GO TO Edgehillfarm.org

We've moved to Edgehillfarm.org (and .com) as well. So join us over there. It's a tiny website right now but we're piecing together the site little by little.

Kelly Mc

August 2009 Edgehill Farm Master Association Meeting Agenda

Edgehill Farm Master Association

Monthly Meeting

Tuesday Aug. 11, 2009 @ 7pm

Location: Edgehill Farm Clubhouse Community Room

1. Call to Order – 7pm

2. Establish Quorum

3. Approval of July 2009 Meeting Minutes

4. President's Report

5. Treasurer's Report

6. Grounds Report

7. Lake Report

8. Pool Report

9. Communications Report

10. Clubhouse Report

11. Old Business

Dog Park Update

12. New Business

Canada Geese Nuisance Strategies

Applying the Mulch to the Tennis Court

The Edgehill Dog Park is moving at an excellent speed in terms of how the vendors have done their work, or 99% of it, and how neighbors have chipped in to get us to a point where we need to place, essentially, the final large piece of the project puzzle into place. That being the spreading off mulch over the tennis court's asphalt surface.

The mulch is being donated by Randy Smith

Tree Care - a company that recently performed some work in our park and does quite a bit of assignments for our property management company, RS Fincher. It is a TREMENDOUS show of generosity on Mr. Smith's part to swing by the tennis court parking lot to drop off wood chips from his job. We thank him sincerely and hope (those of you who need tree trimming or removal) that you'll consider his services. Donations of wood chips aside, his prices are very fair and he performs according to job specifications.

If you've been tracking the dog park's progress.......

You're likely on the dog park email list. But if not, the time is now for a call of volunteers to help spread this mulch on Saturday July 25, 2009 over at the Edgehill Farm Tennis Court area. The job will be simple. Fill a wheelbarrow or wheeled canister with wood chips, a team will roll it into the tennis court, empty the container, spread the mulch to a healthy depth and repeat until the mulch is gone.

Two large wood chip piles are already on site and more is on the way, so we'll tackle what's there.

Active neighbors have already come together on this project to perform early, nit-picky, stuff suited for one or two people at a time, or I would've contacted folks sooner.

After all, a little help on Saturday morning around 9:30am will benefit folks who support the dog park in spirit but, for physical reasons, might can't lend a hand.

Email me: kmanchor(at)yahoo.com and let me know you can contribute an hour or two to the cause.

Volunteer hours help us maximize our grant value through the Town of Cary (they've offered us a grant to perform the project)

Kelly McCullen

Friday July 17, 2009 Notes Regarding a Board Conversation

Kelly's "After-Meeting" notes:

The minutes of a meeting can never capture the conversation surrounding the individual business items as hand.

That said - I, personally, and we as the Edgehill Master Association have heard more complaints about pool attendee behavior this summer than, I think, in many (if any) year's past. Residents overhear conversations at the pool where people admit they don't live here or don't even know the name of the neighborhood as Edgehill Farm. One resident counted nearly 20 people who knocked on the pool gate from entry because "they forgot their key." Residents don't feel empowered or aren't willing in many cases to confront a trespasser, and I can't blame them. Our board is only 8 people strong, some of us work and others travel a bit - most of us aren't regular pool goers, so a "vacuum" of oversight has formed and people are spending our dues money and increasing our liability because they're too cheap to properly contribute towards a pool's operation.

The problem is our key & lock system, which is woefully outdated and the keys that open the pool gate. These keys are easily "lost" - that is, they're given away by people who move away from Edgehill to their friends to use OR they keep the key, move away and then enjoy trespassing at poolside. These problems come and go in waves. You hear complaints and just as you get serious about doing something, all reports from the pool cease. Then, BAM! More reports and complaints.

The biggest complaint is paying residents often find the pool overcrowded.

Next, we hear about the smokers who are leaving their cigarette butts on the concrete pool deck.

Then, you'll see the folks who just can't bear to drink their beer from an aluminum must parade around with glass bottles. Mind you, alcohol consumption isn't allowed at the pool. A dropped glass bottle - a single bottle - will, by state health law, close the pool.

Once the pool is closed:

1. We drain it

2. We double check it for debris/glass

3. We power wash it.

4. We get it inspected by health officials.

5. We refill it with water

6. We re-treat it with chemicals

7. WE END UP SPENDING ABOUT $5,000 for that one cold bottle.

Back to topic.......

