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By POA Staff

On the heels of the Town Hall meeting held last month, the POA Board held an informal meet-and-greet with Property Owners at the Beach Club on Aug. 19.

The more than two dozen attendees had the opportunity to speak one-on-one with Board members before sharing comments and posing a range of questions. Board members collectively or individually addressed numerous subjects, many of which are address below.

For any question relating to operation issues, those on hand were instructed to write directly to the POA via askthepoa@bigcanoepoa.org or by clicking the “Ask the POA” button when logging on the POA homepage at www.bigcanoepoa.org

Among the issues raised at the meet-and-greet:

Q: The Wellness Center has 1) new equipment that is not ideal/doesn’t work as advertised and 2) needs to be maintained better. What is being done to improve the amenity?

A: No amenity had as many obstacles to overcome as the Wellness Center, which has slowly been rebuilding its membership base since its facility reopened in the spring. The POA recognizes that the Property Owners should weigh in on a range of subjects relating to the Wellness Center, from what they think about the recently installed Free Motion equipment to proposed revisions to the programming or the operational schedule at the Wellness Center. As a result, look for an upcoming survey about the Wellness Center designed to measure the sentiments of our community and the amenity. The results will directly inform future actions that will improve the Wellness Center.

Q: How is the Clubhouse being maintained? Is the staff responsible for keeping it in tip-top shape?

A: The Clubhouse in many ways is the community’s central meeting place and the POA is committed to ensuring it’s a clean, well-run gathering hub we can all be proud of. As a result, we’ve recently hired a new food and beverage manager in Jonathan Prince; have brought back the Sunday brunch; and have expanded hours to include dinners on Tuesday. The POA strives to ensure that our community has a great meeting place that all can call our own, and steps are constantly being made to ensure that the Clubhouse under new leadership maintains high standards.

Q: What is Big Canoe doing to manage short-term rentals?

A: The issue of short-term rentals comes up every summer, but it’s important to note that less than 9 percent of Property Owners rent out their homes – there are about a total of 230 rentals in Big Canoe, which has about 2700 homes. Dawson County has recently stepped up efforts to have Big Canoe Property Owners with homes in Dawson County secure a short-term rental permit through the county at an annual cost of $200. Like a hotel, Property Owners also must pay the county an 8% hotel/motel tax to the county either directly or through a third party such as Airbnb or VRBO. On Tuesday, POA General Manager Scott Auer and Board member Amy Tropfenbaum met with Pickens County officials to better understand the county’s permit requirements for Big Canoe Property Owners whose rental homes are in Pickens County. Our aim is to ensure that houses do not become makeshift hotels and that they do not exceed a home’s occupancy.

Q: What are we doing to educate new Property Owners about restrictions around using the trash facility?

A:  This question was posed by a Property Owner who spotted a newcomer dispose of an old mattress in the trash compact. First off, newcomers are provided with a detailed document explaining what items are allowed in the trash and recycling facility. Tossing large items such as a mattress is prohibited. The POA has used the cameras positioned near the facility to track down offenders and cite them – most often when their actions lead to the garbage backing up. Any large items can readily be dropped off on quarterly Bulk Trash Day. The next one is behind the trash facility 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30. For more info on Bulk Trash Day: trashtogo@gmail.com

Q: Can we expect to see the return of the food trailer?

A: These days, one of the biggest issues with any business in the food service industry has been staffing. Big Canoe is no different. As a result, our emphasis has been to prioritize Clubhouse service and you can see the results in the recent expansion of the Tuesday schedule and the return of brunch. Staffing the food trailer is not yet possible as it takes away the already limited number of servers and kitchen staff that we depend on in the Clubhouse. Since great food and service at the Clubhouse are our priority, we do not have any immediate plans to use the food trailer.  We will reevaluate this constantly as staffing conditions change.

Q: What’s happening to the bamboo thicket at the bridge in Choctaw village?

A: Addressing invasive species is something landscape maintenance prioritizes, especially with other, more aggressive or damaging species such as wooly adelgid, the sap-sucking insect capable of devastating our hemlock population; and kudzu, the ever-insistent vine that can quickly envelop a tree. However, the removal of bamboo is a very time-consuming and costly process. Landscape maintenance is in discussions with community groups in Big Canoe interested in volunteering their time to address the issue.

