To Vecinos membership and Akumal Norte Community at large:
For six years the board and I have worked to build the community’s infrastructure systems and create
a operating system for Vecinos. 2021 was our turn around year, infrastructures are functioning, and
we are moving into the community maintenance phase. 2021 ended with our first surplus of money
to begin 2022 with. Now our security stations are fully equipped, the buildings finished the
organization can at last tackle the following projects for 2022.
SEWAGE PLANS AND PROJECT
On Thursday a team from the Vecinos sewage committee, and a representative sent by David Ortiz
representing Central Akumal were given a tour by the Director of CAPA of the new sewage treatment
plant in Akumal Pueblo. The facility represents a major step forward bringing a comprehensive sewer
system to Akumal Norte and Central Akumal. Federal law dictates that sewage lines must be installed,
and everyone must be attached to them. The Director of CAPA thinks that the schedule for
connection to Akumal Playa will be ready by the end of 2022. This gives Vecinos and our neighbors
one year to find a path through Akumal to bring in the main sewer pipe to connect everyone to the
plant.
This week I reached out to our partners in Central Akumal to schedule our first negotiations to find an answer. Negotiations will include finding a path and determining the costs and how they will be shared. The project will take time and require us to work closely together. In the end the protection this offers to saving Akumal Norte’s natural environment will be well worth it for us and generations to come. We will keep you posted as discussions continue.
LEGALIZATION OF OUR SEMI-AUTONOMOUS STANDING UPDATE
Last year we had all of the community lands and roads surveyed. These surveys were digitalized and
sent to Tulum’s department of Catastro for registration. This was the first step needed in the process
to establish Akumal Norte’s legal boundaries. The second step was taken this week when we
contracted Ivan Hernandez’s law firm to lead us through the steps for final legalization of Akumal
Norte. The law firm will complete a community impact study of Akumal Norte’s present development
and forecast the maximums of our land, water, and infrastructure resources. No more assumptions,
just actual certified facts. We need this study as a foundation for negotiations with outside parties.
Once approved by the city council of Tulum, our communal lands will be protected from invasion by
any agency or speculator, and we can establish rules for traffic, parking, and density of use, restrict
street peddlers and general conditions for the management of the community. When Tulum city
council has approved our rules and regulations they will be enforced by Tulum.
An introspective study for all of Akumal Norte’s community will be sent out within the next two weeks. Vecinos members, community at large, business owners and tourists will be emailed, given, or dropped off survey sheets. The objective of the study is to gain real information of what people think about and want for Akumal Norte, what they see we are at present and where they would like for future development. Decisions can then be made based on an analyzed base compiled from the whole community.
OTHER NEWS
Vecinos Director of elections has been very busy preparing for our 2022 members annual meeting
scheduled for February 17, 2022. Within the next week all members will receive the rules and
conditions for this year’s board election.
SECURITY
Ingrid Datica Barri (Pluma Chair) and Rocio Cuë (Guard Administrator) were busy this week securing
the inter-post connections between the Pluma and Guardia Nacional station. Thanks to their efforts
the guards have visual connection to the cameras at the pluma station. A new monitor was donated
for the security stations. The monitor was a gift from Wilma Arcila, and really saved money for the
budget.
GOLF CART GIFT TO VECINOS
Thanks to George Pritchard from La Bahía, we have a refurbished golf cart which belongs to Vecinos
and made available to the Guardia Nacional for patrolling. The patrols using the golf cart will be closer
to the civilians then those patrolling in the larger trucks.
ROAD MAINTENANCE
Road maintenance will continue after the latest session of house construction is over and high season
is slowing down. We decided on this action to limit the blockages on the main road.
STREETLIGHTS
They are still not here however we were told they will be here and in use by the end of February.
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