The pool overcrowding issue could entirely be Edgehill Farm residents, be common sense says there's enough trespassers using old keys they should've left with their landlords when they moved out. But, we can handle it.

In 2010, we'll likely be ridding ourselves of the traditional key & lock system of pool entry, replacing it with a keyless entry system. On top of that, you MUST have the key in your possession at the pool - none of this "I forgot my key" business. We would've installed a new key system this year, but it would've be an organizational nightmare over the summer.

Second - and I HATE this option - is the implementation of the old "Pool Nazi" scheme that long gives HOA's the reputation they often so richly deserve. If the pool nazi shows up to check keys or proof of eligibility, guess what? Show it!

Third - since Edgehill Farm has an "agency agreement" with Cary Police, it looks like we'll have to use it as the final option against aggressive pool attendees who exert their "right" to risk our pool access through negligent behavior (glass) or trespassing.

Our current board is quite active and many residents who are not board members are starting to get involved with volunteer efforts like the dog park construction or even paying attention to what's happening on the property. You own it, after all. This is a good thing.

Once upon a time, our amenities needed so much work that many residents didn't find desirability in using them. Now that amenities are improving, many people are lured our way.

If you've been miffed by the pool experience at some point, we'll need your help. The eight people who happen serve on the board cannot do it all. Let me know when or if you're ready.

Results from July 14th HOA Master Association Meeting

EDGEHILL FARM MASTER ASSOCIATION

BOARD MEETING MINUTES

July 14, 2009

Board Members Present:

Sue Kear

Kathy McDaniel

Kelly McCullen

Rita Perry

Sally Flint

Phyllis Gladstone

Management Present:

None

Guests: Mandi Baggett, Marc White, Cindy Scheman, and Ann Pavano

The meeting was called to order at 7:05. There was a quorum present. The June 2009 minutes were approved as written.

President’s Report

The loan is down to $55,756 and the Reserve fund is $49,761.78 which gives a debt ratio of 1.12. By the end of this month we should have over $50,000 in the reserve fund.

Treasurer’s Report

Phyllis questioned the opening of a CD. The board felt that the CD was a good way to earn some extra money. Also, the money had already been transferred to a CD.

The electric bill is still remaining high if not going higher. Phyllis mentioned that we might want to lock the thermostat.

The telephone bill was late which incurred a minor late fee. Kelly will remind RS Fincher to pay the bills on time.

Grounds Report

The walkway is being scrapped of excrement 2 times per week.

There has been an excess of trash around certain areas of the lake which the guests felt were do to non residents. They were told they could call the police on trespassers.

Lake Report

Kelly mentioned the pond report that we had received. There was nothing detrimental in it.

Pool Report

The bathrooms are not always clean and there seems to be a funny smell. Sue mentioned that part of the smell could be the wet indoor/outdoor carpet. (KELLY NOTE: We always wondered if the smell isn't due to use of chlorine bleach which,while clean, can smell pretty bad.)

The cleanliness of the pool was noted. (KELLY NOTE: The pool water cleanliness was noted for being very clean)

There seems to be an excess of cigarette butts on the concrete deck. There was question if the butt butler was still there.

The pool seems to be very crowded this year and it seems to be non residents. There is not much that can be done this pool season but next pool season we should see a change due to the new lock and access.

Clubhouse Report

Kelly mentioned that there have been more renters.

Communication

Kelly said that he updates the blog almost weekly. The domain name Edgehillfarm.com is still under Alex’s name but will expire on August 15. Kelly said he will use $9 to retain the name once it expires.

Old Business

The new dog park has been weeded and the boards were installed along the fence. Kelly has gotten the signs for the picking up of waste. He still needs to get the signs for the rules and the different dog areas. The fence should be installed tomorrow that will separate the 2 areas. The mulch still needs to be delivered.

New Business

Rita said that she has counted over 100 geese. She has gotten information from the CDC as well as from state and federal agencies. She brought information about different types of repellants (helium balloons, pie plates, wire etc). She will look at the home on Goldmeadow that has installed the wire fencing around the yard. There was question about could the wire be low enough around the lake to keep the geese out but still allow the ducks to enter the lake. Rita, Ann, and Cindy have formed a committee to look into the types of repellants and will report back.

There is a dead tree that needs to be removed as well as a tree that is blocking the light by the new dog park. Kelly said that Randy Smith Tree Care will remove both trees for $375. The board approved.