Q: Do we have a strategic plan for soil erosion?

A: The POA has been engaging with Property Owners with interest in developing a strategic plan for Big Canoe’s natural resources. Also, an experienced ecologist from Georgia Forest Watch, a non-profit that promotes forest preservation, will tour our community this week to help POA staff assess the conditions of our wooded areas and our water quality. We’ll have more details in the coming months.

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By Liz Scherer

Joe Tipton, Mitch Waldman and I met at the pontoon bridge on Lake Disharoon to see if we could come up with a plan to reposition the bridge and anchor it properly. With the golf course renovation the bridge had lost one of its anchor points, and after the lake was refilled, the bridge had shifted, making it unsafe for people to walk on int. As a result the trail was closed with the bridge out of order. Maintenance suggested using some heavy equipment but it was going to be a difficult task due to the relative inaccessibility.

The post Pontoon Bridge repositioned and anchored appeared first on Inside the Gates.

The post Big Canoe Fire Department receives emergency water donation appeared first on Inside the Gates.

By Mary Ann Hansen

Rain brings certain angst for trail committee members. There is a high likelihood that a rain event will present clean-up opportunities. Mother Nature doesn’t always clean up after herself – she has staff for that. Committee members are conditioned to inspect the trails after weather events to get a first-hand account of her handiwork. Sometimes she behaves herself, but more often than not, she decides to show her destructive side.

Before any work being done. Let the day begin.

Mother Nature was particularly mean-spirited on July 20. John and Jim Hansen anticipated some level of damage as they inspected the John Williams Trail after yet another rainstorm, but were not fully prepared for what they encountered.

A full accounting of the damage was necessary in order to put a clean-up plan into action. A large tree had fallen on the Covered Bridge Trail above the loop section. The large tree took down three more trees dumping them and itself into the creek. The John Williams Trail was completely blocked. Mother Nature should know better than to mess with the Hansen brothers. They know people.

The post Do not mess with the resolve of the Trails Committee appeared first on Inside the Gates.

The Terraces Concert season is in full swing.

Sponsored by the Big Canoe Chapel, the shows start at 7 p.m. on the Saturdays.

Among the upcoming bands scheduled to light up at The Terraces:

Aug. 21: The Wildflowers, a Tom Petty tribute group hailing from Alabama.

Aug. 29: A1A, a Jimmy Buffett tribute band, celebrates the last weeks of summer.

Sept. 4: The Wildermen and Madam Radar, two Americana acts.

Sept. 18: 120 East Band, a 10-member classic rock band with a brass section.

Location: Terraces Amphitheater, 1849 Steve Tate Highway, Marble Hill, Georgia, 30148

Tickets: $20 single tickets purchased by noon the day of the concert; $25 single tickets at walk-up after 5 p.m. at the concert ticket booth. Available at www.terracesconcert.com or by leaving your check in The Terraces alpha box at the Big Canoe Postal Facility.

Various food trucks will be on hand.

Info: www.terracesconcerts.com or Shelby Collins at 404-863-2676.

Concert and Weather Hotline: 470-273-6767.

The post Tom Petty and Jimmy Buffett tribute acts among upcoming Terraces Concert Series performers appeared first on Inside the Gates.

By Tom Durban

As we come into the home stretch of the 2021 summer season, the staff at the Marina wants to say “thank you” to all our patrons this year. We enjoy seeing the smiling faces on Lake Petit, whether it’s a child catching her first fish, a family on a pontoon boat outing, kids enjoying the new kayaks and paddleboards, or just a friendly gathering at a table overlooking the water.

Last year, a record number of patrons enjoyed being outside at the Marina and on the lake. The POA has invested in the Marina these last several months. From the fresh coat of paint to the rejuvenation of three bathrooms, from the acquisition of new watercraft to the relocation of docks combined with the upgrade to the electrical service, the improvements are everywhere.

Our goal is always to provide a fun, safe place for our property owners and guests. We also want to thank our summer help Elizabeth and Savannah — they were a big help to the oldest dock boys in North Georgia.

Reservation Policy Change

Each year, the Marina looks at its policies and procedures to see if changes would help better serve the Big Canoe community. To that end, effective Sept. 1, visitors to Big Canoe will be able to call the Marina up to 30 days in advance to reserve a pontoon boat or other watercraft. Property owners can continue to make reservations online or via phone up to 90 days in advance. Even though guests typically make up less than 25 percent of Marina reservations, we want to continue to give Big Canoe property owners the benefit when making watercraft reservations. Info: (706) 268-3303.

