The next HOA meeting, and first with the two new board members, happens Tuesday, January 18 at its normal location at River of Life Christian Church on Krycul Ave. See a map and the precise address further down in this post.
Issues on the agenda include:
1. Establishing a "wall of green" on the east side of Dartmouth Hill Road. The green area between Dartmouth Hill and US-301 will someday become a bank and a gas station. A board member has suggested planting a row of trees that will replace the shield we currently have when it disappears. It would help preserve the community's privacy -- especially for people who live near Dartmouth Hill.
2. Garbage. Especially over the holidays, the dumpsters overflow with trash. We can prevent some of this if we take some simple steps such as breaking down boxes and not dumping appliances and furniture at the dumpster areas. The trick is getting word out to people about alternatives.
3. Crime. We have not had reports of break-ins lately but this is an issue we have to be vigilant about. The board will also discuss ways the community can deter crimes of all kinds.
4. Building Repairs. Some units have suffered damage from water intrusion. Some have exterior cosmetic damage. The board has been assessing the situation and will discuss possible solutions.
5. Standards for Rear Patio and Enclosure. A unit owner has threatened legal action because she has been denied permission to install an aluminum enclosure around her back patio. The board's unanimous opinion has been that such attachments to our buildings do not match the decor and character of the community and that allowing such trailer park-like construction will harm property values of all units in the community. Board President David Hey has led the effort to assemble a set of written standards for what the board will allow.
River of Life Christian Center
6605 Krycul Avenue
Riverview, FL 33569
View Larger Map
Friday, December 31, 2010
Saturday, December 25, 2010
CURB ALERT - Free Dresser Mirrors!
Someone left these inside the dumpster enclosure at the intersection of Johanna Ave. and Hawthorne Trace. The glass is free of cracks and chips and the wood frames are in good shape.
We have posted an ad on craigslist letting people know they're available.
Not only is it a shame for perfectly useable things to wind up in landfills, they clog up space in our dumpsters. Also, these were put in the enclosure, not the dumpster itself. Items have to get inside the actual dumpster or the garbage truck driver does not take them away! We have to pay to have someone clean the enclosures, unless a neighbor tired of seeing the mess does it first.
If you have something that you want to get rid of, a "CURB ALERT" ad on craigslist will take care of it for you. Here's the link: https://post.craigslist.org/tpa/S/zip/. You have to sign up for an account but it's easy, it's FREE, it will help someone who can reuse your unwanted stuff and it helps our community.
A win win win win!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
2011 HOA Fees to Stay Level
Tonight's St. Charles Place HOA meeting had a quorum of members attend so that its annual budget and board election meetings could take place.
After taking questions from members about it, the board passed the 2011 budget. HOA fees will remain $213 per month.
After the budget meeting adjourned — it's actually a meeting unto itself — we elected our new board. David Hey and Beth Burns had won two year terms in last year's meeting, leaving three seats open.
Incumbent board members Ed Palmer and Kimbra Patterson decided not to run. Current Vice President John McQuiston stood for re-election. Members nominated Jason Mirabella and Dustin Kerr.
With only three candidates for three seats, we did not vote. McQuiston retains his seat with Mirabella and Kerr joining Hey and Burns on the board.
McQuiston nominated Hey for president. McQuiston will serve as vice president again. Mirabella is the new secretary, replacing Palmer, and Kerr takes over as treasurer. Votes were by acclaim.
In another development, enough members volunteered to form a fining committee. This gives the HOA the power to levy fines against people who violate community rules. Until now, the board was essentially toothless when it came to enforcing rules.
Now after sending violation letters, the board can send a notice that if the violation isn't fixed 14 days, the homeowner will face fines. The fining committee will come up with a schedule of set fines so that homeowners will know what the fines for infractions are.
New board member Jason Mirabella complained of noise from US-301 affecting units along Dartmouth Hill that back up to 301. The board discussed the possibility of having a row of trees planted between the pond and the highway that would create a sound and visual barrier from light and noise from 301.
McQuiston wanted to pursue the possibility of having a similar "tree wall" planted along the east side of Dartmouth Hill between Lake St. Charles Blvd. and Johanna Ave.
Someday the patch of forest and the green field bordered by US-301, Lake St. Charles, Johanna and Dartmouth Hill will be developed. A line of trees will help protect the community from light and sound from the coming development.
We don't know when the property is scheduled to be developed. The advantage of acting now would be that we could plant young, small and cheaper trees and let them fill the space as they develop.
Another owner protested the board's refusal to approve her request to add an aluminum enclosure for her rear patio. The board's unanimous opinion is that such a structure would not match the character and style of the community and that it would harm our property values.
The unit owner claims the board doesn't have the legal authority to make such a ruling and claims to have a legal opinion backing her stand. The board voted to seek a legal opinion of its own.
That's the summary.
The board will not meet in December. It plans to resume monthly meetings beginning with its January 18, 2011 meeting.
As always, if you have questions, you can e-mail the board at board -at- stcharlesplace -dot- us. The board asked its property manager to seek a legal opinion
After taking questions from members about it, the board passed the 2011 budget. HOA fees will remain $213 per month.
After the budget meeting adjourned — it's actually a meeting unto itself — we elected our new board. David Hey and Beth Burns had won two year terms in last year's meeting, leaving three seats open.
Incumbent board members Ed Palmer and Kimbra Patterson decided not to run. Current Vice President John McQuiston stood for re-election. Members nominated Jason Mirabella and Dustin Kerr.
With only three candidates for three seats, we did not vote. McQuiston retains his seat with Mirabella and Kerr joining Hey and Burns on the board.
McQuiston nominated Hey for president. McQuiston will serve as vice president again. Mirabella is the new secretary, replacing Palmer, and Kerr takes over as treasurer. Votes were by acclaim.
In another development, enough members volunteered to form a fining committee. This gives the HOA the power to levy fines against people who violate community rules. Until now, the board was essentially toothless when it came to enforcing rules.
Now after sending violation letters, the board can send a notice that if the violation isn't fixed 14 days, the homeowner will face fines. The fining committee will come up with a schedule of set fines so that homeowners will know what the fines for infractions are.
New board member Jason Mirabella complained of noise from US-301 affecting units along Dartmouth Hill that back up to 301. The board discussed the possibility of having a row of trees planted between the pond and the highway that would create a sound and visual barrier from light and noise from 301.
McQuiston wanted to pursue the possibility of having a similar "tree wall" planted along the east side of Dartmouth Hill between Lake St. Charles Blvd. and Johanna Ave.
Someday the patch of forest and the green field bordered by US-301, Lake St. Charles, Johanna and Dartmouth Hill will be developed. A line of trees will help protect the community from light and sound from the coming development.
We don't know when the property is scheduled to be developed. The advantage of acting now would be that we could plant young, small and cheaper trees and let them fill the space as they develop.
Another owner protested the board's refusal to approve her request to add an aluminum enclosure for her rear patio. The board's unanimous opinion is that such a structure would not match the character and style of the community and that it would harm our property values.
