Winter 2009 Newsletter

Newsletter

Winter, 2009

Upcoming Events in Holly Hill Farms:

Winter Wonderland! Watch the signs for the winter fun day on the pond - date to be announced.

Open Homeowners

and Board of Directors Meeting. A great chance to discuss neighborhood is-sues of interest to you. Watch for a post-card with date and time.

2009 Maintenance Fee Increase Approved by Board

The Board of Directors of the Holly Hill Farms Association voted on De-cember 16 to increase the maintenance fee from $75 to $90 per year. The Board, faced with a potential deficit of $1500, reviewed expenditures and concluded a major service, such as road salting, would have to be dropped to eliminate the deficit. The tentative 2009 budget was discussed at the November semi- annual meeting where homeowners showed a strong preference for the fee increase over elimination of road salting. This in-crease was made pursuant to a 2000 vote of homeowners which set the maximum maintenance fee at $90. The 2009 budget will be posted on the Association website (www.hollyhillfarms.info) or can be obtained by contacting Ken Snodgrass (248-851-7618)

If you have questions or concerns with snow-plowing or salting please call Ken Snodgrass (248-851-7618) or Harold Larsen (248-737-3923)

Inside this issue:

Break-in Averted 2

Newsletter Delivery 2

Foreclosures in Sub 2

Beautification Award

Winners 2

Covenant Amendment

Approval 3

2008 Budget Results 3

Subdivision Website 3

Building Approvals 3

Speeding Addressed in

Subdivision 4

Farmington Hills Rated

as Safe City 4

Halloween Party 4

Summer Picnic 5

Award Winning En-

trances 5

Sub Garage Sale 5

Semiannual Meeting

Summary 5

Thanks for your support of

Holly Hill Farms!

Page 2 Holly Hill Farms Newsletter Winter, 2009

Police Catch Thieves in the Act

A few days ago, one of our homes on Highmeadow was broken into around 10AM via a locked back door. No one was home at the time. Within a couple of minutes, several police officers and detectives surrounded the house and the thieves were apprehended. The home owner was con-tacted and identified a few minor items the thieves had attempted to take. The police had been following the perpetrators as they had suspected these folks had been involved in other illegal activities.

Home owners are encouraged to call the police emergency number 911 if they see a criminal act being committed. Other suspicious activities should be reported on the police’s regular number, 248-871-2700.

Newsletter Home Delivery

While many of us are going to miss home delivery of the Detroit papers, you can still count on “to your door “ delivery of our newsletter. First, our thanks to the Hines-Kuhn family – Bob, Sandra, Alex and Max – for delivering the newsletter for the past several years. We are pleased to announce that clients of Rainbow Indus-tries, who operate a group home here in Holly Hill Farms, will be delivering the newsletter in the future. We will also be including paid flyers from local business with the newsletter as a way of reducing costs.

This edition of the newsletter will also be sent via email to those residents who have provided their email addresses to the Association. If you would like to participate in this trial, please send a note with your email address to Ken Snodgrass at nosvamos@twmi.rr.com.

No Foreclosed Homes in Holly Hill Farms

While there have been 3 or 4 home foreclosures in Holly Hill Farms, we now believe that all of these properties have been resold. The number of foreclosures here is very low compared to most neighborhoods. Betty Lurie has been our Foreclosure Representative and has done a fine job in working with the mortgage companies to keep the houses properly maintained.

2008 Beautification Award Winners

Congratulations to Jeriel and Kim Heard, David and Wanda Whalen and Ray and Ana Pastor, this year’s recipients’ of the Holly Hill Farms Home and Garden Beautification Award. These residents, who were nominated for the award by neighbors, have made unique contributions to making Holly Hill Farms a beautiful and pleasant place to live.

Page 3 Holly Hill Farms Newsletter Winter, 2009

Amendment to the Subdivision’s Covenants and Restrictions Approved by

Homeowners

As reported to homeowners in a letter from Association President Harold Larsen, the amendment to the Covenants was approved in a vote held in October. The amendment establishes a procedure which gives both homeowners and the Association Board of Directors the authority to propose and ini-tiate future amendments subject to attorney review. The procedure also requires that rationale in op-position to a proposed amendment, if signed by 30% of homeowners, be sent to all homeowners along with the ballot. Voting will be conducted by a written, secret ballot with one vote per lot. A “Yes” vote from at least 55% from owners of lots is required for approval of future amendments. The amended Covenants will be posted on the subdivision website (www.hollyhillfarms.info) or can be obtained by contacting Ken Snodgrass (248-851-7618) The Board of Directors would like to thank all owners who voted and also the Ballot Committee for their efforts to provide homeowners with information regarding the amendment and for delivering the ballots to their neighbors.

