Happy New Year to all. (I’ve been told I can say that throughout January!)

The final HUA-requested changes to the 2008 Golf Budget proposed by Golf Visions have been submitted back to Golf Visions, and they have responded back to us with a revised budget, to be considered at January’s HUA Board meeting.  Your Board of Directors have been very diligent in scrutinizing income, expenses and budgeted items related to the Golf operation, as required as part of their fiduciary duty to all Homeowners of HeatherRidge.  As you may be aware, there is an intricate flow of funds from golf operations down to the point where it produces useable funds to benefit and provide to the entire Community, and it is the intention and goal of the Board to ensure our Community receives back the most benefits for all Homeowners.  A golf course is an amenity to this Community, and the influx of the most reasonable funds from its operation to the HUA is the entitlement to all Homeowners.  Golf is a business, and must be operated in a manner that is fair to both homeowner and operator for it to be a viable entity in a Community such as ours.

Golf Visions, Inc, our Golf Course Managers and operators, have submitted a proposal to the Board of Directors for them to lease the golf course from us.  This proposal has been responded to and, until certain key points are agreed to, the feasibility of considering the lease is currently at a stall.  The leasing of the course consists of many pros and cons.  Again, this negotiation is being approached with the understanding that the process would have to provide the greatest benefit to our Community.

Procedures and contracts for tennis leagues and lessons are also being worked on by HUA for the 2008 tennis season. 

The Maintenance and Landscape departments have had their hands full during the past few weeks and months.  As you know all too well, we have had an exceptional amount of snow during December and constant plowing runs were the call of the day.  Several Landscaping employees were gone for certain periods during the snowfall, as it is (usually) better to take Paid Time Off during the winter than from the demanding routine of the summer.  But ALL of our crews and employees did a fantastic job getting the areas plowed and cleared as good as possible during these snowy periods.  They worked many long hours and must be commended.  Again, there are times when certain areas may be inadvertently missed and/or tended to at a later time than others.  Please report any severe snow plowing issues to the HUA office and we will tend to them as needed.

Landscaping personnel are busy continuing with low-tree and bush dormant pruning efforts throughout the area, as well as Brickman Landscaping doing the higher tree pruning.  Management and maintenance have been dealing with major structural cracks and flooding problems in the Hidden Hills Clubhouse, and are bringing in bidders from outside waterproofing and construction companies specializing in restoring the problem areas.  Reappearing ceiling mold is being tended to by way of inspection, analysis and treatment at the StoneyBrook/Cambridge Clubhouse, and painting is being done in the CRF.  Additionally, certain budgeted window replacements are on order for the CRF and shall be installed upon their arrival.  Other repairs to the Covered Bridge Clubhouse and furniture for the Stoneybrook/Cambridge Clubhouse are in the works as well.  Further maintenance and/or landscape happenings may be touched upon in committee report.

The badge-making process is being refined and you will begin to have badges made as other clubhouses/pools are fitted for new locks and security well before the pool season beings.

The Village has cited the HUA for unsafe stairs on the outside at the north end of the 930 Taylor building.  I have been in touch with Vanguard Management and the CB Condo board and they are facilitating repairs.  As a rule of thumb, when safety issues are of concern to the Village, they will usually cite the HUA regardless of who is directly responsible.  We are most visible to them.

The Village has informed us that they are willing and scheduling to replace the Gages Lake walking path sidewalk this year, and the HeatherRidge contribution to the project would need to be 20% of the $80,000 cost, or $16,000.  The Board will vote on the funds at the January meeting.

Events are picking up at the Rec Center as well as preparing for upcoming Mardi Gras and St. Pat’s Day.  The Christmas and New Years functions had wonderful turnouts and were very successful.

Bob Marcus, CMCA, AMS Community Manager