Minutes of the Regular Monthly DVLA Board Meeting September 25, 2007
Board Members attending: Cyndy Johnson, Mike Barker, Crystal Phillips, Alan Strebeck Absent: Jerry Yurek
Twenty one landowners were in attendance.
President Cyndy Johnson called the meeting to order at 7:00pm.
1. Approval of Agenda
Cyndy Johnson said that item 7e, concerning recycling, would be postponed to a future date.
MOTION was made by Crystal Phillips to accept the amended agenda, Mike Barker seconded the motion. The motion was passed.
2. Review & approve minutes of the August meeting.
MOTION was made by Mike Barker to approve the August minutes. Crystal Phillips seconded the motion. The motion was passed
3. President's Message
Cyndy Johnson said that she has been attending a special class taught at Dixie State College by Tim Eicher. The course is about strengthening relationships. One of the important ideas discussed is about the need to recognize other people as people and not objects. With the recent flooding issues she urged everyone to recognize their neighbors as having the same concerns and personal issues as themselves.
4. Review & approve financial reports - Stella Callagee
MOTION was made by Crystal Phillips to accept the financial reports, Mike Barker seconded the motion. The motion was passed.
5. Reports
a. Fire Department
Chief Talbot gave the report for the fire department. There were no fires in the past month. The department responded to two medical calls.
There are three new volunteers in the department: Kathy Mason - fire fighter/EMT; Clint Andersen - fire fighter; Scott Baliff - fire fighter. The fire fighter of the year award has been awarded to Maciej Szczerbiak.
The department had recent training on building construction. It is important for fire fighters to understand aspects of construction in the event they need to breech a building. Upcoming training for the department will be on ropes.
The fire house has a new generator which will be able to power most of the building in the event of an emergency.
The burn pile will be reopened on a limited basis starting October 1st - two Saturday mornings a month from 8:00 - Noon. Two landowner volunteers will handle the gate. A list of instructions will be supplied concerning which materials can be accepted - rule of thumb, no man-made materials and also no manure, hay or hay cubes. In November the fire department will start burning off the burn pile.
Kyle Talbot reported also for the park - there is a landowner who wants to buy the old park swing for $100. This was approved.
b. ARC
Trustee Assignments: September - Cyndy Johnson, October - Crystal Phillips, November - Jerry Yurek
Lance Cornwall, Chair of the ARC, gave the report. The committee granted the following approvals - two fences: Canyon Trails lots 12 and 30; replacing stucco - Meadows lot 8; a new shed - Homesteads lot 21; a garage - Ranches 28 and a porch - Homesteads 53.
c. Trustee Reports
1. Crystal Phillips reported that the Community Center has been stained and the trim repainted. The next project will be to finish the inside. A work party is being put together.
2. Cyndy Johnson said that Kim Ahrenholtz is working on the kiosk for real estate information. Kim spoke about the project. At the current time there are about 15 homes on the market, two or three of them are for sale by owner. There are also about 20 lots available for sale. The kiosk will be placed near the mailboxes and provide a place where flyers can be placed. The idea is to cut down on the number of signs placed at the entrances.
3. Cyndy Johnson reported that highway clean-up will be held October 29th.
4. Cyndy Johnson said that the DVLA will again ask for a Christmas gift for the park or community center. Last year was the first time for this effort and it had been successful. Landowners could give a donation in lieu of gifts to their neighbors and the donations would be acknowledged.
6. Old Business
a. Update on flood response
Mike Barker reported that the response effort has not proceeded as quickly as expected. The information for the County is being put together. He has spoken with the County and he was told there were a lot of areas severely affected by flooding and Dammeron Valley is not at the top of the priority list. A petition to be sent to the County is being put together for landowners to sign so that the Valley will present a united front.
Clara Hoppal talked about a problem in her neighborhood where boards had been put in the culvert to divert water away from a lot, only to go onto other lots. She had called the County and they had responded right away.
Cyndy Johnson urged landowners to also make individual calls to the County about flooding issues. She thanked those who had helped with the sand bagging effort.
b. Status of dues collection
Stella Callagee reported that there are six unpaid lots remaining. Liens will be placed if payment is not received within the next month. Monthly invoices with a letter expressing the Board's concern and the steps in the lien process are being sent to the landowners.
