From the Desk of the President
by Glenn L. Davis
CEDAR CREEK PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC. ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES MARCH 10, 2009
I. Call to Order
Glenn Davis President of the Cedar Creek Property Owners Association, Inc., called the Annual IVlembership meeting to order at 7:05 P.IVl., on IVlarch 10, 2009 at Hope Lutheran Church on Old 41, Bonita Springs, FL.
II. Certificate of Quorum
Directors Present: Glenn Davis, Lloyd Zimmerman, Bob Berkley, Chris Dill, Linda IVlascali Directors Absent: None A membership quorum was established with 90 properties present.
III. Minutes A motion was made by Wain Garrison and seconded by Pete Allard to dispense with the reading of the 2008 annual meeting minutes. Passed by a unanimous voice vote.
IV. Financial Report-Chris DillThe Association had expenses of $301,479.31 Over Budget $13,600.00-Due to increased landscaping & irrigation costs. Total Reserves $264,594.00
V. New Business-Election of Directors
A call for nominations to the Board of Directors from the floor was made by Glenn Davis. Chris Dill nominated himself and Wain Garrison nominated himself. No other nominations where forthcoming and a motion was made by Frank Micelle and seconded by Fred Herr to close the nominations. Passed by unanimous voice vote. Chris Dill and Wain Garrison were affirmed and a motion from Wain Garrison and seconded by Bob Berkley was passed with a unanimous voice vote. The vote on the 2008 retained earnings being rolled over into 2009 operating funds passed with 69 yes votes and 21 no votes. The vote to waive the statutory financial reporting requirements by a certified public accountant for the year 2009 passed with 86 yes votes and 4 no votes.
VI. Presidents State of the Community Address
State of the CommunityMarch 10, 2009
Good evening, my Fellow Residents. We appreciate all of you coming out this evening. Tonight you will choose two residents who will serve on the Board of Directors for the next two years. The direction this Board has taken, and will continue to take, will be proper and in the best interest of Cedar Creek. Next year, there will be three positions open on the Board. Each elected position is for a two-year term and the terms are staggered for the sake of continuity. One of our current Board members has opted not to seek re-election. The State of the Community is both financially and aesthetically sound. Through the diligent oversight of your Board of Directors, we have been on target with our Annual Budget and our Reserves are in good financial shape. At the end of the 2008 fiscal year, we had $30.00 in retained earnings. We recommend that these retained earnings be rolled over into the current operating budget. As of this evening, the Association has $23,091.10 in accounts receivable. Sixteen of these properties in Cedar Creek have been turned over to the Board attorney for collection and lien assignments. We realize that the economy has impacted all of us, either directly or indirectly, but we are running a business, and, like nearly all other businesses, we need these funds in order to keep the assessments at the level that we feel is fair and equitable to all of us. To those of you who have paid on time, we thank you.With the assessments that you have paid for the 2009 calendar year, the mailboxes have been paid for. It is this Board’s aim, if at all possible, to drop back from that $1,025.00 fee for 2009 and not withstanding any calamities this coming Hurricane season, we hope to pare off between $25.00 and $50.00 for the 2010 assessments. As most of you know, The Current at Cedar Creek, our former monthly newspaper published and distributed free of charge to all of us, was discontinued in December, due to a lack of sufficient revenue, by Seabreeze Communications. In order to keep our owners informed of events and happenings in Cedar Creek, we have been publishing the “Cedar Creek Newsletter,” with a special note of thanks to Greg Coury, who has been instrumental in the layout and solicitation of the ads that pay for the monthly printing. By supporting these local businesses, we will be able to continue to provide you with events and happenings in Cedar Creek. And, if you do patronize any of them, please tell them you saw their ad in the “Cedar Creek Newsletter.” I will call your attention to some of the improvements this Board has brought to fruition during the past year. Some of the projects completed were: Re-paving the walkway parallel to Cedar Creek Drive between Springtide Court and Elementary Way, repairing and seal coating the walkway from Inlet Way Court to Springtide Court; the planting of over 500 Areca palms next to the wall adjacent to Pebblecreek Drive; the painting of all of the walls in Cedar Creek, along with the Cabana and the Gatehouse at the entrance to our community; removal of all of the “invasive exotics” in the common areas which brought us into compliance with State and South Florida Water Management District guidelines; plant replacement, where needed throughout Cedar Creek and the installation of the red mulch throughout the common areas. All of these projects were accomplished with the available funds we had in our operating budget.
