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4/29/2011
SNACK TIME? I hope those tennis players prop open the gate again. I'm famished!
WILD ANIMALS CAUSE STIR IN COMMUNITY North Ranch residents are being delighted and sometimes terrified by the abundance of wild beasts, fowl, reptiles, insects, spiders, rodents and other creatures populating the lush desert area where we live.
At 7:45 on April 29th 2011 a frightened resident called the mgmt. company switchboard to report that her husband was being chased by a mountain lion behind the tennis court near the "horseshoes" (actually near the bocce ball court). The Community Manager spoke with the resident and was told that the lion had turned around and made a sharp right turn down the trail.
Lion tracks were later found starting from just above the volleyball court and all over the common area detention basin, behind the championship caliber North Ranch tennis court. The tracks were definitely not from a bobcat or javelina. They were lion tracks indeed.
Resident should use extreme caution while traversing the many North Ranch Nature trails, especially at night or around dawn. If you see a lion or lion cubs turn around and walk away calmly. Call 911 or the Sheriff's substation 591-4900 and the Community Manager at 784-9963.
Do not attempt to touch or feed the lions. These are dangerous wild animals. Neither the NRCA nor Board of Directors has any control over wild desert animals.
GO AWAY! Baby North Ranch Owl "Bubbles" Gawks At Picture Taker
Owls Well That Ends Well For years a family of owls took up residence in The Old Mesquite Tree near the big pool.
The nest in the The Old Mesquite Tree has been the site of an ugly dispute culminating in last year's bloody battle as aggressive Night Hawks fought the Owls to seize control over the premium Lot, which overlooks the pools and featuring mountain views in every direction.
Like many others during these difficult economic times the North Ranch Owls downsized to a smaller tree, The Other Mesquite Tree on the corner of Thundercloud Loop and Cactus Canyon Pass, not far from their former home. There is no truth to the rumor, spread by a well meaning homeowner, that the Board of Directors evicted the Owl family from The Old Mesquite Tree for damaging some of the bird spikes on the tennis court light poles.
Residents, curiosity seekers, and bird fanatics alike can be seen daily under The Other Mesquite Tree looking up at the North Ranch Owls, trying to get a photograph of baby Bubbles.
Please keep in mind these are wild birds which are about as big as a Thanksgiving Turkey with VERY sharp talons.
Some of these animals might view people, even the friendly ones, as 'interlopers' and can be very aggressive, especially when there is a nest full of baby birds of prey or lions den involved.
While they may be cute please exercise caution and common sense for your own safely, please.
3/14/2011
LETTER FROM NRCA PRESIDENT DAN JONES Your Mountain Vista Fire District (MVFD) is funded by local property taxes set by the MVFD Board of Directors. The tax for the last 2 years has been set at $1.25+per hundred based on the limited assessed value of your home. Currently one of the lowest levied amounts in Pima County. A secondary funding is available via a State Statute from the Fire District Assistance Tax (FDAT). A state-wide tax on property that is collected by the county and forwarded to the State for redistribution to new Fire Districts or recently consolidated Districts to improve available equipment and manpower by economy of scale with a broader tax base. The MVFD Board has used this means of income to support our consolidation and committed financial obligations for the building and equipping of 2 much needed fire stations, based on this State Statute.
Please take the time to also make your position known to Vic Williams our other Legislative district 26 Representative at vwilliams@azleg.gov. Dan Jones, NRCA President
2/14/2011
Message from NRCA President Dan Jones on Large Pool Refurbishing As most folks observed the top coat (Kool Deck) was coming loose from the underlayment and causing large ares of the original concrete showing through. This caused additional problems as water and cold weather pushed more of the kool deck up off the base. A second problem was the crusty ridges could catch a toe causing a fall or a cut foot to some of our swimmers. The Pool Committee began research to find a contractor to patch and correct the problem. The manufacture of Kool deck was contacted and a request was made for a list of recommended Tucson pool repair contractors. The manufacturer gave only one local reference and four out of Phoenix. The Phoenix companies were not receptive to coming down even for a bid proposal as they felt the travel time cost would take them out of any competitive bidding The local company (Valley Oasis Pools) was contacted and visited out site and inspected the problems. Their representative suggested the removal of the old decking and a new Acrylic product be used. This would involve a patch area of about 500 S sq. ft. at the north end of the pool. He said that replacing the surface with Kool deck would only carry a warranty of 2 years and the new Acrylic product would have a warranty of 5 years with a much longer potential in their company’s experience. Valley has been in this business for 14 years. The texture and color of the new product would not match the present deck material. The cost was less than the money we had paid some 4 or 5 years back for the Kool deck repair. The committee felt that patching the area would not enhance the deck and by re-surfacing the entire pool apron it would reduce a patch quilt look. This Proposal was presented to the NR BOD and a confirmed contract was executed.. Work by Valley Oasis began on 10 February with a completion date of 19 February, weather permitting. While the pool is shut down the re-strapping crew of Staler, McClintock, Bolejack, Gardner, Sandrin and are busy fixing the lounge chairs to be ready for the summer season. Some things of interest we were told during the evaluation process: Most of the pool repair companies are pushing the acrylic surface products. The Kool Deck product has had to have some chemical changes in past few years due to government regulations which affects the longevity . The new acrylic product will have less depth variation in its surface and therefore will feel hotter to the bare foot. This comfort level Is affected by the color of the surface as well as the surface variation. It will still be cooler than concrete.
Small Pool Deck Surface The deck at the small pool while discolored does not have the de-lamination on the surface we have at the large pool. It was determined that we should wait until next year and review our experience with the large pool deck before proceeding with its replacement.
Workers toil happily in midday sun prior to stumbling upon killer bees.
