H.H.P.O.I.A. Board of Directors Meeting Minutes February 19, 2005 February 19, 2005 President, Arnold DeSandre at 10:00 A.M, called Hickory Hills Property Owner's Improvement Association Board Of Director's Meeting to order.   Board of Directors members Arnold DeSandre, Jane Mucci, Gary Averitt, and Karl Holz were present. Member Freddie Scaggs excused due to illness.   1.    Following the opening prayer by Arnold DeSandre and roll call of officers, approval of minutes for Board Meeting and Work Session dated January 15th was called. Jane Mucci moved to approve the minutes as written, seconded by Karl Holz. The motion passed without dissent. 2.    Treasurer Jane Mucci presented the financial reports and answered questions from the floor. Upon close of discussion, Karl Holz moved to approve and Gary Averitt seconded. The motion passed without dissent. 3.    Community Input a)    Arnold DeSandre reminded everyone Community Logo T-Shirts remain on sale throughout the winter months. b)   Arnold DeSandre reminded everyone the Sycamore Street property owned by the Association is for sale through Rose Realty. c)    He then reminded those present about upcoming Community-Wide Garage Sale on May 21, 2005. Jane Mucci noted this is also the date of a scheduled Board of Directors Meeting. It was agreed by all present this would not be a problem. Layne DeSandre noted the Ladies' Club Pavilion Garage Sale is scheduled for April 23, 2005 with tables leasing for $5.00 each. d)   Arnold DeSandre said Van Zandt County Inspector Ken Martin has a series of articles on regulation-compliant septic system installations in the newspaper. Copies are available in the office, with some surprising data about lakeside communities. e)    Arnold DeSandre said he and Freddie Scaggs attended a meeting of the Van Zandt Council of Communities and learned about concerns they have over recent increased population growth without supporting infrastructures such as additional industry and businesses. They also learned the county is open to being incorporated into Dallas County Water Conservation District. This would allow the government there to buy property in our community or area, drill water wells, and truck water out, regardless of our community restrictions. The Council of Communities is working on incorporating with at least Henderson County as a rural water conservation district to preclude this possibility. f)    New community resident Michael Tapp asked why the Board of Directors is putting up street signs with the streets in such deplorable condition, and the money should be used for street repairs? Arnold DeSandre responded noting our streets are better than many existing county roads, and myriad issues encumber street repairs. 7.    Committee Reports a)    Layne DeSandre reported two approved new homes moved in to the community during January. She also said a new Satterwhite log home is scheduled to be built on Ridgewood Drive. b)   Arthur Mucci with the Lake Committee said they are slowly lowering the lake level. They also met with contractors bidding on yearly dam maintenance contract. Bids $9,750, $6,750, and $5,900 from qualified local contractors were received. C.L.P.O.I.A. has already approved paying their half of the $5,900 bid from JC's Tree Service. Karl Holz moved and Gary Averitt seconded to approve H.H.P.O.I.A. paying our half of this maintenance contract. The motion passed without dissent. Art Mucci closed the Lake Committee report by reminding everyone that the annual fish fry is scheduled the first Saturday in October 2005. c)    In Freddie Scaggs absence, Arnold DeSandre presented the Maintenance Committee report by noting another rash of vandalism with exit gate spike springs being cut and having to be replaced. He also said people have been pushing the gate open since the magnet quit. Karl Holz said he would have a look at the D.C. power supply and liaison with Loren Lockhart to get the magnet working again. Arnold DeSandre said gate pushers were caught and confronted one night by Loren. They (we believe) later fired small weapon shots at his pickup truck, and were reported to the Van Zandt County Sheriff's office. Paul Neely said the under-road culvert on Hickory Hills drive across from the playground area that drains the infeed swamp area is severely rusted at the end where it dumps into the big lake. Arnold DeSandre said the Maintenance Committee is aware of this and working on a solution. d)   Arnold DeSandre gave the Office Committee report saying everyone in our community needs to be informed of current Homeowner's Association legislation before the Texas State Senate and House of Representatives. Senate Bill 244, and House Bills 879, 927, and 1072 will effectively destroy Homeowner Associations in the State of Texas by stripping them of the authority to collect maintenance fees. Property owners should contact their representatives to protest this pending legislation. Contact Gerri Heck in the Office for more information. Arnold also said he recently spoke with Van Zandt County Sheriff Pat Burnett who told him Hickory Hills has come a long way since two years ago when his department was calling it “Rolling Oaks IIâ€�. Gerri Heck has been aggressively contacting Projects American about what property has been selling and to whom. To date, 13 lots in Projects inventory at Hickory Hills have been sold to investors in Florida. Also, roughly $8,000.00 in past due maintenance fees were collected in January, and more money is coming in due to the foreclosure letters. 5.    Unfinished Business a)    Arnold DeSandre and Art Mucci presented the results of the joint C.L.P.O.I.A. and H.H.P.O.I.A. Lake Committees and Board of Directors joint meeting recently. After extensively reviewing all options, the group agreed unanimously to lower the lake level at least 7 feet, or until outflow is stopped so dam outflow flue repairs can be completed. b)   The meeting also reached a consensus for overflow grates procured at $800.00, shared equally by both communities. c)    The meeting participants also agreed Arnold DeSandre to be the official liaison to the engineering firm for both communities. Three bids for the extensive repair work to be done will be solicited from approved contracting firms, and work is currently scheduled to begin April 1, 2005. And due to the depth of the outflow pond and its outflow to the creek being higher than the normal pond level, a small cofferdam in the outflow will probably be required. d)   Arnold DeSandre said Edom Fire Department did both communities a great service in pumping out the discharge pond area a couple of weeks ago and asked the Board to approve $200.00 donation to them for fuel. Karl Holz moved and Gary Averitt seconded to approve this, and the motion passed without dissent. e)    Ted Schroeder asked if the Board could promulgate some information for lake front homeowners on approved methods for minimizing aquatic growth in their areas while the lake level is low. Arnold DeSandre said he would check with Marine Biologist Stan Smith and have a letter prepared from both Fish Committee's and put into the mailbox. 6.    New Business a)    Bills to be approved for payment were presented and discussed. Jane Mucci moved and Gary Averitt seconded to approve. The motion passed without dissent. b)   Arnold DeSandre said the Merz household received a December 2004 and January 2005 electric bill for more than $600.00 each. Trinity Valley Electric Coop (TVEC) subsequently found they had a defective meter and replaced it. A discussion on the high cost of rural electricity followed, with Karl Holz noting TVEC has raised the cost per KWH from $.076 to $.095, due largely to the greatly increased cost of natural gas.     Jane Mucci moved and Karl Holz seconded to adjourn the meeting at 11:12 A.M. The motion passed without dissent. Signature_______________________________________                             H.H.P.O.I.A. Secretary Dated__________________________________________