Draft Minutes of the August 26, 2014, Monthly DVLA Board Meeting

Draft Minutes of the Monthly DVLA Board Meeting of August 26, 2014

 

The monthly DVLA Board Meeting was held at the Fire House. Twelve landowners were in attendance. 

Board Members attending:  Robert Allan, A.B. Johnson, Joel Burnham, Ken Mandell,

Absent: Craig Meyocks             

     1. President Robert Allan called the monthly board meeting of the Dammeron Valley Landowners’ Association to order at 7:04 p.m. on Tuesday evening, August 26, 2014.

     2.  Joel Burnham led the pledge of allegiance to the flag.

     3.  Approval of the agenda:

     A MOTION was made by Ken Mandell that the agenda be approved.  SECONDED by Joel Burnham, and the motion carried.

     4.  Review & approval of the minutes of the July 29, 2014, monthly DVLA Board meeting:

      A MOTION was made by Joel Burnham that the minutes for the July 29, 2014, monthly DVLA Board meeting be approved.  The motion was SECONDED by A.B. Johnson, and the motion carried. 

     5.  Reports:

           a.  Fire Department Report – Chief Maciej Szczerbiak

           Due to the absence of the Fire Chief, no activities were reported for the previous month. 

           b.  Financial/Secretarial Report – Carol Clason and A. B. Johnson 

           There were no unusual items on which to comment in the financial statements for this month.  There are forty-eight landowners to date who have not paid their 2014-15 dues of $60.  Five of these files belong to the HOA attorney for collection; three files need to be sent to the attorney now as the landowners are owing for several years; they owe close to $1,000; and they have been given a final notice in May of this year.  All of the remaining landowners who are still delinquent with their dues have been given a final notice stating that late fees continue to accrue and that their file will be turned over to an attorney if not paid within the next thirty days.  A report has been given to the board members in their packets this evening listing this information.

            A. B. Johnson MADE A MOTION that the financial reports be accepted as submitted.  Joel Burnham SECONDED THE MOTION, and the motion carried.

c. Architectural review committee report – Ken Mandell

The following items were completed during the previous month:  Two new homes on lots CT-17 and OFSO-2; a three-rail fence at CT-15, a shade bar at OF2-22, a storage shed at OF-17, a window remodel at PHIII-37, a horse shelter at ME-07, and a pool and safety fence at CT-15. 

 d. Social/Insurance – Craig Meyocks

 No activity reported under social or insurance items due to absence of the committee head.

             e. Public Properties/SSD Liaison – Craig Meyocks

             No activity reported under public properties’ issues due to the absence of the committee head.

      6.  New Business:

            a.  Dammeron Valley Incorporation feasibility study – Bob Allan

            After visiting several unincorporated areas and discussing with others what it would take to incorporate, Bob Allan indicated he was not encouraged by the fact that Dammeron Valley should incorporate.  County personnel will be contacted with a request that a feasibility study be conducted on this issue with the thought that it be available by the next DVLA annual meeting.  One landowner indicated the cost of road maintenance and the hiring of a law enforcement personnel would fall to the landowners in case of incorporation.

            b.  Secretarial position status – A.B. Johnson

            Approximately twenty-five applications have been received for the position. Bob Allan and A.B. Johnson will chose approximately six persons to interview from those applications.

            c.  Discuss the use of reserve funds for unbudgeted projects – Bob Allan

            Several projects in which landowners have expressed interest are entrance beautification, funding community social events, and park improvement.  Brooks Pace has offered to front $2,500 for beautification of the entrances if the DVLA will support this effort. It was determined that the Board does not have the authority to spend monies outside the approved budget, but can use the reserve monies from within the budget.  The Board members expressed their desire to receive as much input from landowners as possible with a view to funding projects that affect community members as a whole.  

            d.  Dammeron Valley highway entrance beautification status – Joel Burnham

            A proposed suggestion for the entrance beautification has been desert landscaping within a two-tiered wall, no higher than three feet, with signage located on the top.  The present wooden signs are a little worn, but could be used.  Also rock signage at each entrance (of which there are eight) could be built instead, with the possibility of one light on each sign facing downward.  Ken Mandell MADE A MOTION that the DVLA board members move forward on this project keeping the cost of the project under $6,000.00.  Joel Burnham SECONDED THE MOTION, and the motion carried.