KILLER BEES 'PUT TO SLEEP' AFTER ATTACKS 1/28/2011 At about 2:00 pm today workers from Amazin' Dave Morales' crew were attacked by killer bees while working to clean out the overgrown drainage area behind Black Mesa Trail. The work by Amazin' Dave and Company was approved by the NRCA Board of Directors at the 1/26/2011 meeting.
The bees chased the workers out of the ditch and onto the grassy common area in front of the beautiful Egyptian date palms near the North Ranch monuments.
Amazin' Dave quickly contacted the NRCA manager to report the bees. Thankfully nobody was allergic to bee stings. The manager dispatched the friendly bee killing folks from Bee Bustin' to to the scene. Bee Bustin' is one of Pima County's best bee control outfits.
Chris The Bee Removal Specialist from Bee Bustin' arrived within 20 minutes and bushwhacked his way through the overgrowth to a large hole in the concrete embankment. Hundreds of angry bees could be seen buzzing around. Clearly this hole in the wall was a popular joint for bees.
Upon closer inspection a huge honeycomb was discovered with an estimated 50,000 angry bees. The bee removal specialist pulled out a large piece of honeycomb and gave it to Amazin' Dave and crew to enjoy, for their pain and suffering.
Chris The Bee Removal Specialist from Bee Bustin' then proceeded to euthanize the angry bees as humanely as possible with a special spray which puts the bees 'to sleep.' Residents in the area need not worry as all the bees have passed.
The remainder of the honeycomb will need to be sucked out with a giant vacuum. The sucking will begin first thing Saturday morning (tomorrow) when Bee Bustin' returns. Residents behind Black Mesa Trail who hear giant sucking sounds the morning after should not be alarmed as it is your Association hard at work!
DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU! If you suspect a bee hive in the common areas contact the Community Manager at 520-624-4404 or 520-784-9963. Do not try to kill the bees yourself.
NRCA ELECTION CENTRAL
WURZ WINS BY WIDE MARGIN
1/26/2011 Homeowner Mark Wurz was elected to the NRCA Board of Directors by the Members. In another high turnout election Wurz received 151 votes to 45 for incumbent Bill Schirmer and 25 for Alie Howland.
Congratulations Mark and thank you Bill and Alie for running...with special thanks to Bill Schirmer to being involved with volunteering to make North Ranch a great place to live for so many years! 1/3/2011
MORE OWNER INVOLVEMENT NEEDED TO CONTINUE NRCA EXCELLENCE North Ranch is one of the best kept communities anywhere. The grounds are excellently maintained, the area is safe, the NRCA has planned for necessary expenditures such as new roads and is following a reserve study. There is enough money in the bank to pay for wash cleanups and paving projects.
This didn't happen by accident. Volunteers on your board have worked very hard to plan over the last three years by reviewing vendor contracts, modifying them or replacing vendors to meet the needs in the community.
In 2007 the 'new' board of directors discovered the NRCA was paying over 13k per month for substandard landscaping services. At that time Directors Schirmer, Congi and the late Harry Resnick negotiated contracts with new landscapers which reduced costs by 70%, while at the same time bringing the level of service up to standard.
Costs for landscaping services have stayed low while services continue to improve.
These same directors led the charge for a new mgmt. company. AHOME was hired by the NRCA, bringing it's unique personalized, hands-on approach to North Ranch. AHOME is the only mgmt. company that is contracted in-writing to "shadow" Association contractors such as the landscapers to make sure they are doing their job.
AHOME is also the only mgmt. company which supports Associations collecting a portion of transfer fees.
Director Dan Jones (on the Board since January 2009) has been a tireless worker. Dan is responsible for many upgrades and repairs particularly around the pools that folks may take for granted.
Dan and members of his committees were responsible for the installation of a world class tennis court surface, the best in Pima County. Again this was no accident. It took hard work, research and dedication for Dan to get the job done right for a good price. Dan also chairs the ARC committee which has made changes reducing the time it takes to get approval for a project from months to a few days.
Taken alone these facts have saved the NRCA tens of thousands of dollars
Newer Directors Gentlzer, Sandrin and Blair are each contributing their talents in their volunteer positions and are becoming more and more involved. Gentlzer works hard to keep juvenile delinquents out of the neighborhood and Blair's business experience has been a valuable asset. Sandrin's years working in higher education and inimitable sense of humor bring understanding and levity to board discussions, which by their very nature can be terse and unpleasant.
Let us not forget Directors and board officers Washington and Schirmer who review every expense and every payable voucher before approving. As President, Earl Washington's calm demeanor and superior intellect allow meetings to be presided over with class.
As newsletter Editor Schirmer's belief in full disclosure shines. The Round Up actually prints the news - the good, the great, the bad and even sometimes the ugly. Take a look around at other community websites and newsletters. They are boring and seem to treat owners like mushrooms.
The Round Up and nrcatucson.com are very unique indeed. Association business and news is reported with an obvious spirit of transparency and openness in a lively, informative manner. Is there anything else like it? No.
But that is not all. Director Schirmer is fond of saying there is no "I" in team. He is 100% correct!
Through teamwork, patience, agreeing to disagree without being disagreeable the NRCA has fostered an atmosphere in which the Association operates efficiently as a well-oiled-machine, quite the opposite of the majority of HOAs which spend their time in a perpetual state of indecision and acrimony, wasting time and resources while arguing about procedures endlessly.
You can see for yourself by visiting HOA meetings at the local library where almost nothing gets done unless it is a pet project for a director with their own agenda. Or you will bored directors who don't want to be there, while their manager runs the show in such as way as to produce the least amount of work possible (for the managers!).
