Author: Shelley Karn

Dear Scofield Farms Homeowner,

Spring is just around the corner and your Scofield Farms ROA board members and volunteers have a few springtime activities to get you on your way to a productive and enjoyable season.

Spring is the time of year to begin making improvements to your yard and property to maintain our neighborhood. In general, overall street appearance like nicely manicured lawns, attractive bushes, and accent lighting will send a message to criminals that the homeowners care about their property and keep an eye on it and might have security systems. Likewise, unkempt lawns and neglected trees and shrubs, are a sign that there may be other aspects of the home that the owner lacks attention to, like doors, window locks and overall security of the home. The Residential Homeowners Association (ROA) board has been doing its part to maintain the neighborhood integrity. Below are specific items we are working on to sustain your property values through our joint community property within the neighborhood. Please do your part by maintaining your own property so we can all live in a safe and appealing environment.

Below are items your neighborhood ROA has been working on to improve the property as well as updates from your neighborhood ROA board:

1. Pool construction: The ROA has been working to improve the pool area by incorporating additional shade/entertainment areas and providing new gates for pool restroom use year-round. In addition, we will be installing a gate around the playground so little ones cannot wander off into the parking lot while playing at the playground. Lighting will be placed in the mailbox area in the pool/playground parking lot. Lastly, we will be resurfacing and re-striping the parking lot at the pool. We expect each of these projects to be completed by the pool opening on April 1. However, we have been experiencing unforeseen delays with the city permitting process. You can expect to see a great deal of progress being made in this area as we move closer to April.

The ROA has also approved and installed a number of cameras around the pool area to be able to monitor should crime or vandalism occur. We have established a formal rule for the neighborhood so all of the neighbors understand the purpose of the cameras in place at the pool area. In short, it says, “These cameras may be unmonitored and/or non-functional at any time. No surveillance system should be relied upon to ensure a resident’s safety—personal safety is the responsibility of the individual and law enforcement.”

 

2. Community website, Forum and SF Instant Communicator –The scofieldfarms.org website, the official online communication channel of the Scofield Farms ROA, continues to be improved and expanded to better serve residents. Check out the website to find out the latest news about current events in the neighborhood, as well as access important documents and information. Calendar events noted soon include the “It’s My Park” cleanup event on March 2, the Easter Egg Hunt on March 30, and the neighborhood garage sale on April 6.

You can also sign up for the scofieldfarms.org forum as well as the Scofield Farms ROA email newsletter via the website.  The scofieldfarms.org forum is a moderated discussion board whose primary focus is the Scofield Farms Residential Owners Association (ROA) and community. Some topics covered on the forum include ROA projects, contractor and professional suggestions, children, pets, security and items for sale. In order to post content on the forum and to read member private forums, you must register. To register, visit https://scofieldfarms.org/forum/ and select “Register”. Please note that we have recently modified the registration requirements for the forum, and pool card number verification is no longer required.

The Scofield Farms ROA email newsletter is used several times a year to distribute information about Board of Directors meetings and agendas. To be added to the list, either join the scofieldfarms.org forum or sign up for the newsletter using the “Sign up for our Email Newsletter” form on the scofieldfarms.org website.

The Scofield Farms Instant Communicator group is ready for your participation and input! The Instant Communicator, created in 2012, is a means of quickly disseminating important news regarding situations currently occurring (such as crimes in progress, suspicious activity, or severe weather warnings) to our community via a smart phone app or text message. Please visit “General Info/FAQ” on the scofieldfarms.org forum for additional information about joining the Instant Communicator group.

Please feel free to email webmaster@scofieldfarms.org with any questions.

