a claim (click here)

 
Oil Slick Location Estimate for July 23rd
Things are lookin up!

July 23rd oil slick location estimate
 

For news about oil cleanup in the Alabama area go to:
http://www.al.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/

You can track oil cleanup efforts in the Gulf on Facebook.
Go to:
http://www.facebook.com/DeepwaterHorizonResponse?v=wall&ref=ts

If you can't use Facebook, go to:
http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/


Sometimes it takes pictures to show what has happened to the beach in the last 30 years.

Sugar Beach shortly after it was built in the early 1980s.

Picture of Sugar Beach in the early 1980's

Said to be the longest pier on the Gulf Coast now open
and it is less than 3 miles from Sugar Beach!

Longest pier on Gulf coast!


 
Giraffe Useful Information

UpdatedProperty Manager Corner

Important Sugar Beach Phone Numbers

Correct Channel listings for those who have MediaCable

Insurance Information for your mortgage company

Updated Financial Reports

Budgets
                
Condominium Documents

Vendors owners have found useful

  Current Condo Association Officers

SBA Loan Information

Useful or Interesting Links

Webmaster Corner

You can email the webmaster by clicking here






Current Goings On

Dolphin

NewProperty Manager February Report

Hello Sugar Beach Owners,

What a winter it has been here -- the weatherman says the coldest in a very long time. The Snowbirds don’t seem to mind as much as the Locals.

We have had some freezing problems with pipes, but not as bad as some of the properties in the area. We have had to replace one copper waterline and one PVC line. And a few cast iron pipes in the Chases had to be changed.

The heated pool has struggled to keep warm this winter, only staying in the 70’s. This has more to do with the 20-plus days of freezing temperatures than anything else. The drains in the parking lot have been cleaned out because one of the pipes had become clogged and backed up into the south elevator shaft. We caught it before there was any damage done to the elevator. And we installed a new pump in the shaft after the old one was found not to be working.

We will begin 24-Hour guard duty March 12th for Spring Break.  We are having Kutters come out and plant more Sea Oats in front of the pools in March.  C-Sharp will be coming to work on paint issues with the walls, and we have some columns that have been damaged from water getting in to cracks and freezing. I’m getting estimates for repairing the parking lot in the middle of the building where the concrete has cracked and is coming up.

I can tell you this old lady doesn’t like the cold, but took it better than a lot of the newer buildings in the area that have seen tens of thousands of dollars in damage.

On a different note one of our owners lost their daughter at the age of 32. Mark and Jo-Ellen Karazim, owners of unit 233, we send our deepest sympathies to you and your family.

And with that I will say  "Spring is a coming, and it's time to warm up."

See you soon,
Patrick

P.S.  A little less rain would help too!!

Some Good News out of the 2009 Condominium Associaiton Meeting!

No dues increase in 2010!

And a final answer to leaks and poly pipe may be on the way.  If you did not receive the the update letter explaining all of this, click here.  But you should also contact our property manager Patrick McIntosh to make sure we have your correct mailing and email address.

However, not to spoil the mood, Penguin with attitude but the insurance assessment continues.

The insurance assessment by unit size is as follows:

Unit Description
Insurance Assessment
Unit 100
$ 449.00
Efficiency
$ 880.00
1 Bedroom
$1390.00
2 Bedroom
$1820.00
3 Bedroom
$2770.00

The Board proposed and the Condominium owners agreed to provide an extra month to pay this assessment.  So it is due by April 1, 2010.  It should be sent to:

Rene P. Flowers
Grant, Sanders & Taylor, PC
1530 West 2nd Street
P. O. Box 2109
Gulf Shores, Alabama   36547 

Minutes from the 2008 annual owners meeting can be found by clicking here

Property Manager Reports on Sugar Beach
          
Looks like we saved $2400 in getting lawn sprinkling system repaired. 

Watch for future communications in the Property Manager Corner.

Sugar Beach is now on Facebook Facebook picture

For those of you familiar with the latest in computer networking, check out the Sugar Beach page on Facebook.   Go to http://www.facebook.com.  You have to sign up and then search for Sugar Beach. 

If you're not familiar with how to do this, ask your kids or grandkids.  They'll tell you all about it. 

Please Respect the Dunes and Sea Oats

Keep Off Dunes  The sand dunes and sea oats play a vital role in protecting the beach and the buildings behind them.  Please don't walk on them.  This increases beach erosion and is a factor in the destruction of the dunes.