            e.  Committee for community park improvements – Bob Allan

            Several persons who are interested in the community park improvement have contacted Bob Allan about helping with this project.  Craig Meyocks was appointed by Bob Allan to oversee this committee, with further action being deferred to next month’s board meeting

            f.  Dammeron Valley Fall Festival, September 20, at the park – Bob Allan/Karen Sharkey

            Part of the fall festival includes fund raising for the park improvement. Meat is being donated and will come in Dutch ovens.  The rest of the meal is pot luck plus a donation of bakery goods for the bake sale from whomever wishes to participate.  According to Karen Sharkey, who is heading the fall festival committee, there will be a silent auction and a chance for anyone wishing to set up a booth to display crafts or items for sale.  The cost for the booth would be a donation to the silent auction.  There will be a bounce house and a slide for children that will cost about $157 to rent.  Face painting, bubble blowing, and a live band, plus residents filling in during breaks by the band, will be part of the evening’s activities. Bob Allan MADE A MOTION that the DVLA fund the fall festival which is presently $157 for the bounce house and $400 for the live band (up to $600).  IT WAS SECONDED by Joel Burnham.  Three Ayes passed the motion, with one Nay from the board members.  

            g. Community Center use and improvements - Bob Allan

            In determining what monies might be available for the community center improvements, it was noted that $721.16 in recycling monies from the county was received in the spring of 2014 and was in payment for the year 2013.  Also, for the fiscal year 2013-14, electricity costs for the community center were $657.72 for the year and maintenance/repair costs were $236.43.  The rent received for regularly scheduled meetings was $1,035.50, meaning that the community center is paying for its own expenses.  This leaves any budgeted monies for the community center available for improvement, if no other major expenses appear during the year.  A. B. Johnson is to complete a feasibility study to determine the improvements needed and what their costs would be. 

     7.  Old Business:

            a.  DVLA dues late fee letter status

            According to the secretary’s report, all final dues invoices have been mailed and all landowners delinquent in paying this year’s dues have been notified.

     8.  Public Comments and Discussion

            No additional comments offered.  

     9.  Adjournment: 

            A MOTION WAS MADE by Ken Mandell to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 p.m.  It was SECONDED by A. B. Johnson, and the meeting adjourned.  

Carol Clason,

Recording Secretary

 

Draft Agenda for the August 26, 2014, Monthly DVLA Board Meeting

DAMMERON  VALLEY  LANDOWNERS  ASSOCIATION,  INC.

     1137 Dammeron Valley Drive East                                                                   Telephone/Fax:   (435) 574-6397        

    Dammeron Valley, UT  84783                                                                                  Web site:  http://mydvla.org

 

DRAFT AGENDA:  DVLA BOARD MEETING OF August 26, 2014

Tuesday:  August 26, 2014

Time      :  7:00 p.m.

Location:  Firehouse

Roll Call:  Robert Allan, Joel Burnham, A.B. Johnson, Ken Mandell, Craig Meyocks 

 

1. Call meeting to order - Bob Allan

2. Pledge to the Flag - AB Johnson

3. Approval of Agenda

4. Review and approval of meeting minutes from July 29, 2014

5. Reports

    a. Fire Department - Maciej Szczerbiak

    b. Financial Report - AB Johnson/Carol Clason

    c. ARB report - Ken Mandrell

    d. Social/Insurance report - Craig Meyocks

    e. Public Properties/SSD Liaison - Craig Meyocks

6. New Business

    a. Dammeron Valley Incorporation feasibility study

    b. Secretarial position status

    c. Discuss the use of reserve funds for unbudgeted projects

    d. DV highway entrance beautification status

    e. Committee for city park improvements

    f.  DV Fall Festival Sept. 20 at the park

    g. Community Center use and improvements

7.  Old Business

    a. DVLA dues late fee letter status   

8. Public Comments and Discussion

9. Adjourn

Draft Minutes of the July 29, 2014, DVLA Monthly Board Meeting

 

  

DAMMERON  VALLEY  LANDOWNERS  ASSOCIATION,  INC.

