2016 Annual Meeting

Thanks to all who came out.  Thanks to the 19 people in attendance and the proxies collected we 35 households represented we exceeded the minimum of 32 households that were required for quorum.

The only official business conducted was the re-election of Jocelyn Depatie and Russell Hackworth to the board.  There were two spots open and they both ran unopposed to those positions.

Google Fiber

Google Fiber was present to give us some information about the timeline and process.  The major construction should be complete in the next two weeks.  Google will then finalize what they refer to as the "last mile".  This encompasses the connection to the home.  There were some concerns raised by homeowners at the flags and trash left behind by the crews.  We were assured that there would be a final cleanup before they leave the neighborhood; this includes removing the flags marking underground utilities.  Please do not remove these yourself as they may still be needed.  While the representative could not comment on exactly when the service will be live, it's possible those who have signed up could be using Google Fiber in mid-February.  For those wishing to sign-up, there will be another sign-up party held in the 1st or 2nd week of February.  New sign-ups will go at the end of the queue.  Circling back to construction, if you have any questions or complaints you can call the Construction Hotline at 1-877-454-6959.

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Member Discussions

There was also some great member discussion around irrigation, resurfacing the trail, general landscaping, a bee hives, repainting homes, and fence replacements.  

Bee Hive

One of our members is willing to maintain a bee hive in the common area behind the west side of Campfield in an area that is not travelled.  The Board is going to look into the potential liability to the neighborhood.  If it is something that can be done, we will give everyone notice and discuss it during on of the regular board meetings that occur ever two months.  

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Repainting Homes

There are still a few homes that need to comply with notices for repainting homes. Those of you who have had to do so understand it is no small cost. We are continuing to work with those homeowners that need to repaint.  Where applicable by the CCRs violations have been cited and fines have been assessed.

Fence Repair / Replacment

There was a question about replacing fences when part of the fence is shared with a neighbor.  The information provided by our association management company (CAM) was simply to contact your neighbor about sharing the cost of that section of fence.  If your neighbor isn't willing to share the cost but you want to proceed anyway, the cost will be your responsibility. 

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Irrigation

The irrigation topic focused mostly on our aging irrigation system and the cost to repair/maintain. In 2016 we instructed the landscape company to do a full assessment of the system and the cost to completely repair and maintain.  In short, it's difficult to assess a total system when problems exist. We will continue to repair and improve the system. The board will also be investigating the move away from using our irrigation system and look into the possibility of utilizing a service (watering truck) to water necessary areas during times when it is required.

Landscaping / Trails

The general landscape of Grand Oaks needs attention.  The trails specifically have deteriorated quite a bit in the North East and North West sections. The board is going to follow up on some great recommendations from members at the meeting to contact the Austin Trail Foundation and the Natural Gardener for advice on ways to prevent erosion and possible alternatives to crushed granite.  Throughout this year the Board will also be working on a holistic budget for repair, upkeep, and improvement for the aesthetics of Grand Oaks. If you have interest in helping we would love your input. We're looking for people with time and a love for Grand Oaks. If you're interested contact us via the Contact page. A couple of members also offered to organize a volunteer clean-up day. Be on the lookout for that information.