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PLEASE TAKE OFF STREET SHOES BEFORE ENTERING POOLS A few north pool users are apparently so excited about taking the plunge into the beautiful and refreshing pool they are forgetting to remove their shoes!
At least north pool users have been seen on video surveillance walking directly from their vehicles to the pool with their shoes still on. As of yet, there have been no reports of this happening at the south pool.
Many vehicles leak oil, coolant and transmission fluid. Tracking toxic chemicals from the parking lot into the pools could pose a health hazard which may lead to suspension of services.
Swimmers who wear aquatic footwear should ensure that the footwear is clean and not walk through the parking lot with the same footwear that goes into the pool.
A Pima County Health Department official was contacted about the problem. The official said the practice of wearing street shoes in the pool, while not illegal, goes against "the laws of human decency."
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
IT'S OFFICIAL: POOL HEATERS OFF FROM MAY 31ST - OCT 1ST In an effort to get control over the budget busting gas heating bill for hot water pools, the BOD voted in a special meeting to turn off the pool heaters from May 31st to Oct 1st. The money and gas wasting pool heaters have been turned OFF.
At the special meeting President Harry Resnick reported the north pool in particular was a big gas hog, using a lot more gas proportionally than the much larger south pool.
The pool temperatures will be monitored and the board may convene if unseasonably cold weather drops the water temperatures below what the NRCA considers a comfortable level. Thank you homeowners who got involved to help make the association aware of the water temperature issues!
7/7/08 POOL TEMPS IN LOW 90'S POOLS ARE HEATED ALL SUMMER LONG
A spot check of the pool thermometers revealed temperatures to be almost 92
degrees in both the north and south pool at 3:30 pm. The NR pools are heated all
year round.
NR POOL HEATERS $10,400 OVER BUDGET
FOR GAS
L ETTER TO COMMUNITY:Dear North Ranch Residents: NR is a beautiful and unique community with wonderful amenities. The pools are resort-quality, gorgeous and usable year-round. NR is also unique in the way gas heating for pools has been managed over the years. In sunny Tucson, most semi-public and public pools shut down gas heaters in May and turn them on in October . NR keeps the heaters on all year long.In sunny Tucson, most semi-public and public pools keep winter pool temperatures in the low 80’s. NR operates pools at near therapeutic pool temperatures, in the high 80’s. Temperatures have even been recorded over 90 degrees. $27,000 was budgeted for natural gas to heat pools. Sharp increases in natural gas prices and inertia have created a potential budget buster in this area. The association is on pace to spend well over $40,000 for natural gas in 2008. A very small number of pool users with special needs use the pool as a therapeutic pool. These residents feel entitled to a hot water pool. Who can blame these folks for feeling this way? The community has provided hot water near-therapeutic pools for many years so it is no wonder some consider this a fundamental right. For example: A resident regularly notifies the mgmt. company if/when they believe the pool temperature has fallen below 88 degrees, and asks when the board voted to lower pool temperatures. On the flipside, some residents hate the hot water pools and resent paying dues for pools they don’t use, and refer to the hot water pools as “bathwater.” The mgmt. company urges the BOD and community to consider the long-term financial ramifications of continuing to operate the pools at near therapeutic pool temperatures on a 100% natural gas system. To avoid a possible reduction of amenities and services in the future, we recommend consideration of a long-term conservation program and/or alternative pool heating such as solar power. Respectfully, Chris Centuori, NRCA Operations Manager.
PARENTS PLEASE WATCH OVER YOUR PRECIOUS CHILDREN WHILE AT THE POOLS Swimming is a great activity as well as being fun! It should never result in sorrow.
On average 90 people die of drowning each year in Arizona between April and September. Many of the victims are children.
It only takes a few seconds for a child to go under. Last year at North Ranch two children almost lost their lives at the big pool. It is up to all of us to be aware and act with common sense to keep children safe at the pool.
This week at the big pool three small children were left alone in the water while the parent played tennis with her friends (none were North Ranch residents but were using a homeowner's pool and tennis keys). Thankfully security and management were on hand to reunite the precious children with their tennis playing parent and a potentially dangerous incident was avoided.
In addition to putting innocent children at risk it is also a serious violation of the NR Rules to leave a child unattended at the pool. The security guards are not babysitters.
Residents are asked to please be vigilant about children being left alone at the pools.
Let's all work together to keep our children safe at the pools!
6/2/08 BIG POOL REPAIR PRIORITIES While the 20 year old big pool areas remains in remarkably good condition a few items are expected to be addressed by the NRCA over the next year.
Chief among them is replacing or repairing the rotted wood above the ramada and remodeling and repairing the pool pump room.
Replacing the doors at the pump room costs over $1000 to do it properly. It is likely the door jams as well would need replacement. The interior of the pump room is in need of a complete restoration after years of neglect. The entire project will be done in one swoop to get the biggest bang for our buck.
As always safety remains the highest criterion for repair priorities.
6/1/08 HOMEOWNER TELLS GUARD HE WILL SOON BE "OUT OF A JOB" AND "BIG POOL WILL CLOSE" A homeowner told a security guard that the NR big pool would soon be closed at night and that the guard will be out of a job.
Homeowners should not make contact with contractors directly but should contact the management company. The management company can be reached at 624-4404.
There are no plans to close the big pool.