The unit owner claims the board doesn't have the legal authority to make such a ruling and claims to have a legal opinion backing her stand. The board voted to seek a legal opinion of its own.
That's the summary.
The board will not meet in December. It plans to resume monthly meetings beginning with its January 18, 2011 meeting.
As always, if you have questions, you can e-mail the board at board -at- stcharlesplace -dot- us. The board asked its property manager to seek a legal opinion
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
St. Charles Place HOA Meeting Thursday
I realize you know that already if you check this site with any regularity. I wanted to add that while this is an important meeting, it does not mean it has to be a long one.
You're not being asked to make a night of it.
The budget must simply be approved, it doesn't actually have to be put together at this meeting. That has already happened, barring feedback from owners that leads the board to think the budget needs adjustment. Last year, approving the budget took about 15 minutes.
Electing new board members will take a little longer but it should not be a drawn out affair.
Most of the time spent at HOA meetings comes in discussions about issues that come up during the agenda and then with the open owner forum. The agenda for this meeting is not long so it should go by pretty quickly.
I'm sure after the elections, the open forum will probably generate some discussion but you don't have to stay for that. Please try to make it, even if it's for only long enough for the meeting to establish its quorum.
You're not being asked to make a night of it.
The budget must simply be approved, it doesn't actually have to be put together at this meeting. That has already happened, barring feedback from owners that leads the board to think the budget needs adjustment. Last year, approving the budget took about 15 minutes.
Electing new board members will take a little longer but it should not be a drawn out affair.
Most of the time spent at HOA meetings comes in discussions about issues that come up during the agenda and then with the open owner forum. The agenda for this meeting is not long so it should go by pretty quickly.
I'm sure after the elections, the open forum will probably generate some discussion but you don't have to stay for that. Please try to make it, even if it's for only long enough for the meeting to establish its quorum.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Our Monthly Fees Will Be WHAT?!?!
The St. Charles Place HOA Board has its annual budget meeting Thursday, November 11. This is the meeting when it sets the monthly HOA dues, which are currently $213 per month.
Want to make sure they don't go up? Attend the meeting.
The meeting also doubles as the election of board members. David Hey and Beth Burns, who received the most votes in our turnover election, have two-year terms. The other three seats are up for re-election. However, only John McQuiston has announced an intention to run again.
Ed Palmer and Kimbra Patterson have chosen not to stand for re-election and Beth Burns plans to resign from the board by the end of the year.
If you want a voice in running your community, now is the time to act. All you have to do is (A) own a home in St. Charles Place and (B) show up to the meeting. If you want to provide some information about yourself before the meeting, you can e-mail Brian Wade at Leland Management.
HOA meetings usually draw about a dozen owners. The board takes that as a sign that people don't have major complaints about how their community is run. Because this is the budget meeting, it requires that 10% of all unit owners attend or it doesn't count. With 268 units in St. Charles Place, that means we need 27 owners to attend.
You want to be there. It starts at 7, though McQuiston has business in Sarasota that night and will probably be a few minutes late.
River of Life Christian Center
6605 Krycul Avenue
Riverview, FL 33569
View Larger Map
Want to make sure they don't go up? Attend the meeting.
The meeting also doubles as the election of board members. David Hey and Beth Burns, who received the most votes in our turnover election, have two-year terms. The other three seats are up for re-election. However, only John McQuiston has announced an intention to run again.
Ed Palmer and Kimbra Patterson have chosen not to stand for re-election and Beth Burns plans to resign from the board by the end of the year.
If you want a voice in running your community, now is the time to act. All you have to do is (A) own a home in St. Charles Place and (B) show up to the meeting. If you want to provide some information about yourself before the meeting, you can e-mail Brian Wade at Leland Management.
HOA meetings usually draw about a dozen owners. The board takes that as a sign that people don't have major complaints about how their community is run. Because this is the budget meeting, it requires that 10% of all unit owners attend or it doesn't count. With 268 units in St. Charles Place, that means we need 27 owners to attend.
You want to be there. It starts at 7, though McQuiston has business in Sarasota that night and will probably be a few minutes late.
River of Life Christian Center
6605 Krycul Avenue
Riverview, FL 33569
View Larger Map
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Next Meeting - Budget Approval and Board Election
Our next meeting is an important one. We approve our annual budget and we hold elections for the five directors of the HOA board. It happens 7 p.m. November 11, 2010 at River of Life Christian Church on Krycul Ave., the usual meeting location.
Two of the members, Beth Burns and Ed Palmer, have announced that they will not stand for re-election to the board. At least four of the five seats are up for election.
Any owner who shows up to the meeting is eligible to run and to serve on the board. If you'd like to submit information about yourself before the election, contact Brian Wade at Leland Management.
However, for the meeting to happen, we need ten percent of the total number of homeowners to attend. If you see this, please make plans to be there and tell your neighbors.
Two of the members, Beth Burns and Ed Palmer, have announced that they will not stand for re-election to the board. At least four of the five seats are up for election.
Any owner who shows up to the meeting is eligible to run and to serve on the board. If you'd like to submit information about yourself before the election, contact Brian Wade at Leland Management.
However, for the meeting to happen, we need ten percent of the total number of homeowners to attend. If you see this, please make plans to be there and tell your neighbors.
Tonight's HOA Meeting Minutes
St Charles Place Homeowners Association
Meeting – October 28, 2010
River of Life Christian Center
Board Members in Attendance:
David Hey, President
John McQuiston, VP
Kimbra Patterson
Board Members Absent:
Ed Palmer
Beth Burns
Proof of Notice
– Brian Wade, Leland Management asserts that he did post notice on October 21.
Previous Minutes
- David Hey motions to approve minutes from Sept. 21 meeting. Kimbra Patterson seconds. Motion passes 3-0.
Manager’s Report
- Brian Wade delivers. More than $11,000 in delinquent accounts collected but overall delinquent monies rose in September. Towing still suspended. Deed restrictions continue to be enforced, letters mailed. Next meeting is the budget meeting, November 11. Location confirmed.
Committee Reports
- None. We still lack functioning committees. We have one member on the fining committee. We have a community watch committee. There was discussion about the community watch committee, with one person expressing interest in participating.
Old Business
1. Rental units of delinquent accounts. Leland has sent letters three weeks ago. We haven't collected rent yet. Rent collection should begin in November. This addresses units whose owners collect rent but do not pay their HOA dues. A recently passes law allows the HOA to collect rent directly from tenants to satisfy past due money owed the HOA.
2. Remediation of units that have had water intrusion. Four had been identified. Exteriors have been repaired. No more reports of water intrusions have happened. There may yet be interior damage of affected units that need to be addressed.
3. Property Management. Discussion about Leland's bid. It has asked us for a price. Board considers asking for fee reduction considering fewer paying units. We have bids from two other vendors.
