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Edited by
Kathleen Miller
Sterling Woods Homeowners Association Board of Directors update
from Scott Porter and Scott Cosman
Since we last met as a community to discuss the "tree issue" in our common areas, the process to
finally resolve this issue has moved slowly. It has been quite
a year for our arborist, Brian Gilles. First, he underwent back
surgery. Then, since our last meeting, he was in a significant
car accident. Within the last few weeks, he has provided a copy
of the final report that we need to resolve this issue.
However, the report still needs some clarifications, and we
expect that this report will be finalized soon. Once the report
is complete, the process of getting the mitigations approved by
the City of Sammamish will commence. The City knows this is
coming, and should provide approval (or not) in a timely
manner. The Board plans to present the final resolution to the
homeowners for their approval at our next meeting.
When we hold our next association meeting, we will have more to
do than just approve the "tree issue' resolution. We also need
to elect our new board. We need to have the new board in place
by early March, so we need to identify potential new board
members by mid-February. Since we last requested that
association members step forward, we have had only one volunteer
- Steve Stone. We need at least two more to fill out the
board. If we are unable to identify more board members, then
the board will continue to operate short-staffed. If the board
remains short-staffed it will continue to be difficult to
address neighborhood priorities (such as locking mailboxes). Also, we still need association members to step forward to
assist with the rewrite of our bylaws and CCR's (the board does
not see how this can get done if we don't have three board
members). The board has discussed how we might be better able
to recruit homeowners to join the board of directors. While we
expect that future years will not be like last year, the
association could consider hiring a management company to handle
many of the activities that are currently handled by volunteer
board members. Based on the rough quote that a management
company provided last year, we estimate that annual dues would
need to be increased by approximately $100-$200 to cover these
costs. We would still need to have a board (based on how the
bylaws are rewritten) but many of the administrative duties
would be handled by the management company.
Based on other issues that
the current board has managed in the last year, the board has
not been able to address other identified neighborhood issues.
When we meet, the association should plan to set some priorities
for 2005. These priorities can include (but are not limited to)
locked mailboxes, a playground, landscape issues, main monument
lighting, etc. However, whatever priorities we all set, nothing
will be accomplished unless homeowners step up and volunteer to
help.
In the next few weeks, the board will be talking to Sterling
Landscaping about extending our common area landscaping
maintenance contract for the next year. If you have any
comments concerning the landscape maintenance of our common
areas, please send an email to the board.
Also, within the next few weeks, the board will be sending out
invoices for this year's dues. Once again, the annual dues will
be $300 (as the decision on whether or not to hire a management
company will be made in the future). Please remit payment in a
timely manner, as we do not have the time to re-invoice and
follow up on homeowners that do not pay in a timely manner.
Please watch your email for the announcement of our next
association meeting. Please contact us if you are ready to
volunteer for the board. We have only 67 lots in our
neighborhoods, so we need you to step up and volunteer to serve
and help make a difference in our community.
Regards,
Scott Porter (scottpor@microsoft.com)
Scott Cosman (scosman@comcast.net)
Preschool Information Night at Lake Washington Technical College
If you or a friend have a preschool age child and would like to
know about options for schools for next fall on the eastside,
you may want to attend preschool information night on Tuesday,
January 11th from 7 to 9 PM at the Lake Washington Technical
College’s Auditorium. The college is located in Kirkland at
11605 132nd Ave. NE. This event is free and open to the public. You may bring friends but no children except for nursing babies
in arms or packs. The event is sponsored by the college and the
Redmond Toddler Group. More information and a list of
participating schools is available on line at
www.redmondtoddler.org
Boy Scout Tree Pickup - Saturday, January 8, 2005
Christmas Tree pick up is
tomorrow. Place the tree by your curb by 9 AM with a check
made out to the Boy Scouts of America in an envelope (or zip
lock if it is raining/snowing) attached to the tree. Suggested
donation is $10 to $15 per tree. Trees must be completely bare –
no tinsel, flocked trees or nails. More info at
www.pickupmytree.com
Address Changes
If you have changes to your email address, or a new neighbor who
needs to be added to the neighborhood directory and newsletter
distribution – please email
Scott Cosman (scosman@comcast.net) who edits the neighborhood directory, and copy me at my email
address above.
Thank you!
I welcome contributions to the
neighborhood newsletter. If you have items for the next issue,
please email me at
Kathleen@blueemu.com
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