Spring Harbour Towne Condominium Newsletter April, 2009
 
Spring
Spring and we thought it would never come. I absolutely love Michigan and spring and

condo living and fishing. No grass to cut, fertilize, edge or weed and time for fishing.Notrees, shrubs or plants to plant and plenty of time for, you guessed it…. fishing! 

Board Talk
Snowplowing - This winter season (2008 to 2009) was costly to Harbour Towne Residents. Last year we budgeted $50,000.00 for annual snow removal. Our actual expenditure was $84,000.00 (21 separate plowings).
We will not have a special assessment to recoup our $34,000.00 snow removal deficit this year, but will rely on our temporary  $45.00, May 1, 2009 Maintenance Fee increase to cover this shortage.
In addition to plowing driveways and hand shoveling around garage and entrance doors, Quality has to rent a front-end loader to remove snow from the roadways.  When we plow the entire complex (driveways, hand shoveling and roadways) the average cost per condo is $20.95 ($4000.00 / 191 units).
During the preceding year (2007 to 2008) our annual snow removal cost were also on the high side ($75,000.00).
Prior to this time our annual snowplow budget never exceeded $40,000.00 or 10 plowings per year.

 

Contacting Condo co-owners in the event of an emergency.

 Recently a condo owner notified the Muskegon Police of a concern that something may have happened to her neighbor who was not observed for a few days.
In response to that concern the Police Officer broke, what I assume he thought was a single “small pane” of the door glass. Unfortunately the glass was a single piece of 2’ by 6’ glass with a mock 10-pane appearance strip.

As it turned out the missing neighbor was on vacation and had notified the other adjoining neighbor of her pending absence.
In situations where you are concerned about the health and safety of a neighbor, we encourage you to first start by contacting Sun Agency who may have additional information regarding owner cell phone numbers, local emergency contact information, etc. If Sun Agency is closed, contact any available Condo Board Member for help.
 
Condo Board Opening

If you are interested in running for the Condominium Board there is one three-year vacancy open this year. If you would like to apply, please send a brief bio to Sun Agency outlining your experience and qualifications by May 15, 2009. The actual election will take place at our annual meeting on June 10, 2009 at 6:30 pm in the Harbour View Room located on the upper floor of the Harbour Towne Yacht Club. All owners will be mailed a ballot prior to this meeting!

 

Spider Spraying

O’Malley Pest Control will be spraying for spider the week of May 4 through May 8, or as soon as weather permits. We will not be spraying the seven-condo buildings that are being stained this year. Our current cost for one annual spider pesticide application to the entire complex is $4500.00.

Window Washing - The Association has contracted to clean all windows the week of May 18, or as soon as weather permits. We will not be cleaning the windows of the seven buildings that are being painted until late August. Our annual cost to clean all windows amounts to $7449 ($39.00 per unit x 191 units).
 The primary reason we clean the windows is to remove the spider spray residue.

 

Condo Staining & Siding

Please refer to the last page of this letter for a detailed explanation of our staining and repair policies.

 

Patio and Common Ground Areas 

Owners and their guest are not allowed to store vehicles (examples snowmobiles, motor cycles or trailers) on patios, walkways or the lawn or common ground areas.

Bud Tips
Here are some helpful tips from Bud Kemperman:
1. Remove the humidifier filter and turn off the water supply line.
2. Close the air vent inlet to the humidifier.
3. Clean or replace the heating/AC filters.
4. Remove and wash your window screens.
5. Clean the inside of your windows.
6. Clean your external air conditioning condenser screen.
 
Dues Increase Effective 5/01/2009
As previously announced in our January 2009 Newsletter, effective May 01, 2009 our monthly dues are increased to $260.00 (a temporary monthly increase of $45.00).
This increase will remain in effect until our Maintenance Fee shortage has stabilized and our Reserve Fund replenished for the $143,000 that was borrowed. It is our estimate that the present Reserve Fund shortage can potentially be repaid sometime in 2012 baring any unforeseen emergencies.
Our Condo fees are and will remain a moving target for the Board. We will continue to charge what is reasonable and prudent for the operation of all common ground areas. No more, and no less, than needed!

New Arrivals
During January 1, 2009 through March 31, 2009 there were no units sold in Harbour Towne.

Newsletter/Website Input
If you have a particular item or concern that you would like discussed in an upcoming issue of our newsletter or website, please contact Jerry Siminski at 759-3451 or any Board Member.

