Preparing for November Election Day

The radio reported recently that SOME Aiken precinct voting locations have changed.  I wanted to know if that affected Pleasant Pointe homeowners, so I attempted to check.

Naturally they couldn't make it as simple as I hoped.  Here is what I found out:

My voting location did not change...however, for you to be certain that you show up at the correct location, you should check your own voter registration.

You can do this on line by visiting the following internet address:

www.scvotes.org/check_your_voter_registration

Once you are there you will provide your name and birthday to check the status of your registration, and you can also see the polling location.

Wish I could tell you no locations have changed for our neighborhood, but it comes down to each street.

Go check yours...it is easy.

Tim

An Experiment

Discovered an interesting website tonight - one showing a map overlaid with symbols indicating reported crimes.

This site has been added to the Useful Info links on the right.  We'll give this a try for a while to see how it works.

Feedback is appreciated.

As Requested - That Parking Ordinance

During the July 6th meeting an Association member asked if we could post the wording of the Aiken County ordinance about which there has been much discussion but very little clarity.

Here is an excerpt of that ordinance:

Section 8.10 Placement of Objects and Vehicles On, In or Adjacent to Road Rights-of-Way, Road Easements and Roadways; Hazardous Objects.

1.             No signs, fences, walls, or other objects, including vehicles, may be placed either temporarily or permanently on or in any road rights-or-way, road easements or roadways owned by the federal, state, or county government ……

Please note that this excerpt is posted as is, with no attempt to interpret the ordinance nor determine if it applies to any particular circumstance.  We are simply posting this in response to the request that we do so.

Minutes of Meeting - July 6, 2010

Minutes of Meeting

Pleasant Pointe Homeowner’s Association, July 6, 2010

As approved by majority vote of the Association board, July 7, 2010

Meeting was announced via the Pleasant Pointe Patriot (pleasantpointe.blogspot.com) and signs at the neighborhood entrances for several weeks prior to the meeting.

JULY 6^th, 2010

Meeting was called to order by Dave Hill, Association President, at 7:05 p.m. at the Pentecost Methodist Church, Pine Log Road.

The entire board of officers was in attendance.  Approximately thirty to thirty five households were represented including the officers.  For the record there are approximately 184 homes in Pleasant Pointe.

COVENANTS AND THE PPHOA

President began the meeting by reviewing highlights of property covenants establishing the Pleasant Point Home Owners’ Association (PPHOA), as recorded in Aiken County records in 1995.  The president highlighted segments of the covenants establishing all property owners in Pleasant Pointe as members of the PPHOA, as well as the establishment of the authority and responsibilities of the PPHOA Board of Directors.  This authority includes the right to set dues, collect dues and assess a property lien against properties if dues are unpaid.

President also read from incorporation document establishing the PPHOA as a legal, non-profit entity in 2008.

RECENT DUES COLLECTION EFFORTS

President addressed the assembly on the success of the 2010 dues collection effort.  The association would have been insolvent as of July 2010 but for this effort.  The collection effort has thus far collected about $5000.  As established in the letter to residents distributed in April, property owners who have yet to become current on dues have been reported to a collection agency.  The president relayed the board’s reticence to take this action, but the board sees this as only fair to those who are members in good standing.  Unfortunately, the collection agency will take fifty percent of all back dues collected resulting from the agency’s efforts.

The president also informed the assembly of the reason statements were not sent to homeowners leading to the 2010 collection efforts:  there were insufficient funds in the PPHOA account to cover the cost of printing and mailing, while still meeting other financial obligations for which the PPHOA is legally responsible.

The president opened the floor for discussion and questions about the dues.  Summary of discussion:

                What accounts for different households owing differing amounts to the PPHOA?  Answer in general – some have made full payments each year, some have made partial and some have made none.  President advised anyone wishing to know the status of their account as reflected in the PPHOA treasurer’s records should contact the president or the treasurer.

                Has an audit been done?  No.

                Motion and Second that books be audited.  Discussion:  Audit will cost $1500 - $2000.  There is no accusation of theft by the PPHOA board.  Motion failed by a wide majority.

                If covenants say all property owners are members why can’t all property owners examine books?  Answer in general:  There is a difference between being a legal member and being a member in good standing.

                Motion and Second:  That PPHOA books be open to members in good standing.  Discussion:  Board has committed itself to having a written budget for presentation to the general membership for 2011.  The budget and financial statement will provide this information to the membership.  Members have a right to see reports of income from their own accounts, and all accounts collectively, along with expenses paid by the PPHOA.  However members do not have a right to see reports of income from other individuals in the Association.  This is a function for the Association board.  Motion failed.

                Continued discussion from the floor:  Members not in good standing should not be allowed to speak or make motions in meetings.  President replied he is inclined to allow all concerned to participate.

.

                Continued discussion from the floor:  From the earliest days of this PPHOA it has been common practice for the Association board to answer individual inquiries regarding status of a property owners account.  It simply requires an individual to ask.

