May 2015 President’s Letter President’s Letter .. A Resident View of the Board Meeting .. David Gunsteens Laurann Flynn Well, finally I have reservedly good news to pass along to you about the status of the golf course. As you know, there have been many rumors flying around, both by word of mouth and via electronic formats. The Board carefully examines the rumors to try and validate those deemed to have some semblance of credibility. Recently there has been a lot of discussion about an “accepted offer” and that the course is going under contract. Last week we had the Board’s attorney contact the US Department of the Interior, who holds the note on the mortgage, to verify or deny the rumor. They were able to verify that there is a contract for sale in place! That’s the great news. But we are still not in the clear yet. The prospective owners are going through their due diligence period, during which time they can rescind their purchase offer if they uncover defects with the property. Barring any such defects, we are hopeful to be able to welcome new owners to our community by mid-summer. I attended the board meeting on Wednesday, April 15 and these are notes of the meeting. These are not official board meeting minutes; those can be found on the Condominium Associates website. The Board will do everything within its power to establish a positive, productive and participatory relationship with the new owners. They hold an important key to the positive growth of our property values, so their success is our success. It will be wonderful to return our community to its past reputation as one of the premier golf course communities in Pasco County and a magnificent place to live. On behalf of the Board, I want to express our appreciation to all the residents who have participated in the two Exploratory Land Study Committee meetings that have occurred over the past several weeks. They identified a number of viable ideas, several of which the Board looks forward to hearing more about should the impending sale of the golf course fail to finalize. We want to say a special thanks to Tim Hodes, who, as the Committee chairman, worked tirelessly to coordinate this process. As always, the Board would like to thank the homeowners who faithfully come to the monthly Board of Director’s meetings. We greatly appreciate the input and advice on the issues that are happening within our community. The next meeting will be held at 6:30pm on May20th in the Condominium Associates conference room at 23548 State Route 54, Lutz, FL 33559. ARC Committee – They are working with Sherwin Williams to update our book of approved house/trim/door colors. The board will approve the final colors and new binders will be available for homeowners to view. Paint colors/combinations on ARC Applications that are approved in the book will be able to be approved by Condominium Associates and not have to wait for ARC Committee meetings. Towing – The board was looking to hire a towing company to assist with the illegal and inconsiderate parking in the neighborhood. We have to table the discussion while we wait for our counsel to look at our documents. Delinquent Accounts - We had a presentation by a Collection Agency that specializes in HOA debt collection. The board is thinking about whether we wish to use them to go after delinquent accounts. Golf Course – According to our attorney and the Bureau of the Interior (golf course note-holder) there is an agreement for the purchase of the golf course. However, there is a due diligence period for the purchasers and they have the option to back-out of the deal. They hope to have a deal done by the beginning of summer. Keep your fingers crossed! Speeding – We have been talking with the Sheriff about patrolling the neighborhood and writing parking and speeding tickets. If we can do this, the board wants to hire them to discourage these dangerous activities. North Boundary Erosion – The work continues on the erosion problem. We need to get an additional topographical survey of the area to fully determine the ownership Homeowner/HOA/Pasco County of all the area. We don’t want Pasco County to come in later and undo our work. Additionally, if we want to try to recover costs from Pasco we need to know where their property lies. Pasco County currently has no plans to assist us in solving this problem. We are working on getting a clearer picture of each repair so we can get proper estimates/scope of work so we can get proper estimates from the appropriate contractors. The Exploratory Committee will continue its meetings in April. If you are interested in attending the meetings, they will be held at the Library on April 28 and May 12 at 5:30 PM. The next Board meeting will be on Wednesday, May 20 at Condominium Associates at 6:30 PM. Have a blessed month! We need your eyes!! If you see issues in the common areas of the neighborhood – like flooding, landscape items, sprinkler problems, storm damage, erosion or water leaks we are asking you to report them to Condominium Associates so they can be addressed. Contact Janet Mallek our Assistant Association Manager at 813-341-0943. PUBLISHED BY IKARE PUBLISHING INC. WWW.IKAREPUBLISHING.COM 813‐991‐7843 SRK Camp Enroll now for Summer Camp 2015 and for Fall 2015/2016 After-School Year Program! Make sure your child’s summer activities are filled with lot’s of fun by joining us at SRK Summer Camp Program! Special Rates this year for combination enrollment for 5 & 6 year olds enrolling in Summer Camp and After-School save $20 per week. Call for details and Enroll Now! At SRK After-School and Summer Camp we focus on outdoor activities, action filled games that get the kids moving, swimming and a 2-story water slide. We have movies, video games and more for those rainy days. After-school offers quiet homework time and assistance. NEW THIS SUMMER… Math tutoring available from certified teachers 2 days a week in summer camp! Overnight Camping and Adventure Island Trips! Where kid's have fun in the sun! Located in the Heritage Harbor Community Center just off Lutz Lake Fern Road Space is limited to offer better programming for your child. Call now for space availability. 