4. Aluminum rear enclosure discussion. An owner wondered why she could not install one. The board responded that it has voted that aluminum does not match the character of the community. Brian Wade said that he was going to learn whether it's feasible to have new extended rear roofs that match the ones already in the community. Another owner said that he had bought a unit on Marble Fawn that had an aluminum rear enclosure already installed when he bought his unit from a bank.
David Hey made a motion that when Aida Martinez sends a rejection for an ARC request that she sends a copy to the board and to Brian Wade. Kimbra Patterson seconded. Motion passed 3-0.
New Business
1. Slowing traffic. Someone suggested speed limit signs. Stop signs were discussed. The difficulty getting speed bumps were discussed. Brian Wade promised to check into it.
2. Someone asked about feral cats and getting rid of them. Consensus seems to be there there is not much to be done.
Next Meeting
November 11, 2010 at the River of Life Christian Church on Krycul Ave.
We need 10% of all unit owners to attend to reach quorum for the budget meeting.
For a 268 units, that would mean 27 must attend.
Open Owner Forum
An owner mentioned that the hibiscus tree in front of his unit was dead and that other flowers were wilting. David Hey mentioned irrigation inconsistencies that are killing some landscaping near the Johanna Avenue entrance to the community. Discussion ensued about doing a walk-through of the community with Patrick.
Adjournment
At 8:46 p.m. John McQuiston moves to adjourn. David Hey seconds. Motion passes 3-0.
Meeting – October 28, 2010
River of Life Christian Center
Board Members in Attendance:
David Hey, President
John McQuiston, VP
Kimbra Patterson
Board Members Absent:
Ed Palmer
Beth Burns
Proof of Notice
– Brian Wade, Leland Management asserts that he did post notice on October 21.
Previous Minutes
- David Hey motions to approve minutes from Sept. 21 meeting. Kimbra Patterson seconds. Motion passes 3-0.
Manager’s Report
- Brian Wade delivers. More than $11,000 in delinquent accounts collected but overall delinquent monies rose in September. Towing still suspended. Deed restrictions continue to be enforced, letters mailed. Next meeting is the budget meeting, November 11. Location confirmed.
Committee Reports
- None. We still lack functioning committees. We have one member on the fining committee. We have a community watch committee. There was discussion about the community watch committee, with one person expressing interest in participating.
Old Business
1. Rental units of delinquent accounts. Leland has sent letters three weeks ago. We haven't collected rent yet. Rent collection should begin in November. This addresses units whose owners collect rent but do not pay their HOA dues. A recently passes law allows the HOA to collect rent directly from tenants to satisfy past due money owed the HOA.
2. Remediation of units that have had water intrusion. Four had been identified. Exteriors have been repaired. No more reports of water intrusions have happened. There may yet be interior damage of affected units that need to be addressed.
3. Property Management. Discussion about Leland's bid. It has asked us for a price. Board considers asking for fee reduction considering fewer paying units. We have bids from two other vendors.
4. Aluminum rear enclosure discussion. An owner wondered why she could not install one. The board responded that it has voted that aluminum does not match the character of the community. Brian Wade said that he was going to learn whether it's feasible to have new extended rear roofs that match the ones already in the community. Another owner said that he had bought a unit on Marble Fawn that had an aluminum rear enclosure already installed when he bought his unit from a bank.
David Hey made a motion that when Aida Martinez sends a rejection for an ARC request that she sends a copy to the board and to Brian Wade. Kimbra Patterson seconded. Motion passed 3-0.
New Business
1. Slowing traffic. Someone suggested speed limit signs. Stop signs were discussed. The difficulty getting speed bumps were discussed. Brian Wade promised to check into it.
2. Someone asked about feral cats and getting rid of them. Consensus seems to be there there is not much to be done.
Next Meeting
November 11, 2010 at the River of Life Christian Church on Krycul Ave.
We need 10% of all unit owners to attend to reach quorum for the budget meeting.
For a 268 units, that would mean 27 must attend.
Open Owner Forum
An owner mentioned that the hibiscus tree in front of his unit was dead and that other flowers were wilting. David Hey mentioned irrigation inconsistencies that are killing some landscaping near the Johanna Avenue entrance to the community. Discussion ensued about doing a walk-through of the community with Patrick.
Adjournment
At 8:46 p.m. John McQuiston moves to adjourn. David Hey seconds. Motion passes 3-0.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Water Intrusion
A unit owner on Great Carlisle Court has reported water leaking into her unit. This is the fourth case that we've heard concerning water intrusion.
The builder, KB Home, has told owners that the homes are out of warranty and that this is a maintenance issue for the HOA.
However, it happens that HOA board member Beth Burns had water leaking into her unit. It was caused by a defect in the original construction, which meant that it was not a warranty issue, and KB Home repaired the damage at no cost to Beth.
Dave Page from KB Home inspected the unit on Great Carlisle. He told the unit owner that the roof was sound and that the water was coming in through a broken seal in a window area. Page told our property manager that this is not a construction defect because the building is four to five years old and any defects would have been apparent before now.
It seems not unreasonable that a construction defect could take five years to manifest itself. We don't know how long the building has had a leak. We know only that it has progressed enough that damage is visible inside the unit.
This promises to be a topic of discussion at the board meeting this Thursday.
Also, if you have any problems with the construction of your home, please notify our property manager. You can also call Alex, KB customer service rep, at 813-846-5552.
The builder, KB Home, has told owners that the homes are out of warranty and that this is a maintenance issue for the HOA.
However, it happens that HOA board member Beth Burns had water leaking into her unit. It was caused by a defect in the original construction, which meant that it was not a warranty issue, and KB Home repaired the damage at no cost to Beth.
Dave Page from KB Home inspected the unit on Great Carlisle. He told the unit owner that the roof was sound and that the water was coming in through a broken seal in a window area. Page told our property manager that this is not a construction defect because the building is four to five years old and any defects would have been apparent before now.
It seems not unreasonable that a construction defect could take five years to manifest itself. We don't know how long the building has had a leak. We know only that it has progressed enough that damage is visible inside the unit.
This promises to be a topic of discussion at the board meeting this Thursday.
Also, if you have any problems with the construction of your home, please notify our property manager. You can also call Alex, KB customer service rep, at 813-846-5552.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
HOA Meeting Site Confirmed
Our next HOA meeting is September 23 at 7 p.m. It will happen at its usual location.
River of Life Christian Center
6605 Krycul Avenue
Riverview, FL 33569
View Larger Map
River of Life Christian Center
6605 Krycul Avenue
Riverview, FL 33569
View Larger Map
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Find Us on Facebook More Easily
The St. Charles Place Facebook page now has an easier to remember web site address: facebook.com/StCharlesPlaceHOA. We couldn't get just plain old "facebook.com/StCharlesPlace" because it's taken by some guy in Michigan who appears topless in his profile picture. In case you wondered.
(I did not include a hyperlink because you really don't need to see that. I didn't.)
The shorter URL will help us let people know how to find us on the world's most popular web site. If you're not on Facebook, you can still access the page and read all of its contents so please don't feel left out.
