2002 News
Click on the date below to go to that article

11/14/02 - Winner , by a Nose	03/26/02 - Annual HOA Meeting Agenda
10/07/02 - Greenland Housing Issue	03/26/02 - Annual HOA Meeting Minutes
09/21/02 - Notice to Residents

2001 News Items

2000 News Items

11/14/02

Greenland Apt. Update
 

The apartments were shot down today!! 3-3 vote, since it was a tie it lost!

d. Diane Sanders

P.O. Box 13941507 Sabine #800
Austin, TX 78711-3941
(512) 475-2213
(512) 475-3085 (Fax)
Mailto:rmeyer@tdhca.state.tx.us

If anyone is interested in going to Austin on November 12, Tess Zimmerman is going to start and keep a list. Please e-mail her at tessyz@earthlink.net and let her know your interest.

Alternates:
Wayne Roberts
(512) 463-1880
wroberts@governor.stat.tx.us

Ed Robertson
(512)463-1880

Alternates:
Cheryl Vanek
(512) 475-0998
cheryl.vanek@ltgov.state.tx.us

Melissa Guthrie
(512)463-0010
melissa.guthrie@ltgov.state.tx.us

Alternates:
Lita Gonzales
(512) 475-1125
lita.Gonzalez@cpa.state.tx.us

Jim Howell (512) 463-1100

Board Counsel, Jim Thomassen
(512) 475-2929
Jim.thomassen@oag.state.tx.us

Mr. Stewart, Governor Perry, Lt. Governor Bill Ratliff, and Comtroller Carol Keeton Rylander are the keys to our success. Please fax Mr. Perry, Mr. Ratliff, and Mrs. Rylander this request: Tell them your view-point and then ask them how they intend to vote. Ask them to respond to you before October 30 so that you can formulate you opinion on the various races. You must make this request in writing to each one individually.

Many thanks to Julie Chance Fuelling for all the hard work.

Steve Adams opened the meeting with Introductions of the HOA Board and the Crest Management Representatives. Following a quick review of the agenda, Steve announced that a quorum was not reached and the election process would revert to the next HOA Board meeting to confirm the candidates on the election ballot.

Each Board Member reported on their area of responsibility:

Communications (Steve Adams):

• Communications are handled through this meeting, the website, the community center marque , and the community newsletter. The newsletter has been dormat for sometime and work is being done to revive that process. Our previous editor moved away from the community and the board requests that anyone having an interest in producing and editing the newsletter to please contact a board member. There has also been some discussion of making the newsletter strictly electronic based and posting the information on the website.

• Activity in the community has been relatively quiet through the winter months, but reminded those in attendance, with spring coming and spring projects likely being planned, to please submit the applications in a timely manner. The ACC is allowed 30 days review and approve improvement applications. Crest Management has been very good about expediting applications when requested, but for obvious reasons would like to keep this to a minimum.

• 2002 operating net income basically on budget except for general, pool and tennis court maintenance and repairs. See financial statement notes for explanation of these variances.

• 1999/2000 audit performed in 2001 with no material audit exceptions noted. 2001/2002 to be audited next year.

• 2002 budget basically in line with 2001 budget with exception of (1) General and tennis court repairs up in order to bring more in line with 2001 actuals; (2) Recreation Center maintenance and repairs up to include budgeted painting of Rec Center; (3) Pool maintenance and repairs up in order to complete all items necessary to meet mandated safety codes by October 2002; (4) increased water cost due to having the new irrigation system in place for the full year; (5) contract price increases with Constable program and pool management company (obtained 3 bids on this); and (7) inclusion of social committee expenses in the hOA operating budget.

• Our collection rate is over 99% which is excellent, especially as compared to many other communities.

• Five-year projection: operating expenses increase due to inflation while revenue remains flat leading to negative operating income by the year 2005 with inflation at 4% per year. Capital outlays and major repairs would further reduce cash flows beyond this.

• Pool registration letters will be mailed out the first week in April. Times and dates of pool registrations are as follows: Sat 4/27 from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, Monday 4/29 from 5 – 8 PM, and on opening day Saturday 5/4 from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.

• Hours generally same as last year: Saturday’s 10AM – 9PM; Sunday’s 12Noon – 9PM, and Tues-Fri 11AM – 9PM.

• 2001 was another very successful year … very few complaints received. We and Crest Management believe A-Beautiful Pools to be one of the very best pool companies around with one of the very best accident and lifeguard medical training records

• Database of residents will be prepared by Crest and located in the Guardroom; as such, residents will need to wear their pool tags but will not be required to sign in at the gate. Guests must still sign in however.

• Lifeguards have been asked to keep the radio station on Mix 96.5 so as to avoid having our children hear the adult material being broadcasted on many of the other stations popular with kids today.

• Please understand that the Lifeguards are kids generally being paid about minimum wage. But, if you have a problem which doesn’t get resolved, please contact any board member.

• Our Constable program consists of the full time patrol of our community on a daily basis from 7:00am to 3:00pm. Currently we do not have an overnight patrol. Reports of crime in our community is minimal and the overnight patrol was eliminated based on conversations with the Constables office and review of the cost vs. the need. Should conditions change and the requirement for this patrol become evident, the Board will reconsider the overnight patrol.

