SECURITY Aug. 2009

The new Video cameras that have been installed at the front gate seem to have been enough increased security for now.  The new cameras watch cars coming and going.  Cars following others in can be spotted as well as cars coming in the exit.  Since they have night vision we will be able to observe all behavior both night and day.  The board also passed a viewing policy that makes the recording available to law enforcement and if a CC&R violation or damage to HOA property the board President and a second person which is dependent on what the problem is.  Smile as you go by.

Construction at Del Lago and Sunset Greens Way

Update Sept. 5th

June 23

Well it is still there and looking a Lot like a Mayan ruin.  The outside is now decorated and a paint job (of sorts) has been applied.  Since it is so visible from the street I wonder how it meets ARC guidelines for screening from view.  Of course it could have been on the other side of the yard but that neighbor didn't want it either.  Since the side it is build on adjoins common area, does that mean anyone can build next to common area?

Revised May 15

Per a posting on our forum, we'll try to give you the full story.  A homeowner applied to the ARC committee to build a structure that would be an office and a storage area.  Per the original submission, it was not approved.  However, the plans were revised to a different configuration.  The homeowner then went to a board workshop and asked the board to approve the structure.  They sent the request back to ARC which was then approved.  The homeowner then changed the plans again and went ahead with construction.  Upon the start of work the ARC inspected the construction and found it was not incompliance with the approved plans.  So the ARC got a temporary restraining order to stop work.  That is why the stucco has not been applied. 

The issues raised are: 1. The height of the structure is above the roof line (patio).  In the past all homeowners have been limited to conform with patio roof line.  2. The structure is visible from the street and all neighbors that can see the structure have always been asked to sign off that they didn't object (this does not prohibit building if someone objects, but gives the ARC some guidance).  3. The structure is in full public view and changes the character of the neighborhood by changing the shape of the home even though it is a separate structure. 4.  Perhaps a hundred homes have a fence and gate combination that would allow this type of building, so we could have a lot more of these structures (once you allow someone to build you must treat all others the same).  How about all houses backing to the commons areas?

In any event this would set precedent and seem to allow all homeowners to construct sheds in their yard that could be higher than the roof line, not sure how that would affect pergolas but seems they should be allowed higher too.

SOLAR for POOL #2 

Dec. 2009

Unfortunately, our investment is not being used, as we are instead heating the rock pool  because of the delay in starting construction at pool #2.  This delay will cost about $250 a day for heating the rock pool.  This wipes out any savings from solar heating and for the two months of heating about $15,000 will be spent.  With the $42,000+ in reconstruction cost we can now add about $15,000 for heating and there is a board agenda item for electrical work that will have to be done for the electric cover.   We're now approaching $60,000 to install an electric pool cover.

Nov. 2009 Solar Heating

The system went operational as of Friday (Oct 2).  The system is located in R.V. lot #1 so you may not see anything, but it will be saving all of us money. 

With the weather already very cold, the solar has been shutdown to prevent freezing.  However, when the solar was working and pool was covered at night, it reduced our cost by over 50%.  When both cover and solar were in operation the cost was about $50 per day.  After the solar was shutdown, the propane heater was being used to keep the pool heated in December, which cost about $150 a day down from $240 per day last year due to just covering the pool and spa at night.

It has been estimated that the solar system will pay for itself (19k) in less than 2 years.  The system is fully automatic and will require little or no maintenance for many years.

Destructive Testing  Nov. 2009

Some of you may have noticed that a home on Pinehurst and one on Beacon Ridge had a crew cut holes in the side walls and around the electrical.  Windows were removed and some roof tiles were also removed.  This is part of a potential lawsuit against the developer for construction defects.  The idea was to find any poor construction work.  Some of you may remember a letter asking if you wanted to join a class action and this is the result.

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Skunks

Sept. 5th

skunks - they've kind of invaded us this year.  Animal control is trapping them, but there's a bunch in the subdivision.  Skunks are nocturnal - homeowners should be careful walking after dark, especially with their dogs.  Skunks can carry rabies as well as distemper, so people should be aware if they see a drunk skunk in the daytime that it could be rabid.  Pet food on patios and bird feeder spills are attractive to skunks, and they like to dig for grubs in lawns.  They den, and can wander 2 miles from their dens.  They often have more than one den, which usually is a 4" hole in the ground.  If anyone thinks they have a skunk den lurking in their bushes or yard, they can sprinkle flour around the opening and check the next morning to see if there are any little tracks.  They've been known to enter houses through dog doors. 

Cindy Nelson has asked the Board to purchase a couple of skunk traps (about $70 ea.) since Animal Control has a limited number of traps and they're getting lots of calls from all over the city.  AC will pick up any skunks we capture.

