What an extraordinary sight! Marc Morgan captured this morning rainbow arching over the Shores community center. Perfect timing — on the day before our community vote on community covenants revisions. Somehow, this rainbow restores within me — if only for a precious few minutes — the hope and promise of community peace. Covenants revision has been a divisive issue in the Shores for months. Here’s hoping that tomorrow’s vote will bring some resolution.

There are many viewpoints being presented in neighborhood conversation about the upcoming covenants vote. Lot of impassioned pleas (both sides), name calling (both sides), and more than a few tempers flaring on all sides. And while I find the behavior off-putting, I think I can understand the why of it all. As a new resident (wholly without knowledge of WS complicated past) I’ve observed that the covenants revision process has been hampered by an information vacuum, miscommunication, and some degree of obfuscation. I don’t believe that any of that was purposeful, but instead a defensive reaction to the aforementioned blame game and flaring of tempers. It’s not easy to get anything done in this place.

As a new resident I’ve spent much time researching the covenants, state statutes, and legality issues surrounding the WSPOA. I’ve asked questions, I’ve sought out knowledgeable counsel, and I’ve made my decisions based on what I’ve learned as a result of that research. I don’t agree with all of the changes, but thankfully I don’t have to. I can vote “yes” or “no” individually, on the merit of each proposed change. I know how my husband and I will apply our votes, and I know that we’ll do it without name calling or blame. Please, for the good of our community, I hope you will do the same.

Regardless of voting outcome, I think it important to publicly thank Tim Lail for carrying this unwieldy and sticky project. The need for a revision of our antiquated covenants cannot be argued against. They were written in a time gone by, and some of their specifics (race statement) have long been illegal. Thank you, Tim, for running the gauntlet between sides to get our covenants cleaned up to modern standards.