 

3. Architectural Control Committee: Last year a number of our neighbors replaced landscaping and grass with more drought resistant materials. Other neighbors will be entering the 2013 Spring season with dead grass, trees, shrubs, etc. If you have yet to update your yard, the Spring season is the perfect time to plant new grass and drought-resistant plants. You are encouraged to survey your property and take appropriate action to replace dead grass, trees, shrubs, etc. If you are doing more than simple replacement of damaged landscaping such as redesigning your landscape, please submit an ACC approval request form. If your lawn is in sad shape please take care of the required maintenance without the added expense of an ROA enforcement case against you. CMA, our property management company, will be in touch if you are out of compliance and to help you establish a plan and timeline for re-establishing your yard, if necessary. Please note that the ROA board is very supportive of xeriscaped yards IF they are installed following an ACC approved plan. Guidelines are available on the neighborhood website, scofieldfarms.org.

 

4. Fence Policy/Fence repair/replacement- The ROA has asked our attorney to create a new fence policy relating to the responsibility of each neighbor to assist in the repair/replacement of joint fencing. Per the new policy, “when a fence acts as a boundary fence that separates two owners’ yards, the owners share a joint duty to maintain, replace, and repair the fence such that it remains in good, neat, and attractive condition, and such owners are equally responsible for all costs of maintenance. Any fence separating two owners’ yards is presumed to be a boundary fence unless acceptable proof (in the form of a survey) is submitted and confirmed by the board that the fence is wholly situated on only one lot.” This new policy has been put in place to help homeowners understand their legal responsibilities relating to joint fencing. The ROA management company will enforce fence issues by working individually with the homeowners affected.

In addition, many of our ROA’s homes still have very deteriorated cedar privacy fences (rotted posts, pickets and gates). You are encouraged to survey your fence and take appropriate action. In many cases full replacement is warranted. Please collaborate with your neighbors on shared fence replacement/repair. Please note that our ROA guidelines require 1×4 Western Red Cedar pickets. Please specify only these type pickets when you purchase materials or talk to a contractor. Any deviations from the guidelines will require ACC approval. Review the new ROA website for the guidelines and to establish a list of contractors some of your neighbors have used to replace their fence.

 

5. Community Pool – The pool committee continues to offer excellence in attention to detail by maintaining our neighborhood pool. The committee is made up exclusively of neighborhood volunteers who help assure our pool is clean and in good working order. The community pool will open April 1. We will have a pool opening celebration on Sunday April 14 from 3pm-6pm. The celebration will include an ice cream social, complete with a Rhythm and Blues band to welcome everyone to the 2013 pool season. We look forward to seeing everyone there to enjoy the festivities. In addition, do not forget to review the new website to view the lifeguard schedule for the 2013 pool season.

 

6. Oak wilt information – Scofield Farms has a number of trees with Oak Wilt. While the fungus seems to be under control at the moment, it is important to know how and when to prune your trees properly. This can help you prevent oak wilt from spreading to other trees in your own yard or in the neighborhood. Please see the information and consider the recommendations prior to pruning your trees.

 

7. Architectural Control Committee (ACC) approvals – Your property covenants require you to have written approval from the ROA’s ACC prior to modifications to your property. Examples of items you need ACC approval for include, but are not limited to, building a shed, deck, redesigning landscape or installing nonstandard fencing, and changing the color of your home’s exterior paint. The process is fast and easy to submit for review. There is no valid reason not to comply. This is another way to make sure the neighborhood is kept nice. In several recent cases, our ACC volunteers have used their expertise to alert applicants to problems in their contractor’s proposal. When in doubt – please ask for guidance from our property manager, Jennifer English at CMA, 512-339-6962, or jenglish@cma.com to avoid enforcement and fines.

 

8. New billing process – The ROA and the management company are working to ensure everyone is sent proper reminders for payment for the neighborhood dues. These dues cover the management of our neighborhood and help maintain all of the common areas within the neighborhood, including the pool, playground and entrances to the neighborhood. This year, if you did not pay in full at the beginning of the year, you will receive monthly statements to help you stay on track with your payments. An added bonus to this process is that the cost for mailing monthly statements versus annual payment books is less for the neighborhood.

 

9. Upcoming events—The neighborhood ROA and a number of volunteers in the neighborhood are assisting with a number of upcoming, exciting events.

