SECOND QUARTER NEWSLETTER
March 31, 2010
The election ballot for the selection of the Treasurer finally went out in February. The new Treasurer will be Kelsey Brookreson. Thank you and Tom Neubauer also for volunteering to be on the Board.
There was no meeting of the Board in February, so no news from that month.
Seventy-five percent of the Dues for 2010 have been paid to-date. The Board voted to have the Treasurer deposit the budgeted amount into the Reserve Fund for major HOA repairs.
They also decided to go forward with a Yard of the Month acknowledgment for the residents of the Orchards. Kim Best will be in charge of this committee and Erin Klaus will be helping her. Janet was asked to contact the Cheney Gardeners and find out what they use to decide their monthly winner.
The vice president was asked to contact Half-Moon Construction and get a bid on fixing the curb on the corner of Silverthorn and Meadow Glenn.
The Board also discussed the continuing problem of people in the Orchards driving up onto the sidewalks around the speed bumps. They will try a change with a speed bump on Silverthorn and monitor to see if it is working. The Board decided to call Lisa at Specialty Asphalt and get a maintenance quote for sealing asphalt cracks in the roadways.
Under new business, the Board was asked if they had set a date for having AAA Sweeping come in and sweep the streets. Tabled until next meeting. Also, the question was asked about repainting the street corners with the red paint. Travis said he wanted to investigate painting in front of fire hydrants also, and would talk with the Fire Department in regard to this. Tabled until next meeting.
Board meetings will be held the first Tuesday of the month at 6:30 pm. The next meeting was set for April 6th at Keith’s house.
Ah, the homeowners association….A RECENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATION NEAR ENGLAND’S HAMME-ON-RYE UNEARTHED A 14th CENTURY DOCUMENT THAT SUGGESTS THAT HOAS ARE NOT A NEw PHENOMENON..
“REFUSE SHALT BE REMOVED ON EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY. Homeowners Should
Throw any mullok and other unwanted materials out of their windows to the
Footpath below. Barrels are available near the commons for the recycling of
Parchment and chainmail.” Proper Manners by David Martin
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OMG! It hasn’t changed! I find McDonalds, Starbucks garbage and beer cans, all over the Orchards every day/week, HOA owners and tenants please remember that garbage pickup is Friday, the cans need to be put in garages or out of sight after pickup. The City of Cheney asks that the cans be placed in the street for ease of pickup by their truck.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Juanuary 2010: Quarterly Newsletter
FIRST QUARTER NEWSLETTER
January 11, 2010
I have felt for almost four years now that because the attendance and participation at the monthly board meetings and the annual homeowners meeting is so low, that a newsletter is needed to at least let the homeowners know what has been happening in the neighborhood.
You all received an insert in the notification of the annual meeting which showed the Actuals for 2009. Last night we discussed the breakdown a bit more, and I thought you would like to know what I heard. The numbers I will list for Repairs & Maintenance will be rounded, but should be very close.
Repairs to asphalt on Silverthorn: Because of the water runoff problems on Silverthorn, the asphalt streets were showing cracking from sinking. Specialty Asphalt was called out to rebuild the crown just past the mailboxes as you go into the Orchards, and they also resealed the cracks that were opening up in the street. That cost was around $800.
Installation of two storm drains on Silverthorn: We asked the city officials to come out and look over the water runoff problems with us. Todd Ableman, Elisa Rodriquez and John Johnson came out. Firstly they made it very clear that the city had no responsibility to install the drains because we are a private, homeowner neighborhood. We knew that but wanted to make sure they would not stand in the way of our doing this project, and also wanted to pick their brains regarding who to send requests for quotation. The city said we need no permit, and to just send them a letter of intent.
Requests for quotation were sent out and Half Moon Construction installed the drains for $6,100. The recent rain has pointed out that there are still issues to be dealt with, fences in the swale blocking the flow to the catchment areas, and the fact that the Barrington Apartments are just not capturing their runoff, and it is flooding Silverthorn. The creek draining from Normal Park Road is also dumping a great deal of water into our system.
