Waterford Lakes HOA Meeting
Minutes
August 17, 2017
Attendance: 27 residents, 4 Board Members and PSG
Call
To Order: 6:35pm
July
Minutes Approved By The Board
Financial
Report: July was a busy month due to the
timing of summer expenses. The
entrances and shade garden are done for this year; the shrubs have been trimmed
and edging completed (budgeted for once per year); mowing will be less frequent
with the dry conditions. Volunteer
“labor” has been fertilizing, weeding, trimming, picking up trash, spraying
round up/weed-be-gone, laying pavers, watering entrances/shade garden, putting
down river rock, planting shrubs, cleaning up the clubhouse. In addition,
volunteers have donated the printing of the minutes, social event flyers,
landscaping materials, flags, a limo, and money for social events.
Checking
Account: $13,969.47
Roofing Reserve Fund: $122,377.78
Certificate of Deposit: $51,208.25
Top July Expenses: $12,177.17 roofing expenses
$7008.55 shrub care,
edging, fertilization
$5,500 mowing
$2,642.13 entrances
Year-to-date: 61% of budget through July
Profit/ Loss is ($964.44)
Committee
Reports:
Social
Committee: Mark your
calendars for Saturday, September 9th 1-3pm for Sundae Fun Day. Ice cream and various toppings will be
served. Wait till you see
the decorations! If you
would like to attend and need a ride, call Anne Inman at (317) 504-9268. We will arrange to get you to and from
the event. RSVP to Geri Conway (317) 506-9344 or Janell Miller (317) 272-7268
so they have an idea how much ice cream to buy. Thanks to Geri Conway for providing
the event flyers.
If any of the ladies would like to go out to dinner Friday, September 8th at Coachman’s in Plainfield, please
contact Janell Miller at (317) 272-7268. Transportation will be provided. Everyone pays for their own meal. Enjoy getting to know your neighbors. A special thank you to John
and Dee Brewer for providing a limo for the ladies. You can see the advertisement they
purchased in the new HOA Phone Directory. If you need to hire transportation for
appointments or special events give John Brewer a call at (317) 507-5703.
The Social Committee has
already planned the 2017 activities but if you would like to help out we would
appreciate volunteers for setup and clean up.
Phone
Directory Committee: The new 2017 HOA Directory was
distributed to your door in July. For some reason if you did not receive your
copy please contact the Secretary, Anne Inman (317) 504-9268. The Committee will be working on
improving communication within the community through mass text messages and/or
emails. This is another way
we can make you aware of upcoming meetings/events or important notices. You
will be receiving a form to fill out and return to sign up for this service. We look forward to your participation.
Voting,
Nomination and Election Committee: The committee met
August 8th to put
together the budget and election timeline. Procedures were discussed and outlined. Work on action items has started. Committee volunteers include: Don
Bosma, Cathy Winterrowd, Don Ulrey, Janell Miller and Anne Inman. We have asked for volunteers several
times in the HOA Meetings/Minutes and on the Phone Directory form. If you have an interest in
participating on the Committee contact Anne Inman (317) 504-9268.
Architecture
and Landscaping Committee: Thanks
to everyone submitting an ARC change request form for their improvement
projects. Technically the Committee has 30 days to respond to a request but
response time has been averaging 7-8 days. Plan ahead to submit your change
request form. Just a reminder, if you have taken your grate off the front door,
send in a change form to PSG. The
architecture/landscape change form is available under documents on Property
Services Group website.
A special thank you to John and Joy Shew for “adopting”
the North Entrance and property around the intersection of Waterford Lane and
Crystal Court. It is
looking great!
We will be doing several
“walk-throughs” in the neighborhood in August and September to assess the
condition of exterior lights, mailboxes/posts, flower beds, privacy fences,
trees, ponds and buildings. This
information is important for the planning and budgeting process which occurs in
October for 2018.
