Apr 14, 2016 | President's Message
April 2016 President’s Message – Greg Schindler
If you were not able to attend our last Board meeting, several homeowners expressed concerns about the Deed Restriction letters being received. We discussed how the new management company uses technology that identifies the address of the home being inspected. Well, like all new technology we know not everything goes perfect. So please accept my apologies as we work out the bugs. The good news is the errors are about 1 in 30. Not bad considering we are inspecting over 1,900 homes every month.
So when you get a letter from the management company, please feel free to contact your Area Director to assist you in clearing up your account.
Area 1 – Connie Shinaver ConnieJacoShinaver@gmail.com (281) 320-0911
Area 2 – Tim McWilliams TJMcwilliams721@aol.com (281) 376-2611
Area 3 – Open and needing a volunteer.
Area 4 – Kelley Minor MNWarea4@gmail.com (713) 582-2026
Area 5 – Bryan Thomas B.Thomas03@comcast.net (281) 370-1699
Area 6 – Ryan Adudell MNW_Area6@yahoo.com
Area 7 – Sandy Remson SandyRemson@yahoo.com (281) 257-9972
As we mentioned last month, please do not ignore the letter even if an error. Your Area Director represents you and works with the management company. The Area Director may grant an extension for those items requiring more time. The HOA consist of all volunteer homeowners and we understand what it takes to get something fixed while juggling family life. Our Area Directors do care and want to help.
Speaking of juggling life, our Area 3 Director (Linda Sandhop) and Second Vice President of Security (Lawrence McKinney) can no longer focus on their volunteer positions. If you have met Linda or Lawrence, you may think I am not qualified to help. Granted, they are a hard act to follow, but all you have to be is a homeowner who cares about our neighborhood. Quite frankly, this is the key attribute that both Linda and Lawrence demonstrated while volunteering. Please contact me if you have an interest in helping neighbors.
OMG have you visited our new website: MNWHOA.ORG? What can you say, but awesome! You can find just about anything you need to know about what is happening in our neighborhood. The Web and Social Media Committee have been working diligently to build a robust website with relevant content. You can help by visiting the website and providing your feedback. If you like to write about something of interest, please send it in. Use the CONTACT US link on the website.
Have you noticed at night when entering the neighborhood our monument lighting has been fixed. Our volunteers on the Common Area Committee have been making the rounds throughout the neighborhood trying to stay on top of the challenges caused by nature and people. You can help by removing signs taped to traffic signs, utility poles or placed in the esplanade. Use the CONTACT US link on the website to report any observations needing our attention.
Questions or comments please send them to Greg Schindler (mnw_president@comcast.net).
Mar 1, 2016 | President's Message
Greg Schindler
We are finally making integration headway with our new management company (SCS Management) on several technology process improvements. SCS inspectors drive through the neighborhood with technology in hand while deficiencies are noted and letters are automatically generated and mailed. All this takes place mid-month providing Area Directors adequate time to review reports and provide feedback at the next Board meeting on our 4 step process.
As a homeowner, you can rest assured actions are being taken to protect property values throughout our subdivision. Now before we start ranting about the mean old HOA, let’s take a look at the numbers. Only 1 out of 10 homes may receive a letter in any given month. This is actually great news. As you drive through our subdivision, you will note that most all homes (9 of 10) are well maintained. Speaking to those homeowners who are very meticulous at keeping up your home, the probability of you getting a letter is near zero in any one year. For the rest of us, we may get one notice a year from the management company about some specific maintenance item to address. I did happen to miss an item at my house and received the letter to edge my yard. Or perhaps for you it is general clean-up like mildew on the siding.
Nearly 70% of the homeowners take care of maintenance issues immediately and do not receive a second letter. If you do happen to receive the second letter, I would suggest getting in touch with your Area Director and/or the Management Company right away. The process can be placed on HOLD if there are valid reasons to delay the process. Please DO NOT put this step off. The next step is very costly to you. Remember, your Area Director is a homeowner just like you and it is highly likely you will be granted a delay in the normal 3 step process.
The third step and notice is a certified letter of non-compliance. This step cost $47 billed directly to the homeowner receiving the letter. Previously this expense was paid out of the general fund. Non-compliance will now cost the homeowner directly.
