It appears that work will begin soon on the dredging of our channel. The previous dredge was done with a large backhoe-dragline operation that directly excavated about a cubic yard at a time and deposited it on the barge. This is known in the trade as a mechanical method. I understand this latest operation will involve a vacuum tube that pulls up the sediment and carries it though tubes to the drop site. The tubes can be seen in the picture with floats to keep them suspended. This is called an hydraulic method.

Scott is happy again. These pictures show how his engine looked on last Monday and then he was back in action by Friday. Now he is working on the breakin phase for a rebuilt engine. It's an eight hour process. He worked off four hours on Friday and fished along the way. As usual the fishing wasn't great. He said he caught only one 12 inch trout.

Here is a fishing update from Scott(702).

This is the group I was fishing with this past weekend. We have all known each other since Jr High and some of us as long as Elementary school. This was Saturday afternoon after a day of fishing. It was a windy, chilly day on the water which led to wearing waders etc to stay warm.

We fished three people per boat and had two boats. Saturday we caught numerous undersized trout but nothing to put in the box. We put in at Cove Harbor and fished several areas in Estes flats, then went all the way down to Dagger Island. On our way back we fished Ransom, inside and outside. Then stopped at the inlet by the Carbon Plant.

Sunday we mixed up the teams a little. We put in at Goose Island. We fished the Pipe, outside of Carlos Bay and then inside of Carlos Bay. One boat tried up in St. Charles with minimal success. At the end of the day the boat I was on had 8 trout. Several at 15 and the rest between 17 and 18. The other boat had two trout and a flounder. Some bragging rights were exercised.

The fishing was not super productive this past weekend but we do not get together to catch fish. We get together to visit and catch up with each other. In that respect the trip was extremely successful.

The annual Kontiki HOA meeting was held on November 8. These are my recollections of the meeting.
I guess old habits die hard, but in the old days the meetings were so much more social. We would have coffee and donuts and name tags and introductions of owners. We would sit in a circle so everyone could see everyone else. There were always plenty of handouts of association records and finances. More recently we sit in rows and talk to the back of other folks heads. I know everyone and many people asked me afterward to identify owners who they did not know. Scott(702) and Angela(108)want to bring back some of the camaraderie that we used to share. Angela wants to organize a social function for owners to be held on Saturday evening after the meeting. Scott wants to organize an owners' fishing tournament to be held the weekend of the annual meeting. It's good to see such youthful energy and willingness to contribute. Chris did host a pizza bash at Panjo's after the meeting, but it was not very well attended.(I ate my share)
Two different budgets were presented. One required a monthly fee of $250 and the other required $265. A couple of mistakes were noted in the budgets and eventually there was never a vote taken. Karra did tell me after the meeting that they will use the $250 budget. She said she had gone through the bills that were paid last year to establish a budget for this year. Karra works very hard at putting the meetings and budgets together, but it is difficult because she spends so little time in Rockport and I don't see that she is getting a lot of help.
Last year's meeting resulted in an assessment of $10,500 for each owner to fund up to $651,000 of improvements. It was presented that $394,000 has been spent to date. No individual costs for projects were identified. Last year Chris said that Johnson and Cate would keep the assessment money in a separate account. When questions were raised about the financial records to date, no one had any answers. Chris said that next year he will ask Johnson and Cate to have someone at our meeting who can answer questions about the budget and expenses.
There was much discussion about current funding issues. The channel needs to be dredged. It has become very shallow. Bellaire Environmental completed a survey on October 17th. A dredging company currently working at Goose Island gave a price of $100,000 based on the Bellaire study. This price is only good through December. Many owners felt that we need to find out why the channel filled so quickly before we dredge again. Justin said that Bellaire is working on a design to improve the geometry of the breakwater. It may include an "L" at the end to prevent shoaling into the channel. Justin said we cannot wait or the dredging cost may go up. If the retainage from the original contractor is subtracted the remaining cost is then divided by the 117 units that currently use the channel, the cost per unit comes out to $512. It was determined that this would be billed for December. If the "L" is recommended, Justin said that would be around $25,000 extra. Chris said that in 18 months the Sailhouse development will come on line and begin sharing channel costs with us. I guess that would include the GLO easement cost too.
A long discussion of a new pier followed. The estimated cost would be $150,000. If that is split 60/40 with Phase II, the Phase I cost per unit would be $1,451. There was discussion about the GLO requirement for a permit. There were some guesses about the time frame for the permit. In the meantime it was determined that the repair to Phase I pier needs to be completed. Justin estimated this to cost about $7,000. The week after the meeting I talked to Amy Nunez at the GLO office in Corpus. She is familiar with our property and said she will come out and work with Justin to get the application for the new pier completed. I printed out the applicaton form and took it to Justin.
The day after our meeting, the Phase II meeting was held. They did not want to split the pier cost 60/40. They wanted to split the cost by square footage which comes out more like 75/25. There is ongoing discussion about calling another Phase I meeting to accept the increased cost. I guess we will hear more later.
The cross pier needs to be replaced also. The cost was estimated at $75,000 with the Phase I cost to be $725 per unit, if the 60/40 split is used.
All costs were approved without a formal vote, just a general "aye". There were no votes on issues presented where any dissent was noted. I think owners realize that they can have input, but when the vote is taken, individual votes really don't matter.
It was noted that we now have Wifi service in place of HBO and the cost difference is a net savings. The signal emanates from the post near the maintenance shed. I did not try linking up in the downstairs bedroom, but in the den area I got no signal. Near the pool the signal strength is strong. There was discussion about passwording the account.
There was never any mention of a financial audit. It would be my concern that no one who handles our money in bonded, we have operated for a year without a board treasurer, and the last audit was in 1996.
I asked about the batteries for the smoke alarms. We traditionally changed the batteries when we went on and off of daylight saving time. At this time the batteries have not been changed. I asked about parking stickers for the cars of owners. We have not had any new stickers available for the last three years. Justin said he would look into it.
I asked about our declaration section 3.7 that says the umbrella insurance liability cost is to be shared by unit, not by square footage. Our insurance representative, Angie, read the paragraph some time ago and said she would discuss it with Karra. Karra reported at the meeting that Angela had not yet brought this to her attention.
It was getting late and I did not bring up any other issues. I had met with Rob and Justin in October to review some items that I wanted to discuss at the annual meeting and I wanted to give them time to do some research. The three main items were (1) I would like for us to keep an inventory of fixed assets. We used to do this and it helped to keep up with our property (2) I would like to have a procedure in place to notify owners of scheduled board meetings. I have not seen any minutes of any board meetings for over a year. Jim(210) was told at the meeting that the board had voted for him to replace Dave Schultz on the board after Dave sold his place. I have no idea when that happened. (3) I would like to have a central repository of association records set up. A new owner, or any owner, could come in and review meeting minutes, the declaration and by-laws, contracts, agreements(loan for example), leases, property lines of the real property of the association, current owners list, and other things of this type.