 

1. It’s My Park Day: Please mark your calendars for the It’s My Park Day scheduled for Saturday, March 2^nd from 9:00am to 12:00pm. It’s My Park Day is a citywide event for park improvement projects with the help of volunteers like you and your family. This year, the Scofield Farms Park Beautification Project will include trash pickup, moving mulch, removing limbs and brush from along trails, and clearing invasive plants like China Berry trees. We will have breakfast tacos available to get you started in the morning. Meet under the covered park cabana at 9am to get started.
2. Easter Egg Hunt: The Easter Egg hunt will be held March 30, 2013 from 10:30am-noon. The event will include the official hunt for eggs, a petting zoo, snacks, and other fun activities for the kids in the neighborhood. If you have a child who will participate, please provide a dozen plastic eggs filled with individually wrapped candy or small toys *per participating child*. Please deliver to Laura Nattinger’s, 1416 Braided Rope Drive, no later than March 23. We’d also like for parents/grandparents to add a note listing their kids’ ages to the bag of eggs they drop off, so we can better distribute the eggs into the appropriate age groups (Ages 3 & Under, Ages 4-6, and Ages 7 & Up).
3. Neighborhood garage sale: The annual neighborhood garage sale will be held on April 6, 2013 from 8am-noon. Our neighbor Jenney Leone will coordinate a list of homes participating this year. She has also offered to promote the event for the neighborhood. Please send confirmation of attendance to Jenney at Jenneyleone@sbcglobal.net no later than March 24 if you would like your home promoted in the advertisements for the garage sale. Jenney will be posting reminders as well.
4. Live Rhythm and Blues Band at the Pool/Pool opening celebration: The neighborhood will host a pool opening/live band at the pool event on Sunday, April 14 from 3pm-6pm. Ice cream and entertainment will be provided for the event.
5. Annual meeting: May 16 from 7pm-9pm, registration to begin at 6:30, (see details below).
6. July 4^th party at the pool, July 4. Be on the lookout for details as the event gets closer.

 

10. Board Update – As a reminder to the neighborhood residents, the officers for 2012-13 are as follows: President – Shelley Karn, Vice President – David Negrete, Secretary –Deborah Southerland, Treasurer – Emmett Bills, Director-at-Large – Paul Maine.

We welcome interested individuals to become involved in the Scofield Farms ROA. Shelley Karn and David Negrete will complete their respective terms this year therefore two spots will need to be filled. If you are interested in joining the board, please feel free to discuss this interest with the current board members. We are willing to communicate with you on the process prior to the board meeting.

 

11. Annual meeting: Save the date– The ROA annual meeting will be held Thursday, May 16 from 7-9 (registration will begin at 6:30) at the Frank Fickett Boy Scout Training and Service Center, 12500 IH 35, Austin, TX 78753.  Please join us in a review of activities and a discussion about the future of our community.

 

In closing, I wish to commend our many volunteers for helping make our community a nice place to live. We look forward to working with you to improve our community.   Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

 

Sincerely,

 

Shelley Karn, President

Shelley.Karn@gmail.com

 

Dear Scofield Farms Homeowner,

I hope you enjoyed your summer and are off to an exciting Fall. The board has seen some nice improvements to the look of our neighborhood since the spring planting season. The Residential Homeowners Association (ROA) board has been doing its part to maintain the neighborhood integrity by working with homeowners to make improvements to their properties. Through this effort, we hope to continue to improve the overall look of the neighborhood. This adds appeal and value to all of our homes. Below are specific items we are working on to sustain your property values through our shared community space within the neighborhood. Please do your part by maintaining your own property so we can all live in a safe and appealing environment.

Below are items your neighborhood ROA has been working on to improve the property as well as updates from your neighborhood ROA board:

 

1. Neighborhood Night Out: The neighborhood volunteers are hosting a neighborhood night out celebration on Friday. October 12, from 6 pm – 9 pm. The event will include live music, food, drinks, games, a bounce house for the kids and much more. Join us at the pool, meet your neighbors and enjoy the festivities.

