Saturday, May 30, 2009
Live Oak Board President Peppered Over Cable Contract
Article Courtesy of The Tampa Tribune
By KENNETH KNIGHT
Published December 21, 2008
NEW TAMPA - A standing-room-only group of Live Oak Preserve residents chided its homeowners association board Thursday for approving a bulk cable contract that will contribute to a $301,000 increase in its 2009 budget.
"We don't want to pay for our neighbors' cable,'' resident John Carter after the homeowners association board approved a $3.1 million budget at its annual meeting.
During the meeting at the community clubhouse, angry residents peppered board president Rick Feather, who was hand-picked by the developer to serve on the panel, with questions about the board's decision to tie the community to a 15-year contract with Bright House Networks.
Bright House purchased the cable contract in June from Century Communications. The cable company is required to provide cable, Internet and home security monitoring services to as many as 1,590 units in Live Oak Preserve.
There are now about 1,100 households in the community developed by Engle Homes and managed by LandArc.
The board budgeted $1.14 million for the annual bulk cable contract, an increase of $8,000 from this year.
The increased cost drew whistles and murmurs from the crowd. Feather, who negotiated the contract, encouraged residents to look at the deal from a positive perspective.
"If you were paying [for cable] based on 1,100 homes, you would be paying more," Feather said.
Feather, an Engle Homes employee who doesn't live in Live Oak Preserve, said the homeowners association has been talking to Bright House officials about the possibility of adjusting parts of the contract. He declined to provide details.
Residents are allowed to choose their own service providers, however, they are still required to help pay for the Bright House contract.
Homeowner dues will increase next year to $491 per quarter, which will mean a $188 annual increase per household. For the first time association fees will be due on a monthly basis. Homeowners will be required to pay $163.79 per month starting in January.
The past two years homeowners have paid $444 each quarter to cover association fees such as cable, Internet service, home security monitoring, security service and common areas maintenance for the clubhouse, pool, trash removal, street lights and others.
Feather said the homeowners association plans to increase funding for gate repairs, pool cleaning, clubhouse janitorial services and payroll for an on-site property manager and an assistant.
The homeowners group also budgeted additional money to cover the cost for postage, legal fees and bad debts from foreclosures, short sales and residents delinquent on homeowner fees.
In a surprise move, Feather announced the three-member hand-picked homeowners association's board of directors was inviting two Live Oak residents to join the panel, increasing its membership to five.
Joining Feathers and board members Lauren Arcaro and Keith Donnelly will be Amy Warenyk of Willow Bend Village and Frank Micallef of Maplewood Village. Warenyk, who attended the meeting, was invited to sit with the board after her name was announced.
Zuriel Cabrera, the Weatherwood Village association president who has been a vocal opponent of the bulk cable contract, said after the meeting he was disappointed with the outcome. He said he hoped the board would have shown greater responsibility to reduce the financial burden heaped on homeowners.
Cabrera said he was aware of the board's plans to add two residents to its ranks, but the balance of power remains with Engle Homes.
Earl Myers of Willow Bend said he was pleased by resident turnout and their desire to have their voices heard.
"If this board got anything out of this meeting, they learned they need to be more communicative with this community," Myers said.
By KENNETH KNIGHT
Published December 21, 2008
NEW TAMPA - A standing-room-only group of Live Oak Preserve residents chided its homeowners association board Thursday for approving a bulk cable contract that will contribute to a $301,000 increase in its 2009 budget.
"We don't want to pay for our neighbors' cable,'' resident John Carter after the homeowners association board approved a $3.1 million budget at its annual meeting.
During the meeting at the community clubhouse, angry residents peppered board president Rick Feather, who was hand-picked by the developer to serve on the panel, with questions about the board's decision to tie the community to a 15-year contract with Bright House Networks.
Bright House purchased the cable contract in June from Century Communications. The cable company is required to provide cable, Internet and home security monitoring services to as many as 1,590 units in Live Oak Preserve.
There are now about 1,100 households in the community developed by Engle Homes and managed by LandArc.
The board budgeted $1.14 million for the annual bulk cable contract, an increase of $8,000 from this year.
The increased cost drew whistles and murmurs from the crowd. Feather, who negotiated the contract, encouraged residents to look at the deal from a positive perspective.
"If you were paying [for cable] based on 1,100 homes, you would be paying more," Feather said.
Feather, an Engle Homes employee who doesn't live in Live Oak Preserve, said the homeowners association has been talking to Bright House officials about the possibility of adjusting parts of the contract. He declined to provide details.
Residents are allowed to choose their own service providers, however, they are still required to help pay for the Bright House contract.
