Property and Grounds Committee

Meeting Summary         May 8, 2008

Committee Members Present:

Franklin Buck    Frank Burroughs

Janie Cindric                  Emery Dilda

Outi Hanscomb  Cindy Horan                 

Beverly Iezzi                  Dolores Renninger

Doug Ryan                    Bill Spring

Woody Wilmoth

Board Members Present:

Don Horan

Committee Reports:

·   Roads, Sidewalks, Streetlights, Mailboxes

             -Sidewalk defects:  Woody Wilmoth is preparing a new report.

·   SWM Pond

             -Frank Burroughs reported that several ducks and geese, as well as rabbits, are inhabiting the pond area.

·    Grounds and Landscaping      

             -Pool deck flower pots:  Frank Burroughs and Franklin Buck are going to install the summer flowers in the pots that are located in the pool area.  If the Board will approve and pay for the flowers, they have volunteered to plant flowers in the 6 large flower pots on the verandah.

            -Bill Spring has built several bluebird houses.  Frank will organize the distribution of the houses this summer or early fall. He will ask volunteers to become bluebird monitors.  Monitors will check the boxes periodically and keep a record of the inhabitants of the boxes.

             -White and orange flags have been placed around the pond areas as well as along some of the fringes of tree lines and along the edges of the protected area.  These areas are “no mow” areas and will not be cut by Shenandoah.  The Board has approved the “no mow” in the bottom and sides of the ponds.  Shenandoah has incorporated into the Master Plan places around the community that will be turned into more natural settings.  Most of these places have already been flagged.

             -Shenandoah sent a proposal for the replacement of 6 trees along the rim of Pond 4.  The money for tree replacement is not available at this time.  Shenandoah will need to replace, at no cost, a tree that they planted at the rear of the community center.

             -Benches:  Six benches have been assembled and are ready for installation.  The committee has selected the following locations:

            1.  Two benches on the walking path, one at the top and one mid-way.

            2.  One bench on Gladstone by the pond.

            3.  One bench on Bridgewater across from the pond.

            4.  One bench at the corner of Ripplemead and Smithfield.

            5.  One bench near the Harborton pond.

Master Plan, Phase I:

Shenandoah’s Estimated Cost of the Entire Plan, including planting and mulching:

Sheet 1:               23,609           (Section A: 13,876   Section B:  9,733)

Sheet 2:               12,379           (Section A:  8,437    Section B:  3,942)

Sheet 3:               14,332           (Section A:  4,649    Section B:  9,683)

Sheet 4:                 5,230

Sheet 5:               14,907

Sheet 6:               25,181

Sheet 7:               16,644

Sheet 8:               26,393           (Section A: 13,708    Section B: 12,685)

Sheet 9:                7,155     Plus cost of 6 Cornelian Cherry

Total:                $145,830    Plus preparation for shrub beds and transplanting 2 trees.

             -Larry Wiltshire from Shenandoah Landscape Services will present the Master Plan to the Board on May 14, 7pm.

             -FRCA has budgeted $50,000 to begin implementing the Master Plan in 2008.

             -The committee recommends the following list, in priority order, for the fall 2008 planting season:

            1.  Install all of the shade trees throughout the community.  Shade trees are slow growers so it would be prudent to plant them first.  (87 trees)

            2.  Install the beds and trees around the Bridgewater and Castlewood sides of the community center; and at the top of the walking path.  This is a highly visible area that is in need of improvement.   (Sheet 7)

            3.  Install the shrub bed on the hill off the walking path.  This will correct an erosion problem in that area.  (part of Sheet 8)

            4.  Install the trees and plants at the end of Waverly.  (Sheet 1 Section B)

             -The committee would like to have the priority areas confirmed by the Board so the bids can be obtained from several contractors by the end of July.

Resident donations towards the Master Plan:

             -We are working on a procedure that would allow residents to donate funds to the Master Plan. We expect to have the paperwork ready for Board approval at the May 28 meeting, and include the form as a flyer in the June Gazette.  Any money that is donated would be used to expand the 2008 planting.  Outi Hanscomb will head this project. 

             -A set of the Master Plan, Phase 1 drawings will be on display at the Community Center.

Next meeting:  June 11, 2008  1 pm