Lakemore says dam replacement expected this summer; residents dispute which homes must pay HOA assessments

The Village of Lakemore’s mayor told the council that work to replace the lake dam is expected to begin in June or July, depending on site conditions, and that the replacement will lower the dam by roughly 5 feet and include dredging of the lake.

“the work will commence in June or July ... the dam is going to be replaced and it’s going to be 5 ft shorter lower,” the mayor said in the report read to the council (transcript capitalization retained where presented). The mayor said the schedule depends on ground conditions and heavy‑equipment access and that affected homeowners would be updated, including at an HOA meeting the mayor planned to attend.

During public comment, several residents and homeowners‑association representatives raised questions about assessment letters tied to the dam repair program. Some residents said they received letters informing them they were assessed fees; others said their HOA counsel had told them those specific parcels are not subject to assessment because the homes predate the master plan. Participants discussed recordation and master‑plan dates (transcript references: 1997 and 1999) as the basis for who bears the assessment.

A resident summarized the conflict: some homes “predated the master plan” and therefore, the resident said, were argued by counsel to be exempt from assessment, while other later phases appear to be subject to the assessment. A representative who identified themself as the president of Britney Point Detached explained the development had multiple construction phases and indicated that some parcels recorded in later phases were required to share in the dam repair assessment while earlier‑recorded parcels were not.

Speakers also raised environmental and timing concerns. Tree removal had to be completed before April 1 because of protections related to the Indiana bat (an endangered species), a point cited by a resident during discussion of construction sequencing.

Neighborhood maintenance and traffic safety issues were also a focus. Residents asked whether Britney Boulevard — described in the meeting as a dedicated public road — is scheduled for maintenance or repaving and complained about parking near school drop‑off times that blocks sight lines. Council members and HOA officers discussed enforcement limits (some enforcement is an HOA responsibility) and the difficulty of coordination when multiple HOAs use different management companies. A council member provided an official contact (snesnoff@lakemoreohio.org) and asked residents to share contact information to facilitate follow‑up.

What remains unresolved: The meeting record shows the dispute about which parcels are assessed remains unresolved in the council session; residents were directed to their HOA counsel or to coordinate with the village for clarification. The transcript contains inconsistent spellings of some names and some numeric items (for example, the transcript’s printed premium numbers are likely accurate but should be checked against official minutes for verification). The council did not take a formal vote on assessment policy during this meeting.

Quotes from the meeting: Frank Chennowith, a resident who spoke earlier in the meeting, thanked council members for the Rotary speech competition invitation. On the dam topic, residents and HOA representatives spoke directly and at length during public comment; one resident said, “we kept telling everybody wait for your HOA to attorney,” summarizing advice to homeowners to consult counsel before paying on contested letters.

Ending: Council members encouraged residents to exchange contact information with village staff and HOA representatives for further coordination after the meeting. The mayor and council signaled willingness to meet with residents and HOA counsel outside the meeting to clarify which parcels are assessed and to address parking and road maintenance concerns.