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H.H.P.O.I.A.
Board of
Directors
Meeting
Minutes
January
15, 2005
January
15, 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, Freddie Scaggs, Gary Averitt, and Karl Holz were present.
1. Following
the opening prayer by Arnold DeSandre and roll call of officers, approval of minutes for Board Meeting dated November
20th, Work Sessions November 20th and December 4th was called. Jane Mucci moved to approve the minutes
as written, seconded by Gary Averitt. The motion passed without dissent.
2. Treasurer
Jane Mucci presented the financial reports and noted Maintenance Fee collections in 2004 were $7,000.00 more than
2003.
3. Community Input
a) Arnold DeSandre reminded everyone Community Logo T-Shirts
are still on sale, though not necessarily in vogue since they're short sleeved and it's winter now.
b) Arnold DeSandre then noted the piece of property owned by the
Association is now for sale through Rose Realty.
c) Barbara Mortela commented about how good the new street
signs installed to date are looking. She also asked if the Board could find some way to reduce the proliferation
of signs at the front gate.
d) Freddie Scaggs reminded everyone present David Boulter has been
voluntarily cleaning roadside areas throughout the community and is available for yard work as homeowners might
require.
5. Committee Reports
a) Layne DeSandre reported on the busy year by the Architectural
Controls Committee. Many derelict cars have been removed and yards cleaned up. All new home move-ins were approved
by the ACC.
b) Lake Committee report was deferred by Arnold DeSandre due to
Art Mucci being at the lake discharge while Edom Fire Department is pumping out the water pool in preparation for
engineering assessment and pending repairs.
c) Freddie Scaggs said Maintenance continues to spend excessive
time cleaning up around the dumpsters every day. Notice in recent newsletter about this was apparently to no avail.
Loren Lockhart is also installing the new street signs and continuing to repair community streets. Dr. Pharo asked
about the mess in the aluminum can collection area and Freddie Scaggs said other plans are being made for this.
d) Arnold DeSandre said the $.44 per account discrepancy in latest
maintenance fee billing has been corrected, even though most people did not notice the error. He said the correction
was required so the Board would not be considered in violation of community regulations limiting fee increases
to 10% per year.
5. Unfinished Business
a) A general discussion about the newly installed street and
stop signs along Hickory Hills Drive ensued, with Arnold DeSandre explaining how initial purchase was furnished
and noting thanks to Ellie's Signs for deeply discounting their normal pricing for the community effort. All present
noted how nice the signs look and how they will aid 911 emergency response teams in locating people's homes.
b) Arnold DeSandre said delinquent maintenance fees lawyer letters
went out two weeks ago and he can't say too much about them other than we have already had 15 responses with some
paying in full and others looking to work out a payment schedule. He further noted one respondent said they did
not realize we were serious about the maintenance fees.
c) Arnold DeSandre said two weeks ago attempts to raise the
lake's outflow control valve proved futile, and a diver was hired to retrieve the broken gate assembly. Welder
Robert Baker was contacted to implement proper repairs. Previous work had stainless steel brackets welded to aluminum
slide gate, which corroded and broke quickly. Robert Baker searched many sources before finding suitably strong
aluminum brackets to bolt to the aluminum gate assembly with stainless steel bolts. Gate worked good after reassembly,
but initial attempts to close it met with entrenched debris brought into the discharge flume by the rush of outflow
water during gate repairs. Community resident diver Ronnie Brasseaux was hired to remove two pieces of plywood,
a tree branch, a tire, and two boulders. The repaired gate closed completely, but still leaks a significant amount
of water. The rubber gasket around the aluminum gate should seal against has deteriorated to the point of being
useless. Arnold DeSandre said we are probably going to have to lower the lake at least six (6) feet to minimize
outflow through the leaking discharge gate valve, so required discharge flume repairs can be completed without
damage to the new concrete structures to be poured. Lakeside residents can use this time to maximize removal of
lily pads, hydrilla, and other undesirable aquatic growth on their shorelines. We can also use the greatly lowered
lake level to effect lakeside dam repairs at the same time discharge flume repairs are being done. He said a team
of 2 members from both Boards, 2 members from each Lake Committee, and Velvin & Weeks Engineers will meet to
decide on lowering the lake. He also noted the discharge area underneath the bridge on TX 2339 highway needs to
be dredged down. In closing this discussion, Freddie Scaggs noted 6/10th
inch of rainfall a few days ago raised the lake level at least 8 inches as measured on the overflow pipe. They
had lowered the lake more than 8 inches below the top of the overflow pipe, yet water level was over the top after
the rain.
4. New Business
a) Bills to be approved for payment totaled $10,328 plus $1,938
for the new office computer to replace old, failing computer. Karl Holz moved and Gary Averitt seconded to approve.
The motion passed without dissent.
b) Freddie Scaggs said Loren Lockhart has to spend almost 2 hours
every Monday cleaning up the mess around the dumpsters, and we should go ahead and have Olympia set one more dumpster.
The five we now have are full to overflowing at the end of each weekend. Jane Mucci said the additional dumpster
will slightly increase our monthly fee for this service from $750.00 to $858.00. Arnold DeSandre said the Lake
Committee has approved use of the aluminum can collection area for the additional dumpster. Karl Holz moved and
Freddie Scaggs seconded to approve. The motion passed without dissent.
c) Arnold DeSandre asked for volunteers to staff the Nominating
Committee for May 2005 Board of Directors. Jane Mucci and Freddie Scaggs volunteered, and asked for additional
volunteers from community members present at the meeting. Barbara Mortela volunteered.
d) Community Wide Garage Sale date May 21, 2005 was proposed after
discussion about when the Ladies' Club pavilion garage sales are scheduled. Jane Mucci moved and Karl Holz seconded
to approve date. The motion passed without dissent.
e) Steve Robbins and Karla Dickey live in the area bordering
the swamp at Hickory Hills drive directly across from the rear playground and park area. Clogged under-road culvert
is causing water in this area to drain too slowly into the lake and water has backed up within 10 to 15 feet of
their home. They also have a 3 and a 5-foot alligator sun bathing in their back yard upon occasion. Dr. Pharo said
there is an alligator farm up the stream feeding this swampy area and they have had escaped. Freddie Scaggs said
she would have Loren Lockhart investigate clearing debris from culvert opening.
f) Dr. Pharo asked for help for problems with neighbor Paul
Neely. Arnold DeSandre said he would present Dr. Pharo's concerns to Paul.
Jane Mucci moved and Karl Holz seconded to
adjourn the meeting at 11:15 A.M. The motion passed without dissent.
Signature_______________________________________
H.H.P.O.I.A. Secretary
Dated__________________________________________
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