Quite the opposite of a North Ranch meeting where directors, homeowners and management are engaged and energized for the betterment of the community. North Ranch's culture of excellence is the exception, not the rule....but it will take continued effort and involvement from 'new' owners for it to continue.
The NRCA commends Alie Howland, Bill Schirmer and Mark Wurz for putting themselves out there to run for the board. Thank you!
NRCA NEEDS HELP ON COMMITTEES At press time NRCA committees are made up almost entirely of Directors. This is NOT the way it is meant to be. The chart below shows who is doing what. The landscaping and pools committees can be particularly time consuming, especially if there is not a lot of division of labor. Committees may be made of of any group of owners, not just Directors.
As of right now the BOD is stretched thin with some Directors going way above and beyond what can be expected as volunteers. Help is needed.
In the 2011 elections there are three Members running for one Board seat. That means two will not be elected, which poses the question: If you are running for the Board and are not elected will you still get involved with NRCA committees? This question was asked by an NRCA owner to nrcatucson.
For those who are not running for the Board and have not yet gotten involved maybe it is time to ask yourself when you will join a committee or start attending BOD meetings?
THREE RUN FOR ONE BOARD SEAT
North Ranchers Alie Howland, Bill Schirmer and Mark Wurz have all put their hat in the ring for the one board seat up for reelection in 2011. Howland and Schirmer were not able to attend the December meeting so we do not have an audio reply to questions.
NRCA Members who wish to ask questions of the candidates should send them via email to the mgmt. company at chris@azhomellc.com as soon as possible to receive a timely answer.
The Meeting of the Members is 6:00 PM Wednesday January 26th 2011 at the Oro Valley Library.
Alie Howland - Bio
My name is Alie Howland. I'm a native Arizona woman. I've lived in North Ranch for nine years. I have a B S. in Nursing. I started my career nineteen years ago specializing in Pediatrics. I currently work part-time at University Medical Center hospital in all woman and children areas. Six different departments to be exact! My passion in life is helping people. I'm married and have three school aged children. I have very active children in sports. I've worked as a team player, leader, and a mentor throughout my career. I also, have participated on a previous charter school board as a Vice President and helped with many fundraising events to financially benefit the school. I've assisted in running a small business. As a woman of many hats I would love the opportunity to be involved in making North Ranch a safe, and desirable place that we all call " home." I do care about our community. So vote for me!
Questions for Alie Howland: (Alie's answers in BLUE):
Are you a full-time resident. Yes, I've lived here for nine years.
Are you willing to get involved in Association committees?
Yes, I'm ready and willing to help! Everyone is in a saving mode as our Economy struggles. I love to save money! If contracts are up for a renewals, and their are other opportunities to save North Ranch money, Let's do it?
If you feel contrary to a decision made by the BOD how would you handle it?
Be open and honest with the
board members. Great communication is the key essence in running a
functional board. Bill Schirmer - Bio
My name is Bill Schirmer. My wife, Saundra and I have lived in North Ranch since 1992. Since then, we have been on the Wall Committee together. She has been on the Landscaping Committee and the Arc Committee.
I have been on the Finance Committee, Rules Committee, Bylaws Committee, Editor Committee, and Streets and Lighting Committee. I have held various Officer's positions on the Board during my 6 years, including, President and Treasurer. Presently, I am Treasurer and Editor. I graduated with an Accounting Degree and for a few years was the Controller for 2 small companies. In 1962 I started a career with the Federal Government in the Treasury Dept. as Special Agent, Criminal Investigator. The investigations I conducted mainly related to drug dealers and organized crime members. After 30 years, I retired. My experience in accounting helped me in being the Treasurer for North Ranch, and my experience with the Government, helped me in my duties as President. I was the main Board member 3 years, ago when the Board decided to discontinue the contract with Haven Management because of questionable accounting procedures and to seek another management company. I personally interviewed 4 companies and was the main member of the Board to recommend AHOME which has been our Management company since then and in my opinion is doing a favorable job. One of the principal reasons I had for recommending AHOME was that they agreed to collect Transfer Fees from sellers of North Ranch properties which amounted to over $200.00 per sale. An Audit of the prior company's records showed that over $30,000.00 of Transfer Fees was received by them which belonged to North Ranch. Two years ago, a Newspaper article about the audit was published, disclosing the unfair accounting procedures used by Management companies regarding transfer fees. I would like to continue my work at North Ranch with your help. I ask for your vote.
Regards
Bill Schirmer
Questions for Bill Schirmer (Bill's answers in BLUE):
Are you a full-time resident. I am here for 7 months.
Are you willing to get involved in Association committees?
YES. Ok.
If you feel contrary to a decision made by the BOD how would you handle it? As long as BOD follows the AZ Statutes, our By-Laws and rules, I would accept their decision.
Mark Wurz - Bio
To whom it may concern:
I would like to place my name in nomination for the North Ranch Homeowners Association board of directors. My qualifications are derived from 35 years in the business world. As a sales representative and manager I negotiated multimillion dollar contracts and managed support staff. I served 7 years on the Board of Directors of the Colonial Forest HOA in Federal Way, WA, . www.colonialforest.net is the website for CFHOA. I was elected to 5, one year terms as president. Our budget was $480,000.00. We had two full time employees for the 7.5 acre condominium site. As president I experienced the successful outcome of the integration of a management company and the board. This experience enabled me to build consensus from multiple perspectives. My combined experience in construction and board management make me uniquely qualified for a position on the North Ranch board of directors. I appreciate your consideration. Mark R. Wurz
Questions for Mark Wurz:
Mark is a full time North Ranch resident and new homeowner. Mark has shown a willingness to get involved by joining the Streets and Lighting Committee.
