last Tuesday an open Board meeting was held in person at Creek Ranch School. We were unable to attend. However, one of our members graciously offered to take notes for us. Her unedited comments appear below

“The May 19th HOA meeting was packed with updates, controversy, and more than a little drama.

The Landscape Committee reported that the major 2025 backlog landscape projects have now been completed and the community is finally getting back on track. One of the biggest highlights was the approval of landscape maintenance along the golf course areas, the Pinehurst/Vineyard entry, Longmeadow Ridge, and Bridalwood. Many residents have been asking for attention to these areas for a long time, so it was encouraging to hear that work is finally moving forward.

The committee thanked the board for their quick attention to approving contracts and projects needed to stabilize and improve the community landscaping moving into 2026.

Rick also gave the ARC report, and it was nice to see him back serving as chair of the committee after previously being removed under the prior board majority. ARC activity has increased significantly, with dozens of applications processed over the last several weeks. Stephanie was not happy about Rick’s reinstatement and made it known. Steven made a comment and at one point gestured and told Rick to “come at me” then made an “L” sign on his forehead and calling Rick a loser.  It was shocking behavior.  

Unfortunately, tensions escalated further in the meeting surrounding Stephanie Bernal’s board seat.

The board discussed whether Stephanie still qualified to serve after selling her home within Morgan Creek. Stephanie stated she purchased another home in the community.  The board requested proof of ownership which she refused to provide.  She was given the opportunity to do so and refused.  Several homeowners and board members pointed out that intent is not ownership. Houses fall out of escrow all the time.  Our bylaws state that a board member must be an owner.  Without a recorded deed showing ownership of another property within the association, the board determined she no longer met the qualifications to serve as a director and voted to vacate the seat until the next election.  

The overwhelming sentiment in the room appeared supportive of the decision.

Stephanie became extremely upset during the discussion, repeatedly interrupting the proceedings and threatening legal action. As she stormed out of the meeting, she stated that she would be “back,” that she was contacting her attorney, and that “all of you will pay.” It was honestly a pretty shocking and unprofessional display.

There were also several homeowner questions regarding HOA finances, reserve accounts, and whether the governing documents related to cost centers and dues allocations can legally be changed or reinterpreted. That discussion will likely continue at future meetings given the amount of community concern surrounding it.

Additional updates included:
• Reserve balances now approaching approximately $3.75 million
• Increased compliance inspections throughout the community
• Progress on the ButterflyMX gate transition and that GateKing will be removed at the end of the month. If you haven’t updated your RFID tag, contact Brian at the Walerga cottage.
• The Walerga gate damaged in the prior accident was removed today so it can be repaired at the vendor’s shop. The HOA is hoping to have it reinstalled by Friday. In the meantime, security will prioritize monitoring that gate.
• Confirmation that the golf course housing proposal remains active and is continuing through the county review process

At the end of the meeting, Steven launched into another lengthy dissertation about the “proper” way meetings should be run, including references to Robert’s Rules and even commentary touching on executive session matters. Most people in the room just seemed over his constant theatrics.

Overall, Lorenzo ran a very structured meeting and those in attendance and online appeared very supportive of the new board majority.”

There will be an open Board meeting this Tuesday, May 18. We’ve worked hard to Get a Board back that, once again, has transparency, accountability and community wide responsibility. We have succeeded.

The new board has one new member from the recent election, Newton. And, now with Stephanie leaving the community, they will be appointing a new replacement. Only one legacy member from the failed recall remains.

We urge you to attend the meeting and support the new Board.
Included below for your review is a copy of the meeting agenda.

As always, comments welcome.

Tuesday night’s speciaBoard meeting felt refreshingly different: calmer, more organized, and actually productive. About 50 people participated. Unlike meetings in the recent past, the Zoom process appeared flawless. Thanks Action Management.

Stephanie did not show up, likely anticipating she would lose the President position and her grip on the social committee. If she misses a couple more meetings she can be removed. She did lose her position as President. Newton has been appointed as the new Social Committee liaison. This should finally put an end to using community events and her dual leadership roles to promote her real estate business through marketing posts and self-promotion.

Steven, as usual, tried hard to derail the meeting with constant interruptions, nitpicking, and slowing things down. His behavior was ridiculous and disruptive, yet the rest of the board managed to push through and get real work done anyway. Well done.

