Covington Place Newsletter
October 9, 2016 - For Residents of Covington Place
PROPOSED 2017 BUDGET FOR HOA
During the Tuesday, October 4th HOA meeting the Board of Directors reviewed a proposed budget for 2017. The proposed budget and the notes listed below are being published for homeowner review and comment. The Board will approve a final budget at our November 1st HOA meeting. The final budget will be printed and mailed with the 2017 Assessment Invoice just before Thanksgiving.
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This year, as in past years, Sentry Management sent us a proposed budget using data from the January - August financial reports. The “2016 Actual" column is pro-rated to 12 months and any known price increases from vendors for 2017 are updated into the spreadsheet. This is our starting point for discussion.
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When preparing the budget, the Board intentionally limits revenues to Assessments and Clubhouse Rentals. This strategy gives us some leeway during the fiscal year. In 2016 we collected $7,337.51 in revenues from other sources. The extra income helped us stay within budget while paying for unforeseen projects like hiring an arborist.
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The Board has reviewed the 2016 Balance Sheets and Income Statements and made several changes. In some cases the amounts are fixed costs. Where they are not fixed costs we took the “2016 Projected” amount and used it in the 2017 Draft Budget. Some of the revisions, such as the lower amounts proposed for both Legal and Landscaping require more explanation.
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Legal Expenses were unusually high for 2016. There was an issue involving architectural review that had to be litigated and another issue that required negotiation to resolve unpaid dues, fees and fines so the sale of two lots could go forward. Over the past 5-years our average Legal Expense has been $4,836.00. In 2017 we have budgeted $6,000.00.
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Our 2016 Landscaping Expense is projected at $43,000.00. This amount includes the one time expense of $6,230.00 to hire an arborist and $1,500.00 to clear a strip of land on Plantation Trace at Laurel Lakes.
Our 2017 Landscape budget is $34,000.00:
Mansfield Landscaping, $1,824.16 a month x 12 = $21,889.92.
Fall & Spring Annuals, $1,650.00 x 2 = $3,300.00.
Pine Straw/ Mulch, $6,500.00.
Top Turf, $387.00 x 6 applications = $2,322.00.
Total expense is $34,011.92.
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The Board did not budget for any Retained Earning for 2017. We have a projected surplus of $22,708.02. $13,275.61 of that surplus is money that homeowners have "Prepaid" for 2017 using our "Budget Plan." This money is not yet ours to spend or save. The Board will decide at the end of the year whether the estimated surplus of $9,432.41 will be moved to Retained Earnings or remain in the Operating Account to be used in 2017.
SAFE HALLOWEEN 2016 UPDATE
HELP IS STILL NEEDED, SEE BELOW:
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We need 2 more high school boys (junior/senior) who want to make some extra $$ to move the barricades rather than homeowner volunteers. Each one would work the entire session at a single location. And they would be required to have a cell phone on them that is charged and willing to give Susann their phone number. Any help would be appreciated.
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We need at least 2 more adults to help out with parking control: 1 at the Pool Parking Lot and 1 in Eagles Pointe. You would be helping to direct traffic in/out of the parking lots and helping to make sure that no drivers head in a direction that is not allowed.
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As of right now, the hours are 5:30-9:30pm but since it is a school night these hours may be slightly modified. If there is any change in hours you will be notified in advance.
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If you have a high school son you'd like to volunteer to work or you are an adult who can help us out, please contact Susann via FB Messenger (Susann Heath Shriver) or shriverdawg@gmail.com as soon as possible.
TOP CHEF NAMED FOR 2016
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Congratulations to Chef Bobby!
UPCOMING CP NEIGHBORHOOD EVENTS
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NEW RESIDENT RECEPTION at the Pool Clubhouse on Thursday, October 13th from 6:30-7:30pm. If you have moved into Covington Place since the last reception then you are invited to attend.
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TUNES ON THE TURF featuring "Whiskey Bent" at the playground/gazebo area on Friday, November 4th; bring your own chairs/blankets/beverages; time to be determined
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LADIES OF COVINGTON PLACE PALOOZA - at the Pool Clubhouse on December 8th at 6:00pm; bring a $25 gift from a local merchant; bring appetizer/dessert/beverage
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CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS CAROLING - on December 18th; send an email to Susie Keck susiekeck60@gmail.com containing your address if you would like to have the children visit your home; there will be an activity for the children at the Pool Clubhouse before and after caroling
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HOLIDAY LIGHTS, GOLF CART PARADE, & CHRISTMAS PARTY - Friday, December 23rd; more details to come later on this annual event
OVERNIGHT VISITORS & CAMPERS/RVs PARKED IN THE STREET or AT POOL PARKING LOT - VISITOR PARKING PASS REQUIRED - NO EXCEPTIONS
Leaving unmarked cars parked in the Pool Parking Lot during the day or overnight is not allowed. If vehicles do not have a Green Vehicle Sticker on them then they MUST have a Visitor Parking Pass on them to keep from being towed. NOTE: If you see a non-resident vehicle parked at the Pool Parking Lot during the day or night, please call the Covington Police to come and check it out.