The concrete around the boat launch looks nice. Boats should be able to be launched again by tomorrow. I haven't put a tape to the area, but its looks like about $7,000 of concrete. I hope Justin decides to split the cost with the others who use the ramp. Phase II just had another $5,000 assessment at their owners' meeting earlier this month. They plan to take down the tennis court and make an entrance to the motel. The utility cables will be placed underground. I guess now we will share out tennis court. Maybe they could help in our cost to redo the court. A new sign for the entrance will be commissioned. I understand Phase I may contribute to that also. It seems like an unnecessary cost to those who do not rent through the onsite rental office. I would think that would be a rental pool expense.

I attended a meeting at Little Bay Elementary on Thursday evening for a presentation on building a new causeway over Copano Bay. TXDOT had a large contingent there and it was a standing room only crowd. They presented several options. They hope to begin work within three to five years. The option to run it just west of the existing causeway would interfere with the boat ramp currently under construction at this time.

After the meeting I went to the Cinema to see "W". What a waste. Despite what Roger Ebert said, I thought it was a very depressing movie, a really sad commentary on American politics. Later I caught a keeper trout off the Phase I pier and I felt better.

Work is now proceeding on the concrete around the boat ramp. I asked Justin how this can be only a Phase I project. I don't remember approving anything outside the entrance road and the parking area. He said that since others use the ramp the cost probably should be shared with Phase II and Sea Shell Shores, but at present it is being charged to Phase I. He also said that a county official happened by and demanded that the county sign off on our concrete work that will join into Fulton Beach Road. We have stopped ten feet short of tying in until this is sanctioned. You can see in the background the final north strip that was poured earlier this week.
We have had on and off rain today, but that doesn't stop the flounder fishermen. The guest in 306 has landed two that appear to be about 18 inches and 22 inches, nice looking fish. Maybe its time for me to put a line out.

