Blog

Hi Shady Beachers!

 

I love the smell of a wood fire in the Fall...just not on my clothes or in the house!

 

On Sept. 9th we had a General Membership meeting where we again discussed the upcoming Special Assessment vote to raise funding to install one unisex bathroom at the beach pavilion.  We had more members show up who provided input, suggestions and concerns.  Thank you!

 

Did you know that beach pavilion was built in 2010?  At that time, they had planned to add bathrooms and had the forethought to build the underground drains and access in the foundation.  16 years later, it's now time to finish that project!  As a reminder this was the top voted project from the membership survey we completed.

 

Okay, here goes one paragraph I never thought I'd have to write, and I've tried to sprinkle in some levity to get you to the next paragraph.  Our porta potty gets used a lot...from daily beach goers, boaters making one last pit stop before heading out, pavilion parties, Music on the Lake, Fireworks, chili cookoffs, bike parades, donation drives, and on and on.  The reality is everyone prefers a real bathroom over a porta potty because they are better ventilated, cleaner, more comfortable and have soap, running water and hand dryers.  It's just better hygiene.  The one we are proposing will also meet ADA standards.  Porta potties are down right brutal to those with disabilities, and heck even normal folks trying to turn around and not touch anything while holding your breath can be hazardous!  A permanent bathroom will enhance the overall appeal and usability of the beach as well.  Get rid of the eye sore!  Another use is to change in and out of swim wear.  This is important because one day last summer I saw a mom holding a towel for her son to change out of his suit and well, it was a good effort until he moved and the towel hit the grass!  The mom was a bit embarrassed and I think I saw a Cheshire Cat smile on the boy!  Geez do you really want your grandchild to use the porta potty?  And yet I go on...this bathroom will improve our community value, and let's face it, as we all improve our properties, we see the return come time of appraisal or sale.  Lastly, many of us were raised to leave this place better than we found it.

 

We plan on using a cleaning service to clean the bathroom routinely, and they can also take a quick walk around the beach to pick up any loose trash as a bonus.  These new cleaning costs will be offset by not paying for the porta potty.  As there is no HVAC, we will also have it winterized which is another low cost service, like blowing your sprinklers out.  We plan on having a lock on the door and using either our current swipe key or have a new key process for both the beach and bathroom.  Thus, it will be locked and during the off season, dead bolted for no use.  Since its member and their guests who will be using it, we hope the community has the decency to not harm it.  Deliberate acts of vandalism in Shady have been rare, but in the event of this we have 4 cameras at the beach if footage needs to be pulled up.

 

We have budgeted $60,000 for this project and have received Rough Orders of Magnitude (ROMs) from several builders.  We will certainly look to get competitive quotes and bring the project in under budget.  Any unused funds will be put into our new Capital Expenditure (CapEx) savings fund and used for future projects.  With 135 members, that's a one time assessment of $445 per member household.  This assessment would apply to all members regardless of status, and if approved would be due March 31, 2026.  Further, if passed and a member decides to become a non-member, rejoining in the future will require current initiation/rejoining fees.

 

At this time we are seeking benefactors who desire to donate toward this project.  Any donations would be greatly appreciated, and SBIA would graciously recognize these donors in a commemorative way at the beach.  Please note SBIA is NOT a 401C charitable non-profit, thus we are unable to provide a receipt for tax purposes.  Since we first need a majority vote, we are now asking for what you would like to Pledge, and then we can look for your donation after the vote.  We request all Pledges be made by Oct. 17, 2025.  As this will enable us to deduct the total expected donations from the total coast of the project, thus reducing the assessment to the entire membership.  To make a Pledge please access this link:  https://www.shadybeach.org/surveys/?view=start&id=2.  

 

We are happy to take any additional input at our next General Membership meeting on October 7th, and then all members will be asked to vote on the special assessment along with the general election of Board Members for 2026 either in person at the November 11th meeting which will be held at the Community Center, Village of Orchard Lake located at 3955 Orchard Lake Rd, or via email.