H.H.P.O.I.A.
Board of Directors
Meeting
Minutes
April 16, 2005
April 16, 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, Freddie Scaggs, and Karl Holz were present.
1.
Following the opening prayer by Arnold DeSandre and roll call of
officers, approval of minutes for Board Meeting and Work Session dated March 19th
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 answered questions
from the floor. She noted receipt of maintenance fees was down slightly for
this reporting period. Arnold DeSandre said the Van Zandt County Appraisal
District taxes community front property for 9-1/2 acres, but recent survey
could only document roughly 6 acres.
Also, tax appraisal for back community property appears to not include
portions of the triangular road intersection. Upon close of discussion, Karl
Holz moved to approve the financial reports and Gary Averitt seconded. The
motion passed without dissent.
3.
Community Input
a) Arnold
DeSandre reminded everyone newly designed Community Logo T-Shirts are on sale
at the office.
b)
The
Sycamore St. property owned by the Association is for sale through Rose Realty.
c)
The
Community-Wide Garage Sale on May 21, 2005 is coming soon and resident
participation is encouraged. The Ladies’ Club pavilion-area garage sale is
April 23, 2005, and Edom Volunteer Fire Department is having their annual fish
fry today. Everyone is encouraged to
attend and support our V.F.D.
d)
Pool
passes were discussed, with Community input from David Poole, Bev Keleminic,
Barbara Mortela, Layne DeSandre, and Ted Schroeder. Upon close of discussion, Jane Mucci moved and Freddie Scaggs
seconded to distribute pool passes this year, with the caveat no property owner
can be a guest, to address concerns with property owners having “guest”
property owners who are past due on maintenance fees. Only property owners who
are current with their maintenance fees will be issued pool passes.
e)
Initial
revision of Ed Deane-developed Internet web page for the Community is available
for review. Arnold DeSandre apologized for not having time to review, and
refreshed everyone on what Ed is doing for our community. He also noted H.H.P.O.I.A. is paying a
nominal fee for the website to be posted on the Internet.
f)
Board-Sponsored
BBQ dinner on June 11, 2005 is on track and everyone is encouraged to attend
and help get others to attend. Proceeds will be used for street signs.
g)
Property
owners Bev Keleminic, Barbara Mortela, Patricia Schroeder and new resident
Keiko Couch are working on flowers and floral arrangements for the front gate,
and at no cost to the community. Barbara Mortela presented current
beautification plans.
h)
Arnold
DeSandre read a report on Texas State Legislature empowering Homeowner
Associations to assess speeding fines on community roads. A brief discussion
ensued about how difficult that would be to enforce.
4.
Committee Reports
a) Layne
DeSandre reported the Easter Egg Hunt was rousing success in spite of inclement
weather. Roughly 35 – 40 children attended and had a good time. She noted everything
is status quo presently. She reported
the local Van Zandt Count Justice of the Peace Office appears to not be on
board with enforcing nuisance abatement cases, claiming that these types of
cases have to be sent to Gary Rose in the DA’s office.
b)
Arthur
Mucci with the Lake Committee reminded everyone lake front weed control
chemicals do not work without water, and the lake is restocked with fish on a
seasonal basis as agreed by both Lake Communities. Ensuing discussion distilled out consensus best method for
sealing out weeds from lake front areas is 30mil construction sheathing secured
with concrete blocks, and is approved by biologist Stan Smith. David Poole said
debris from poorly secured weed-control sheathing has clogged the discharge
flume gate in the past. Art Mucci also said the maintenance contractor for the
dam is doing a good job.
c)
Freddie
Scaggs said Maintenance summer hires are working on cleaning up the common lake
front areas. She also said Bobby and Corky Merz are cleaning up both area
bathhouses. Ted Schroeder asked for the fishing pier and rails to be repaired
while the lake level is low. Freddie Scaggs told everyone present David Boulter
is cleaning the David Poole Park area at the back and doing a splendid job as a
volunteer. Maintenance summer helper Larry Lockhart has cleaned up stumps from
exposed lake front areas. Freddie Scaggs also said Maintenance is looking for a
more robust commercial mower for the ditches. Current fragile mower deck is
broken again and the mowing season has just started.
d)
Office
Committee report by Arnold DeSandre noted nine (9)-property transfer changes
were completed last month. Gerri Heck asked people to please pay maintenance
fees with a check or money order. The office does not keep change for a $100.00
bill, only petty cash.
5.
Unfinished Business
a)
Arnold
DeSandre said bid of $67,500 by McKinney & Moore has been accepted for
discharge flume repairs. Galvanized steel has already been ordered and is
scheduled for delivery 5/1/2005. McKinney & Moore estimate 25 working days
to complete the project if they do not encounter any problems. Velvin &
Weeks Engineers have sent a letter for the Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality (TCEQ) and after their review; it needs six items changed for accuracy.
Galvanizing on dead man pilings adds roughly $4,000 to contract cost; cold tar
coating also is good since these will be power-driven into the ground at the
discharge flume. We have gone for the cold tar process at no additional cost to
us. Art Mucci clarified for everyone
present exactly why the Callender Lake Communities have to spend all this money
on dam repairs. Arnold DeSandre reminded everyone Hickory Hill’s Community
portion is ˝ the cost of all repair contracts.
b)
Waterside
dam erosion repairs are currently on hold. Frieze & Nichols Engineering has
suggested clay/sand mix to back fill erosion areas, but a huge quantity of this
would be required plus application would be difficult. Large rock has been
suggested, but the significant wave action at Callender Lake will wash the
stones right up the dam embankment. A retaining wall has been proposed, but
Callender Lake Community is unable to contribute their ˝ for another project
currently bid at $55,000.00. Arnold DeSandre noted a retaining wall
installation will not likely require lowering lake level to the extent we had
to for discharge flume & gate repairs. He also said any plans to repair
waterside dam erosion must be approved by TCEQ. Velvin & Weeks Engineers will be reviewing this situation and
providing their recommendations within the next two weeks.
c)
With
the lake level lowered, Hickory Hills Drive causeway erosion is being repaired.
Culvert pipe is rotted out and erosion was at least 10 – 12 feet back under the
road. This took 6 truckloads of clay/sand, packed by hand, to repair. New
plastic culvert pieces were sleeved inside old culvert and forms erected for
concrete barriers at both ends. Nineteen yards of concrete were used to pour
the barriers.
d)
Lowered
lake level has also revealed a very poorly executed glob of concrete at the end
of one boat ramp. Bob Lovegrove will be breaking this up and using the pieces
to fill in the large hole at the end of the other boat ramp.
e)
Nominating
Committee member Freddie Scaggs thanked everyone who helped stuff ballots for
mailing last Friday. Many ballots were hand delivered to save postage.
6.
New Business
a) Bills
to be approved for payment were presented and discussed by Arnold DeSandre.
Karl Holz moved and Freddie Scaggs seconded to approve. The motion passed without dissent.
b) Gerri
Heck said animal control in our Community is doing much better and she has
received some positive comments from residents.
c) Street
signs were included in the Bills to be Paid, with 25 new signs ordered.
d) Next
meeting is the Community Annual Meeting and is scheduled for May 21, 2005
Jane Mucci
moved and Karl Holz seconded to adjourn the meeting at 11:40 A.M. The motion
passed without dissent.
Signature_______________________________________
H.H.P.O.I.A. Secretary
Dated__________________________________________