We will not abandon other ways of notifying people about news they can use about their community. We have the bulletin board near the mailboxes, as well as one in the pool. We have the community website (stcharlesplace.us). We have this blog. If we have to resort to it, we will pony up the $.44 and send you an old fashioned letter, which of course will surprise you so much that you'll mistake it for another piece of junk mail and throw it away unopened.
Facebook is another way to make it more convenient for you to stay connected to your community. Best of all, as with this blog, it's free!
(I did not include a hyperlink because you really don't need to see that. I didn't.)
The shorter URL will help us let people know how to find us on the world's most popular web site. If you're not on Facebook, you can still access the page and read all of its contents so please don't feel left out.
We will not abandon other ways of notifying people about news they can use about their community. We have the bulletin board near the mailboxes, as well as one in the pool. We have the community website (stcharlesplace.us). We have this blog. If we have to resort to it, we will pony up the $.44 and send you an old fashioned letter, which of course will surprise you so much that you'll mistake it for another piece of junk mail and throw it away unopened.
Facebook is another way to make it more convenient for you to stay connected to your community. Best of all, as with this blog, it's free!
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Halfway There
It took less than 24 hours for the new St. Charles Place Facebook page to get 12 "fans." Another had joined by this morning. This puts us more than halfway to the 25 we need so that Facebook will let us create a simple web site address (like www.facebook.com/StCharlesPlace) that will make it easier to share the page with other homeowners.
Owners at Thursday's HOA meeting told the board that Facebook would be a convenient way for them to get news about the community. It has already shown to be an easy way for owners to share their questions and concerns.
If you haven't yet, please check out the page and click the "like" button. If you're not on Facebook, don't worry. You can still access the page and read any of its contents.
Recycling Update
It's going to be difficult to resume recycling in our community. A number of different obstacles conspire against the effort.First is where to put any recycling dumpster(s). Waste Management, our garbage collector, says the recycling bin would be a dumpster similar in size to the garbage dumpsters we have. We'd put all of our recyclables into that dumpster and Waste Management would sort it out later.
There few places where we could put a dumpster would take up parking spaces. Such a change, the HOA board believes, would require a meeting which at least 79 owners attend (30% of all of our 268 units) to vote on the matter.
Normally fewer than a dozen people attend HOA meetings.
If we got past that hurdle, next up is building an enclosure for the recycling dumpster like the ones that contain our garbage dumpsters. County rules say we have to keep it from public view*. An owner at the last meeting tossed out a cost of $12,000. I don't know how accurate that is but at even half of that, the price is significant.
Some owners at Thursday's HOA meeting warned that the recycling dumpster area could become a safety hazard, noting that people often can't be bothered to put trash inside the garbage dumpsters. What happens when these same people leave glass outside the recycling bin?
Owners at the meeting liked the idea of recycling and even thought it would be worth having one or two sites in the community where they could take their recyclables. The HOA board did not shut the door on the possibility, but does not know where to go from here.
Your ideas are welcome. E-mail them to board@stcharlesplace.us. You can also connect with board members and your other fellow owners on our new Facebook page.
*Hillsborough County Solid Waste Ordinance 96-34, Section IV-5 states:
"All Commercial Customer collection Containers and/or central Containers, whether supplied by the Franchise Collector or the Commercial Customer, shall be kept on private property in a place easily accessible to the Franchise Collector and in such locations as to prevent a nuisance condition to inhabitants and the general public. Containers shall be set back from adjacent properties or rights-of-way as determined by the County. Adequate screening from public view shall be provided either by locating the Container as close to the building as possible or by providing other concealment to be least noticeable from a public thoroughfare. The Container shall be placed so as to not interfere with the movement of pedestrian and vehicular traffic."
Thursday, July 29, 2010
St. Charles Place Now On Facebook
The consensus of owners at the HOA meeting last night was that a Facebook page would be an effective way to reach people with important community news.
Here it is: http://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Charles-Place/136759319697981
There's not much there, yet, but it's enough to get started. If you're on Facebook, please click the "Like" button on the page. Once we reach 25 fans, we can get a short URL for it (like www.facebook.com/StCharlesPlace) that will be easier to publicize.
HOA Meeting Highlights
1. The board voted to hold meetings every month beginning in September.
2. The board appointed Kimbra Patterson to replace Melissa Cosby on the board.
3. The board voted to take advantage of a new state law that allows an HOA to collect dues directly from a renter if an owner is not paying.
4. The board voted to have Vice President John McQuiston (also your humble blog author) to solicit bids for our association management service.
5. The board scheduled the next HOA meeting for September 23.
6. The board engaged owners in a lively discussion about towing.
Feedback from homeowners present convinced the board that monthly meetings would get more people involved in community business. The plan is to meet every third Thursday of the month beginning with September's meeting.
The board has worked to try to engage owners about the issues we face. The more owners who participate, the more informed their board's decisions will be.
Remember, board members are just fellow owners who agreed to take on extra responsibility for helping the community run itself. They want their actions to reflect the will of the entire community. There are few problems the board can solve by voting on them.
Kimbra Patterson, a longtime homeowner who lives with her husband near the pool on Johanna Avenue, volunteered to fill the board position that opened when Melissa Cosby resigned. The board voted unanimously to appoint her to the board.
Kimbra does not officially begin her duties until the next meeting but she was the advocate for monthly meetings. She has been visible in the community for a long time. "I'm the nosiest person here," she said of her willingness to talk to people she sees when she's out walking our streets.
We have some homeowners who rent their properties, collect rent, yet fail to pay their monthly HOA dues. A new state law gives the association recourse to fix that.
As Brian Wade, our association manager from Leland Management, explained to the board: In units occupied by renters whose owners are not paying dues, the HOA now has the authority to inform the renter and the owner that rent on the property must be sent to the HOA.
The HOA collects and keeps the rent until the owner's account is current. After that, the renter continues to pay the association, which deducts the HOA fee and sends the rest to the homeowner.
With delinquent accounts in our community totaling nearly $200,000, this new law will be a powerful tool in recovering some of that money.
Leland Management has served as our association manager for more than two years. While not necessarily having a major complaint about Leland, the HOA has been able to get either better prices or better service from all of our other vendors by opening the bidding for them. The board felt that it needed also to seek bids for managing our association.
The board did not fire Leland and it is possible that Leland will offer the best combination of price and service. The board believes it is not doing its due diligence if it doesn't check to make sure. Your humble blog author made the motion, which the board passed unanimously.
Though state law requires only 48 hours notice, the board wants all owners to have a voice in the running of their community. To that end, it scheduled the next meeting to help ensure that owners would get plenty of notice.
The date is September 23 at 7 p.m. The venue is not secured yet but the board will try to have the meeting in what has become its usual location at the River of Life Christian Center on Krycul Avenue.
Cars parked illegally on streets had been a persistent problem. Parking on streets in places not designated as parking spaces is against Hillsborough County code. This is not just a community rule, it's an actual law.