Ignoring the letters is a sure certain way to proceed quickly through the process steps in as little as 60 to 90 days.
Unfortunately, some homes fall into the 4th step of this process. At this point, we have no recourse, but to take legal action to compel the owner to make repairs. As a homeowner, we all dislike seeing the broken car in a driveway for the past few years, the siding hanging in disrepair or the peeling paint. There are very few homes in this condition, but they do exist.
No one likes getting the lawyers involved? The legal system is very slow and costly to everyone. If there are valid reasons repairs are going to take longer than expected, reach out to your Area Director or neighbors on the Board.
Questions or comments please send them to Greg Schindler (mnw_president@comcast.net).
Jan 9, 2016 | President's Message
Greg Schindler
I want to welcome our two newest members to the Board of Directors Kelly Minor (Area 4) and Ryan Aduddell (Area 6). Both are very passionate to serve their respective areas of this community.
I am excited about 2016 knowing over 30 people have already volunteered to participate on various operating teams (committees) to help manage our neighborhood amenities. The Board of Directors approved 8 teams of volunteers (see table) with the following focus.
| Team |
Purpose: Manage the… |
Chair |
| Community Center |
recreational property |
Bryan Thomas |
| Common Areas |
common areas and grounds |
Kelly Minor |
| Deed & ACC |
restrictions and standards |
Ryan Pyle |
| Health & Fitness |
health and fitness programs |
Tim McWilliams |
| Media & Web |
community communications and image |
Jamie DeLoatche |
| Safety & Security |
concerns and program effectiveness |
Lawrence McKinney |
| Social & Educational |
programs to improve quality of life |
Open |
| Tennis |
tennis programs and grow participation |
Sandy Remson |
These Teams are empowered to take action. The Board has already approved the budget for 2016 so it makes sense to have homeowners help by administering the action. The goal is to speed up the process. For example, the lights on an entrance monument may be out. A volunteer (usually a board member) had to go check it out, get a quote, and get approval (Board) then contract repairs. Having many volunteers to share the workload, this process should be much faster. In this example, the Common Area Team will handle this type of issue while making sure our neighborhood quality image is maintained. Governance of this process will be reviewed by our Treasurer (Jaimie DeLoatche) and Contracts Vice President (Stan Thurber).
There are three key areas I hope to accomplish for the Association. The first is to increase homeowner participation in the everyday decisions and actions effecting the neighborhood. This is why the teams make sense.
The second is operational transparency by providing more reports about financial performance and the value provided by every dollar. The Media and Web teams will help get the message out.
The third key area is to streamline Board meetings by using a parliamentary procedure called Consent Agenda. Much of the routine items are done ahead of time like meeting minutes, paying the bills and reports. The Media Team will post this content quickly so everyone can stay informed. This approach allows the Board to spend more time discussing homeowner concerns and policies.
We still need help especially on the Community Center and the Social & Educational Teams. If you want to participate, please send me an email to mnw_president@comcast.net.
Oct 31, 2015 | President's Message
Greg Schindler
Halloween will soon be behind us and Thanksgiving ahead. Hopefully, it’s a good and prosperous season for all. September and October were certainly momentous for MNW as a community. These months saw the ends of service for two longstanding board members: Phil Blagg, who served for almost two years as VP of Contracts before assuming the position of President, and Eileen Koscho, who will have served many years as Area 4 Director at the end of her term in December. Both of these individuals brought valuable experience to the Board and demonstrated true dedication to our community. Their service is much appreciated.
The month of September also marked the beginning of service for two new board members. Stan Thurber was appointed as the 1st Vice President, and Jamie DeLoatche was appointed as Treasurer. Both men are greatly appreciated for their willingness to serve in these long vacant positions. Already they have brought fresh insight to the board.
As most homeowners know, October was the election month for several board positions. In an effort to work seamlessly with our new management company and provide every opportunity for the community to express itself through the voting process, the October HOA meeting, regularly held on the first Tuesday of the month, was pushed back to the last Tuesday of the month. During this time, the only contested position on the ballot suddenly became uncontested with the acknowledgement that Ms. Eileen Koscho will not run again for Area 4 director. This effectively nullified the mandate of a specific election. The remaining incumbent board members will remain in their positions. Area 6 Director Greg Schindler will assume the position of HOA Board President effective January 2016. Greg’s years of experience will be invaluable to the board as our community moves forward. Kelly Minor will assume the role of Area 4 Director in January.
