MEETING NOTES and UPDATES ...............................................
Update from Board of Directors
PRIOR YEARS:
2019 ANNUAL HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION MEETING was held April 19, 2019 at Archer High School
Monfort Estates HOA 2016 Annual Meeting Minutes
March 24, 2016
The annual meeting of the Monfort Estates Homeowners Association was convened on this date at the media center of Archer High School located on New Hope Road. Mike Moffitt, President welcomed all in attendance. Board members in attendance were: Steve Speer, Treasurer; Sandy Neuhart, Secretary; Billy Dolph, Member at large; and Michael Kelly, Architectural Committee Chairman. Kenny Holley, Vice President was not in attendance.
Mike asked for each homeowner in attendance to review the minutes from the previous year. After reviewing Bill Keeler made a motion to approve the minutes, Barbara Skeen second.
Steve Speer went over the Financials from 2015 as well as the planned budget for the new year. Michael Kelly motioned to accept the financial statements; Barbara Skeen second. All in attendance approved.
Michael Kelly reviewed the mandates from our covenants of yard management including regular mowing and weed control treatment. He further reminded folks that we have several homes in need of painting and repair. He asked all to please communicate with the board their individual plans for upkeep. We are very much willing to work with any issues.
Mike Moffitt reviewed last year's board activities. He reminded all that the payment of HOA dues is not arbitrary. Our covenants clearly state the guidelines and each homeowner signed on when purchasing their home. We have settled one collection that was problematic and recovered our legal fees, We have one vacant lot that has not been in compliance regarding lawn maintenance. Our board has addressed this issue and continues to do so. We hired an attorney who specializes in HOA issues. He has been most informative and helped in all aspects of compliance. Our front entrance received maintenance in the form of patching and painting of the stucco.
Steve Speer spearheaded our efforts to bring a neighborhood watch program named C.O.P.S. to our neighborhood. Steve acknowledged the team captains for our program. He shared that our C.O.P.S. sign is posted in a prominent location at our entrance.
Mike Moffitt expressed appreciation of our newer neighbors, the Keeler's, volunteering their help in our 'Boo'd" celebration. He informed us that in 2016 we have spread mulch in the children's playground area. We are in the process of repairs to the tennis courts and this is being accomplished without having to tap into our reserves.
We ask all neighbors to utilize the website or e-mail to be informed on neighborhood activities. We encourage our neighbors to sign up for our teams for the Social, Pool, and Entrance committees.
Steve Speer introduced our guest speaker Jay Brewer an officer with the C.O.P.S. program. Officer Brewer enlightened us in areas where we can be diligent in protecting us from predators. He advised us to keep our windows and doors locked as well as our vehicles. He suggested we not have belongings in our vehicles in plain sight. He further said that we should keep any door from our garages to our homes locked as thieves can gain entrance to our garages through stolen door openers. Neater landscape provides more security. Overgrown shrubbery should be trimmed to a height of 2 to 3 feet and trees should have a canopy no lower than 6 or 7 feet. Officer Brewer finalized by encouraging us to talk to our neighbors and to call whenever anything looks out of place.
Ballots for the 2016 board were distributed and collected. Our 2016 board will be comprised of Mike Moffitt, Donna Carman, Steve Speer, and Sandy Neuhart.
The meeting was adjourned with a motion from Michael Kelly and second by Beverly Keyes.
Respectfully submitted,
Sandra Neuhart, Secretary
Minutes Approved: Michael Moffitt, President
August 17, 2015
Homeowners:
The Board wants to bring to your attention important items that affect the entire neighborhood, and require action on the part of homeowners:
1. COPS Program
We mentioned this program at the annual Homeowners meeting this year. This is a program of the Gwinnett County Police Department for self-patrol of our neighborhood, to help prevent and or report crime and mischievous activities. For those unaware, we have experienced vandalism and theft in the last two years.
We are required to have at least 50% homeowner participation in the onset and training for this program. For those that expressed an interest in the COPS program, thank you! If you have not signed up to help support this, please let one of the Board members know asap. It would only require one initial meeting to get started.
2. Rental Properties
Several homes in the neighborhood have been foreclosed on the last few years. Many of you may have seen the results of this through your property values being lowered on your property tax bill, or maybe an appraisal you had completed. We have become aware that several real estate investors have purchased homes in the neighborhood and are using the property for rental. Our last evaluation of this situation revealed that there may be as many as 8 to 10 rental properties now.
The Association by-laws, in effect at this time, did not take into account the conversion of properties to rental, nor limit the number of homes that may be under rental at one time. While we would not intend to limit the use of the homeowners to their properties in any way other than to follow our covenants, the Board has concern for ALL of the property values if this trend continues.
The HOA attorney has advised the Board that in order to place a restriction on the maximum number of homes that may be under rental at one time, we must amend the by-laws. This requires 90% of the owners to agree. We are asking the homeowners to consent to signature with notary certification to this change.
Please let us know of your willingness to address this issue by contacting one of the Board members as soon as possible.
3. Tennis Courts
Estimates are being obtained to resurface the tennis courts and they will be repaired during the off-season.
4. Entrance Way
The front entrance has received fresh paint and repairs will be made to the stucco in the near future.
Homeowners:
The Board wants to bring to your attention important items that affect the entire neighborhood, and require action on the part of homeowners:
1. COPS Program
We mentioned this program at the annual Homeowners meeting this year. This is a program of the Gwinnett County Police Department for self-patrol of our neighborhood, to help prevent and or report crime and mischievous activities. For those unaware, we have experienced vandalism and theft in the last two years.
