Latest Info as of Friday, March 28, 2025
We are in Zone Green for Evacuation
Polk County EM designated the White Oak Mountain complex as Green for Evacuation. Good news is that the advance of the Deep Woods Fire was stopped at Holbert Cove Rd. That protected the mountain. As of Mar 28, 2025, from GroupMe reports by neighbors and the Forest Service update report, it appears to have calmed down for that section of Deep Woods Fire closest to the base of our mountain.
The Polk County Emergency Management webpage has been updated with rather comprehensive information.
Three Fires in the Green River Valley
It is very alarming to view down from Sunset Rock, through the rising smoke, to see the flaming fireline eating the forest.
What can you do as a property owner to protect your investment?
First, clear everything that is combustible 5 feet away from the base of your home. No mulch, No pine straw, No rhododendrons, No mountain laurel. Install a hardscape protection around your home.
Second, have drained garden hose with nozzle coiled at every spigot bib at your home.
A firefighter once stated that his best tool was an air blower. It easily enables one to move combustibles away from a structure and control the fireline.
Keep leaves from gathering under the porch and against any fencing.
Download the Homeowner Risk Rating Checklist and the Fire Resistant Landscaping PDF
Cable Lock on The Park gate
We need to protect our fellow property owners, who live on Narrows Court. The access road and property has been inviting to outliers and trespassers who are using The Park at night as Lovers Lane.
We have installed a combination cable lock on the wooden gate that goes to The Park. We have also placed a QR code on the gate that will link you to the Property Owners Page where you can retrieve the code.
Melrose Wildfire hits up to 500 acres
WOMA Resident now County Commissioner
Saturday, March 1, 2025 a fire started in the vicinity of Hwy 176. The high winds and dry forest was a perfect combination for a bad situation.
Property owners who owned homes became very concerned. It reminds us all to take fire protection of our homes seriously.
Download the Fire Resistant Landscaping Poster sheet on our Firewise page
Hurricane Helene SBA Loan Approved
WOMA Resident now County Commissioner
WOMA Resident now County Commissioner
Good news came to WOMA this week. Back in December the Board made an application for a Small Business Administration Hurricane Helene Disaster Loan. We closed the loan today, January 24, 2025. It was approved for the $46,000 which we requested. Even better news is that we have 12 months before the first payment. The loan process was relatively easy, the SBA customer relationship was excellent, and the entire online loan application system worked seamlessly.
So, now as we start 2025 the Association is in a better fiscal posture. This SBA loan conserves and protects our rather small reserves until the 2025 annual regime fees are paid. We can easily contract/pay for Carney Engineering to repair Helene damage to Hemlock Trail and defer the repayment for 12 months. At the end of the 12 months, we will then liquidate the SBA debt.
We now have have free money for a year thanks to the SBA’s disaster recovery loan program. That is good news for all property owners.
WOMA Resident now County Commissioner
WOMA Resident now County Commissioner
WOMA Resident now County Commissioner
Ms. Jennifer Hargett was sworn in as County Commissioner on December 2, 2024. Jennifer and husband Chuck Noffke are property owners and full-time residents of our Association.
Congratulation to our good neighbor and great success as Commissioner!
Jennifer can be reached:
12 Months of Website Data is something to talk about indeed!
12 Months of Website Data is something to talk about indeed!
Let’s do the Numbers
Over the past 12 months our website has had:
6,027 visits – 526 in the last 30 days
910 – Active users
2min 5 sec – Average time on site
718 – Most visited page – Latest Info Page followed by Documentation Page
682 – files were downloaded
Our website appears to be quite a resource for property owners.
FEMA 65/35 Grant for Dam #2 repair
12 Months of Website Data is something to talk about indeed!
January 24, 2025 update: No Change to past report below:
Our FEMA Grant Application is still under review for Phase 1, Engineering Design of the solution was submitted on Oct 31, 2024 to NCDEQ. That is a big deal and represents about $116k of the program.
