October 2026 Sunriver Scene - Flipbook - Page 5
Treasurer
continued from page 4
budget as it takes shape; December brings the maintenance
fee; March will be the 2026
year-end results; and April the
reserve fund and how our cash
is invested. There will be quarterly updates in between. The
audit results come midsummer,
Highlights
continued from page 4
Resort when a certain number
of SROA owners/riders is exceeded. She posed questions
about the number of riders and
the fee paid, and what SROA
pays for the forest service road
maintenance used to offset the
ridership. She also stated that
she believes the Resort does
not have permitting authority
through Deschutes County for
the business operations being
conducted at this location.
She requested a copy of the
contracts associated with the
use under ORS 94.670(9)(a).
• Robert Merrigan commented on the September 16th
email from SROA informing
owners that there would be
an application of cheatgrass
pre-emergent herbicide from
September 23 through 25 in
Sunriver common areas. He
stated that he called the Natural Resources Department on
September 17th and left a
voice mail asking for the name
of the herbicide that would be
used. He did state though that
he is confident that the SROA
has conducted the necessary
due diligence in choosing a
chemical herbicide that will be
the least potentially harmful to
residents and visitors, wildlife,
pets, native plants and trees,
and to the Sunriver water supply that is drawn from wells
in the Upper Deschutes Basin
aquifer under Sunriver.
• Jeffrey Wrensen commented on the use of the Flock cameras in Sunriver. He referred to
the potential for a stalking/data
breach/misuse incident - or if
the cameras will be removed
before we have to pay millions
out in damages? He quoted
which policy requires us to
publish within 60 days of board
acceptance.
That leaves a handful of
months open, and those are the
ones I look forward to writing.
I would like to use them to
discuss issues owners ask about
but rarely see explained. Where
our revenue comes from (which
involves a good deal more than
your maintenance fee), what a
reserve study is and how one
is put together, and with the
transfer fee off the table, what
other sources might be available
to pay for new amenities and
infrastructure, and what each
would cost an owner. Those are
intentions rather than promises. The list will bend to whatever is in front of us.
I will keep the language
plain. If something here is un-
clear, that is on me, and I want
to hear about it.
One more thing before I
close. In addition to an outstanding staff, Sunriver runs
on volunteers. Almost 120
owners serve on committees,
task forces and work groups
covering design, covenants,
fire protection and pathway
safety. The Finance Committee, which I chair, reviews the
financials monthly, recommends the maintenance fee to
the board, and keeps an eye on
our insurance and auditors.
Whatever your background, a
group here could use it! Simply
go on the SROA website and
click on the “Owners” section
and then the “Get Involved”
box to apply. (https://www.
sunriverowners.org/owners/
get-involved)
the Sunriver Police Chief Pete
Rasic: “The use of (license
plate reader) information by
our department is limited
to legitimate, authorized law
enforcement purposes and no
other law enforcement agency
has direct access to our data”
…“I believe this technology,
used responsibly, provides a
meaningful benefit to the community and better enables our
officers to care for those who
live in or visit the Sunriver area.
• Theresa Youmans – Design
Resignations
• Brad Banta – Fire Protection Workgroup
• Mark Feirer – Design
• Richard Look – Design
End of Term of Service
Conclusion
• Lenna Kimball – Covenants
• Laureen Anderson –
Nominating
• Paul Coughlin – Nominating
• Kelly Wilson – Nominating
• Sandy Appleby – Owner
Enrichment
• Meagan Iverson – Owner Enrichment
• Katie Keller – Owner
Enrichment
Chair Person Appointments
• Tony De Alicante -Covenants
• Theresa Youmans – Design
• Jane Shoemaker – Nominating
• Mark Fisler – Owner
Enrichment
Committee Board Liaison
Appointments
• Pam Hays - Covenants
• Brad Banta – Design
• Brad Banta – Finance
• Holly Lekas – Owner
Enrichment
munity partners on a variety of
operational matters.
• Accounting: Presented
July financial statements to the
Finance Committee, continued
bulk fiber billing and owner
outreach, supported communications with eligible fiber customers, began the 2027 budget
process, distributed year-end
forecasting materials to department heads, and advanced the
reserve study update.
• Communications: August Scene advertising revenue
outpaced the prior year while
website traffic remained strong
and digital communications efforts continued. Staff advanced
election and River Road closure
communications, launched
marketing for fall events, initiated the website redesign
project, updated recreation web
content, expanded advertising
efforts, and continued planning
for future communications
initiatives.
