by Wood Creek HOA Management | Dec 7, 2015 | Newsletters
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Budget
The 2015 Winter Newsletter is here and with it a copy of the projected 2016 budget. The 2016 Annual Budget meeting was held October 20, 2015. The Board is pleased to announce that after thorough review of the 2016 budget dues will remain unchanged for the coming year. Monthly dues for 2016 will continue at $155.00/month.
Residing Project Continues
The building selected for residing in 2016 is Building 3. Congratulations to the owners and residents there. Work will begin in late summer of 2016. The entire building will be wrapped with an underlayment (adding R-value, sound dampening, moisture control and resistance to insect/pest intrusion) along with new vinyl siding which will bring beautiful long lasting color as well as increased protection against the elements.
Pet Cleanup
A reminder to pet owners at Wood Creek, please remember to keep your pets leashed and clean up after them (See Rules and Regulations No. 7). Your neighbors and maintenance staff will appreciate it. Dogs are not allowed to be left unattended for any amount of time outside of your townhome.
Entryway Debris
We’d like to remind owners and residents to please keep porches and decks free and clear of debris. What does that mean? So glad you asked. Do you have a spare tire you can’t seem to figure out what to do with? Is that moped parked on your porch for the winter instead of a parking spot? Are those materials from your remodeling project you haven’t quite gotten around cluttering the entryway? How about the children’s toys that have spilled out of the playroom and out the front door? Yes, all of these belong inside and out of the entryway. —please relocate them (See Rules and Regulations No. 2 & 10). Let’s keep Wood Creek clean and clutter free.
Thank you for allowing us to continue to serve you. We wish everyone here at Wood Creek a pleasant holiday season.
Sincerely,
Wood Creek Townhome Association
Board of Directors
by Wood Creek HOA Management | Sep 10, 2015 | Newsletters
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The Board of Directors would like your feedback on various projects recently presented or considered by the Board for review. These projects may or may not be approved. However, your feedback helps us consider priorities with consideration to owner interest. Please feel free to add comments below each project or attach them to the survey. Please return this survey by mail or place in the mail slot in the Wood Creek Office by October 1, 2015.
Below, please place a number next to the following projects on a scale of 1 to 5 with 1 being least desirable and 5 being most desirable. You can list more than one project using any number from 1 to 5.
- ___ Extending curb walkways on North and South entrances. Would include a small retaining wall.
- Projected Cost: $20,000-$25,000 each
- Primary Purpose: Improve access to and from Wood Creek via Michigan Street.
- Secondary Purpose 1: Improve safety for pedestrians particularly during snow and icy weather
- Secondary Purpose 2: Retaining wall installation would reduce erosion along nearby inclines improving Wood Creek aesthetic
- ___ Build a community garden along the open area field near the playground. Plots may or may not be rented for a small seasonal fee.
- Project Estimate: $1,500 – $2,500 (Depending on number of plots constructed)
- Primary Purpose: Provide plots for owners/residents to grow fresh fruits and vegetables
- Secondary Purpose 1: Improve aesthetic and community involvement
- ___ Restore/Improve Playground area (Note: Stage 1 approved)
- Projected Cost: Stage 2 – $8,000 (Adding River Rock to playground borders)
- Projected Cost: Stage 3 – $1,500 (Adding plants)
- Primary Purpose: Improve Playground and surrounding lot for owners and tenants
- Secondary Purpose: Improve Wood Creek aesthetic
- ___ Add Playground additional playground equipment.
- Projected Cost: $10,000 to $25,000 (Price depending on equipment purchased)
- Primary Purpose: Improve Playground and surrounding lot for owners and tenants
- Secondary Purpose: Improve Wood Creek aesthetic
- ___ Increase Community Events (Community Yard sales & BBQs).
- Projected Cost: $500 to $750 annually (Price depending on event & volunteer availability)
- Primary Purpose: Improve Community Involvement
- ___ Increase Bylaw Violation Enforcement.