2008 Association Budget Ends with Deficit

The Association maintenance and social accounts ended the 2008 financial year with a combined defi-cit of $1837. The deficit was largely due to snowplowing and entrance marker maintenance expenses exceeding budget by $1735 and $296 respectively. The snowplowing overrun was due to an increase in the cost per application from $110 to $135 and the high number of salt applications (37 applications last winter versus the typical 25.) Entrance marker lawn maintenance increased from $30/week to $40/week. Income for the year exceeded budget by $789 partially offsetting expenditure overruns. Of the 138 lot owners in the subdivision, 131 paid their 2008 maintenance fee and 117 paid their 2008 social dues. Please contact Ken Snodgrass (248-851-7618) if you have any questions or comments. A detailed budget report can be found on the subdivision website (www.hollyhillfarms.info).

Holly Hill Farms Website

Holly Hill Farms is becoming more computer savvy – we now have a volunteer who regularly updates our website. Newsletters, meeting dates and minutes, pond news plus info and photos from Association activities will be posted on our website www.hollyhillfarms.info Please contact Harold Larsen (248-737-3923 haroldelar-sen@sbcglobal.net) if you have comments regarding the website or would like to post something.

Planning on Making Building Exterior or Lot Improvements?

Just a reminder that the subdivision Covenants and Restrictions require approval of the Architectural Control Committee before starting construction of fences, out buildings, new driveways, additions or non-cosmetic changes to existing buildings. Committee approval is required in addition to building permits issued by the City. Please contact Ric Olenzek (248-865-3359) to request approval of your plans or if you have any questions regarding this requirement.

Page 4 Holly Hill Farms Newsletter Winter, 2009

Speeding in Holly Hill Farms

Highmeadow School and the Association are working together to reduce the number of cars speeding in the subdivision. Your President, Harold Larsen, contacted the school principal and was informed that school has a very comprehensive program with the police department to re-duce speeding. The police have sent out patrol cars and some tickets were issued. The school has issued an 8x10 card with a number on it that parents must place on the dash as a means of identification. Homeowners are encouraged to note this number of speeding cars and report it to the Highmeadow principal who will then contact the driver.

The police are unable to use the car speed measuring signs during the winter months. Placement of these signs in the subdivision may be possible this spring. Additional concerns should be re-ported to Harold Larsen at 248-737-3923.

Farmington Hills Maintains Rank as a Safe City

The Farmington Hills Police Department announced recently that Farmington Hills has again been rated one of America’s safest cities, ranking 33rd of 385 cities thought out the country. Of 18 Michigan cities of all population categories, Farmington Hills ranked as the third safest in Michigan. Farmington Hills has always been ranked as one of the safest cities and in 2003 it was Michigan’s safest city.

According to city officials, the continued high safety rankings can be attributed to an aggressive and professional law enforcement philosophy and a close working relationship with all sectors of the community.

The Farmington Hills Police Department has a very active Neighborhood Watch program with more than 100 organized Neighborhood Watch groups. Our subdivision is in the process of orga-nizing a Neighborhood Watch for our subdivision and we encourage your participation.

Happy Halloweeeeen!

WOW! We weren't quite sure what the weather was bringing for the Halloween parties. But thank God that it turned out to be a nice day and evening! The party started at the Sterbling's home with a dog costume con-test with treats for both the dogs and their owners. Cos-tume judging was done by Nomi Joyrich. Actually, they were all winners. It was great fun!

The second party on the agenda was at Stephen, Kath-leen, Kayla and Haley Collin's home. It was spooktacular! There was a cookie eating contest with treats hanging on ropes, the traditional piñata breaking and costume judg-ing with a lot of great prizes. The turnout was very nice. The food and drinks were fabulous.

Thanks to the Sterbling and Collin families for all their hard work! We sure enjoyed our-selves. Don't forget to check out www.hollyhillfarms.info for photos.