These two projects accounted for $6,900 of the $7,386 shown as expended for repairs and maintenance in 2009.
Snow Removal costs were $13,033.
Another cost which blindsided the HOA was a notification from the Assessor’s Office that we were in arrears for the last three years on property taxes. This lead to an investigation and we found that Clifford Mort of Mort Construction, the original developer of the Orchards, had not signed these two common areas (the park and the RV/guest parking area) over to the HOA. He must have been getting the bills for these two areas, but ignored them, so the end result to the HOA was back taxes plus penalties of $2,631. Ouch!
The law office who originally handled the paperwork transferring the Orchards to the HOA was contacted. Steven Drummond spent a lot of time researching and getting Mr. Mort tracked down to sign the quit claims. They have been properly filed now, and all common areas are in the association’s name. No Charge to the association.
The last large dollar item for 2009 is Grounds. That figure represents the mowing and weed whipping of the common areas, spraying for weed control and the pruning of the trees along the Silverthorn entrance.
A committee was set up to meet with Elisa Rodriquez and Mayor Tom Trulove in regard to the drainage issues affecting the Orchards.
The annual meeting had less attendance than was required for a quorum (we need 34 homeowners in attendance). The current President, V. President, Secretary and 5th Board member will be staying for a third term. The Treasurer position had two candidates, and the Board will be sending out a ballot for your vote. Invoices will have been sent out by the time you receive this newsletter.
Written By Janet Prendergast (The Orchards Home Owner)
January 11, 2010
I have felt for almost four years now that because the attendance and participation at the monthly board meetings and the annual homeowners meeting is so low, that a newsletter is needed to at least let the homeowners know what has been happening in the neighborhood.
You all received an insert in the notification of the annual meeting which showed the Actuals for 2009. Last night we discussed the breakdown a bit more, and I thought you would like to know what I heard. The numbers I will list for Repairs & Maintenance will be rounded, but should be very close.
Repairs to asphalt on Silverthorn: Because of the water runoff problems on Silverthorn, the asphalt streets were showing cracking from sinking. Specialty Asphalt was called out to rebuild the crown just past the mailboxes as you go into the Orchards, and they also resealed the cracks that were opening up in the street. That cost was around $800.
Installation of two storm drains on Silverthorn: We asked the city officials to come out and look over the water runoff problems with us. Todd Ableman, Elisa Rodriquez and John Johnson came out. Firstly they made it very clear that the city had no responsibility to install the drains because we are a private, homeowner neighborhood. We knew that but wanted to make sure they would not stand in the way of our doing this project, and also wanted to pick their brains regarding who to send requests for quotation. The city said we need no permit, and to just send them a letter of intent.
Requests for quotation were sent out and Half Moon Construction installed the drains for $6,100. The recent rain has pointed out that there are still issues to be dealt with, fences in the swale blocking the flow to the catchment areas, and the fact that the Barrington Apartments are just not capturing their runoff, and it is flooding Silverthorn. The creek draining from Normal Park Road is also dumping a great deal of water into our system.
These two projects accounted for $6,900 of the $7,386 shown as expended for repairs and maintenance in 2009.
Snow Removal costs were $13,033.
Another cost which blindsided the HOA was a notification from the Assessor’s Office that we were in arrears for the last three years on property taxes. This lead to an investigation and we found that Clifford Mort of Mort Construction, the original developer of the Orchards, had not signed these two common areas (the park and the RV/guest parking area) over to the HOA. He must have been getting the bills for these two areas, but ignored them, so the end result to the HOA was back taxes plus penalties of $2,631. Ouch!
The law office who originally handled the paperwork transferring the Orchards to the HOA was contacted. Steven Drummond spent a lot of time researching and getting Mr. Mort tracked down to sign the quit claims. They have been properly filed now, and all common areas are in the association’s name. No Charge to the association.
The last large dollar item for 2009 is Grounds. That figure represents the mowing and weed whipping of the common areas, spraying for weed control and the pruning of the trees along the Silverthorn entrance.
