Brandermill may force residents to join pools

Dear Editor,

I recently reviewed the Feb. 4 Brandermill Community Association (BCA) board meeting minutes concerning the proposal to impose a universal pool access fee on the residents of Brandermill. I am appalled at the thought that the elected "stewards of the community" might impose what amounts to a "tax" on the residents of the community. One would think that the community should have a vote on such a far-reaching issue! Brandermill is not a growing community - it is a matured community with a majority of residents who do not and will not use the pools. There should be a community vote to prove or disprove this statement.

I have researched a number of surrounding communities to determine how many pools, the number of members and the number of households each has. It may be a shock to the "stewards" to know that there is no community, which competes with Brandermill, that has access to more than one pool complex.

Brandermill residents have access to three separate BCA-run pools. They also have access to one golf club pool, a YMCA indooroutdoor pool complex, a Woodlake indoor outdoor-pool complex and a fitness center pool, just to name a few.

The argument that these three Brandermill pools help keep our property values and in fact increase that value, in my opinion, is unfounded. To my understanding, through my limited research, there is no qualified report or study that demonstrates such a theory.

Here is a list of some of the communities that have access to pools. None of these communities require its residents to belong to the pool or impose a universal access fee: Bay Hill Pointe, Birkdale, Deer Run, The Highlands, Loch Braemar, Meadowbrook, Queensmill, Raintree, Salisbury, Smoketree, Walton Park, Windsor Park and Woodlake.

As a suggestion, why not have the board determine if there is a need for three Brandermill pools? My conversation with the communities listed above revealed the belief that Brandermill has too many pools for the population of the community. I come from a small town of 20,000. We had one pool, and that pool accommodated the population very nicely. Even on the very hot days, the pool accommodated the masses. There has to be a more productive way to provide those in Brandermill with access to swimming.

In my opinion, it would be a grave mistake to unilaterally impose a pool tax on the residents of Brandermill. The BCA board should examine every aspect before it proposes this tax. Then put the proposal to a vote and let the residents determine what is good for the community.

Tom Leonard

Brandermill