Shenandoah Valley Home Owners Association

At Battle Creek

Newsletter

Board Members

President

Wes Herzberg

355-8888

herzbergfin@aol.com

Treasurer

Bill Richards

261-0096

bilric@valornet.com

Secretary

Tom Emmerts

355-1561

t.rebos@cox.net

Architectural/Covenants

Julie Harris

355-5111

julienelka@aol.com

Landscape/Maintenance

Mike Wooten

355-4416

mpwooten@cox.net

Special Projects

Kathie Wade

355-5432

kathiewade@cox.net

Event Coordinator

Dee Farlow

355-1907

mfarlow@cox.net

 

Message from the President

I would like to welcome any new neighbors that have moved into the neighborhood this year.

 

The new acting board has been looking for a person to organize and put together a newsletter and I am happy to report that Ken Brenkman is willing to assist in the publication of a quarterly newsletter. If you have any noteworthy news we would be happy to consider it in our next publication. Please e-mail any news worthy items to herzbergfin@aol.com.

 

The board has decided to give home owners an opportunity to place an advertisement in future newsletters and/or the directory mentioned later in this newsletter. This will help in subsidizing the cost of both publications. If you are interested in placing an ad please notify me by e-mail at herzbergfin@aol.com.

 

I would personally like to welcome our newest member to the board, Dee Farlow. Some of you may know her as the Liberty lady in the 4th of July parade. Dee is a hard worker and has lots of plans in store for us as our new Event Coordinator.

 

I would like to remind everyone that the board would appreciate any help that anyone can give towards making Shenandoah Valley a “Great” and “Beautiful” neighborhood.

 

If you see a board member in the neighborhood, be sure to offer them a word of encouragement by thanking them for volunteering their time.

 

Wes Herzberg, President

 

Financial Report

1/1/2006

Beginning Balance

 

$12,250.38

 

Income

$10,618.62

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses

$13,376.44

 

9/31/2006

Ending Balance

 

$9,492.56

 

164 homes are paid as of the writing of this newsletter. Payments are expected soon on 6 homes, with two of those being delinquent since the first quarter of 2006. A number of new homes have closed this year without the closing companies collecting the home owners due for the portion of 2006 where the house was inhabited. If you fill you may fall into this category, please contact the Treasurer, Bill Richards.

 

Invoices for the 2007 home owner’s dues for our home owners associations will be mailed out around December 1.

 

Shenandoah Valley Home Owners Directory

Some of the board members have lived in other neighborhoods that have organized a directory of home owner’s names, addresses and phone numbers. This would be a great way for someone to contact you if they see anything suspicious around your home or on your block. The Shenandoah Valley Homeowner's Association would like to distribute a home owner's directory in early 2007.

 

If you would like to add anything to your directory entry, please let us know that too. For instance if your teenager mows lawns, baby-sits, or pet-sits for vacationing neighbors, we will include that information. A cell phone number would also helpful in case a neighbor notices someone suspicious around your home you can be called to verify that the person is welcome or not.

 

If you do not wish to be included in the directory, please check a box located on a copy of your invoice when you send in your annual dues. Dues statements are expected to be delivered in December.

 

New Home Owners August through October

We would like to welcome the following families to our neighborhood during the months of August, September and part of October. We hope you enjoy your new homes!

 

1908 W. Rockport St. -  Luke B. Strong

1905 W. Sandusky St             - Mary K. Howard

4116 N. Oak St           - Steve and Bobbie Artebury

4101 N. Narcissus Av - Calvin Ray Jones

1516 W. Rockport St. - Timothy & Kristi Schaefer

4113 N. Maple Ave    - Gregory & Amy Cooper

 

Architectural and Covenant Report

Below is a letter that was sent out to builders that have been building homes in Shenandoah Valley. The intention of the letter was to make them aware of the contacts on the Board to obtain plan approvals for houses being built in our jurisdiction. It was also sent to point out some covenants of our area that may not have been obvious to them. The Board felt this would be a good way to establish a relationship with the builders. We are publishing it in this newsletter to clarify some of our covenants for which you may have not been aware.

 

Letter to Builders in Shenandoah Valley at Battle Creek

 

August 2006

 

Re: Construction of new residences in Shenandoah Valley at Battle Creek

 

Gentlemen:

 

In exercising the authority granted by the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions of Shenandoah Valley at Battle Creek to pre-approve all construction plans for homes built within this Subdivision, the Architectural Control Committee of the Homeowners Association feels it has become apparent that certain areas of concern need to be highlighted.

 

This notification to all the builders currently active in our neighborhood is intended to provide the builders, and indirectly the purchasers of these new homes, with knowledge of restrictions mandated in the Covenant so that any potential costly violations of the Covenant may be avoided.

