Our Meeting with Jack Sarsum – 

Last week 2 members of SAChub team met with Jack Sarsam to get better insight into what was happening between the Board and Robson.  If you had a chance to read the latest copy of For the Record, you may have seen a remark made by the Board that certain individuals have also been having conversations with the Robson Group and this could complicate the ongoing negotiations.  Believe me, our conversations have done just the opposite.  When the Board cut their deal with Robson for the additional land at Ridgeview, they agreed to pay $80,000 for the land.  Following our discussions with Robson and our letter to the Board regarding their actions, the price of the land was reduced to zero.

Our conversation with Jack was very enlightening.  

Let us start by reviewing what the Board told homeowners at the last Board meeting. The Board passed the following resolution: “..the two tennis courts at the Preserve that were converted temporarily to four pickleball courts continue in their temporary status until the new Pickleball courts in the Ridgeview area are essentially complete and that after that completion, they be returned to operation as tennis courts, and, that upon completion of the transfer of the parking area to HOA2 free of charge, the residual funds that HOA has been holding in escrow for the purchase of that land be returned to the SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association.”  This resolution had some contingencies attached to it regarding the reciprocal use agreement with the Ranch and that the transfer of the parking area to HOA2 be free of charge and be accomplished.

In addition to this resolution, Bob Kolenda, president of the Board of Directors, also explained that Mr. Robson and his staff, identified another plot of land in the same area but slightly further south that will be gifted to HOA2 for an additional 6 pickleball courts. There are some costs associated with clearing the land but the Board believes it is still a great opportunity.

What did Jack tell us that the Board did not –

First, Robson is currently working on a document which will support the gifting of the land at Ridgeview for a parking lot.  That document will include the condition that the current Preserve tennis courts will not be permanently converted into pickleball courts as long as Robson is selling or building homes in the Preserve.  The estimated time frame for this is approximately 5 years (give or take). 

Second, the estimated cost to remove the buildings located on the second parcel Robson has agreed to gift HOA2, which is estimated to cost $500,000.  To our surprise, Robson is now willing to split the cost between Robson and HOA2. Surprise for us.  

But the biggest surprise is that Robson has not signed anything and will not sign anything until HOA2 puts up funds sufficient to cover its half of the removal costs.  So, as it stands right now, if something were to happen to Mr. Robson or if Mr. Robson decided to change his mind, HOA2 could lose the opportunity to acquire the land which can hold between 6 and 8 additional pickleball courts and includes enough space for parking.  The amount of land available in and around Saddlebrooke is incredibly limited.  It would be a shame to lose this opportunity.  

From our perspective, that is quite a deal.  It would result in anywhere from 20 to 22 pickleball courts at Ridgeview.  But Jack indicated that the Board had not gotten back to them regarding the payment.  We asked Jack if it might be possible for Robson to accept a promissory note for the $250,000.  Jack said that might be possible but he would have to discuss it with Mr. Robson.

What is happening on the legal front – 

If you are not aware, when we started SAChub it was to raise money for a legal expenses to stop the HOA2 Board from permanently changing the 2 tennis courts at the preserve into 8 pickleball courts.  Our response to our request was astounding.  Our attorneys wrote the board a letter (you can read excerpts of the letter on the website) informing them that there are any number of causes of action resulting from the proposal they were making.  They also wrote the letters described earlier requesting the email addresses.

Since sending the original letter, the board has taken a different direction and has no immediate plans to convert the courts.