Latest Info as of Wednesday, November 6, 2024

November 6, 2024 update

Our FEMA Grant Application for Phase 1, Engineering Design of the solution was submitted on Oct 31 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.

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.

The Annual Meeting was conducted at Polk County HS on Saturday, 21 September. We had good attendance. The PowerPoint presentation and Minutes of the meeting is located on the Owner Page, top item. It available for downloading.

We just created a new Property Owners Only webpage. It contains info we don't want the internet trolls and interlopers having access to. 

It has the Contact Info for the Board Members and the latest information for property owners. 

If you own property and need access then contact: skipwilliams0319@gmail.com

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.

Many thanks to Mark and Jessica Ervin for their gift and installation of this comfortable porch swing. It is most appropriate for the location and our property owners enjoy it.

Volunteers make a community!

Special thanks Elaine Weeks and Ken Haller for the decoration to the Little Library. The two of them worked hard to refurbish and upgrade the Little Library. 

The WOMA Lending Library is located at The Pavilion, 11 Three Bridges Road. It has been well received and the books seem to be turning over at a good rate. Stop by and check it out.

For the past 30+ months WOMA  has been working with the Columbus FD to have a Sub-Station near the top of the mountain.

Regretfully that initiative has been cancelled by the new Fire Chief and the FD Board of Directors. Bummer indeed.

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.

As of November 6, 2024 we have 108 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

Kerri Franklin's home (photo) had extensive log rot. She, along with Shelvie Foust and Hal Fenters, wrote a few observations about maintaining logs. Read their accounts (PDF) at the Architectural Committee page. Link below.