Board meeting minutes - February 14, 2005

The Secret Woods February 14, 2005 Homeowner's Association Board Meeting was called to order by Board  President Sallie Wnuk at 6:36 p.m. in the conference room of the Skinner Branch YMCA.

The following members attended: Valerie Redmond, Bill Bortzfield, Horst Pophal, Jim Williams, Sallie Wnuk and Wayne Williams. Residents Byron DeLong and Doug Johansen also attended.

Sallie opened the meeting by asking Bill to read the January minutes. The minutes were approved as read.

Valerie then gave the treasurer's report. The neighborhood had a balance of $19,213.76 as of January 31, 2005.

Valerie said she did try to fill out the annual report notice from the State of Florida on the state Web site.  But she needed additional information from the board members for the form.  Valerie also noted that a check was received from a resident for a replacement pool key.

Attention then turned to old business.  Sallie reported someone cut down some tree branches on a power line.  But when the branch came down it damaged the neighborhood entrance fence. It's unknown who cut the branches.

Sallie also reported receiving four bids to take over maintaining the neighborhood common areas since the existing lawn care provider was going out of business. The bids are:

• Richard's Lawn Service - $460 a month

• Mike's Lawn Care Service - $600 a month

• JE Green - $478 a month

• Lawn man - $800 a month

Sallie recommended Richard's Lawn Service based on personal experience although she  felt everyone that submitted bids would do a good job.

Wayne made a  motion that Richard's Lawn Service be hired.  Horst seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

Sallie also had the services submit a one time clean-up bid to get  the common areas in shape for Spring.

The board approved up to $1,200 be spent for a one time clean-up and maintenance project.  The board granted Sallie the discretion of picking the contractor.

Sallie noted the brick work and sign at the neighborhood's back entrance has been fixed.  The project came in over the original bid by $466.18.  The board is going back to Progressive Insurance to pursue another check to cover the difference.  But the board is holding off presenting the overage to Progressive until the landscaping bill is also in.  Progressive did agree to cover any reasonable overage.

Under new business resident Doug Johansen came to the board to ask for approval to redo his family's deck, which was damaged by the hurricanes.  Sketches were submitted.

The patio plan is being turned over to the Architectural Review Committee, although the board did say if no objections were raised by the committee the patio plan would be approved.  

Sallie noted that the fence around the neighborhood's two entrances is rotting in places.  She is getting estimates to replace the fence either as it is or with iron-look aluminum. 

The board voted unanimously to increase the annual dues by $25 dollars, noting that several big ticket projects were coming up including the aforementioned fencing.  Sallie reported the pool lip also needs repair.  The board felt is was wiser to raise the dues than to take a chance on being forced to dip into the neighborhood's reserve funds. Dues have never been increased before under the current board's watch.   The covenants allow the board to raise dues on a yearly basis by up to 10 percent each year under Section three, article A. 

It was also noted that the main pool entrance gate was pulling loose. Byron said he would look at the gate to see if it could be easily be fixed or if someone needs to be called in to repair it.

The next meeting was scheduled for March 7, 2005, which is a week earlier than normal.  The meeting was adjourned at 7:33 p.m.

Submitted by Bill Bortzfield on 2/15/05.