 

2. New playground equipment: Since our last communication, the playground has been completed. This has been a nice place for children in the neighborhood. The canopy has helped to keep the space a bit more manageable in the heat of summer. With the cooler days coming up very soon, we expect this space to be used even more by the children in the neighborhood.

 

3. Website and Community Forum: The scofieldfarms.org website, the official online communication channel of the Scofield Farms ROA, continues to be improved and expanded to better serve residents. Check out the website to find out the latest news about current events in the neighborhood, as well as access important documents and information.   Calendar events noted soon include the neighborhood night out event on October 12. Please see the “Events calendar” for details.

 

You can also sign up for the scofieldfarms.org forum as well as the Scofield Farms ROA email newsletter via the website.   The scofieldfarms.org forum is a moderated discussion board whose primary focus is the Scofield Farms Residential Owners Association (ROA) and community.  Some topics covered on the forum include ROA projects, contractor and professional suggestions, children, pets, security and items for sale.  In order to post content on the forum and to read member private forums, you must register and be validated to be a member of the Scofield Farms community.  To register, visit https://scofieldfarms.org/forum/ and select “Register”.  The Scofield Farms ROA email newsletter is used several times a year to distribute information about Board of Directors meetings and agendas.  To be added to the list, either join the scofieldfarms.org forum or sign up for the newsletter using the “Sign up for our Email Newsletter” form on the scofieldfarms.org website.

Please feel free to email webmaster@scofieldfarms.org with any questions.

 

4. SF Instant Communicator: The Scofield Farms Instant Communicator group is ready for your participation and input! The Instant Communicator, created earlier this year, is a means of quickly disseminating important news regarding situations currently occurring (such as crimes in progress, suspicious activity, or severe weather warnings) to our community via a smart phone app or text message. Please visit “General Info/FAQ” on the scofieldfarms.org forum for additional information about joining the Instant Communicator group (forum registration not required to access this data).

 

5. Architectural Control Committee: There are still some yards in the neighborhood that need attention. You are encouraged to survey your property and take appropriate action to replace dead grass, trees, shrubs, etc. If you are doing more than simple replacement of damaged landscaping such as redesigning your landscape, please submit an ACC approval request form. If your lawn is in sad shape, please take care of the required maintenance without the added expense of an ROA enforcement case against you. Do your part to keep our neighborhood looking nice. CMA, our property management company will be in touch if you are out of compliance and to help you establish a plan and timeline for re-establishing your yard, if necessary. Please note that the ROA board is very supportive of xeriscaped yards IF they are installed following an ACC approved plan.

 

6. Architectural Control Committee (ACC) approvals – Your property covenants require you to have written approval from the ROA’s ACC prior to modifications to your property. Examples of items you need ACC approval for include but are not limited to: building a shed, deck, redesigning landscape or installing nonstandard fencing, and changing the color of your home’s exterior paint. We have a very fast and easy submittal and review process. There is no valid reason not to comply. In several recent cases, our ACC volunteers have used their expertise to alert applicants to problems in their contractor’s proposal. When in doubt – please ask for guidance from our property manager, Jennifer English at CMA, 512-339-6962, or jenglish@cma.com to avoid enforcement and fines.

 

7. Fence repair/replacement – As mentioned in the past two newsletters to the community, many of our ROA’s homes have very deteriorated cedar privacy fences (rotted posts, pickets and gates). You are encouraged to survey your fence and take appropriate action. In many cases full replacement is warranted. Please collaborate with your neighbors on shared fence replacement/repair. Please note that our ROA guidelines require 1×4 Western Red Cedar pickets. Please specify only these type pickets when you purchase materials or talk to a contractor. Any deviations from the guidelines will require ACC approval. Review the new ROA website for the guidelines and to establish a list of contractors some of your neighbors have used to replace their fence.

 

8. Community Pool – The 2012 pool season is coming to a close. While the pool is closed, we will be enhancing the space by providing a new shade area and an entertainment space.  In addition, we are adding fencing and a gate to the adjacent playground area to make it more secure for residents with small children, as well as modifying the pool entrance area so that the restrooms can be accessed with a pool key during the off-season.  Finally, we are adding wireless internet access to the pool and playground areas. We currently are checking into bids for the project. We expect the project will be completed while the pool is closed for the winter. Once it opens in April of 2013, there will be additional entertainment space.

