Boards of Directors, Access Committee members – 2014/15

The board members for the 2014-2015 term are:

Strawberry Point Bluffs

President, Dave Swanson – Lakeside
Vice President, Del Law – Non-lakeside
Treasurer, Tracy Uguccioni – Lakeside
Secretary, Carla Dalrymple – Lakeside
Trustee, Tricia Erskine – Non-lakeside
Trustee, Don Houston – Non-lakeside

Strawberry Hill Estates

President, David Walmroth
Vice President, Mary McLaughlin 810.299-2222
Treasurer, Craig Mestach 734.417.9224
Secretary, Mary McLaughlin 810.299-2222

The Park, Joint Access Committee

Bluffs representative, Del Law
Estates representative, Mary McCaughlin
Park Treasurer, Lori Lawrence
Member-at-large, Cheryl Houston

Access Committee Report and Plan – 2013, UPDATE June 21, 2013

Neighbors:  The Parks Committee has worked for a year and a half to come up with a budget and plan that meets the maintenance needs at the beach and that answers the concerns of our neighbors.

We have reduced the annual fee significantly from what we had originally envisioned:  to $50 per year per household per year.  We have increased the pontoon fee to $450, payable in two installments.

We know there are some passionate voices in favor, some passionate voices still against, and many people who are relatively neutral.  We want to hear from everyone, not just the particularly vocal voices.

We want the *DEMOCRATIC PROCESS* to prevail in terms of moving forward. Please cast your ballot on whether you will support the $50 increase in fees to support the park, or not.

THE PROCESS:  The Estates will vote at our meeting on 6/25 or by Proxy for people who can’t attend the meeting.  The Bluffs Association is not having a meeting.  Bluffs homeowners can still vote on the Association fee increase of $50.  We hope you do so either by dropping off your ballot or by stopping by the Estates meeting on 6/25 at 7:00 p.m. at the Senior Center.  There are vote forms on the sign on the road and one can be brought to you by sending an email to the Parks Committee.  Proxies and ballots can be dropped off at 10630 Indianola or 10727 Strawberry Hill Lane.

Thanks,
The Park Committee

 

===== Archived message from May 21, 2013 follows =====

The Park Committee has worked very hard taking input from everyone,
getting quotes for expenses and doing many iterations of the budget.  We
appreciate the many encouraging comments that helped us as we continued
in the work to keep our neighborhood beautiful.

SUMMARY:  There is a new budget online.  The ‘short story’ is that we’re
asking everyone to approve a $50 increase in the Association dues
targeted to our beach for deferred and ongoing maintenance reflected in
the budget.  We will increase the pontoon lottery to $450, with the
option for the winners to pay part at the lottery itself, and part in
August.  The pontoon slips are not at the cost of a full marina since we
do not have marina amenities (security, lights, etc.)  Also, the
resolution for vote will be very specific on managing the funds
including transparency in the budget preparation and reporting on
expenditures.

COMPARISONS:  A number of people asked what other neighborhood
associations pay.  Attached is information for 28 local subdivisions.
The average is $219 a year.  If the 1 most expensive and 1 of the least
expensive are excluded, the average is $185 per year.  Portage Lake has
a common beach much like ours with a boat moorings, lakefront and
non-lakefront houses, and there, off-lake homes pay $225 annually and
lake-front pay $200.  They don’t have a pontoon lottery.  So our
proposal is *FAR* below the average Association fee, and our pontoon
owners pay more.

VOTING:  The Estates Association in the neighborhood will vote tomorrow
at our Annual Meeting.  The Bluffs will need to schedule a vote, so we
will ask the Bluffs board president to do so.  More on that process later.

****ESTATES RESIDENTS*****

Please try to attend the meeting so we can record your vote.  If you are
unable to attend, you just need to give your proxy to someone else.

The Park Committee is happy to answer any questions.  (Except Jeff White
whose wife is having a baby *today*!)

