After the snowy weather and pictures displayed in the last two newsletters, it is nice to report that there has been little snow accumulation lately. The roads and grounds are nearly clear of snow at this time.
We have started on the reroofing of buildings scheduled for the 2002 fiscal year. We began with Building 57/58, because this building had experienced a damaging leak early in the winter. At this time Deanna expects to have completed reroofing all the remaining Phase II buildings as well as two additional Phase III buildings by the end of May 2002. We thank all the owners who paid their 2002 assessment in November 2001. Having adequate funds to pay for completing the roofing project prior to the summer rental season helps us all. For those of you who have not yet paid your 2002 roofing assessment, please be prompt, since we depend upon your payment to be able to complete the scheduled roofs.
As well as large expensive projects like reroofing and maintaining our siding, your Board and Association manager continually look for ways to maintain our buildings and grounds to high standards in a cost effective manner. This year Deanna was able to contract for insurance at a savings of about 25% over the prior year. In view of the fact that insurance rates, in general, increased 10 - 15% after the 9/11 tragedy, this is quite a feather in Deanna's cap.
Another Association expense is the "Walk-Through Fee". We pay a maintenance person to physically walk the grounds of the Association to look for any problems. One of the principal tasks during this twice-weekly walk-down of the grounds is to identify and replace missing walkway lights, which, if left unattended, constitute a safety hazard.
We noticed that walkway lights were not meeting their life expectancy, and it was determined that this was due to corroded wiring in the lamp posts. We allocated money from our General Common Area Maintenance fund to re-wire the lamp posts. Deanna reports that this has improved the life-expectancy of our walkway light bulbs.
As a post script to these comments, if you are visiting your cabin and notice a walkway light burned out, the board (who cheerfully donate many hours of their time and energy to the association) would appreciate it very much if you would replace it with a 60 watt bulb from your personal store.
As you know, at this time our Association does not allow the installation of hot tubs in our units. Issues of noise, especially from rental guests using outdoor hot tubs, placement and screening, are questions that need to be considered, resolved and voted upon before we can consider modifying this policy.
There are two existing hot tubs in the Wildflower II Association. These were in place prior to the adoption of the present rule and so are allowed under a "grandfather" clause. However, they must conform to existing SROA noise ordinances, and when they deteriorate, they are to be removed.
For the past few years one of these two hot tubs has been a source of many noise complaints due to an aging pump. It is also causing rot deterioration of the decking upon which the tub sits (an Association common area) due to leakage from the tub. The Association Manager and the Board has contacted the owner of the problematic hot tub we are working to effect a resolution. It is the Board's opinion that this hot tub should be removed. This has no bearing upon subsequent modification of our hot tub policy, but is required by the conditions of our current hot-tub policy.
Deanna reports that she has a new office location. Her office address is: Fall River Plaza, 56825 Venture Lane, Suite 107.