A committee was set up to meet with Elisa Rodriquez and Mayor Tom Trulove in regard to the drainage issues affecting the Orchards.
The annual meeting had less attendance than was required for a quorum (we need 34 homeowners in attendance). The current President, V. President, Secretary and 5th Board member will be staying for a third term. The Treasurer position had two candidates, and the Board will be sending out a ballot for your vote. Invoices will have been sent out by the time you receive this newsletter.
Written By Janet Prendergast (The Orchards Home Owner)
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Document access
Hi all,
I have created a google account with the username: hoaorchards and the password:orchards. You can log into this account, which has already been accepted to view blogspot documents, and it will allow you to access the links to the documents below including the by-laws, parking violations, etc.
Thanks and if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to send me an email at orchardshoa@gmail.com.
Thanks,
Travis
I have created a google account with the username: hoaorchards and the password:orchards. You can log into this account, which has already been accepted to view blogspot documents, and it will allow you to access the links to the documents below including the by-laws, parking violations, etc.
Thanks and if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to send me an email at orchardshoa@gmail.com.
Thanks,
Travis
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Links are getting there!
Hey everyone,
Sorry about the lack of updates to the HOA blogspot (i.e., website). I have recently updated the links for the Orchards Bylaws, Arch Approval Form and Revised Vehicle Rules & Regulations. The other two will be up tomorrow.
As most of you have commented on, we have administered the HOA notice for the spring and some of you have noticed that you have been issued warnings about your violations. As I hope you all know, it is not the mission of the HOA to make money on violations, but, rather, to make sure everyone complies to the by-laws to keep our community SAFE for our children, visually aesthetic to us, the residents, and all of our visitors. If you receive a notice, please follow through on the request or we, as the elected HOA board, will have to follow up on the grievance (i.e, keep your yards mowed, the weeds out of your yards and flower beds, the weeds out of your gravel parking areas, trash cans behind a fence or in the garage, etc.).
I will personally be updating the blogspot, with the great help of Monica Denton, a volunteer blogspot editor, and the rest of the HOA board to keep you updated on all of the happenings within the HOA.
I hope we can all have a great spring season in to the summer and beyond!!!
Sincerely,
Travis T. Denton, HOA President
Sorry about the lack of updates to the HOA blogspot (i.e., website). I have recently updated the links for the Orchards Bylaws, Arch Approval Form and Revised Vehicle Rules & Regulations. The other two will be up tomorrow.
As most of you have commented on, we have administered the HOA notice for the spring and some of you have noticed that you have been issued warnings about your violations. As I hope you all know, it is not the mission of the HOA to make money on violations, but, rather, to make sure everyone complies to the by-laws to keep our community SAFE for our children, visually aesthetic to us, the residents, and all of our visitors. If you receive a notice, please follow through on the request or we, as the elected HOA board, will have to follow up on the grievance (i.e, keep your yards mowed, the weeds out of your yards and flower beds, the weeds out of your gravel parking areas, trash cans behind a fence or in the garage, etc.).
I will personally be updating the blogspot, with the great help of Monica Denton, a volunteer blogspot editor, and the rest of the HOA board to keep you updated on all of the happenings within the HOA.
I hope we can all have a great spring season in to the summer and beyond!!!
Sincerely,
Travis T. Denton, HOA President
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Links under construction...
Please forgive us as our links under "Orchards Information" are not currently working. We are in the process of working this kink out, so please be patient. Send us an email and we will email you the link if needed.
Thank You!
Thank You!
Friday, April 17, 2009
March Meeting Notes
Meeting Began: 6:08pm
Present: Keith Klauss, Jane Button, Stan Walker, Travis Denton, and Kim Best
Action Items:
Budget Reviewed – motion to move only add five thousand to reserve and have approx. 13,000 for repairs
Safety Deposit Box- Jane will discuss rather we still pay for the box or not
Towing – Good Guys Towing 455.6666, do not charge to tow will be here within an hour from Spokane, Keith will call and get more information on who is valid to call about vehicles to be towed, and if they come out to tow a car and if the car gets moved what happens then.