Mary Eileen McLaughlin
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Park Budget, v21, June 2013 – SPREADSHEET

Park Budget, v21, June 2013 – PDF FILE

 

Brief History Plan – 2013
Detailed Beach History and Plan – 2013
Access Committee Role and Responsibilities

Average Association Fee.DPF

 

 

Estates Special Meeting – 2013 (re-scheduled Annual Meeting)

 

Strawberry Hill Estates Homeowners Association

Annual Meeting Announcement – Special Meeting

 

Your attendance at the annual meeting is appreciated. One-third of the members in good standing are required for a voting quorum. We were people short of a quorum for the meeting scheduled on May 21, and we are required to re-schedule it as a Special Meeting.

 

PLEASE ATTEND OR SIGN A PROXY.

A Proxy form is attached.  If you are unable to attend, please sign

 the form and send it with the person attending who is your proxy.

 

Subject:        Special Meeting for Annual Meeting

Date:              Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Time:             7:00 to approximately 8:30 p.m.

Location:      Hamburg Township Senior Center

 

Agenda:  

  • Roll Call of the Membership and confirmation of quorum  – President Dave Walmroth
    • Please sign in by 7:00 PM – with Treasurer, Craig Mestach
  • New Business – VP and Park Committee Representative, Mary McLaughlin
    • Vote to increase annual association dues to provide targeted funding for beach deferred and future maintenance in accordance with beach budget v.21 and other documentation on website.  (If you do not have web access, please notify Jeff White at 616-821-1252.)  The Motion is attached and will be read at the meeting.
  • Minutes of 2012 Meeting (VP and Secretary, Mary McLaughlin)
  • Treasurer’s Report (Treasurer, Craig Mestach)
  • Other new business as raised by the membership during the meeting.
  • Election of Directors
    • Craig Mestach, Mary McLaughin and David Walmroth have been nominated as Directors.  If you wish to nominate another individual please contact Mary McLaughlin (734-646-5363 or memc@ieee.org) 15 days in advance of the meeting to nominate someone for a directors position.  Process is described at: www.strawberryhillestates.org.
  • Close

 

Dues Reminder: Payment of 2013 dues and legal fee share (if unpaid) is due by June 1, 2013. Dues are $75.00, payable to Strawberry Hill Estates Homeowners Association.  Mail to SHEHA, P.O. Box 833, Hamburg, MI  48139-0833. If you have any questions about your dues, contact Craig Mestach at 734-417-9224.

===== MOTION and PROXY VOTE documents follow =====

MOTION:  The Strawberry Hill Estates Homeowners Association and the Strawberry Point Bluffs Homeowners Association dues will increase $50 annually ($4.16 per month) per household, and these funds will be targeted to the Park, payable as described in the respective Bylaws for Association dues.  The dues increase is contingent upon:

  • Both Associations approving the dues increase.
  • Pontoon slip donation increased to $450 annually.
  • The initial working budget for the park being Budget v.21, and the budget for the park will be updated annually by the Strawberry Lake Joint Parks Committee.  Reporting and expenditure processes are described in the Committee’s Roles and Responsibilities which has been approved by the Boards of both Associations.
  • Required legal approval (permits, etc.) will be obtained for any maintenance and/or improvements planned.
  • The Parks Committee will set an operating reserve (savings) for future maintenance to be approved by the Boards of both Associations.  When the current bills and operating reserve funding amounts are covered by the dues, the targeted increase in dues will not be collected from the homeowners until the budget and reserve amounts fall below a positive balance.

____   Yes, I support an increase of $50 annually

____   No, I do not support an increase of $50 annually

PROXY FORM

Strawberry Hill Estates Homeowners Association

Strawberry Point Bluffs Homeowners Association

 

I hereby authorize _________________________to serve as my proxy and to vote on my behalf at the Special (or re-scheduled Annual) Meeting on Tuesday June 25, 2013.  I authorize my proxy for ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:

____   This proxy is a GENERAL proxy for all matters voted upon at the above referred meeting.

____   This proxy is a SPECIAL proxy for only the matter of an increase in Association dues.

 

 

____________________________________

Printed Name

Address:

 

Gallagher Road Easement for Livingston Land Conservancy

In April 2012 the Bluffs HOA board of directors and the the Livingston Land Conservancy entered into an agreement granting limited ingress and egress rights across the Association’s property on Gallagher Road to 30 acres of land designated by the Conservancy as a nature preserve.

