Carillon Forest Homeowner's Association Meeting
Feb. 10, 2011
Gabriel Liberty, president
Eric Ferreri, secretary
Nick Burton, vice president
Kim Underwood, Charleston Management
1 homeowner was present - Pat Alt
Meeting called to order at 6:38 PM.
2. Approval of minutes of first board meeting, held Nov. 29, 2010 at Trinity School right after the annual meeting.
The board discussed whether we should have a formal or informal "no soliciting" sign in the neighborhood. Kim Underwood advises that you cannot threaten to call the police on a solicitor unless you have posted "no soliciting" signs. She suggests small signs around the neighborhood that aren't intrusive, perhaps near the entrance.
Nick volunteers to get a small sign made that can be evaluated at the next board meeting.
The general consensus is that nobody is trying to put a stop to the Girl Scouts or other youth fundraisers. But outside solicitors are a concern.
Discussion turned to the formation of a neighborhood watch. Kim says police advise the best way to fight crime is for neighbors to help neighbors. A community watch would have block captains who would be a central focal point for each block.
Nick says it may not be a good idea to immediately confront strangers in the neighborhood. Better to call the police. But the general consensus is that email communication within the neighborhood is helpful.
5. Management Report -
We're in the process of finding volunteers for a handful of neighborhood committees.
1. A grounds committee to oversee grounds, suggest improvements. Several homeowners have expressed interest. Kim advises that a committee can be more or less involved, as it wishes. It can go out and get bids for work, or leave that to the management company, for example.
2. Neighborhood watch committee that would get the watch up and running...We've had interest from homeowners as well.
3. A social committee. We need volunteers for this as well.
A homeowner has pushed for nicer looking entrances. Better landscaping, etc. Kim got a bid for some new rose bushes at the two entrances that would cost around $900.
Gabriel has found a way to save us considerable money on landscaping.
Sweetwater is charging us $2900 a month. Gabriel got three competing bids. Interestingly, all three agreed we water too much, damaging the grass as a result. They also each thought we use too much mulch, including in some areas that aren't even visible.
The three bids:
Green Energy lawn care - 3,070.
Agape Lawn Company - 2885.
Danny's Lawn Care - $2,000.
The homeowner's board agreed to end our contract with Sweetwater at the end of March and enter into a 12-month contract with Danny's Lawn Care.
An Albritton resident reports two dead trees in a common area behind her house. We've received an estimate of $800 to remove them. We're going to get another estimate or two.
The log cabin owner wants to build a home or homes on land near the log cabin. One lot is zoned non-buildable but the owner is trying to get zoning changed to build on it. A Carillon Forest resident wants to know if it can be blocked.
Kim introduced a new association manager home page, where homeowners can get information on all sorts of neighborhood information. Go to www.charlestonmanagement.com to find the link to it.
There are two benches planned for the Few Circle arbor.
Two homes are currently in foreclosure and owe several thousand dollars, collectively, in back dues. It doesn't seem logical to the board to pursue these back dues vigorously, because the likelihood of recovering the lost money is low.
Our next meeting is set for Thursday, May 12, 6:30 at Nick Burton's home on Kilgo Drive.
Meeting adjourned 8:05 p.m.