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Newsletter April 2013

Deercreek Owners Association
Volume XVII     Issue 4        


In This Issue
New Residents
Bargain Avenue
Deercreek Signboard Requests
Business Advertising
BOD Meeting Highlights
Deercreek Yard Sale
Who's Who?
From the Property Manager
Water Restrictions
Home and Garden Club
Runners and Walkers
Assessments
DWA
Join Our Mailing List

CALENDAR

 

 

DCCOA

 

April 4
ARB 7:00 PM

 

April 10
Access Control 6:00 PM

 

April 11
Common Property  6 PM


NO Communication mtg.

 

April 18
Covenant Enforcement

6:00 PM

 

April 18
Finance  7:00 PM

 

April 25
Board  7:00 PM

 

   

SOCIAL EVENTS

 

April 15
Literary Circle 10:00 AM

 

April 23
Garden Club 10:00 AM

 

April 25
Bunco 10:00 AM

Support our Sponsors!




 








 

 



Welcome

New Residents

 

Amber & Louie Samaan

10047 Deercreek Club Rd. E.

 

 Harold & Abbey Matthews

8278 Persimmon Hill Lane

 

Katie & Peter Kissel

7942 Mc Laurin Rd. N.

 

 

Goodbye

Spencer and Susan Olsen

Bronwyn & Chris Horvath

 

Christine Ngo &
Mark Creel

 

Hanan & Fred Akel

 

Eric & Terri Chavez



 

Bargain Avenue


 

Want to sell an item?

 

Deercreek residents can advertise items for sale on Bargain Avenue on the Deercreek website. Click on the Bargain Ave link on the site for more details.

 


www.deercreekcc.com

 Deercreek Signboard Requests

 

 

 

Please e-mail requests for signboard information to Margie Blake at [email protected].

 

Requests for the benefit of all residents will be posted according to the dates needed and the Deercreek Communications Policies and Procedures.

 

There are NO personal postings as stated in the Policies and Procedures

 

Submitted by: Margie Blake

 


Business Advertising

 

Advertising on the Deercreek web site www.deercreekcc.com is available through December 2013 for $295.  

 

This includes your business logo on the Deercreek home page as well as a link to your individual advertising page and web site.

Please review the ad rate sheet on our web site for details.
 
Highlights from the BOD Meeting
 

 

Submitted by: George Partin

 

The February meeting of the DCCOA Board of Director's was held on March 7th due to scheduling conflicts and health problems on February 28th for many board members. The meeting was called to order when a quorum was established with six board members present. The agenda and the minutes from the January meeting were approved.

 

The first order of business was to appoint Doug Matthews to the board to replace Len Fritz who resigned in January. Doug was a candidate in the last election and only lost by a few votes. He is also a former board member and has extensive experience in the area of communication. A motion was made and seconded to appoint Doug to the  Board. After a brief discussion the motion was unanimously approved.

 

Rich Curran Kelley presented the property manager's report where he reported on the light  pole damage at the front entrance. Bob Danisavage recommended that the pole as  well as the globe lights be replaced. Within the report it was noted that the pole could fall into the road causing further damage to property. Since the light pole may be  a safety hazard a motion was made to have the light pole removed and replaced. The motion was seconded and after a discussion the motion passed.

 

The Treasurer's report was distributed to the members which showed that actual  expenses for February in Deercreek were $60,605 compared to a budget of $62,563. This resulted in a $1958 surplus for the month. There was also a $2167 surplus in revenues for February. Danny Becton presented the legal report which indicated some positive news for the Association. One home sold which resulted in $10,514 in back assessments / expenses being collected. Another homeowner also paid his prior year assessments in full.

 

The committee report on Access Control identified two issues that were of major importance to many residents. The Alliance Community patrols have identified homes where the door is left open. The Board, after a brief discussion felt that the  guards should not enter the home. The Access Control committee along with the security company will develop a policy to cover this process. A second  issue concerned reports that residents walking or running in the street have  almost been hit by passing cars. The residents are in the streets in the  early hours or late evening hours wearing dark clothes. The complaints have come  from both walkers and drivers that they were almost hit or hit someone.  An article will be written about safety for the newsletter.  

