It’s been a busy, hot summer, even though it had a cool start … until now! It seems as though someone has pushed the fast forward button, and time is moving at double speed. Lots of improvement and maintenance projects are going on in SunBird.
The Fourth of July flag-raising service was excellent. It was hosted outside the clubhouse at the flagpole. The temperature at 8:00 a.m. was near 90 degrees and rose quickly. Despite the temperature, the service was well attended, with more than 120 people. We appreciate all those who have sacrificed their time, and from many, their all, for the comfortable luxuries and freedoms we all enjoy today. Speaking of this leads us right to SunBird’s Second Annual Patriot Day Recognition and Honorary Service for First Responders. This will be held Wednesday, Sept. 11, beginning with a parade right down Championship Drive from Firestone Drive, heading north to Waterview Drive and then east into the clubhouse ballroom. At the ballroom at 9:11 a.m. the service will begin with some words and thoughts from city officials, followed by a bagpiper playing “Amazing Grace.” We anticipate this to be another terrific event.
During the winter season, SunBird hosts the monthly coffee and donuts “Meeting with Manager” with 100 to 120 residents in the ballroom. The purpose of this informal meeting is to go over upcoming activities, current events and news in SunBird. During the summer months, it was suggested to continue this in a different format and call it “Lunch with Layne.” This is held in the Horizon Room for residents to order lunch, and management shares the status of projects, events and activities going on in SunBird. The attendance at these meetings are more than 100. At this past month’s meeting, the health inspector unexpectedly arrived just 30 minutes before the meeting was to begin and conducted a full inspection of the entire food and beverage operation. The Horizon Room cooks and servers were in high speed mode with a near full house preparing and serving lunch. The inspector reviewed the kitchen equipment to make sure that freezer and refrigerator temperatures, dishwasher water heat and chemicals were all correct, and that all equipment was clean and in good condition. The inspector also check to ensure that food was properly labeled, stored, purchased from approved sources and within expiration dates, inspected permits and every employee’s food handler certificates, observed the cooks and servers for proper food preparation and service standards. At the end of the inspection, a grade was provided for the food and beverage operation, and the inspector was very impressed with the operations and service and awarded an “A” for the inspection. Great job to the Horizon Room staff for achieving the highest grade!
Summer projects continue on. Sport courts 1 and 2 are currently under construction to remove the old asphalt material and replace it with new post-tension concrete. The barbecue patio area outside the ballroom has been updated to accommodate a full-size refrigerator and freezer under the covered cooking area. Stair handrails at the east and west ends of the clubhouse have been replaced with new, safer railings. Common area landscape irrigation system is in the second phase of removing and replacing the piping, valves and timer clocks. Thirteen clubhouse double doors will be replaced this month with new doors that will function properly and are more energy efficient. Many sections of the clubhouse interior is underway with painting and new flooring scheduled this month. The old balcony railing on the south side of the clubhouse will be updated with the new cable-type railing in September. Finally, the gate house at Riggs Road is receiving a face lift, complete with an extended plant bed and rock façade around the building.
SunBird has a 20-year projection plan with a savings account for future replacement and updating for more than 120 major items. These items are typically large, including the clubhouse roof, paint, air conditioners, flooring, furniture and water heaters; recreational facilities including the sport courts, shuffleboard courts, horseshoe pits, bocce ball courts, billiard tables and fitness room equipment, swimming pool plaster, equipment and decking; road maintenance and replacement and much more. The key to, and most important part of, the projection replacement plan is a constant review and maintenance so that an appropriate amount of annual funding is saved to handle future needs with minimal surprise.
We appreciate our full-time residents in being patient with the inconvenience that some of these projects entail. It’s for a short time, and we look forward to updating and keeping SunBird an attractive and exciting place to live! Have a healthy and safe summer!