19502 Heritage Harbor Parkway Lutz, Fl 33558 Phone: 813-355-1720 email - Robbie@srkcamp.com Rhonda@srkcamp.com President David Gunsteens dgunstee@tampabay.rr.com Vice President Ray Bedgood ray@bedgoodentertainment.com Secretary Laurann Flynn Laurann.flynn@gmail.com The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 20, 2015 at 6:30 PM. It will be held at Condominium Associates located at 23548 SR 54, just past the CITGO at Livingston Road. Anyone wishing to speak about any item on the agenda should arrive early and sign-in. Members Jewel Aardema jewel@communityservicemedia.com Tim Hodes Hodes58@gmail.com Newsletter Committee Laurann Flynn, Chair Violation Committee Bill Jenkins, Chair Joe Fedele Tom McCormick Property Manager Condominium Associates 23548 State Road 54 Lutz, FL 33559 813.341.0943 pasco@condominiumassociates.com LCAM – Association Manager Leslie Larzelere Assistant Association Manager Janet Mallek In order to get registered all you will need to do is send an email to pasco@condominiumassociates.com and request to get set up on our site or you can call them at 813‐341‐0943 and they can get you set up over the phone. If you are registered with them, they can email you with emergency neighborhood information if necessary. A facebook group has been created for Plantation Palms residents. Check out the link and join in. https://www.facebook.com/groups/289721184500271/ Neighborhood Safety and Security Keith Rodrigues Keithrodrigues1@yahoo.com Landscape Committee David Gunsteens, Chair Jeff Kurek In order to log into the community’s website, www.condominiumassociates.com you need a user name and password. If you need your information updated on the call box, please make sure you address the correct management company as follows: Master Assoc. = Contact CA at 813-949-6041 The Reserve (Villas) = M&A at (813) 433-2016 Savannah = CMS at 727-816-9900 Treasurer Larry Norwood ldnorwood@yahoo.com Architectural Committee Bill Jenkins, Chair Jeff Kurek, Ron Kordusky Greg Waters , Ron Scotch Keith Rodrigues WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK INFORMATION… Website Information: For Advertising Contact: IKare Publishing at 813-991-7843 www. ikarepublishing.com The Plantation Palms newsletter is mailed to the residents of Plantation Palms monthly at no cost to the Homeowners Association. IKare Publishing or Plantation Palms are not responsible for the actions or credibility of any the advertisers in this newsletters. It is the individual’s responsibility to check references on all advertisers. THE PLANTATION PALMS READER ۩ IKarePublishing.com Please make sure that you keep your eyes open and notice your surroundings. If you see suspicious activity or persons call the Pasco Sheriff at 911. The non emergency number for the Sheriff’s Office is 813-9966982. You can use this number if you wish to report trespassing on the golf course as well. Let’s all assist in not only keeping our community beautiful, but keeping it safe as well. If you are interested in finding out what kind of police activity has been happening in our community, you can visit www.pascosheriff.com and click on the link for Subdivision Activity under online resources. There is also very valuable information regarding safety and crime prevention under the crime prevention link at the top of the site. 3 Plantation Palms Resident will provide Housekeeping Services and or Companion Care Services including meal preparation, shopping or errands. Highly experienced with impeccable references. $11.00 hourly. ***NOTICE – CMS is the new property manager for Savanna*** Effective April 1st, 2015, Community Management Services (CMS) became the new property manager for Savanna. Please come out to meet and welcome our new property manager Kim Johnson with CMS at our next Savanna HOA meeting May 7th @ 7:00 PM at the Guardhouse. As part of the transition to CMS we are taking the opportunity to purge unused codes from the call box database. Unclaimed codes will be deleted. Please make a special point to notify all those in your household of any call box changes and list their codes on the CMS resident information form. And if you have not already done so, please return the CMS information form in a timely manner. A few email blasts from the Savanna Board were sent out last month. A few email addresses were rejected. If you did not receive an email and would like to receive official Savanna HOA email updates from the Savanna Board, please provide your email address to CMS on the information request form. Please do your part in maintaining and keeping up your home, yard, sidewalks, and driveways. We