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16 | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | FEBRUARY 2025 | Ensuring proper lighting in common areas is a crucial part of maintaining a safe environment. Securitas recently conducted a lighting audit across key Sun Lakes areas, including parking lots, walkways, and recreational areas. They identified and reported several dim or non functioning lights to the maintenance team for replacement or repair. They also recommended additional lighting in a few areas. Suspicious activity awareness continues to be a focus of Securitas and they continue to encourage all residents here to always be vigilant. Yes, we live in a gated community, but we still have our share of trespassers. Securitas will respond to reports of suspicious activity or possible trespassers. Remember our safety motto: "If you see something, say something." Securitas is and always has been very responsive to the safety needs of Sun Lakes. It is a big task to patrol 3,327 homes, nearly 6,000 residents, and miles of streets. It is useful to know what Patrol can and cannot do. What Patrol Can Do: • Respond to noise complaints • Respond to barking dog or loose dog complaints • Respond to suspicious vehicle or person calls • Make an incident report for property damage • Make an incident report for vehicle accidents • Make welfare checks of residents • Write citations for parking violations • Report open garage doors • Lock HOA facilities • Inspect the RV storage lot What Patrol Cannot Do: • Make arrests • Do lift assists • Do vehicle jump starts • Give rides • Assist getting inside a home or locked vehicle • Enter a residence, unless resident is in distress • Search or detain a person or their belongings • Get involved in domestic dispute, just report and contact police if necessary • Hold packages or deliveries at gates • Remove deceased animals Our monthly safety reminders: Keep your dogs on a leash! Keep your garage doors closed! Be a defensive driver, obey traffic rules! If you see something, say something! ~ Michael Volz, vmv1950@ aol.com Safety Advisory One of the important responsibilities of the GAC is to assure the proper maintenance of the golf courses. This includes the longer-term repair/replacement and renovation of the grounds and infrastructure. Similar to home renovations and updates, many areas on a golf course require the same attention. At Sun Lakes this work is guided by the reserves schedule, set according to the expected lifespan for an item. Areas needing attention are prioritized by urgency of need and recommendations are made to the Board after ensuring they fall within Reserve budgeting. For 2025, the GAC recommended completion of the fairway sand trap on holes #10-18 on the Championship course. The architectural plans/layout for this work are established and will complete the same upgrades to the remaining sand traps. Final approval of this work is complicated by the increase in cost due to deferrals and phasing of the project from the original recommendation made in 2021. Standing water, mud, and weed growth in these remaining sand traps may require golfers to take "ground under repair" relief depending on the daily conditions. Also recommended for 2025 is renovation of the Championship Course tee boxes. After years of divot repair, top dressing, and over seeding, many tee boxes need to be resurfaced. When tee boxes become severely crowned it reduces the useful tee area and increases the rate of damage within localized areas. The plans and layout for this work will expand the useful tee area and further increase the lifespan going forward. In making this recommendation, tee boxes were prioritized according to need and scheduling considerations to reduce contractor set-up costs. Regular golf course inspections, reserves schedule guidance, and resident comments are all used in deciding to make a maintenance recommendation. These recommendations are made after careful consideration, prioritizing by need, and understanding the important financial decisions the Board must make. The advisory role is limited to informing the Board of current golf course needs and resident feedback. The GAC remains engaged and will continue to advocate on behalf of all golfers and homeowners to maintain the playability and value of these important assets. ~ Mike Callahan, callahm56@yahoo.com Golf Advisory

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