UpdatedFinancial Reports -

UpdatedClick here to view copies of Sugar Beach's financial reports.  This directory is now password protected.  Owners will be mailed their user name and password.  If you wish immediate access, please email the webmaster your email address and the unit you own.   NOTE:  The tables below will also soon be password protected.  So if you want access, you will need to get your password.

UpdatedAs of January 31, 2010, we had cash on hand of $744,134.65.  This includes reserves, funds for operations, and petty cash.  This is an 48.7% increase over cash on hand January 31, 2009.   Note much of the cash on hand is needed to pay outstanding obligations,e.g, the SBA loan, maintenance for the complex, insurance premiums, etc.  

Cash on Hand
2008
2009
2010
January
$531,767.52
$500,394.48
$744,134.65
February
$610,626.67
$643,505.76

March
$636,483.85
$737,977.71

April
$614,248.03
$764,928.99

May
$573,337.67
$782,371.15

June
$597,213.98
$822,117.38

July
$663,442.29
$843,198.19

August
$567,121.80
$858,458.49

September
$574,496.45


October
$605,550.82


November
$602,314.63
$889,263.08

December
$400,160.94
$699,817.18


UpdatedThis does not include assessments receivable, i.e, money owed the Association, which came to $285.535.10 in Janaury 2010. 

Accounts Receivable (assessments only)
2008
2009
2010
January
$212,939.60
$370,805.63
$285,535.10
February
$141,433,27
$216,990.17

March
$121,860.22
$118,588.53

April
$108,024.59
$109,265.39

May
$107,047.13
$102,192.79

June
$ 95,380.29
$  95,447.74

July
$ 95,056.64
$  86,579.27

August
$ 94,530.75
$ 84,004.95

September
$ 78,814.97


October
$ 79,510.50


November
$ 79,135.76
$ 66,401.49

December
$ 78,078.56
$ 71,091.32


In January  2010, assessments receivable have decreased 22.99% from January 2009,

Note:  Assessments receivable generally increase in January because the insurance assessment has been assessed, but owners have a number of months to pay it.  This year they have until April 1st. 

We continue to work on collecting the remaining delinguent dues owed the Association. 


updatedIn 2009 the Association earned $ 5,286.51 in interest.   See table for monthly figures.

Interest Earned
2008
2009
2010
January
$   689.20
$  182.99
$ 674.17
February
$   784.28
$  553.20

March
$   939.79
$  204.72

April
$   788.48
$  198.96

May
$   679.34
$  854.94

June
$ 4352.31
$  188.12

July
$   602.29
$   201.69

August
$ 1248.60
$  261.74

September
$   618.69


October
$   559.57


November
$ 1051.64
$ 842.60

December
$   517.68
$ 719.44

Total
$11,099.16
$ 5286.51

 

Disposal of Bulk Items

Owners and guests should not dispose of bulk items at the dumpsters.  That means don't dump your old tables, chairs, sofas, etc. at the dumpster.  The rule of thumb is if it does not fit through the dumpster opening, it SHOULD NOT be left at the dumpster.  If you have such bulk items to dispose of, contact, the property manager, on how to dispose of them. 
 
Imposition of liens on delinquent owners' units.

As you know, Sugar Beach has worked hard to make the financial impact of IVAN and KATRINA on owners as painless as possible.  That is why owners have the option of paying off the 2005 special assessment over a 2 year period, i.e, with 8 quarterly payments.  However some owners are not current with their payments.  Some owners have made no payments or only 1 or 2 payments.   A notice will shortly go out informing all owners that if they are not current with their payments liens will be placed against their units.  This is not a step we take lightly.  We are well aware of the financial hardship imposed by the special assessment.  But it is also unfair to other owners who are making timely payments. 

Reminder about Proper Window Treatment.

Your Board requests that owners not place aluminum foil in the hallway windows of their units.  The property manager will be checking windows for this practice and contacting owners that are not compliant with the standard window treatments.  Standard window treatments are blinds, shutters, curtains, drapes, and sheers.  Whatever you use, the surface showing in the hallway should be white or off white.  Many owners use mini-blinds or plantation-blinds.  Note if you chose to use blinds, considerable savings can be had if two standard size blinds (side by side) are used in place of one large blind that usually must be custom ordered. 

Condominium Documents

We are revising and updating Sugar Beach's condominium documents.  To see the latest version of the draft documents click here.   You should  look at these as these are the documents that, when adopted,  will govern our Association.