look forward to restoring the community to the first class neighborhood that we all expected when we purchased a home here in Savanna. Please call Maureen at 813-972-4627 ANDERSON ALUMINUM,INC. 6214 W. Linebaugh Ave. Tampa FL 33625 Concrete Work Pool Enclosures Vinyl Windows Carports Replacement Custom Sliding Screen Doors and Window Screens License #RX0055031 Awnings Screens & Glass Rooms Commercial D.I.Y. Kits Available Anderson.aluminum@verizon.net www.andersonaluminum.com Licensed ♦ Bonded ♦ Insured 961-1764 962-4536 Fax 968-6685 Lost & Found…… a home telephone was found at the Savanna Exit gate. Perhaps someone set it on the bumper of their car and then drove off and forgot about it. If you are missing it, email Tim Hodes at the email address below to make arrangements to pick it up. We appreciate your continued patience and cooperation as we transition our accounts and responsibilities to CMS. The next Savanna HOA meeting is May 7th @ 7:00 PM at the Guardhouse *** New Property Manager for Savanna *** Savanna CMS Contact – Kim Johnson, LCAM Community Management Services (CMS) 5837 Trouble Creek Road, New Port Richey, FL 34652 Contact Numbers: 727-816-9900 FAX 727-816-9949 E-Mail: kjohnson@communitymsi.com Savanna Board of Directors Tim Hodes, President, hodes58@gmail.com Jewel Aardema, Vice President, jewel@communityservicemedia.com Cheryl Doherty, Secretary, cheryl.doherty@yahoo.com Michelle Schroeder, Treasurer, mcspidell@hotmail.com Tom Garber, Director, tom.garber@verizon.net THE PLANTATION PALMS READER ۩ IKarePublishing.com 5 Specializing In Plantation Palms Because every move counts! D! L SO Craig Nowicke Linda Nowicke Broker Associate Realtor RE/MAX ACR Elite Group 14823 N. 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THE PLANTATION PALMS READER ۩ IKarePublishing.com 7 Meeting Notes – Exploratory Land Study Committee Meeting # 1 Meeting held on April 14, 2015 – Pasco County Public Library – Land O Lakes Branch on Collier Parkway Note taker: Tim Hodes – President – Land Study Committee Attendance: Mike Fittipaldi, Dave Schwarz, and Tim Hodes in attendance. Jim Hammond and Ian Hamilton were absent. Meeting called to order at 5:35 PM The meeting was a productive and healthy discussion in which everybody who attended generally contributed to the discussions. Not everyone was in total agreement. But residents were remarkably consistent in their opinion that it should remain a golf course and that they wanted the HOA Board of Directors (BOD) to be active in restoring the golf course. Additionally, several of the residents in attendance were interested in the HOA trying to buy the land so as to control the future use of it and protect the residents from other investors which may not have the resident’s best interest in mind. The thinking was to then hire a golf management company to operate it as a golf course. purchase the land in order to create lakes for the residents. (i.e. create lake lots instead of golf course lots). Sell the dirt to fund the purchase. purchase the land and turn it into a for-profit cemetery plant trees on it and make it a conservation area Committee Members Mike, Dave, and Tim were to visit Quail Hollow Golf Course and try and speak with the owner about their experience re-opening their course which was closed for several years. Other residents were going to make some phone calls and do some various homework in order to share their thoughts with others for the next meeting. Next meeting scheduled for 4/28 at 5:30 PM at same location – LOL public library. Meeting concluded at 7:15 PM Please fill out the Land Study Questionnaire on page 9. I came away from the meeting with these impressions: 1. The BOD needs to act indirectly towards getting the golf course re-opened via Contacting state Representatives/Senators to push Bureau of Indian Affairs staff towards a prompt sale. Attempt to obtain a copy of the internal governmental valuation / appraisal of the golf course Better understand the facts / value of the course / viability of golf on this course 2. The BOD should assist in marketing the course to other golf course investors (private and public) 3. The BOD seriously needs to consider what it would cost the residents to purchase and control the land. The BOD should hire an independent firm to provide a market analysis, appraisal of the course and clubhouse facilities, and to produce a legitimate feasibility analysis. This document needs to be prepared by an accredited golf course management professional who is specifically knowledgeable with buying, selling, and operating golf courses. The results of Feasibility Study will help the BOD & residents debate and decide if the HOA should pursue buying the land. The Land Study Questionnaires were collected. Just about 100% of those who attended the meeting submitted their questionnaire response prior to leaving. Regarding the highest and best use of the land which is not a golf course, I received a few other non-golf suggestions via email, in person, and via telephone. Those were; purchase or lease only the cart path for a walking/bike path purchase or lease only the clubhouse for HOA meetings, activities, events THE PLANTATION PALMS READER ۩ IKarePublishing.com 8 Land Study Questionnaire Your input is very important to the Board of Directors (BOD). The Board seeks your input on the matters pertaining to the golf course so that……….. 