 

The Architectural Review Board will provide policy statements and guidelines to the board on trampolines. Research has determined there is no restriction in the covenants that prohibit trampolines. In consideration of changing times  the committee will establish guidelines where trampolines could be allowed.

 

The Covenant Enforcement Committee report shows that the appeal for  citations are down. Doug Mathews will be the new liaison for the covenant enforcement committee.

 

Margie Blake reported for the communication committee that volunteers are always needed. The resident directory is included when a resident receives their bar code and gate info from Lt. Kirby.  Shannon McQuarry, (Membership Director from the country club) on behalf of the country club and homeowners association will welcome new residents into the community.

 

The CPAC report informed the Board that City Council passed a contract extension for Waste Pro and automated trucks. Two 96 gallon containers will be given to owners; one for trash and the other for recycle. Garbage pick up day will stay as is and recycle will be picked up every other week. The containers will be distributed within 7 months, free of charge, and within 12 months the automated trucks will be in place. As we receive more information we will advise residents.   

 

Under Old Business the new payment application process was discussed which will  take effect April 1st. An article was published on the new process which  is consistent with the State Statues. Under New Business a discussion was held on the  process change in the way residents were informed of when assessment payments  are due. It was recommended that next year that the envelopes that contain the ballots include on the front "Assessment Information Enclosed". A review of the process revealed that there were 93 late fees which was a little higher then the norm. There were  a few residents who indicated they never received the ballots. In an effort to ensure  that the Association does not have numerous late fees on the books a motion was made  and passed that those owners who sign up for ACH or pay their assessments for the  whole year would have their late fee waived for the first quarter of 2013 only. The homeowner would need to be current by April 15th which means the ACH has been initiated or the $1200 assessments have been paid. This change would benefit both the Association and those homeowners who had late fees.

 


YARD SALE  
AT WATSON and NEFAR PARKING LOTS

 

Outside the Gatehouse

 

Date: Saturday, April 13       

Time: 9 AM -1 PM

Rain date: Saturday, April 20

 


Last Call

to obtain a space in the yard sale- If you want to sell your stuff , cut off for participating is April 6  --   Contact 519-0924.

Form to reserve space>>

  

We need you

to Shop on April 13 great merchandise from the homes of Deercreek residents. And if you get hungry there will be food available at modest prices. So come and see what all the great buys are about !


 

Who's Who?

   

In case you are wondering who belongs to whom and who belongs to what, here it is!! Although everything in Deercreek appears to under one umbrella it isn't! Although both entities work in harmony, the Homeowners Association and the Country Club are two separate entities as described below.

 

All residents/property owners of Deercreek make up the Homeowners Association. Common areas such as the guard gate, lakes, roads, playground, basketball court and soccer field fall under the auspices of the Homeowner'sAssociation. Questions relating to the HOA should be directed to any Board Member listed in the newsletter or on the website www.deercreekcc.com or the the Property Manager, Richard Curran Kelley or Andi Dockery, Assistant at 273-9832

 

The Country Club has responsibility for the clubhouse, golf course, tennis, and pool properties. Country club privileges for the facilities and amenities are by membership.  

 

The Country Club welcomes all residents to join the club as either social or golf members. Membership questions may be directed to Shannon McQuarry, Membership Director or to Nicola Fulford, General Manager. They may be reached at 363-1604.

  

 

DID YOU KNOW

 

The Deercreek web site www.deercreekcc.com has a wealth of information for all residents. Monthly social activities are listed as well as the community newsletter. Newsletters are provided in print delivered to your driveway and via e mail as well as being archived on the web site.  If you are new to the community you can search the web site for answers to many questions. Listed on the left side of the web are links to the current Board of Directors and officers along with contact information. Below the Board are the standing committees of the community along with monthly meeting dates, committee chairs and  members along with contact information, mission statements, and policy and procedures for each committee. All residents are encouraged to volunteer for a committee of their choice. Although the covenants are part of closing documents, the covenants are included as well as the rules and regulations adopted by the Board. New residents are reminded to review this link to acquaint themselves with the rules of the community to preclude citations for infractions. The Architectural Review Board has a very comprehensive page that includes all pertinent information for residents who plan on making any changes to their home. It includes what is allowed, what is not, what is pre approved, what must be submitted for approval as well as application fees, deposits and more. Check it out before you start or think about a project.

