Thursday, September 27, 2007

Minutes - DVLA Board Meeting 09/27/07

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 – 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

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Flood Survey Report

Flood Survey Report
Independent surface water flooding; locations, evaluations and recommendations related to severe storm on August 1, 2007

Participants:
Roger Phillips, Dammeron Valley resident
Brooks Pace, DV resident and developer
Mac Thomson, DV resident

On August 14, 2007, the participants began the review aided by an aerial photo showing highway 18 and Dammeron Valley.  Noted on the photo were highway culvert locations and sizes of culverts noted in 2005, as well as approximate water flow locations in Dammeron Valley following that year's above normal storm.

Using the photo and subdivision overlay as references, the following are our approximation of problem areas as well as recommendations to either reduce or negate future storm water damage to residences and/or property.

Our review started at mile marker 16 on highway 18 and proceeded north on highway 18.  Culvert #1 is located approximately 200 yards north of mile marker 16.  It is + or - 5'6' in diameter.  Debris is piled 18-24 inches above the culvert neck on the highway road bed.  It could not handle the water volume from the drainage channel and the surplus water headed north parallel to the highway and began to cross the highway moving west and did that continuously for over two miles according to debris flow patterns as well as Thomsons observations during the August 1 storm.

What waters did pass through the next two culverts as well as over road flow also took a westward flow pattern into the Dammeron Valley development beginning at the southeast corner of Dammeron Valley causing some surface damage to two lots. 

All water crossing highway 18 (from 1' to 12' +) westbound entered Dammeron Valley in sheets or flow and proceeded northwesterly across properties.  The most severe damages were related to:

    Homestead Road west and intersections at Meadow Drive
      Old Farms Drive and Dammeron Valley Dr. West
   
At all these intersections there is no sign of adequate or existing drainage nor culverts.  Several homes were damaged on Old Farms Rd.

Water then proceeded northerly along Old Farms Rd. to Dammeron Valley Dr. West and was further increased in volume by a westerly highway overflow to approximately mile marker 18.  These waters either flowed through the east side of the Old Farms subdivision or west on Dammeron Valley Dr. West where they crossed the road and continued west through a pasture then followed a fence line and were joined by the northerly flow which had crossed Orchard.  These combined waters damaged property on Orchard, crossed Wild Herb Rd. prior to Coyote Way and damaged 2 more homes.  The flow continued west on Coyote Way to the large lake that normally accumulates at Coyote Way and Homestead due to a lack of a culvert or ford.  The water from that point tends to follow Homestead west, building from overland flow from the north and east until it leaves Homestead after running over and through several lots and crossing in to and across Sand Cove Circle and 3 lots there including the west end of the Pinion Hills leach field ending up at Upper Sand Cove reservoir area.

The east side of Dammeron Valley from highway 18 was primarily affected by overland water flow beyond that which the Bonnie Springs normal channel could carry, across highway 18 westward damaging properties at the end of Carter Pond Rd.

Recommendations:

UDOT replace culverts #2 and #3 with a second high capacity culvert similar to culvert #1 and direct that water southwest to join that flow of culvert #1 for natural drainage westward. 

Develop a large barrow ditch from culvert #3 parallel to highway 18 on the east side, north to the north end of Dammeron Valley west (natural Bonnie Springs drainage to Sand Cove) and block off existing east to west culverts ( 3 through 13); use either fords or high volume squash culverts for east entrances to Dammeron Valley and side roads on east side of highway 18.  Use high capacity box culvert to carry entire flow east to west under highway 18 to natural channels ending up at Upper Sand Cove area. 

Washington Co. Road Department.  Correct/upgrade all roadside barrow drainages within subdivision and install proper culverts and right-of-way armoring.  Require all landowners that need culverts to install code required sizes. 

Install adequate culverts at all intersections to direct water to desired locations.