 

9. Fencecrete: The board will be working with the fencecrete vendor to replace parts of the fence. There are some areas that are in need of replacement. We hope to have a bid in the next month and hope to have the work complete by the spring.

 

10. Trees: It appears parts of our neighborhood have trees that have been infected with Oak Wilt. We will have a Fall Oak Wilt education class. Be on the lookout for dates for this event. Most of the trees in our neighborhood are oak. Also, one of the reasons our neighborhood is so appealing is due to the beautiful trees. We need to take control by treating our trees as appropriate.

 

There are also a number of homes that need to trim their trees. Not only will trimming trees help with the growth of your lawn, it will also help keep your trees healthy. Check out the website forum for suggestions on certified arborists others have used in the neighborhood. In addition, if you do not cut your trees out of the street and keep them from blocking the sidewalks, the city of Austin will do this for you. They will charge you for the trimming and the trees will be trimmed very high at 14 feet. So please consider doing this yourself.

 

11. Board Update: As a reminder to residents, the officers for 2012-13 are as follows: President – Shelley Karn, Vice President – David Negrete, Secretary – Deborah Southerland, Treasurer – Emmett Bills, Director-at-Large – Paul Maine. We welcome interested individuals to become involved in the Scofield Farms ROA.

 

In closing, I wish to commend our many volunteers for helping make our community a special place to live. We look forward to working with you to improve our community.   Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Shelley Karn, President

Dear Scofield Farms Homeowner,

The time of year is here to enjoy some outdoor fun with your family. Your Scofield Farms board members and volunteers have a few springtime activities to get you started. Spring is also the time of year to begin making improvements to your yard and property to maintain our neighborhood. The Residential Homeowners Association (ROA) board has been doing our part to maintain the neighborhood integrity. Below are specific items we are working on to sustain your property values through our joint community property within the neighborhood. Please do your part by maintaining your own property so we can all live in a safe and appealing environment.

Below are items your neighborhood ROA has been working on to improve the property as well as updates from your neighborhood ROA board:

 

1. New storage unit: The ROA has received bids to install an ACC approved storage shed in the grassy area within the pool fence. Currently we pay monthly storage fees at a facility off site. The long-term savings of installing this unit will assist with future projects for neighborhood improvements. The ROA will have the shed installed within the next month. The storage shed will also serve as an example of what an approved structure should look like if you should choose a shed installation within your own property.

 

2. New playground equipment: The ROA is working with playground consultants as well as a volunteer neighborhood committee to select and install new playground equipment next to the pool. The current equipment is in much need of replacement, given the age and condition. We hope to have final decisions made by the end of March with an install of the new equipment 6-7 weeks after selection. The playground is a valuable asset to the community and keeping the equipment up-to-date will improve our community value. We also intend to collaborate with the City on a larger playground in the nearby City Park. This is a long-term project and will involve many stakeholders and will take time to bring to fruition.

 

3. New Community website, Forum and SF Instant Communicator – Please bookmark the following link and visit often for news, forms, contacts, event information, forum discussions and more. See https://scofieldfarms.org.  The ROA will be posting official communications on the website and will also be sending official communications via email for all community members that provide email addresses to the ROA. If you are a forum member you are automatically placed on the email list. If you would like to be on the email list but not on the forum, you can visit the website and join the email list.

You are also encouraged to sign up for forums that suit your interests. Calendar events noted soon include the community garage sale on 03/24, the Pool opening party on 04/01 with live music and the Easter Egg Hunt on 04/07. Please see the “Events calendar” for details

Scofield Farms Instant Communicator was created as a means of quickly disseminating security and other important alerts to members of the community that wish to participate. It is not intended to be used for discussions. In order to participate you need either a smart phone or a phone that can send and receive text messages. See the website for more details.

Please feel free to email webmaster@scofieldfarms.org for any questions.