 

Further down on the left side are some of the social groups in the community as well as a link to the country club. For newcomers the country club is a separate entity within the community. Questions regarding the country club facilities and property fall under the purvey of the Club's General Manger Nicola Fulford. The owners association and the country club continue to have a good working relationship.

 

Bargain Avenue is a great venue to offer merchandise for sale. It is an inexpensive way to sell some of your extra stuff with ease.

 

Also included are links to various pages of local community interest.

 

So please take the time to visit the web site and familiarize your self with facts and information about your community.

 

Ps. if you have not provided your email address please join our mailing list on the web site.

From the Property Manager - Rich Curran Kelley
 

It's spring, the time when a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love. Now I am sure that more than a few men are thinking of courting a pretty young lady, but often those thoughts of love are directed at March Madness or the start of baseball season. Still others find their thoughts turning to, dare I say it, lawns and gardening. So for all of you who enjoy having dirt under your fingernails and also for those who like to have others take of your yards, this column is for you.

 

Now that the new growing season has officially begun, I would like to offer a few tips intended to get all of the yards in the community looking their best.

 

  1. Take a walk around your yard and really look at your lawn. Does it have an even coat of grass or are there weeds such as clover and dollar weed fighting for space in your ground cover? If the weeds are making an entrance, you need to make the appropriate treatment to get the weeds out of your lawn. If you do not feel comfortable doing this yourself, you can find a complete list of companies that provide these services in the yellow pages of the phone book.

  2. Now that you are done looking for weeds, look at your lawn and flowerbeds. Your lawn should present a neat appearance and your flowerbeds should be weeded and any dead plants should be removed and replaced. You need to edge along the curb and driveway. As you are well aware, keeping your lawn in good condition requires a consistent investment of time. If you find that you do not have enough time, you might want to hire one of the many lawn service companies who will take care of your lawn and flowerbeds for you.     
  3. Take a look at your house. Are there any rust, mildew, or algae stains on your roof, walls, sidewalks, or the curb in front of your house? If there are, you will first need to turn on your irrigation system and make sure that the heads are properly adjusted so that the spray is not hitting your house. Next, you need to pressure wash your house. In some cases, the affected areas may need to be repainted.

I hope that these tips will be of some assistance as we try to help Deercreek Country Club put on its spring finery. Now I know that some of you are asking, "What happens if there is something wrong with my yard and I don't take care of it?" That is a very good question. The answer is that I will note the yards that are having problems during my drive throughs and will send you a letter. Now believe me, I know that receiving a letter from the management company usually evokes a response ranging from "How dare he criticize my yard the little...(deleted by order of the FCC)" to "Oh my heavens, I got a letter, what are they going to do to me?" In truth, neither response is necessary, since the first letter is intend to just serve as a friendly reminder about a potential problem with the yard. The only thing that you need to do is give the office a call and let us know that you are working on the problem and when you plan to have it resolved.

 

I would also like to remind you of a couple of other issues that bear repeating as we enter the new season.

  1. Please bear in mind that the Duval County leash law requires that all cats and dogs be on a leash when they are off of their owners' property. I would also like to take this opportunity to remind all pet owners that they are responsible for cleaning up after their pets. Make it a habit to take a plastic bag with you on your walks and use it to pick up whatever mess your pet might make.
  1. Alligators sometimes appear in the various lakes throughout the community.   As Floridians, we sometimes tend to take a relaxed attitude toward alligators, regarding them as little more that part of the tropical scenery. Some people even go so far as to start feeding these animals.   I would like to remind everyone that it is against state law to feed alligators as they have been known to, despite what you see on the crocodile hunter, bite the hand that feeds them.
  1. Another one of the joys of living in Florida is the wide variety of snakes that call our lovely state home. Our grounds crew recently had a few run-ins with some rather large water moccasins around some of the lakes in our community. Now I know that Steve Irwin, the late Crocodile Hunter, made handling reptiles chic, but remember he is a professional and you should not try his stunts at home. Watch out for snakes and make sure that your kids are careful around the lakes.