Kelly has found a deal on getting a lock for the dog park. It will be $1300 and will be the same system that we will install on the pool gate. It works with PINs or cards. The cards will be $3.38 each and will probably not be needed until pool season. This lock uses a handheld device to enter or delete user numbers.

Kelly said that he will need additional money over the grant money to get the lock installed, buying concrete benches, and possibly having the mulch blown in instead of manually having to spread it. Rita made the motion and Phyllis seconded to allow up to $1000 for these expenditures. Motion approved. The additional money would come from other budget items (clubhouse, gazebo, etc).

The lawyer needed board approval to initiate a foreclosure. The board gave blanket approval.

The board approved $330 from site maintenance to repair the seats on the wooden benches around the walkway, fix the bridge, and repair the lattice work at the clubhouse/pool.

The fountain has been tripped a few times probably due to nature (wildlife, storms). The box is still locked.

Open Forum

Users of the pool that are non residents – unless we pay someone to check or sign people in there is not much we can do. Should see improvement next year.

Notification about the dog park – Kelly said he and Marc posted flyers and that it was in the blog.

Pool drain – has been replaced/repaired due to the new rulings.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:25. The next board meeting will be August 11, 2009 in the clubhouse.

Respectfully submitted,

Secretary

July 2009 Edgehill Farm Master Assoc. Meeting Agenda

Edgehill Farm Master Association

Monthly Meeting

Tuesday July 14, 2009 @ 7pm

Location: Edgehill Farm Clubhouse Community Room

1. Call to Order – 7pm
2. Establish Quorum
3. Approval of June 2009 Meeting Minutes
4. President's Report
5. Treasurer's Report
6. Grounds Report
7. Lake Report
8. Pool Report
9. Communications Report
10. Clubhouse Report
11. Old Business

Dog Park Update

New Business

- Geese Repelling Strategies

- Dog Park Security Gate

- Dead Tree Removal at Lakeside & at security light

- Lakeside/walkway bench refacing

****If anyone attends the meeting for a dog park briefing, I'll do it after adjourning the regular business meeting*****

Weekend Volunteering

The smallest pieces of the dog park puzzle arrived Wednesday morning when Lowe's dropped off some decking planks that we're using to build a perimeter around the bottom of the tall, tennis court fence. It's not a hard job but is a little slow and you nick your fingers a bit dealing with the wire that connects board to fence.

The perimeter lumber will prevent the mulch bedding from washing away so easily and is recommended by the water quality expert who works with the Town of Cary. We've had a couple of conversations with those folks to make sure everything's "okay." They've given their blessing.

On Saturday, I plan to gather a few Edgehill neighbors who want to volunteer and finish wiring the perimeter.

If you're not a wiring-type person, the courts have some nuisance weeds growing through the cracks that need removing the old-fashioned way. I don't wanna use chemical herbicides where bare paws will be running soon if the weeds will pull out easily enough. Simply trimming them down will result in them growing back.

Email me if you have questions or if you're one of those folks who signed our mini-petition to volunteer (and I've not called you yet) OR if you're interested in helping us out. We're all friendly folks who want to bring an amenity to life.

KMc

kmanchor(at)yahoo(dot)com

It's Been Quiet Work but the Dog Park Progresses.....

Hello All,

We're moving forward with converting the Edgehill tennis courts, or used-to-be tennis courts, into an off-leash, dog exercise area. In the earlier posting, we offered hearty thanks to the Town of Cary for buying into our idea, quite literally.

Creating the dog park itself isn't too complicated a task because the core components already exist. That being a flat piece of ground with the fence too high for dogs to jump over it and run away. The old tennis courts are perfect!

The work of calling vendors - multiple vendors - to check prices on services and equipment is a time consuming and lonely task but absolutely essential if we're to secure the best value for the money we spend and to enter a business relationship that could yield future services for Edgehill as we need them and business for a company that relies on stable and reliable clients. I'm learning that's very important for HOA's to do. You wouldn't believe the savings you get by simply meeting face-to-face and following through if negotiations work out.

The first step of this project is to get some fencing installed inside the tennis court area. The fencing will create a double-gated entry into the exercise area. There will be an entry for a "small dog" play area and a "large dog" play area. The fencing will be a professional installation.

Step two is installing some deck timbers along the bottom of the tall perimeter fence. Some Edgehill residents recommended it and so did the Town of Cary. We've bought the decking planks and wire and will install the perimeter, hopefully, later this week.