Last April, we contracted with MMI of the Gulf Coast, to manage our property. Frank Coffey is the Property Manager for Cedar Creek, in addition to several other communities in the Bonita Springs area. In our opinion, Frank has done a great job communicating with any owners who have had lapses in the maintenance of their individual properties. Frank makes weekly drive-thru inspections, noting any problems that arise which could pose a detrimental impact on the entire community. He then sends a cordial letter to those owners asking them to correct any identified problem(s). If you have received a letter, please don’t become resentful. It is simply an attempt to insure that Cedar Creek continues to be a beautiful and desirable community in which to live.We encourage all residents and property owners to be cognizant of any items you believe should be brought to the attention of the Board or the management company. We will address your concerns and, if appropriate, take steps to correct them. In the past month, we have received reports that our privacy has been invaded by door-to-door solicitors. We have a sign on the entry gate to Cedar Creek that reads: “No Soliciting.” If you are being harassed by these “salesmen,” simply tell them to leave Cedar Creek and then call the Sheriff’s department to report these persons. I want to thank the many fine friends and neighbors who have volunteered their time and efforts in various ways for the betterment of our community. These volunteers number more than thirty reliable residents and with their help, we have been able to keep management costs to a bare minimum. Even if it meant replacing light bulbs, or tightening up loose screws, to replacing minor plumbing parts, your volunteering neighbors are working to keep the operating costs down. And, in the long run, it saves all of us money that would have been added to the assessments. Again, a special thanks to all volunteers.We would like to see more residents involved in Association activities, and provide assistance in maintaining a litter-free community. The more volunteers we have, the easier it will be on those individuals who currently are devoting a few hours each month to ensure that our Community is quiet, safe and enjoyable. In closing, I would like to say that we have made some difficult decisions since taking office over seven years ago, and some of you may not have agreed with our choices. Rest assured, however, that we had and continue to have, the best interests of the entire Community in mind. We have tried to be both pro-active and re-active in dealing with the day-to-day functioning of Cedar Creek. You can be certain that this Board, with its’ newly elected officers, will continue these efforts for the next term. As you most likely know, these positions are voluntary and Board members serve without remuneration. I have enjoyed working with the present Board and am grateful to them for the time and effort they have expended on Cedar Creek’s behalf. I am speaking for the entire Board in thanking you for your many kind words of appreciation and for your continued support.
VII. Officers Reports
Linda Mascali thanked everyone for their support. Lloyd Zimmerman acknowledged all the help received from the community and the dedication of Glenn Davis and all the Board members to Cedar Creek. Bob Berkley and Chris Dill also thanked everyone for their support. VIII. Adjournment There being no further business to come before the membership a motion was made by Dr. Ahlbrand and seconded by Charles Mascali to adjourn the meeting at 7:28 P.M. and passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted, Frank Coffey CAM For the Secretary
In accordance with the By-Laws of the Cedar Creek Property Owners’ Association, Inc., Article XI, Section 11.7, the 15 properties listed below have not paid their required assessments, late fees and interest for the calendar year 2009, as of March 31, 2009 and are in the hands of the Association attorney for lien attachments: 25871 Creekbend Dr. $919.668850 Springwood Ct. 1,021.528811 Springwood Ct. 1,106.148890 Springwood Ct. 1,106.149501 Cedar Creek Dr. 1,106.1425857 Pebblecreek Dr. 1,106.148810 Creek Run Dr. 1,113.129480 Cedar Creek Dr. 1,134.2925701 Inlet Way Ct. 1,145.0025611 Inlet Way Ct. 1,186.089521 Cedar Creek Dr. 2,394.76
25860 Creekbend Dr. 2,394.7625949 Pebblecreek Dr. 2,394.7625541 Inlet Way Ct. 2,531.19
As of the deadline for this edition of The Cedar Creek News, the 18 owners of properties listed below paid their assessments late, but neglected to pay the late fee and/or the interest. These following owners will have their accounts referred to the Association attorney if not paid by 4/30/2009:25530 Springtide Ct. 10.579541 Cedar Creek Dr. 22.449451 Cedar Creek Dr. 29.899530 Silver Palmetto Ct. 43.168900 Creek Run Dr. 59.338880 Springwood Ct. 59.3325560 Inlet Way Ct. 59.3325571 Inlet Way Ct. 59.3325900 Creekbend Dr. 60.8525641 Springtide Ct. 61.669071 Cedar Creek Dr. 61.8625813 Pebblecreek Dr. 61.8625651 Springtide Ct. 61.8625897 Pebblecreek Dr. 62.8725842 Pebblecreek Dr. 65.3925501 Springtide Ct. 65.909050 Cedar Creek Dr. 67.6025650 Inlet Way Ct. 69.93
The total of account receivables is $21,642.92, including assessments, late fees and interests through March 31, 2009 on the above accounts. By now, all of the above properties owing more than $900.00 have had their account turned over to the Association attorney for collection, which will include the March interest charge plus attorney’s fees which are in excess of $300.00 just for the first letter. The attorney’s lien fees are in excess of an additional $500.00. We also have 20 property owners, listed directly above, who did pay their 2009 assessment, but failed to pay the associated late fee and interest. These 20 owners will be billed on a monthly basis until April 30th, at which time these unpaid bills will be referred to the Association attorney for collection. This action will result in a charge of $150.00 for each letter generated to the delinquents, which will be added to the arrears.