 

As with any legal document, an in-depth review of our Covenant would be quite tedious, (although highly recommended); so in order to focus attention where we feel it is needed, we offer the following:

 

·         Under Section 3.1(A) – Authority and Home Approval

Home plans must be submitted to the Committee for review prior to commencement of construction. For simplification, copies (8”x 11”) of each elevation and exterior color scheme will suffice. If the Committee does not reply to the builder within 30 days post submission of plans, they will be deemed approved.

 

·         Under Section 3.1 (B) & (C) – Purpose / Powers and Duties – Committee

States that effective January 2005, the Property Owners Association became successors to the developer in these matters, per Covenant stipulation. Basically, reflects the authority to act as the lone, final Architectural Control Committee (“Committee”).

 

Given the above, please note the following areas of immediate concern to the Committee:

 

·         Under Section 3.12 (A) & (D) – Interior Fences or Walls

Interior fences situated along the sides and real lot lines of the property shall be constructed of four foot (4’) green chain link with treated wood posts with top and bottom rails. 

 

·         Under Section 3.12 (B) – Screening Fences

Screening fences must be an extension of the house structure line and be of the same décor, materials and styling as used in the architecture and construction of the dwelling. Screening fences are not to be located on the lot line. All fences or screening walls require prior approval by the Architectural Control Committee. 

 

·         Under Section 3.13- Landscaping requirements

 

-   Lots are to be sodded from rear of lot to front curbing

 

-   A minimum of two (2) trees of 2 ½ “caliper or larger trees will be                                              planted in front yard (in special circumstances, waiver may be granted after written request to the HOA Architectural Committee).

 

-   Landscaping (trees, shrubs, bushes and groundcover), exclusive of sodding, shall be of the equivalent minimum value of $1,000.

                           

-  A landscaping plan shall be submitted to the Architectural Control Committee for approval prior to planting. (This need not be a formal drafted plan. An 8-11” freehand sketch will be adequate).

 

·         Under Section 3.4 (C) – Exterior Walls

First story walls shall be of at least 75% masonry.

 

·         Under Section 3.4 (D) – Windows

No unpainted aluminum will be permitted for window framing.

 

·         Under Section 3.4 (E) – Chimneys

All chimneys visible from the street shall be brick, stone or stucco. (Please note) Chimney caps shall be rectangular and shall be a dark earth tone.

 

All of the above outlined items are fairly straight forward, self explanatory and generally well known. However, our Covenants contain a remedy for perceived violations that is possibly worthy of note.

 

·         Under Section 5.1 – Enforcement

The Covenants are binding and to the benefit of owners of residential lots. It shall be lawful for any of said owners to maintain any action in law or in equity against violators.

 

The Committee stands ready to help the builders ensure that our subdivision remains and maintains the original concept conceived for Shenandoah as a premium location for building and owning a home. We feel a renewed effort in meeting the covenants set out for Shenandoah will go a long way toward meeting that goal.

 

 

Architectural Control Committee

Shenandoah Valley Homeowners Association

 

 

Landscape/Maintenance Report

The quality of the entry to any housing development is a direct reflection on the homeowners who live in the addition.  With that in mind, last May we started the upgrade of our entrance on Sandusky.  We will complete the landscaping in October.  The island inside the entrance will be upgraded as well. If we can create interest with landscaping to the passing public we can create interest in Shenandoah Valley.

We have also explored the possibility of landscaping our islands.  To landscape these islands will require regular irrigation.  To automate these islands is beyond our budget.  However, we could possibly install a manual system on some islands and eventually irrigate all the islands as the budget allows.  This would require a firm commitment from the home owners who live around their island to irrigate the landscaping.  If you are interested, please contact someone from the board.  I hope everyone will like the changes.

 

Special Projects Report

The Special Projects Committee currently has quite a few projects under development. The projects completed or in the implementation phase include:

·         Reminder notice of Covenant stipulations to builders currently active in our neighborhood.

·         Assistance with the establishment of the neighborhood Social Committee.

·         Assisting Landscape Committee with plant choices for fall neighborhood landscaping.

·         Neighborhood Daffodil planting day.

·         Preparation of preliminary Oak entry proposal.

·         Assistance with drainage ditch clean-up on property no longer considered city responsibility.

·         Liaison with the B.A. Parks & Recreation Dept.

·         Update on future road widening plans of 145th E Ave

 

A number of other projects are in the investigation phase. For a full listing please refer to the October 2006 Committee Report posted on our neighborhood web site -  www.shenandoahvalleyhoa.com .

 

Special Social Report

Previously, there was not an Events or Social Coordinator. Dee Farlow has graciously agreed to serve as a volunteer in this capacity. She organized and directed a wonderful July 4 neighborhood parade. She organized a very successful parade by obtaining permits from the City and a Broken Arrow fire truck. There were lots of kids with decorated bikes and wagons and many, many onlookers. Approximately 150 people were there to enjoy the soft drinks, popsicles, and ice cream that were brought by different individuals.

 

Keep your eyes and ears open for announcements of upcoming new events!!

 

Thanks Dee for the wonderful July 4 Parade!!