Homeowner dues will increase next year to $491 per quarter, which will mean a $188 annual increase per household. For the first time association fees will be due on a monthly basis. Homeowners will be required to pay $163.79 per month starting in January.
The past two years homeowners have paid $444 each quarter to cover association fees such as cable, Internet service, home security monitoring, security service and common areas maintenance for the clubhouse, pool, trash removal, street lights and others.
Feather said the homeowners association plans to increase funding for gate repairs, pool cleaning, clubhouse janitorial services and payroll for an on-site property manager and an assistant.
The homeowners group also budgeted additional money to cover the cost for postage, legal fees and bad debts from foreclosures, short sales and residents delinquent on homeowner fees.
In a surprise move, Feather announced the three-member hand-picked homeowners association's board of directors was inviting two Live Oak residents to join the panel, increasing its membership to five.
Joining Feathers and board members Lauren Arcaro and Keith Donnelly will be Amy Warenyk of Willow Bend Village and Frank Micallef of Maplewood Village. Warenyk, who attended the meeting, was invited to sit with the board after her name was announced.
Zuriel Cabrera, the Weatherwood Village association president who has been a vocal opponent of the bulk cable contract, said after the meeting he was disappointed with the outcome. He said he hoped the board would have shown greater responsibility to reduce the financial burden heaped on homeowners.
Cabrera said he was aware of the board's plans to add two residents to its ranks, but the balance of power remains with Engle Homes.
Earl Myers of Willow Bend said he was pleased by resident turnout and their desire to have their voices heard.
"If this board got anything out of this meeting, they learned they need to be more communicative with this community," Myers said.
Four Resign From Live Oak Preserve CDD Boards
Article Courtesy of The Tampa Tribune
By KENNETH KNIGHT
Published April 1, 2009
LIVE OAK PRESERVE - Days after an announcement by parent company TOUSA to wind down production, Engle Homes, the developer of Live Oak Preserve, is relinquishing some of its authority at the development.
Engle Homes Vice President Rick Feather said all Engle employees who serve on the Live Oak I, Live Oak II and The Hammocks' community development district boards are stepping down immediately.
"We resigned under the advice of counsel," Feather said.
Feather served as a board supervisor on all of the three developer-controlled CDDs. Engle employees Lauren Arcaro, Dennis DeMott and Michael Mulvihill were members of the Live Oak II and The Hammocks boards.
The taxing authorities are in charge of setting the budgets and overseeing management of the common areas throughout the community.
The remaining board supervisors, residents appointed by Engle representatives, will formally consider the resignations at their next meetings.
The Live Oak I board of supervisors has scheduled a special meeting for 10 a.m. April 14, said district manager Andrew Mendenhall. The other two district boards will meet in June.
"I'm sure it will be worked out," said Feather, who added that he remains president of the Live Oak Preserve master homeowners association.
The latest move by Engle comes a week after its bankrupt parent company, TOUSA, announced it was wrapping up construction projects, selling off its inventory of homes and not planning to build any new ones.
The South Florida-based developer, which filed for Chapter 11 protection in January 2008, also plans to lay off 200 of its remaining 700 employees.
Live Oak Preserve, and its neighboring town house community, The Hammocks, remain properties of Engle for now, TOUSA spokeswoman Jennifer Mercer said. The home builder is seeking buyers to take over Engle properties, including the two New Tampa communities.
"We are in a state of flux with that property," she said.
A bond payment for Live Oak Preserve is due May 1, however, TOUSA has not decided whether the bill will be paid, Mercer said.
Live Oak Preserve homeowner Zuriel Cabrera, who serves as president of the Weatherwood Village association, said the Engle employee resignations from the district boards are a bad sign for the company's future in the community.
Cabrera had expressed concerns at community meetings for months about what might happen should Engle shut down and leave Live Oak Preserve residents stuck with paying the bills alone. Engle contributed more than $800,000 to the community's $3.2 million operating budget in 2008, Cabrera said.
He worries his worse fears may become reality and the community will face making major service cuts.
Cabrera, an outspoken critic of Feather's decision to negotiate a 15-year cable agreement with Bright House Networks, said that contract is a major reason for concern. The cable company is required to provide cable, Internet and home security monitoring services to all of the some 1,100 homes in the community.
The master homeowners association budgeted $1.14 million for this year's annual bulk cable contract. The community must pay for the services, regardless of whether the houses are occupied.
Mendenhall said he plans to take a more active role to make sure the district boards stay on track regarding the annual budget and other financial matters.
By KENNETH KNIGHT
Published April 1, 2009
LIVE OAK PRESERVE - Days after an announcement by parent company TOUSA to wind down production, Engle Homes, the developer of Live Oak Preserve, is relinquishing some of its authority at the development.
