Official Minutes from the 5/17/09 Meeting

The following members were in attendance:

David Zukor dzsw_98@yahoo.com
Jim Boler bolerfamily@msn.com
Dan Krutzig dankrutzig@comcast.net
Steve Johnson johnsonstevenm@comcast.net
Steve Swanson mentalgiants@msn.com
Dave Bourland bourlanddavid@hotmail.com
Michael Souza mikemap3@yahoo.com
Rob Boarder robslider72@yahoo.com
Georgia Fisher gsfisher@stthomas.edu
Maggie Gross gmgross1@msn.com
Bob Zarriello rzarriello@q.com
Julianne Gannon chucknjules@msn.com
John Cowle jdcowle@msn.com

Call to Order

Budget Review

• $1000 to update the front entrance
• $180 for the directory
• $2000 for removal of Dutch Elm Disease trees
• We have 8 homes delinquent for a total of $1040
• $12000 set aside for the park reserve and front entrance

Review of Bids

• Kids play area removal- Remove the timbers and level the hill
• Repave the path to the tennis courts
• 3 bids ranging from $4900-6500
• Front entrance-Retain the current signage, new landscaping, rockscaping, solar lights
• $5600

Georgia mentioned that the hill may be covering building debris. This might change the bids to address this. The board will check with the bidding companies.

There has been an issue with people dumping along the pathway and along the ditch at the front entrance. This leads to water backing up and causing problems with the path. It also has become an eyesore.

We are putting together a subcommittee to readdress our bylaws. They are the same bylaws that were created in the 70's. They have become outdated. If you are interested in being on this subcommittee, please contact me at dzsw_98@yahoo.com.

The basketball hoop was damaged. Dan and Jim have looked into this. It is covered under the warranty. A new hoop will be put up as soon as it arrives. We are looking at a second basketball hoop to make a full court.

Some neighbors have voiced an interest in having a neighborhood party this summer, perhaps in August. We would have it in the park. We are considering a barbeque. Let me know if you have any suggestions or if you are willing to help out.

Some neighbors voiced concern about the lack of mowing along County Road 24 near our entrance. It is a visibility issue as well as an aesthetic issue. The board met with Thomas about mowing this area.

We would like to keep you informed through Email!

Please email me at zukes88@gmail.com to provide us with an email that you would like us to use to communicate updates. We will let you know when meetings and get togethers are upcoming.

Official Minutes from the January 18th, 2009 Meeting

January 18, 2009 Meeting

Budget Overview
We spent $1500 less on tree removal than expected, $250 less on lawn care than expected.
We received $310 less income than expected due to 4 delinquent homes.
For the year of 2008, we have a surplus of $1500.
We have $9000 set aside for the park plus the $1500.

Looking at 09 budget-
Website will save some money on copies - $65
Changed banks to Klein Bank so fewer charges - $100 saved
Set aside the front entrance budget to $1000
Dropped tree removal from $3000 to $2000
Park reserve will increase from $9000 to 11-12,000.

The new signs for the park are done. They will go up in the spring.

The new website is set up and running. It is http://amberwoodsupdate.blogspot.com/.
Google Analytics added to website to track how many people are using it.

Front entrance landscaping info- Some neighbors have indicated they would like to replace the front signage.
Need to follow up on bids for the path to the park.
Bid needs to deal with the valley so that the area doesn’t erode.
Kip says there are upwards of 15 trees marked in the wetlands for removal
We will get a couple bids on the path, park equipment removal, hill removal
Police sergeant would like to come out to do a neighborhood discussion on safety.

Bylaws update: Jim contacted New Concepts and got them to give us copies of another Association who just updated their bylaws in 2006.
A committee will be created to look at our bylaws and update them. The new bylaws would have to be approved by a vote of all association members.
Discussion about how to enforce bylaws about keeping up homes.
Anyone interested in being on the bylaw please contact Kip Cafferty at 612-875-0181

One month to put committee together

Committee will decide if they will totally redo the minutes or just make a few amendments. They will come back at the next meeting to inform the association on what they intend to do.

