Work Begins on Harker Upgrades– by Cris Thiessen
Ground was broken on our scheduled start date of September 3. Excellent progress has been made in the past two and a half months. All of the concrete has been poured for the buildings and most of the walkways including the area around the pool. The new tennis facility is completely closed in with the roof installed. The pool storage facility is also closed in with new roof. The addition to the Harker center is framed, and we expect it to be closed in with roof and all windows and doors by the end of November. Interior demolition of the old office space, sauna and hot tub is complete, and the new walls are framed. With this progress, we are now in a good position to be able to efficiently work throughout the winter.

As with any remodel project, we expected that issues would arise that were not anticipated. To date, there have not been many of these. Most have resulted from discovery of code compliance issues that were either not met when the Harker Center was originally built or need to be addressed due to updating the building. Our contractor, Warner & Associates, has worked closely with the Sun Valley building inspector to ensure that we meet all requirements in a cost effective manner.

2008/09 Budgets approved
The 2008/2009 Operational and Capital Budgets have recently been approved by the SVEA Board. There will be no increase in the dues though the annual allocation between operational and capital will change from $520 to $480 for operations and from $110 to $150 for capital. Following the completion of our fiscal year-end reports and the annual audit preparation, staff will finalize the budget documents and include the 2007/2008 actual expenses. The budgets will then be posted on the website for your review. A report of the Association’s finances, including the budgets, will be presented at the December 30^th Annual Meeting.

Have you returned your Annual Meeting Proxy?
The 2008 SVEA Annual Meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 30, at 3:00 p.m. at the American Legion Hall in Ketchum. The meeting information was sent to all owners recently. If you have any questions you are urged to contact a Board Member or the office. There are two important issues (election of Board members and by-law amendments) to be voted on this year and everyone is encouraged to participate. If you have not already done so, please review all information and return your proxy as soon as possible.

Featured SVEA Staff Member
Darlene Kuehn – Darlene moved to the valley in 1976 to ski, and like so many other Blaine County residents, stayed because of the summers. "I originally moved here with a friend because the lift lines were too long in Colorado," she said. "I was also looking for a place that reminded me of the natural beauty of the Colorado Mountains without all of the development. I feel so fortunate to be able to reside here; Idaho is a beautiful and wonderful place to live." In addition to cross country skiing, Darlene likes to hike, camp, read or simply enjoy gardening and growing vegetables in her garden.

Darlene is SVEA’s accounting and office manager. She is responsible for payroll, accounts payable and receivable, preparing the yearly budgets, managing the database, enrolling employees in the 401k and health care programs, overseeing and updating the computers, and maintaining the website with news and information. She also oversees all office functions and the hiring, training and supervision of temporary help, and summer assistants. "As for my position here at SVEA," Darlene stated, "I feel privileged to be able to work with such a great group of intelligent and motivated people. The staff and the Board are amazing. I have learned so much from all of them."

Mountain Rides and City of Sun Valley Announce Expanded Year Round Bus Service for Sun Valley and Elkhorn
As of November 27^th 2008, Mountain Rides will significantly change routes to provide consistent, increased, year round service throughout Sun Valley and Elkhorn. A new year-round route will provide a base-level service of once an hour with overlapping routes in the peak seasons that will provide 30 minute service to much of the area. The hours of operations for the new route will remain the same throughout the year, beginning at 7:30am and ending at 9:30pm. In addition to this new route, another bus to River Run will continue to operate throughout the peak winter and summer months.

Two new 15-passenger Mercedes-Benz Sprinter buses, funded by the City of Sun Valley for Mountain Rides, will run on the new routes serving Sun Valley and Elkhorn. The routes will run from The Sun Valley Golf Club, on one end, to Twin Creeks on the other end, through Elkhorn Village with various stops in between. Stops at Dollar Circle and Elkhorn Circle will serve as transfer points to catch buses that will connect users to other "town" service routes serving Ketchum, Warm Springs, River Run, Thunder Spring and St. Luke’s Hospital, to name a few. Users will also become more connected with the Valley bus service as well, which runs daily to Hailey and Bellevue.

Architectural Design Committee News
Although construction in Elkhorn has decreased slightly this year the Architectural Design Committee (ADC) Manager is currently monitoring the progress of the following approved projects:

In order to streamline our review process for property owners, a simplified application process was implemented last year. Many small home improvement projects may now be reviewed and potentially approved by the ADC Manager. Please check the following list to see if the project you are considering is included. If a neighbor or the ADC Manager has any concerns about a project, it will be referred to the ADC for full review and approval as with all other construction and landscape projects not included on this list.

Please contact Jan Kaas, ADC Manager, (208-622-7420 or jansvea@cox-internet.com ) for questions regarding the submittal requirements for any exterior projects you are considering.

Keeping Elkhorn Beautiful
When viewing the Elkhorn Community it is apparent that it is unusually beautiful partially due to the diligent effort of all owners to keep unsightly articles properly screened from view. The SVEA Master Declaration lists the following items as unsightly:

Thanks to all for properly screening these items and keeping Elkhorn beautiful!
 

Open Space Ponds Create Thin Ice Danger
Each fall with the pending freezing temperatures the Association takes the opportunity to remind all owners of the dangers of thin ice. The many ponds and waterways in Elkhorn and the surrounding communities provide a fun outdoor winter attraction. However, thin ice is extremely dangerous. Please be cautious, and carefully supervise your children and pets.

AMENITIES REPORT
Pool Report
The summer season is over for the pools in what we believe has been one of our best seasons to date. We will continue to pursue ways to improve your pool experience next year.  Next summer the Harker Center expansion will be complete, and along with a new check-in facility, we will have pool and hot tub improvements as well.  The Board has authorized, as part of this years capital budget, a conversion of the Harker pool to a salt water system.  The salt water system will generate chlorine as demand requires keeping water properly balanced.  A similar system is used at Zynergy, a local athletic club, and those who have tried the facilities have expressed great satisfaction with their swimming experience.  Reports indicate the salt content in the water is similar to a mild saline solution that is easy on the eyes. The children’s pool and new hot tub will be converted to a salt water system as well due to the ability to control all bodies of water with the mechanical device used for the main pool.  The Village pool will remain strictly chlorine sanitized at this time while we have a chance to evaluate the results of the salt water system at the Harker Center.  The Village pool is scheduled for some improvement next summer with shade structures added around the pool deck for user comfort.

Tennis Report
The tennis amenities are closed for the winter season.  Tennis players have enjoyed a beautiful fall tennis season as warm weather conditions allowed extended tennis play.  We are very excited about the new tennis pro shop, with restrooms, nearing completion at the Harker Center.  Next summer drinking fountains will be installed at the Harker amenities along with shade structure and patio furniture for the Village court users.  The Board of Directors thanks Bill VanDeinse, USPTS, for another summer season of quality tennis programs.

Airline and Bus Travel News from the Ketchum/Sun Valley Chamber
LAX-SUN non-stop flights will begin on December 18 and run through March. This flight runs once a day and starts at $169 each way. For fare sale rules or other information please visit www.Horizonair.com or for additional information on airline connections to Sun Valley, please go to www.visitsunvalley.com