Engle Homes Vice President Rick Feather said all Engle employees who serve on the Live Oak I, Live Oak II and The Hammocks' community development district boards are stepping down immediately.
"We resigned under the advice of counsel," Feather said.
Feather served as a board supervisor on all of the three developer-controlled CDDs. Engle employees Lauren Arcaro, Dennis DeMott and Michael Mulvihill were members of the Live Oak II and The Hammocks boards.
The taxing authorities are in charge of setting the budgets and overseeing management of the common areas throughout the community.
The remaining board supervisors, residents appointed by Engle representatives, will formally consider the resignations at their next meetings.
The Live Oak I board of supervisors has scheduled a special meeting for 10 a.m. April 14, said district manager Andrew Mendenhall. The other two district boards will meet in June.
"I'm sure it will be worked out," said Feather, who added that he remains president of the Live Oak Preserve master homeowners association.
The latest move by Engle comes a week after its bankrupt parent company, TOUSA, announced it was wrapping up construction projects, selling off its inventory of homes and not planning to build any new ones.
The South Florida-based developer, which filed for Chapter 11 protection in January 2008, also plans to lay off 200 of its remaining 700 employees.
Live Oak Preserve, and its neighboring town house community, The Hammocks, remain properties of Engle for now, TOUSA spokeswoman Jennifer Mercer said. The home builder is seeking buyers to take over Engle properties, including the two New Tampa communities.
"We are in a state of flux with that property," she said.
A bond payment for Live Oak Preserve is due May 1, however, TOUSA has not decided whether the bill will be paid, Mercer said.
Live Oak Preserve homeowner Zuriel Cabrera, who serves as president of the Weatherwood Village association, said the Engle employee resignations from the district boards are a bad sign for the company's future in the community.
Cabrera had expressed concerns at community meetings for months about what might happen should Engle shut down and leave Live Oak Preserve residents stuck with paying the bills alone. Engle contributed more than $800,000 to the community's $3.2 million operating budget in 2008, Cabrera said.
He worries his worse fears may become reality and the community will face making major service cuts.
Cabrera, an outspoken critic of Feather's decision to negotiate a 15-year cable agreement with Bright House Networks, said that contract is a major reason for concern. The cable company is required to provide cable, Internet and home security monitoring services to all of the some 1,100 homes in the community.
The master homeowners association budgeted $1.14 million for this year's annual bulk cable contract. The community must pay for the services, regardless of whether the houses are occupied.
Mendenhall said he plans to take a more active role to make sure the district boards stay on track regarding the annual budget and other financial matters.
Engle Homes hands over Live Oak Preserve to residents
Article Courtesy of The Tampa Tribune
By KENNETH KNIGHT
Published May 28, 2009
NEW TAMPA - Engle Homes Vice President Rick Feather has stepped down as head of the Live Oak Preserve master homeowners association, officially turning over the development to the residents.
Feather's resignation last week is the latest move by Engle to relinquish its authority at Live Oak Preserve and its neighboring town house community, The Hammocks. Company officials resigned from Live Oaks' three community development districts in April.
Engle's parent company, TOUSA, filed for Chapter 11 protection last year and is selling off its inventory of homes and developments.
Frank Micallef and Amy Warenyk, the remaining two HOA members, move quickly May 21 to appoint three replacements. They also announced plans to begin talks with Bright House Networks to beg out of a 15-year bulk cable contract.
Residents have complained for years about the former developer-controlled association's decision to tie the community to a resident funded cable deal. Bright House is required to provide cable, Internet and home security monitoring services to the 1,100 homes.
The new HOA board also approved new bylaws to include towing as a remedy for habitual parking violators, deny recreational services to homeowners delinquent on their assessments, established rules of behavior at the clubhouse, and approved paying clubhouse pool monitors time and a half on holidays..
The homeowners association also plans to seek legal advice on its ability to recoup creditor funds from Engle.
By KENNETH KNIGHT
Published May 28, 2009
NEW TAMPA - Engle Homes Vice President Rick Feather has stepped down as head of the Live Oak Preserve master homeowners association, officially turning over the development to the residents.
Feather's resignation last week is the latest move by Engle to relinquish its authority at Live Oak Preserve and its neighboring town house community, The Hammocks. Company officials resigned from Live Oaks' three community development districts in April.
Engle's parent company, TOUSA, filed for Chapter 11 protection last year and is selling off its inventory of homes and developments.
