Sunday, June 18, 2006

Road and beach assessments

To: Appletree Point Shoreowners Association members
Subject: Road and beach assessments
From: Rolfe Eastman
Date: June 12, 2006


At a Point Association board meeting last week, much of our discussion focused on financial issues related to the costs of beach and road maintenance. Christine Campbell and I agreed to pull together some financial history to help determine whether, in light of our current account balance of around $6,700, it would be appropriate for the board to recommend a change in our thinking about dues and assessments.

Over the last six years, since the association voted to purchase a tractor to deal with the then significant weed problem on the beach, bills to the membership have included $25 for general association dues for every property and special assessments of $1 a front foot for properties on the beach and $50 or $75 a property for those on the gravel road. Until last year the income from the road assessment approximately equaled the expenses of road maintenance. But last year, the collapse of a culvert and extra required maintenance produced costs of nearly $2,200, which the association agreed to finance with the understanding that the “road people” would repay the amount from future assessments. This understanding is similar to that with the tractor, where part of the assessment collected has covered annual out-of-pocket operating costs and part has gone toward repayment of the original cost of the tractor.

So far, $8,445 has been paid in beach assessments. The out-of-pocket operating costs for the tractor have been $5,073, leaving $3,372 to be credited toward the $6,000 cost of the tractor. An additional $2,668, then, would mean that the “beach people” had completely repaid the association for the tractor. This amount is almost identical to the total owed to the association by the “road people” if we add to the nearly $2,200 another $377 earlier paid for roadwork by the association but not reimbursed by assessment.

Collecting these two amounts totaling about $5,200 would raise the association’s bank balance to nearly $12,000. Christine and I believe there is no foreseeable reason to continue on a path that will result in a treasury of that magnitude, and that because the two capital balances outstanding are almost exactly equal, it would be appropriate and fair to each group to choose not to collect them. If the association so decided, the road assessment this year could be $75, while $.50 a front foot, or $50 for a 100 foot property, would about cover the annual out-of-pocket tractor costs for insurance, storage, maintenance, and pick-up and delivery, which total about $1,000.

When we were exploring possible solutions to the beach weed problem before we decided on the tractor purchase, the City Parks Department had offered us the services of their beach cleaning machine. At that time the cost would have been on the order of $500 to $700 a season for each beach property owner, and there was some question whether the city’s equipment was appropriate to do the job required. Now, thanks to the success of Don Conlin’s work with the tractor over the past few years, which has left the beach in a very much improved condition, it may be timely for the beach committee to revisit the options for beach maintenance.

We hope the above information will help in your consideration of association dues and assessments, on which we’ll vote at the upcoming annual meeting. We all can make our treasurer’s life easier if we bring our checkbooks and take care of dues/assessments at the meeting.

Friday, June 09, 2006

Annual Meeting 2006

APPLETREE POINT SHOREOWNER ASSOCIATION
Notice of Annual Meeting to be held
Saturday, June 24th, 2006

The Association will hold its 51st Annual Meeting on Saturday, June 24th at 10:00 a.m. at my house, 351 Appletree Point Road.

TIME: Come at 9:45 AM to meet neighbors and socialize. The business meeting will start promptly at 10:00.
11:00 Pot luck – bring something to share with your neighbors.

AGENDA:
1. Secretary’s report (previously sent out—if you didn’t get a copy, please call me or pick it up at the meeting)
2. Treasurer’s report
3. Road report
4. Beach committee report
5. Dues
6. Elections
7. Other business

PLEASE COME!


Jeff Haig

50th ANNNUAL MEETING MINUTES

50th ANNNUAL MEETING
APPLETREE POINT SHORE
OWNERS ASSOCIATION
2005

President Rolfe Eastman opened the 50th annual meeting of the Appletree Point Shoreowners Association at 10:15 A.M., July 30, 2005. The meeting was held at the home of Doug and Christine Campbell. The previous meeting was held two years ago in 2003.