5/5/08
AREA NEAR BIG POOL MAY GET SOD AND PLUGS The dead grass near the big pool may need to sod or plugs to come back to life. The area was actually covered with beautiful dicondra until last fall, when a former landscaping contractor sprayed harsh chemicals on it...killing everything.
Watering was tried but there appear to be no thatch left. The association will get some bids for sod and hopefully new grass will be there by the summer.
RUSTED STEEL EDGING REPLACED. NEW ROCKS PUT IN Steel edging, rusted for years is being replaced at the big pool. New rocks are also being installed in the same location.
4/17/08 BIG POOL REOPENS Aqua Solutions successfully treated the big pool after human feces was discovered in the deep end. The pool is now safe and clean.
4/14/08 POOL CLOSED TEMPORARILY. HUMAN FECES IN POOL The big pool is closed temporarily after a youth had an accident. Most of the feces was removed by the manager with a net but some remained.
The pool company was notified and the pool will remain closed until the pool company deems it safe. The pool will have to be treated before it can reopen.
4/10/08
BIG POOL JACUZZI CRYSTAL CLEAR - NO SUDS Newly installed zeolite sand is doing its job. The water at the big pool jacuzzi is now clean. The pool company Aqua Solutions changed the sand out last week. It is not known how long the original sand was in the filter. SAND REPLACED IN FILTERS. POOLS MAY BE CLOUDY FOR A FEW DAYS Zeolite sand has been installed in the jacuzzi filter at the big pool and the filter for the small pool. The water may be cloudy for a few days as the superior zeolite sand makes it way through the systems and settles.
DRINKING BEVERAGES IN POOLS/SPA PROHIBITED The North Ranch Rules (Section 3:13) prohibit the drinking of beverages in the pools and spas. The reason for this rule is to prevent soft drinks, coffee and other beverages from spilling and contaminating the water.
Wouldn't you know, the fellow in the photo above complained loudly about a "sudsy" Jacuzzi shortly after breaking the pool rules by consuming beverages in the same Jacuzzi he was griping about.
Alcoholic beverages are also strictly prohibited from all NRCA recreational areas. Please keep all beverages away from the pools and Jacuzzis. Thank you for your cooperation.
Note: Pool rule violations may result in suspension of privileges by the Board of Directors (see North Ranch Rules Section 3:15).
3/10/08
SMALL POOL: PIECE OF JUNK SPA HEATER REPLACED WITH DIGITAL HEATER Small pool users who have gone without a working Jacuzzi for more than a week are being rewarded for their patience with the installation of a new state-of-the-art, energy efficient, digital gas heater.
The old heater had been acting up for some time. Recently it had gotten stuck on high, nearly turning the small pool Jacuzzi into a cauldron of boiling water. The old heater was not rated for commercial use. The new one will pay for itself by saving gas. The digital thermostat will keep the water at 102.5 degrees all the time!
Thank you homeowners for your patience!
3/1/08 SMALL POOL SPA HEATER TO BE REPLACED The small pool spa heater is broken and will be replaced with a new, energy efficient digital gas heater. Unlike the broken heater, the new one will be rated for commercial use which will help keep the North Ranch pools in compliance with applicable statutes. A spa heater was replaced recently at the big pool. The big pool heater is already starting to pay for itself in through less gas use. The new heaters have digital thermostats which keep the spa temperatures always at 102 degrees. Thank you for your patience. SMALL POOL MAY CLOSE AT DUSK An audit of small pool usage indicated that the vast majority of night time users are teenagers. While most teenagers using the pool follow the rules some are disturbing the peace around the small pool. The small pool is in a secluded area where loud noises reverberate very easily. The big pool is in a wide open area and is more conducive to youthful behavior. Teenage residents as well as all residents are encouraged to use the big pool at nights for a safer and more enjoyable experience. The small pool hours will be discussed and voted on at the next board meeting. 1/17/08 NEW HEATER INSTALLED AT S. POOL SPA Out with the old piece of junk, in with the new!
A new heater with a digital thermostat was installed at the s. pool spa today. The heater will replace the broken one, which is not rated for commercial use. It will be much easier to regulate the heat because of the digital thermostat. The heater was installed by expert pool techs from Aqua Solutions. North Ranch pools have been using at least two other heaters which are not rated for commercial use. This will be corrected as soon as possible. 1/13/08 Pump Motor With Safety Release Installed at N. Pool Spa
The new pump motor installed at the n. pool spa will make the spa a safer place by reducing the risk of drowning. Any time the drain is blocked the system will shut down. This feature will also save the association money in costly repairs. The electronics constantly monitor the input power of the motor and detect any changes in the operating conditions of the pool such as clogged drain, jammed pump or locked rotor, drops in input power (that can cause "dry running" of the pump), or suction entrapment. Any time the electronics detect these conditions, the motor and pump automatically shut off, avoiding damage to the pump, motor, or pool system itself.
1/8/08 Federal Pool Safety Act Applies to HOAs: North Ranch Ahead of the Game
A new law signed last week requires communities to implement important safety measures at pools and spas to help prevent accidental drowning and injury. Safety drains and safety vacuum release systems must be installed in all public pools and pools open to membership like in North Ranch. In October 2007 safety drains were installed in all North Ranch pools and spas. A broken pump for the north pool spa will be fitted with a special vacuum release system. The safety vacuum release system shuts off suction if it detects a blockage. Download the new pool safety law (pdf).
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