1. The BOD is informed& understands how the residents feel about the status of the golf course property (i.e. angry, glad, don’t care, etc.) 2. The BOD understands if there are any urgent matters that need immediate attention. 3. The BOD can act in accordance with the resident’s desires regarding golf course matters (i.e. take immediate action, monitor the situation, do nothing, etc.) Resident Questions: Do you live on a lot with golf course frontage? Do you play golf? Did you use the clubhouse / restaurant / bar? Were you pleased or upset when the course closed? Was the golf course a factor in why you decided to purchase a home in Plantation Palms? Are you concerned about the reported loss in property values the neighborhood is experiencing? What do you think is the highest and best use of the golf course property? This kind of use would have a positive effect on your property / its value. List some positive things about the golf course when it was open? List some negative things about the golf course when it was open? If the golf course reopens and if you had a say in how the golf course & clubhouse were operated, what would you change? What should the BOD do about the current situation of the golf course? Please list any comments you would like this committee to convey to the BOD. Would you like the BOD to respond to your comments? If so, please leave your email address and phone number so that someone can respond to your comment (s). I’ve Lost My Pet! What Do I Do? Losing a pet can be overwhelming. The key to finding your beloved companion is to remain steadfast in your search. Here are a few tips to help you in your search. 1. Ensure their microchip contact information is current. You may need to update your address and/or telephone number. 2. Check with your local animal shelters. Visit in person as well as conduct an online search of their animals. DAILY. 3. Use social media – Facebook offers local “Lost and Found” (https://www.facebook.com/ Lostandfoundpetsofhillsboroughcounty) pages to help. Also, search PetHarbor (http://www.petharbor.com) and Craigslist (http://tampa.craigslist.org/laf/). 4. Place posters around the entire neighborhood (including stores, parks, vet offices, groomers, etc.) – fliers should have a clear picture of your pet. 5. Place a large sign in your yard. 6. Offer a reward. 7. Perform physical, door-to-door searches, hand out fliers. Word of mouth often helps in recovery. 8. Advertise in local newspapers. 9. Contact local veterinarian offices to alert them in case someone contacts them. REMEMBER…. Your dog and/or cat should always wear a collar with identification tags. In addition to the tag, your pet should be micro chipped – which improves the chances of return immensely. Return this questionnaire to the Land Use Committee via Condominium Associates THE PLANTATION PALMS READER ۩ IKarePublishing.com 9 A-1 SOUTHERN PLUMBING The “Stingray Shuffle” Servicing Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough RESIDENTIAL SPECIALIST FOR ALL YOUR PLUMBING NEEDS Remodeling • New Construction Complete Sales & Service Video Sewer Line Inspections & Repairs Licensed ♦ Bonded ♦ Insured 727-845-8090 RF0044431 Alligator Time Is Near If you plan to swim at one of Florida’s Gulf beaches this summer, you need to learn the “stingray shuffle” Some simple facts before venturing into the Gulf of Mexico’s warm waters can make your day at the beach a good one. Florida’s Gulf beaches are among the most beautiful in the world. Sunbathing and swimming are part of the beach experience. But good times come with bad. Beach goers must be careful of stingrays. One misstep can result in a painful, serious injury. Stepping on a stingray can ruin your vacation Most beaches have signs warning swimmers to do the “stingray shuffle” when wading into the water. If you step on a stingray you will regret it. We are in Alligator “season” as the warm weather returns and they become more active just as we do. Here are some safety tips. Be aware on, in or near water. Never let children or pets near the water unsupervised. Never approach an alligator on the bank of a lake or a pond! Never throw object at an alligator or disturb them! Never feed and alligator Why? Alligators are opportunistic hunters. They prefer to wait for prey to get close, and lunge to seize it. Adults and children alike should be very aware of their surroundings near the water's edge; that embankment area of a water body, where land meets liquid, is often covered in vegetation in which the 'gator can hide, making it the reptile's favorite lurking place. Remember: the smaller the potential 'prey,' such as child or a pet, the more attractive to the alligator simply because it is easier to take. Be extra-aware during the warmer seasons. Your chance of encountering an alligator is greatest during the animal's courtship and mating season in the warmest months, from March through September. This is when male 'gators become most dominant and aggressive as they try to intimidate rival males and attract females by their show of power. Some males end up having to travel to find a mate. July through September are when mother 'gators are guarding nests. Enjoy the waters edge from a safe distance! THE PLANTATION PALMS READER ۩ IKarePublishing.com Stingrays are bottom feeding, flat fish that live and breed in the warm, shallow waters of the gulf. They are grayish, about the