H.H.P.O.I.A.

Board of Directors

Monthly Meeting

Minutes

 

October 15, 2005

 

 

October 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, Gary Averitt, Freddie Scaggs, and Karl Holz were present.

 

1.       Arnold DeSandre gave the opening prayer and roll call of officers. No meeting minutes were available for review.

2.       Treasurer Jane Mucci presented the financial reports and noted further details of the Community’s finances are available in the newsletter mailed out with latest quarterly billings.  Karl Holz moved to approve financial reports as submitted. Gary Averitt seconded. The motion passed without dissent.

3.       Community Input

a)       Arnold DeSandre said the Community property on Rosebud Lane is available for immediate sale at the bargain price of $2,000.00

b)       What is being presented on the Hickory Hills web page and access to certain parts of this site was discussed. Ed Deane cleared up some misconceptions and helped everyone understand how to navigate the different options.

c)       Arnold DeSandre said we have already had positive comments about the new street signs in the community and how they are helping emergency vehicles route to call destinations much more quickly.  

d)       Arnold DeSandre said there appears to be little hope of passing a county ordinance on nuisance abatement. Too much resistance from farmers and ranchers in the county. The county does have a Keep Van Zandt Beautiful program that assigns county roads to organizations. Freddie Scaggs noted the latest Educate Van Zandt literacy program and soda can cozies being given to support the of keeping Van Zandt clean and beautiful.   

e)       Arnold DeSandre said the latest Policies and Procedures Manual has been made available for Board review. The Board needs to review the policies and make a meeting time for review.

4.       Committee Reports

a)       Layne DeSandre said the Architectural Controls Committee has mailed out Second Notice Of Violation letters and copied Gary Rose at the Van Zandt County District Attorney’s office. She said they’ve contacted a realtor about the Shelton place and it appears no one knows what to do with the mess that the property is in. One organization with a financial interest in the property has boarded up the windows and cleaned up somewhat, but the burned up vehicle remains out front and is quite an eye sore. Arnold DeSandre made sure everyone knew the Board can do nothing about that mess, other than keep up with latest developments. The burned-out McMichael’s place is currently in probate court and is another mess the Board can do nothing with at this time.   

b)       Arthur Mucci thanked all who help with the Lake Committee fish fry dinner. He said 207 paid dinners were served, and they received donations from 25 local businesses. After expenses, $845.00 per lake community was parsed out. The Lake Committee is planning on purchasing Croppies’s at 65 cents each in November. Art Mucci also said he and Jane will be resigning from the Lake Committee, effective 12/31/2005. Arnold DeSandre presented the idea of a standing, Board-supported Lake Committee and asked the Board to consider this in the December meeting. 

c)       Freddie Scaggs said having 3 people doing maintenance has made a big difference in our community to date. Many overgrown ditches never before cleaned up have now been mowed. Fire ants continue to challenge mowing and brush cleanup efforts throughout the community. Maintenance has also been working on the David Poole Park and back property areas heretofore not addressed. Freddie Scaggs asked the Board if we would be closing the back bathhouse during winter months. Arnold DeSandre suggested we review past meeting minutes for precedents. Freddie Scaggs said maintenance continues to be challenged by the extent of vandalism and theft of common property currently taking place. David Poole said there appears to have been break in at the Charles Chapman place and at properties on Dogwood Trail and Willow.

d)       Maintenance fees collections continue with some degree of increased success. As of the date of this report said Arnold DeSandre, $32,000.00 is delinquent from property owners owing more than $200.00. He also noted many bankruptcies have recently been filed attempting to beat the new, much more stringent bankruptcy law on November 1, 2005, and we will receive little or no maintenance fees from those settlements. Property transfers total to date is 51, and involve 94 lots. There have been 6 foreclosures on 13 lots to date also.

5.       Unfinished Business

a)       Arnold DeSandre said the Board has spent more than $9,500.00 in repairing the caving culvert under Hickory Hills Road directly across from the back bathhouse. A concrete flume was poured to protect culvert entrance and control beaver activity.  Hickory Hills Board of Directors has spent more than $66,000.00 this year in dam repairs and repairing road culverts so property owners will not be surprised by road cave-ins, as we had on Cottonwood last year.

b)       Arnold DeSandre said both Associations met with state-approved biologist Stan Smith who suggested we spray exposed weed growth while lake water level is low. Weed Pro, LLC out of Louisiana was contracted to spray. They used an Air Boat and walked otherwise inaccessible areas. They also did a lot of extra spraying around the boat ramp area and swimming area. Cost was $6,000.00, with Hickory Hills paying ½ at $3,000.00. It was also agreed at this meeting both sides will work on dam stump grinding and landscaping as called for in latest TCEQ report

6.       New Business

a)       Bills to be approved for payment were presented and discussed by Arnold DeSandre. Karl Holz moved and Jane Mucci seconded to approve.  The motion passed without dissent.

b)       Arnold DeSandre asked the Board to close the Office the Friday after Thanksgiving Day. Jane Mucci moved and Karl Holz seconded the motion. It passed without dissent

 

Gary Averitt moved and Freddie Scaggs seconded to adjourn the meeting at 10:55 A.M. The motion passed without dissent.

 

 

 

Signature_______________________________________

                                H.H.P.O.I.A.  Secretary

 

 

Dated__________________________________________