February 2026 Amenities Committee Report

New Amenities “Open for Resident Use”

Epcon has notified the Courtyards at Southpoint homeowners association Board of Directors it has received a certificate of occupancy for the amenities located in Phase 2.

Those amenities include a pavilion, dog park, pickleball court and lap pool.

“They are now open for resident use,” board Secretary Tommy Worsham announced on Slack Jan. 21. “The pavilion furniture has been uncovered, and the gates for the pickleball courts and dog run area have been opened.

“The key fobs that work at the Phase 1 amenities are programmed to access the Phase 2 pool gate (during pool season) and the pavilion restrooms.”

Epcon still is dealing with some maintenance issues, Tommy said. And the board and the HOA Amenities Committee will work on “signage, securing the pickleball court, implementing the pickleball reservation process and other items to allow smooth operation of these new amenities.” This will include temporary signage with rules for use of the amenities.

The pavilion fireplace is decorative, not functional. “The board has determined it is impractical and a potential fire hazard to use the wood-burning fireplace there,” Tommy explained. “It eventually will be fitted with something to prevent use, but in the interim, please do not attempt to start any fires in the pavilion fireplace. The board will appreciate your cooperation with this request.”

In response to questions on Slack, board Treasurer Scott Cannon provided these reasons for this decision:

• Safety - Someone could start a fire and leave it unattended. For instance, they don't want to sit there until it completely burns itself out. They could put too much wood in the fireplace, and it could burn uncontrollably. They could use fire starters like lighter fluid or gasoline.

• Nuisance - It could produce smoke that would make it uncomfortable for neighbors to be outside.

• Maintenance - Cleaning up after its use. We know not everyone would clean up the ashes after use, so then it would be an additional task for our cleaning person to handle.

• Security - If we leave it available, we'd need to have fireplace tools that could easily be stolen, since the pavilion is not behind a gate.

• Liability - It becomes an attractive nuisance to those outside the neighborhood to use it.