Background:
The FEMA Grant is from a bipartisan infrastructure bill targeting high hazard dams which have problems. FEMA pays 65% and the dam owner pays 35%. This is a perfect solution for high hazard dam owners who may be strapped for cash to make very expensive repairs.
Regretfully, it will not repay the $41K+ already invested in the repair. With that said, had we not already made the repair commitment and had gathered some very good data, we would have had a most difficult time fulfilling the FEMA Grant requirements.
WOMA Creel Limits for 2024-25 Fishing
Since we are a private organization and own the ponds NC Wildlife provides us the authority to specify daily catch/creel limit for all species of fish.
Therefore our Fishing Regulation applies, as granted by NC Wildlife Resources Commission.
The Association owns the land that the ponds occupy, however the State owns the water. We buy and stock fish, the State's Wildlife Enforcement Officers exercise law enforcement of daily catch.
For Large and Smallmouth Bass and Sunfish:
NC State daily catch limits apply for WOMA fishing.
For Trout:
From Nov 1 to Mar 31 - sport fishing, catch and release, No Catch.
From Apr 1 to Summer the Creel Limit is 2 per day per fisherman
For Carp:
No Catch
The Purple Stripes you see around our ponds is the universal color for posting No Trespassing and that land and our waters are private. That gives NC Wildlife Law Enforcement the ability to write a Citation, on the spot, to Poachers. A typical fine could be $175 for Poaching.
Deputy Sheriff Shane Jackson is making a difference in our Community
Since responding to our community request for Law Enforcement on the Memorial Day weekend our Deputy Sheriff has made a huge difference. He has caught the high speed speeders who love to race their cars up WOM Rd and down Skyuka. He has chased off folk who have no business in our community. He has even done some Game Warden stuff by checking for the WOMA Permission Cards for fishing.
A Veteran and family man, with 4 adult sons, our Deputy Shane Jackson is helping the entire mountain community including Skyuka and The Brow. Give him a pat on the back and thumbs up. He is a great conversationalist and is keen to learn more about the folk he protects.
When it Really Counts - Can EMS find your Driveway Entrance?
Many homeowners in the Association display their house numbers using custom made signage. These thematic custom house number signs are often dark color and do not stand out. Consider augmenting the nice custom sign with a Blue or Green 911 sign beside the entrance to your driveway.
Medical emergencies happen on our mountain. Let's help the First Responders find the right home, with certainty, for a medical emergency. Using the standard 911 sign will enable First Responders to turn at the home's driveway in bad weather and nights of very poor visibility.
Consider joining your other WOMA neighbors who show the "911 sign" in helping First Responders. A Win-Win scenario.
Amazon and other internet retailers offer these at a reasonable price.
Texting System a Success - Working for our Community
As of March 28, 2025 we have 113 participants in this closed group texting system. Simple... we see something, we notify others, as good neighbors and caring mountain citizens.
This system is proven and works. Provides Fast Reporting to the community
- To Report a Serious Incident
- To Report Suspicious Activity to the Community
- To Report Downed Lines and Road Slides
- To Report "Concerning Bear or other Wildlife Activity" and Poachers (fish or ginseng)
- To Announce Lost/Found Pets
- To Ask for Assistance in Bad Weather
- To Ask for Advice.
Not a Social Media platform, no sales of goods or services or commentary adverse to the purpose of this Community Concerns notification system.
Very Quick to Get set up in GroupMe:
1. Download the “GroupMe” App from your App store to your iPhone or Android phone, or even to your computer at www.groupme.com
2. Now Set up your account in the App.
This will require you to sign in via Facebook, Google, or other ways.
NOTE: When you set up your account, it will automatically have the “Yes” Block checked to have access to YOUR CONTACTS. You Do NOT have to “Check” that box to have the account. You may uncheck it.
3. Once you have your account come Join the “Community Concerns – WOMA” Group.
Join GroupMe Today