Cindy Had her own close encounters lately - the other night while walking toward the front gate at pool #2, not paying a lot of attention she heard a noise and looked up to see one in front of the gate...stomping his feet, hissing and tail up.  She would never hear the end of it if she was sprayed at the pool.  She Froze in her tracks, and the skunk eventually wandered away.  Now when walking from her house to the pools  she walk sup the middle of the street whistling  "who afriad of the big bad skunk:

Pool # 2

June 2010

Nice to have pool #2 open after about $70,000 of work.  But one wonders why it's closed at night since it doesn't have to be covered and even then the cover meets standards so the spa could be open.

Also noticed that at the Rock pool spa signs are still up saying "No one under 16 allowed in spa".  The rules were changed to comply with HUD regulations on age discrimination, that there is no age limit and that it is up to the parent to decide, not us.

May 2010

Well it's finely open, one hundred and thirty one days  later. 

Some are wondering why pool #2 had not been open.  Well this has truly become an Alice in Wonderland project.  It's mid-May and the pool is filled and then drained, now for light replacement.  Not sure why, but all lights in pool and spa burned out and require replacement.  (someone said that the lights are water cooled and not turning them off when the pool was drained would cause them all to fail, but I'm sure that someone will somehow deny that was the cause).

The adult pool (rock pool) continues to be heated at substantial expense, ($7000 in April and March) hope we can get the family pool working so the solar can save us some money.  The solar is in compliance with the health Dept. regulations, disproving the outrageous statements made by some.  Now we just need to get lights changed and open pool #2.  The pool committee did a great job of refinishing the deck.  And the whole thing looks good, but then it should for $70,000+.  Does anyone remember when this project was first brought up at the Board meeting and it was only going cost us 32K?  Wow, just a little off.  I wonder if the big spenders will ever come clean on the true cost of the pool work.

Flash the reason the pool work didn't start until March instead of January, as originally proposed is that someone didn't get the permit in time and then we had to pay a charge to expedite the process to even begin work in March.  Planning and budgeting seem a little off.

April, Re-configuration is complete and the pool has been plastered.  Now a new "Cool Deck will be applied.  Work to be done by pool committee.  Also a new pump motor has been purchased for $2,200.  This has got to be the most expensive project yet.  Over $100 per house.

With work moving along on the renovation and we can see the new pool configuration.  Work does seem to be moving, but it still looks like the end of April before work is completed.  The improvement seems to be the result of getting new project from the HOA.  Winter Delamere is doing a lot of the inspection and working with the contractors and things are now on tract.

There was a Board statement in the Bulletin Board case along Sunset Greens Way that said that the Board had planned to shut pool #2 down in January and February in the budget process.  But what it didn't say was that the pool contractor was to begin work the first part of January and be completed by the end of February, in fact the contractor was advanced money to get the permits (about $2500).  Since work didn't get underway until 2 months later, it cost us to heat the Rock pool over $100 a day.

Now we get some action.  The pool is finally undergoing some construction (more than two months late).  Part of the deck has been removed and the plaster removed.  Re-configuration should begin soon.  The changes should add a deck to one end while removing most of the cut-out for the steps.

We are now informed that work will take about 8 weeks.  When this project was approved in September, we were supposed to get the permits and be ready to start work the first week of January.  Someone was supposed to be overseeing this project to keep it on time and budget.  This is turning into an Alice in Wonderland project.

January 2009

What's up with pool?  That's a question many people are starting to ask. The pool was going to be closed for modifications to the pool and deck so an automatic cover can be installed.  Yet it sits there not being used by anyone.  Makes you wonder who did the planning and scheduling or if there was any. (the project manager). Work that should take 2 or 3 weeks just doesn't even get started.  Meanwhile the facility is closed to all.  The Spa just sits there unused.  Seems nobody cares yet we all pay. 

Worst is the total lack of communication with those who do pay for it all.  Where is the transparency, there is none.  It is amazing that people will put up with it.  Someone recently compared HOAs with communism where a few rule from on high and what the people want, well they will tell us what we want and we will like it. Just keep paying and will will give you what we think you want.

COVER FOR POOL #2  Nov. 2009

At the Sept. HOA Meeting, the Board approved a re-configuration of pool #2 to accommodate an automated pool cover. 

The pool would also be re-plastered as part of the modifications for a total cost of $32k.  Following the reconstruction, a new automatic pool cover could be installed.  bids were received by the Board at the Nov. meeting.  The Board didn't approved any of the bids then.  that will be at the January meeting.  The cost of the cover would be extra, about 12 to 15k for a total of about $45,000 net cost.  

There will be no return on investment (ROI) as we already have a cover.  However, the work load of putting on and removing the cover would be reduced.  This work is scheduled to start in January February March 2010 and take about 4, 5, 6 7, 8 9 10 weeks.

We will have a solar blanket type pool cover to sell with a nice reel.