JUNE, 2009 News Around the Neighborhood (as mailed to homeowners)
Merriam-Webster defines "rumor" as "talk or opinion widely disseminated with no discernible source." Dictionary.com defines it as "a story or statement in general circulation without confirmation or certainty as to facts." There have been rumors brought to the attention of the board that our monthly assessments are going to be raised, or that a large amount of money will be added to the annual budget to cover what our volunteers did for free. The board wants to dispel these rumors immediately.
As you may know, the Association had to ask our volunteers to stop doing the good things they were doing for our community for liability reasons. If one of the volunteers were injured while working around the community, the Association would be responsible. 1st American Management Company and our board have discussed this issue with our attorney and with our insurance company. You might think that the volunteers could sign a waiver and life as usual could go on. We all know that all it takes is a smart attorney to get that waiver thrown out. The board, on behalf of the Association, cannot put the Association at risk for what could be thousands of dollars in medical bills and attorneys' fees, dollars we would all have to pay. The board is still looking to see what options, if any, may be available to protect the interest of the community.
The Association will, of course, have to hire additional workers to do the work that the volunteers did. The board will work hard to fit the additional costs in the grounds care budget. Our monthly assessment will not be raised for these extra costs alone.
This is not an easy decision. Each member of the board is a volunteer. Each member of a Committee is a volunteer. The board values these volunteers and understands that community volunteers bring homeowners together for a common purpose...to keep our community beautiful and the best place to live.
The board strongly encourages you to contact Peter Bylen at 1st American (219-464-3536, ext. 310 or by e-mail (click here)) or the board (click here) if you have a question, if only to validate or dispel what you hear from others. As indicated in our last newsletter, the June board meeting is an open meeting, and everyone is encouraged to attend. This is your opportunity to attend a board meeting and ask questions after the meeting. It will be held on June 18th at the St. John Community Center, 1515 Lincoln Highway, at 7:00 p.m. This is NOT a mandatory meeting of the community, just an opportunity to attend a board meeting, where questions can be answered and rumors can be dispelled.
Now here is what's going on around the neighborhood:
Sprinklers. You may have noticed some sprinklers on at the end of April. Schererville Irrigation was going around turning the system on and checking to see what repairs, if any, needed to be made. There was a miscommunication and they left the sprinklers on (yes, in the rain). When the board was made aware of this, Schererville Irrigation was contacted and they turned the sprinklers off.
At the time of this mailing, the sprinklers are off. PLEASE do not turn on the sprinkler valve yourself. We will have to call Schererville Irrigation to come out and turn them off, and each time we will be billed for a service call.
Trash/Recycle Bins. A homeowner found someone's federal tax return cover sheet in his bushes that contained personal financial information. The homeowner shredded it, but keep in mind that what goes in the recycle bin may end up in a neighbor's yard on windy days!
Emergency Light Switch. Due to the similarity of our home styles, it can be difficult to find a particular address, especially at night. Emergency responders can lose precious minutes trying to locate the correct house. An Emergency Light Switch insures your house will be found as quickly as possible. Homeowner Gerard Dupczak has come across a product that other residents may be interested in having installed in their homes. The Emergency Light Switch has three positions: on, off and flashing. You simply replace the standard front outside light switch with the Emergency Light Switch. If you need to dial 911 for help you can tell the operator to look for the flashing outside lights. You then move the switch to the flashing position and your outside lights will flash continuously to signal the emergency personnel trying to find you. This is effective during the daytime as well as at nighttime. After help arrives you can move the switch to the constant on or off position. The switch installs easily, usually in less than 10 minutes. No special wiring is required. After cutting off power to the light at the circuit panel, you simply remove the switch plate cover, remove the old switch and install the Emergency Light Switch. Replace the switch cover and turn the power back on. You are done! The switch is not sold at Home Depot, Menards or Lowes. Gerard found a supply online and has a few available for $10. If you are not comfortable working with electricity, he can install the switch for you for a small fee. You can contact Gerard by e-mail by clicking here.
Home Businesses. If you suspect a neighbor is running a business out of their home, you must file a formal complaint with the Town of Schererville or Dyer, and may have to be a witness at a hearing. Several people have complained to the board that some neighbors are running businesses out of their homes. Home offices are allowed in Briar Cove, provided that they do not increase traffic within the property. If you are concerned that a neighbor is running a business, please contact the respective Town to file a formal complaint.
Pets. If your pet is outside, it must be kept on a leash at all times. Please respect each homeowner's property and do not walk your dog in their yards. If you do see a neighbor walking on your property, please ask them to stay off of your property. If you are not comfortable asking them personally, please call the police immediately.
Mulch. Only cedar mulch (natural color) is permitted. Any other type or color would be a violation and should be removed/ replaced.
Stop Signs/Speed Limits. Stop signs and the speed limit must be observed for the benefit of all the residents.