- Projected Cost: Negligible
- Primary Purpose: Improve Community safety
- Secondary Purpose: Maintain Community Standards as outlined in the Wood Creek Bylaws and Declaration
- Secondary Purpose: Additional minimal income from fines collected
- ___ Increase Maintenance around the Common Areas (mowing & edging)
- Projected Cost: $2,000-$8,000 annually
- Primary Purpose: Increase general appearance of Wood Creek landscaping
- ___ Replace rented Street Lights with smaller Association owned streetlights.
- Projected rough estimate: $20,000 – $40,000 (Approx. 10 Poles to replace)
- Projected Savings: Unknown. Requires additional research
- Primary Purpose: Eliminate rental fees for light poles
- ___ Add parking spaces along the western lot adjacent to the playground.
- Projected Cost: Unknown
- Primary Purpose: Add additional parking spaces reducing parking along nearby curbs
- Secondary Purpose: Provide potential location to deposit snow from plowing streets
- ___ Your Ideas/Comments
by Wood Creek HOA Management | Sep 10, 2015 | Newsletters
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Greetings Wood Creek Townhome Owners and residents,
We hope you have enjoyed the Summer. We’d like to take this opportunity as we transition to Fall to give you a few reminders and review some of what Management and the Board have been up to lately.
Playground Project: In July, the Board turned its focus on improving the playground and surrounding area. Bids were collected and reviewed and a project selected. The project will be implemented in stages as funds become available. Stage 1 has been funded and involves adding weed-block and sand to the playground. Stay tuned for future improvements in the coming months.
Beautification: Over the spring and summer months, we’ve been working steadily to improve the common areas, particularly along the north and south road entrances. We’ve added plants and mulch around trees in key locations. In addition, excess mulch is provided free of charge to owners and tenants that wish to make use of it in the common areas around their homes. Mulch is located next to the parking lot along the north entrance between buildings 1 and 3. The Board is always looking for ideas to improve the common areas around Wood Creek. For example, if you have plants/cuttings you’d like to see more of around Wood Creek and would like to donate them, or if you have a green thumb and would like to volunteer your time (1 hour or 20, we’d love your help), please contact Management.
Partitioned Gardens/Flower Boxes: Dovetailing on Beautification, the Board reminds owners and residents that gardens partitioned off from the common area are required to be maintained by the association (see Declaration 6.1(b)). The Association has permitted owners to make these partitions with the understanding that the owner will maintain these areas. This includes flowerboxes hung along windows and railings. Please be aware that if your unit has a partitioned garden and it is not being maintained (i.e. weeds, overgrown plants, dead plants/trees, etc.), or if your flower boxes are unused and falling apart, the association reserves the right to remove the partition and/or flower boxes and resume maintenance of the reclaimed area. Owners will be notified if their partition or flower boxes are being considered for reclamation or removal. Additionally, if you have flower boxes you’d like removed or have a partitioned area you do not wish to maintain any longer, please contact Management to schedule removal or reclamation.
Contact Information Update: If you are an owner living off site with tenants living in your unit, please be sure to contact Management should you or your tenant’s contact information change. This will allow Management to communicate with you quickly in the event of an emergency and keep you informed of any changes and events at Wood Creek.
Termite Inspection: Inspections are scheduled in September (please see enclosed flyer). Inspections take roughly 10-15 minutes per unit. If you are unable to be present during the time allotted, please make plans to provide a spare key to Management. If you prefer to be present but have a scheduling conflict, please contact Management.
Siding Replacement: Building 9 was selected this year for re-siding and has recently been completed. The Board would like to thank Wempe Brothers Construction for their hard work and invite you to take a look at the finished product.
**A Note to Owners and Occupants of Building 9 – A reminder: All satellite dishes, plants, and fixtures attached to the walls of re-sided buildings will not be replaced (items include anything that may damage the siding or compromise its integrity. See R&R No. 9). If you have questions regarding removed items and where they may be re-attached, please contact Management.