At the last HOA meeting, the board voted to approve having Express Towing come and take illegally parked cars.
One owner complained vociferously about the policy, calling the towers "sharks." While understanding his frustration, and that of another owner who had a car towed, board members explained that the aim of the towing was not to collect fees (the HOA gets NONE of the towing charges), but to change behavior.
People had consistently ignored warnings to park on streets until the more aggressive towing policy went into effect.
However, the board specified allowing towing between midnight at 6am Sunday through Thursday to avoid targeting guests who are here for only a few hours. That, too, is not allowed but it is the chronic offenders — who have been warned numerous times before — whose attention the board was after.
Both of those who complained said that they had been towed on a weekend. While allowed by law, this was not what the board approved and it directed Brian Wade from Leland to notify Express not to patrol our streets looking for violators on Fridays or Saturdays.
When control of the HOA turned over from a board controlled by builder KB Home to one comprised of homeowners, owners elected five people. Four of those terms were for one year, the other for two years.
Guess what? That was a year ago. Four of the five spots on the board are coming up for election soon. Whomever got the most votes at the turnover meeting won a two-year term. We actually don't know who that is. Just know that you'll get a chance either to express confidence in the current board members or to elect new ones, probably in October.
2. The board appointed Kimbra Patterson to replace Melissa Cosby on the board.
3. The board voted to take advantage of a new state law that allows an HOA to collect dues directly from a renter if an owner is not paying.
4. The board voted to have Vice President John McQuiston (also your humble blog author) to solicit bids for our association management service.
5. The board scheduled the next HOA meeting for September 23.
6. The board engaged owners in a lively discussion about towing.
Monthly Meetings
Feedback from homeowners present convinced the board that monthly meetings would get more people involved in community business. The plan is to meet every third Thursday of the month beginning with September's meeting.
The board has worked to try to engage owners about the issues we face. The more owners who participate, the more informed their board's decisions will be.
Remember, board members are just fellow owners who agreed to take on extra responsibility for helping the community run itself. They want their actions to reflect the will of the entire community. There are few problems the board can solve by voting on them.
New Board Member
Kimbra Patterson, a longtime homeowner who lives with her husband near the pool on Johanna Avenue, volunteered to fill the board position that opened when Melissa Cosby resigned. The board voted unanimously to appoint her to the board.
Kimbra does not officially begin her duties until the next meeting but she was the advocate for monthly meetings. She has been visible in the community for a long time. "I'm the nosiest person here," she said of her willingness to talk to people she sees when she's out walking our streets.
Deadbeat Duespayers
We have some homeowners who rent their properties, collect rent, yet fail to pay their monthly HOA dues. A new state law gives the association recourse to fix that.
As Brian Wade, our association manager from Leland Management, explained to the board: In units occupied by renters whose owners are not paying dues, the HOA now has the authority to inform the renter and the owner that rent on the property must be sent to the HOA.
The HOA collects and keeps the rent until the owner's account is current. After that, the renter continues to pay the association, which deducts the HOA fee and sends the rest to the homeowner.
With delinquent accounts in our community totaling nearly $200,000, this new law will be a powerful tool in recovering some of that money.
Property Management
Leland Management has served as our association manager for more than two years. While not necessarily having a major complaint about Leland, the HOA has been able to get either better prices or better service from all of our other vendors by opening the bidding for them. The board felt that it needed also to seek bids for managing our association.
The board did not fire Leland and it is possible that Leland will offer the best combination of price and service. The board believes it is not doing its due diligence if it doesn't check to make sure. Your humble blog author made the motion, which the board passed unanimously.
Next Meeting September 23
Though state law requires only 48 hours notice, the board wants all owners to have a voice in the running of their community. To that end, it scheduled the next meeting to help ensure that owners would get plenty of notice.
The date is September 23 at 7 p.m. The venue is not secured yet but the board will try to have the meeting in what has become its usual location at the River of Life Christian Center on Krycul Avenue.
Towing
Cars parked illegally on streets had been a persistent problem. Parking on streets in places not designated as parking spaces is against Hillsborough County code. This is not just a community rule, it's an actual law.
At the last HOA meeting, the board voted to approve having Express Towing come and take illegally parked cars.
One owner complained vociferously about the policy, calling the towers "sharks." While understanding his frustration, and that of another owner who had a car towed, board members explained that the aim of the towing was not to collect fees (the HOA gets NONE of the towing charges), but to change behavior.
People had consistently ignored warnings to park on streets until the more aggressive towing policy went into effect.
However, the board specified allowing towing between midnight at 6am Sunday through Thursday to avoid targeting guests who are here for only a few hours. That, too, is not allowed but it is the chronic offenders — who have been warned numerous times before — whose attention the board was after.
Both of those who complained said that they had been towed on a weekend. While allowed by law, this was not what the board approved and it directed Brian Wade from Leland to notify Express not to patrol our streets looking for violators on Fridays or Saturdays.
Other Business
When control of the HOA turned over from a board controlled by builder KB Home to one comprised of homeowners, owners elected five people. Four of those terms were for one year, the other for two years.
Guess what? That was a year ago. Four of the five spots on the board are coming up for election soon. Whomever got the most votes at the turnover meeting won a two-year term. We actually don't know who that is. Just know that you'll get a chance either to express confidence in the current board members or to elect new ones, probably in October.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
HOA Meeting - This Thursday!
A reminder of the HOA meeting Thursday. All St. Charles Place homeowners are welcome. It starts at 7 p.m. at the venue listed below. The HOA board will appoint a replacement for Treasurer Melissa Cosby, who resigned. If you are interested in serving, send an email outlining what you would bring to the board, what your vision for the community is and any special qualifications you have to Brian Wade at Leland Management (bwade@lelandmanagement.com)
River of Life Christian Center
6605 Krycul Avenue
Riverview, FL 33569
View Larger Map
River of Life Christian Center
6605 Krycul Avenue
Riverview, FL 33569
View Larger Map
Friday, July 23, 2010
Help Dudley Get Home
As you can see, Dudley is a cat. He lives with Joyce and Darrell Johnson at 10909 Johanna Avenue. He went missing sometime on July 21. The Johnsons are offering a reward for Dudley's safe return.
Joyce says he will answer to the name Dudley or Dudley Bear. He is 8 years old and has a white tummy and a mix of black, gray and white stripes on his back. You'll also notice in the photo that he's missing hair on a section of his left front leg. It was shaved for a recent surgery.
Dudley is "super friendly," Joyce says, "and when found will probably be shivering and scared." If you find him, Joyce asks you to call her at any time of day or night at 813-541-5639.
Friday, July 16, 2010
New Grass and New (Sort-of) Web Site
The website operated by board member Ed Palmer www.stcharlesplace.us is back up and running. Among its pages is a list of the HOA board members with e-mail addresses to reach them.
If you notice something that needs urgent attention, you should contact the association's property manager listed in the right-hand column of this page. Contact board members to express feelings about issues that affect the community on a longer-term scale.