The Conservancy had indicated its intention to acquire this property from the original developer, Gold Krause et al, contingent upon the granting of these rights.

The complete legal document defining the agreement can be found HERE. [NOTE: Large file, 11 pages and 8 MB. Be patient on slow internet connections]

 

Submitted by:

George Rogers, SPBHA President 2012

Annual Homeowners Meetings – 2013

Details for the annual homeowners meetings are as follows:

Strawberry Point Bluffs: Monday, April 22 2013 at 7:00pm in the Hamburg Seniors Center

Strawberry Hill Estates: Tuesday May 21st at 8:00pm in the Hamburg Senior Center

The notice/agenda for the Estates has not been printed.

 

The agenda for the Bluffs is as follows:

  1. Call to order
    Roll call of members present
  2. Report of the Secretary
  3. Report of the Treasure
  4. Report of the President
  5. Old Business
    Status of granting the Access Easement to the Livingston Land Conservancy
  6. New Business
    Any business that may come before the Board
  7. Adjournment

Election of New Board Members:

The Board currently consists of six members.  Three members must be lakeside property owners and three must be non-lakeside property owners.  We have six current and potential members and will need to vote.  We will take nominations from the floor.

 

Name Position Side Term Expires
George Rogers President Non-Lakeside 2013
Don Houston Vice President Non- Lakeside 2014
Tracy Uguccioni Treasurer Lakeside 2014
Leonard Dorazio Secretary Lakeside 2014
Tricia Erskine Trustee Non-Lakeside 2013
Christopher Brehm Trustee Lakeside 2014

Standing Elections:

We welcome the nomination of any community member that would like to join the Board for the 2013-2015 term.

 

The agenda for the Estates is as follows:

Strawberry Hill Estates Homeowners Association

Annual Meeting Announcement

 

Your attendance at the annual meeting is appreciated.  One-third of the Members in good standing are required for a voting quorum.

 

Subject:        Annual Meeting

Date:              Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Time:             8:00 – 9:30 p.m.

Location:      Hamburg Township Senior Center

 

Agenda:  

  • Roll Call of the Membership (President)
  • Minutes of 2012 Meeting (Secretary)
  • Treasurer’s Report (Treasurer)
    • Accounts report and dues payment summary
    • Legal fee payment from lawsuit report
  • New Business
    • Vote to increase annual association dues to provide targeted funding for beach improvements in accordance with beach budget and other documentation on website.  (If you do not have web access, please notify Jeff White at 616-821-1252.)
    • Other topics as raised by the membership during the meeting.
  • Election of Directors
    • Please contact Mary McLaughlin (734-646-5363 or memc@ieee.org) in advance of the meeting to nominate someone for a Director position.  Process is described at: www.strawberryhillestates.org.  Note: Advance nomination is required in the bylaws and  must be received 15 days prior to the meeting.  Please call Mary if you have questions.
    • Current Directors and respective Board Officer positions;  all have been re-nominated:
      • Treasurer – Craig Mestach
      • Vice President and Secretary – Mary McLaughlin
      • President – David Walmroth
  • Close

 

Dues Reminder: Payment of 2013 dues and legal fee share (if unpaid) is due prior to the meeting start in order to be able to vote.  Dues are $75, and mailing your payments to the address below in advance is appreciated.  Please make checks payable to Strawberry Hill Estates Homeowners Association and mail in to the below address. If you have any questions about your dues, contact Craig Mestach at 734-417-9224.

 

Strawberry Hill Estates Homeowners Association

P. O. Box 833

Hamburg, MI  48139-0833

 

 

Draft Easement Access – 72 Hour Review Period

The attached draft document is posted by request from George Rogers, President of the Strawberry Point Bluffs Homeowners Association. The Bluffs Board solicits opinions – both for and against this proposal – as it negotiates with the Livingston Land Conservancy to provide access for the properties at the end of Gallagher and the thirty +/- acres adjacent to the Huron River. (SPBHA Lots 36 and 37)

You may:

  • Comment publicly here by pressing <Add Your Comment> on the bottom of the page.
  • Send an email to Board members (see printed neighborhood directory for email addresses)
  • Call Board members on the phone

To see the Hamburg Township map of this property, click here

Road Improvement Project – Updates

UPDATE: Thursday, June 17, 2010

Email exchange with Jody Tedesco at the County re: completion of the project

Jody,

Now that the second lift in in place, I’m getting questions from residents about the completion of the work:

Q. Is the second lift “the end?”, or do they apply a sealcoat over the top?
A. The second lift of asphalt is the final course or as we call it the “wearing course”. The driveway crew will be in Monday to pave the driveways that were cut out.

