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.
Monday, September 20, 2010
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.
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.
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, 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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