Among the Marina staffers are Savannah Ingram, left, Keith Duncan, Rich McLeod, Jim Murphy and Scott McLeod.John Willoughby, David Jacobs, and Scott McLeodThe Marina crew includes, from left, John Lipkowitz, Tom Durban, Kip Morse, Wally Walsh.

Elizabeth MostellarTom Welsh

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By Lydell Mack

Creek 9 is starting to look like a golf course again. After five months of construction, we’ve gotten used to staring at acres of exposed dirt and heavy equipment rolling around the property. But as of this week, we are 75% complete with sodding and the bulldozers have been decommissioned. Now that the sod has been laid in most areas, the new design changes really stand out and look amazing.

We’ve mowed the fairway lines into the first few holes and now they truly look like a new golf course. Some have commented that the turf looks very brown and suggested that we water it. In order to cut it down to fairway height, we have to take off a lot of grass with the first mowing – hence the off-color appearance.  The Bermuda grass will recover from this temporary discoloration in just one week and will tighten up into a dense canopy of fine turf by next spring’s opening date.

This is the first mowing of new sod on Creek #7.

The greens will be seeded on Aug. 16 and are on schedule for a good grow-in this fall.  After 90 days, they will really start to thicken up and look good as we mow and roll them.

Despite their improving appearance, they are still very young, fragile seedlings that need to be left alone so that they can grow. For this reason, we insist that everyone steer clear of them, including pet owners out to walk their dogs. If you are on the Creek, keep your pet on a leash. And please refrain from chipping and putting golf balls on the new greens until we are open for play and you have checked in with the pro shop. Creek will not be available for play until all of the turf has matured.

To learn more about the process and to see the progress so far head over to www.creek9.org

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By Beth Durban

The Wellness Collaborative will be offering a grief support program in September. As the Wellness Collaborative support groups coordinator, I will lead the group, which will help participants deal with the bundle of emotions that come with loss.

The program objectives include:
• To understand the emotional and physical dynamics of grief.
• To decrease the sense of isolation and increase a sense of normalcy through contact with others in similar situations.
• To develop healthy coping skills and activities.
• To provide a safe, caring and understanding environment where you can share as much or as little as you wish. Everyone’s journey is different. You will not be pressured to speak.

The program is not intended to tell you how to grieve. Each person grieves in his/her unique way and time frame. Understanding and sharing one’s feelings with others can help reduce the pain of grief by providing hope and support. It is an opportunity to express those thoughts and feelings that are often suppressed. The group will meet on four consecutive Wednesdays: Sept. 1, 8, 15 and 22. Meetings are 2-4 p.m. in the small meeting room at the Village Station next to The Chimneys. Attendance at all sessions is important and registration is required. There is no fee. A little about my background: I am a member of the Wellness Collaborative, a retired nurse with 16 years’ experience facilitating grief support groups. I was widowed at age 30 with three small children.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia asked me to start a group for young widows and widowers, which I facilitated for six years. After marrying my husband Tom Durban, we had two more children and moved to St. Louis. There, I was a parish nurse for 14 years, serving 3,000 parishioners and assorted school children to promote wellness in body, mind and spirit. At that time, I took numerous college courses on grief, conducted workshops and facilitated grief support groups three times a year. Being part of the Wellness Collaborative has been a great opportunity for me to be active in our community.

For more information or to register, please call or email me at 314-640-0247 or bdurban3@gmail.com.

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By Treena Parish, Department Manager AECD

Q: Who can do vista pruning?

A: Any tree service you choose. For your convenience, we have a list of tree services that have done work in Big Canoe.

Q: Who can take down dead trees?

A: Anyone can take down trees that have been approved for removal by the POA. The POA will provide documentation of approval. Please do not take trees down without consulting the AECD first at 706-268-3394.

Q: Can I take down trees that are against the house?

A: Trees and shrubs within 10 feet of the house or garage, or 3 feet of the driveway may be removed without permission.

Q: Can I take dead trees down that are on the green space?