As an added note, there are three properties in Cedar Creek that are in foreclosure proceedings with their individual mortgage companies, plus the Association will be foreclosing on two additional properties, all of which are included in the above listing. On the advice of the Association attorney, we will wait until each of these properties sell and collect any outstanding debts via estoppel letters when they go to closing with new owners, or when the banks release them from their indebtedness.
To all out-of-area owners who have either had an address change or a problem with receiving mail from MMI, please contact MMI at:FCoffey@miamimanagement.com with your correct mailing address.
Sprinklers
We are having a high number of sprinkler heads break in the common areas. This is due to people parking their vehicles on the grass of the common areas. If you live opposite a common area and have guests or workmen parking on the common area grass, please have them park elsewhere, not on the grass, as each sprinkler head costs the Association around $50.00 to replace. Your cooperation with this issue will be greatly appreciated.
CommentaryToday, (March 25th) about 4:30 PM on Wednesday, March 25th, Anita and I took our usual ride on our bikes through all the streets of Cedar Creek. To escape the same old same old, I thought I would count all the homes that displayed "old glory", our American flag. Anyone want to guess how many flags were flying? Six, eleven, sixteen, twenty five, thirty six, forty two....the actual count was twenty two. Only eight percent of we home owners are proudly displaying our flag. "Nough said! Bill Schwessinger CEDAR CREEK LADIES’ COFFEE -
MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS
The April Coffee will be held at the home of Linda Mascali, 9621 Cedar Creek Dr. on Tuesday, April 14, at 2:00 p.m. Please call Linda at 498-6541 by Sunday, April 12th, if you plan to attend. The May Coffee will be held at the home of Jan Ruxton, 25711 Creekbend Dr., on Wednesday, May 13, at 2:00 p.m. Please call Jan at 992-6639 by Monday, May 11, if you will attend.We are in need of Coffee volunteers for September, October and December 2009. Please call LaVerne Stein, 498-9647, if you are interested in volunteering. Let's keep our Coffees and those pleasant times we share together ongoing. Remember, your Coffee can be kept as simple as you would like (coffee or iced tea and cookies are fine-it's just a get-together).
Canoe Rack
If you wish to rent a space on the Cedar Creek canoe rack, the annual fee is $100.00. Please make your check payable to C.C.P.O.A. and submit it to Glenn Davis. We have 2 remaining spaces available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you currently are renting space, your 2009 fee is due now. Please make your check payable to C.C.P.O.A. for $100.00 and remit it to me ASAP.
Neighborhood WatchNeighborhood Watch volunteers are still needed to complete the monthly schedules. If you are interested, please contact Angela Elmore at Angelaelmore@verizon.net or by phone at 206-6650. There are five more dates that need coverage, so, if you can assist one night a month for approximately 30 minutes. Your involvement will be greatly appreciated. Kudos to the following Neighborhood Watch Volunteers.
April Neighborhood Watch Schedule
Denny Berens
Herb Alnor
Bob Lozo/J. Lidsky
Pete & Sandy Allard
Lloyd & Pat Zimmerman
Bud Ahlbrand
Beau Mascalli
Bill Schwessinger
Bob & Angela Elmore
George Slater
George Slater
Peter & Betty Miller
?
Bud Ahlbrand
Denny Berens
Herb Alnore
?
Bob Lozo/J. Lidsky
Pete & Sandy Allard
Don Huisjan
Don Huisjan
Lloyd & Pat Zimmerman
Dave Gallagher
Dave Gallagher
Bob & Angela Elmore
?
?
Bill Schwessinger
?
