Turtle Cove

Before moving into Turtle Cove I was made aware of the $300 membership that is required, which sounded fine for all of the amenities and things offered by the neighborhood/club. BUT since moving in and paying, I have been told that it covers nothing...?! WTH, so I pay $300 and I am told that no one with out a membership can be anywhere in Turtle Cove...? So my question is, who monitors that? $300 and there are unpaved roads in this subdivision? Pot-holes that were just filled in for a temporary fix....? On top of that I can get fined for my grass being 4 inches tall but as I drive around the neighborhood there are several houses that have grass as tall as myself as well as couches in their front yard and junk sitting everywhere...? Are they getting fined? $300 per year and the Whippoorwill entrance looks like hell, I'm sure the main entrance doesn't look much better. So in all honesty, where does this $300 go and what does it pay for?!

Good question.

Probably pays for clubhouse staff, security, all the new and ineffective signage, and general upkeep. It's unfortunate the money seems to be poorly implemented as the clubhouse looks like an internment camp from outside and a dentist' office lobby from the late eighties, all the clubhouse can "cook" is wings and pizza, walking trails are overgrown and hazardous, beach cleanup is laughable and "guests" to the beaches are hardly ever homeowners within the neighborhood.

Mismanagement and poor business models perhaps?

I have lived in Turtle Cove since June of 2010, and although it needs improvements, it is also a wonderful place to live.  I too wonder where my $300 dues go.  I did ask up at the clubhouse and they told me with the number of foreclosures and empty homes, even with the dues they don't get that much $.  Also the economy being what it is many people have not paid their dues.  Remember, our trsh pickup is free to us, but Turtle Cove has to pay for it; that's where some of the $ goes.  Also staffing and maitenance, even though it needs improvement. I agree, the beach cleanup and road maintenance is lacking, but so is the community as a whole.  The clubhouse holds events regularly, yet only the same handful of people attend.  I see very few residents cleaning up the beach, or maintaining their properties (although I think the grass thing you describe IS a bit much).  People's dogs run rampant..the list goes on.  If we as a community feel things are not up to par, or our money is not being utilized properly, then we as a community should figure out to to improve it.  What would be a fair amount for dues.  Do any of us actually KNOW how much salaries and maintenance cost?  Probably not.  Yes, I do feel that the extra dues for the pool, lake, etc.  are a bit much, but if that's what it costs, then so be it.  Perhaps dues can be $500 a year, and include all amenities (probably excluding golf, as I know maintenance is expensive for that)? Really the community needs to come together like it used to be and figure out a solution.  And, no, I am not a senior resident.  I am younger parent of 4 children in this community.

P.S. Regarding the restaraunt here- it has been reopened by a mother and daughter team.  All the food is cooked fresh by the mom and it is DELICIOUS!!  More people need to patronize the restaurant here in the community...it will increase revenue and you will be pleasantly surprised at how it has changed!

Our trash pickup is NOT free and Turtle Cove does not pay for it. We pay for our garbage pickup thru our Jasper County Taxes. It is right on the bill..dig yours out from last year and have a look!!