Ventana Lakes
Property Owners' Association
President's Report
April 19, 2006
6:30pm
To those who expressed concern, business as usual is happening at the Office.
The Rec Ctr exercise room was painted over the past weekend by Dick Snyder and George Burkett. No one asked them to do this. They called for approval first to buy paint and then got the job done. A big thank you. Thank good news we still have a few people who are willing to volunteer. Along with the news is that the exercise room will be closed for the time it takes to install new carpeting. The Board will be voting on a contractor a little later in this meeting. In addition, to improve the appearance of the Rec Ctr main room, there is need to re-seam the carpet. After this is done, the carpet will be cleaned. This means that the main room will have to cordon off until the rug is dry. Residents will not be able to use the room for probably a day. There will be those who complain, but when maintenance has to be done, some may feel inconvenienced. Notices will be posted and emails sent informing residents when all this is to take place. The pool and exercise room will be accessible through the outside gate.
When Liz Miller left, she told me the New Comer’s Social that was scheduled for the last Wednesday in March had not been planned and the Volunteer Appreciation dinner scheduled for April 29 should probably be cancelled because there were no plans made for it. Thanks to the Baades and a few other volunteers, the Appreciation dinner is on track. This year Committee chairs were asked to submit names of those who had given time to the Association. From the list of names submitted by the chairs, invitations were sent. Unfortunately, there are a few volunteers who do not work on committees so they were missed. Some have been contacted. For any who were overlooked, my apology. No matter what system people select, there will always be some who slip through the cracks.
Activities: Adrienne had schedules several events for April, May, and June. All required 50 or more to attend to pay for the event. Apparently our residents are boycotting them because only a few residents signed up. Thus all events through June where entertainers wanted payment have been cancelled. One cancellation cost $150.00. Had I waited until 30 days before the event and then had to cancel it would have cost $450.00.
Chuck Schumm had an emergency meeting of the Block Watch captains on Saturday April 15. The purpose was to bring them all up to date on events that had happened in our community. When asked if security police would help, the answer was, he did not believe the security police would deter crime. Chuck cited Westbrook that has their Sheriff’s posse who patrol and all the crime Westbrook has been experiencing lately. The crime in Ventana Lakes has been happening during the day. Last year the Board investigated the cost of hiring a security company that would patrol our community on a random 4 night a week basis from 11p.m. to 6 a.m. They merely patrol by car and then call the police if they saw something suspicious. The cost was around $650 a month. The areas around the lakes When the idea was presented to residents, those in attendance at the meeting said forget it. The patrol car could be in North Park and a crime taking place in South Bay 2.
Residents need to call the police when they believe a crime is in progress or has already happened. The more phone calls the police receive the more they might begin to patrol. Chuck said the best deterrent was to keep garage doors down. Even keeping them open a few inches might offer a way for someone to gain access to your home. If you have a security system, turn it on when you leave home even if you plan to be gone for just for a short period of time.
Our landscaper has been made aware that his employees must have some type of ID that says they work for Scapes when they are working here. I do not know if private landscaping companies have their employees wear any type of IDs.
Beginning April 24, a new part-time employee will be in the office from 12:30 to 4:30. The Board approved this position in 2005, but Liz never followed up on it. Office hours are from 9 to 12, closed 12 to 1 for employee lunch; open again from 1 to 4. So far, this seems to be working. The phone is answered when the office is closed between 12 and 1.
The CC&R Ad Hoc Committee has finished the revisions of the CC&Rs and Bylaws. Tomorrow, April 20, the group will meet with our attorney in her office to present the documents and ask many questions that arose during the work that was done. In fall the plan is to meet with small groups of residents to review the new documents and gain approval where possible and rework any sections where residents disagree.
I have been in touch with the rep from Verizon. He is submitting revised plans again to the City of Peoria. Hopefully, the plans will be approved and work will begin on their building which will be adjacent to the Rec Ctr. A faux monopine tree will be installed for their tower.
We are waiting to hear from Prismic to see if they have reorganized their company and can again publish our paper. To date our newspaper has been free. Prismic wants to charge the Association $500 to continue sending the paper to each resident. Last year when Arlene looked into other publishers because World Publishing stopped publishing our paper, she found that most would cost several thousand dollars per month The days of a free Ventana Views may be coming to a close. Corrine, our administrative assistant and Nancy Greenland, a resident, managed to put together news for the April newspaper. Until we find a publisher, residents will have to pick up the “Office” edition of Ventana Views. If residents want information in this version of out paper, they must email their item to Corrine. She does not have time to type it for the newspaper.
Flyers for events are posted on all bulletin boards by Glen Finwall. Flyers for the A frames with announcements are posted by George Horton or other volunteers when George is way. Residents who submit their email address are sent period updates of events/happening in the community. How to reach those resident who are complaining the Board keeps them in the dark is a mystery. I wonder how many residents came to the Office last year to purchase for $1.00 the 2005 Directory or to pick up the 2005 Supplement. The Supplement is updated yearly and often heard are residents who say well when that rule took effect. Part of being informed is picking up new versions of the Directory or the revised/updated rules.
The Manager’s job is doing the day-to-day operations. If the manager chooses not to enlighten residents about daily events, that is his/her choice. The Board meets monthly and residents are invited to attend. Issues of money for maintenance and upkeep are voted on at this time. Minutes are kept and contrary to what was in the Independent, the only minutes that were missing from last year were those from the annual meeting. Since I was secretary last year, I assume responsibility for the missing minutes and say I perhaps never wrote them. There are books of minutes in the office from 1998 and can be viewed by residents who fill out a request.
In relation to lost of managers in the past few years. Chuck Hellquist pointed out at the April 8 Forum that all but two managers in the past were fired for not doing their job. We did not lose them because they quit. Give the Board credit for trying to have a friendly, efficient running business office.
Bingo is still running contrary to the rumors that it would close. Bingo is a separate entity and is regulated by the State. In March, those who are the managers and supervisors had an audit by the State and except for one managerial problem, which has been resolved, their books were accurate and in order.