Golf Vista Estates residents continue their quest for village intervention for disputes with the manufactured home park management.
Residents attended the Monee Board of Trustees meeting again on Sept. 23, reiterating concerns about driveway repairs, maintenance, and other issues.
Yas Ghafouri, regional vice president for Golf Vista Estates, also was present, seeking to reassure village officials and residents that every effort is being made to resolve the differences.
She also invited residents to a community town hall meeting on Monday, Oct. 5, at the clubhouse.
Management will be there to answer questions, hear concerns, and provide updates about the community, she said.
“I had the opportunity today to visit Golf Vista and did a very thorough inspection of the property,” she told the board.
“I also met with a couple of residents. We drove the golf course, had very good conversations, and what I would like to let you guys know is that we are hosting a town hall on Oct. 5 for our residents. It’s from 5 to 6:30.
“We’ll be serving dinner from 5 to 5:30 p.m., and then we’re going to have (the open house) from 5:30 to 6 p.m. We’ll open it up for questions to respond to our residents, their needs, their concerns.
“I know with the last couple of meetings the concern has been driveways, and so I just want to let everybody know that we’re in the process of evaluating the driveway situation and when we have more information, we will communicate that with our residents. So, we do know that’s a major concern.
“And I do also want to say that we have spent over $1 million dollars at Golf Vista over the last five years on capital improvements and we continue to do so.
“But I do know that we also need to do a better job of communicating with our residents. That’s, I think, one of their needs, and to make sure that we’re responding and when we do have things planned that we’re letting them know about what’s happening around the community.
“I just want to make sure our residents know that they can come to us. We’re open, five days a week from 8 to 12 and 1 to 5 p.m., and we plan on having these meetings on a regular basis so that way we can address the concerns with our own residents at the property.”
Ghafouri said that a notice of the open house was sent to all residents “that we have email for and we’ve posted it all over the property. Today, I did ask the residents, like just to make sure, hey, have you guys received the communication? Are you aware about it? Everybody that I met said they had and they were very excited that they have an opportunity to come to the meeting.”
According to the notice, questions should be submitted to management in advance of the meeting, and those will be answered in discussion. If additional time allows, questions will be taken from the floor.
Also, questions should be about general community information in nature. Questions specific to a resident’s home or site should be directed to management.
George Clark, an outspoken critic of Golf Vista management, said he hadn’t planned to speak during the village board meeting, but was “elated to see someone from ELS here, Miss Yas Ghafouri.”
Equity LifeStyle Properties owns Gulf Vista Estates.
Clark was concerned that the notice about the open house said residents could not discuss their property or a neighbor’s property.
He said complaints in the past were ignored by management.
“Well, that’s why we’re here,” he said. “We took it to management. Nothing got done.
“So, I would like to appeal to Miss Ghafouri to at least let the residents speak about the issues that we have. I guess they’re on high alert now, as you know. And if we have an open house where they can’t say what they want to say, we may need him (Police Chief Scott Koerner) there.”
Mayor Therese Bogs commended ELS for hosting the open house.
“I would strongly encourage everybody to work cooperatively. Yes, I understand the Golf Vistra residents’ concerns and I empathize with your angst,” she said.
“We all truly do. I think this is a great forward motion on ELS’s part to host this.
“It’s not going to be done in one open house. I think ELS realizes that. You guys definitely realize that.
“But I’m going to ask that everybody please, you know, have some patience, cooperate, achieve what you can in that meeting, knowing that this is, I’m sure, one of many to get from point A to point Z for you guys.
“But, you know, a lot more gets done when people can, you know, actively listen and hear what’s being said. And I hope both sides can accomplish that.”