Page 5 Holly Hill Farms Newsletter Winter, 2009

Holly Hill Farms Summer Picnic

A huge thank you as always to the Putti Family for putting on such a delightful, not to mention delicious, neighborhood picnic this past August. It was such a beautiful day on the pond. The kids had fun on the play set, the boat rides were plentiful and the jumpy thing, well that was the "cat's meow". In addition to our regular Holly Hill Farms attendees, we had some new neighbors join us for the festivities. Thanks to all who brought not only a dish to pass but also friendly smiles and great conversations. We are looking for some new ideas for our picnic - maybe earlier in the year before school gets out or maybe a different kind of activity. What do you think? Let us know. Please call Kathy Sterbling with your suggestions 248-626-5567.

Subdivision Entrances Win City Beautification Award

You may have noticed the two new signs at the entrances on Middlebelt which identify Holly Hill Farms as a winner of the annual city beautification award. The award was presented to our Asso-ciation by Mayor Jerry Ellis and the city Beautification Commission on October 30. Our entrance landscaping was designed by resident Rita Roberts and are maintained by the Beautification Committee.

Subdivision Garage Sale

A subdivision garage sale was held during the summer with limited participation. The Board and members in attendance at the May, 2009 semiannual meeting will be discussing whether or not to continue sponsoring the garage sale. We will need a coordinator for the event if we con-tinue to sponsor the sale. Interested residents should contact Harold Larsen, 248-737-3923, or attend the May semiannual meeting.

Holly Hill Farms Association Semiannual Meeting Summary

The meeting was called to order at 7:35PM on November 11, 2008 by the President Harold Lar-sen at Firehouse #2. Officers and non-officers were present were Harold Larsen-President, Craig Srock-VP, Ken Snodgrass-Treasurer, Claire Srock-Secretary, Bob Kuhn, Russ Russinoff, Kathy Sterbling-Non-officers. Irv Miller and David Kendall were absent. About 18 homeowners were present.

The minutes of the May 27, 2008 semiannual meeting were distributed by the Secretary, Claire Srock and were accepted. Treasurer, Ken Snodgrass, reviewed the 2008 Budget and the 2009 Proposed Budget. Details of these items are included in this newsletter. President, Harold Larsen, stated that the committees have been performing well and thanked them for their efforts. Special thanks goes to the Amendment Ballot Committee. The Maintenance Committee, consisting of Russ Russinoff and David Kendall, has done an excel-

Page 6 Holly Hill Farms Newsletter Winter, 2009

lent job. Russ has had the City fill the pot holes in the roads twice last summer, replaced the en-trances light bulbs and refinished the top of the entrance signs. Russ, David and Ken have winterized the sprinkler system. Ken reported that the Beautification Committee issued three Beautification Awards last year which brings the total to about 50 since the program was started five years ago. These awards have helped to encourage homeowners to improve their homes and landscaping. Ken has been keeping the en-trances’ landscaping in good shape. HHF entrances received a City’s Beautification Award as de-scribed in another article. After some discussion, it was agreed that the Board would consider a combination of paper newslet-ters and emailing the newsletter. The Neighborhood Watch program has been on hold. We plan to move forward with the program. The Police Department has a new DVD which needs to shown to half or more of the homeowners in order to qualify for membership. A garage sale and annual picnic where held last summer. These events are being evaluated by the Board to determine if they will be continued. The participation in these events has been less than ex-pected. The Board welcomes your input on these items. Kathy Sterbling reported that the Spring Pond Fun Day/ Bake Sale was very successful. About 30 homeowners and family members attended and about $200 was raised and contributed to the main-tenance of the ponds.

The HHFHA’s website is up and running, (www.hollyhillfarms.info). The website contains our activi-ties, newsletters, minutes, official documents, etc.

Claire Srock reported that last summer’s garden tour was successful with several people touring gar-dens here in the subdivision. More garden and home tours are planned for the future.

Ken Snodgrass reported the ballot passed concerning amending the Covenants and Restrictions. The amendment changes the requirement and procedures for amending the Covenants. Homeowners have been notified of the results via a letter. See the included article for more details.

Election of officers was held. The current officers, Harold Larsen-President, Craig Srock-Vice-President, Ken Snodgrass-Treasurer, Claire Srock- Secretary were unanimously elected for a one year term.

Other items discussed included: • Additional homeowners meetings and open Board meetings. (All Board meetings are open to

all homeowners and the meeting dates may be obtained by calling the President.) • Speeding cars on our roads. See included article for details. • Homeowners are encouraged to have more outside lights left on a night in order to make the

roads and area safer. The next semiannual meeting is tentatively scheduled for May 2009. Non-officers will be elected at this time. Meeting adjourned at 9:25p. (Prepared by Harold Larsen)