Step three is getting signs created. Dropping off the dog park rules to be printed on a sign took about 15 minutes after I had lunch one day. Creative Images of downtown Cary is conjuring the design. In filling out the Town of Cary Grant application, I told them that the Maynard Road Dog Park's rules looked good and, since they're city approved, we'd use it as a template. Cary likes conformity and, I admit, it makes things easier for drawing up dog park rules.

Here are the rules gleaned and slightly modified for Edgehill's use since we're actually a private dog park as opposed to Maynard Road:

Edgehill Farm Dog Park Rules

Park is open from sunrise to sunset.

Dogs shall wear a collar with rabies vaccination tag at all times; no spiked collars allowed.

Cary ordinance requires owners to pick up their dog's waste and dispose of it in provided containers

Each adult may have a maximum of 2 dogs at a time in the park.

Owners are solely responsible for any injury or damage caused by your dog.

If your dog inflicts an injury, give your name and telephone number to the other dog owner before leaving.

Prevent injuries by supervising your dog at all times.

Never leave your dog unattended.

No female dogs in heat are allowed.

No food (animal food or people food), treats, or bones are allowed inside the fenced area.

No littering: wrappers and other litter can be eaten by dogs and cause a choking or digestion hazard which can be life-threatening!

No smoking inside the dog park.

No strollers, bicycles, tricycles, big-wheels, wagons, roller-blades, etcetera are allowed in the dog park except wheelchairs used by people with physical challenges.

Wear shoes at all times.

Children 12 and under are not allowed inside the fenced area.

Dogs under 4 months are prohibited.

Use at own risk.

All bites must be reported by contacting the Animal Control office at (919) 319-4517. Town of Cary ordinance Sec. 6-69 (b) Animal Bites, Notification. Reporting Bite. It shall be unlawful for a person to fail to report to Animal Control as soon as possible that an animal has bitten a person. It shall be unlawful for any person to fail to inform the Animal Control unit the location to which an animal that has bitten a human being has been taken if the owner has given the animal away, or caused in any way the animal to be taken from the owner's premises. In case of an Emergency call 911.

Owners who fail to follow rules and regulations are subject to loss of park privileges.

The full Edgehill Farm Master Association will review these rules at the Tuesday July 14th, 2009 monthly meeting.

Step Four involves negotiating with a professional pet waste removal company. There are at least three (that I've found) that will service the dog park on a weekly basis by keeping our pet waste stations stocked with baggies while emptying our waste baskets. This service is necessary from the obvious health and wellness aspects but also from a common sense perspective. It is contingent to our grant that professionals handle waste management. Dog owners will still be required to clean up their dog's waste and deposit it in the pet waste canisters. There's a reason it will be Rule #3.

Step Five is asking area tree trimming companies to dump their wood mulch/shavings at the tennis court parking lot if they're passing our way. This is a wonderful act of generosity and I'm making calls this week.

Additional steps include buying a few benches for the humans and maybe a trash can for human trash. You wanna be careful bringing lunch in the dog park if there's a crowd there. You might prove to be a little too popular with the dogs!

I easily recognize the need for a water outlet somewhere in the dog park but, frankly, don't have enough grant money to make it happen. The dog/human multipurpose water fountains you find at Bond Park cost over $3,000 each and that doesn't include the plumbing we'd need to run for about 100 feet. So, bring a bottle of water.

That's about it in a nutshell. Those neighbors who've offered to volunteer some time, we'll be ramping up the work about the time the mulch arrives as that's easily the most labor intensive. If I've got your name during our "petition drive," I'll be contacting you soon.

The goal is to open the dog park on, or before, September 1st, 2009. I'm thinking "before."

Contact me if you have any questions.

The Tuesday July 14th Edgehill Master Association Meeting is the one to attend if you want more information on the dog park's progress. Email me if you'd like to attend and I'll draw up some printed notes for an audience. You're also welcome to simply drop by.

Kelly Mc

A Huge Thanks to the Town of Cary & its Planning Dept.

The Town of Cary and it's planning officials have approved a "Neighborhood Improvement Grant" so Edgehill Farm can proceed to convert its old tennis courts into an off-leash pet area!

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!

We'll get to work on it very soon and the volunteers who'll be lending their sweat equity (which was the core component of qualifying for the grant) deserve all of our appreciation.