        1137 Dammeron Valley Drive East                                                                 Telephone/Fax (435) 574-6397            Dammeron Valley, Utah  84783                                                                                       Web site:  http://mydvla.org 

Draft Minutes of the Monthly DVLA Board Meeting of July 29, 2014 

The monthly DVLA Board Meeting was held at the Fire House. Twenty landowners were in attendance.  

Board Members attending:  Robert Allan, A.B. Johnson, Craig Meyocks, Joel Burnham

Absent:  Ken Mandell   

     1. President Robert Allan called the monthly board meeting of the Dammeron Valley Landowners’ Association to order at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday evening, July 29, 2014. He announced that “Robert’s Rules of Order” would be followed in all Association meetings.

 

     2.  Joel Burnham led the pledge of allegiance to the flag.

      3.  Approval of the agenda:

     A MOTION was made by Joel Burnham that the agenda be approved.  SECONDED by Craig Meyocks, and the motion carried.      

     4.  Review & approval of the minutes of the June 24, 2014, monthly DVLA Board meeting:

      A MOTION was made by A.B. Johnson that the minutes for the June 24, 2014, monthly DVLA Board meeting, as prepared by Ken Mandell, be approved.  The motion was SECONDED by Joel Burnham, and the motion carried.        

     5.  Reports:

          a.  Fire Department Report – Chief Maciej Szczerbiak

     During the past month there was only one fire incident with a landowner setting a campfire.  At present, there is a no burn, no open flame, no charcoal fire restriction in the valley.  There were nine EMS calls during the previous month, with one occurring yesterday requiring a Life-flight transport. 

     The pagers still do not function, but additional action is being pursued through the SSD to try and resolve this issue.

     Fire restriction changes are first posted by the Fire Chief on the bulletin board located on the front wall of the Fire Station, and next are listed on Facebook.  As far as the present burning season, no burning is allowed until the 2^nd day of October.  

          b.  Financial/Secretarial Report – Carol Clason and A. B. Johnson

     As reported by Carol Clason, this month the Federal Form 1120 income tax return and the TC20 for the state of Utah were completed and filed for the Association.  No taxes were owed due to the large expense of funding the Special Service District during the entire last fiscal year.  The state of Utah does require a $100 filing fee for filing a corporate return, but no taxes were owed on that return. 

     The records with the Utah Corporate Commission were updated with the new board members’ names.  This needs to be done in order for any ongoing association documents that are filed to be deemed legal.

     The July, 2014 “Budget versus Year-to-Date Expenses” sheet has been updated with the 2014-15 budget figures and all extraneous categories that have been taken over by the Special Service District are now no longer listed.  Since this is the first month of the new fiscal year, the expense amounts are quite low, mostly covering only one month’s cost. 

     Per A. B. Johnson, all bank balances shown in the bank statements equal the bank balances listed on the current balance sheet of the Dammeron Valley Landowners’ Association.   

c. Architectural review committee report – A. B. Johnson 

     This past month three new homes, two horse shelters, and one new roof were approved.

d. Social/Insurance – Craig Meyocks

     No activity reported under social or insurance items.

            e.  Public Properties/SSD Liaison – Craig Meyocks

                 No activity reported under public properties’ issues. 

 

6.  New Business:

     a.  Review of Dammeron Valley Water Company’s safe water plan – Brooks Pace

          The Dammeron Valley Water Company is a public utility which is regulated by the auditing department and the state health department.  The system is monitored yearly, and if a rating of ninety or above is received, the company is put on notice that certain problems need to be addressed.  The highest rating received by the Dammeron Valley Water Company has been approximately thirty, and presently it stands at negative twenty, meaning the rating is far above any rating required.  The water company has one million gallons of water storage, three times that required for a community of our size.  There are presently three active wells, with two additional wells that could be called into service in case of an emergency.  Application has already been made with the Bureau of Land Management to establish a new 1500 to 2000 gallon well in addition to the five presently in use.  In one of the quarter million gallon tanks, the supply line has been built half-way up the tank to trap 250,000 gallons in case of a catastrophic break that drains the rest of the tanks.  Everything preventative that has been thought of has been done by the management of the water company, and they are receptive to any additional suggestions. 

     b.  Review of status of convenience store plan – Brooks Pace

          The completed final design plans for the area which would house the convenience store have not yet been completed.  Additional lot sales are needed in the valley prior to the building of the store. 

     c.  Request for refund of dues from non-DVLA lot owner in Dammeron Valley/refund of an overpayment of initiation fee from a DVLA landowner/refund of performance bond deposit.