• We receive a weekly update of the constable activities and frequent phone reports from the Lieutenant at the Constable Office to assess feedback and address any specific needs we may have.

• You are encouraged to call the constable’s office or to stop our constable (Chad) anytime you see a suspicious activity or just have questions.

• We also have a Crime Watch Chairperson and Crime Watch block captains. These individuals are listed on the website as well.

• 2001 saw many improvements in the community, namely the Morton Road Beautification Project, the new fencing along Morton, irrigation improvements, additional landscaping and trees, a new monument at the east end of the community, the installation of flagpoles, and fencing repairs and power-washing for Sections 4 &5.

• Residents are encouraged to communicate any required maintenance or landscaping issues to the board.

• As always we thanks Neresa Williamson for her efforts in the Yard-of-the-Month program.

• A special thanks to Gerrard Spinnler for putting up and taking down the Christmas decorations. The decorations looked great, and we received several compliments about all the new wreaths put up on the brick columns!

• In an effort to reduce costs of some maintenance items, the Board is considering the implementation of a work program for community teens to perform simple maintenance functions under the supervision of a Board member. There will be more communication on this program should it be developed further.

• Each homeowners is requested and encouraged to help us keep common areas clean. Main problem area is the playground area, especially during the pool season.

• The Halloween Carnival last year was huge success and thank you to all that attended and helped organize and volunteered to work the carnival

• Regrettably, there will be no easter egg hunt this year. A request was issued for volunteers to organize and plan the event, but no one came forward to volunteer for this event.

• The Board is considering the hiring of a planning coordinator to organize and plan 3-4 simple social events during the calendar year. The events are not intended to be elaborate and the cost of this service will certainly be carefully considered.

• Volunteers are always welcomed and encouraged.

MUD 238

• Steve asked Sherry Parker, who is on the board for our Municipal Utility District (MUD 238), to give a update on any activity surrounding MUD activities. Sherry reported that new measures from the state on handing and control of surface water has required some new processes be reviewed and implemented.

• Sherry also reported that a new water well and treatment plant is being planned in the vicinity of the new Lake Ridge community to supplement the well and treatment plant located in Barkers Ridge.

Swim Team

• Steve announced that anyone interested in having their children participate on or join the neighborhood swim team should come to the pool on the next two Saturdays, March 30 & April 6 to sign up.

• It was announced that anyone interested should give their name and number to Carolyn Bonds before the end of the meeting. This list will be kept available for consideration in the event a position became open due to a Board member moving or resigning.

The following questions were asked and answered throughout the meeting:

Q. Is there a maintenance plan for the new fence? Has anything been done with homeowners to insure upkeep?

A. Prior to construction, each homeowner who’s property backs to either Morton or Greenhouse were asked to sign an easement agreement allowing the HOA to take ownership of the fence so that future maintenance, repairs or replacement may be carried out uniformly for all external publicly visible fencing. Maintenance of the new fencing will be done on an as needed basis and there is not a maintenance "plan" per se for regular fence maintenance.

Q. What can be done to improve attendance, since a quorum never seems to be met?

A. Many suggestions were made during the discussion following this question, from additional reminders to signs placed in the medians on Morton Road. The Board will consider all suggestions and implement an appropriate measure to encourage homeowner participation.

Q. What makes up the costs for constable?

A. The costs associated with the constable patrol is basically the cost of one patrolman’s salary.

Q. Can anything be done about parking on the street?

A. The Board will make a communication to homeowners discouraging parking in the streets, pointing out that this creates a very real safety hazard for children crossing the streets between cars as drivers are unable to see them. Legally there is not much that can be done. The constable will be notified as well and will be asked to ticket cars parked illegally which may discourage parking on the street.

Q. Can anything be done about the speeding on Morton?

A. All we can do is notify the constable and sheriff’s office that this is a concern, and request they patrol or radar check this street periodically.

Q. Has the HOA talked to constable or county about safety and security for jogging trail?

A. Since the jogging trail is still "in the future", nothing specific has been discussed. Security, safety, access, and parking near the trail, and where the trail crosses Morton are all issues that will need to be addressed prior to its completion. This issue appears to be one that both the HOA and MUD Boards should address

Q. Is the ACC application online?

A. Yes, the application can be accessed on the website.

Q. What happens with the elections sent a Quorum is not met?

A. The candidates on the ballot will be confirmed by the current board at the next official Board meeting.

Q. Has the HOA bid out the pool maintenance contract?

A. Yes, bids were requested and received this year for the pool maintenance contract.

Q. How was the fence paid for? It doesn’t appear on the financial report.

A. The fence was paid for out of a capital budget account that is accrued each year from operating income. Each year an amount is allocated for this account for larger capital expenditures. The next major expense likely to be funded by this budget is the resurfacing of the pool in the next couple of years.

Q. Can we have the Constable patrol at different hours due to lack of activity during the day?

A. A split shift for a constable is probably not likely, but we will discuss the possibilities of this with the constable office.

Conclusion

Steve closed the meeting by thanking all for their attendance and participation.

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