Effective November 1, 2018, The ALPS Group, out of Frankfort, will be our new management company. All concerns, issues, questions and/or complaints should be directed to their office at (815) 469-3800. All issues should still go directly to SP until October 31, 2018. Our main contact at ALPS is Jennifer Arthur.
Our annual meeting will be held on November 13, 2018 at Old Plank Trail Bank 20901 South Lagrange Road in Frankfort (north of Mariano's). To access the building please use the parking lot entrance, scan any credit card or something with a magnetic strip. The door will unlock and proceed to the lower level conference room. Our meeting will start promptly at 7pm. ALPS will be joining us at our meeting.
OPEN BOARD POSITIONS – Two two-year terms of office ends at the annual meeting in November therefore two positions will open up. The Tara Hills declaration allows up to five (5) board members—there MUST be three (3), but there can be five. Without a full board to administer the declaration, there is a risk to the continuation of contractual services and potential deterioration of property values.
Volunteering as an adjunct board member is a great way to understand what goes on in an association. Adjunct board members should be homeowners of record in good standing, attend 1-2 homeowners’ meetings and annual budget workshop, participate/assist in annual property inspections, and be able to respond to emails in a timely fashion. Adjunct input to the Board is vitally important; please consider participating.
NOTES – Building Maintenance has been done in Phase I, Lilac bushes have been removed and hydrangeas have been planted, at the homes that the homeowner wanted them removed, in Phase II and repairs to driveways and sealcoating have been done for Phase III. In 2019, we will be focusing on building maintenance in Phase II, landscaping in Phase III and sealcoating in Phase I.
Letters have been sent to homeowners who needed to address maintenance issues as a result of property inspections. Items that are homeowners responsibilities include fences, decks, and patios; porch posts; wood trim around front doors and garage doors; garage doors; windows; exterior lighting fixtures; and, last but not least, repairing lawn damage from pets or cars. If you are in need of a copy of the Association’s Rules and Regulations please contact The ALPS Group at (815) 469-3800.
If you would like to have your dryer vents cleaned out, please contact The ALPS Group who can schedule Lint Fighters who have done several homes in our subdivision already. If we get several homeowners that want to schedule this service, they will give us a discounted price. Please keep in mind that keeping the vents clean prevents fires from happening.
Smoke detectors should be replaced every 10 years.
Please keep in mind that windows, window repairs and caulking around the windows (interior and exterior) is the homeowner’s responsibility. With the winter months approaching you may want to check the caulk around your windows to make sure they are sealed properly. This will prevent water, frost and mold from forming.
It is important to have our outside lights on. A well lite area deters burglaries from happening. You can buy dusk to dawn lights at home depot and cameras can be installed per the rules and regulations.
RULES REMINDERS – Now that fall is around the corner and much cooler weather is approaching, reminders are in order:
• Holiday decorations: Holiday decorations may be displayed for the following holidays: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas/Hanukkah, New Years Day, Easter, 4th of July. Holiday decorations can be put up no more than 30 days before the holiday and must be removed within 30 days after. Between April 1 and October 31, freestanding decorations should be placed in the planting beds so they do not interfere with lawn maintenance; between November 1 and March 31, lawn ornamentals can be placed within 10 feet of the unit.
• Please turn your garage lights on at dusk for safety reasons, particularly on the common driveways. Also, make sure that your house number is visible. Let’s hope no one needs an emergency vehicle to come to them, but if they do, quickly finding yours or your neighbor’s address is vital.
• Common driveways are for vehicle traffic only. Vehicles may be parked on driveway aprons but not along the common drive. The two southernmost common drives on the east side of Tramore Lane are fire lanes and are enforceable by Mokena police.
• Parking on sidewalks is prohibited. Please do not drive up on sidewalks to get to mailboxes. Your association assessments just paid for significant repairs to curbs along our streets and sidewalks. It’s up to all of us to keep them in good shape.
• Exterior Modifications to Units – Please be aware that Association approval is required if you plan to make any exterior modifications to your unit. This includes storm door replacement (storm doors should be white – full view style, or self-storing screen/glass combination), complete window replacements (match the window being replaced—i.e., the same number of lines per pane, white vinyl, double-hung windows), garage door replacements (must match the door being replaced--solid white, raised panel), patio enhancements, and exterior lighting.
• Pets must be leashed at all times. This is also a village of Mokena ordinance. Pet owners must clean up after pets immediately. Any lawn damage caused by a pet will be the responsibility of the unit owner.
• Garbage cans must be returned to your garage the same day of garbage collection. Please remember garbage cans should not be placed outside for collection earlier than 6:00 p.m. the night before a collection day. Your cans should have your house number on them. Nuway will be contacted to retrieve cans that appear to be abandoned with no house address on them.
• Please call the village if you have electronics that need to be disposed of. The village will provide you with the instructions on what is needed to have them removed. DO NOT place these items on the curb until you have contacted the village. These items will be removed, per the village instructions, for free.
• Please use ONLY calcium chloride if you choose to salt your sidewalks this winter. Use of other products degrades and causes pitting and cratering of concrete surfaces.