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14 | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | MAY 2024 | Spring aeration of the greens and the healing process should be nearly complete providing us once again with excellent greens conditions. While the inconvenience of the aeration process often causes golfer dismay, it is this maintenance that provides us with the outstanding greens we are accustomed to. Performing this maintenance takes all available staff and occurs during the time of year when we see the greatest vegetation growth throughout the courses. The aeration plugs pulled from the greens are nutrient-rich sandy soil that is recycled to areas of need. These plugs are usually spread around the base of trees or perimeter walls of the courses filling in bare spots to hopefully promote growth and retain soil moisture in these areas. Spring growth spurt causes the number one complaint from golfers the GAC and Golf Maintenance receives regarding the length of the rough. We also get an increase in complaints from residents regarding weed growth and perimeter wall trimming. Maintenance of the greens, tee boxes, and fairways take priority often leaving the cutting of rough and detail trimming dependent on staffing levels. The GAC regularly requests increased staffing to enable maintaining the courses to the level all residents expect. The final budget decisions made by the Master Board are influenced by community feedback and overall benefit to residents in determining the balance between staffing levels and HOA assessment. Golf Advisory Sun Lakes Committee Reports By now, you are all aware that the Board has signed the contract for the Lounge Expansion. The Procurement Advisory Committee (PAC) completed a review of the proposals for the Lounge Expansion and submitted our Proposal Review and Recommendation Report, as prescribed in the PAC Handbook. FirstService Residential (FSR) provided the PAC with a draft RFP for golf course tree maintenance and trimming on March 20. We submitted the prescribed Request for Proposal (RFP) Review and Recommendation Report to the Board and FSR on March 28. The RFP was expected to be sent to qualified vendors on April 5. We received an updated Projects & Initiative List from FSR on April 15. In February, the Board requested that PAC review and comment on the current Investment Policy to render an opinion on the use of Treasury Direct. We submitted comments, as requested, but felt that the current policy was not appropriate and, as such, a position paper was also submitted recommending a complete replacement for the current policy which would be more in line with governing policy principles. We have been advised that the procurement process for the janitorial agreement, originally planned for the first quarter of this year, has been delayed due to an unanticipated heavier than normal demands upon the FSR executive and operational staff. While the board seeks to make improvements in the service levels with the current company, there are no substantial issues that need to be addressed other than it is time to see what options are available via an RFP process. We are anticipating a heavy workload now that the election season is behind us. Each of the procurement process cycles has a very significant impact on the workload of the GM, department heads and the Board. We currently have a vacancy if you feel such a challenge may be of interest to you. You can contact us or visit the SLCC website to read the PAC Handbook to get a better idea of what is involved and expected. You are welcome to attend our monthly meeting should you have an interest or feel that this is an opportunity for you to serve the community. We meet the third Monday of each month in the Administrative Conference Room at 9 am. Procurement Advisory

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