The Secretary’s report was not read as everyone had already received a copy in the mail. After a correction was made concerning Jim Postma’s name being omitted as one of the current trustees, the secretary’s report was accepted.

The Treasurer’s report was then read and accepted.

The Association was formed fifty years ago. For many years the primary concerns were the road and water. Through the years the Association has dealt with whatever issues have evolved. When Strathmore was developed, they took over the road, reconstructing it, and the water line, except for fifteen homes on the Point road.

Concerning the beach, we have the tractor which we purchased to take care of the grass and weeds growing on the beach, which became a serious problem when the storm runoff was directed into our bay from the Strathmore development. There could be another problem with runoff if and when the new development at Sunset Cliff is done, because their plan has been to join their runoff with Strathmore’s into our bay. The tractor cost $6,000, and we still need $3,500 toward paying it off. Each year, the “beach people” are assessed $1.00 per linear foot for tractor work done on the beach. Last year the beach work was done only twice and this year no beach work was done because the lake water level was too high. The rotovator has worked very well and now we are looking for something less aggressive, a York Rake with wheels, a used or new one, which could be used instead of the rotovator for grooming purposes. Further, a York Rake could be used to level the Point road when necessary. It has been difficult to find a used York Rake because they are in high demand. Strathmore also might contribute finds toward beach maintenance. The tractor storage and insurance are due every year. It might be possible to cut the maintenance work which has been done annually to less often than annually. Brad Rubman, Eric Miller, and Mike Furlong volunteered to learn from Don Conlin how to operate the tractor.
Christine Campbell is in charge of the dues, “beach”, and the Point road fees. This year, the road will cost more because of a collapsed culvert. The City road person who was contacted has not responded. They probably will not pay for the repair. The “road people” would like to pay the possible $1,000 to $1,500 for repairs and continue negotiations with the City, and in order to pay for the repairs in the meantime, would like to tap into the Association funds. Any amount advanced would be repaid from current and future road assessments. Gravel is needed to fill potholes before the rest of the road is fixed.

There is also the matter of water line repair on the Point road. A six inch main runs from Starr Farm, Sunset Cliff to Gary Reid’s. A two inch spur runs from the six inch main out to the Point. Who owns it? Burr Miller and the Larsens own their part. A solution could be to give it to the City, but there is some question whether they have accepted it. There is a gap between the City-owned line at Strathmore and the six inch main. It is on a private road. Roger Dorwart informed Rolfe that Sunset Cliff was not helped by the City with either road work or water repairs. The Association may be approached for help in financing the repair.
Regarding dues, the regular dues are $25.00 annually. The “road group” have a $75.00 annual road assessment. Some people have not paid the last assessment. There was a discussion about the beach or tractor assessment being forgiven for the summer of 2005 since no work was done due to the high water level, but the tractor maintenance costs go on each year. The assessment is $1.00 per linear foot of beachfront for each owner.

The $25.00 annual Association dues were voted in. Also, the road group assessment of $75.00 for 2005 and 2006 was accepted, and the beach assessment of $1.00 per linear foot was passed for 2005 and 2006.

Finally, elections were held. Rolfe Eastman, President; Anne Conlin, secretary or clerk; and Christine Campbell, treasurer, decided to pass the torch. Nancy Furlong was elected secretary or clerk; Christine Campbell decided to stay on as treasurer when Nancy Furlong volunteered to assist her in collecting money. A new President will be elected by the Board after the meeting is adjourned.

Elections of the Board of Trustees were held. The current members are: Rolfe Eastman, Jeff Haig, Donald Conlin, and Christine Campbell. (Jim Postma has resigned.) Mike Furlong and Doug Campbell volunteered, and all six were elected. The Board is elected annually.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:30 A.M. and the Board left the room to elect a new President. Delicious refreshments were enjoyed by the members of the Association.

Respectfully submitted by
Anne Conlin, Secretary