Frank Micallef and Amy Warenyk, the remaining two HOA members, move quickly May 21 to appoint three replacements. They also announced plans to begin talks with Bright House Networks to beg out of a 15-year bulk cable contract.
Residents have complained for years about the former developer-controlled association's decision to tie the community to a resident funded cable deal. Bright House is required to provide cable, Internet and home security monitoring services to the 1,100 homes.
The new HOA board also approved new bylaws to include towing as a remedy for habitual parking violators, deny recreational services to homeowners delinquent on their assessments, established rules of behavior at the clubhouse, and approved paying clubhouse pool monitors time and a half on holidays..
The homeowners association also plans to seek legal advice on its ability to recoup creditor funds from Engle.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Disabled Veteran under attack by HOA
Article and Video Courtesy of
MyFox -- Dallas - Fort Worth
Reporter James Rose
Published May 29, 2009
DALLAS - Frank Larison is a disabled veteran with more than 14 years of service, including more than a year of combat duty in Vietnam.
The 58-year-old former Marine now finds himself under attack by his Dallas homeowners association for displaying seven decals on his vehicle supporting the Marine Corps.
"To me, it's being patriotic, and it shows that I served," the veteran told FOX 4.
The board says the decals are advertisements that violate HOA rules, and must be covered or removed.
Otherwise, the homeowners association for
The Woodlands II on The Creek --- where Larimore has lived for eight years --- says in a letter it will tow the car at Larimore's expense. The board also threatens to fine him $50 for any future incident.
Larimore says the decals, ranging from the Marine emblem to Semper Fi slogans, aren't advertisements for anything. "You can't buy freedom," he reasoned.
Some neighbors are outraged.
"That is his identity," said neighbor Mary Castagna. "He goes to a lot of the veteran meetings, and it means a lot to him. Everyone else agrees with it; it doesn't bother anybody."
"He's in the Marines, and he's proud of it, and I don't blame him," said neighbor Paul Hardy. "If I'd gone through what he's gone through, I'd be kind of proud of it myself."
The letter from the board states you can't have any form of advertisement anywhere on your car on your property. FOX 4 cameras spotted bumper stickers for political parties, health causes, and other non-commercial interests on the property as well.
One board member said he was unaware the HOA presidents sent the letter and did not know of any issue with Larimore's vehicle.
"I will be looking into it," said board member Art Bradford. "I didn't know anything about this. I haven't seen this."
The board president was out of town and unavailable. The condo management company did not want to comment.
MyFox -- Dallas - Fort Worth
Reporter James Rose
Published May 29, 2009
DALLAS - Frank Larison is a disabled veteran with more than 14 years of service, including more than a year of combat duty in Vietnam.
The 58-year-old former Marine now finds himself under attack by his Dallas homeowners association for displaying seven decals on his vehicle supporting the Marine Corps.
"To me, it's being patriotic, and it shows that I served," the veteran told FOX 4.
The board says the decals are advertisements that violate HOA rules, and must be covered or removed.
Otherwise, the homeowners association for
The Woodlands II on The Creek --- where Larimore has lived for eight years --- says in a letter it will tow the car at Larimore's expense. The board also threatens to fine him $50 for any future incident.
Larimore says the decals, ranging from the Marine emblem to Semper Fi slogans, aren't advertisements for anything. "You can't buy freedom," he reasoned.
Some neighbors are outraged.
"That is his identity," said neighbor Mary Castagna. "He goes to a lot of the veteran meetings, and it means a lot to him. Everyone else agrees with it; it doesn't bother anybody."
"He's in the Marines, and he's proud of it, and I don't blame him," said neighbor Paul Hardy. "If I'd gone through what he's gone through, I'd be kind of proud of it myself."
The letter from the board states you can't have any form of advertisement anywhere on your car on your property. FOX 4 cameras spotted bumper stickers for political parties, health causes, and other non-commercial interests on the property as well.
One board member said he was unaware the HOA presidents sent the letter and did not know of any issue with Larimore's vehicle.
"I will be looking into it," said board member Art Bradford. "I didn't know anything about this. I haven't seen this."
The board president was out of town and unavailable. The condo management company did not want to comment.
Residents must pay $375 to use the ballroom
Why do you pay a Lake Ashton maintenance fee if you can't use the ballroom. I was going to have free shows, donation only and all money after expenses given to Give Kids The World. Now you have no free entertainment so go and pay for Lake Ashton Entertainment, Some of it is pretty bad, I would never buy the Series because sometimes you can't make it and your obligated to go see a show that is not good. Pay to use the ballroom plus pay your maintenance fee. You people are big suckers. Joe Hunter is making a fool out of you. The hell with parants that are losing their children to illness. Think only about yourself.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)