           1)  Robert Allan MADE A MOTION that paid dues from Ann Charles, a landowner of property that does not fall under the DVLA, be returned to her per her recent request.  A. B. Johnson SECONDED THE MOTION, and the motion carried.

           2)  Robert Allan MADE A MOTION that $200 be returned to John Donatello as a second initiation fee had been collected from him that was not due to the DVLA.  THE MOTION WAS SECONDED by A. B. Johnson, and the motion carried. 

           3)  A. B. Johnson MADE A MOTION that $500 out of the $1,000 refundable performance bond deposit be returned to Christopher Ramos at this time and that the issue be reviewed again at the next monthly board meeting to determine if enough progress has been made in finishing the landscaping in his back yard to return the remaining $500.  Joel Burnham SECONDED THE MOTION, and the motion carried.  

     d.  Collection policy for DVLA dues

          Robert Allan MADE A MOTION that a final notice be mailed in August to the fifty-one landowners who have not paid their 2014-15 dues.  The notice will state that late fees will continue to accrue from July 1, 2014, forward at the rate of $5 per month.  If their account remains delinquent, it will be turned over to a collection agency on January 1, 2015.  A. B. Johnson SECONDED THE MOTION, and the motion carried.  

     e.  Community center improvements and possibility of holding DVLA meetings there

          A. B. Johnson MADE A MOTION that a feasibility study be completed on the improvements needed in the community center and their costs prior to next month’s board meeting.  Craig Meyocks SECONDED THE MOTION, and the motion carried.  Mac Thomson was asked to help with this study due to his continuing involvement in maintaining the building.

     f.  Review storage container policy

         A. B. Johnson and Ken Mandell are to compose a “container policy” clarifyng what needs to be done with a container located on a lot in order to qualify for approval under the Architectural Guidelines.  This issue will again be addressed in next month’s DVLA board meeting.  

7.  Old Business: 

     a.  Secretarial position status

          A letter has been composed by A. B. Johnson for the secretarial/financial position.  Robert Allan MADE A MOTION that this letter be posted at the college, in the Spectrum, on the valley’s e-mail, and the DVLA website.  Craig Meyocks SECONDED THE MOTION, and the motion carried.

     b.  The official website for the DVLA is mydvla.org

     c.  Dammeron Valley highway entrances’ beautification project

          Joel Burnham was appointed to contact several landscaping companies requesting free estimates for the cost of low maintenance, possible desert landscaping, in keeping with the valley environment of the four entrances to Dammeron Valley. 

8.  Public Comments and Discussion

      One landowner asked that no trash be left outside the recycling bins; if the trash is too large to fit in the bins, it should not be left there.  Comments on the need for upgrading the park facilities were presented, and a suggestion was made that a committee of interested landowners work with the SSD (who is now responsible for maintaining the park).                    

9.  Adjournment:   

      A MOTION WAS MADE by Craig Meyocks to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 p.m.  It was SECONDED by Joel Burnham, and the meeting adjourned. 

 

Carol Clason,

Recording Secretary

Draft Minutes for the May 17, 2014, DVLA Annual Meeting

DAMMERON  VALLEY  LANDOWNERS  ASSOCIATION,  INC.

        1137 Dammeron Valley Drive East                                                              Telephone/Fax:  (435) 574-6397

        Dammeron Valley, Utah  84783                                                                      Web site:  http://mydvla.org

 

PLEASE NOTE:  THESE DRAFT MINUTES ARE NOT DUE FOR APPROVAL BY THE MEMBERSHIP

                        UNTIL THE 2015 ANNUAL MEETING TO BE HELD MAY, 2015.

