General Board Meeting Recap: November 20, 2024
- Muducation
- Nov 22, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 19, 2024
Hoo-boy. This meeting had it all: violations, rubber stamps, holiday lights, and lead in the water. Let’s dive into the chaos.
Walking Quorum Shenanigans
With Hanoi Avila absent, Chris Rocco boldly announced that he, Beth Jones, and Carrol Norrell had pre-determined that Beth would lead the meeting. That, dear friends, is what we call a walking quorum—a sneaky way to make decisions outside of public view and a violation of open meeting laws. Transparency? Not today.
Financial Accountability: Who Needs It?
The accountant presented her report, or at least tried to:
Artesian Financial Services, the district’s bookkeeper, hit a 10-month streak of failing to meet contract terms.
No financial reports or invoices were provided to board members ahead of time.
David Flores proposed a reasonable solution: email invoices to all board members for review. The motion failed faster than holiday lights in July.
Chris Rocco and Carrol Norrell dutifully signed checks without glancing at a single piece of supporting documentation. Folks, this isn’t governance—it’s “rubber-stamping” at its finest.
(Timestamp starting at 11:49 - 24:23 if you want to watch the train wreck in real-time.)
Lead in the Water, Fear in the Air
The engineer’s report dropped two bombshells:
Sewer Line Inspection: Good news—they’re checking for leaks to keep contaminants out of the aquifer.
Lead and Copper Letter: Bad news—835 residents got letters warning about “unknown material” in their water pipes. YIKES.
There’s no info on the district website.
Inframark’s hotline? About as helpful as yelling into a void.
One resident took matters into her own hands, paying $40 for blood tests to confirm no lead contamination. Her kids are next because when the district fails, moms step up.
(Timestamp starting at 30:13 - 36:17 to hear from the district Engineer)
The Information Management Committee (Beth and Hanoi) was supposed to handle public awareness. They get an “A” for absenteeism and an “F” for effort.
CMU Walls and Tree Limbs
Expect a letter if your property borders a district-owned wall. Trim those overhanging tree limbs, which:
Add weight and damage the walls.
Make cleaning impossible, leaving black mold to decorate your neighborhood’s aesthetic.
Consider this the district’s version of Marie Kondo: if it doesn’t bring joy, trim it.
Missing Deposits: A Mystery Thriller
Back in May, I flagged 80 customer accounts with missing deposits—a big no-no. Six months later, Inframark served up a convoluted “investigation” that raised more questions than answers. Meanwhile, three board members stared blankly as the operator explained, like kids in math class who didn’t do their homework. (Timestamp starting at 52:35 - 55:36 money is unaccounted for and Rocco calls it an ‘anomaly’.)
Holiday Lights or Hometown Scandal?
$10,000 was allocated for Christmas lights, but Hanoi Avila played Santa, picking the highest bidder without consulting the board. Of course, he made sure to add extra lights for Beth’s neighborhood and Caroll's HOA. Self-interest, wrapped in twinkling lights—how festive! (Timestamp starting at 1:14:48- 1:23.55- Asked but not answered. The difference between the proposals is the addition of the self interest lights for Beth and Caroll.)
Tree Disease Drama
Beth Jones, arbiter of all things arbor, warned about Hypoxylon Canker, a tree disease that spreads faster than gossip at a bake sale. She wanted landscapers to inspect everyone’s front yards. Thankfully, David Flores reminded her that peering into residents’ property might be a tad invasive.
Pro tip: Google “Hypoxylon Canker,” check your trees, and save Beth the trouble of starting the HOA police. (Timestamp starting at 1:23:58 - 1:30:00)
Patriotism on the Agenda
Carrol Norrell proposed opening meetings with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence. Participation is optional, but it’s unclear if Beth plans to lead us in song too.
Final Thoughts
If there’s one thing this meeting proved, it’s that the district operates with the precision of a soap opera and the transparency of frosted glass. Visit Muducation.org for the full breakdown and stay tuned for the next episode of “As the MUD Turns.”