7. New Business
a. Weed control and abatement
Lang Foremaster said that the weed problem is getting worse. The goatheads and Russian thistle are widespread. Russian thistle is highly flammable and will blow into the sagebrush, creating a fire hazard. Those landowners who destroy the natural land cover are only making a fertile area for weeds to become reestablished. The CC&Rs say that landowners are suppose to keep up their property. These weeds need to be cleaned out in the Spring, before they are allowed to mature.
Lang Foremaster asked the board to form a committee which would handle weed control. The committee will remind the property owners of the need for weed control. The DVLA would enforce the weed abatement violations. The committee would take on projects such as sending out flyers with information. He would be happy to serve on the committee.
Cyndy Johnson said that she had talked with the County employee responsible for weed control. The County had done some spraying in the Valley but not before the goatheads had gotten established. The County asked that the landowners let them know when they start to see these weeds in the Spring. The County can then take steps to spray while the plants are young.
Mike Barker said the enforcement part of the proposal is problematic as there is just a short period of time when the weeds can be eliminated.
Crystal Phillips suggested that when the weeds start to show that the Board have Karen send out an email to landowners alerting them to the need to get rid of them. Lang Foremaster said that goatheads are sensitive to herbicide. The seeds need to be killed too as germination is timed. Landowners need to be consistent when working to eradicate them.
Wayne Staab said the committee would be a good idea to help educate landowners about weeds.
The Board decided to establish a Weed Abatement Education Committee. They are looking for volunteers to join Lang Foremaster in this effort. Interested landowners can contact a Board member.
b. Review of Watts fence request
The ARC had denied the Watts fence (lot OFSo 05) request due to the materials being proposed for the fence รข€“ pipe. The fence will be in the greenbelt area. The Watts pointed out the CC&Rs say "may" in describing materials about the posts. The Watts asked for a variance from the Architectural Guidelines which specified wood materials A landowner suggested that if a variance is granted that it be very specific so that narrow pipe fencing does not start going up.
MOTION was made by Alan Strebeck to accept the fence as proposed by the Watts with the following specific requirements - 4 inch posts and rails that are 2 7/8 inches. Crystal Phillips seconded the motion. It was passed by a unanimous vote.
c. Report on Homeowner Association Seminar - Legality of Fines
Cyndy Johnson attended a seminar about the legality of fines. In order to levy fines a homeowners association has to have this process allowed in their governing documents. Her reading of the DVLA documents would support fines. The DVLA would need to police the process. The Utah code involved in the fine process requires a lot of follow-up and diligence.
d. Neighborhood Watch
The watch group has had their first meeting. Right now only a couple of neighborhoods are not covered. The group is looking into some sort of notice or sticker that can be put on phones and signs that can be put up in the Valley.
e. Realtor and private signs
Signs in the Valley can only be a five foot span.
f. ATV use in the Valley
Kevin Dye talked about those who want to access BLM trails using Valley streets as access points. Alan Strebeck pointed out that there are no designated ATV trails immediately around Dammeron Valley.
Kevin said that he would like to put up signs that tell riders to slow down and not create dust. A landowner pointed out that where ATVs are traveling now in the Valley - streets, along SR-18 are not legal routes. Therefore putting up signs would try to make something that is illegal appear legal.
Chief Talbot said that his house is near an access point to BLM lands and he has had zero problems with the ATV riders. Other landowners said that their experience has not been the same. There is excessive speed and dust, and riders agitate horses.
Cyndy Johnson and the other Board members encouraged the responsible ATV riders to educate those who are causing problems. Alan Strebeck referred ATV riders to the letter the Board had sent out as it provided links to trail system information and the laws about ATV operation.
g. Water Company Issues
Cyndy Johnson said that in response to requests the Board would try to set-up a meeting with the Water Company so landowners could come with their questions about the changes in water use charges.
7. Adjournment 9:20pm - MOTION was made by Alan Strebeck to adjourn the meeting, Mike Barker seconded the motion. The motion was passed.
Stella Callagee
Recording Secretary