David & Jan Baker
Gate Access Card AvailableWe have had many requests for an access code to the front gate. Since a code can easily be passed from one person to another thus reducing the security of the neighborhood, we have chosen not to issue a general access code.These cards are now available for purchase. The first card is $20 and each additional card is $10. If you would like to get a card to access the neighborhood, please contact Greg Coury at 239-949-3357. Greg also has a supply of new Genie brand garage/gate remote control openers. They are available for $40.00, which includes the programming of the openers. Greg is a resident of Cedar Creek and has helped us maintain the gates through his company Global Security.
Neighborhood Directories
We still have phone numbers and/or e-mail vacancies that need to be filled. If you haven’t provided your e-mail address or phone number to either Greg Coury or me for inclusion in the directories, please take the time to do so if you want this information included.
Upon request, a directory can be transmitted to you electronically. These directories are for non-commercial use only. They are not intended to be used for mass-mailing lists. Just e-mail me with your request to
GLDavis88@aol.com or drop me a line requesting a paper copy for $0.50 for either an alphabetical listing or a “by street” listing or $1.00 for both. Please enclose the required amount and, if I am home, I will get a copy to you within 48 hours. If you receive a copy of our Directory, please check it over for any typos, misinformation or missing info, such as e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, etc. and advise Greg or me of any errors so that corrections can be made.
Email Subscriptions
If you would like to be on the community e-mail list, please fill in the form on the front page of the Cedar Creek website at www.OurCedarCreek.com Occasionally, there will be items of importance that will be disseminated from the web site straight to your e-mail box. Check it out and bookmark it.
Community Management
MMI of the Gulf Coast, Inc., is our management company. MMI may be reached at 949-7741. The Property Managers are Frank Coffey and Jennifer Waters. They oversee the day-to-day operations of Cedar Creek and they will be in the community on a weekly basis to identify problems, notifying any owner(s) of observed violations. If the violations are not resolved in a timely fashion, they will articulate such to the Board for possible action. We believe that MMI is very responsive to the needs of the owners as well as the Board.
Cabana Rental
If you are planning to hold an event at the Cabana, contact MMI of the Gulf Coast, Inc., to reserve the area for your function. Keep in mind that there is a $100.00 deposit required which is fully refundable, as long as only Cedar Creek residents are in attendance and there is no damage in the Cabana, Chickee Hut or pool area. If your event involves non-Cedar Creek residents, there will be a $25.00 usage charge. In this case, $75.00 will be returned if no extra clean-up charges are incurred. Please note that even though you have reserved the Cabana for a function, the facilities, including pool & spa, still are available to residents of Cedar Creek and their guests.
Your Property
Trash receptacles should be kept in your garage until trash collection day. Don’t wait until you get a phone call or a letter from the Management Company calling a violation(s) to your attention. We would like to see our community maintain the high standards that were present when you purchased your home in Cedar Creek. Remember, recycled goods are collected on Wednesdays, as is household waste. We still have a few residents who put newspapers in their recycle bin without first either securing them with twine or putting them in an empty grocery bag. A gust of wind will blow these unsecured newspapers throughout the neighborhood. Please put items by the curb on the scheduled pick-up day only. If you have boxes containing “popcorn” Styrofoam packing material, please secure the shipping container with twine or tape to prevent the wind from blowing the Styrofoam throughout the neighborhood. Yard waste is collected on Thursdays. If there is a major holiday during the week, the collections will be delayed by one day following the holiday. Monday, May 25th will be the next holiday that will impact Cedar Creek. Household waste and Recyclable items will be picked up on Thursday. Yard waste collections will be on Friday of that week. Please make a note of this. Your cooperation in taking care of your property will go a long way in keeping the property values high, and your neighbors will appreciate having community members who care.
Parking near and/or blocking access to mail boxes may result in the mail not being delivered. This is the Post Office policy for mail carriers and they will hold your mail for days before you are ever notified to pick it up.
We continue to receive complaints about some of our residents walking their dogs, allowing them to defecate, then not picking up after them. For health and cosmetic reasons, please pick up after your pets. It also has come to our attention that dogs are being walked on private property instead of the common grounds. If you don’t want to walk your pet on your own property, please understand that your neighbor doesn’t want you walking them on their property either! A little common sense and respect for fellow residents will go a long way. And lastly, letting your dog play off the leash in the street could result in an accident involving your cherished pet and a motorist or even a bicyclist. Please make sure your dog is on a leash. It is the law.
