Infractions were a serious topic of discussion at the meeting.  The board noted several families have been violating the neighborhood covenants.  Before any outdoor home improvement is made, homeowners should check the covenants for possible restrictions or requirements.  You can read the covenants and by-laws by clicking here.  The board will be following up on how to respond to the various infractions at its Sept. 9 meeting.

Joe proposed at the meeting that the board authorize $25 dollars a month to move the Secret Woods Website to a server that is commercial free and would support the SecretWoods.com domain name.  After discussion the issued was tabled.  But neighborhood Webmaster Bill Bortzfield will get some hosting prices for the board to consider at its next meeting.

Joe asked whether board members thought a neighborhood gathering should be planned.   Bonnie suggested the question be asked in a poll, which Bill agreed to put on the Website. 

The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m. 

Submitted by Board Member Bill Bortzfield on 08/24/02.

Call to Order – President Joe Miller 6:30 pm – Skinner YMCA

Attendance: Board Members: Joe Miller, Bill Bortzfield, Jim Cowling, Bob Sams & Byron Delong, Horst Pophal Neighbors: Bonnie Cowling

Handouts: Neighborhood newsletter, Financial report, Chair project report , Bathroom project report, Walter Babcock pool use suggestions & Jax Country Club pool problems

The financial reports were discussed and accepted as presented. It was noted that there are still a couple neighbors that have not paid dues for 2002-2003. Our normal monthly expense are pool cleaning $500, lawn mowing $525, lake weed control $122, JEA electrical $350. Pool cleaning will be reduced by $150 in September through May.

Joe Miller and Bob Sams picked up new pool chairs and chaise lounges from Costco and Sams Wholesale.

Joe Miller, Bonnie Miller, Bob Sams, Carol Bozak, and Tom Bozak have nearly completed the bathroom upgrades. Help is needed to complete the project. Joe will place a sign up at the bulletin board for volunteers to complete this project. Neighbors have volunteered over 50 hours to date.

Joe said the bathroom service was discontinued July 1^st. The condition of the floors and toilets did not appear that the cleaning service was doing its job. Joe decided to clean the bathrooms to see how much work the service was doing. Realizing how easy it is, he took on the job without pay for the last two months saving $150.00. There was discussion about the pool area and vandalism. Walter Babcock sent a suggestion to the Board about the pool area. He included a serious letter to Jax. Country Club Member Association about vandalism at its pool. It was noted that this summer the vandalism had fallen to the lowest in the past 5 years.

Joe mentioned that the lighting at the back entranced had stopped working again. Bob said that he had not noticed. (After the Board meeting, Joe and Bob looked at the timer and realized that it had burned out.) To be fixed soon.

Joe said that Bill had sent an email to him about the Lovings fence painting. He said that he would get volunteers to complete this project within the next couple of weeks.

There was a discussion of a September 11^th neighborhood assembly and dinner. It was decided that we should have a neighborhood party but that it should be delayed until the fall when the weather will be nicer.

There was a discussion of two current infractions, a utility trailer and a new fence. These items were tabled until the next Board meeting in order for the Board to research the legality of the infractions. While we were on this topic, Bob Sams suggested that neighbors be made aware of the strict restrictions on property usage in Secret Woods. He believes that new neighbors are unaware that they have moved into a Covenant restricted neighborhood that enforces these Covenants. Bob said that we should install a sign at the mailbox making all aware of these serious offenses. Joe said this would be done.

Bill Bortzfield said that he has entered all Covenants and Restrictions and By-laws on the neighborhood website. Bill added that a new neighbor had installed a new driveway without approval. This would be reviewed and discussed at the next meeting. Jim said that another new neighbor had asked for the rules on a new fence. Joe said that a new neighbor on Bent Creek had asked and been granted permission on his fence. The current construction is exactly as described and it is beautiful.

Our two current projects are: completing the bathrooms and painting all of the neighborhood signs. Bill said that he received a $500 quote to paint the signs where they are installed. Bob Sams said that was too much. We had an offer of free sign painting service if the neighborhood would take them down. The remaining Board members worried that if the signs were taken down a can of worms could be encountered. After voting for the $500 amount to be allocated, the Board rescinded their vote and allowed Mr. Sams to have until September 9, 2002 to make forward progress on this project and report back at the next meeting. (After the meeting, Joe Miller and Bob Sams removed the back entrance signs and are evaluating the painting possibilities.)

Joe passed out the newsletter that he and his wife Bonnie assembled. This will be posted at the mailboxes on Saturday. Bill said that he would like to place it on the website for all to read and for history.

Joe asked if anyone wanted to submit a new project idea. It was agreed that until the current plate of projects were completed that nothing new would be attempted.

Bob Sams suggested that the old mirrors be reinstalled at the bathrooms. Joe disagreed and said that they were too old and messed up. This was tabled until the next meeting.

Horst said that the Millers should receive the next yard of the month award.

Bill stated that he had three polls that were placed on the website. One asked if the Secret Woods phone information should be kept private. 75% of the neighbors believed that only Secret Woods residents should be able to get this information.

Joe said that the neighborhood had purchased the domain Secretwoods.com months ago but were not using it. There was discussion if the neighborhood should host this site that would cost $25 per month. A decision was delayed until the next meeting.

Joe asked if any other business needed to be discussed. After thanking those in attendance, the meeting was adjourned promptly at 7:30 pm. It was agreed that the next meeting would be held from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm September 9^th, 2002. Future meetings would be held the first Monday of every month unless that day fell on a holiday. If this occurred the meeting would be pushed to the next Monday.

Submitted by Board President Joe Miller on 08/26/02.