Such as the new sod being installed. You'll notice, especially along Johanna Ave near the pool, large chunks of our sod missing. They have been torn out and will be replaced. You might not have noticed a need for its replacement.
The board accepted a recommendation by Gulf Coast Outdoors, our lawn maintenance vendor, to replace perfectly healthy grass because the original St. Augustine grass was being invaded by more aggressive Bermuda grass.
The board's vote was not unanimous. John McQuiston (your humble blog author) thought that the Bermuda invasion did not justify $9,000 in new sod when the grass we had, whatever kind it was, was healthy and green.
True, there were patches of brown that needed to be addressed. But those areas were just a small part of the sod being torn out and replaced. A question about why laying down new grass seed should be tried first was not answered.
The majority of board members believed that it was important to maintain a uniformity in the lawns of the community.
What do you think? The HOA board is simply a group of homeowners here in St. Charles Place that fellow owners elected to answer such questions.
However, your opinion matters — whether it's the type of grass we have, whether it's how we better secure the pool area from the kids who are breaking through the fence (literally) to use our pool, or whether we should get recycling dumpsters to replace the discontinued curbside recycling — your input is not only welcome, it is needed.
If you notice something that needs urgent attention, you should contact the association's property manager listed in the right-hand column of this page. Contact board members to express feelings about issues that affect the community on a longer-term scale.
Such as the new sod being installed. You'll notice, especially along Johanna Ave near the pool, large chunks of our sod missing. They have been torn out and will be replaced. You might not have noticed a need for its replacement.
The board accepted a recommendation by Gulf Coast Outdoors, our lawn maintenance vendor, to replace perfectly healthy grass because the original St. Augustine grass was being invaded by more aggressive Bermuda grass.
The board's vote was not unanimous. John McQuiston (your humble blog author) thought that the Bermuda invasion did not justify $9,000 in new sod when the grass we had, whatever kind it was, was healthy and green.
True, there were patches of brown that needed to be addressed. But those areas were just a small part of the sod being torn out and replaced. A question about why laying down new grass seed should be tried first was not answered.
The majority of board members believed that it was important to maintain a uniformity in the lawns of the community.
What do you think? The HOA board is simply a group of homeowners here in St. Charles Place that fellow owners elected to answer such questions.
However, your opinion matters — whether it's the type of grass we have, whether it's how we better secure the pool area from the kids who are breaking through the fence (literally) to use our pool, or whether we should get recycling dumpsters to replace the discontinued curbside recycling — your input is not only welcome, it is needed.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
HOA Board Opening
First, the site of the next HOA meeting is confirmed. It will take place at the River of Life Christian Center on Krycul. Map and directions are in the next post below. As mentioned there also, it's July 29 at 7 p.m.
At that meeting, the board will select a new member to replace Melissa Cosby, who has resigned. If you are interested in serving your community, email a letter of interest telling the board about yourself to Brian Wade at Leland Management. His e-mail is bwade@lelandmanagement.com. You must be a homeowner in the St. Charles Place townhome community to serve on the board.
At that meeting, the board will select a new member to replace Melissa Cosby, who has resigned. If you are interested in serving your community, email a letter of interest telling the board about yourself to Brian Wade at Leland Management. His e-mail is bwade@lelandmanagement.com. You must be a homeowner in the St. Charles Place townhome community to serve on the board.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
HOA Meeting - July 29
The St. Charles Place HOA Board of Directors meets July 29. All homeowners are welcome. It starts at 7 p.m. I need to confirm the location but it should take place where previous meetings have.
River of Life Christian Center
6605 Krycul Avenue
Riverview, FL 33569
(813) 677-4453
View Larger Map
River of Life Christian Center
6605 Krycul Avenue
Riverview, FL 33569
(813) 677-4453
View Larger Map
Monday, June 28, 2010
Recycling Discontinued
Because we don't have curbside garbage pickup, we are not eligible for curbside recycling. The Hillsborough County Solid Waste Department says it had furnished recycle bins and provided the service for the last three plus years by mistake.
The HOA board is researching other recycling options with Waste Management, the company that hauls our trash away. The most likely solution is to get recycling dumpsters. The problem is that there are few places in the community to put them.
In the meantime, if you are determined to recycle, the nearest recycling center is at 6209 County Road 579 in Seffner.
View Larger Map
The HOA board is researching other recycling options with Waste Management, the company that hauls our trash away. The most likely solution is to get recycling dumpsters. The problem is that there are few places in the community to put them.
In the meantime, if you are determined to recycle, the nearest recycling center is at 6209 County Road 579 in Seffner.
View Larger Map
Friday, June 25, 2010
Another New Property Manager
Leland Management notified the St. Charles Place HOA board that Brian Wade is now our property manager. You can reach him at bwade@lelandmanagement.com or by phone at 727-451-7908.
Monday, May 10, 2010
New Property Manager
Mary Fritzler is leaving Leland Management. Her replacement is Gary Vosselmann. You can reach him at 727-451-7906 or gvosselmann@lelandmanagement.com.
He's a good first stop for anything concerning the community and the first person to call in case of emergency, such water gushing from an irrigation sprinkler.
The property manager also issues citations for HOA rules violations and where you apply to make any renovations to the exterior or your unit.
He's a good first stop for anything concerning the community and the first person to call in case of emergency, such water gushing from an irrigation sprinkler.
The property manager also issues citations for HOA rules violations and where you apply to make any renovations to the exterior or your unit.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Use Craigslist to Get Rid of Large Items
When people move out or upgrade large furniture items, they often dump the pieces they don't need at or near one of our dumpsters. Never mind that it reads on the signs at the dumpsters not to do this. They don't care.
The problem is that these items don't disappear magically. The trash collectors don't take anything that is not inside the dumpster. All they do is drive up, open the gate to the enclosure, drive the truck in and empty the dumpster. That's it. They don't clean up trash around the dumpster or outside the enclosure.
The HOA (that means YOU) currently pays someone to come clean out the dumpster areas a few times a week because people can't bother to put their trash inside it. The HOA (that means YOU) also has to pay for someone to come haul away any large items that can't go in the dumpsters.
There is another way. And here' the best part: IT REQUIRES LESS EFFORT THAN DRAGGING SOMETHING TO THE DUMPSTER!
Try craigslist. If you have a piece of furniture or any large item -- a grill, for instance -- that still works but you don't want any more, go to http://tampa.craigslist.org. Click on the "post to classifieds" link in the upper left corner and follow the directions. You'll have to sign up for an account but it takes about 60 seconds and it's free.
When you get to the page that asks "What type of posting is this:" Click "for sale." When you create your ad, list the price as "FREE" and people will come to you to pick up your item. It really is that simple.
I know this because yesterday a neighbor moved out and dumped a reasonably new Serta king mattress and box spring set as well as an RCA widescreen TV by the dumpster. I posted an ad to craigslist with "CURB ALERT" in the title to let people know that the items were sitting outside awaiting pickup, listed the items and their location.