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If you need a Visitor Parking Pass Template, please sign in to HOA Butler and print it from Community Documents and Information.
GREEN VEHICLE STICKERS - IT'S ALL ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY!
If you do not have a Green Vehicle Sticker on each of your vehicles, please send an email to l_seabolt@hotmail.com providing your Name, Street Address, and the Number of Vehicles you have and they will be delivered to your mailbox.
If you would like a sticker for your golf cart too, please make that request as this is a great idea since many residents drive their golf carts to the pool.
GOT A QUESTION? ASK A BOARD MEMBER!
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Also, every resident should have received an eCopy of the HOA HANDBOOK in April. Always refer to that newsletter for the majority of your questions. If you did not receive a copy, please send an email to tp81854@yahoo.com and one will be forwarded to you.
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Also, just about every phone number you could ever need is included in this Newsletter near the bottom. Check it out!
OFFICIAL HOA ADVERTISING DISCLAIMER
FREE ADS FOR RESIDENTS WHO OWN A BUSINESS
Our HOA offers residents who own a business the opportunity to reach over 340+ resident email addresses via our Newsletter and our Facebook Page. Our average weekly reach is over 425 views.
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Here's how it works:
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For Residents who own a business:
- No charge to run an Ad
- A print-ready Ad in JPEG format is required
- We'll run it several times if requested
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For Non-Residents to place an Ad:
- $25 to run 4 times
- A print-ready Ad in JPEG format is required
- Payable in cash or check payable to CPHOA. Payment sent c/o Susie Keck, 8110 Crestview Drive, Covington 30014
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All Ad JPEGS must be emailed prior to any Saturday to tp81854@yahoo.com in order to be placed in the next issue of the Newsletter. Please make sure that your Ad is clear and legible before sending your JPEG.
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Paid for Ads will be posted to our FB Page by someone on our Communications Team only. If an Ad appears on our FB Page that doesn't belong to a resident and hasn't been pre-paid for, it will be deleted.
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If you have any questions, please email susiekeck60@gmail.com or tp81854@yahoo.com for details.
2016-2017 BOARD MEMBERS CONTACT INFO:
Feel free to contact any Board Member with any questions you may have regarding our neighborhood. They are here to serve you and our community. Their email addresses are just below their photos.
PAT SHOWALTER
CHAIRMAN
Term expires in 2018FAYE BROWN-STONE
BROOKE WOODALL
MEMBER MANAGER
Term expires in 2018CHRIS BRANAN
MAINTENANCE MANAGER
Term expires in 2018ED WINNICKI
TREASURER
Term expires in 2017PERRI FUTO
CO-CHAIR
Term expires in 2017SUSIE KECK
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
Term expires in 2017IMPORTANT CP HOA PHONE NUMBERS:
- Sentry Management is the umbrella over 2 divisions: Subdivision Services and Grace Management; the 2 divisions cover different aspects of our HOA business
- Subdivision Services - 678-284-0244 - contact them for these items: obtain/replace a pool/tennis key card, report/respond to covenant violations, report issues at the pool/tennis courts/playground, anything related to safety/security, etc.
- Grace Management - 770-389-6528 - contact them for these items: your HOAButler account, anything to do with your HOA account, Architectural Review (ARC) Request, etc.
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Architecture Review Applications (ARA) - go to HOAButler or contact Sentry at AtlantasouthARC@sentrymgt.com or 770-389-6528 (office) or 770-506-8430 (Fax).
Mailbox Repair/Replacement - The HOA Board is working with Sentry to obtain a new approved mailbox installation/repair/replacement company for Covington Place. In the meantime, please contact Ed Winnicki on the HOA Board.
Clubhouse Rental - Kaye Plitt, the clubhouse is available to all residents to rent for private parties; no corporate events or non-resident parties allowed; $75 fee during Pool Season, $50 fee during remainder of year; Rules & Regulations available from Kaye; some restrictions on dates/times of availability; 404-606-8062, kayep1030@gmail.com
Green Vehicle Stickers - Send email to l_seabolt@hotmail.com and provide street address and number of vehicles; place them on the rear window of each vehicle; they are available for golf carts too and should be placed on the windshield
Social Committee - Brooke Woodall, brookedwoodall@gmail.com
Collins Pool Services - 770-389-9999 - to report any problems with the pool during Pool Season (ex. chemicals, cleanliness, fecal matter, etc.)
Tennis Courts are accessed via the same Pool Card that opens the pool gate. The tennis courts are available for residents and their guests only. Guests must be accompanied by a resident at all times. Leagues or Teams are not allowed. Rules of etiquette were included in the HANDBOOK so please refer to them if you have any questions.
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Street Light Outage - City of Covington, 770-385-2000, use Option '0' and speak to a Customer Service Agent to report the outage and have a repair ticket created.
GOT ANY NEWS TO SHARE?
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REMINDER: We use the same general guidelines as we do on our FB Page so please refer to these guidelines when submitting anything for publication.
HAS ANYONE NEW MOVED IN NEXT DOOR TO YOU?
Also, please ask them to send an email to tp81854@yahoo.com to be added to the Newsletter and receive a HOA Handbook.