Harbour Towne Activities Calendar:
· HT Ladies Luncheon Group - meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month, at 1:00pm, at Docker’s Fish House.

· HT Bunko Bunch - meets the 4th Tuesday of the month at 1:00 pm. Call Arlene Wickland at 759-5513 for the location and to RSVP.

· HT Condominium Association Board normally meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm in the upper level of the HT Yacht Club. Always check with a Board Member to verify that a meeting is being held for the month you plan to attend.

Looking for Volunteers
Website Updating - Volunteers needed with computers with Windows XP or Vista, a scanner, Microsoft Word and Internet Access. If available please contact Jerry Siminski at 759-3451.

Number Painting - We will soon start painting brass condo numbers black so visitors and EMS personnel may more readily identify condo addresses. If you can lend a helping hand please call Jim Geisler at 755-6750.

Condo Owner Record Updating - We need volunteers to telephone condo owner to update our records with correct spelling, contact phone numbers, email addresses and local emergency contact numbers, etc. If you can help, please contact Jerry Siminski at 759-3451.

  

No Solicitation Policy Implemented
Due to continuing concerns expressed by co-owners, the Condominium Board implemented a “no solicitation” Policy at Harbour Towne effective February 10, 2009. “No Solicitation” signage has been installed at both main entrances to Harbour Towne. If anyone is observed, not adhering to our policy, please contact any available Board Member for follow up action.

Harbour Towne Yacht Club (advertisement)
The Harbour Towne Yacht Club “a smoke free environment” is again offering a provisional membership for the 2009 season. If you are a new member, or have not been a member for 3 or more years, you are eligible to participate.
The cost of your 1st year membership is only a $149.00 of which $25.00 is credited to your food and beverage account.
The Harbour Towne Yacht Club offers a new, full service kitchen with fabulous meals at reasonable prices. You get discounted banquet facilities, with seating up to 260 guests, and a heated pool and hot tub that are impeccably maintained.
If you continue your active membership, the routine $100.00 initiation fee is waived. Stop in and give us a try. You do not need to be a member for an initial 2 or 3 visits!

 

Michigan OKs five salmon limit
Michigan anglers, beginning April 9th, are able to keep up to five salmon a day, in combination with other trout species. The rule change, approved by the Natural Resources Commission, will allow for up to 5 salmon per day (no more than 3 of the 5 can be Browns, Lakers or Steelhead).

  

Muskegon Country Club (Advertisement)
Were you aware that only two miles from your property lies a beautiful Country Club – the Muskegon Country Club!  Last year the Club celebrated its 100th anniversary.  Our Donald Ross designed golf course is recognized as the premier course on the Western side of Michigan.  In addition to golf we offer fine dining, a beautiful swimming pool and a fitness center.  Also, banquet facilities are available for up to 300 people.
We offer a variety of memberships including a “Non Resident” offering.  Please give us a call at 231-755-3737 and ask for Ted Tallefson or Rebecca Harding.  Either one would be pleased to discuss our membership packages and invite you over for a tour of our facility.
You can also check us out on our web site – www.Muskegoncc.com

Thanks on behalf of all Harbour Towne!
Kregg Wiggins turned his water off to his condo when he left for the winter. When he returned on April 6, 2009 he cautiously turned on his water supply line. He immediately noticed that the water was not filling the lines and turned the water “off”. He then contacted Sun Agency and we later discovered that the standing water in his hot and cold water lines (which ran through the ceiling of his neighbor’s garage) had frozen and ruptured in 3 different locations. The main problem was later identified as insufficient insulation to keep the pipes from freezing. Had Kregg not turned the water off this $2,000.00 repair bill could easily have resulted in $50,000 to a $100,000 in damages! Thank you, from all of us!

Famous Quote
Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. Buddha

 

Condominium Assoc. Board Members:
Dave Taylor – President – 759-1193
 3529 Sand Bar Court
Dave Shoemake – VP/Secretary - 755-8747
 1476 W. Harbour Towne Circle
Dan Weller – Treasurer – 755-3936
 1440 East Harbour Towne Circle
Jerry Siminski – Communications - 759-3451
 1500 West Harbour Towne Circle
Jim Geisler – 755-6750
 1659 East Harbour Towne Circle
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Kathie Vanderwater (Sun Agency) 759-7722.
Call for “all building and grounds complaints,
Insurance claims and Condominium Fees!