Tiara at the Abbey Newsletter
March 2008
THANKS TO ALL who attended our Annual HOA Meeting on February 7th. We have been working for a long time to amend our covenants. The large turn out at our meeting was instrumental in pushing this through. Thank you for your support. Details of the new covenant are on our web site: www.tiaraattheabbey.com
NEW TRUSTEES
We have three new Trustees who have joined the HOA board. They have enthusiastically jumped into their new positions. Your existing Trustees, Bill Hutchings and Jim Lamprecht are working with them to get them up to speed as quick as possible. For the first time we have a representative from Phase IV, Carl Beier. Please welcome:
Carl Beier 314-550-3639
Michele Kuster 314-570-9390
Wes Vincent - Treasurer 636-475-9319
Bill Hutchings 314-805-8923
Jim Lamprecht - President 314-724-2115
ANNUAL ASSESSMENTS
For this year only, we moved the assessment due date from March 1st to March 15th. This was necessitated by the date of the annual meeting and the turn over of the records to the new Treasurer, Wes Vincent. If you have not received an invoice, please contact Wes Vincent.
Next year we will aim to have the annual meeting in mid to late January where we will present and approve the annual budget. Once the budget is approved, we can send out the assessment invoices by February 1st, and then have them due on March 1st.
ABBEY LANE TRASH PICK-UP
When Tiara at the Abbey was built, the developer paid someone to pick-up the trash along Abbey Lane. In 2002, the developer turned over the HOA to the residents. The HOA continued to pick-up trash along the road, sometimes we paid our lawn service and sometimes we paid a young resident. Recently some of the residents have asked about having their children take on this task on a volunteer basis. One of the high schools in the area has a graduation requirement for their students where they must complete a number of community service hours. Our young adult volunteers have been doing the trash pick-up about twice a month depending on the weather. If there are any other young adults or even not so young adults that would like to joins us on Saturday mornings, please contact Jim Lamprecht. We provide trash bags, orange vests, and even a shuttle service.
CALENDAR DATES
April 12th Illegal Trash Dump Removal
April 19th Annual Fishing Tournament
May 17th Annual Garage Sale, the HOA will put an ad in the local paper and post signs at the front entrances.
ABBEY LANE ILLEGAL TRASH DUMP
During the annual meeting, we were told about a trash dump in our common grounds along Abbey Lane. We investigated and found it to be much worse than any of us ever knew. We found a water heater, a refrigerator, stoves, about 100 tires, a trunk lid from a 1960’s Volkswagen, and a couch. The area is half way between our main entrance and Phase IV, about 25 feet off Abbey Lane. The Trustees have formulated a plan to remove this illegal eyesore from our property.
We are going to attempt the removal of most of the items with volunteer labor, the residents. A number of you have been told about the dump and have already volunteered to assist. We are going to get a large dumpster for most of the trash, and trailers for the tires. The tires cannot go into a landfill, they must be recycled at a cost of $2-$3 a tire. We are planning to attack this eyesore on Saturday April 12th. All volunteers are welcome to join us. Contact one of your Trustees for more information. We will also put more information on the website as the day gets closer.
CONSTRUCTION REMINDER
As Spring approaches a number of residents are planning on landscaping improvements. Please remember that retaining walls need approval from the HOA. We want to make sure that the building methods are structurally safe. Some of the Trustees have built retaining walls and can offer some advice. Small planters and tree rings do not need our approval. Structural improvements to your property may also need approval. Please contact Carl Beier, our construction approval Trustee, for any further information.
MAILBOXES
Our covenants stipulate that all mailboxes must be of similar design. Over the years, we have found that the hinge mechanism is literally the weak link. The metal in this area cracks and usually requires a new door or a welder to repair the hinge area. Jim Lamprecht, your HOA President, has built a prototype hinge for his own mailbox. The prototype utilizes a heavy duty, pre-painted black, Stanley gate hinge. There is no welding required. All the parts for the prototype were bought at Lowe’s for about $10. If you need assistance with replacing a door, please contact Jim for more information.
FISHING
Our lakes are “catch and release only”. Please remember this when you catch a big bass. Releasing it unhurt back into the waters gives another resident an opportunity to possibly catch their first large bass ever. During the April 19th fishing tournament, we will allow residents to keep all the crappie that they want.
Lake Rules
§ Catch and release only
§ No visitors without a resident present
§ No fishing after 10:00PM without prior permission from a Trustee
§ Pick up all trash, including fishing line. Bill rescued a duck this past year entangled in fishing line.
§ Please do not hurt the fish. Release them as quickly as possible. If the fish swallows the hook, cut the line. A fish’s system will eventually disintegrate the hook.
§ The Conservation Department has urged everyone to not introduce fish from other waters into our lakes due to the possibility of spreading diseases and or introducing parasites.
§ No minnows. Minnows can grow into large carp or even shad.
§ Please do not park on the shoulder. It ruts the ground. There is room on the road for occasional parking.
PHASE IV FLAGPOLE
Last year we upgraded the Phase IV entrance to the same standard as the main entrance. This year we will be installing a flagpole. A number of residents have volunteered to assist the Trustees with installing it ourselves. We have not set a date for the installation. But as we formalize the plan we will put it in the monthly Trustee meeting minutes.
There is a ton of information on our website. For instance:
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RECYCLING
Part of your monthly trash fee goes towards recycling. Waste Management will provide residents a FREE green recycle container. They will recycle plastics (#1 & #2 only), aluminum and steel cans, glass (clear, green, and brown), and newspapers. Call them at 1-800-989-2783 to request a recycle container. Throwing away one aluminum can is the equivalent of wasting six (6) ounces of gasoline.
LAWN CARE TIP:
Spring is the time to attack crabgrass. Apply a pre-emergent herbicide this spring to prevent crabgrass this summer.
COVENANT REMINDER:
23. Recreational vehicles such as three and four wheelers, dirt bikes, motorcycles, or any other type, may not be ridden within the boundaries of TIARA at the ABBEY subdivision. Street licensed vehicles may be ridden for ingress and egress only.
