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Hickory Hills HHPOIA Newsletter
for April, 2005
From the President's Corner
The Spring Season is upon us.
About this time every year,
some people begin to indicate
they are growing tired of
winter, even the usually
moderate variety in Texas. That
turns out to be pretty good
timing, because the official
arrival of spring now is only a
couple of weeks away. Are we
ready for it? Remember
Sunday, April 3rd is the time to
"spring forward", setting clocks
ahead one hour.
The Lake:
Your Board has attended a
number of meetings with
Callender Lake POIA and both
Lake Committees to discuss
what to do with our Lake. We
all agreed that to take care of
the damaged Neoprene J-Bulb
Seal we have to lower the lake
up to seven (7) feet and replace
the seal, which is at the bottom
of the gate. This needs to be
done so that construction can be
done on the outside of the flume
toward FM 2339 without water
running into the new concrete
that needs to be poured. We
have the engineering drawings
from Velvin & Weeks
Engineering firm in Athens to
correct the flume, which is part
of Phase III plan developed a
couple years ago. We are in
process of securing at least
three (3) bids to see what the
project will cost both sides of
the lake. We are to have the
bids in by March 25th at 2:00
PM at the engineering firm. We
are hoping to start the project
on April 1st if at all possible. It
is anticipated that the project
should take about three (3)
weeks baring any unforeseen
problems. As stated before, this
erosion goes under the Dam
some ten (10) feet or more.
Since we have to lower the lake
it was decided to secure bids on
a retaining wall on the inside of
the lake to take care of the
erosion there. There is about
800 feet of the inside dam wall
that needs to be done. This we
know will be quite expensive to
do and we may have to do it
piece meal (in two or three
parts). No we don't like the idea
either to lower the lake, but
there is no alternative. 2) We
have received a three (3) year
plan from Aquatic Management
Services to control all the
vegetation growing on our
Lake. Do to the fact that we
have to lower the lake we
agreed to postpone starting the
aquatic management service
until after the lake starts filling
up. We believe that this
approach is best for both
parties. 3) We are looking at
fixing the problems at the end
of the boat ramp were the
concrete pad ends there is a
drop off that was caused by
erosion. We believe that a
couple loads of large bedrock
like what the State uses along
their roads and ditches would
take care of this problem.
Maintenance Fees:
While I don't like the increase
any more then you do, we had
no choice but to raise the fees to
pay for the Dam and Lake
Management projects. Even
with this increase, we may NOT
have enough funds to cover
HHPOIA share of the costs. If
that happens, your Board may
be forced to secure a loan to pay
these anticipated costs. No we
don't want to borrow funds if
we don't need to, it is just a fall
back if needed. Yes, we are
going after the past due
property owners as ANY and
ALL over $200.00 past due
have been turned over to our
attorney for collection. These
owners have received letters
from the attorney stating what
the process will be filing suit
and foreclosing on any lots that
are unpaid or that haven't made
arrangements with the office.
Any questions, please talk with
us.
Donations:
Your Association would like to
take this opportunity to thank
Karl and Donna Holz and Jim
and Freddie Scaggs for their
loose change given to the
Association to purchase
additional street signs. Thanks
to the Holz's and Scaggs's
families, we appreciate your
contribution.
We also want to thank David
Boulter for his efforts on taking
care of the Burn Pile, taking the
lily pads from Dogwood Park
and at the opening from the
conduit by the back bathhouse.
He also has pick-up debris on
our streets. Thanks David for
your work, we APPRECIATE
your labor. It hasn't gone
unnoticed.
Deepest Sympathy:
We want to extend our deepest
sympathy to Marlin Tate on his
loss of his wife Elsie, to Amy
Wintters on her loss of her
husband Floyd. Dot Crawford
on the loss of her Brother-in-Law.
Street Signs:
Our Maintence man has
installed the 24 reflective Street
Signs and three (3) Stop Signs
received with the funds from
the spaghetti dinner, sale of
HHPOIA shirts, and donations
from the Lake Committee and
from the Ladies Club. When we
sell the property we own on
Sycamore Lane we will almost
have enough to finish our
Community. These signs will
have the street name on both
sides and be reflective at night.
That's the happenings of the
Board, till next time, Godspeed.
Your Association has a Lot
For Sale:
If you know of someone who
might be interested in a Lot at
Hickory Hills please have them
call Janis Eggert at Rose Realty,
903-567-5267. We have Lot 22,
Block 7 on East Sycamore Lane
for sale at $5,900. It is a fairly
level lot with no improvements.
The proceeds from this sale will
go toward the purchase of
additional street signs. Any help
is appreciated.
Maintenance:
I would like to take this
opportunity to THANK
everyone who has helped to
keep the trash picked up around
Hickory Hills. This helps make
the Community look nicer.
A lot of time has been spent
trying to keep the culverts from
two branches that flow into the
lake cleared. This in itself is
time consuming.
