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H.H.P.O.I.A.
Board of Directors
Meeting Minutes
August 21, 2004
August 21, 2004 President, Arnold DeSandre
at 10:02 A.M, called Hickory Hills Property Owner's Improvement Association Meeting to order.
Following the opening prayer by Arnold DeSandre,
Roll Call was held; Karl Holz, Freddie Scaggs, Gary Averitt, Jane Mucci and Arnold DeSandre were Present.
1. Reports of Officers:
a. Jane
Mucci moved to approval previous minutes of June 30th work session, July 17th
Board Meeting, July 17th Executive session, August 2nd work session and Executive meeting, August 9th
Special Joint Board Meeting with CLPOIA. The motion was seconded by Freddie Scaggs and passed without dissent.
b. The
Financial reports were approved for filing as presented with Karl Holz making the motion and seconded by Gary Averitt.
The balance sheet dated July 31, 2004 reflects total assets of $285,259.91 and total equity and liabilities of
$285,259.91. The amount of $259,300.00 has been added to the assets as “FIXED ASSETSâ€. The Buildings
at $32,670.00 and the Land as $226,630.00. These figures were taken from the current taxing authority records as
reflected in the newest appraisals. It more accurately reflects our total position. The profit and loss statement
dated January thru July 2004 reflects a Net Ordinary Income in the negative amount of ($5,092.87). See the attached
reports for details. The motion passed without dissent.
2. Community Input:
a. The
issue of acquiring a defibrillator for the Edom Fire Department will stay on the agenda until complete. Callender
Lake POIA has agreed to share the cost of one with us. The defibrillator, when purchased, will be housed at Station
# 2 of the Edom Fire Dept. The total cost should be about $3,000.00.
b. Arnold
DeSandre reported on issues with the ETMC emergency responders getting into our locked gate. Our YELP system was
tested and is working, but not working with their specific systems. Their systems are being corrected and will
be tested. Also as an issue was that the Edom Fire Dept 1st
responders were not being called out as they usually come to ensure the gate opening.
c. Arnold
DeSandre reported that the Ladies group is having a Garage Sale at the pavilion on Saturday September 25th.
d. Hickory
Hill T-Shirts are available for ordering thru the office at $10.00 each for adult or children. See the office manager
for details.
3. Committee Reports:
a. Architectural
Reports: All is well. Nothing new to report. Lots of new people moving into our neighborhood with new homes.
b. Lake
Committee: The Fish Fry is scheduled for Saturday Oct 2, 2004. Help is required as this is the largest fundraiser
for the lake each year. Arnold DeSandre will report on the three (3) town meetings held concerning the lake later
in the meeting.
c. Maintenance:
There are some equipment issues being dealt with at this time. The big tractor is in the shop for two (2) weeks
for hydraulics repairs.
d. Office:
Gerri Heck is our new Office Manager. If you don't know her stop by the office and meet her. She is doing a great
job!!
4. Unfinished Business:
a. Tecon
(Monarch Utilities) Water Update: The lawsuit has gone forward. A committee will go Monday and Tuesday to Austin
to continue to negotiate a more favorable settlement and avoid a lawsuit. In addition Hickory Hills, Callender
Lake, Wildwood and the City of Blue Mound are working to overturn House Bill # 3034 passed by the Texas Legislature
that basically gives Tecon (Monarch) carte blanche to raise rates without hearings or notice to water users. We
still believe that bill should be overturned and declared unconstitutional.
b. Tax
Protest Update: Arnold DeSandre, Freddie Scaggs met with the Van Zandt Co. Appraisal District to protest our proposed
tax increase for the land by the back Bathhouse. Because we had fought this fight in Henderson Co. and had won
concessions already, Van Zandt Co. agreed to take those numbers saving us significant dollars in tax bills.
5. New Business
a. Karl
Holz moved and Jane Mucci seconded a motion to approve the August bills presented be authorized for payment in
the amount of $ 20,864.80. Motion passed without dissent. The largest item was $11,203.90 paid to Watkins Insurance
for our fire and equipment policies.
b. TVEC
and Trees: Jane Mucci moved to invite Trinity Valley Electric Coop into our subdivision to cut trees back that
are affecting our power lines and could cause major outages this winter. Motion passed without dissent. If there
are any issues from property owners those issues should be addressed to the Board of Directors for HHPOIA and NOT
to TVEC.
c. The
Lake: There have been several joint meetings with Callender Lake POIA Board, Hickory Hills Board, and both Lake
committees with the public invited to discuss options for correcting issues with our lake and dam. All public input
was heard. Vegetation control was a big issue for many. Here is an example of what could be done: If we were to
spray for weed control 20 ft out all around the perimeter of the lake the cost for equipment, chemicals, certified
manpower could cost $14,000.00 to $20,000.00. Another option would be to dredge the lake but that cost could be
over $1,000,000.00 and then we would have to find a place to dump the sand that we dredged out. That is not a feasible
option. As a result of these meetings the two Boards and the two Lake committees agreed to do two (2) things. 1.
We agreed to go out for a sole source contract to Stan Smith who has experience with this lake since 1985 to provide
us with two (2) things: a.) Three year plan b) and a Five year plan to deal with our vegetation issues. We will ALWAYS have vegetation issues and learning to manage it successfully is
the only option. We will implement the plan early next year. We could be looking at a total cost of $30,000.00
to $40,000.00 to be split between Hickory Hills and Callender Lake POIA. As we all know, if we lose our lake because
we didn't take care of it…… all of us will suffer from significantly reduced property
values…. Our lake is our biggest asset and draw to this community. If we do not correct the issues
on the lake and the dam, the state will come in and condemn the lake and assess fines to both of the associations.
The # 2 item that both sides of the lake agreed to is to ask the engineering firm of Freese Nichols to propose
a plan for the repair of the erosion on the up stream slope of the dam on the inside of the lake. That
would require us to lower the dam below the outlet (approx 2-3 feet) to make those repairs. Additionally we requested
Freese Nichols to draw up the plans and proposal for correction and repairing of the flume on the FM 2339 side
of the dam. When we have that plan, we will bid it out to a contractor. We are looking at approx $5,000.00 to draw
up the plans, and $15,000.00 to 20,000.00 for the work. As stated, this is a huge
expense but one we must take seriously and complete in
order to keep our lake. We are already being asked by TCEQ to advise them where we are in the process and to keep them informed of
the status of these projects. Various ways of raising the funds for the lake work were discussed and included special
assessments, loans, continuing to aggressively collect past dues and increasing the maintenance dues for 2005 by
10%.
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6. There being no further business to be brought before the
board Karl Holtz moved and Gary Averitt seconded the meeting be adjourned. Meeting adjourned was adjourned at 11:05
AM. The next meeting is Saturday September 18th at 10:00 AM.
Respectfully submitted by:
Barbara Mortela
Volunteer Recording Secretary
September 16, 2004
Presented to H.H.P.O.I.A. Board of Directors
for approval:
Signature_______________________________________
H.H.P.O.I.A.
Secretary
Dated: _________________________________________
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