NOTE: The progress of the dog park will be discussed at the next Edgehill Farm monthly meeting on July 14, 2009 @ 7pm inside the Edgehill Farm clubhouse.

But always remember that you can email me anytime you have a question or want to know something. If I don't have the answer, I'll try to get the answer for you.

Unofficial June Meeting Minutes

EDGEHILL FARM MASTER ASSOCIATION

BOARD MEETING MINUTES

June 9, 2009

Board Members Present:

     Kevin McMahon

     Kathy McDaniel

     Kelly McCullen

     Rita Perry

     Sally Flint

     

  Management Present:

    Beth Harvey

              

The meeting was called to order at 7:25.  There was a quorum present. 

The May 2009 minutes were approved as written.

President’s Report

(Kelly's Note):  We continue building our cash reserves while paying down our clubhouse/pool loan.  

Treasurer’s Report 

Kelly said everything looked fine.

Grounds Report

Nothing to report.

Lake Report

Rita said that the end of the lake by Castalia is smelling bad.  We will ask Foster to look at that end of the lake.

Pool Report

Nothing to report.

Clubhouse Report

The new toilets are working fine.

Communication

Nothing to report.

Old Business

Beth will check on when the Leyland Cypress trees will be sprayed.

New Business

There are 4 accounts that need to be written off due to foreclosures by the mortgage holder.  Board approved.

The board needed to vote on sending 4 additional homeowners an intent to foreclose letter.  The board approved with Kelly recusing himself from the vote on 1 homeowner.

The bridge behind the condos needs the side rails repaired.

Rita made the motion and it was seconded to convert the tennis court area into a dog park contingent on plans coming to fruition.  Motion approved.  The pet waste management would cost $21.25/mth or $1100 for the year.  The $1900 for the additional fencing is included in the proposal.

The pool gate will likely be out of code next year when we have our inspection.  Kelly has gotten quotes on several card access systems ranging from $3500 to $9900.  Kelly made the motion (to purchase a keyless entry system) and it was opposed to award a contract at this time.  The board feels like this item can wait until the 2010 pool season.

Kelly made the motion and Rita seconded to put $25,000 of the reserve money into a 5 month CD and to keep the rest in the money market account.  Motion approved.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:05. The next board meeting will be July 14, 2009 in the clubhouse.  

June 10th Edgehill Master Association Summary...

I can tell it's summer season because folks, including board members, are busy traveling and working.  We had a quorum to conduct business and not a soul visited us as a guest.  Hey, I'm learning when things are quiet, all is relatively good.

So, what did the board accomplish on Tuesday night?

We voted to take one-half of the money from our Reserve Fund, which currently sits in a money market account, and shift it into a 5 month certificate of deposit where the interest rate is a little better.  The other half of the Reserve Fund will remain in a money market where we can immediately access it if necessary.  Let's hope not as we need to keep building it up.  The extra interest, through year's end, will be essentially the same as 5 months worth of monthly dues payments from an "invisible resident."  

The board voted to convert the use of the now-closed tennis courts into a off-leash dog park if all our plans come together.  It's like putting a puzzle together and is certainly a step-by-step process.  If all works out, we'll convert the courts.  If not, the courts remain the tennis courts and will certainly remain closed.

We discussed the notion of installing a keyless entry system for the pool gate.  Time and technology will force our hand as new inspection rules certainly will require us to upgrade our "security" in terms of locks.  I received a couple of bids for these keyless systems - which will replace the lock and key we have now - but the board voted to reject purchasing the equipment in 2009.  I'll bet a dollar you'll see new pool access technology installed in time for Spring 2010, but there's no guarantee without a majority board vote.  These keyless cards are programmable and allow lost keycards to be digitally "turned off" and disabled via computer.  If a keycard gets lost, we turn it off and it's useless.  Our current charter would also allow the disabling of the keys for properties that are over 30-days behind in dues payments but the board should reiterate that position if we upgrade.  That's 2010, though.

The official minutes, courtesy of Kathy our secretary, are coming soon and I'll post them here.  They're "official."

Tues. June 9, 2009 Master Association Meeting Agenda

Edgehill Farm Master Association 

Monthly Meeting

Tuesday June 9, 2009 @ 7pm

Location:  Edgehill Farm Clubhouse Community Room

Call to Order @7pm

Establish Quorum

Approval of May 2009 Meeting Minutes

Pres. Report

Treasurer Report

Grounds Report

Lake Report

Pool Report

Communications Report

Clubhouse Report

Old Business

New Business

      - Pool Security Discussion

      - Proposed Off-Leash Dog Area 

______________________

That's the meeting agenda for Tuesday night at 7pm.  Standard fare as all systems are running, folks seem happy with the landscaping crew and content that the pool is open and wet on hot days.