Q. Does the work include adding topsoil and seeding along the road where they tore up my lawn?
A. Once the paving is complete, we will be placing topsoil, seed and mulch along the road edge to blend into the existing lawns.

Q. They knocked down my mailbox. Who fixes that?
A. Give me the address of the mailbox complaint and I will see that it is fixed.

Q. The road (Lisch ) has an uneven ridge down the middle because they laid asphalt over separate days. Do they fix that?
A. There should not be an uneven edge down the middle when the project is complete. There will be a visual line that will fade with time.

Q. The road is now much higher than my driveway and water will pool there (or ice in winter). Do they fix that?
A. We were very careful to pitch driveways so they will drain where they always drained. If you have a specific problem, give me an address as soon as possible and I will take a look at it and fix it on Monday when the driveway crew is in.

Q. Can I start using my sprinklers again?
A. Yep! Let it pour.

Q. Who should I contact with complaints about this, that, or the other thing?
A. That would be me. (Jody Tedesco)

posted 6/17/2010: Larry Gauthier

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Apparently the contractor was concerned about the wet pavement this morning and getting too late of a start to complete the paving. Therefore, they are rescheduled for tomorrow morning (Thursday), weather permitting.

The garbage trucks may or may not be able to get through tomorrow.

Thanks

Jodie Tedesco, P.E.
County Highway Engineer

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Looks like they will try to finish the paving tomorrow, weather permitting. Garbage pickup may be a problem. The garbage trucks will be able to go on what was paved today, but may not be able to get through on the roads they are paving tomorrow. The crews will do the best they can but some garbage may not get pick up this week.

News from Monday, June 14, 2010

We are going to try paving again tomorrow. We will be turning the garbage trucks away if they conflicts with the paving. Hopefully that will not be much of an issue.

Take Care
Jodie Tedesco, P.E.
County Highway Engineer

News from 6/11/2010:

The concrete drives are up to strength and the barricades will be pulled today so residents can access their drives.

The paver could be in as early as Monday to place the final lift of asphalt.
Have a nice weekend.

Jodie Tedesco, P.E.
County Highway Engineer

News from 6/10/10:

Hi guys,

The pavers should get the grade covered today. They will be back next week sometime to place the final lift of asphalt. As soon as I have a definitive schedule I will let you know.

I will be out of town until Monday. If you have any serious concerns please contact Mike Craine the Managing Director at our office.

Thanks

Jodie Tedesco, P.E.
County Highway Engineer

News as of 6/7/10:

Concrete Drives will be poured tonight. We will remove caution tape and barrels blocking off the drives once the concrete has achieved enough strength to drive on, usually about 3 days.

The grading will continue and hopefully you will see more asphalt on Thursday or Friday.

Thanks

Jodie Tedesco, P.E.
County Highway Engineer

New as of 6/04/10:

The pulverize will begin tomorrow (Saturday 6/5) to pulverize the remaining streets.(Lisch and Indianola – ed)

The contractor will also be pulling the concrete driveway slabs that have been sawed in order to match the new elevation of the road. The new concrete will be poured Monday or Tuesday. Please let the homeowners know that they will have to park their cars out of the driveway for a few days until we achieve the proper strength for driving on.

This schedule is all weather permitting of course.

Jodie Tedesco, P.E.
County Highway Engineer

NEW as of 5/25/10:

The Contractor will be a little scarce until after the Memorial Day Weekend. Per the Contract, they are required to place asphalt within 48 hours of crushing and shaping. They would not have been able to accomplish this had they crushed the remaining streets this week, and we did not want them to leave an unpaved grade over the weekend.