Listen to Mark's answers to questions from the BOD at the December 28th 2010 Meeting HERE
12/14/2010
DEEP CLEANING OF WASHES/BASINS UNCOVERS A LOT OF STUFF
Owners are voicing their appreciation for reducing the fire hazards, risk of blockage, and anticipated future ease of maintenance related to the ongoing cleanup of the drainage passageways and detention basins.
During the excavation and cleanup various and sundry items are being discovered. Many of the items have been in the washes for years, covered up by overgrowth and cactus.
Here are a few things found by the workers:
Paint cans used by vandals. A granite countertop (apparently thrown over the wall several years ago during the remodeling craze) Pavers, and lots of them! Anybody want to build a patio? A scarecrow Marbles Sports equipment Liquor bottles Rebar Beer cans and bottles Kids play gear Building materials of all kinds Rats (dead and alive) Rat holes Rat nests Rat poison Rat traps Prophylactic wrappers and boxes Party items A microphone Hoodies Homemade drug paraphernalia Auto parts A tailgate from a station wagon And a lot more!
So far no buried treasure. If we find some we will report about it from the Round Up's new offices in Monte Carlo!
ARC COMMITTEE MAKES LIFE EASIER FOR HOMEOWNERS An improvement to your home raises property values for the entire community. The NRCA encourages owners to maintain and improve their properties. The ARC Committee is charged by the Association to oversee the application process for all exterior improvements, in accordance with the NRCA governing documents. In 2010 the ARC Committee, chaired by owner Dan Jones , updated and modernized several provisions in the ARC Rules to give North Ranch owners more choices. A few areas of note where Rules were updated are security door styles and color choices and detached structure styles and color choices. Paint colors were reviewed and a new paint pallet was put on the community website, complete with color codes and actual color swatches for each scheme. This helps take the guesswork out of selecting an approved package. Turn around time for exterior paint applications averages less than 48 hours after the application has been submitted through the community website. Owners who submit improvement forms to the NRCA expecting piles of red tape express amazement and appreciation about the ‘user-friendly’ process. Routine projects can be approved within days and owners with more complex projects receive a decision within 30 days. ARC Committee members Dan Jones, Tony Congi and Earl Washington are not architects, design engineers or paid consultants. They are full-time owner residents who volunteer a great deal of their time, every month including summer months, to help make the ARC application process more convenient for owners. Recently a project application was submitted of unprecedented complexity. In the past such an project would have taken months to review and approve. Thanks to the ‘user- friendly’ steps put in place by the ARC Committee the owner was able to deliver pertinent project details via email to the mgmt. company and ARC, resulting in approval in less than 7 days. The owner was amazed and happy with the process. That is the way it is with 99% of all ARC applications. Thank you Dan Jones, Tony Congi and Earl Washington for working hard all-year-long to make the ARC application process so easy.
Owner Howard Stein blows off the North Ranch tennis courts EVERY day! WOW! The Steins - Tennis Court Helpers Extraordinaire The new $65,000 tennis court surface is among the best in Arizona. North Ranch residents are a big reason why the courts stay in such marvelous condition.
Several days a week you can see Howard Stein with his blower and a broom on the court, tirelessly keeping the courts free from dust. Howard is also active in reporting any blemishes and landscaping issues around the tennis courts.
Howard blows the dust off the courts because he cares about them and treats them as his own property.
But that’s not all, Selena Stein uses both the big and small pools every day of the week. Selena diligently reports any problems with the pools, tennis courts and around the neighborhood. The Steins have helped save the Association a lot of money by reporting problems.
The Steins are part of the many unsung hero homeowners who literally get their hands dirty helping out around the community.
If you see Howard or Selena around the tennis courts and pools don't be bashful. Say "Howdy" and thank them for their contributions to the community.
Thank you Howard and Selena!
12/4/10 WORKERS BACK ON THE JOB AFTER 'COMPLAINT' HALTS WORK A massive project to clear debris from the drainage passageways of North Ranch began Thanksgiving Day 2010! The project was approved by the NRCA at the November 2010 Board Meeting. All the drainage passageways intersecting Cactus Canyon Pass will be cleared of debris, which has been blocking the passageway. This will help keep North Ranch safe from flash flooding. The project was halted for one day following an erroneous ‘complaint’ by a North Ranch resident to the county on December 2nd 2010. When the Community Manager found out about the complaint he instructed the workers to halt work. On Friday, December 3rd 2010 the NRCA Community Manager and Director Tony Congi met for almost 2 hours with County officials via teleconference to discuss the ‘complaint.’ The County told the NRCA that portions of the washes, where the work was being conducted, were publicly owned. The Community Manager and Director Congi pointed to County Assessor parcel records which listed the NRCA as owners of the washes and questioned the County why they had not cleaned the washes themselves if they owned it. For at least 20 years the NRCA has paid for cleaning of the washes to avoid hazardous blockages. Later County officials called the NRCA and said a Right of Entry from the County was not needed to complete the work and told the Association to keep on working, saying “we are just engineers, forget we ever contacted you.” Work re-commenced late Friday afternoon. The NRCA is investigating whether the County’s initial claims of public ownership hold any weight and, if so, whether the County owes the NRCA a property tax refund.
DON'T LET YOUR YARD BECOME A HAVEN FOR PACK RATS Neotoma albigula, better known as Pack Rats are as much a part of North Ranch as the pools, tennis courts and spirited Board meetings. Pack Rats love to chew wires from vehicles, and can cause great damage if they are allowed to enter into your walls and attics. The rodents also attract kissing bugs and diseases, such as the plague. It is practically impossible to keep the industrious rodents from entering your back yard. The best way to control Pack Rats is to remove or lock down any places around your house that can be used as shelter. Pack Rats will inspect your home and yard when you are asleep, looking for shelter to build a nest. Sheds, boxes, cacti and even barbeque grills make great homes for Pack Rats. Killing or trapping the Pack Rats will only temporarily solve the problem if shelter continues to exist in your yard or home. With the work being done to clear the washes of debris some Pack Rats will become homeless. Don’t let your back yard become a rescue mission for these destructive creatures.