Both will be in place to discuss a new matter coming before the board that is certainly worth community involvement. Eileen Ferris has worked on Saturdays and as a fill-in for our manager at the community center for some time. She has done a great job for us, taking a position that could be very difficult at times with situations such as dealing with irate homeowners. Unfortunately, because of other commitments moving forward into November, Eileen will no longer be available to work as she previously did. She has done an outstanding job, so please tell her when you see her. She will be missed.
I would like to extend an invitation to all MNW homeowners and renters to come to the monthly meetings. YOU are important. Your view is important and the best one to let us know exactly what you think is YOU. Don’t just idly stand by and watch decisions being made that you don’t support, or views being expressed that don’t represent what you believe. GET INVOLVED! Your board wants to hear from you.
Sep 28, 2015 | President's Message
Change.
It’s a word that immediately evokes some sense of apprehension in most of us. What kind of change? What does this mean to me and my family? Why can’t things just stay the same? Your Board of Directors has been reviewing many things over the last several months as we’ve transitioned out of summer and are preparing for fall. This has included updating several of our ongoing contracts; establishing or reestablishing our professional relationships with our new management company and our attorney; critically examining our pool committee recommendations and determining how to move forward with Homeowners making the final decision; evaluating traffic safety within our subdivision and re-setting our enforcement priorities with the emphasis turning decidedly to safety first. We have seen much success and progress in all these areas and others.
Also covered in just about every monthly meeting and by multiple BOD members outside the meetings were the tremendous amount of deed restrictions violations either observed directly or reported. This may not apply to you directly, but it does to someone you know or someone on your street. You may follow all the rules to help keep our subdivision pristine and orderly, but you undoubtedly know or have seen neighbors who do not. For the most part, I’m talking about relatively simple or small things here that have a tremendous adverse effect on what MNW looks like and how it is perceived by people driving or walking through our community.
MNW deed restrictions state that two days a week our garbage, recyclables and lawn waste will be picked up. Accordingly, Homeowners are directed to place their items for collection at the curb no earlier than evening of the days prior to the pickup days. Additionally, on a regular basis, refuse containers should be stored such that they are not visible from the street. All, or most of us, have seen neighbors who blatantly disregard this restriction. For example, if their yard people cut the grass and trim the trees on Tuesday and place the yard waste cans or plastic bags at the curb, the homeowners leave them right there until they are picked up Thursday. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon to drive down any street of our subdivision on non-pickup days, and see yard waste and trash containers sitting at the curb.
We’ve all seen our share of neighbors who post advertising signs on display in their front yards. In an isolated case, we have a neighbor who placed high wattage light bulbs on the property. These interfere with the vision of passing drivers as well as annoy and inconvenience those who live nearby and must endure this glaring light all night. We probably all know at least one neighbor or MNW resident whose garages and driveways are so filled up with other items, they park all their personal cars on the street, further narrowing streets that are not wide in the first place, congesting traffic when more than one car at a time must pass and forcing pedestrians to walk near the center of the road to get around.
I could go on with examples, but I think the point has been made. And, based on the homeowners’ attendance at monthly meetings to complain, I think most would agree there is an issue. That issue involves our deed restrictions and our enforcement posture. And therein lies the upcoming change. To this point, the BOD has been fairly accommodating with respect to violations. If we are to address homeowners’ concerns and elevate our community to where we believe it should be, deed restrictions should and must be enforced impartially and fairly. Your BOD is currently in the process of examining our past practices with respect to deed restriction enforcement. Working with our new management company and our legal advisors, we are striving to find ways to evenly, consistently, and compassionately enforce the restrictions as they are written.
As articulated so well by 3rd Vice President Ryan Pyle, it is the responsibility of ALL of us to ensure MNW is the best community it can be. By adhering to the guidelines, by talking with your neighbors about matters that may bother you, we truly can make this a better place.
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