Reinstall the ford at the end of Carter Pond Rd. or at least culverts of a capacity to carry newly directed flow or as a minimum, the capacity of water now directed by the 4 each 36” culverts that cross highway 18. (identified as 14-17) at the natural Bonnie Springs drainage location.

Direct water parallel to Homestead Drive westerly to the Dammeron Valley SSD lot/Pinion Hills leach field into a ditch running northerly east of the leach field to protect the leach field and Sand Cove Circle homes.

Washington Co. Road Department could consider capture of the westerly water flow at Wild Herb Rd. and direct it north to State land after crossing Coyote Way in a ditch to reduce total flow west on Coyote Way.

Washington County should look at existing building codes and modify if necessary the height of new home pads/basement walls, above ground surfaces, if street water flow is anticipated in newly developed areas.

Dammeron Valley Developers:

Anticipate high surface water flows based on natural topography when creating new CC&Rs for future subdivisions in Dammeron Valley and realizing that with each home built, there will be more water run-off even on gently sloping lands.  Surface vegetation or other features for landscaping should be encouraged to slow water flow and encourage percolation versus run-off.

All Dammeron Valley Residents:

Landscape as necessary to not only protect your own homes but also so as not to create greater hazards to your neighbors downstream.  Try to slow surface water to aid percolation - not funnel it so that it channels, erodes and washes debris downstream

Minutes - DVLA Board Meeting 08/28/07

Minutes of the Regular Monthly DVLA Board Meeting August 28, 2007

Board Members attending: Cyndy Johnson, Mike Barker, Crystal Phillips, Alan Strebeck                Absent: Jerry Yurek

Fifty nine landowners were in attendance.

President Cyndy Johnson called the meeting to order at 7:00pm. 

1.  Approval of Agenda

MOTION was made by Alan Strebeck to accept the agenda, Mike Barker seconded the motion.  The motion was passed.

2.  Review & approve minutes of the July meeting.

MOTION was made by Mike Barker to approve the July minutes.  Alan Strebeck seconded the motion.  The motion was passed

3.  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.

4. Reports

a. Fire Department
Chief Talbot gave the report for the fire department.  He reported that the department had responded to three medical calls over the past month.  The department had also responded to two flooding situations.  He thanked the BLM for calling in over 50 fire fighters to help the department volunteers.  He also thanked Russ Feller for two loads of red cinders used to fill sandbags.  There are still about 25 yards available behind the fire house.  He also expressed appreciation for the help from homeowners who helped with the flooding situations.  Landowners can keep the sandbags that are in or on their property.  The Chief is not going to be able to obtain additional free sandbags and has one bundle left.  The bags need to be stacked and covered with a tarp as they are biodegradable and deteriorate in the sun.

Four fire fighters attended the state fire academy in Provo. 

The fire vehicles are all in good shape.  The large engine will participate in the Lion's Round-up parade.  If families are attending that event and the children would like to ride on the engine during the parade, they are welcome to meet the engine and there will be adult supervision.

b. ARC
Trustee Assignments: August - Mike Barker, September - Cyndy Johnson, October - Crystal Phillips, November - Jerry Yurek

Lance Cornwall, Chair of the ARC, gave the report.  There were four approvals - a fence in the Canyon Trails subdivision, lot #3, a barn in Homesteads, a fence on Old Farms South Lot #9 and a greenhouse and garage on PHIII-65.  A fence on Old Farms South, Lot #5 was denied.

c. Trustee Reports
1.  Crystal Phillips reported that the Community Center has been stained.  Tim Fuchs donated his time and equipment and did the staining.  The next project will be to finish the trim and then tape and texture the inside.  When ready the Community Center will be available for public meetings and other events.  Details will have to be worked out such as how much will be charged for a cleaning deposit, etc..

2.  Cyndy Johnson is working with the County to have the dead trees cut down in the right of ways.  She is trying to find out if a private person can cut down the trees for the wood.

3.  Mike Barker said that a neighborhood watch is being put together.  Landowner John Burns has volunteered to head the effort.  Volunteers will be needed in each subdivision.

