Fall Drive Through Extended Due to Weather the Past Several Weeks:
Please everyone do your best by November 16th to get your landscaping kept up with leaves raked, trees/shrubs trimmed, and lawns mowed during any periods of time between now and November 16th should the rain lighten up. The weather forecast does not look too promising anytime soon though.
Also, during drive through quarterly inspections besides landscaping other areas of concern are viewed too which include, garbage cans being placed out of sight, making sure that homeowners are adhering to only two vehicles parked in driveways, ladders put away, and such.
Thanks everyone for following the neighborhood rules and CC & R’s that are listed for review on the HOA website. When in doubt refresh your memory by reading areas that any individual homeowner may be unsure about.
Dog Owners, Guests, and Walkers Not Living in the Loomis Trail Neighborhood Please Obey HOA Rules:
Neighbors please share with family members or visiting guests that if anyone is walking dogs in the neighborhood that they are responsible to pick up their dog poop and not ignore it. This includes anytime of the day whether it be in the morning, daytime, or evening hours even when it is dark. This includes homeowner’s yards, common areas, and lots too. Responsible pet owners should respect those that live in the HOA and pick up their dog poop.
Ultimately, homeowners are responsible for all family members and their guests visiting to share this information or they could be liable for fines. Thank you to the many that are responsible pet owners and follow the rules. Sadly, someone chose to ignore the rules and reports have been made to the board.
Landscape Disruption and Parked Vehicles in Common Areas:
All homeowner’s guests should know this as this will be strictly followed through on with reports from homeowners when others see vehicles parking on the grass common areas or a homeowner’s hired vendor(s) or landscaper crew(s) causing damage to the boulevard and common areas. This has been happening too often and will now need to stop.
The HOA will not be responsible for repairs. As the holidays approach and more guests attend celebrations, it is highly suggested to remind in writing this to your guests to park in the pullouts, personal driveways, and such.
Several neighbors have concerns about this and out of respect for the entire neighborhood, please everyone understand that anyone needs to think ahead of the potential damages that can happen and even more so during wet weather when planning work to be done that also needs approval too. The WRS crew works hard to maintain the common area boulevards and any additional scope of work from damages is not part of their normal budgeted work for the year.
New Homeowners and Holiday/Christmas Lights:
A few neighbors have asked about holiday decorating and the answer is good news that holiday lights are allowed and during this time decorations too. For those new to the neighborhood, the entry gates are also decorated as well with swags and wreaths. For anyone that would live to join in on decorating the entry gates email me at [email protected] for the date and time this will occur.
Ryan Barnes Board President Announces the Fall BOD Meeting is on Monday November 8th 6:30pm – 7:30pm at the Ferndale Library:
The next quarterly Board of Directors Meeting is scheduled for Monday evening at the Ferndale Library from 6:30pm-7:30pm. The meeting will start right on time and is “open” for HOA members in accordance with our bylaws. For those that are wondering why the meeting is in Ferndale, it is because the Blaine Library is not having meetings at this time still. Also, out of courtesy, if homeowners are planning to attend the meeting, please send an email no later than noon on 11/8 to [email protected] to RSVP so the proper chairs and copies of hand outs are available. This is much appreciated.
Items for Sale If Anyone Is Interested:
If anyone is in need of a dining room wood table with six chairs (great condition and nice) for $100, a living room sofa and love seat light gray and tan (in excellent condition and comfortable) as well as an end table and lamp all for $125, and also mobility walkers barely used (3) of the Drive Brand ones for $30 each, please contact me at (360) 305-5508 or email me for pictures of the items if interested.
My mother passed away on October 17th so I am selling these items.
The items are all nice, clean, and look nice in a home or are great for college students too.
Winter Concerns and New Neighbor Questions:
As always it is good to share information with long time neighbors as well as new neighbors that have questions, so here are a few items to share information about.
Windstorms Bring Down Limbs and Leaves:
1) Who is responsible for the leaves and branches on the roads and boulevards?
WRS has a schedule and a contract that is set every year and their crew picks up branches and limbs when they are on site as scheduled. At this time of the season, they will blow the leaves as much as they can and even do their best to also tend to some front yard leave blowing of homeowners that have heavy leave build up. In between visits as mentioned in past newsletters, it is a nice kind gesture for neighbors to place large limbs in the boulevard grass until the WRS Crew can dispose of them on their next visit to the neighborhood. There are times that they will even try to make an extra trip and drive through the neighborhood when time permits after a windstorm in between visits. Then there is the option for homeowners to kindly put any small limbs on a volunteer basis in their own garbage debris totes if they have room to do so.
Mail and Delivery to the Wrong Mailbox:
2) What should I do if I get someone else’s mail or a package in my mail box?
In the past several years this was an ongoing problem with multiple new carriers resulting in weekly mail mix up; however, there have been very few neighbors that have complained about this being a problem since this time. Knowing though that it is the holiday season this might possibly happen in the near future with more holiday postal help being hired.
What has been suggested in the past, is for individuals to do the kind neighborly gesture and bring it to your neighbors and give it to them if you feel comfortable doing so if they are home. If not, put the mail back in the mail drop box and a note to the postal employee that it was left in the wrong box so that it can be delivered in the right box the next day so as to not delay the mail. The other option is to take it to the Blaine Post Office for them to be aware of the error(s) so that the postal employee can be reminded to be more careful putting mail in the right box.
Who Do I Contact When the Two Entry Gates Will Not Work Properly?
3) Contact Judy Hamner with Elite Management at (360) 685-4209 and she will get a hold of the first board member she can reach that is available to check out the gate to see if a repair person needs to be called.
There are times the gate just needs a little TLC by a board member that knows the little tricks to fix it and then there are times that a vendor needs to be called to fix the gate. If a part needs to be ordered this may at times take up to a week for repair. Also, during the winter months when the weather is cold, snowy, and icy the gate maybe left open during periods of times that cars could potentially slide into the gate. This is done to prevent gate repairs and potential vehicle damage of cars sliding into the gate by accident.
Who Removes the Snow on the Roadways During the Winter?
4) If there is snow build up that appears to be going to stay on the roads for several days due to reviewing weather forecasts WRS is called to remove snow, drifts, and ice to ensure the safety of drivers in the neighborhood.
Normally in past winters, the need has been minimal; although, several years ago this was a different story. The decision is made by the board on steps to be taken. It is also recommended that all drivers and any vendors coming to the neighborhood to drive slowly when entering and departing the gate area. Even more important is to not drive off the roadway and end up in the grass boulevards causing damage to the common areas by mistake.
Planters at the East Gate Will Be Removed for Winter Storage:
Kevin with WRS called and mentioned his crew will be removing the large planters at the east gate by the golf course and storing them in their storage area for the winter, so if anyone sees they are gone this is where they are.
Also, speaking of the east gate the sign is now up as drivers leave the golf course with a “SLOW DOWN” sign posted on the back side of the “DO NOT ENTER” sign on the golf course departure lane leaving the parking lot. This sign took some time to get posted, but it is now up and very worthy of the safety issue with cars leaving at a brisk speed as neighbors left the gate area with oncoming cars approaching at times at fast speeds.
If you have anything for the next newsletter, please respond no later than November 28th and send information to [email protected].
Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone, Stay Healthy, and Be Thankful, and Neighborly this Holiday Season That is Approaching!
Submitted by,
Kathy Barnes
BOD Secretary and Newsletter Volunteer
[email protected]
(360) 305-5508
[Cover photo: Kathy Barnes]