Attached you will find a very special Sea Horse Park Membership Survey. Basically, all of the members will be indicating their preference on whether to keep or sell Sea Horse Park. This is not a vote. That will happen later at an approved Board of Directors Meeting. It is very important to email your preference as soon as possible by placing a check mark by the choice of your pick. Please email me back with your preference no later than October 29, 2024.
If you know of anyone who does not have a Sea Horse Park email address, please let them know about the Member Survey. They can mail a copy of their choice back to Sea Horse Park.
Again, the new Sea Horse Park temporary address is.
Sea Horse Park Homeowners Association
5260 78th Avenue North
P.O. Box 68
Pinellas Park, FL 33780
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From: Suzanne Pettigrew <suzpettigrew@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Oct 19, 2024 at 3:03 PM
Subject: Sea Horse Park Membership Survey- please respond!
As you are all aware, Sea Horse Park suffered serious damage from two hurricanes within 13 days. All homes and all of the common amenities and facilities in the community were damaged, some more seriously than others. The Board of Directors are also aware of disinformation and a movement to distract from the efforts to resume “business as usual” and rebuild our community together!
The Board of Directors is seeking to find out if the membership would prefer to rebuild the community, or to terminate the condominium and sell the park property. Per the condominium documents, it requires a 75% “yes” vote to terminate the condominium. If the membership does not vote by a 75% majority to terminate the condominium then we are required by law (the Florida Condominium Act) to rebuild.
Sea Horse Park Homeowners Association has a little over $350,000.00 available in reserves to pay for repairs to the Clubhouse, swimming pool, and common areas. We are currently getting estimates of the costs to rebuild. As of this point in time, the Board of Directors believes the homeowners’ association has sufficient funds on hand to pay for repair, renovation, or replacement of most of the damage to the common property , while still maintaining a healthy reserve.
Contrary to rumors going around the community:
- The Board of Directors are volunteers. They are not paid anything for what they do. They are not being paid, do not receive and have not received any money from anyone for their efforts, including their efforts to clean up and rebuild the community. Many of them are putting in 40+ hours a week working on cleaning up and rebuilding the community.
- A Pinellas County Code Enforcement Officer came to Park and demanded that the homeowners’ association remove the debris from the parking lot in front of the park, under threat of citations and fines.
- FEMA representatives visited the community on October 18, 2024 about removing the debris. We are on the list for help with the county, but do not have a firm dates yet.
- The officers, directors, management and many unit owners are working diligently to facilitate getting the debris removed from the park, due to health and safety concerns. However, each member is responsible for removing the debris from his or her lot and home.
- NO association funds can be used and none are being used to repair or renovate members’ lots, homes, docks, or other member property.
Some members have asked what their options are for their mobile homes and lots. Here are some possibilities:
1. Rebuild your home (following the government guidelines).
a. If the cost of repair is less than or equal to 50% of their FMV (fair market value) then you may repair your home in place.
b. If the cost of repair is more than 50% of the FMV of the property then the home will have to be brought up to Code, which will include meeting current ANSI Wind Code Standard III and elevating to 14 ft above mean sea level, which in most cases will probably mean having to install a new home.
2. Sell
a. Sell the lot and home “as-is, where-is”. Note that the cost of removing the home for the buyer may result in lower offers from prospective buyers.
b. Remove the mobile home and sell the vacant lot. Note that a vacant lot is likely to bring a better price than a lot with a home that needs to be removed.
3. Abandon
a. Some members have asked about abandoning their property and walking away. The Board would prefer not to have to take back any lots. However, if any member wishes to do so the homeowners association will accept a Quit-Claim Deed to the homeowners association.
b. Note that if a member abandons his or her property without selling it to an approved buyer or turning it over to the homeowners’ association, the homeowners’ association will incur costs to get a title to take the lot back.
- If it appears that a 75% majority of the members want to terminate the condominium and sell the property then a separate Special Meeting of the Membership will be scheduled to vote on it.
- If it appears that less than 75% of the members want to terminate ( rebuild community) then a Special Meeting of the Membership will be called to vote to transfer reserve funds between the reserve classifications to facilitate the rebuilding and renovation of the community.
The Board will reserve a physical location for the meeting and also make available electronic attendance via Zoom.
– In either event, at least 14 days’ notice of the membership meeting and proxies will be provided.
Please REPLY to this email before October 29th ( to Travis) and indicate your name & whether you would prefer to:
[ ] terminate the condominium and sell the community; OR
[ ] rebuild.
Thank You
Stay Sea Horse Strong!
Sue Pettigrew, President on Behalf of the Sea Horse Park, Board of Directors