 Water Restrictions


According to city ordinances, effective with daylight savings time, the two day a week watering restriction is in effect.  

 

Odd number homes water on Wednesdays and Saturdays and even numbered homes water on Thursdays and Sundays.  

 

Please check your irrigation systems and water responsibly.

 

No watering is permitted at any time between 10 am to 4 pm.

Deercreek Home and Garden Club 

By Rita Allen 

Spring Fiesta! 

Deercreek Home and Garden Club invites you to celebrate Cinco de Mayo a bit early on Tuesday, April 23 at Deercreek Club.

This annual Fashion Show Luncheon is the highlight of each year, with the proceeds used for projects that beautify our community. This year you are invited to come at 11:00 A.M. to mingle and socialize. You will have the opportunity to bid on more than 100 silent auction items, featuring many of our favorite local restaurants.  

 

After a scrumptious lunch, the fashions will be presented by Dillard's, modeled by Deercreek ladies organized by Eileen Katibah. Gather your friends and neighbors and make up tables, or come and make new friends. Either way, you won't want to miss this joyous event.

 

Tickets for a donation $30 have been distributed to Home and Garden Club members; additional tickets can be obtained by contacting Pam Overbay at 363-6483.  

 

If you are not able to attend, you can still participate in a raffle with a top prize of $150. Members have raffle tickets for sale at $2.00 each or 3 for $5.00, and you do not need to be present to win. Purchasing raffle tickets is a good way to support the work of the Deercreek Home and Garden Club.

 

   
The Deercreek Home and Garden Club-
-where no one is a stranger for long!
Jogger
Early Morning/Night Runners and Walkers
we love you...

but we love you more when you walk on the sidewalks.   Reflective clothing would help also, so consider making a statement in light colors or the reflective tape that sends a message to the drivers.

 

The Property Manager has received numerous comments regarding the potential danger of walking or running in the street versus the sidewalk. So please help preclude any potential accidents. 

 

We love our runners and walkers, so remember to safely run on the sidewalks and do wear reflective clothing.

Quarterly Assessments and new Payment Policy

     

Quarterly Assessments

Quarterly Assessments are due and payable on April 1, 2013.

Late payments are subject to a late fee as well as additional interest charges if not received by the 30th of the due date.

You can pay by check, electronic payments from your bank or ACH (direct debit )payments. Contact May Mgt [email protected] for ACH set up. Checks should be made out to Deercreek Owners Association, not May Mgt. and include your association/account for correct payment recording.   

  

New Payment Policy  
The Deercreek Country Club Homeowners Association Board of Directors, in an effort to be consistent with the Florida Statutes (720.3085) adopted the following policy at their January 24 meeting:

When payments for accounts are received, the order of priority for the payment will be:

1)      Accrued interest

2)      Fines

3)      Attorney fees/collection expenses

4)      Assessments

 

The policy will become effective April 1st 2013.

If you have any questions concerning this policy please contact Rich Curran Kelley, property manager at May Management.

DWA 

 

Peanut Butter and Jelly Drive  

March 21- April 4

 
The Mandarin Food Bank is in great need of donations of peanut butter and jelly for hungry community families. Please drop off jars of your favorite peanut butter and jelly at the donation bin located at the guard house.

 

 

 

 

 

DWA Back Porch Night   

Wednesday, April 3
 

Last year's Back Porch Party was such a success that the DWA Board Members decided to host another one. All Deercreek ladies are invited to attend this casual party with drinks and snacks on the back porch of the Club. The party gets started at 6:30 PM and is a great time to renew DWA memberships and friendships.

 

   

 

 

 

Diaper Drive for Wolfson Children's Hospital

May 10 - 20

  

Wolfon is in need of diapers in all sizes. Please drop off your donations in the bin located at the guard house. For more information contact Mary Stelbrink at 363- 2360.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

If you are not yet a member of the Alliance and would like to be "part of the heart" of Deercreek, please call Sian Lawrance at 363-1723 or email her at [email protected].   Membership is $20 a year.  
You don't have to be a member of DCC to be a member of the DWA.

 

Terri Chavez who recently moved from Deercreek enjoys drinks with her friends who wished her well on her relocation.