Less than two hours later, I heard a truck rumble outside. I didn't think anything of it but when I looked at the dumpster, the stuff was gone. Sometimes one person's trash really is another one's treasure.
The problem is that these items don't disappear magically. The trash collectors don't take anything that is not inside the dumpster. All they do is drive up, open the gate to the enclosure, drive the truck in and empty the dumpster. That's it. They don't clean up trash around the dumpster or outside the enclosure.
The HOA (that means YOU) currently pays someone to come clean out the dumpster areas a few times a week because people can't bother to put their trash inside it. The HOA (that means YOU) also has to pay for someone to come haul away any large items that can't go in the dumpsters.
There is another way. And here' the best part: IT REQUIRES LESS EFFORT THAN DRAGGING SOMETHING TO THE DUMPSTER!
Try craigslist. If you have a piece of furniture or any large item -- a grill, for instance -- that still works but you don't want any more, go to http://tampa.craigslist.org. Click on the "post to classifieds" link in the upper left corner and follow the directions. You'll have to sign up for an account but it takes about 60 seconds and it's free.
When you get to the page that asks "What type of posting is this:" Click "for sale." When you create your ad, list the price as "FREE" and people will come to you to pick up your item. It really is that simple.
I know this because yesterday a neighbor moved out and dumped a reasonably new Serta king mattress and box spring set as well as an RCA widescreen TV by the dumpster. I posted an ad to craigslist with "CURB ALERT" in the title to let people know that the items were sitting outside awaiting pickup, listed the items and their location.
Less than two hours later, I heard a truck rumble outside. I didn't think anything of it but when I looked at the dumpster, the stuff was gone. Sometimes one person's trash really is another one's treasure.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Pool Bathrooms Locked
Someone just let an HOA board member know that the bathroom doors at the pool area cabana are deadbolt locked. The key that opens the gate and also unlocks the cabana door locks does not unlock the deadbolts.
This was not intentional. The board did not vote to close the cabana or anything like that. Our property manager may not be able to get the bathrooms unlocked until Monday but this should be a temporary inconvenience that does not repeat itself.
If you notice anything strange in the community like this please contact or property manager Mary Fritzler at Leland Management by phone at 727-451-7908 or e-mail at mfritzler@lelandmanagement.com.
Speaking of locks...
If you go to the pool, you'll notice that more often than not, somone has used the deadbolts of the cabana bathroom doors to prop the doors open. I know it's inconvenient to have to use your pool key to go into the bathroom. And goodness knows we don't want people using the pool as a toilet. However...
Doing this damages the deadbolt. It is not designed to support the weight of the door like this. Eventually the deadbolt won't work for its originally intended purpose. So please give the bolts a break.
One more gentle reminder about the pool. NEITHER FOOD NOR ALCOHOL IS ALLOWED ANYWHERE INSIDE THE POOL AREA. I know it doesn't say that on the gate signs but there is a sign along the fence inside that clearly states this.
This was not intentional. The board did not vote to close the cabana or anything like that. Our property manager may not be able to get the bathrooms unlocked until Monday but this should be a temporary inconvenience that does not repeat itself.
If you notice anything strange in the community like this please contact or property manager Mary Fritzler at Leland Management by phone at 727-451-7908 or e-mail at mfritzler@lelandmanagement.com.
Speaking of locks...
If you go to the pool, you'll notice that more often than not, somone has used the deadbolts of the cabana bathroom doors to prop the doors open. I know it's inconvenient to have to use your pool key to go into the bathroom. And goodness knows we don't want people using the pool as a toilet. However...
Doing this damages the deadbolt. It is not designed to support the weight of the door like this. Eventually the deadbolt won't work for its originally intended purpose. So please give the bolts a break.
One more gentle reminder about the pool. NEITHER FOOD NOR ALCOHOL IS ALLOWED ANYWHERE INSIDE THE POOL AREA. I know it doesn't say that on the gate signs but there is a sign along the fence inside that clearly states this.
Friday, February 26, 2010
HOA Meeting Recap
First, apologies for not posting a notice here on the blog about last night's HOA meeting. Notice was posted at the mailboxes but your humble blog author will make sure that this oversight does not repeat itself.
That said, I'll mention now that unless issues needing more immediate attention dictate otherwise, HOA meetings will happen quarterly so the next one should be three months from now. We have developed a pattern of holding meetings the fourth Thursday of the month. That would put the next meeting at May 27. That is NOT official but it's a good ballpark for when the next meeting will happen.
The board had a lot to go over last night.
CRIME WATCH
Burlars continue to prey on our community. Mary Fritzler, our property manager, received a call Monday about a break-in. The St. Petersburg Times in its crime reports listed two burglaries in the 18900 block of Kensington Park. One was reported at 3:06pm on 2/18, the other reported 10:19pm the same day.
For break-ins for which we have details, ALL of them — every single one — came through the rear sliding glass door. None that we know of had any extra security. We've discussed ways to better secure your rear door here on the blog. Click here to read it.
Burglars in all cases we know about make their move during the day while most residents are at work. If you happen to be home during the day and can take 5-10 minutes to walk outside and circle your block, your mere presence will help deter crime.
TOWING
As we've noted numerous times before, parking on the streets — unless it's in marked spaces — is prohibited in St. Charles Place. One of the most irksome issues among residents, according to phone calls Mary Fritzler receives, is people parked in the streets or on the grass.
This will stop. The board approved having Express Towing come and take illegally parked cars. This will happen overnights to avoid targeting guests who are here for only a few hours. That, too, is not allowed but it is the chronic offenders — who have been warned numerous times before — whose attention we're after.
The HOA does not collect any towing fees. The towing company gets that. However, they have to take a picture of the vehicle proving that it was parked illegally. That means if someone's car gets towed, they can't lie their way out of paying to recover it. There will be proof.
TRAFFIC
Because of the new median in US-301, more people are using Lake St. Charles Blvd. and Dartmouth Hill Road as cut-throughs. Many don't bother obeying stop signs, creating a risk for residents.
Another hazard comes from residents themselves speeding in and out of the community on both Lake St. Charles and Johanna Ave.
HOA President David Hey is going to check with the county about the possibility of making Lake St. Charles and Dartmouth Hill a four-way stop. The thinking is that a stop sign will at least slow people down at that intersection.
Another means to slow traffic mentioned was installing speed bumps. People will blow off stop signs but they can't ignore speed bumps. This would also require county approval as well as an investment by the HOA.
The board asked Mary Fritzler to investigate whether this kind of change to the roads would require a full meeting requiring a quorum of owners attending to pass. It also asked David Hey to gather information from the county about the procedural hoops we'd have to jump through to make this happen.
This does not mean that speed bumps are on the way. It just means that the board is looking into the possibility, legally and financially.
