Channel Cove residents voice concerns over management

Emotions ran high during a July 18 meeting of the Home Trust of Skagit board, its director and residents of its Channel Cove community.

Home Trust of Skagit Executive Director Jodi Dean invited residents to the meeting to explain changes at Channel Cove related to the completion of five new housing units and parking revisions.

Some Channel Cove residents said the changes caught them by surprise, especially recently installed bollards that prevent residents from driving on the fire lane to access their units to drop off passengers, groceries and large items. Residents said it felt like punishment for their ongoing complaints about management's apparent inability to address longstanding concerns.

"We have heard some negative, not nice things specifically about Channel Cove," Home Trust Board Chairperson Mary Hudson said. "This will be a respectful dialog."

Channel Cove resident Jennifer Martin addressed the board and offered possible solutions.

"Home Trust is amazing," Martin said. "I love my house, my neighbors, my community. We all look out for each other but it's important that we voice our concerns."

She said communication to residents has been poor and claimed management favors some residents, ignores issues, makes arbitrary decisions and responds unprofessionally.

"We're disappointed the board is difficult to reach when management is unresponsive," Martin said.

One woman loudly interrupted Martin, before leaving the meeting. Martin then continued.

She said the bollards now restrict access to half the homes. She suggested gravel parking pullouts along the fire lane.

"I can't bring my (elderly) mother to my house now," Martin said. "Why didn't Jodi or the board come to the community and say, 'How can we fix this?'"

Resident Connie Pommels concurred. She explained how she lugged a couch across the common area with her son after the bollards went up.

She recounted, "Jodi told us we could drive to our house" when Pommels bought her Channel Cove home. "My mom can't come here either. Losing vehicle access has been huge."

"We ask that the bollards be removed and to find a solution that would work for the entire community," Martin said. "Schedule a time for the board of directors to visit Channel Cove and meet with the residents. Residents no longer have trust and do not feel comfortable dealing with current management. We ask that you reconsider her (Dean's) position."

"That's not going to happen," Hudson said in defense of Dean.

"I don't want to fight," Dean said.

She defended her management. She insisted that all Channel Cove residents get information from her by email, postal mail or notes she tapes to their doors, although some residents claimed they didn't get a notice about this meeting. Dean said she visits Channel Cove regularly and talks to residents.

"I have addressed a lot of people about a lot of different things," Dean said. "I have empathy, but I have been beat and beat and beat. I respect what you're telling me and the board of directors."

Dean said Home Trust consulted with Fire District 13 and the La Conner town administrator to install the bollards and restrict the fire lane to emergency vehicles after some residents parked on it. She said Martin's suggestion for parking pullouts would have to go to the Town of La Conner for consideration.

"They said it's a poor design," Dean said of the fire lane. "We made the right decision."

Martin, Pommel and others complained that contractor vehicles repeatedly blocked the fire lane during recent construction, before the bollards were installed.

Channel Cove "went through hell" during the pandemic, Dean said. It made life more complicated for residents as repairs took longer.

Resident Al Williams said the thermostats in his unit have been malfunctioning for two years and he had to pay to have a fan installed to deal with moisture problems.

"There are a lot of excuses and justifications," he said. "The bottom line is, nothing gets done."

Dean promised to look into his problems. "This is the first I'm hearing of it," she said.

"I know it's not quick enough for everyone's liking," Dean said.

Hudson said the board would install a bulletin board to improve communication with Channel Cove residents.

Incoming Home Trust of Skagit board member Justin Barnes is a new Channel Cove resident. He helped calm the group when discussions turned heated.

"This was a healthy exchange," Barnes said. "It's a good idea to have community meetings."