Letter from the President: 10 Good Things that Happened This Summer
One of the challenges of serving on an HOA board is that progress does not always arrive with a ribbon cutting.
More often, it happens a little at a time: a repair gets completed, a project moves from discussion to construction, a problem that has lingered for years finally gets a plan, or a homeowner raises an issue that leads to something being fixed. When you look back over several months, those individual steps begin to add up.
And this spring and summer, quite a lot has been happening in Waterstone.
So, rather than devote this letter to a single issue, I thought I would highlight 10 good things that happened in our neighborhood over the past several months.
#1 – The Tidewater Club renovation moved from planning to construction.
After years of discussion, study, engineering, design work, and debate, construction is now underway at the clubhouse. By late July, the interior had been gutted, all of the new windows had been installed, lower-level doors were in place, work was beginning on the staircase connecting the two floors, and posts were being set for the new decks. Then, in September, the Clubhouse Committee made many of the final selections on furnishings in preparation for an anticipated opening in late 2026.
All of this represents a significant milestone. There is still plenty of work ahead, but it is exciting to see a project that has occupied so much of the community's attention finally taking physical shape. It is also notable that the project remains on budget or under budget in every area and that critical safety needs are nearly complete. Those needs include reinforcing the first floor to support large gatherings, making ADA accessibility improvements, and stabilizing the west wall against hydrostatic pressure from Lake Waterstone.
A tremendous thank you goes to Sarah Bauer, Bill Carson, Matt Kelch, Chuck Lencheck, Scott Sondles, and Tricia Steineker for their work on this project this summer. And a very special thank you goes to Dan Sweeney, who has been spectacular in his daily management of the project and his work with our vendors to keep things on time and on budget.
#2 – We strengthened safety and security around our amenities.
In April, the board approved a budget for eight security cameras covering areas around the clubhouse, pools, and tennis courts. These are shared spaces used by hundreds of Waterstone residents, and better visibility around them is a practical investment in both security and stewardship of our common property.
A huge thank you goes to Bill Carson and Brady Young for their work on this project.
#3 – We took meaningful action to protect Waterstone's docks.
The board first authorized a professional survey of the docks around Lake Waterstone. That inspection subsequently identified deteriorated and disconnected cables and two docks considered at particular risk of breaking loose. In June, the board authorized funding for repairs so the work could move forward while diving crews and favorable weather were available.
Our lakes are among Waterstone's most distinctive assets, and maintaining the infrastructure around them is an important part of protecting the neighborhood for the long term. Our lakes also held up remarkably well during the 100-year flooding event in July.
Thank you to Chuck Lencheck, Mike Renninger, Joe Winship, and members of the Lake Committee for their vigilant work in keeping our lakes in great condition.
#4 – Landscaping received a lot of attention throughout the community.
Spring brought a substantial list of landscaping and tree maintenance projects. The board approved work addressing dead and fallen trees and other identified community needs, while management pushed for completion of routine pruning, bed maintenance, and trimming already included in our contracts. By June, Yorkshire had completed the spring project list, and by July, the Landscape Committee had toured the neighborhood with KMC and Wesley's to identify additional priorities.
That kind of work can be easy to overlook, but landscaping has an enormous influence on how a neighborhood feels day to day.
A big thank you goes to Celeste Collier and Sarah Bauer, our new co-chairs of the Landscape Committee, for their work this summer.
#5 – The pools had a very positive start under our new management arrangement and received some nice upgrades.
With help from our new pool partner, C&N Pool Management, the board addressed pool operations and maintenance very successfully this year. The pool heater worked as it should, and unexpected equipment failures were fixed in record time. Just as importantly, homeowners reported favorable experiences with the professionalism of the lifeguard staff.
Weeks of intense heat prompted us to order and install new umbrellas on the pool deck, which received rave reviews. In addition, the new shelter in the picnic area was used for small gatherings. The board will be working out the details for reserving the new shelter space in the coming months.
For an amenity that gets as much summertime use as our pools, a season that runs smoothly is worth celebrating.
Thank you to Tricia Steineker for her work in making this pool season one of the best in recent memory.
#6 – A frustrating ARB technology problem was fixed.
Sometimes the good news is simply that something now works the way it was supposed to work.
The board learned that some Architectural Review Board applications submitted through the HOA website were experiencing a variety of technical issues. Those problems were corrected, and the online form was improved so homeowners can attach drawings and supporting documents directly to their applications.
Thank you to Chuck Lencheck and ARB Chair Natalie Steinert for their work in keeping the ARB process moving and our neighborhood looking great.
#7 – We made progress toward addressing speeding concerns.
Speeding has been a recurring concern in parts of Waterstone, particularly along Tarrynot Lane. After discussions with the City of Carmel, the city agreed that existing speed-limit signs could be relocated to better locations. In July, the board then approved funding for two solar-powered “Your Speed” feedback signs, contingent upon that relocation. The last installation details are being worked out now.
It is a relatively modest investment, but one aimed directly at improving awareness and safety on neighborhood streets. Thank you to Dan Sweeney and other members of the Stonewick community for their work on this issue.
#8 – Power was restored to the second Bayhill entrance island.
Earlier this spring, an inspection found electrical problems and code issues involving the second island on Bayhill Drive, and the board authorized the necessary repairs. By July, electricity had finally been restored to the island.
#9 – The Tidewater Club parking and roadway project took a major step forward.
The pavement surrounding the pool, tennis courts, and clubhouse has reached the point where substantial work is needed. After obtaining and reviewing multiple proposals and discussing pavement depth, longevity, and changing material costs, the board selected Baumgartner Asphalt Services and authorized a budget, subject to final contractor recommendations.
The timing is also intentional: the paving work is being coordinated with clubhouse construction and related concrete and accessibility improvements so we can avoid doing work twice. New grading will address pooling water issues.
Look for the work to be completed early next spring—when the weather is right and before the pool opens.
#10 – Waterstone remains on solid financial footing while all of this work moves forward.
Perhaps the least visible—but most important—good news is financial. In August, the association reported strong cash reserves, with year-to-date operating results remaining close to plan and reserve spending below budget. This is especially good news when we consider that assessments were not raised in 2026 for a second consecutive year.
That financial position gives Waterstone the ability to address major projects while still thinking carefully about the years ahead.
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None of these 10 items means that every problem in Waterstone has been solved. We still have projects underway, maintenance needs to address, difficult decisions to make, and plenty of ideas worth discussing. Personally, I would especially like us to fill the position of social committee chairperson once the clubhouse renovation is complete, so we can begin to enjoy more community-centered events in the space.
But it is useful every once in a while to look up from the next problem on the agenda and recognize the progress already being made. What I see in these past few months is a neighborhood investing in its infrastructure, caring for its amenities, addressing problems as they arise, and planning for the future. Much of that work has been made possible by residents who volunteer their expertise, committee members who put in hours behind the scenes, board members who wrestle with the details, and homeowners who take the time to raise concerns and offer ideas.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed.
There is more to come this fall—and I think Waterstone has good reason to be excited about where we are headed.
Zachary Kulsrud
President, Waterstone HOA Board of Directors