Something that I've been pondering about...

Does anyone agree that the walking/running/biking trail in our community needs to be lit? 

 I often come home after the sunsets and still enjoy taking my dogs out walking and find it inconvenient, especially being a female, to walk my dogs along the trail in complete darkness.  I see that there's one light out there, but most of the time, it's not even on!  And even when it is on, it's still too dark, and perhaps unsafe to go down the trail...

Just a recommendation though! Maybe this is something someone else has thought about too??

This is interesting. This has been a subject of constant debate.  As the trail is party of the homeowner's association (HOA) community property the HOA is responsible for its maintenance.  The maintenance has been poor, incomplete, inadequate.  On this particular subject, note emails sent to the HOA's property owner - MANY months ago - and note the HOA has done nothing here....

"From: Marisela De Leon

Sent: Friday, August 10, 2007 10:05 AM

Subject: CPS

.....

The jogging trail is in a flood plain, in case you were unaware of this.  Therefore ALL contractors, including CPS, landscapers, etc with heavy equipment have not been able to access the jogging trail.  CPS has already REPLACED fixtures on numerous occasions, but they are constantly vandalized. 

No response needed.

From: M.E. McCormack

To: Marisela De Leon

Sent: Friday, August 10, 2007 12:45 PM

Subject: Re: CPS

....

We the members want the lights to work.  Are you going to get them to work and keep them working?  (There may be a bunch of alternate solutions here, and all I want to know is the trail going to be lighted as members want it lit?)

From: Marisela De Leon

Sent: Friday, August 10, 2007 3:01 PM

Subject: RE: CPS

When a work ordered is issued by CPS I believe the intent is to have the lights fixed, working, etc.  When it is reported to this office, we in turn contact CPS.  You may be aware of alternate solutions; maybe you can let CPS aware of them. 

At this point CPS is approx 3-4 weeks out on work orders, due to rain.

From: M.E. McCormack

To: Marisela De Leon

Sent: Friday, August 10, 2007 4:12 PM

Subject: Re: CPS

.....

When I called CPS they said they only handled street lights.  They told me to call 311 and they told me because the lights are on community property the city is not responsible.

 So, please share the work order number with me, as I am going to post it on the web site as evidence something is going forward.  Second, please share with me the number to call to track its status.

If the lights we have out there make for a mission impossible challenge then we should take them down and put up a better replacement.  What is the current maintenance costs for the present system?  And it appears since the BOD has not maintained these lights or much of anything else along the walk trail for years, what is the maintenance budget, current and future year, for same?  With this information alternative solutions can be formulated and recommended.  Who, specifically, is responsible for asset maintenance?"

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NOTICE: HOA/Property Manager did not respond further.  Called Marisela in the Fall and she said no action (still) had been taken.

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So here we are 7+ months later and NO action, NO Solution to a problem we the members of the HOA have been telling the property manager and Board of Directors for YEARS.  The HOA refuses to maintain the lighting along the walking trail, again, and again.  Now, if everyone one interested getting the HOA to do its job, perhaps everyone could start calling the management office daily UNTIL the HOA gets the job done!!!

IF any HOA member has a better idea, please do share it with us!

Mike McCormack

This has been a bone of contention for us since moving into Parkwood last summer. I have never seen the lights work on the trail or maintainence done beyond homeowners trimming branches themselves or the one time someone was paid to mow. It seems to us that the HOA really has no interest in doing anything other than complaining when a weed springs up in our yard. Anything else would require effort. I think it's time for a new management company who has the interests of residents at heart which is, if I am not mistaken, their job that they are paid to do.

This has been a bone of contention for the 10 YEARS I have been raising it as an issue. The property manager simply does what the Board of Directors dictates, or in this case, ignores. Perhaps emailing and calling the three Board members repeatedly by ALL Parkwood homeowner's association members may be what is warranted to make clear our interests and to get timely, competent, and responsive action by the property manager?  Remember, replacing Board members is how you get the property manager to become responsive, how you get our annual membership fees spent the way we want, and when we want it.