Common Area Entryway Reminder: We’d like to take this opportunity to remind owners and residents as the new school year begins to please clear out your common area entryways. Examples of things to clear off the porch include:
- That old tire or bucket of paint you aren’t sure what to do with (consider recycling them);
- Your Moped/Motorcycle (please park it in your designated parking space);
- The kids’ bicycles and toys (there are bicycle racks for bikes and toys should be stored inside);
- Miscellaneous tools and materials from that project you’ve been meaning to get to (please store these in the basement until you’re ready to tackle it); and
- Anything that blocks reasonable access to your front door (your mail carrier and guests will thank you).
Items generally considered ok to have on your entryway (provided they don’t’ obstruct access) include:
- Potted plants;
- Barbeques (please leave at least 3 feet between the BBQ and your siding when in use to prevent siding damage);
- Tables and chairs
- Seasonal decorations (Halloween props, Christmas lights, etc.)
- Temporary items (if it’s collecting spider webs, it’s probably not temporary)
In addition, if you have items listed above lying around your unit in the common area, you will be asked to remove the items. If you have a concern that something may or may not fall into the above categories, please contact Management and they’ll be happy to review it with you.
Budget Review Meeting: In October the Board and Management will review and determine the Wood Creek Townhome budget for the coming year. We invite owners to attend, ask questions and provide feedback to the board about our vision for the community. Do you like the work being done? Do you want to see more? Do you want to see less? Are you curious how your dues are spent? Let us know. If you are unable to attend, contact Management with your questions/comments or to request a copy of the budget. We look forward to seeing you in October.
New Board Members: In July and August, the Board appointed two new members, Margretta Devries and TJ Henderson to serve out the remaining terms of two available Board positions vacated last year. We’d like to thank them for their interest in serving Wood Creek and we look forward to working with them. Likewise, there remain 3 available seats on the Board. If you are interested in serving, please contact Management or attend one of our monthly Board Meetings (3rd Tuesday of the month).
Thank you for allowing us to continue to serve you. We wish everyone here at Wood Creek a pleasant Fall season.
Sincerely,
Wood Creek Townhome Association
Board of Directors
by Wood Creek HOA Management | Feb 24, 2015 | Newsletters
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Greetings Wood Creek Townhome Owners and Residents,
Entryway Debris:
Warmer weather is approaching and we’d like to remind owners and residents to please keep the common area entryway (i.e. your porch) tidy. All porches should be kept free and clear of rubbish, debris and other unsightly materials. Please help keep Wood Creek clutter free.
Pet Cleanup:
Please remember to keep your pets leashed and clean up after them (See Rules and Regulations No. 7). You’re neighbors and maintenance staff appreciate it.
Re-siding Project Continues:
We are into our fourth year of Wood Creek’s re-siding project. The building selected this year for re-siding is Building No. 9. Congratulations to the owners and residents there. The entire building will be wrapped with an underlayment (adding R-value, sound dampening, moisture control and resistance to insect/pest intrusion) along with new vinyl siding which will bring beautiful long lasting color as well as increased protection against the elements. Work on siding will begin this spring. Owners and residents of Building 9 will be notified when a project date is set. Please note, any satellite dishes or other items currently attached to the exterior walls of Building 9 will be removed by installation crews and will not be reattached to the new siding. Building 9 owners and/or residents are encouraged to contact their current dish provider and request they reinstall dishes in an acceptable location. If you have questions, please feel free to contact Management.
Board of Directors Meetings:
We encourage all owners to participate in Wood Creek decisions. Owners and residents are welcome to attend the Wood Creek Townhouse Association Board of Directors monthly meetings. Please see attached schedule for meeting times and dates.
Sincerely,
Meadowlark Property Management
Wood Creek Townhome Association, Board of Directors
by Wood Creek HOA Management | Dec 10, 2014 | Newsletters
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Budget
The 2014 Winter Newsletter is here and with it a copy of the projected 2015 budget. The budget meeting was held October 21, 2014 and the Board is pleased to note that no dues increase is necessary for the coming year. This was due in part to a conservation of labor hours and in part to a short term leasing agreement reached between the Condo Association and the Townhome Association regarding general maintenance of Wood Creek common areas. Further negotiations are planned to cement a longer term leasing arrangement in the near future. If you have any questions about the budget or would like additional information please contact Management.
