BY ROBIN KNEPPER
After a secret 4-2 vote by paper ballot yesterday, the Lake of the Woods Association board of directors replaced the homeowners association's longtime security firm.
U.S. Security Associates won a three-year contract to provide security services to the massive Orange County subdivision for $525,152 a year.
The total contract of $1.6 million is approximately $28,000 more than the bid from Dodson Security, the present security company.
"We have agonized over this," said Director Peter Williams after the meeting.
The new security company will start work May 1, the beginning of the fiscal year.
Dodson Security has 21 employees and has provided security services at Lake of the Woods since 1972. It is the only security firm ever hired for that job.
George Dodson, the company's president, is a former Stafford County Sheriff's Office investigator. He said after the board meeting that he was "shocked" by the decision.
"I did everything they asked me to," he said. "They're getting rid of me for high tech."
Director Bruce Kay, who voted against the contract with USSA, said the new company had never managed a homeowners association the size of LOW.
Director Jeff Flynn agreed and voted with Kay.
"They may be excellent, but I don't want to take that chance," he said. "USSA will not provide animal control, and we don't know if they'll be as cooperative or customer-friendly as Dodson."
Before the vote, board Chairman Bill Wilson said that USSA was a nationwide company that provided security services for corporations, government facilities and seaports. He added that the company had a wide range of proprietary systems that could be tailored for use at LOW.
Wilson announced the paper-ballot vote at the beginning of the meeting and said he would vote only to break a tie on the seven-member board. However, he cast a fifth vote after the vote to hire USSA succeeded, 4-2.
In other business, Treasurer Olive Kelly reported that she had worked with General Manager John Bailey to make spending cuts to offset the expected shortfall in this year's revenue.
"We'll continue to monitor spending," she said, "and we expect to end the fiscal year on a positive note."
"John Bailey is on the hook to control expenses," said Director Bruce Kay. "We cannot afford any more overruns on capital items. And we encourage our members to use the amenities."
In his monthly report, School Board member Jim Hopkins announced that staff cuts in the school system's central office eliminated the jobs of the two associate superintendents. Last week the School Board approved the elimination of 34 jobs, 10 of which are teachers. More staff cuts are expected.
Lynn Huntsman, chairman of the nominating committee, announce the need for candidates to run for the board of directors.
The three-year terms of board members Bill Wilson and Peter Williams end on Labor Day. They are not seeking re-election.
Candidates' applications are available at the Holcomb Building.
Robin Knepper: 540/972-5701
Email: rknepper@earthlink.net