 

4. Architectural Control Committee: Many of our yards are moving into spring time with dead grass, trees, shrubs, etc, sometimes due to neglect but most commonly due to the severe drought conditions last summer. You are encouraged to survey your property and take appropriate action to replace dead grass, trees, shrubs, etc. If you are doing more than simple replacement of damaged landscaping such as redesigning your landscape, please submit an ACC approval request form. If your lawn is in sad shape please take care of the required maintenance without the added expense of an ROA enforcement case against you. Do your part to keep our neighborhood looking nice. CMA, our property management company will be in touch if you are out of compliance and to help you establish a plan and timeline for re-establishing your yard, if necessary. Please note that the ROA board is very supportive of xeriscaped yards IF they are installed following an ACC approved plan.

 

5. Fence repair/replacement – Many of our ROA’s homes have very deteriorated cedar privacy fences (rotted posts, pickets and gates). You are encouraged to survey your fence and take appropriate action. In many cases full replacement is warranted. Please collaborate with your neighbors on shared fence replacement/repair. Please note that our ROA guidelines require 1×4 Western Red Cedar pickets. Please specify only these type pickets when you purchase materials or talk to a contractor. Any deviations from the guidelines will require ACC approval. Review the new ROA website for the guidelines and to establish a list of contractors some of your neighbors have used to replace their fence.

 

6. Community Pool – The pool committee continues to offer excellence in attention to detail by maintaining our neighborhood pool. The committee is made up exclusively of neighborhood volunteers who help assure our pool is clean and in good working order. The community pool will open April 1 with a neighborhood celebration from 3:30-6:00 pm. We are planning this as an ice cream social, complete with a Jazz band to welcome everyone to the 2012 pool season. Also, please review the new website to view the lifeguard schedule for the 2012 pool season.

 

7. Architectural Control Committee (ACC) approvals – Your property covenants require you to have written approval from the ROA’s ACC prior to modifications to your property. Examples of items you need ACC approval for include but are not limited to: building a shed, deck, redesigning landscape or installing nonstandard fencing, and changing the color of your home’s exterior paint. We have a very fast and easy submittal and review process. There is no valid reason not to comply. In several recent cases, our ACC volunteers have used their expertise to alert applicants to problems in their contractor’s proposal. When in doubt – please ask for guidance from our property manager, Jennifer English at CMA, 512-339-6962, or jenglish@cma.com to avoid enforcement and fines.

 

8. Private security patrol pilot test – Scofield ROA, in collaboration with The Ridge HOA, hired a security firm for a 6-month trial period to patrol the two neighborhoods at random times. After careful evaluation, we have decided we will get a much better return on our investment by implementing a quality Neighborhood Watch system. Board member, Paul Maine has made available a cell phone alert system (SF Instant Communicator). Please review the ROA’s website for additional information on joining this growing web of neighbors with instant alert ability to report suspicious activity in the neighborhood.

 

9. Board Update – As a reminder to the neighborhood residents, the officers for 2011-12 are as follows: President – Shelley Karn, Vice President – David Negrete, Secretary – Emmett Bills, Treasurer – Paul Maine, Director-at-Large – Stephen Walden. We welcome interested individuals to become involved in the Scofield Farms ROA.

 

10. Annual meeting: Save the date-The ROA annual meeting will be held May 22 from 7-9 at Westview Middle School.  Please join us in a review of activities and a discussion about our community’s future.

 

In closing, I wish to commend our many volunteers for helping make our community a special place to live. We look forward to working with you to improve our community.   Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

 

Sincerely,

Shelley Karn, President

Shelley.Karn@gmail.com

 

Dear Scofield Farms Homeowner,

I hope you and your family enjoyed some memorable times this summer. I know I am ready for the cooler days of Autumn. Noted below are a few informational updates for your use:

 

Update topics: 1) Tree trimming, 2) Community Pool, 3) Neighborhood Night Out, 4) Fence replacement, 5) Yard maintenance, 6) ACC required approval, 7) Community Website, 8)Pro security pilot test 9) Board update