11/12/2010
BOLD ACTION COULD SAVE NRCA THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
From 1/1/09 to 10/31/09 pool chemical/supplies costs were $6646.70. From 1/1/10 to 10/31/10 the costs were $10,204.97!
Facing a whopping 35% increase in the cost of pool chemicals and supplies in 2010 compared to 2011, the NRCA Board of Directors made bold changes to the way pool maintenance is handled in an effort to correct the problem. Throughout the summer Directors Tony Congi and Dan Jones conducted exhaustive analysis of pool company invoices, NRCA financial reports, and pool chemical pricing. The Directors findings were presented to the pools and recreations committee and Board of Directors, with recommendations for the NRCA to begin purchasing chemicals/supplies directly and changing pool maintenance companies. “We don’t have any way of tracking the amount of chemicals” said Director Tony Congi. “What’s to stop a pool company from taking the chemicals that are delivered to us and using it at another location? We want somebody in there we can trust.” The Board voted unanimously to change pool companies to C Pools, owned and operated by North Ranch resident Chris Centuori, who is certified by Pima County to operate pools. All pool chemicals and supplies will now be purchased by the NRCA directly from a wholesale supplier at wholesale prices. The move is expected to save the NRCA thousands of dollars, helping to keep assessments down. Per Attorney: No Conflict The move was not without some controversy. While owners at the meeting were supportive of the idea, others who did not attend were upset at the idea of Centuori cleaning the pools because he is also the Community Manager, even calling it a conflict of interest. President Earl Washington contacted to Association attorney to inquire if indeed any conflict existed. The Association attorney said neither the individual directors nor the Association have a conflict of interest if the Board interviews a vender owned by the same person that is the manager. President Washington questioned whether Centuori had backup people who could clean the pools in his absence and whether another pool company could be hired in case another change was needed. Director Lauryne Gentzler and owner Selena Stein said they completely trusted Centuori to do a professional job. To accommodate concerns Centuori modified the proposal on the spot to a 90 day contract and removed a 30 day notice of termination. This would permit either party to terminate the agreement immediately if need be. Centuori also said he had backup personnel on call in case he was unable to clean the pools due to illness or travel. Repairs will not be handled by C Pools. C Pools will report directly to Pools and Recreation Committee Chair Dan Jones
LANDSCAPERS PLAY CATCH UP IN VOLLEYBALL COURT
MANY REPAIRS DURING HOT SUMMER The community has seen many repairs and improvements during the hot, hot summer of 2010.
New roads were installed in Catalina 1.
At the big pool new fans, a new misting system and a new water fountain were put in.
At the small pool the lady's room door was replaced with a brand new one.
New security signs were put on all gates near the pools.
Tennis court light and gate issues are being attended to.
New pumps and equipment have been installed at the pools.
Thank you residents for helping to report items in need of repair!
R.I.P. THE OLD PALO VERDE TREE 08/20/10
On Monday August 16th North Ranchers awoke to the grisly sight of severed tree limbs in the Desert Bend Loop wash after a microburst targeted a large Palo Verde tree (Cercidium microphyllum). The old Palo Verde Tree, nicknamed The Old Palo Verde Tree by residents, was at least 50 years old according to Jim the Arborist from Branching Out Tree Services.
Jim the Arborist climbed high into the tree's remains and discovered much of the large trunk was rotting away. The remains of the tree was a potential liability for the NRCA because it could snap at any time. A decision was made to euthanize the tree and haul the pieces off to the dump.
SPIDER MAY BE CAUSE OF FRIDAY 13TH CRASH
8/13/10
Friday the 13th was a lucky day for three youths who escaped injury after a wild ride into the metal railings.
At about 7:40 am today a driver lost control of his white Ford Thunderbird and smashed though railings, narrowly avoiding a rollover into the concrete drainage passageway adjacent Sky Ranch Trail. The railings are now a mangled mess of metal.
The driver told police a tarantula appeared out of nowhere on his shoulder, spooking the teenaged driver. The car then sped out of control and hit the metal railings. Luckily neither the driver nor his two teenaged passengers were injured in the violent crash.
(Not actual Tarantula from North Ranch car crash).
Judging from the damage the car was traveling much faster than the 20 mph speed limit. The damages to the common area will be paid for by the residents.
No tarantula was recovered from the wreckage and is presumed to be holed up in the desert.
KIDS GO CRAZY AT SMALL POOL
On August 7th 2010 residents of a North Ranch rental property let rowdy guests into the small pool area. The kids proceed to climb onto the shower walls and roofs and leap into the small pool, narrowly avoiding smashing their head like a melon on the hard, concrete deck.
The security guard made his rounds and reported a big hole in the glass table top to the manager. The manager and security committee chair Congi review the key logs and video and identified those responsible. The incident is under investigation by the NRCA and law enforcement. Keys for two lot owners have been deactivated in connection with the incident.
THANK YOU STRAPPING COMMITTEE! The annual spring Strapping event took place this week. Thanks to the time and efforts of the following folks who are key North Ranch Pool Supporters, Caroline and Charles Bolejack, Baxter Gardner, Doug Knox, Nelson Mc Clintock and Jack Statler. The chairs and lounges at both pools were inspected and new strapping replaced all the broken straps. This will place all our pool furniture in good repair for the coming summer usage. A big thanks to those who worked hard to keep our equipment in good repair and save those bucks to help keep our monthly assessments down. Pool Committee Chair.