A: No. Trees that are not on your property can not be touched. This fine is $3,000 per tree or shrub. Property owners on a lake need to be especially aware of the property line because there is a green space that encircles the lake. This area is protected to maintain the natural beauty.

Q: Can vista pruning be done in the green space?

A: Yes. The POA supervisor can authorize vista pruning in the POA green space.

Q: What is the process for getting permission to remove a tree?

A: Call the AECD and a representative will come by and review the request. If the tree is allowed to be removed, the tree will be mark with a ribbon and an approval form will be filled out. The form will either be given to the owner on the spot or mailed to the billing address. A copy of this approval form will be retained on file at the AECD office for one year.

Q: What trees are protected in Big Canoe?

A: All evergreen trees and dogwoods are protected. This means that unless they are dead or present a danger to the property, authorization for removal will not be granted.

Q: What are the tree clean-up provisions?

A: Per the Rules and Regulations approved by the POA Board last year re: all lots, a corridor that’s 75-feet wide on both sides of any road, as measured by line of sight from the edge of pavement, shall be addressed as follows:

1) All visible root balls must be remediated by one or more of the following methods:

a. forced back as much as possible into its original location which is the preferred method
b. disguised by an AECD approved landscape plan
c. moved outside the 75-foot corridor
d. moved to an off-site location

2) All visible fallen trees must be remediated by one or more of the following methods:

a. have trunks touching the ground, including cutting them into sections if necessary to achieve complete ground contact, and cutting the remaining trunk as close to the ground as possible.
b. moved outside the seventy-five (75) feet corridor;
c. moved to an off- site location;
d. branches from fallen trees must be cut and laid on the ground or moved outside the seventy-five (75) feet corridor.

3) All visible leaning trees must be cut down and remediated to meet the standards of fallen trees.

4) Dead and Broken trees (snags) may remain in place as long as they pose no real threat , as determined by the POA, to property, POA right of way, driveways, other healthy trees, people, or pets. Downed canopy material must be cut and laid on the ground or moved outside the seventy-five (75) feet

The post Everything you always wanted to know about tree cutting appeared first on Inside the Gates.

By POA Staff

Property Owners whose Big Canoe homes in Dawson County are in the short-term rental market are required to secure a short-term rental permit through Dawson County. The cost is $200 for the short-term rental permit.

The owners of about 75 Big Canoe homes in Dawson County currently offered as short-term rentals will receive notices of the change in a letter scheduled to be sent out by Dawson County by the end of the week.

Like a hotel, Property Owners also must pay the county an 8 percent hotel/motel tax to the county either directly or through a third party such as Airbnb or VRBO. Effective July 1, 2021, the hotel/motel tax is collected by the various third-party operators and mailed directly to the county, taking the property owner out of the loop – unless of course you are handling the short-term rental of your home. Those managing their own properties would be responsible for making their monthly hotel/motel tax to Dawson County Finance.

Short-term rentals are defined as properties rented out for less than 30 days. The county currently requires Property Owners follow numerous rules to secure their permit including but not limited to:
• securing a permit from the Department of Health that shows the capacity of a septic tank, which dictates the number of bedrooms a home will accommodate. This information will determine the maximum occupancy of overnight guests for a rental unit, which is limited to two persons per bedroom plus two additional persons per household.
• parking must be provided off-street for a minimum of two vehicles
• providing a certificate of occupancy, a short-term rental engineer release form, or a private inspection report
• proof of ownership in the form of a paid tax receipt
• a copy of the floor plan showing room locations
• a permit from the Dawson County Planning and Development Department

The Dawson County Planning and Marshal’s Office has drafted a new short-term rental ordinance to be presented before the Board of Commissioners later this year.

Dawson County also requires that every owner applying for a short-term rental permit brings a copy of the Big Canoe short-term rental agreement with them in order to
receive their permit from Dawson County. Check with Big Canoe AECD Manager Treena Parish to secure the current forms from Big Canoe necessary for completing your paperwork in Dawson County. Contact Treena at 706-268-3394 or tparish@bigcanoepoa.org.

For more information on the Dawson County rental requirements, contact Angela Byers at Dawson County Marshal’s Office at abyers@dawsoncounty.org or 706-344-3500 ext. 42334.

Pickens County is developing a similar program. More information will be provided to Big Canoe owners offering short-term rentals in Pickens County as soon as it becomes available.

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