1. Tree Trimming – many of our public sidewalks are partially blocked by encroaching tree and shrub limbs. You are required to maintain a 7 foot high clearance over sidewalks and streets at all times. Please have your cut limbs at the curb by 09/20/10 a.m. to take advantage of the City of Austin’s large brush and tree pick up on that date. See the attached letter from our property manager with more details on tree trimming.
2. Community Pool – Thanks to the outstanding oversight by our volunteer pool committee and our maintenance contractor, we have experienced one of our most successful pool seasons on record (as measured by our consistently sparkling pool and very little vandalism or trespassing). If you have any suggestions related to the pool for next season, please let me or other Board members know.
3. Neighborhood Night Out This year our HOA will celebrate “Neighborhood Night Out” (NNO) on Saturday, October 22 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. This year we are advocating crime prevention through awareness of your closest neighbors by promoting “block parties” for streets or sections of streets. The HOA will reimburse the costs of the block parties up to $50/event. Please step forward and be the one that makes this event happen on your block! If you are interested, please contact our 2011 NNO event coordinator, DJ Loberg , dj.loberg@ni.com
4. Fence repair/replacement Many of our HOA’s homes have very deteriorated cedar privacy fences (rotted posts, pickets and gates). You are encouraged to survey your fence and take appropriate action. In many cases full replacement is warranted. Please collaborate with your neighbors on shared fence replacement/repair. Please note that our HOA guidelines require 1×4 Western Red Cedar pickets. Please specify only these type pickets when you purchase materials or talk to a contractor. Any deviations from the guidelines will require ACC approval.
5. Yard maintenance Many of our HOA’s homes have sparse and damaged lawns and landscaping as a result of drought and neglect. You are encouraged to survey your property and take appropriate action to replace dead grass, trees and shrubs. If you are doing more than simple replacement of damaged landscaping such as redesigning your landscape, please submit an ACC approval request form. If your lawn is in sad shape please take care of the required maintenance without the added expense and of an HOA enforcement case against you.
6. Architectural Control Committee (ACC) approvals – Your property covenants require you to have written approval from the HOA’s ACC prior to modifications to your property. Examples of items you need ACC approval for include but are not limited to: building a shed, deck, redesigning landscape or installing nonstandard fencing, and changing the color of your home’s exterior paint. We have a very fast and easy submittal and review process. There is no valid reason not to comply. In several recent cases, our ACC volunteers have used their expertise to alert applicants to problems in their contractor’s proposal. When in doubt – please ask for guidance from our property manager, Jennifer English at CMA, 512-339-6962,jenglish@cma.com to avoid enforcement and fines.
7. Community website – Please bookmark this link and refer to it any time you need updated “forms” or “contact” info. See https://scofieldfarms.org/scofield/. The User name is “Scofield” and the password is “78727.” You are also encouraged to sign up for listserve emails by clicking the” listserve” link. We have recently loaded the 2011 Annual meeting slides and minutes to this site.
8. Pro Security pilot test – Scofield HOA, in collaboration with The Ridge HOA, has hired a security firm for a 60 day trial period to patrol the two neighborhoods at random times. We will be evaluating the data from the trial patrols in the near future to determine if there is sufficient benefit to justify a continuation of the patrol. The board will be sharing what is learned from the patrols with the HOA members. In the meantime, you may see a “pro security” car driving the neighborhood at random times.
9. Board Update – The officers for 2011-11 are as follows: President – Shelley Karn, Vice President – David Negrete, Secretary – Emmett Bills, Treasurer – Paul Maine, Director-at-Large – Stephen Walden. We welcome our newest members, Emmett Bills and Paul Maine and give thanks for many years of service to our outgoing members, Stephen Walden and David Negrete. The Board invites you to our next Board meeting to be held at the pool on 09/20/10 from 7:00-9:00 p.m.   Please let me know soon if you have any specific topics you wish to discuss at the meeting.

In closing, I wish to commend our many volunteers that help make our community a special place to live. We look forward to working with you to improve our community.   Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Shelley Karn, President

Shelley.Karn@gmail.com