We'll talk about the pool and, more importantly, if there are enough people attending it that don't belong there - not the least of which is they don't live in Edgehill Farm and don't contribute financially to help operate it.  There are sporadic reports of this and that.....

We're still on the burner, slow simmering, in regards to converting the now-closed tennis courts into an off-leash, dog exercise area.  It's a holding pattern until a few things happen.  I'll update the board and other attendees on Tuesday evening.  If you're on the email list for dog park updates, you know the whole deal.

By the way......there's a meeting coming up where the Town of Cary is discussing "historical preservation" around town.  Every citizen is invited on June 17, 2009 at the Bond Park Community Center from 6:30pm to 8:30pm in the Maple Conference Room

See you later!

KMc

Next Edgehill Farm Master Association Meeting is Tues. June 9, 2009 @ 7pm

The meeting is coming up next Tuesday.....I've yet to formulate an agenda but will do so by the end of the weekend.

I expect we'll talk about the proposed dog park concept and maybe pool gate security.  I've not asked my fellow board members if they have any new business they'd like to discuss.

Of course, even if you're not a board member, you'll get a chance to address the board in person.  We're always reachable through this blog or you can email me if something pops up.

KMc

Dog Park "Baby Steps" & The POOL! The POOL!

I discussed the notion of an Edgehill Dog Park with the stormwater drainage/water quality expert at the Town of Cary.  From that department's perspective, converting the tennis courts to a dog park would not pose any problem of contamination due to nitrogen (since dog waste is still a fertilizer).  I and others had wondered about that.  They request, and we insist, that - first - dog owners pick up after themselves IF the park gets opened and we bolster that self-policing with a professional pet waste removal contract.

In fact, it's an infraction in Cary to refuse to clean up feces from your pet on public or private property!  I was researching the laws on dogs who bite and show aggression and stumbled on the ordinance over dog waste.  First violation earns you a $20 fine.  Subsequent violations earn you a $50 fine.  I'm noticing more than one dog walker who doesn't clean after their pets. 

THAT SAID.....sometimes your dog uses the bathroom a number of times exceeding the amount of baggies you're carrying in your pocket.  But, something like a dog park would require heavy-handed self policing.  Baggies would be supplied so there would be ZERO excuse.  But, that's the cart before the horse; we're not close to "dog park" status yet.

The nicer we make our amenities, the more people will use them.  The more people that use them - by sheer numbers - the more lazy folks will come along, too.  Sorry for being mean.

Regarding our proposed dog park, our email list is more active because it reaches people who want to know more depth in what we're working on, time lines, etc.  This blog is for the proposed park news "Tid Bits" but also other HOA and community information.  Email me if you want to join that list.  We're bouncing ideas and comments off each other as thoughts arise.

You're always welcome to email me or leave a comment.  I'll post it on the main page.

IF YOU'RE A RESIDENT WHO USES THE POOL......

We appreciate the folks who are taking ownership in the pool and are questioning squatters/freeloaders who, for some odd reason, think they're entitled to free access while you pay a monthly fee to keep the pool clean for them.

Upon reading the covenants that cover every Edgehill resident, any dues-payers has the authority to enforce community rules, such as pool trespassing.  YES, it IS trespassing.

I'm not hearing that the pool is so overwhelmed with people that dues-payers can't enjoy it, but folks have said they've spotted glass bottle violations, rude and even aggressive behavior by people who do not live in our community, yet enjoy loitering.  I'm a nice guy but have no tolerance for people like this.

A few board members are discussing possible proposals for handling this situation if it grows.....and even if it doesn't grow into a bigger problem. 

Our current pool key policy is effectively "broken" and it's being taken advantage by some residents who seemingly get a new pool every year to replace their "lost" one.  Our property manager, in replacing different residents' "lost keys," report hearing the same excuse over and over as reasons to replace a key.

To the residents:  I need some feedback on this pool stuff.  