Monthly WorkshopsThe Board of Directors holds workshops at 10:00 a.m. on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month at the Cabana. These “workshops” will be open to all property owners for observation only, as the workshops will be used for an exchange of ideas between Board members. If you have a concern, we will address it either before we open the workshop or after we have exhausted our agenda for the day. The Property Manager also will be in attendance.
Extended Absence
For those of you who will be out of town for extended stays, or even if you are only away for a few days, you should ask a neighbor or friend to look after your property in your absence. Quite often, newspapers, especially the Bonita Banner, will be delivered to your driveway or the The Cedar Creek News will be placed by your mailbox and remain there until you return. This is one of the signs burglars look for to determine that the house is currently unoccupied. If a friend or neighbor would make sure the papers are picked up and also look for any other problem, such as broken tree limbs, broken water pipes or any other damage, then you will be aware of any problems before they magnify.
Website
All owners and residents who are connected to the internet now have access to all of the governing documents for Cedar Creek. This includes the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions for Cedar Creek, the Articles of Incorporation of the CCPOA, Inc, the By-Laws of the Association, and all of the amendments to those Covenants and By-Laws that affect the operation of the Association. From time-to-time, we hear property owners say they have never received a copy of these Documents. Now, with the aid of our improved web site, www.OurCedarCreek.com these Documents can be read and/or printed out for future reference. If you are one of those owners maintaining that you have not been given a copy of the documents specific to Cedar Creek, please take time to review them.
A Winner Every Week
Poker players play every Thursday at the Cabana
7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Call Mike Hochrun for more info at 992-3731
Hand & Foot Canasta?
CEDAR CREEK LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: Would you like to learn how to play hand & foot Canasta? It's fun and easy. We meet at the cabana every Monday at 1:00 p.m. If interested, please contact Marlene Ciani at 992-9395 or email mciani15@yahoo.com. Hope to hear from you.
Pool, Spa, Bocce and Tennis Court
Please remember, hours for pool, spa, bocce and tennis court usage are from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. For the concern and respect of your neighbors, please abide by these posted times. If you open an umbrella at the pool, please make sure you wind it down before you leave to avoid damage should a windstorm arise. To show consideration of others, and for the cleanliness of the pool area, please refrain from smoking in the pool and spa areas.
The Cedar Creek Bocce court has been a hit with the residents. The game is great fun and easy to play. This is not a game for men only. The ladies who have been playing love it. Rules for the use of the court are posted on the tennis court fence. Rules for playing the game are posted on the bulletin board in the cabana. There is no shortage of Bocce ball sets in the neighborhood so it is not necessary to have your own set to play. For more information feel free to call one of the following: Dan Durante 498-9982; or Bill Schwessinger 992-4539. These numbers also will be posted in the cabana.
Home Rentals
Please contact MMI of the Gulf Coast, Inc., at 949-7741 if you have intentions of using your property for rental purposes. They will provide you with a rental agreement form. If you have questions about the protocol for rental procedures, please refer to Amendment 8 of the Declaration of Covenants.
Even in this sluggish economy, we have had several resales in Cedar Creek. If you are a new owner/resident, we welcome you and ask that you contact Greg Coury at greg@globalsecurityusa.com to get your contact information registered. This will allow you easier access to Cedar Creek after 5:00 p.m. daily.
Along those lines, we also will be publishing this newsletter on line, at www.ourcedarcreek.com Please contact either Greg or me with your correct e-mail address and telephone number. That way, if we have news that can’t wait until the first of the month, we can do a mass e-mailing to those residents who have provided that information to us. Your information will not be distributed outside of Cedar Creek and will be for residential use only.
The Architectural Review Committee
According to our Covenants, any visible changes to your house or grounds require approval by the Board of Directors (BOD) by means of an Architectural Change Application Form submitted to the (ARC) for review prior to transmittal to the (BOD). The forms are available from Ken Kosbab (ARC) Chairman at 8940 Creek Run Drive (992-1969) and are to be returned to same. The (ARC) will review the change request, discuss with the homeowner if necessary and transmit the request with (ARC) recommendation to the (BOD) for final review. A two to three week period is necessary for review and approval by (ARC) and submittal to (BOD) for their review and decision. Copies of the approved requests will be delivered to the residents. Residents also will be notified of any request denied by the (BOD) and the reasons for denial. Approval or rejection of all requests is the sole responsibility of the (BOD). The (ARC) responsibility is to fully review each request and make their recommendation to the (BOD). Please call Ken (992-1969) if you have any questions.