Draft: Annual Meeting Minutes – May 17, 2014 

Board Members Attending:   Jim Johnson, Terry Taylor, Craig Meyocks, and Ken Mandell 

Landowners: A quorum of those present at the meeting is required to conduct business; 197 total ballots, including proxies, were counted during the meeting. 99 votes constitutes a voting quorum. 

WELCOME,   PRAYER,   FLAG  CEREMONY:

      The meeting was called to order by President Jim Johnson at 8:00 a.m.  The prayer was offered by Joseph Brazzeal, and the pledge of allegiance was led by Terry Taylor 

APPROVE  AGENDA / 2014  ANNUAL  MEETING  MINUTES:

       Terry Taylor MADE A MOTION that the agenda be approved; SECONDED by Ken Mandell, and the motion carried.  Terry Taylor MADE A MOTION that the 2013 annual meeting minutes be approved; SECONDED by Ken Mandell, and the motion carried. 

PRESIDENT’S  MESSAGE,  Jim Johnson:

        President Jim Johnson indicated that the formation of the Dammeron Valley Fire Special Service District during the previous fiscal year was one of the most important issues accomplished.  This change limited the liability of each and every homeowner in the valley and enabled us to give the Fire Department the capability to purchase the equipment needed now and in the future to protect us and those in surrounding areas.  We now have two associations – the Dammeron Valley Landowners’ Association and the Dammeron Valley Fire Special Service District.  Last year the annual dues for the DVLA was $300.  This year the combined dues, if the DVLA budget is passed during this meeting, will be $230. Overall, the dues could be reduced by twenty-three percent, and the liability of the landowners by almost one hundred percent.  Many thanks to previous board members – Bill King, Terry Taylor, Mac Thomson, Ken Mandell – who were instrumental in putting this all together. Today we need to vote on the budget.  The board members try to keep the annual dues as low as possible, but still maintain a reserve for such items as attorney fees.  When the Association’s HOA attorney was contacted, it was his opinion that if the $60 budget did not pass today, the previous budget setting the annual dues at $300 would again be in effect.  This is something to consider when voting on the budget today.  Mack Sorensen was introduced as the President of the SSD.  Several major issues will be discussed during SSD meetings this coming year, and it was suggested that landowners should attend those meetings if they wished to have future impact in the community.  

SECRETARY / TREASURER’S  REPORT, Carol  Clason:

      One of the main issues handled by the Dammeron Valley Landowners’ Association this past fiscal year was the transferring of assets and the continued funding of the Dammeron Valley Fire Special Service District by the Association.  In June, 2013, a $35,277.53 payment was made to full pay the existing mortgage on the fire house.  Since $24,500 had been set aside for monthly fire house payments in the past fiscal year’s budget, there were sufficient monies to pay this loan off without disrupting the rest of the budget.

     During August, 2013, $435,658.84 in value of assets was transferred by the DVLA to the SSD.  Taking into consideration the total accumulated depreciation of these assets of $265,868.00, the actual book value remaining on all the assets transferred was $169,790.84.  This is the figure shown on our books as “granted” to the Dammeron Valley Special Service District.  The assets transferred included the following:  Firefighting equipment - $4,199.38; Improvements - $26,665.59; Vehicles - $214,713.03; Park equipment - $4,614.26; Fire house - $185,466.58.  These figures show the original cost to the landowners of the DVLA.  The balance sheet for the association now shows only the asset (community center) still owned by the DVLA and the reduced equity to the association after the transfer.

     Monthly payments were made during this past fiscal year to fund the Special Service District for a total paid over of $64,395.54.  Outside of the budget, $47,438.44 was funded to the District to purchase new firefighting equipment since the equipment on hand was not up to required code standards and needed to be replaced.  All monies pledged to the SSD have been paid by the Association, and from this point forward, the budgets for the two organizations should be entirely separate.