A Lil More Dog Park Information

Cass of Springfork Drive writes:

I'm extremely in favor of converting the tennis courts to a dog park. It would be wonderful for me and my dog. A dog park would much more of benefit than tennis courts or even basketball courts. 
The wood mulch is a great ground covering. It seems to work well at the Town of Cary dog park. It would also be nice if an Edgehill park could have a bench for humans, a water fountain/bowl for dogs, and bag stand with trash can for waste pick-ups.

I hope we can make the dog park happen!

Edgehill Farm Master Association Board Member, Sue Kear, writes:

Hey, guys,

I do love his idea. I  did mention to Kelly that we need to get a written and signed statement from our insurance company about exactly how much our insurance would go down. I can't think of how a dog park would lower insurance rates.

Having the dog park, besides the advantages, rids EF of a huge eyesore - an area which screams neglect - not a boon to our property values!!!

I'll do whatever I can in terms of person-hours. Like make brownies and lemonade? Bring beer? Whatever.

Kelly, if you have a list of worker bees and their hone numbers (probably more efficient than emails) along with dates/times that you'd like the project to be worked on, I'd gladly call the volunteers to remind them.

Sue

Kelly writes:

Sue's is absolutely correct about obtaining written confirmation from the insurance company about potential effects to our premium rates.  Currently, we're paying for the "risk" of having tennis players on our property despite not having a functional tennis court.  I'll get to work on that on Tuesday.  I've missed the business hours of the insurance company that past two times I've called.  But, our property manager called them two weeks ago and received a verbal confirmation that a dog area, with proper signage and disclaimers, isn't much different than tennis activity on the HOA property....which is YOUR property.

This coming week could provide the information we need to proceed or delay the proposed dog park.  I'm now convinced that a majority of our residents are supportive of an off-leash area as compared with a defunct and useless tennis court - which is still touted by realtors as an amenity when listing houses, town homes and condos for sale in the neighborhood.

I've spoken with the the Town Planner and a Town of Cary water quality specialist, so we're covering all our bases up front in terms of any city gov't requests or requirements.

So, What Do We Have At The Present Moment?

We have 21 volunteers who say they're willing to lend "sweat equity" in terms of volunteer hours.  This is unprecedented in my four years of living in Edgehill Farm.  I mean, NOBODY cares about HOA or community amenities, it seems, unless something goes wrong - then folks go way outta their way to complain or demand action!  

The more volunteers willing to step forward, the more projects we can plan.  Hiring contractors & vendors is EXPENSIVE and sometimes us amateurs can do the work!

This is awesome that we can bring condo, town home and single family homeowners together! 

We are finalizing a plan to determine how to best fund this project and officially "green light" it.  There are a few options out there.  Interestingly, simply asking the Edgehill Farm HOA (the one you pay $37.80 per month) to pick up the complete cost is out of the question at this point.  The reason is that we're maintaining a huge grassy park, paved walkway, clubhouse and in-ground pool (kept to Wake County Health Dept. standards) and really have to watch our costs because our cash flow isn't abundant - adequate for current costs, however.

But, we're working on alternative means....hang in there!

If you're new to paying attention to HOA business, read below.......

Earlier this decade the pool underwent a necessary overhaul that cost about $80,000.  You weren't assessed because a bank was willing to finance a loan and our cash flow could pay it back while paying the other bills.  The HOA had that original loan nearly paid when the clubhouse overhaul became necessary because the insurance company didn't like the clubhouse's physical condition.  That meant refinancing the pool loan while adding $46,000 to it, leaving the HOA (you) with a five year loan @ 7.25% for $63,150 (give or take).  So, we're paying that loan while socking away a little extra into our savings account so the HOA will hopefully have enough cash in the bank when the next BIG financial project hits.  

I know this is beating the proverbial "dead horse," but our recent maintenance and renovations have slowed us in restoring other amenities - like creating dog parks or even restoring tennis courts.  The Master Association Board must be commended for using sensible leverage for big ticket repairs while preserving the existing budget and cash flow.  For you folks who may be following the HOA's activities for the first time, this tidbit of information is "Lesson One."

I appreciate Cass and Sue and Amy emailing in on Sunday.  The more ideas we generate, the more efficiency, savings and benefits we'll conjure before starting the proposed project.

Let's hope everything goes our way and THANKS for reading the Edgehill blog!  Email me and I'll add you to the list.  When I update this site, I send a quick email.

Don't forget the "Dog Park" email address:  edgehilldogpark@yahoo.com.

Either way, if you touch base, I'll keep you informed.

Kelly McCullen

Edgehill Farm