4.  Alan Strebeck said that landowners need to keep working on making their properties fire defensible.  Forms should continue to be sent in to the firewise committee.

5.  Old Business
a. Flood findings
Mike Barker and Mac Thomson gave a presentation on flood findings.  Landowners have been sending in documentation, emails and pictures of the recent flooding.  The effort of the group headed by Mike and Mac has been to focus on where the problems are.  The DVLA needs to present this information to the State and County.  As part of the process Mac Thomson, Brooks Pace and Roger Phillips surveyed the culverts and marked an aerial map as to there the water is going. This map was shown to the Board and landowners.  At the end of the minutes is the draft report that was compiled from the survey.

Mac Thomson pointed out that 285 acres of State lands around the Valley perimeter are up for bid.  There are three parcels that are going for sale on 11/8/07.  The goal of the Committee is to get letters send to UDOT, Washington County and the State entity selling the property so that future owners are made aware of the water flow issues.  As pointed out in the discussion more building will only cause additional disruption of the water flow.  The Valley needs to get the attention of the County and State as the flooding will only become more extensive.  Mac asked those attending to come up after the meeting and help annotate the map with water flow issues that were not already shown.

Cyndy Johnson said a date should be established to get the documentation to the State and County entities.  It was agreed that all documentation would be put together and submitted during the first week of September.

b.  Status of dues collection process
Stella Callagee reviewed the list of unpaid lots with the Board.  The September invoice, per policy will raise the total late fee to $45 plus $30 for a lien filing fee.  Liens will be filed after October 1st.

c.  Cyndy Johnson reported on weed control.  The goathead weeds have been a real problem.  The County has sprayed the east side of the Valley but did not get to the west side.  Spraying did not get ahead of the goatheads this year.  The County representative asked that landowners let them know when the weeds begin to appear so spraying can be done earlier.

d.  Report on OHV Issues
Alan Strebeck drafted a letter from the Board to landowners concerning OHV use in the Valley that will go out with the water bill.  He noted that OHV is a misnomer as these are restricted trail vehicles.  OHVs cannot be ridden expect on a designated trail.  There are no trails in Dammeron Valley.  OHVs also cannot ride on private property without permission of the landowner.  In response to a question from a landowner Alan said that the State and County do not designate golf carts as OHVs.  Alan said that the letter from the Board will include the sites where landowners can look up the specific laws.  At the August meeting a deputy from the Sheriff's Office had attended and talked about the rules.  Cyndy Johnson added that as the deputy recommended, those landowners with complaints about improper OHV use on or near their property should call the Sheriff. 

A landowner added that he had called the County Attorney and current code in the State of UT does not allow the County or State to allow OHV use in a County right of way.  He suggested signs be posted which indicate that these areas are not legal trails for OHVs.

Alan said that the best source for finding legal, designated trails is to contact the State Department of Natural Resources (DNR).  They have maps available of where riders can legally travel.  Alan added that if OHV riders will operate responsibility, they can coexist in these areas.

6. New Business
a. Discussion of odor and flies from animals in neighboring lots

Cyndy Johnson had called the County Health Department following a complaint from a landowner about odor and flies from a neighboring lot.  Cyndy spoke with Mark Nielsen in the Environmental Health Office.  Complaints can be called in to his office at 435-986-2580.  He told Cyndy that due to the moisture there has been a higher instance of flies throughout the County.  The fly population should die off as things dry out.  There are fly baits that landowners can put up.  Cyndy suggested that if a landowner has a problem they try to address it with their neighbor but if that doesn't work, call the above number.  A landowner also suggested calling Kent Gardner in the County who is involved with building codes as that office will also address such issues at 435-634-5714.

7. Adjournment 8:35pm- MOTION was made by Alan Strebeck to adjourn the meeting, Crystal Phillips seconded the motion.  The motion was passed.

Stella Callagee
Recording Secretary