Significant discussions and action items are summarized below:

RFID Tags / Gate Access

Steven seemed to acknowledge that rushing the new readers without proper due diligence was a mistake. Good news: existing tags can be reprogrammed instead of forcing people to buy new ones.  Sounds like this was a waste of money. 

•  Homeowners with multiple vehicles or windshield issues can reuse their current tags.

•  Brian will handle reprogramming. Clear instructions and a streamlined process will be emailed out soon. This should save the community and residents unnecessary expense.

New Officers

•  President: Lorenzo

•  Treasurer: Newton

•  Secretary: Pam

•  Vice President: Pam

Committee Liaisons

•  ARC: Newton

•  Landscape: Pam

•  Safety: Lorenzo

•  Social: Newton

•  Golf Course Preservation: Steven 

Rick and Wes were reinstated to the ARC, which should help move homeowner applications forward again. They could use one more member. Volunteers?

Compliance & Standards

Compliance enforcement is finally coming back after being ignored for the last year and a half. Long overdue.  The board majority committed to work on this. Our HOA is supposed to protect home values and neighborhood standards.

Golf Course

There is some movement on the golf course situation. Details will be shared with the community shortly.

Social Committee

Discussion about resetting events to be genuinely community-focused, with proper insurance and rule compliance (vendors, alcohol, large events, etc.). There was also a request to review  the Social Committee’s charter, operating protocols, and rules as it had a ripple effect on other committees.  The board agreed.  The topic was tabled for further review.

Homeowners in open forum appreciated the more professional tone. Several commented and said it finally feels like resident interests are coming first again.

Bottom line: When the drama and obstruction are minimized, the board can actually function. Tonight proved that. We are encouraged.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to the recall effort. It looks like your support is paying off.

Next open meeting: May 19th. Watch your email for the RFID instructions, a golf course project update and volunteer calls for committees.

As always, comments from our BLOG website are welcome.

The newly constituted HOA Board has called a special open meeting. this coming Tuesday night at 6 pm. We view this as an excellent move to increase transparency. Unfortunately, they could not find a venue on short notice so it will be via Zoom. We’ve enclosed a copy of the agenda which contains instructions how to join. Important items like selection of officers and an open forum are included.

This will be a special unscheduled meeting. The next regularly scheduled meeting is in May. Newton Kwan is the newly seated member. However, Steve, the member you voted overwhelmingly to recall , is occupying a vacated seat to which he was appointed, probably illegally. We urge you all to attend if at all possible to express your dissatisfaction with this. But more importantly, please attend to show your strong support for the new majority that we hope will bring back the transparency, accountability and professionalism we voted for.

We also are putting our managers, Action Management, on notice that they must ensure the Zoom meeting is properly conducted with optimal and uninterrupted two way communications. We were told they were brought in largely because of their technological expertise. Please let them know that you expect this (bbarrow@actionlife.com).

First, congratulations to the two newly elected board members, Pam and Newton. The both won their seats by a substantial margin. perhaps now we can restore some transparency and accountability to our HOA governance.

After last night’s meeting, one nagging legal issue remains. Prior to the election votes being counted and certified the outgoing board took an action which is likely not legal. An existing board member, Rod resigned creating a vacancy. No problem there. Immediately following, but before the election was completed Steve put himself forward as a replacement appointment. The existing board, including Steve voted for the appointment. This would have been OK had the appointment been for a non sitting member. However, the issues are these. First, can a board member who has resigned and therefore no longer a member, vote for his replacement? We doubt it. If not, a tie vote would exist and the appointment would not be valid. Second, and equally important, if Steve were allowed to fill the vacant seat, he would hold two positions. Even if it is for a short time, we doubt this is legal by HOA rules and corporation law.

We urge the new board to seek legal advice from the board attorney, and perhaps outside council. We believe the appoint to be invalid in which case the new board should vote to fill the vacancy. Common sense says this is what should have happen ed in the first place.

As always, comments welcome. Perhaps an attorney who is an owner can weigh in on this.

There will be an annual meeting on March 30. The votes will be tabulated and the election results will be announced. Whatever the outcome, the community will have spoken. However, it appears the outgoing board members will attempt to send a parting shot.