                Motion and Second:  That the treasurer look in to the cost of auditing the books at the end of the year.  Motion failed.

President discussed where PPHOA spends the money collected as dues.  Generally the money is paid for landscaping, electricity, water, emergencies such as removing the broken tree, and a special expense in 2010 to replace the entrance signs on Pleasant Pointe Dr. which were ripped and unattractive.

President also addressed electronic posting of information as a cost avoidance measure for the PPHOA.  Secretary Tim Fitzgerald was asked to address the website and email. 

Secretary explained the purpose of the website (blog) is to provide information of common interest to the neighborhood.  It serves as a cost-effective official means of communication for the PPHOA board.  However, due to the open, unregulated nature of comments, and no way to assure who is behind comments, the PPHOA board does not take comments posted on the blog for action; comments are not official communications with the PPHOA board.  Official communications can be made via email at pleasantpointe29851@gmail.com or by US Mail at Pleasant Pointe HOA, PO Box 5983, Aiken, SC 29804.

Secretary also invited members to submit information about companies who employ our members, or owned by our members as a means of free advertising for those companies.

President addressed those without internet access saying those who need to receive a paper copy important information should provide the HOA with that request in writing so the Association board can capture this list.

ON-STREET PARKING – President raised the issue of on-street parking saying we do not have definitive guidance as to its legality or the enforcement of the ordinance.  Question from the floor:  Can you post the ordinance on the website?  Answer:  Yes, once we track down the exact wording of the ordinance.

Damaged Tree Response – President discussed the tree on PPHOA-owned property damaged in last week’s storm.  Tree has been cut away and stump grinding is slated for Friday, July 9^th.  Motion and Second:  Obtain three quotes then evaluate what is affordable understanding the trees need to come down due to age.  Motion carried by a wide margin.  PPHOA board will obtain quotes than evaluate affordable courses of action.

PPHOA Directory – Under consideration by the Association board is the creation of a subdivision directory with contact information provided by members for members.  While this is just in the idea stage at the moment, be assured that member participation would be completely voluntary.

PPHOA BY-LAWS – President addressed recent changes to the proposed by-laws.  These changes are incorporated in the proposed by-laws listed on the PPHOA website (pleasantpointe.blogspot.com).  Copies of the proposed by-laws were distributed to each represented household at the meeting.  Those desiring a paper copy should contact the PPHOA board.  Due to recent changes in the proposed by-laws, a vote on these by-laws will be postponed until the next scheduled general membership meeting in November, 2010.

Discussion included the mandate for liability insurance on behalf of the PPHOA as well as bonding, errors and omissions insurance for the board officers.  Consensus is this insurance is needed if affordable.  A comment from the floor asked if a special assessment could be imposed.  President replied it is within the authority of the covenants, but we would like to be able to budget for such needs.

Motion and Second to obtain three quotes for insurance.  Motion failed.  The Association board will take a prudent look at the requirements and costs.

Question from the floor:  Is the PPHOA putting liens on property for those who do not pay dues.  Answer: not as of yet.

Motion and Second:  That the PPHOA board will, for all properties with unpaid dues as of midnight, December 31^st 2010, obtain a lien against such properties immediately.  Discussion:  The president reported the local magistrate has said unpaid property dues would generally not be tolerated, that he would find in favor of the PPHOA, and that associated fees and court costs would be added to the defendant’s bill. 

Motion carried by a wide margin.

Question from the floor:  Do Realtors know PPHOA exists?  Answer:  The president says the Aiken Board of Realtors has been notified and all realtors have access to this information.

Motion and Second: That the meeting be adjourned.  Motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,

Timothy P. Fitzgerald

PPHOA Secretary

July 7, 2010

A Word About This Website...

A good question about comments left on this website came up at tonight's meeting.

The Association board uses this website to provide information to the neighborhood.  Dates of meetings and other information important to the community are posted here as a convenience for you and a cost savings in for the association (this website costs the Association nothing.  Annual budget for website = $0.00).

Conversely, comments left by readers of the website are not considered as official communications to the officers.  As happened tonight, a reasonable question to ask is "Why?"

A couple of reasons really. 

First - the board Secretary is charged with the upkeep of this website.  You can trust that the content of this site comes from members of the board.  Should anyone hack into the site and post something fraudulent, the board officers will note and correct that in short order.  Thus, you can have confidence in the site.

The same cannot be said for comments.  To avoid a restrictive, cumbersome registration process, the comments feature allows anyone to post a comment.  And comments can be posted anonymously.  This means someone who stumbles upon this blog but does not live in this neighborhood can post comments.  

In short, we cannot guarantee that comments made actually come from Association members.  Even if a comment is posted with a name, there is no safeguard to ensure that person is who they claim to be.

So - official communications to the board should use the email address or the mailing address or approach one of the board members in person.

BUT LET US CONSIDER ONE MORE POINT:  As you know, the address to this site is posted at the entrances to the neighborhood.  We have many homes for sale in the neighborhood.  It is likely that someone looking at a home in the neighborhood will have a look at the website.