Finally. I caught a keeper trout off the pier. It was only 15 and one-half inches long, but I'll take it. This event has become so rare I feel I must document for posterity the circumstances. The catch occurred at 10:42 pm at the first light on the Phase I pier. I was using 15 lb. line and a 3 inch white Gulp. The fight lasted 14.2 seconds. The tide was exceptionally high and the moon was full. Winds were from the southeast at 9 mph with gusts to 14. There was an element of luck involved. The hook was not embedded at all. It was swinging free outside the fish's mouth. The hinge on the fish's jaw had slotted itself neatly into the loop on the snap swivel that I was using. I'm sure I will never catch one like that again. Shortly after the catch I hooked into a really nice flounder at the same location, but without a net, the fish won.
There are very few guests here this week. I have seen no real estate activity either. Owners who have their condo for sale tell me they are receiving absolutely no offers. One plans to drop the price pretty drastically. Another owner of a three bedroom is looking for a winter Texan. They are asking only $1,385 per month. If anyone is interested, contact me.
Scott(702) asked me to see about having his sliding glass door rollers replaced. Aransas Glass came by this afternoon and did a really good job. They showed me a trick to make most all doors work more smoothly. Jim(210) had someone pull the entire handle off his refrigerator door. All that was left were three holes. I measured the holes and took a picture of the upper freezer door handle. At the used appliance business on 188 I was able to find the exact handle that he was missing along with a tray guide that had been broken.
I'm hearing feedback that the google alert that I mentioned last week is working well for those who have used it. I'll be able to tell just how effective it is when I get my weekly stats next Monday. They should show fewer hits as people don't have to keep looking for a post and just wait for the email.

Work began Monday morning to trim the larger palm trees. Work also resumed on the concrete for the entrance road.
Fishing this weekend continued to be very poor. I talked to Karen Meador, wildlife biologist in charge of Aransas Bay. She said she is not yet in panic mode, but the bay is having problems. They are in the last week of their fall gill net survey. She will have some data in mid December. I had talked to game wardens on Saturday when they returned from checking oyster boats. Karen confirmed what they told me. The oyster harvest is at historical lows. She says the increased salinity is to blame as well as parasite activity. Normally we see shrimp boats and oyster boats working the bay relentlessly this time of year. Right now, I see very little activity. Curiously, I have not seen seagulls working the water while out in my boat or from shore in the last six months. Karen says she is not buying into the idea that Cedar Bayou is to blame. She said they did a creel survey at Cove Harbor on Sunday and she did see a 28 inch trout, but little else. So far this year she said the trout catch in their gill nets is markedly down. I can attest to the shortage of trout.
It was good to see many owners here for the annual meeting. Everyone thought the improvements to the property looked very good. Paul(505) had a birthday on Sunday. I know he likes chocolate cake and I hear that Christine took one home for him since he could not be here.

Today's post is really a collection of little stuff.
I visited with Susie Martinez(former office rental agent) today. She is doing well working for a local dentist. Her daughter, Sierra, was five in June. From the picture I saw she looks more like seven or eight. It seems like just last year when she was born.
Mrs. Humphries arrive earlier this week for her annual six month stay. It will be good to have a neighbor next door.
More sand was spread on the beach this week.
Paul(505) caught a 21 inch Flounder on Sunday.
Pat(602) caught one red and one trout before the rain this morning. He went back out after the rain, but didn't catch anything else.
Chris and Karra are due to come in from California this evening.
Pat(staying in 205) has not caught a Flounder since last week and she tries very hard.
Remodeling has started on 404.
Beverly Peddy is no longer working at Johnson and Cate. Our accountant is now Heather.

Since I don't post on a regular schedule, some of those who read my comments access the blog only to find that nothing new is posted. A solution to this, and it may not be the only solution, would be to set up a google alert. Google will then send an email to you when something new is posted. To do that go to www.google.com/alerts. For the subject enter ("larry biggers" kontiki). You don't have to enter the pararentheses. Use your primary email address, or if you have one, a secondary address. Google claims they don't sell your email address, but I'm still skeptical although I've had no problems. When google sends the email, they also include a link to the blog. It works pretty well and I use this to keep up with items that I'm interested in.

Some time ago I noted that we don't own all of our beach. We have to pay an annual rental fee to the State of Texas. Chuck(107) emailed me to ask how this can be. Here is the story. When the condos were built, the existing shoreline was reinforced with bags of cement. The hardened concrete worked well for a while, but then the water started to encroach above and beyond the bags. It came about seven feet toward the bayside units. We were prohibited by state law from backfilling to reclaim our beach. The original owner of my condo, John Haney, petitioned the state that we could not fight a fire in the condos unless a firetruck could access the beach to be upwind from the units. We were granted a variance and built the bulkhead back to the original shoreline. The reclaimed beach was deemed to be state property and we are still required to pay an annual fee to use it. Every five years our lease with General Land Office is reviewed and renewed. Last year we were required to pay a fine because we had added to our pier without first having the addition approved by the GLO. The current renewal is noted agreement LC 870079. It was signed for us on March, 24, 2008 by Steve Skiles. Steve had no relationship with our HOA, but I guess our board had authorized him to sign the document. I have a copy of the agreement in PDF format. It is 14 pages long including maps and diagrams. It is a public document and if anyone would like to have a copy, just let me know.
As a footnote, about three years ago I saw a group of people drive up and park in front of my condo. They got out and walked around the back. One stopped near my deck to tell me that he was John Haney's son. John had died and wished for his ashes to be scattered off the Kontiki pier. They walked out on the Phase II pier, had a short ceremony, and scattered the ashes.