• Community Development: Design Committee activity remained steady with 191
active projects and 127 new
applications received during
August. Staff continued compliance enforcement, participated in magistrate hearings,
provided ongoing implementation support for the revised
Design Committee Manual,
and worked with IT staff to advance mobile field technology.
• Natural Resources: Continued ladder fuels reduction
and tree-thinning programs,
conducted inspections and
compliance enforcement related to ladder fuels and noxious weeds, supported the
annual War on Weeds effort
with strong volunteer participation, continued environmental
monitoring activities, and processed tree-related requests and
owner inquiries.
• IT: Continued modernization efforts by transitioning
legacy reporting systems to
Power BI, advancing server
automation and multifactor
authentication enhancements,
installing a Starlink backup
connection, upgrading weather
station, camera and publicaddress systems, and evaluating future member software
solutions.
• Public Works: Completed
pathway, road, landscaping and
facility improvement projects
throughout the association,
supported ladder fuels reduction efforts, prepared for the
River Road Tunnel replacement and Meadow Road reconstruction projects, maintained fleet and equipment assets, completed facility repairs,
and continued infrastructure
planning and reserve-funded
improvements.
• Recreation/SHARC: Concluded a successful summer operating season across SHARC,
Fort Rock Park, the Marina
and Member Pool facilities,
continued preparations for major fall events, extended select
Member Pool operations into
September, hosted weddings
and recreation programs, and
transitioned staffing and operations toward the fall season.
The meeting adjourned
at 10:48 a.m.
The next SROA board work
session will take place at 9 a.m.
Oct. 16 followed by the regular
board meeting at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17.
To watch the recorded
meeting via YouTube, visit the
meeting date on SROA website
calendar for the YouTube
link. Meeting minutes, once
approved, are available on
the SROA website at www.
sunriverowners.org
Board actions
• Approved the August2026
unaudited financials.
• Approved minutes from the
August 14, 2026, Work Session
and August 15, 2026, Business
Meeting; and, the August 15,
2026, Annual Meeting.
• The Board approved a 3%
discount for full payment of
2027 Maintenance Fees prior
to January 25, 2027.
• The Board approved an
Addendum to the SROA-SSD
Rule Enforcement Agreement
concerning invoicing details.
Committee actions
The Board approved the
following committee and task
force actions:
• Appointments
• Michael Applegate –
Nominating
• Meagan Iverson – Nominating
• Paul Lindstrom – Owner
Enrichment Committee
• Appointments to a Second
Term of Service
• Steven Pearson – Covenants
• Don Barnes – Design
• Stephen Bosson – Design
• Marybeth Collon – Design
• Charlie Meyer - Design
•
•
•
•
Association operations
• Administration: Continued work with legal counsel on
ongoing litigation, legal matters
and draft policy development
while participating in committee and work group meetings,
supporting the Capital Transfer
Fee campaign, coordinating
with TDS on fiber transition
efforts, engaging with owners
on compliance-related issues,
and collaborating with com-
Compliance corner: Preparing for the winter season
As temperatures begin to cool
and winter approaches, now is a
great time for Sunriver property
owners to prepare their homes
for the months ahead. A few
seasonal reminders can help
improve safety, reduce fire risk,
and ensure compliance with
Sunriver standards.
One of the most misunderstood requirements involves
firewood storage. Until Nov.
1, visible firewood must be
stored at least 20 feet from any
structure, including adjacent
structures where applicable. Beginning Nov. 1, firewood may
be stored closer to homes under
the winter-season exception.
If firewood is covered, tarps
must be dark brown, dark green
or black in color and maintained in good condition. Blue
tarps are not allowed anywhere
in Sunriver. Torn, ripped or
deteriorated tarps should be
repaired or replaced to help
preserve the natural appearance
of the community.
Fall is the perfect time to
inspect and clean chimneys
before regular fireplace use begins. Wood-burning fireplaces
and stoves are required to have
½-inch mesh spark arrestors
installed and maintained in
good working order. Property
owners should ensure chimneys
are clean and that spark arrestors have not rusted, burned
through or been removed
as they help prevent embers
from escaping and igniting
nearby vegetation.
As the holiday season approaches, residents are reminded that holiday lights may be
illuminated beginning Nov. 15
and remain up through Jan. 15.
Holiday decorations may not
be installed earlier than 30 days
before the applicable holiday
and should be removed within
30 days afterward.
Taking a few minutes to
address these seasonal items
now can help improve safety,
maintain compliance and ensure your home is ready for the
winter months ahead.
OCTOBER 2026 SUNRIVER SCENE
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