3/12/10
BIG RAINS BRING MANY WEEDS TO NORTH RANCH We are all very thankful for the needed rains and so are our plants, trees and shrubs. Winter weeds are popping up fast. The best way to control weeds is by applying some pre-emergent to the affected area before it rains. Spraying and pulling is all you can do after they pop up. The NRCA has sent at least 50 letters to owners for weeds so far this month with many more expected to be sent. The NRCA has the right to hire a gardener to remove the weeds from a Lot if the letter is ignored. Side yards (by the mailboxes...see picture) are not common area. Lot owners are responsible for those areas as well. With more sunshine and less rain expected this is a great time to pull those weeds. The common are also being treated for weeds (see pic above). If you are in need of special assistance and are unable to take care of the weeds yourself please call the Good Neighbor Program at 784-9963.
3/8/10 "MONEY SAVERS" FROM THE ARC COMMITTEE
Before you spend those hard earned bucks for freshening-up the paint on the old homestead, or redoing the front yard landscape. Take a minute to review the CCR’s and Architectural Review Committee (ARC) rules. A bit of time could very well save you some bucks and keep you in step with your neighbors. Make sure that paint you are about to buy is an approved color scheme for your particular area of NR. It’s much cheaper to paint it right the first time over having to repaint the house the second time. The original developer had rules against painting houses the same color when side-by-side. Though the ARC has relaxed this rule you may wish to consider the reasoning and think of what the area would be like if several houses in a row were the same. Before you buy paint get the ARC request approval from the management company. As to the landscaping in the front yard we have tried to stay with the harmony the developer used by only allowing the same crushed rock colors for your area of the subdivision. Sure you want your yard to be different and I am sure you know how great the rock in your yard would be if it were different. But how about the guy down the street or next door who would like to have the blue or green painted stuff in his yard. It might not meet your approval. Some folks would like a winding walk or a few steps up from the street or from the front porch area to the side gate, perhaps maybe just to expand the drive by a couple feet to allow the exit from the open car door to and stay off the rocks. Please get this in a request and approved before you spend time and/or money. There are some folks who would like to expand their driveway to park more cars off the street. But if we allowed that, there would be some yards that would be paved over with brick or concrete. Expanding a drive for the parking of additional vehicles is prohibited as well as the coloring the driveway. If you want color or difference, do it in the back yard. As long as it’s below the height of the fence you can do all the decorating you wish. But when it comes to building sheds or other structures check the ARC rules first. Always take the time to make a sketch and review what you wish to do; then review it against the ARC Rules. If you wish to proceed attach your sketch to an ARC request and submit to the management company for ARC approval before you layout any physical effort or cash. Just a spring reminder for those wishing to make some changes to the house from The ARC.
3/5/10
MANY NR HOMES NEED PAINT Many NR owners received notices to paint their homes this week and more will receive them throughout the month of March. If you have received a notice do not despair. Painting your home in North Ranch has never been easier.
The first step it to review the Approved Paint Colors List and pick a color scheme from the list of approved colors for your subdivision. After you choose a scheme submit an ARC Request Form. Most ARC Request for painting can be approved within days or sooner if everything checks out.
Do not begin painting until your ARC Request has been approved.
When you pick up your paint always try to purchase the best quality of paint that you can afford. Lower quality paints will fade faster which means you will have to repaint sooner.
Some properties will just need to refresh the paint on fascia board. The hot Tucson sun dries out lumber especially fast. Owners may pick from an approved color that best matches their original fascia paint color or supply the name and code # of the original paint on your fascia...if the original paint was a previously approved color.
It is also a good idea to make sure you use a reputable painting contractor to ensure you are getting the right product and good service. The NRCA inspects approved improvement projects to ensure they are in compliance with community standards.
Good preparation along with quality products and workmanship will ensure your painting project will be in compliance and most importantly, look great for years.
Questions on painting ? Call 520-624-4404
65% OF ALL NRCA VOTES TO CONGI, GENTLZER Directors Tony Congi and Lauryne Gentzler were reelected to the NRCA Board of Directors gathering 477 of 724 votes cast.
Participation in the community including elections is at a record high level due to the Association's heavy online prescience. Over 300 residents regularly receive news via email and online through this website.
Congi and Gentzler ran on a campaign of reducing crime and lowering costs, while maintaining the amenities at a high level. Doctor James Sandrin was also elected to the Board of Directors with a large number of votes (154).
Congratulations Tony, Lauryne and Doctor Sandrin! Thank you for volunteering to serve the residents of North Ranch!
BOD CANDIDATES MEET THE HOMEOWNERS Doctor James Sandrin, Lauren Gentzler, Tony Congi, and Charles Bolejack introduced themselves to the community at the December 30th 2009 Board Meeting. Homeowners and the BOD asked the candidates several questions.
Candidate’s Platform Questioned Doctor Sandrin, an avid small pool user who has advocated higher pool temperatures was questioned about his platform by Treasurer Earl Washington and Vice-President Tony Congi, particularly about a flyer being circulated by the candidate. Washington said the flyer inferred that the NR amenities were not being maintained and asked the candidate to give examples. In 2009 the NRCA spent over $100,000 to paint all the common walls, paint the entire Big Pool recreational facility, install security improvements and new cameras at the pools, and resurface the tennis court - which is now considered among the best in Pima County. Doctor Sandrin was also asked about a statement on his platform which says, “I will work to make certain that the North Pool and the South Pool ARE NOT compromised or closed.” Sandrin is on the Pool & Rec Committee which voted to close both pools at 8pm during the winter months and reducing security at the pools, to save money so the Small Pool gas heaters could be turned up to make the water hotter. When asked if closing the pools at 8pm and reducing security contradicted his platform of not compromising amenities or closing a pool Sandrin said “I would compromise on that.”