We are required to have at least 50% homeowner participation in the onset and training for this program. For those that expressed an interest in the COPS program, thank you! If you have not signed up to help support this, please let one of the Board members know asap. It would only require one initial meeting to get started.
2. Rental Properties
Several homes in the neighborhood have been foreclosed on the last few years. Many of you may have seen the results of this through your property values being lowered on your property tax bill, or maybe an appraisal you had completed. We have become aware that several real estate investors have purchased homes in the neighborhood and are using the property for rental. Our last evaluation of this situation revealed that there may be as many as 8 to 10 rental properties now.
The Association by-laws, in effect at this time, did not take into account the conversion of properties to rental, nor limit the number of homes that may be under rental at one time. While we would not intend to limit the use of the homeowners to their properties in any way other than to follow our covenants, the Board has concern for ALL of the property values if this trend continues.
The HOA attorney has advised the Board that in order to place a restriction on the maximum number of homes that may be under rental at one time, we must amend the by-laws. This requires 90% of the owners to agree. We are asking the homeowners to consent to signature with notary certification to this change.
Please let us know of your willingness to address this issue by contacting one of the Board members as soon as possible.
3. Tennis Courts
Estimates are being obtained to resurface the tennis courts and they will be repaired during the off-season.
4. Entrance Way
The front entrance has received fresh paint and repairs will be made to the stucco in the near future.
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ANNUAL MEETING - 2015 was held Tuesday February 10th We are pleased to announce our new appointments for the 2015 ~ 2016 term. A special thank you to Donna Carman for all her years of commitment to the board and our community.
Meeting Minutes:
The annual meeting of the Monfort Estates Homeowners Association was convened on this date at Archer High School media center located on New Hope Road. Board Members in attendance were: Mike Moffitt-President, Steve Speer-Vice President; Donna Carman-Treasurer; Sandy Neuhart-Secretary; Billy Dolph-Board Member at large; and Michael Kelly-Architectural Committee Chairman and Andy Milsapps-Architectural committee member. Mike Moffit reviewed the previous year’s activities. Among the events over this timeframe were the various neighborhood events. One event that created a disaster in our pool house was the bursting of the pipes from the especially cold snap we experienced this past year. Fortunately, the insurance was able to cover the damage and basically revamped our ladies bathroom. We experienced some leaking prior to the cold snap in the pump room which necessitated the purchase of a new water heater and mold remediation. Mike also shared the Boards’ efforts to spruce up the front entrance by removal of some over mature trees and shrubbery. * Financials Donna Carman reviewed the financial statement for the 2014 expenditures as well as the planned budget for the new year. This past year we had to access some of the reserves to obtain legal representation in clearing up delinquent accounts as well as the remediation to the pool house. We also added privacy fencing to our deck adjoining the pool house to deter illegal entry into our pool and tennis areas. Kevin Boyle motioned to accept the financial statements; Barbara Skeen seconded. All in attendance approved. * Architectural Michael Kelly reviewed the current covenants and reminded those in attendance that we are attempting to remind our neighbors of the necessity of the repainting of some homes under the covenants. * Security Steve Speer presented information regarding a neighborhood watch effort connected to the local law enforcement named C.O.P.S. This group would require a minimum of 36 volunteers for a neighborhood of our size. We would have better safety enforcement and quicker response with the incorporation of this group. * Community Oriented Police Service) is Gwinnett County's form of Neighborhood Watch. As we are all aware we have had many security issues this past year. Because the Monfort Estates community is not immune to crime, theft, and other items preferred to be kept away from our homes, neighbors, children, and our community, it was widely agreed of those in attendance last night of an interest in te C.O.P.S. program offered by Gwinnet county at the meeting. * Participation in the C.O.P.S. program requires 50% of home in the neighborhood be in attendance at the first C.O.P.S. meeting. Follow-up meetings would occur over the year, and attendance is encourage, but is not a requirement like the first meeting. All meetings would be held in a location where all could attend near our community. These meetings would provide information, education, and create a partnership with the Gwinnett county police. * Block Captain/ Team Leader would be needed to be in attendance at the follow-up meetings with the county. * The benefits for our community would help provide awareness, and signs that would identify our community as a C.O.P.S. community. The goal is to deter criminal activity, loitering, theft, increase community awareness, and know your surroundings and neighbors. * We need 36 homeowners to sign up and show an interest in being a C.O.P.S. community out of our 71 homes in the subdivision. The HOA would submit an application with a survey form from each of the homeowners identified to the C.O.P.S. representative for our district. * We are very close in meeting the 50% requirement. If you were not in attendance at the meeting, but would like to be part of this program, please email us with your name, address, and best method of contact, preferably your email as materials may need to be distributed in the future. The Board will be going over the covenants to update and clarify them in the near future. The vote for the 2015 Board was held. One current member rolled off, Donna Carman. Kenny Holley volunteered to rejoin the Board. The vote approved all remaining members from 2014 with the addition of Kenny Holley. The meeting was adjourned with a motion from Tony DeLucia and seconded by Michael Kelly. Thanks to all who were in attendance. Submitted by Sandy Neuhart |
** UPDATES *** HOA Dues
Those who have not paid - Please Pay by March 1st Fines
begin to accrue after March 1st
for late 2015 HOA dues payments No Solicitation
Monfort Estates has a NO SOLICITATION policy in place and signs to that effect posted at the entrance. Despite this, we on occasion have certain companies that still canvass the area. Before politely reminding the solicitor of that fact (or not so politely if deemed appropriate), please get the name of the company they are representing and send us an email.
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