Sidewalks. The board has received several complaints of sidewalks flaking/crumbling. This can be caused by a number of factors when the concrete was poured, and it is not an Association expense to repair. The common sidewalks are the responsibility of the Towns of Schererville and Dyer to maintain. The sidewalks from the driveway up to the front door are the homeowner's responsibility to maintain.
November Elections. November seems like a far way off, but it is the month when new Directors are elected for the following year. Please start thinking now about running for a board position. As you probably know, it is a thankless job, and the pay isn't great ($0). You have to read, abide by, and enforce our governing documents, whether you agree with them or not, but you will be contributing to the decisions made that affect the entire community.
Painting. As you may know, the painting of our homes began at the end of May. With the exception of the models, the closing date of the unit was used to determine the order in which the homes will be painted. You will be receiving a letter from 1st American if your home is in the first phase. The painting will start at the north end of Pentwater Lane. It will proceed onto New Buffalo Drive, follow through to the east side of Manistee to Charlevoix Way, and return on the south side of Charlevoix Way back onto the west side of Manistee and pick up on the North side of Mackinaw (this route is subject to change by the painting contractor). Weather permitting, and if sufficient funds are available, an additional five units may be painted this year.
The work will consist of painting of the exterior cedar, including cedar in the rear of the homes. Mailboxes, shutters (front shutters only), caulking and the white door trim are included. Screen doors must be left unlocked to enable the painter to paint the white trim around the door frame. If you would like your front door painted, please let the painting contractor know, or notify Peter Bylen. If you choose to have your front door painted, you must be present, as the door must be left open for at least several hours to allow it to dry. If you cannot be home when your front door is painted, you should make arrangements with a trusted friend or neighbor to be there for you. The contractor cannot warranty the work unless the door is given sufficient time to dry. You need not be home for the painting contractor to paint your exterior, but it would be helpful to remove any hanging plants/ flowers on or near the surfaces to be painted. Your help will facilitate the painting process.
The painting contractor will also move the address numbers from over the door to above the garage. Your irrigation system may be temporarily turned off while the contractor is painting your unit. Please exercise care while the contractor is in our neighborhood, including extra care while the contractor is painting your unit. This is a large project and please keep in mind that our normal maintenance, lawn mowing, fertilization, etc., will continue during the painting.
The cost for the above work is already included in your monthly assessment.
Driveway Seal Coating. The first of two phases of seal coating the driveways will begin around August. Half of the driveways will be seal coated this summer, and the other half will be seal coated next summer. More information will be provided at a later date.
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MARCH/APRIL, 2009 News Around the Neighborhood (as mailed to homeowners)
One aspect of feeling SAFE in a Neighborhood is knowing your neighbors. Spring is here and with it comes the opportunity to meet and greet many of your neighbors who weren't able to get around much due to the cold winter. Why not take this opportunity to take a walk around the neighborhood and say hi to folks you may see along the way. If you prefer, pull a lawn chair up at the front of your garage and say hi as people pass by.
Board of Directors Position Change. Elaine Gadomski has taken over the role of Secretary, and Denise Warren is a Director.
Rules and Insurance Committee. This Committee has a new Chairman and three new members: Susan DeYoung (Chairman), Virgil Jordan, Denise Warren, Patti Jongsma and Paul Hess. They meet on Saturday afternoons every few weeks and are reading our governing documents, line by line, and are going to suggest proposed changes to the Board. If you have any reasonable suggestions for changes to any of our governing documents, please e-mail Susan by clicking
here.If you do not have internet access, please give your suggestions to Peter Bylen, who will pass your suggestions along to Susan. Another goal of this Committee is to prepare a list of what items are Association expenses and what items are a homeowner's expense. This will be helpful for existing and new homeowners, since most of us understand now that "maintenance free" doesn't mean "free."
Website Updates. We have a new "Archives" section where you can find past newsletters and memos from 1st American. We also have a new "Tips and Reminders" section, which is broken down by season and is a culmination of tips and reminders that have been printed in past newsletters and memos from 1st American. Be sure to check them out!
Helping Hands. Many of our homeowners have skills that could help other homeowners, such as electrician, painter, seamstress, pet sitter, accountant, typist, etc. A homeowner suggested that if some of these skilled homeowners would be willing to share their skills, whether for a fee, for free or for trade, we could put a list on our Website. The only requirement would be that the service has to be provided by a homeowner, not a friend or relative of a homeowner. Neither the Board nor the Association would be "recommending" these people. We would just be providing a place, our Website, to list these services. It would be the homeowner's responsibility to check references, any licensing/bonding requirements and any fees/charges. Of course, any outside work would still require approval by the Architectural Review Committee.