Freddie Scaggs
Roads:
People keep asking,” just when
are we going to get the roads
fixed?” I wish there was a good
answer to that question as that
subject has been researched
several times. The answer
keeps being that it will cost
over a MILLION dollars to
resurface the entire 13 miles of
road we have in Hickory Hills.
We try to patch the potholes as
we can. In the wintertime you
cannot patch when the
temperature is less than 70
degrees. The patching material
will not hold together. If you
will notice most of the rough
roads are on curves and at street
crossings. People are driving
and making turns much too fast.
Our “sand and dirt” roads are
only made for 25 MPH speeds.
When making turns faster than
that you are tearing up the road.
With everyone's help we can
make the roads drivable but that
is about all.
Architectural Control
Committee (ACC):
It's coming up to spring again
and time to start thinking of
cleaning up our yards again. We
did a GREAT job last year so
let's do the same this year. For
those who don't we will be
sending out letters to you
according to our Deed
Restrictions that yards and bar
ditches are to be free of junk
and debris. Hickory Hills is
turning around and we have
many new homes with
permanent residences coming
in. For those folks still cleaning
their property there will be a
roll off dumpster here around
April 1st. If you have any
questions please feel free to call
the office and I will get back to
you. Also, according to our
Deed Restrictions, one needs to
have a permit (which are free)
for room additions, storage
buildings, fences, carports,
driveways and/or headers,
septic systems, decks, porches
and homes coming either in or
out. Layne DeSandre, Chairman
Pets…Again:
The office has received many
complaints on dogs and cats
running loose in our
Community. Remember the
Restrictions state ‘Your pet
must be contained in your yard
or on a leash at all times'. In
talking with the Sheriff's
Department, unless the animal
bites someone there is nothing
they can do. If the animal
comes in your yard and appears
to want to attack you, you have
the right to shoot it.
Also we are having a number
of problems with Beavers in our
Community at the little lake as
well as at the main lake. Again
asking for volunteers to have
target practice with them. Give
the Office the receipt for ammo
and we will pay you.
Ladies Club:
The Hickory Hills Ladies Club
will be sponsoring their Annual
Garage and Bake Sale on
Saturday April 23rd from 8:00
AM to 4:00 PM. If anyone is
interested in a renting a table
please contact Better Miller at
903-469-3759.
We will be doing an Easter Egg
Hunt on Saturday March 26th
(please see elsewhere in
Newsletter for details).
We would like to invite any and
all ladies of HH to attend our
meetings. We meet at Noon on
the 2nd Wednesday of each
month for potluck lunch and
meeting at the pavilion. We
would love to have you
anytime, just come and visit and
I think you will find we are a
fun group of ladies.
Our next meeting will be on
April 13th at Noon. If you have
any questions about the club
please feel free to call me,
Layne DeSandre at 903-469-3235.
Layne DeSandre, President.
Help:
Your Association has been
asked a number of times who
lives where in our Community
regarding renter's names etc. If
you have Renters, we would
appreciate receiving their
Name, Address, and Phone
Number. We are developing a
list to help us in the office and
would appreciate your help in
this matter. Some of you have
come forward and we
appreciate your help. Thanks.
Hickory Hills Shirts:
Your Association is selling
Hickory Hills T-Shirts for
$10.00 each. They are available
in all sizes and can be ordered
at the office.
Coming Events:
Saturday March 26th at 2:00 PM
rain or shine there will be an
Easter Egg Hunt for children
and grandchildren of Hickory
Hills residences ONLY.
Toddler to 12 years of age,
bring you own basket. Eggs,
candy, prizes and refreshments
will be available. Anyone
interested in donating plastic
eggs stuffed with candy either
drop them off at the office or at
the pavilion by 1:00 PM
Saturday the 26th. The Ladies
Club of Hickory Hills sponsors
this event. We appreciate your
help for the children.
Bar B Q time, your Board will
sponsor a Bar B Q Dinner on
Saturday June 11th. Keep the
date open for further details. If
anyone would like to help out
please contact the office, as we
would need cookers, and plenty
of helpers. The funds raised
would go towards Street Signs
for our community.
HH Web Site: We have a
property owner who is an expert
in Web Page Design and its
application that has asked the
Board if we would like one he
would do it free of charge for
HH. We believe it is a GREAT
idea and the Board will discuss
its merits soon.
Tailgating Problems:
Folks, we are having a rash of
tailgating problems lately that is
fast becoming an epidemic. As
of press time your Board has
filed three (3) complaints with
the Sheriff's Office with more
to come I am sure. The last one
on Saturday March 5th has
caused major damage to the
'mother board', damage to the
gate it self also. HH will be
billing this person for the
TOTAL cost to fix the gate. It
appears that this cost will make
this complaint a felony action.
Why not to tailgate, your
actions could and have impaired
the Gate electronics to the point
that the Gate stays ¾ open or ¾
closed and one can't do
anything with it until repairs are
made. HHPOIA does not want
to be responsible for Police,
Fire or EMS not able to get into
Hickory Hills for some
emergency. Lets all do our part.
Thanks.
Come to the Board meeting, the
3rd Saturday of each month. We
do listen to the Community, get
involved.
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