Rod has announced he will resign from the board leaving a vacancy. His seat has one more year to go. It seems fair and logical that when he does resign the incoming board should make the appointment to fill the vacancy. This will allow a smooth transition. However, when we look at the proposed agenda for the meeting, included below, the board plans to appoint Rod’s replacement before the election is certified and the newly elected board members take their seats. We believe this is so wrong and not in the best interests of the Community.

the new board should fill the vacancy. If you agree we urge you to attend the March 30 meeting and make your voice heard. We need to take back our Community. PLEASE ATTEND THE MARCH 30 MEETING!

Apathy has a price. We need a quorum for the HOA election to count. We need 196 of our 586 homes to vote. Otherwise we have to do the whole process over with a reduced quorum of 118. As of yesterday we had only 134 votes counted. An election redo will cost several thousand dollars of your money and ours for double postage and fees to the electioneer. We can do better.

Lost or tossed out your ballot? No problem. Email the election management company at info@thirdpartyvoting.com. Request a replacement ballot and they’ll send out a replacement one immediately. Do it now.

We are still Recommending Pam Porter and Newton Kwan, but regardless of who you vote for PLEASE VOTE!

Apologies for those of you who have already voted. Thank you.

By now you should have received your ballot for the Morgan Creek HOA election. You made your wishes for change known overwhelmingly in the recall election. Now it is imperative you follow through.

There is a quorum requirement of 196 owners. Thus, your vote is extremely important to complete the process.

If you haven’t already done so, pull out your ballot and send it in today. If you’ve already voted, thank you.

One of our long time homeowners has taken the time and trouble to put together a timeline of the events surrounding the recall election. We thought it worthwhile to print here as a reminder of where we are and where we should be headed as we prepare to VOTE in the upcoming election. (Note: the attachment is only visible on mcowners.com)

In the recent recall election the community voted overwhelmingly (80%) for change. It only failed to pass by use of an obscure interpretation of the voting rules. Only two candidates represent change back to the stability, transparency, and responsible governance we lost in the last election.

The candidates we are recommending, Pam Porter and Newton Kwan, both have been very active in community affairs over many years and know our needs. The remaining two candidates have no such experience and were likely hand picked by the existing board majority block. If you want to stop the chaos, vote for Pam and Newton.

What follows are brief candidate statements. Please review them carefully, and above all, VOTE NOW. Let’s finish the job.

Newton Kwan Hi neighbors, I’m Newton Kwan. Many of you know me from my previous service on the Board, where my focus was always on one thing: excellence in operations. I’m proud of our track record of maintaining high community standards while successfully lowering our dues.

I am stepping up to run for the Board again because Morgan Creek deserves a return to professional, resident-focused management. While I previously had to step away to manage a career transition, I am now in a position to fully dedicate the next two years to serving our community. I am ready to get back to work for all homeowners.

If elected, my focus will be on:

• Fiscal Accountability: Managing our budget with the same scrutiny I use for my own finances to ensure every dollar is spent wisely.

• Streamlined Operations: Improving the responsiveness of the ARC process so homeowners get clear, timely answers without unnecessary delays.

• Vendor Management: Ensuring our contractors—from landscaping to security—are held to the high standards we pay for as residents.

I’m not interested in the politics of the Board; I’m interested in the results. I would be honored to have your support in bringing a steady, professional, and committed approach back to Morgan Creek.

Pam Porter: Hi neighbors, I’m Pam Porter. I currently serve as your Board Secretary, and I’m running for re-election because I believe our community is ready for a chapter defined by stability, transparency, and professional governance.

I know some may see a familiar name and worry about a “status quo” mentality. However, my time on the Board over the last two years has given me a unique perspective on exactly where our processes have drifted. I am not running to look backward; I am running to ensure our Board functions as a professional service for all homeowners.

My commitment to you:

• Fair & Consistent Governance: I believe the Board’s primary role is to uphold our standards fairly. I will advocate for a culture where decisions are made in the open and always reflect the collective will of the community.

• Prioritizing Homeowner Interests: An HOA Board should have one clear priority: protecting the property values and quality of life for every resident. I am committed to independent leadership that is focused solely on our neighborhood’s well-being.

• Restoring Trust: I hear the call for a new direction clearly. I am dedicated to moving past recent friction and returning to a culture of collaboration where every neighbor feels heard and respected.

I’m asking for your vote so we can move forward with a Board that is efficient, transparent, and focused on the future of our beautiful community.