     One financial item to mention is the receipt of the recycling monies for the year 2013 from the county.  This year the DVLA was paid $721.16.  Since this was considerably less than the amount received last year of $1,111.82.  Neil Schwendiman, the District Manager for county recycling, was called to clarify the reasons for the difference.  We were paid for one year and several months in 2013 because the county was coordinating the payments with the end of their fiscal year of December 31, and this year’s check covered only twelve months.  Mr. Schwendiman indicated that the payments fluctuate with the market prices of the recycling products.  During 2013, plastic was sold at $30 a ton; glass cost $15 a ton to dispose of; metal sold at $300 a ton; and paper was valued very low, based on the market prices.  The DVLA board members have indicated they would like to see some/or all future recycling payments paid to the Special Service District since the land around the mail boxes and burn pile have been deeded over to them.  Since the DVLA was funding the SSD the entire year from August, 3013, through June, 2014, the check given to us for the 2013 year was accepted by the DVLA.

     This month a question came up about access to the Association board members through the website.  About two years ago, our website was cut off by our internet service due to what they termed as “excessive e-mail activity”.  What was actually happening was that someone was putting hundreds of vulgar nonsense e-mails on our site each week.  Johnna and I spent many hours deleting these comments from the site and finally we were prohibited use of the service.  When Johnna was in the process of developing a new website for the Association, I understood from her that there was going to be no e-mail setup on the site.  In response to a recent inquiry by one landowner as to why he did not receive a response to his e-mail, Johnna was contacted and she indicated there is e-mail availability on the site and has now given me the passwords necessary to monitor the system.  An apology is being given to everyone who tried to access the system and did not get a response.  The site is now being checked regularly, and some past inquiries have been answered with an indication as to why the response was not timely.

     Two members of the DVLA board have completed two years of service, and the DVLA would like to present them with their restaurant gift certificates – Jim Johnson and Terry Taylor.  There are a number of volunteers who have spent many hours helping landowners in the valley – Craig Meyocks and Ken Mandell as board members and Ryan Andersen as a board member for eight months, Ken Mandell as head of the Architectural Committee, Mac Thomson still taking care of the roads and public safety issues, all the volunteers needed for the annual meeting preparations and other duties, as they arise, plus Chief Maciej Szczerbiak and all the firefighters and medical emergency volunteers.  Report respectfully submitted. Carol Clason, Secretary.           

FIRE  CHIEF’S  REPORT, Maciej  Szczerbiak:

      Thanks were given to all landowners taking time to attending the annual meeting and also to all Dammeron Valley Firefighters and their families for their outstanding contributions to the safety and well-being of the residents of the valley.  Anyone having questions regarding the operations of the Dammeron Valley Fire Department was asked to hold their questions until after the report and/or the meeting when Chief Szczerbiak would be able to address each comment.

     The Fire Department is open for business every Thursday of the week at 6:30 p.m.  The public is welcome to come and visit at that time to discuss any matters about the EMS/Fire operations.

     The EMS team estimated time of deployment for the year 2013/14 was 170 hours/40 hours = 4.2 weeks of work at eight hours a day.  Since June, 2013, there have been 62 EMS calls, 2 fire calls, and 9 life-FLIGHT calls.

      Ninety-five percent of the PPE equipment was found to be outdated during the past year.  The Dammeron Valley Landowners’ Association board members agreed to fund $48,000 worth of new equipment that is now up to code for use in the field.  Thanks to all those volunteers who maintained the burn pile; burn permits were used correctly by landowners, with only one issue surfacing during the previous year.  Future planning and goals include improved EMS equipment and training and the possibility of the fire department becoming a transport agency with the availability of providing ambulance service to St. George.  Also, the formation of joint EMS response teams with Diamond Valley is being considered with the hope of improved service and response time.

     A representative from Washington County thanked Maciej and the fire department volunteers for all the hours and hard work expended during the last year to bring the firefighting equipment up to code and to meet the training standards that are required. The ongoing Fire Wise Safety strategic plan was discussed outlining the intentions to continue working with the Bureau of Land Management to work against catastrophic wild fires in the valley.  He invited anyone who was interested in doing work on their own property to speak with him after the meeting.         

PROPOSED  2014/2015  BUDGET / SSD  BUDGET  &  DETAILS:

     After a short explanation of the budget by the President Jim Johnson, Sheri Mandell MADE A MOTION that the proposed dues be reduced from $60 per year to $30 per year; seconded by Rick Johnson.  After discussion of the proposed motion, the landowners present were asked by a show of hands if they wanted to further discuss the issue or move on to board nominations.  By a majority vote, the meeting was moved on to the nominees’ statements. 