Spring get together to use the park and get a group together
Dawn will organize a winter hayride get together
May get together in the park. Basketball game and kid activities
End of school year association party
Community buckthorn party- clean up the park and then have a get together afterwards.

John will call neighbor about excavating and path

Please submit your email address to the website.
Dave will figure this out how to make a private directory.
Next association meeting in April
Add a piece on website that says Website information shall not be used for solicitation

Amberwoods ByLaws

Click on the link below to view the current bylaws. We are looking for interested association members to be on a committee to look at rewriting the bylaws. If you are interested in being on the committee, contact one of your association board members. Thanks!

Amberwoods ByLaws

Official Minutes from May 18th, 2008 Meeting

Official Minutes for Amber Woods Annual Meeting

5/18/08

- Call to Order

- In attendance:

Dave Zukor 476-9837 dzsw_98@yahoo.com

Dawn and John Cowle 476-8370 jdcowle@msn.com

Rob Boarder 473-0972 robslider72@yahoo.com

Bob Zarriello 476-6526 rzarriello@q.com

Jim Boler 404-9973 jim.boler@target.com

Maggie Gross 473-0798 gmgross1@msn.com

Dan Krutzig dankrutzig@aol.com

Dinesh and Anju Goel 476-5936 admulti9@yahoo.com

- Go over the budget

o Management contract was discussed. Dinesh felt that we could save money by having members take on the responsibility of paying bills and sending communications. Dave was concerned that this could put a strain on neighbor relations if the person responsible missed a payment or moved or gave the responsibility. The group seemed to agree to leave it as it is.

o Lawn maintenance is up due to the late summer. Thomas will continue to mow this year. We need a copy of his insurance for our records.

o Dinesh questioned whether we need to pay liability insurance if we put up a sign at the park that all play is at user’s own risk. He agreed to call the city to inquire about the legality of forgoing insurance.

o Tree removal was way down this year. We hope we are at the tail end of it.

- A number of members are delinquent on their annual dues. The group agreed that we should go doorknocking to encourage them to pay. If they do not pay within a 30 or 60 day time period, we will print a public notice of delinquent members to be distributed. If they continue to be delinquent, we will file a lien at that time.

- Playground issues

o Kids partying at night

o Possibly take out some trees to improve visibility

o Possibly level the hill to improve visibility

o Do we upgrade the playground or tear it down?

o What to do about weeds and cat issue

- The group agreed that a survey should be put together to determine how many people in the association are willing to take out a loan to upgrade the playground, what are the priorities for the playground, whether they are willing to change the bylaws to reflect expectations that members keep up their property to a certain minimum standard. The survey would also be a good time to get email addresses to expedite communication with members. Make sure to state that the email addresses will not appear in the directory.

- It was suggested that we have a sign put up at the playground that states that the playground is for association members only, no alcoholic beverages allowed, park hours are from 8 am to 10 pm by order of the city.

- Bob Zariello suggested that we ask the police dept. to put up speed monitors to check on the speeds of vehicles in the neighborhood.

- Rob Boarder would like the overhanging tree on the path looked at. He will contact the city of Plymouth to see if they will take care of it.

- Dawn Cowle suggested that we clean up the perimeter of the neighborhood along Cty. Rd. 24 by mowing and cleaning up the backyards. This will beautify the neighborhood and improve the likelihood of selling the many homes for sale.

- She recommended changing the bylaws to reflect certain expectations for the upkeep of this area.

- Jim will contact the Mgmt. Co. about examples of bylaws from other communities.

- John Cowle agreed to gather info about the path to the tennis courts. We have quote for asphalt that would cost about $5000. He believes that a bridge over the dip in the path would be more cost effective.

- Dan pointed out that we have 3 abandoned houses. One was just sold. This could become a problem for vandalism, property values, and creating an eyesore in the neighborhood.

Welcome to the new Amber Woods Update Webpage

The Amber Woods Association Board Members are working to do a better job of communicating information about what is happening at our meetings and throughout the year. This webpage is designed to provide information to you. Each update also has the option for you to leave a comment. If you have a question or would like to make a suggestion, this is the place to do it. We hope you will find this helpful!