The pulverizers next opening is a week from this Saturday, which will be June 5th (sooner if they have a cancellation on another job).

The Contractor is still on schedule to complete the work within 45 days, per the progress schedule.

Original information from Tom of the Livingston County Road Commission:

As you must have noticed, the paving project has begun in the neighborhood and will proceed according to the following tentative schedule:

Phase 1: PULVERIZING – Early the week of May 17th, Indianola, Strawberry Hill, and Lisch Roads will be crushed-in-place and turned into gravel. This gravel will be used as the roadbed beneath the asphalt surface. Traffic will be able to drive on the pulverized material, but be careful because it will be rough until they get it graded and compacted.

The pulverizer will begin Tuesday (5/19) around 7 a.m. to grind up the pavement on the un-curbed portion of Gallagher, all of Strawberry Hill Ln and Lisch Dr east of Indianola.

Phase II: MILLING – Later in the week of May 17th, the surface of Gallagher will be scraped between the curbs to remove the depth necessary to allow a replacement surface of asphalt to be installed. They will start at the west end of Gallagher and work toward the east.

The mill is scheduled for Thursday (5/21) to remove the pavement between the curbs on Gallagher

Phase III: BASE PAVING – During the week of the 23th the surface layer will be installed on all roads.
Just a reminder that it is critical that all sprinklers that may reach the roadway should remain off until the second lift of asphalt is placed.
There may be some short traffic delays due to equipment in the road. Please give yourselves a little extra time and follow the direction of the traffic control personnel.
December 15, 2009

At its December 15th Board Meetings, the Hamburg Township Board voted unanimously to approve the 3rd resolution related to our Special Assessment District and set the date of February 16th for our Public Hearing.
December 1, 2009

At today’s Hamburg Township Board meeting, the Board unanimously approved a resolution to proceed with developing project plans and cost estimates. That information will be shared with residents at our next Public Hearing, which is scheduled for February 16th, 2010 at 6:00pm at the township hall.
November 30, 2009

Our neighborhooad Road Improvement Project is on the December 1st, 2009 2:30pm Township Board meeting agenda, with a vote scheduled on a Resolution to Proceed with the Project and Directing Preparation of Plans and Cost Estimates.

click here: Hamburg Board Agenda

(http://www.hamburg.mi.us/boardroom/township_board_of_trustees/2009%20tb%20packets/December%201%202009%20Digital%20Packet.pdf)

Residents are encouraged to attend the meeting and express their opinions regarding the project.

-larry
October 22, 2009:

Road Update: The Hamburg Township Board met on Tuesday October 20th, and the creation of the Special Assessment District for our road improvement was an agenda item. Several aspects of the project are being clarified for board members and verified with the County over the next week. We expect an informational meeting to be scheduled shortly, with homeowners being notified by mail. We will provide updates here at the website as the situation evolves.

Contact: Mary McLaughlin at 810-299-2222 or George Rogers at 810-231-6378
May 15, 2009

Neighborhood SAD (Special Assessment District) Petition

The collection of signatures approving the establishment of a SAD for re-surfacing neighborhood roads has passed the 50% mark required by Hamburg Township. However, the organizers continue circulating the petition with hope of collecting support from at least 70% of the residents. If you are interested in signing, please contact Mary McClaughlin from SHEHA or George Rogers from SPBHA.

Thanks for your patience, we will be out of your way soon.
Jodie Tedesco, P.E.
County Highway Engineer

New Keys for the Beach

After almost 20 years with the same access key, we have discovered that lots of people have keys who no longer live in the neighborhood. Accordingly, the Boards and Access Committee have moved to replace the key with a new, “do not duplicate” key blank. Your old key will work in the lock until Saturday, May 1st, after which time you will need the new key to get access to the Park.

Who qualifies for keys to the park? You must be a “member in good standing” in your association (no delinquent dues or assessments).

Is there a fee for the replacement keys? Yes. A replacement key costs $12.00. This price covers the cost of the locksmith’s fees for the new lock and key manufacture.

Where can I get a new key? New keys will be distributed at the Annual Homeowners Meetings and at the Park Annual Clean-up on Sunday May 2nd, 2010. After that you should call Dave Buckland to arrange for a key.