90% Right But Too Abrasive A member of the Pool & Rec Committee praised the Board of Directors for their volunteer work in the community and in particular Director Tony Congi. The homeowner then criticized Congi and called him an “efficiency expert” saying, “I am in agreement with 90% of what you have done in the community but your style and delivery is too abrasive.” Congi replied by saying he is not out to win a popularity contest and that he cannot change his personality, and said “When I joined the BOD my personal guaranty was to represent the majority of our Members, not the minority. I have accomplished this with majority opinions and exact stats acquired before rendering any vote. This was and still is the platform that I have maintained in my 3 years as a BOD member and Officer .” The hard-working Congi chairs several committees and is always prepared with detailed statistics at board meetings to keep facts from being skewed, which helps the BOD make more informed decisions.
Universal Approach Charles Bolejack has been volunteering in North Ranch for several years. Bolejack touted a universal approach to managing the affairs and amenities of the community.
Gentlzer Balances Being a Mom With Board Duties Lauren Gentzler is a mother of a teenage son and twin daughters. She is also a Director on the North Ranch Board. Gentzler has worked with the Security Committee and the Mgmt. company to help reduce crime, particularly in Catalina IV - an area which in years past has seen a lot of vandalism. Gentzler also has helped the Social Committee run parties for the community and has been active in getting more youths involved.
Gentzler, Congi, Bolejack and Sandrin are running for the BOD
TONY CONGI NRCA Vice President Tony Congi has volunteered to work with the BOD since 2007. Mr. Congi has worked tirelessly to improve security and reduce costs, while maintaining the amenities at a high level. Prior to Mr. Congi’s involvement there were little or no security improvements or wall repairs in the community. Mr. Congi’s background is over 28 years as a cost-efficient management consultant; the last eight years as Senior Vice President, COO of a major manufacturing company. During Mr. Congi’s tenure as Vice President he has worked very closely with the President and BOD to maintain costs based on the interests of the majority of our Members and to maintain the current assessments (dues) at the same level - and to possibly reduce dues in the future, to ease the financial burden of many of our Members.
LAUREN GENTZLER My name is Lauren Gentzler. I moved to Arizona 14 years ago, and have lived in North Ranch all of those years. I have a B.A. in psychology. I started my career in the criminal justice system. I didn't continue this as I started to have a family and dedicated myself to my children. I am married with three children. I have a son that is 16, and twin girls that are 11. I am still not working outside of the home, and this is why I decided to get involved with my community. I have been on the board since last summer. I am still new and still learning, but I am very happy with how things are going with our community. I enjoy working with the other board members and feel we make a great team. We each bring different interests, but we all have the same purpose—to make North Ranch a safe, and wonderful place to come home to. I would like to have the opportunity to continue working on the board, and continue learning from the other board members so as to continue making north ranch a great community. CONGI HOPES NRCA CAN ONE DAY LOWER DUES DURING TOUGH TIMES 12/09/2009 NRCA Vice President Tony Congi told homeowners of his goal for the Association to one day possibly lower the dues paid by Owners, during these tough economic times. During BOD deliberations concerning reducing the heated temperatures a few degrees at the pools Congi expressed strong concerns for Owners. Congi cited examples of several Owners who have lost their jobs and are having a difficult time making ends meet due to the severe national recession. Congi also noted the record number of foreclosures in the community and how dues collections would and is being affected by the real estate bust. The Vice President also noted the many senior citizens who had expected to be earning high interest on their investments at this stage in their lives, but were now struggling to pay bills and even keep their homes. Congi said it was his hope to conserve Association resources while maintaining the amenities at a high level, and by doing so - one day putting the Association in a position “where monthly dues payments actually go down.” Congi pointed out several examples on how despite the economic downturn the NRCA BOD has been very successful at managing resources, saving tens of thousands of dollars in landscaping maintenance costs in particular, while maintaining a very attractive community. Per Congi, Increased security in the community and the installation of cameras has helped protect Owner’s investments in the community by making the amenities much safer and more family friendly. Rules are being enforced better as well. The BOD also reduced water and gas consumption by removing water wasting turf from corners on Cactus Canyon and setting a pool heating schedule to “winter only,” appropriate for sunny Tucson, AZ. Prior to 2007-2008 pool furnaces ran all summer and water temperatures averaged 88-90 degrees all year. DID YOU KNOW? The NRCA Board of Directors Did NOT raise dues for 2010 BOD VOTES TO LOWER POOL TEMPS ON TRIAL BASIS 12/09/2009 At the November 2009 Board of Directors meeting the BOD voted 3-1 to reduce the temperatures of the heated pools from 85 to 82 degrees on a trial basis. The BOD took up the issue of pool temperatures after several Lot Owners called the mgmt. co. in late September/Early October about pool temperatures. Half of the Owners said the water was “too hot.” The other half said the water was “too cold.” A Little Pool Temp History Prior to 2007/2008 the NRCA used wasteful natural gas furnaces which had no thermostat. The old furnaces were almost impossible to regulate and pool temperatures were kept between 87-90 degrees - about the same temperature of “therapeutic pools.” The Association also kept the furnaces on during the summer. Some Owner’s with ailments understandably came to view pools heated at therapeutic pool temperatures as a great amenity. Some even developed a sense of entitlement to pools heated at therapeutic levels saying they are “guaranteed under the CCRs.” In 2007 the new BOD began examining how best to maintain the pools at a high standard and serve all Owners in a fiscally responsible way; eventually establishing