We've already had one homeowner offer the following: "I have replaced my fabric mesh basement screens with metal screening. I still have the jig I made to keep the frame square and the tool I bought to reinsert the rib. Ican remove,and replace the screens for $15.00 each." We have another homeowner who needs a ride to the grocery store and the library every week or two. If you're willing to take someone shopping or maybe pick up a few things for someone who can't leave the house, that's a service to share and you'll be a helping hand.
If this is something you're interested in, whether you have a service to provide or you are looking for a service, please e-mail the Board by clicking here. If there is enough interest, we will add something to the Bulletin Board section of our Website.
Solicitors. Soliciting is allowed in both Dyer and Schererville with the proper permits issued by the respective towns. The solicitors permit must be carried by the solicitor and shown upon request. If the solicitor does not have a permit, ask them to leave and report the situation to the police. For further information, please contact the respective towns.
Schererville Watershed Survey. The town of Schererville has a survey sheet available at the town hall and on their Website regarding flooding issues, ponding of water on property, etc. The surveys will be reviewed by the town and the town engineer for recommendations on a resolution. The watershed management survey can be found in the Download section of the town Website (http://www.schererville.org/).
Siding. The Association is not responsible for repairing or replacing siding. Should you need any siding replaced, please contact Peter Bylen for vendor names. If your siding is damaged by the lawn maintenance crew, you should contact Peter immediately so the vendor can be notified.
Snow Removal. As you know, we had a lot of snow this winter. To date, the Association has paid $25,536.00 for snow removal. Remember you can always view the monthly budget summary on our Website in the Budget & Cash Flow section.
Railroad. As you may have noticed, there are standing railroad cars behind Charlevoix Way on the Norfolk-Southern tracks. The latest information that we have received is that this is due to the slow economy. The cars are not being used at this time and thus are being "stored" on the tracks. Regarding the increased rail traffic, the full impact of the increased rail traffic will not be immediate, again due to the slow economy and the need for track work to be done in Matteson, Illinois.
Stinky Issues. Picking up after your dog is a must, however, please return the litter to your home. The Board has received reports that these bags of litter have been thrown in the bushes by the waterfall. We don't know yet if this is being done by residents of our own community or not, so if you witness someone throwing these bags in the bushes, please report it to Peter Bylen immediately.
Also over the last year or so, someone has been throwing empty chewing tobacco cans and chewing tobacco spit bottles along the street divider at our main entrance. It is illegal to willfully throw trash from your vehicle. Please do the right thing and dispose of it at home.
Spring Things:
- Watch for the sprinkler turn on notice in the mail. You will be asked to turn on the sprinkler controls between April 15 and April 22 and then call Schererville Irrigation at 322-0890 to advise them that you have done so. If assistance is required, they can walk you through the process. Schererville Irrigation will then be able to complete the startup of the system from the outside and, if necessary, make adjustments or repairs. The system will be activated throughout the community once the weather warrants.
- With spring comes the focus on the outdoors and landscaping modifications. Don't forget to use the Exterior Modification Request form for all exterior modifications. You can find the form with this mailing and on our Website. After completing the form, submit it to Peter Bylen either by mail (1st American Management Company, 3408 Enterprise Avenue, Valparaiso, IN 46383-6953, by e‑mail or by fax (219-465-6014). Peter will then forward the request to the Architectural Review Committee, who will review the request at their next monthly meeting (they try to meet on the second Tuesday of every month). You will receive their decision within a day or two after their meeting, but you must wait to receive the official approval from Peter by mail before you can begin the work, and then you must place the approval certificate in your front window while the work is being done.
- When planning flowers or potted trees for your front porch please be careful not to obstruct access to the front door or obscure your house numbers.
- If you see little mounds of dirt in your lawn (created by those nasty little moles), please contact Peter immediately.
- Forever Green has taken a sample of our soil to determine the mixture of fertilizer that will be the best for our lawns. The sample will also determine the amount of watering that will be necessary. Our fertilizing schedule this year will be as follows, which will begin in April and end in the fall:
Round 1 � Fertilize
Round 2 � Weed Control
Round 3 � Grub control and Fertilize
Round 4 � Weed Control
Round 5 � Fertilize
Insurance Requirement. This is another reminder that if you haven't complied with the insurance requirement (Declaration, Article V), you must do so immediately. In order to comply, your insurance policy must name Briar Cove Paired Cottage Association as an additional insured on the liability portion of your HO-3 all-risk casualty insurance. This provision is in place for the purpose of keeping the Association informed as to whether or not each Owner is carrying the required HO-3 all-risk casualty insurance, and is to the benefit of all homeowners.
Open Board Meeting. The June 18th Briar Cove board meeting will be held at the St. John Community Center, 1515 Lincoln Highway, at 7:00 p.m. If you would like to attend and observe how our meetings are conducted, feel free to attend. This is NOT a mandatory meeting of the community, just an opportunity to attend a board meeting.
Click
here for a PDF version of the above newsletter.