In addition letters will be
sent to homeowners and those with rental units who are not keeping up their
property in accordance with the Covenants, Bylaws and Architecture &
Landscaping Guidelines adopted by the Board of Directors.
A few reminders: garbage cans cannot by kept in view of
the street or neighbor’s property; a satellite dish and post must be removed by
homeowner when not in use; front and backyards are to be kept clear of dog
waste; dogs tied outside must be watched by the homeowner not just left out;
and flower beds around house must be maintained.
For best results when your
yard is fertilized in the near future, water if it does not rain.
Old
Business
1. Canadian
Geese Nuisance: The
Board has been in communication with Kathy Petrere who owns Geese Wranglers. A meeting is being scheduled for the
Board to meet with Kathy to discuss suggestions and viable options.
Rita Emge who lives on the
big pond bordering Waterford Lane/Dan Jones Rd. spoke at the meeting. She felt she was being harassed by
human’s harassing geese onto her property. We are experiencing
neighbor/neighborhood conflicts over how to best manage the goose congregation
problem. Each neighbor will
have their own tolerance for and relationship with Canadian geese. The ultimate challenge is to balance
nuisance relief, respect for wildlife regulations, neighbor preferences, cost
variables and level of commitment.
According to the DNR website,
typically developers and homeowners unknowingly cause the “problem” by
creating an ideal goose habitat. Fresh
green grass adjacent to a water retention ponds create a perfect place for
geese to set up residence and multiply. Geese tend to return to the same area
year after year where they have nested. The
problem is intensified when people feed ducks and geese. More geese and ducks
will congregate than can be supported by normal conditions. Feeding can also disrupt normal
migration patterns and hold them in areas longer than is normal. This also gives them more time to mate
and locate nesting sites.
Large amount of excrement
makes the common area, yards and sidewalks unfit for human use. Geese can turn lawns into barren, dirt
areas.
Most of the problems we
experience are from March into July during the nesting and molting season. A female goose averages 5 eggs in her
nest. Incubation lasts 28
days. Geese can be very
aggressive during breeding and nesting time. Goslings are unable to fly for 70
days so the young birds and their parents will stay and graze near the nesting
area. The other problem is
the adults lose their flight feathers near the end of June rendering them
unable to fly for up to 20 days.
A long-term,
community-based approach is much more likely to succeed in resolving the
human/goose problems. There is no single, quick-fix solution. Because Canadian
geese fly from pond to pond within an area working with neighboring communities
and property owners is important to reduce population growth. Using several
techniques in combination are likely to be more effective. The Division of Fish and
Wildlife strongly encourages
implementing the following strategies:
· Adopt a “no-feeding of
waterfowl” policy
· Modify habitat to restrict
access to discourage future use by geese – establishment of shrubs or trees
barrier; cable/snow fencing
· Implement daily goose
harassment techniques starting in early February but not a regular routine they
can acclimate to. Scare the geese as soon as they fly in.
· Destroy and remove all
evidence of nest building on a daily basis
· No fountains – geese are
attracted to spray associated with fountains
· Vegetation barrier or
buffer strips that are tall and thick to deter waterfowl from flying into and
out of a body of water
2. Damaged
Sewer/Water/Gas Lines: A question was raised last month about
the HOA’s responsibility for damaged utility lines under the slab or in the
yard. Sewer or water lines
that run away from your home are liable to break or leak from time-to-time due
to gradual deterioration in the line’s integrity. Depending on the physical location and
severity, such a break could end up costing thousands of dollars in repair and
cleanup expenses. Unfortunately
your homeowner’s insurance policy may not cover any related costs. The HOA strongly recommends you
purchase Citizen’s Utility
Shield plan not Vectren’s. You are technically responsible from
the meter into your home. Utilities
will only repair lines out at the street. The HOA will assess the problem and
repair lines from the street to your meter. If you are flushing things which
should not be flushed that clog the lines, you are responsible.
New
Business - none
Adjournment
Submitted
By,
Anne
Inman, Secretary