size of a small sauté pan. They lie on the sandy bottom in shallow water. Even in clear water they are hard to see. They eat small fish and crustaceans. They have a thin, hard, barbed tail, about eight inches long. The barb is sharp with a serrated surface like a bread knife. Toxic venom is contained in a slime that covers the barbs. The sting is extremely painful and grows even more painful as the venom spreads. Stingrays are normally not aggressive. They attack only when threatened like when a human foot is coming down on them. The stingray that killed crocodile hunter, Steve Irwin was an eight foot “bullray” native to Australia. Irwin was swimming directly above the ray with his cameraman in front. The ray apparently felt threatened and plunged its barb into Irwin’s chest, killing him. However, sting ray barb deaths are extremely rare. At the beach in Florida, the best way to avoid being stung is to do the “stingray shuffle” as you wade into the water. By shuffling (or sliding) your foot over the sand below, the vibrations signal any rays in the immediate area that you are coming by, and to move away. You must “shuffle” when both entering and leaving the water. Wearing rubber beach shoes is also a good idea. If you are unlucky enough to get stung, wash out the wound and remove any pieces of the barb that remain. Any bit of the “stinger” will continue to release venom. You need to get your foot into a bucket of hot soapy water – the hottest you can bear. Heat will keep the venom from spreading. Soap helps clean it out. You should call 911 and seek medical help immediately to prevent allergic reactions and infections. Florida lifeguards, EMTs and firefighters are familiar with the treatment. 10 Jerry’s Affordable Pressure Washing, LLC Your Neighborhood Pressure Washing Service NO JOB TOO SMALL! Homes Driveways and Sidewalks Pool Decks & Enclosures Deck & Patio Sealing References Available Summer Camp Sending children to summer camp can help them make new friends, learn new skills and come home brimming with newfound confidence. If you're a parent who works full time, this move also can give you untold relief from stress about child care in the summer months. But with nearly 10,000 camps across the country, how are you supposed to pick one? And how much money will you have to spend? These tips can help you navigate the selection process. START NOW. If you haven't already found a sleep-away camp for this summer, concentrate on choosing one this month. After that, you could land on waiting lists that never yield openings. (The deadlines may not be as onerous for day camps in your area, but ask just in case.) THINK ABOUT YOUR CHILD'S INTERESTS AND PERSONALITY. Just because the child of someone you know liked a certain camp, that doesn't mean yours will. The same camp might not even be a good fit for two siblings. Interview a variety of camp directors until you get a good sense of what will be best for your child. DECIDE BETWEEN SPECIALIZED OR GENERAL. For a first sleep-away camp experience, many counselors recommend camps with a general focus so a child can discover new interests. A host of specialty camps also have emerged in recent years, focusing on everything from ballet to diving to football to science to video-game animation to overseas archaeological digs, so consider those too. COUNT THE COSTS. Privately run sleep-away camps charge about $400 to $1,200 a week, which typically covers general activities, meals, basic medical care and incidentals such as laundry. You can search for camp details on the Web sites of the National Camp Association (www.summercamp.org) and the American Camping Association (www.acacamps.org) BARGAIN SLEEP-AWAY CAMPS EXIST. Camps offered by nonprofit and service organizations such as church groups, YMCA, YWCA, Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of the USA generally cost less than privately run camps - between about $165 and $350 a week. DAY CAMPS CAN BE GOOD DEALS. Check now with your city or county recreation department about daytime camps in your area. Many charge $50 to $100 a week for a wide range of activities, from sports to nature walks to cultural programs to swimming. INQUIRE ABOUT REFUND POLICIES. Some camps never provide refunds, while some do so only by a certain date or if your child gets sick. FACTOR IN OTHER COSTS. Most camp fees do not cover specialized activities, such as horseback riding or field trips, or specialized gear such as team uniforms. Also, don't forget about the costs of care packages and spending money for your child. CONSIDER TIMING. If your child tends to get homesick, you might be tempted to choose a short camp session. Many camp counselors say longer stays give shy children enough time to overcome homesickness and make friends. Satisfying Customers Since 2011 No Water Restrictions on Pressure Washing http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us Licensed & Insured Competitive Prices! Accepting all major credit cards 813-760-2379 *New THE PLANTATION PALMS READER ۩ IKarePublishing.com 11 IKare Publishing Inc. www.ikarepublishing.com PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID TAMPA FL PERMIT NO.1741 facebook.com/IKare-Publishing-Inc IKare Publishing is provided all articles in this newsletter by the BOD or residents. IKare Publishing is not responsible for content.
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