November 1, 2008 by sonny.

At the Sept 25, 2008 Board Meeting the SCA Directors approved RMI’s recommendation to proceed to place an order to Valley Crest Landscaping Co.  for rock replenishment in our common areas for $71,706.

This was despite the fact that RMI had two lower bids from qualified suppliers. One from Cedco for  $28,975 and one from High Desert for $24,050.  I have been questioning RMI on why it asked the Board to pay Valley Crest 2.5 times more then the other two qualified companies?  And, I am not receiving satisfactory answers.

RMI’s Bruno Panek told SCA’s Property & Grounds Committee he was sure that the other two landscape companies did not go and inspect every area on the map provided to them.  But, no evidence has been shown that anyone knew Cedco and High Desert did not inspect every area on the map provided to them.  And, I doubt anyone has evidence of Valley Crest inspecting all of the areas for this contract.

Regardless, if Mr. Panek had conversations and provided information to one bidder about the bid criteria, he is required to be able to show that he provided the same information on a timely basis to the other bidders.  Otherwise, it is an invalid competition and the bid  prices are wrong.

Incidentally, there are only four SCA community areas  involved, and it would have been easy to treat all bidders equally.  By law and by contract, it is RMI’s responsibility to ensure that all bidders have the same information on which to base their bids.

In addition, I was taught in business that when bids come in with great discrepancies, you call all the bidders, and find out why, and then you allow bidders to revise their bids based on common information.  You do not award a contract to a bidder when you can see there is something wrong.   RMI failed to take that step in this case.

During my investigation of this matter in recent weeks, I have asked RMI Community Association Manager Terry DaSilva and SCA Board President Roz Berman for copies of all information regarding this transaction.  But, either the required documents do not exist, or they have failed to give me everything that is required for this case. Either way, not having, or denying to release such official contracting records is a clear violation of Nevada Statutes and SCA governing documents.

At this point, it appears that RMI is guilty of gross negligence and mis-management on this contract.  And, I believe the SCA Directors have both violated their fiduciary responsibilities and failed to exercise good business judgment. If records to prove otherwise are not immediately produced, I will be forced to file a formal complaint with the Nevada Real Estate Division and request severe punishments of both the SCA Board Officers and the RMI Managers.

In the meantime, I am asking fellow SCA members to help me by looking into this situation yourself.  Have I missed something?  If so, what?  If not, why should we tolerate such a flagrant waste of our valuable dues money?  Should we not demand more professional conduct by both the Board and RMI?

Finally, why does the Board not cancel this seriously inflated contract immediately?  Is there some kind of unknown “emergency” for these rocks?  Do we not deserve to be provided compelling evidence to explain what appears to be a waste of over $45,000!  Please let me and/or the Board/RMI know what you think.

Sonny Sonnenfeld
Pinnacle Village
Sonnysonnenfeld1@aol.com

Posted in SCA Board, Community Affairs, News! | Print | No Comments »

November 1, 2008 by admin.

For all SCA Veterans:

On November 13th at 11 AM, Thunderbird Pilot Major Kirby Ensser, USAF, will be the luncheon speaker for the SCA Women’s Club.  In honor of our veterans and Veteran’s Day, November 11th, we would like to extend an invitation to SCA Veterans to attend this unique luncheon, and we are requesting assistance from the SCA Veterans SIG and the blog operators to help spread the word on this event.

SCA is extremely grateful to be able to have Major Ensser, USAF, as our speaker this month.  Thunderbird Pilots rarely have time to make pubic presentations.  The Thunderbird Team travels worldwide most weeks during the year, and even when they are home with family and friends, they usually have to fly twice a day to develop new skills and maintain their high levels of aerobatic proficiency. This luncheon promises to be a truly memorable occasion for our community.

Our luncheon will start at 11 AM on November 13 in Hanneman Hall. A catered buffet meal by Chef Neal will be followed by Major Ensser’s presentation.  For this event, we have waived the guest fee for veterans, and the luncheon charge will only be $25.00–the standard price to women’s club members.

Veterans wishing to attend must make a reservation with payment made in the Women’s Club mailbox by Sunday, November 9th by 5 pm.  The payment should be inserted into the locked box in the SCA mail room to the left of the SCA club mail boxes.

We plan to set aside reserved tables for our veterans, but individual veterans may request to be seated with others at different tables.  If you wish to be seated with any specific person or persons, please include the information on a note attached to your reservation when it is placed into the Women’s Club mailbox.  

We look forward to having our veterans attend our Women’s Club November luncheon, and we welcome the opportunity to recognize you at this very special event.  

Thank you, 

Kathy Matson & Kay Frank
Co-Presidents, Sun City Anthem Women’s Club 

Posted in Community Affairs, Special Events, News! | Print | No Comments »