Park – Went over park information in the Orchards, Jane will talk to city and see what cost the orchards homeowners paid, Kim will talk to Trish more about who paid what
Discussed Items:
Filing a lean on homeowners who have unpaid fees; look back in books to see when and why they got the fees; let the homeowners know you have these fines then let them know this is the amount you owe in fines and if not paid in ten days then you will incur a lean on your home
Travis talk to Janet about formal paperwork with lawyer about a lean on a house who haven’t paid there fines or dues
Kim – ask Trish or Dave about who replaces the street lights
Meeting Adjourned: 6:51pm
Present: Keith Klauss, Jane Button, Stan Walker, Travis Denton, and Kim Best
Action Items:
Budget Reviewed – motion to move only add five thousand to reserve and have approx. 13,000 for repairs
Safety Deposit Box- Jane will discuss rather we still pay for the box or not
Towing – Good Guys Towing 455.6666, do not charge to tow will be here within an hour from Spokane, Keith will call and get more information on who is valid to call about vehicles to be towed, and if they come out to tow a car and if the car gets moved what happens then.
Park – Went over park information in the Orchards, Jane will talk to city and see what cost the orchards homeowners paid, Kim will talk to Trish more about who paid what
Discussed Items:
Filing a lean on homeowners who have unpaid fees; look back in books to see when and why they got the fees; let the homeowners know you have these fines then let them know this is the amount you owe in fines and if not paid in ten days then you will incur a lean on your home
Travis talk to Janet about formal paperwork with lawyer about a lean on a house who haven’t paid there fines or dues
Kim – ask Trish or Dave about who replaces the street lights
Meeting Adjourned: 6:51pm
Monday, February 16, 2009
February Meeting Minutes
Meeting Began: 6:15pm
Present: Keith Klauss, Jane Button, Stan Walker, Travis Denton, and Kim Best
Action items:
Welcomed Stan to committee gave him by-laws
Good Guys Towing – Keith is calling about towing for neighborhood without paying to have vehicles towed.
Floodlights for Jim and Alice on their driveway: Stan will follow up with them
“The Park” – Kim will check up on the park and see who paid what, check with the city??? Contact Trish about previous action taken for the park
Budget Report as of Feb 11th: Read and approved
Read Minutes and Approved
Read by-laws about who has to fix fence. Not sure who is responsible as by –laws don’t say. What about repairing fence and it looks different than other areas of the neighborhood??
Talk about Janet getting a lawyer about people not obeying by-laws and amendments. Write Janet a letter of intent and guidelines. Moved to request Janet to contact lawyer. Travis will draft a letter and send us a copy.
Discussion Items:
Will discuss fence issue when one comes about
Improvements done on Silverthorn, get scheduled when weather is nice. ASAP. Get estimates soon.
Get a quote on fabricating the drainage into the swales
Meeting Adjourned at 7:15 pm
Present: Keith Klauss, Jane Button, Stan Walker, Travis Denton, and Kim Best
Action items:
Welcomed Stan to committee gave him by-laws
Good Guys Towing – Keith is calling about towing for neighborhood without paying to have vehicles towed.
Floodlights for Jim and Alice on their driveway: Stan will follow up with them
“The Park” – Kim will check up on the park and see who paid what, check with the city??? Contact Trish about previous action taken for the park
Budget Report as of Feb 11th: Read and approved
Read Minutes and Approved
Read by-laws about who has to fix fence. Not sure who is responsible as by –laws don’t say. What about repairing fence and it looks different than other areas of the neighborhood??
Talk about Janet getting a lawyer about people not obeying by-laws and amendments. Write Janet a letter of intent and guidelines. Moved to request Janet to contact lawyer. Travis will draft a letter and send us a copy.
Discussion Items:
Will discuss fence issue when one comes about
Improvements done on Silverthorn, get scheduled when weather is nice. ASAP. Get estimates soon.
Get a quote on fabricating the drainage into the swales
Meeting Adjourned at 7:15 pm
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