LANDSCAPING
You've no doubt noticed the toll the unusually harsh winter has had on our plants. Our landscaper, Gulf Coast, submitted a bid to replace plants killed by freezes. The board opted to wait until weather warmed and it could get a better idea the extent of the damage. Some plants that look dead are merely dormant until the weather warms. We'd hate to pay to replace something that was alive but merely hibernating.
Our insurance company has requested that several dead trees in the community be either trimmed or cut down entirely. The board accepted a bid from Raymow to do this. Gulf Coast does not have an aborist on its staff and subcontracts the work out. Raymow's bid was significantly lower than Gulf Coast's and the other bid we received.
This job should happen in the next few weeks.
The board also approved a bid by Gulf Coast to "pave" a path that runs between Great Carlisle Court and Johanna Ave. This was originally a path from the KB Home sales trailer to the models on Great Carlisle.
People now use it as a walking path. Gulf Coast will put a bed of shells down on the path with something beneath it to prevent the shells from being ground into the soil and to keep weeds from growing up through the shells. The shells, according to Mary Fritzler, are better than mulch because they don't float or wash away when it rains. You probably don't want to walk barefoot on them, though.
PRESSURE WASHING
That green tint to many of our buildings and the dividers between the patios was not part of the design. It is recommended that the community get a full pressure wash cleaning every three years or so. Much of the community is due.
The board approved a bid by Bay Area Window Cleaning to clean all of the buildings, including the dividers between rear patios. This will happen sometime after the tree trimming. Mary Fritzler will mail notice of the approximate dates of the pressure cleaning. That notice will recommend that you clean your front porch and rear patio of any objects you don't want soaked.
That said, I'll mention now that unless issues needing more immediate attention dictate otherwise, HOA meetings will happen quarterly so the next one should be three months from now. We have developed a pattern of holding meetings the fourth Thursday of the month. That would put the next meeting at May 27. That is NOT official but it's a good ballpark for when the next meeting will happen.
The board had a lot to go over last night.
CRIME WATCH
Burlars continue to prey on our community. Mary Fritzler, our property manager, received a call Monday about a break-in. The St. Petersburg Times in its crime reports listed two burglaries in the 18900 block of Kensington Park. One was reported at 3:06pm on 2/18, the other reported 10:19pm the same day.
For break-ins for which we have details, ALL of them — every single one — came through the rear sliding glass door. None that we know of had any extra security. We've discussed ways to better secure your rear door here on the blog. Click here to read it.
Burglars in all cases we know about make their move during the day while most residents are at work. If you happen to be home during the day and can take 5-10 minutes to walk outside and circle your block, your mere presence will help deter crime.
TOWING
As we've noted numerous times before, parking on the streets — unless it's in marked spaces — is prohibited in St. Charles Place. One of the most irksome issues among residents, according to phone calls Mary Fritzler receives, is people parked in the streets or on the grass.
This will stop. The board approved having Express Towing come and take illegally parked cars. This will happen overnights to avoid targeting guests who are here for only a few hours. That, too, is not allowed but it is the chronic offenders — who have been warned numerous times before — whose attention we're after.
The HOA does not collect any towing fees. The towing company gets that. However, they have to take a picture of the vehicle proving that it was parked illegally. That means if someone's car gets towed, they can't lie their way out of paying to recover it. There will be proof.
TRAFFIC
Because of the new median in US-301, more people are using Lake St. Charles Blvd. and Dartmouth Hill Road as cut-throughs. Many don't bother obeying stop signs, creating a risk for residents.
Another hazard comes from residents themselves speeding in and out of the community on both Lake St. Charles and Johanna Ave.
HOA President David Hey is going to check with the county about the possibility of making Lake St. Charles and Dartmouth Hill a four-way stop. The thinking is that a stop sign will at least slow people down at that intersection.
Another means to slow traffic mentioned was installing speed bumps. People will blow off stop signs but they can't ignore speed bumps. This would also require county approval as well as an investment by the HOA.
The board asked Mary Fritzler to investigate whether this kind of change to the roads would require a full meeting requiring a quorum of owners attending to pass. It also asked David Hey to gather information from the county about the procedural hoops we'd have to jump through to make this happen.
This does not mean that speed bumps are on the way. It just means that the board is looking into the possibility, legally and financially.
LANDSCAPING
You've no doubt noticed the toll the unusually harsh winter has had on our plants. Our landscaper, Gulf Coast, submitted a bid to replace plants killed by freezes. The board opted to wait until weather warmed and it could get a better idea the extent of the damage. Some plants that look dead are merely dormant until the weather warms. We'd hate to pay to replace something that was alive but merely hibernating.
Our insurance company has requested that several dead trees in the community be either trimmed or cut down entirely. The board accepted a bid from Raymow to do this. Gulf Coast does not have an aborist on its staff and subcontracts the work out. Raymow's bid was significantly lower than Gulf Coast's and the other bid we received.
This job should happen in the next few weeks.
The board also approved a bid by Gulf Coast to "pave" a path that runs between Great Carlisle Court and Johanna Ave. This was originally a path from the KB Home sales trailer to the models on Great Carlisle.
People now use it as a walking path. Gulf Coast will put a bed of shells down on the path with something beneath it to prevent the shells from being ground into the soil and to keep weeds from growing up through the shells. The shells, according to Mary Fritzler, are better than mulch because they don't float or wash away when it rains. You probably don't want to walk barefoot on them, though.
PRESSURE WASHING
That green tint to many of our buildings and the dividers between the patios was not part of the design. It is recommended that the community get a full pressure wash cleaning every three years or so. Much of the community is due.
The board approved a bid by Bay Area Window Cleaning to clean all of the buildings, including the dividers between rear patios. This will happen sometime after the tree trimming. Mary Fritzler will mail notice of the approximate dates of the pressure cleaning. That notice will recommend that you clean your front porch and rear patio of any objects you don't want soaked.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Heat
OK, it's warm again and this would have helped you more a week or two ago when Florida was mysteriously doing its best impersonation of Iowa. But should we plunge into another freeze, here are some things to keep in mind.
Suzanne Grant of Progress Energy said it costs about $10 more a day in 30-degree weather to heat an 1,850-square-foot house with the thermostat at 68 degrees than when it's 50 outside.
Kenneth Hernandez of Tampa Electric said the typical Floridian, with no furnace, will use emergency heat, which costs almost triple.
He notes:
Every degree under 70 on the thermostat saves 10 percent on your heating bill.
You'll save by turning it down to 65 if you're leaving the house for at least two hours.
Running a 1,500-watt heater all day costs $149 a month.
Information from the St. Petersburg Times. More information at tampaelectric.com and peoplesgas.com.
Suzanne Grant of Progress Energy said it costs about $10 more a day in 30-degree weather to heat an 1,850-square-foot house with the thermostat at 68 degrees than when it's 50 outside.
Kenneth Hernandez of Tampa Electric said the typical Floridian, with no furnace, will use emergency heat, which costs almost triple.
He notes:
Information from the St. Petersburg Times. More information at tampaelectric.com and peoplesgas.com.
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