Recycling
We are excited to announce the start of single-stream residential recycling collection by the City of Lawrence! Wood Creek’s two recycling containers are located in the cul-de-sacs nearest the North and South entrances. Please help make the City’s new recycling program a success by only placing acceptable recyclable materials in the recycling bins. Unacceptable items (plastic bags, food waste, Styrofoam, to-go food containers) can contaminate the entire load of recyclables and cause them to be sent to the landfill instead of being recycled. Please see the list of accepted and non-accepted items for recycling attached to this newsletter. Thank you for your help in making the recycling program a success. For more information on recycling in Lawrence, visit www.LawrenceRecycles.org or call 832-3032.
Snow Removal
In the words of House Stark, Winter is Coming, and with it, the possibility of snow and ice. We ask that all owners and residents refrain from attempting to remove any snow and ice from their porches or walkways. The Association has purchased a nice snow-blower and Management has shoveling crews ready to go when the flakes start falling. We ask your patience though as a number of elements including severity of the storm, location of parked vehicles and time of day (or night) the storm begins impacts how fast the roads and walks are cleared. For those of you who work at night or have an emergency and need to have your area cleared at a specific time, please contact Management and provide them with as much notice as you are able and they will do their best to accommodate your request.
Thank you for allowing us to continue to serve you. We wish everyone here at Wood Creek a pleasant holiday season.
Sincerely,
Wood Creek Townhome Association
Board of Directors
by Wood Creek HOA Management | Aug 26, 2014 | Newsletters
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Greetings Wood Creek Townhome Owners and residents,
We hope you have enjoyed another mild Summer. We’d like to take this opportunity as we transition to Fall to give you a few reminders and review some of what Management and the Board have been up to lately.
Beautification Project: In June, the Board approved a beautification project proposed by owner and avid gardener Konni Leffler. Ms. Leffler, working with Management, has begun identifying common areas that need improvement. Ms. Leffler has an eye for efficiency and has recommended transplantation of plants from bordered gardens no longer actively maintained as a way to reduce costs on materials. If you have plants or cuttings you’d like to see more of around Wood Creek and would like to donate them, or if you have a green thumb and would like to volunteer your time (it doesn’t matter if it’s 1 hour or 20), please contact Management.
Partitioned Gardens/Flower Boxes: Dovetailing on Ms. Leffler’s project, the Board reminds owners and residents that gardens partitioned off from the common area are required to be maintained by the association (see Declaration 6.1(b)). The Association has permitted owners to make these partitions with the understanding that the owner will maintain these areas. This includes flowerboxes hung along windows and railings. Please be aware that if your unit has a partitioned garden and it is not being maintained (i.e. weeds, overgrown plants, dead plants/trees, etc.), or if your flower boxes are unused and falling apart, the association may decide to remove the partition and/or flower boxes and resume maintenance of the reclaimed area. Owners will be notified if their partition or flower boxes are being considered for reclamation or removal. Additionally, if you have flower boxes you’d like removed or have a partitioned area you do not wish to maintain any longer, please contact Management to schedule removal or reclamation.
Contact Information Update: If you are an owner living off site with tenants, please be sure to contact Management should you or your tenant’s contact information change. This will allow Management to communicate with you quickly in the event of an emergency and keep you informed of any changes and events at Wood Creek.
Termite Inspection: In June we had our annual termite inspections. Once again, we are pleased to announce that no termites were discovered in any of the buildings. A BIG thank you to our owners, residents and Meadowlark Manager Sara Rock for making the inspections run smoothly once again.
