Editorial Submitted by Gordon Chace
In the last newsletter, we identified our six Gardens of Oak Hollow Common areas – the front entrance and the five parking areas for guests and residents. As our neighborhood has matured, the Common areas have become attractive places to park and a congenial area to gather and enjoy. Just as the trees, shrubs and flowers are the oxygenators to our atmosphere; the Common areas are the heart and sole of our neighborhood.
In this newsletter, the focus is on how these areas are maintained. Currently, we have contracted with Palm Heights Lawn Service to perform lawn mowing and edging on our Commons. Since 2019 these dependable folks have maintained our Commons. They have provided this reliable service since 2019 at the same price! The HOA Board is aware that these maintenance costs are overdue for an increase.
What is NOT known is how much of an increase it will be or WHEN.
Today
The HOA Treasurer reports that the maintenance of the Common areas consumes an average of 64% of our HOA Dues income. Currently an average of 76 of our 81 homes (94%) contributing to the HOA annual dues fund. This revenue is VITAL to help maintain the current level of attractiveness.
In addition to the HOA dues, the Gardens has been enjoying the generosity of a number of residents over the years. This has been in the form of unsolicited extra donations to the HOA fund. We have also been fortunate to have several residents providing labor in the form of trash removal and general clean up along with lawn mowing, edging and hand watering. We have a highly educated individual in Agronomy, applying their lifelong experience and learned skills to our grounds for the past 20+ years. The combination of all our residents valued efforts has helped to keep the contractor’s fee low while keeping the Gardens of Oak Hollow uniform and attractive.
Future
Your Board members are acutely aware of the consequences of not anticipating inflation going forward. The time has come to decide what we are willing to pay and/or to get physically involved in maintaining this beautiful area in which we live.
The board decided to keep the current HOA dues at $150.00 per household for 2023 and to consider a $25 increase for 2024. This will be a good discussion topic for our upcoming March 13 HOA General meeting. It will also be a good opportunity to hear from you on ways to cover maintenance costs. We must ask ourselves: Have we become complacent in the face of generosity? What are our options for maintaining the level of attractiveness we have become accustomed to?
The choices are up to all of us ! The decisions we make today have a direct impact on the attractiveness of the community and the value of our homes tomorrow.
It all depends on us.