a reasonable Arizona pool heater schedule of “winter-only” heating. The NRCA also installed fuel efficient furnaces, which have digital thermostats. Temperatures were set at a toasty 85 degrees in the winter. Where We Are Today According the data presented to the NRCA by Director Tony Congi the American Red Cross and National Pool and Spa Institute consider “ideal” pool temperatures to be between 78 - 82 degrees for recreational swimming. That’s not an absolute, however. Other factors to consider, particularly when the temperatures are increased is the effect on maintenance. Build up of dissolved solids increases with higher temperatures. Chlorine also burns off quicker contributing to more bacteria growth and algae. This is one reason why the pools turned GREEN several times per year, before the BOD took action to set a reasonable temperature schedule. In a nutshell: Unreasonably high temperatures = higher costs in maintenance and repairs as well as the obvious: Higher energy costs. At the BOD meeting an Owner brought up the “human element” and how lowering temperatures 3 degrees could make somebody with an ailment less comfortable. An Owner who could not attend the BOD meeting expressed shock and disbelief that the BOD did not consider closing the little used small pool in the winter. It is true that warmer water may help relieve a stiff leg or bad back. It is also true that swimmers may feel very uncomfortable exercising in warmer water. These are valid considerations for the BOD and Association which is why the BOD is working hard to do due diligence on this matter, including investigating the potential of solar heating. It is impossible to please everybody but you can rest assured that the NRCA is acting in a compassionate and fiscally responsible matter regarding this issue. DID YOU KNOW? From December 1st 2008 to February 28th 2009 the Large Pool (South) averaged 8.5 users per day while the Small Pool (North) averaged 4 users per day. FOUR RUN FOR BOARD Homeowners Tony Congi, Lauryne Gentzler, Charles Bolejack and James Sandrin contacted the nomination committee chair and volunteered to run for the Board of Directors. Thank you owners for volunteering to serve your neighbors in North Ranch! MORE RESIDENTS FAVOR LOWER POOL TEMPS IN 2009 THAN 2007 11/24/2009 A recent survey in North Ranch on these webpages and the mailed Round Up newsletter shows an increase in Owner participation in community surveys and a big change in results, compared to a similar 2007 survey. In 2007 19 residents favored lowering winter pool temperatures compared to 47 who favor the same in the 2010 survey. The 2010 survey will run for a little while longer. Participation in these surveys a great way to stay involved, especially for working homeowners who don't have time to join committees or attend board meeting. The 2010 Pool Temperature Survey is approaching record participation....so far 59 have officially voiced their opinions...with. In 2008 74 Owners participated in a survey on removing turf in the community. To ALL who voice their opinions and send in input THANK YOU! Your input and opinions help make North Ranch a better place to live! See 2007 Pool Temperature Survey Results See 2010 Pool Temperature Survey Results
NRCA DUES STAY THE SAME FOR 2010! Homeowners in North Ranch will be pleased to know that at the 10/28/2009 Board Meeting the NRCA Board of Directors approved a budget for 2010 which included keeping the dues at the current $60.50. The Board of Directors is exploring alternative methods to save money in the Association. Thank you volunteers and mgmt. company team for working hard in 2009 to help make it possible to keep the dues at their current level.
Above: Hungry pigeon eyeballing “supersized” meal on Mesquite 2 common wall PIGEONS DESCEND ON NR HOMES Disease carrying pigeons have descended enforce into the community looking for food. Several residents lure the dirty birds into the neighborhood by putting bird food out on their walls, common walls and property. Pigeon droppings contain a dangerous fungous which is the cause for a number of diseases, which can be transmitted to humans. Several North Ranch residents have had to spend a lot of money on pest control solutions such as exclusions and bird spikes to keep pigeons away from their properties. Bird food should not be placed on NRCA common property per the governing documents of the association. Mosquitoes In Catalina IV Residents near Canyon Brook Trail, Western Fork Trail, Double Diamond Place and Eastern Fork trail have reported an abundance of mosquitoes in the subdivision. An “abandoned” swimming pool was discovered on a Lot in the area. The pool was half-way filled up with rainwater and was the most likely source of the contamination. A notice was sent to the owner and thankfully they took care of the problem by draining all the water out of the pool. If you are aware of a condition on a Lot or common area which may be causing a possible health problem and/or nuisance to the community please contact the NRCA Manager at 624-4404– x115 so the problem can be addressed in a timely manner. Thank you for your assistance.
Violation Fines Collected The NRCA Manager reported to the Board of Directors at the 10/28/2009 Meeting that over $2000.00 in violations fines have been collected since the NRCA embarked on a policy of tougher enforcement on rules infractions earlier this year. By far the most effective and motivational collection tool for the NRCA is the deactivation of pool keys. Several delinquent homeowners came “out of the woodwork” to resolve violations and fines as soon as the weather warmed. Enhanced communication via email and registered mail as well as the specter of possible legal action also played a large part in the successful collection effort. The NRCA has the authority to levy fines for unabated Lot violations pursuant to the governing documents and applicable state statutes. If you have received a violation letter from the NRCA and have any questions about it please contact them mgmt. company at 624-4404 x 11 Email chris@azhomellc.com The NRCA is interested in resolving all violation issues amicably. Thank you!
POOL PARTIES MUST BE AUTHORIZED BY NRCA In order to reduce wear and tear on the pool equipment and provide a pleasant atmosphere for all residents the NRCA limits owner's to 6 guests per visit to the pools. This summer several residents have held unauthorized parties at both pools which resulted in pool key deactivation for violating the NR Rules. The south pool ramada may be reserved for parties between Labor Day and Memorial Day. WANT TO READ NEWS FROM THE ARCHIVES? GO HERE
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