Siding Replacement: The delay due to a labor shortage is over. Siding installation by Pete Wempe of Wempe Brothers Construction for Building 17 is underway, marking the 3rd building in the Board’s residing project. A quick note to owners and occupants of building 17 – all satellite dishes, plants, and fixtures attached to the walls of the building will be removed and will not be replaced (items include anything that may damage the siding or compromise its integrity. See R&R No. 9). If you have questions regarding removed items, please contact Management.
Common Area Entryway Reminder: We’d like to take the opportunity to again remind owners and residents as the new school year begins to please clear out your common area entryways.
Examples of things to clear off the porch include:
- That old tire or bucket of paint you aren’t sure what to do with (consider recycling them);
- Your Moped/Motorcycle (please park it in your designated parking space);
- The kids’ bicycles and toys (there are bicycle racks for bikes and toys should be stored inside);
- Miscellaneous tools and materials from that project you’ve been meaning to get to (please store these in the basement until you really are ready to tackle it); and
- Anything that blocks reasonable access to your front door (your mail carrier and guests will thank you).
Items generally considered ok to have on your entryway (provided they don’t’ obstruct access) include:
- Potted plants;
- Barbeques (please leave at least 3 feet between the BBQ and your siding when in use to prevent siding damage);
- Tables and chairs
- Seasonal decorations (Halloween props, Christmas lights, etc.)
- Temporary items (if it’s collecting spider webs, it’s probably not temporary)
If you have a concern that something may or may not fall into the above categories, please contact Meadowlark Management and they’ll be happy to review it with you.
Wood Creek Address Change and/or Central Mailboxes: At our August meeting, a representative from the United States Postal Service attended to discuss the option of installing Central Mailboxes around Wood Creek instead of delivering mail to individual units. These mailboxes would allow for improved security and accuracy of mail delivery though some board members noted the boxes might be less convenient. The boxes themselves would be funded by a Federal Grant. The association would be responsible for funding and installing the concrete foundation for the boxes.
The representative also noted that mail efficiency would be improved on their end and ours were Wood Creek to adopt a simple number only address for each unit. Instead of addressing a parcel to 255 N. Michigan 3-14 (building 3, No. 14), owners would simply list 255 N. Michigan No. 14. It was noted at the meeting that utility services still list the building first followed by the unit number in their systems which might cause unforeseen issues with the Utility companies’ mail. The USPS rep promised to work with us to address this issue with the utilities should we decide to make an address change.
The board has not made a decision on either of these suggestions and would like your feedback. Do you like the idea of a central mailbox? Do you hate it? Do you want your unit address adjusted? Are you happy with the way it is? Call or e-mail Management and let us know.
Budget Review Meeting: In October the Board and Management will review and determine the Wood Creek Townhome budget for the coming year. We invite owners to attend, ask questions and provide feedback to the board about our vision for the community. Do you like the work being done? Do you want to see more? Do you want to see less? Are you curious how your dues are spent? Let us know. If you are unable to attend, contact Management with your questions/comments or to request a copy of the budget. We look forward to seeing you in October.
Board Member Farewell: The August Board meeting was the last official meeting for Board Secretary Jennifer Meitl-Conrad. Ms. Conrad’s family is expanding and she recently sold her home to move into larger digs. Ms. Conrad joined the board with several currently serving members in 2010 with a strong desire to serve and improve Wood Creek for everyone. In her 4 years on the board, she organized a number of events, took meeting minutes and made a host of important decisions for Wood Creek’s benefit. Thank you for your service Jennifer. We wish you the best.
Board Member Positions Available: In light of Ms. Conrad’s departure, we’d like to note there are currently 3 slots available by appointment on the Wood Creek Townhome Board of Directors. If you’ve ever been interested in the work that goes into maintaining Wood Creek and can volunteer your time, contact Management or come to one of our meetings (Generally the 3rd Monday of the month at 7pm. See a detailed list of meeting dates posted on the office bulletin board).
Thank you for allowing us to continue to serve you. We wish everyone here at Wood Creek a pleasant Fall season.
Sincerely,
Wood Creek Townhome Association
Board of Directors
