Secret Woods Homeowners gather for the 2005 Annual Homeowners meeting at Southpoint Baptist Church.

The Secret Woods 2005 Annual Homeowner's Association Meeting was called to order by Board President Sallie Wnuk at 6:40 p.m. at the Southpoint Baptist Church .

The following members attended: Bill Bortzfield, Valerie Redmond,  Horst Pophal, Jim Thompson, Wayne Williams, and Sallie Wnuk. 

Board President Sallie Wnuk opened the meeting by asking Mark Lemmenes to give the blessing.  Board Secretary Bill Bortzfield then read the 2004 annual meeting minutes. The minutes were approved as read.

Sallie then called on Board Treasurer Valerie Redmond for the treasurer's summary report which was as follows:

Valerie said that as of today (June 20) 116 homeowners have paid their 2005 annual dues.  

Sallie then gave a wrap-up report, recapping some of the major projects and initiatives of the past year:

• The shed amendment vote failed. The final vote was 50 yes votes, 21 no votes and one ballot was returned without a yes or no vote.  At least 95 yes votes were needed for the measure to pass.  

• No carpenter ants were found at the pool.  Sallie did check with the city about additional lighting.  The city will not ad any more lights.  If neighborhood wanted to do it the cost would run about $1,000 per light.

• The T-Mobile tower that the neighborhood fought against has gone up but has been landscaped to look like a tree and did not turn as as bad as originally feared.

The 2004-2005 Secret Woods Board from left to right: Secretary Valerie Redmond, President Sallie Wnuk, Member Horst Pophal, Member Jim Williams and Member Wayne Williams.  Photo by Board Secretary/Webmaster Bill Bortzfield.

Attention then turned to new business.  Sallie reported the board is now tackling how best to have a new fence built around the front of the neighborhood.  She explained that the current fence is gradually rotting and also provided some history on the assessment that was levied for the original fence.

The board would like to replace the existing fence with a black aluminum one.  She reported the cost would be roughly $20,000.   The brick posts would cost approximately $1,000 to get re-done.

Sallie said that the neighborhood has applied for a city grant, which if approved approved in September  would provide $5,000 toward the cost of the project.  She thanked Bonnie Cowling, Mary Loving and Wayne Williams for putting so much time into the grant application and attending the city workshops. Sallie said she felt the neighborhood's chances of being awarded the grant were good and noted that adjoining neighborhood Hickory Glen recently secured a city grant for it's fence project.

Volunteer hours are required for the grant.  Sallie noted we might be able to meet that requirement by taking down the existing fence.  The new fence would also have to be stained and painted, which would count toward the volunteer hours.  Sallie hopes we can arrange a workday in the fall.

Mark Lemmenes asked if we could move forward on the fence project before the grant awards are announced.   Sallie said she would rather wait until we have word on the grant.  If  the grant is denied she said the board might levy a small assessment.

Susie Cooney pointed out that if an assessment is needed it would probably only be about $125 a family.

Laurie Flynn asked if the brickwork would be included in the bids she saw on the neighborhood's Website.  Sallie said no.  Several other questions were also asked concerning the grant application and timetable to replace the fence.

Sallie then brought up the question of raising the new homeowner initiation fee to $500, which would require the approval of 75 percent of the homeowners to accomplish.

She asked for a show of hands of those that would be interested.  The vast majority in attendance indicated they would support such an increase.  Jim Kinnealy said that it was excessive to go from $100 to $500 but he would not be opposed to raising the initiation fee to $275, which would be the same amount as the annual dues.

Sallie said the purpose for the most part would be to raise the reserves.

Joe Miller stated he was in favor of raising the dues to $500 and made a motion to do so.  Horst Pophal seconded the motion.

Sallie agreed that the board would draft the proposed increase and mail out the referendum to all homeowners for a vote.

Sallie then reported on her research into the neighborhood hiring a  management company to take over many of the functions the board currently performs.  She said the cost  would run about $8,300 a year.  A management company would write checks, send out infraction letters, and handle maintenance calls.  Other duties would still have to be performed by the board. 

She asked whether the neighborhood was interested.  Most in attendance were against the idea.  One  suggestion made was paying board members.

Sallie said another option might be to wave the annual dues for board members. 

Sallie then asked whether an  amendment should be added waiving annual dues for board members.

The vast majority in attendance raised their hand in favor of the measure. 

Nancy Whooten suggested if enough yes votes didn't come back in then residents should go door-to-door to get the remaining votes.  Sallie agreed that was a good idea.

Susie Cooney said she would take care of  putting a sign-up sheet at the mailbox to aimed at getting volunteers to resurrect the neighborhood's block captain system. 

Attention then turned to filling two board vacancies. Former Treasurer Tom Bozak's position remains open and Horst's term is up tonight.

The floor was opened for nominations.  Mary Loving was nominated, accepted and voted in.  Jim Kinnealy was also nominated but declined.  New resident Linda Evans was nominated.  Her sister, Nancy Whooten, accepted the nomination on her behalf and Linda was voted in.

Joe Miller asked about the new arbor that went up on one resident's property.  Sallie said no one brought it to the attention of the board. The owner explained  she felt she didn't need board approval for this since she didn't feel it was a structure.  Joe also questioned whether it would pass city muster. 

Bill pointed out that the full board hasn't met since the arbor would put up so the board had not had a chance to address whether the arbor violated the neighborhood's covenants and restrictions.

Jim Kinnealy said several neighborhood lights had vines growing and should be trimmed back. 

Mary Loving asked about the pond scum at the front pond.  Sallie said she is getting bids to have the fountain fixed.  The neighborhood's lake treatment company estimated it would cost about to $1,500 to fix.   The lake treatment company has not been treating the ponds for about a year.  Sallie said the board would resume having the ponds chemically treated.

A question was then asked about infraction letters.  Sallie explained the process.

Sallie thanked Mary and Bonnie for all the work they put into the neighborhood's city grant application.  Mark was thanked for walking the neighborhood and picking up trash several times a week.

Walter Babcock thanked the board for their work.   The meeting was adjourned at 8:08pm.

Minutes submitted on June 26, 2005 and amended on July 12, 2005.