TRUSTEE  NOMINATIONS  & CANDIDATE  STATEMENTS:

      Joel Burnham, Robert Allan, Rick Johnson, A.B. Johnson and Jim Johnson were listed on the ballot as candidates for the three open vacancies and presented short biographies of themselves as nominees. Michael Foot was nominated from the floor as a candidate for one of the three open vacancies and also gave a short presentation. 

REPORTS:

·         WATER  COMPANY / DEVELOPER,  Brooks Pace

     During the past two-three years Matthew Pace has been overseeing the Dammeron Valley Water Company.  In the past year the company went through a severe audit by the SSD Board and also an inspection by the Utah State Health Department.  A new well, well number five, is being planned which will be located approximately 5/8ths of a mile further east, with the same aquifer as the present wells.  It will pump approximately 1500 to 2000 gallons and is expected to be completed within two years.  The survey work has already been completed and has been submitted to the Bureau of Land Management for approval.  Water rates are not being raised at this time, and have not been raised since 2004.  A state land phase of eight lots is presently being developed, and eight septic tank approvals from years past will be used on these eight lots. 

     In response to a landowner’s question regarding whether or not this new sub-division will be included in the Dammeron Valley Landowners’ Association, concern was expressed over the expiration of the CC&R’s and Protective Covenants of some sub-divisions beginning two years from now.  Those covenants and CC&R’s will either have to be renewed by the landowners living within the sub-division, or the sub-division will drop out of the association.  If sub-division lot owners vote to drop out of the association, this will endanger the continuity of the community as a whole.  This will be a large issue for the new board members to address in the near future.  The eight lots were always planned to be included within the properties of the Dammeron Valley Landowners’ Association but will depend upon whether the association stays intact. 

      The Dammeron Valley Water Company possesses enough water rights to take care of the valley.  In 2003-4 additional water usage was granted to landowners during May, June, and July to be used in irrigating plants, trees, greenbelts, etc.  The water assigned to each property had to be used first before water credits were then allocated to the property.  The same offer was given to landowners for this summer with the intent to further beautify the valley.  Brooks Pace encouraged those landowners with the large lots adjacent to the highway to use whatever water is needed to keep those lands green.

     Water rights belonging to landowners who do not intend to use their water cannot be sold since this is regulated by the CC&R’s and Protective Covenants, but it might be possible that a short-term lease could be arranged with a landowner who would like to have access to more water.   

·         ARCHITECTURAL  REVIEW,  Ken Mandell

      During the previous year, four homes and five improvements were approved by the committee.                   

·         PUBLIC  SAFETY,  Mac Thomson

      The Fire Safe program is a program by federal, state, and private entities which educates community members on how to reduce the risk of fire around their homes and how to save the lives of landowners and firefighting personnel.  Brochures and other information were made available to those in attendance.  One measurement as to the compliance with this program is the fact that during the 2013-14 year, 272 loads of natural debris were deposited in the Dammeron Valley burn pile. Anyone interested in working on the burn pile, please contact Mac Thomson so that the same people are not always called on to participate.           

DISCUSSION  &  COMMENTS  FROM  THE  FLOOR:

     In response to landowner questions, the following comments were offered:  Per Brooks Pace, the Fire Department personnel check the water pressure to the fire hydrants each year.  Jim Johnson mentioned that a water committee was formed within the Dammeron Valley Fire Special Service District that will address any issues that a landowner may have with their water supply.

     A proposal was made by one landowner that we use some of the community’s resources toward beautification of the valley, i.e. green belts, tree rows, etc.   

BALLOT  RESULTS:

     After double verification by the registration committee of the ballots submitted, the budget passed 164 “yes” to 26 “no”.  Some members did not vote on every issue.  New board members elected:  Robert Allan with 117 votes, A.B. Johnson with 106 votes, and Joel Burnham with 142 votes.

ADJOURNMENT:

     Meeting adjourned at 11:45 a.m.

 

Carol Clason

Recording Secretary