It is therefore in everyone's interest to keep the comments civil and charitable.  A prospective homeowner might be dissuaded from buying in Pleasant Pointe after reading comments that are insulting or vitriolic.  Slow home sales can translate into ever lower purchase prices which hurts the resale value of all homes in the neighborhood.

We want to keep the comments open as a means of neighborhood interaction.  Help us do so by posting comments that are positive, constructive or helpful.

If you want to blow off steam -and many of us need to from time to time -  use the email address or postal address.  That way you can be assured of receiving a response.

Membership Meeting

The Pleasant Pointe Homeowners Association met tonight to discuss a full agenda as prepared by Association President Dave Hill.

The Secretary, Tim Fitzgerald, is working on the minutes and will post them as soon as they are ready and approved by the board.

Our estimate is between 15% and 20% of households attended tonight's meeting.

Keep an eye out here for the minutes.  And don't forget to review the draft by-laws and email any suggested changes to the association board.

Added Feature

We've added a new feature to the website.  You can now subscribe to RSS feed from The Pleasant Pointe Patriot.

Don't worry if you aren't familiar with RSS.  RSS is a way to have the new posts and comments that are added to The Pleasant Pointe Patriot (and many, many other websites)  delivered to your own computer.

Why bother?  Well, it comes down to saving you time.  Since there is rarely enough news to post to the Patriot every day, the RSS feed assures that you are notified when the site is updated...instead of your looking at the page daily to find nothing new.

Here is a video that explains it better than I can.  Once you have your own RSS reader, you can click on the "Subscribe To" icons at the upper right of the page.

Damaged Tree

Yesterday's storm severely damaged a tree at the Sandlewood entrance.  The HOA has contacted a tree service to come see what the best course of action is regarding the tree.

As you might imagine the tree service is swamped with calls.  It may be a day or two before they get to us.

Just wanted you to know the calls have been made.

UPDATE:  The HOA president met with the tree service today.  After examining the tree the service has advised that the tree is so badly damaged it needs to be taken down.  Work will be done on Friday, July 2d.

We Still Want Your Business

Post your business for free on this website.  Details are here.

Neighborhood Market Opportunity!

Our friends at the Pentecost Church across Pine Log Road are hosting Saturday Farmers' Markets. According to the information received by the Homeowners' Association

The church's Farmers' Market is from 9:00 to 1:00 each Saturday through August with the exception of July 4th weekend. Anyone who would like to have a booth may set up with crafts, yard sale items and such, free of charge. Someone will be at the church at 8:00 a.m. to assist with set up.

.

Meeting Notice

Please share this with your neighbors.

The next meeting of the Pleasant Pointe Homeowners' Association will be July 6th, 7:00 p.m. at the Pentecost Church across Pine Log Road.

We look forward to everyone's participation.

A Word of Warning

Today was a frightening one for a family on Sandlewood.

About 3:00 p.m. an intruder attempted to enter a home. The good news is the homeowner called the Sheriff's office and the intruder was apprehended.

The bad news is that our neighborhood is not immune to this type of crime even in broad daylight!

Reportedly the intruder attempted to gain entry to the home by entering through the garage (the garage door was open).

Please take warning that this could have turned out badly. And sad as it is, we may all want to take extra precautions with locked doors and the like.

Please Help! Lost Keys

Friends -

A neighbor of ours has lost a set of keys. She says it is possible they were lost near the intersection of Pleasant Pointe Dr and Avondale Lane.

If you find a lost set of keys please send an email to pleasantpointe29851@gmail.com

Thanks for your help!

Summary of HOA Board Meeting Minutes

The Pleasant Pointe Homeowners' Association board met Tuesday, April 13th. Below is a summary of the meeting taken from the minutes.

Meeting began with a review of expenses. Consensus of the board is that our landscaping services contract may not be truly competitive. President volunteered to have a look at the contract to see if it can be rebid.

President reports that future property taxes on parcels owned by the HOA will probably decrease as result of filing for exemption. Change in tax rate as yet is unknown.

The HOA is on path to be bankrupt not later than July, 2010.

Approximately half of the Pleasant Pointe neighborhood homeowners are in arrears in paying HOA dues. The board voted unanimously to send a letter to every HOA address stating that as of May 15^th, 2010, accounts in arrears will be handed over to a collection agency.

A concerned member of the community sent a note to the board stating that a car belonging to her son visiting from out of town was the target of rummaging and pilfering while parked in the driveway overnight. There was no mention of breaking in - thus it may be a good idea to keep one's vehicle locked.

Welcoming Committee: Board discussed the need for the neighborhood to establish welcoming committees, perhaps by street. Anyone wishing to serve in this neighborly position should contact the board via email [ pleasantpointe29851@gmail.com ] or at our mailing address

Pleasant Pointe HOA

PO Box 5983

Aiken, SC 29804

A Bright Step Forward

The neighborhood owes a big Thank You to the HOA Vice President Gary Bacon for putting the main entrance lights into working order over the weekend.

If you see him around the block, shake his hand.