Runnymede Estates Homeowners Association

Minutes from 2/17/2005 Neighborhood Meeting

President's Report

The meeting was called to order by Association President Donna Mason at 7:08p, in the Community Room at the Clayton County Police Headquarters Building.

In addition to President Mason, Vice-President Sherika Kimbrough and Secretary Kem Kimbrough, all neighbors in attendance introduced themselves, including their addresses, and the sign-in sheet was circulated.

Donna began her report as follows:

--The Association's Treasurer's position is available. Former Treasurer Mark Pitchford is moving in less than 2 weeks, for a job advancement opportunity in Tennessee! The floor was opened for nominations for the position of Treasurer.

Neighbor Yowanna Weldon was nominated by Donna Mason, and Yowanna accepted the nomination.

There were no objections, so Yowanna will be the new Treasurer of the Runnymede Estates HOA!!!!!

--The neighborhood has vacancies in the positions for Block Captains.

Vice-President Sherika Kimbrough made a plea to the neighbors to help fill the block captain vacancies. As of today, we have 4-5 vacancies. There are 7 zones at the present time, so that means only 2-3 zones have coverage.

--Our non-profit status project is continuing. The state paperwork is done, but the Federal paperwork is still a work in progress. Donna said that the bylaws have to be rewritten in order to continue with the federal paperwork.

Donna asked for volunteers to help rewrite the bylaws; No one volunteered. Donna asked for a committee to be formed to work on this. The By-laws Committee was added to the list of the Association's working committees.

--Annual HOA membership dues ARE DUE! Donna will be accepting the dues until the new Treasurer is up-to-speed on the bookeeping and the proper signatures are on the HOA account. Donna is to set up a meeting to make sure these things get done.

The Executive Board explained to the residents of Runnymede the purpose for the membership dues and what the money has been used for in the past. The dues have paid for:

The Annual Spring Fling

The Annual Fall Fling

The Holiday Party

The Newsletters

Regular Maintenence for the front entrance, including the new message board that is used to communicate with our neighbors.

The money is also used to welcome newcomers to our community with a gift card or house-warming present within the first 2 weeks of their arrival in their new home.

Finally, the money has also been used to support any additional committee activities which benefit the neighborhood community in some way or another.

--Vice-President Sherika Kimbrough gave a committee activity report.

The Newcomer Committee welcomed three new residents to Runnymede. The addresses of our new neighbors are 7767 Amherst Ct., 7838 Runnymede Dr., and 7843 Runnymede Dr.

Per Sherika, there wasn't any good or bad news from the block captains to report, so the Good News Committee and Neighborhood Watch Committees have nothing to report.

--There was general discussion about covenant violations and enforcement.
President Donna Mason announced that she will no longer be sending out warning letters to neighbors using her home address. Further, from this day forward, alleged violations will be sent to the Clayton County Code Enforcement Department for handling (as our covenants mirror the county's ordinances). This is due to one of our neighbors showing up at Donna's door and acting out so disturbingly as to cause Donna to be in fear of her safety. The Association's efforts at keeping our community's property values up are NOT worth one's life or safety - if neighbors can't act neighborly, then the county government is the only avenue left available.

Old Business

--President Donna Mason gave an update on the lake situation

The last thing she heard was that the EPA was going to impose a fine of $100,000 on the Hatchers if they didn't fix the dam. This situation has been going on for over a year. There has been no real change, and no sign that there is any pending action.

Numerous neighbors spoke out about people riding dirt bikes back where the lake used to be. They stated that the homes in that area are not selling. This is a big problem. At this point, the Hatchers will have to let us know what the next step will be.

--Members of the Executive Board talked briefly about adding a playground to our neighborhood, as a long term project, once we get our non-profit status. That status will allow us to accept donations to help fund that effort.

--The advertisement signage on the home with the day care business was briefly discussed; some neighbors questioned the signs' compliance with the covenants/covenants. A possible solution to help them avoid any issues was to offer them unlimited advertising in our newsletter.

--President Donna Mason discussed our efforts at re-vamping our neighborhood web-site; she needs help in administering it. Vice-President Sherika Kimbrough volunteered to be the new webmaster.

New Business

--President Donna Mason made the following announcements:

Help is needed for the Spring Fling/Yard Sale/Neighborhood Cleanup help; neighbor participation was solicited.

NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS WILL BE HELD QUARTERLY!!!!!!!

The Yard of the Month award program will resume this Spring.

Our longstanding arrangement with neighbor Ken Walker's landscaping company for maintaining the front entrance is up for bid this year. The board is accepting new bids. The decision will be made in early March for upcoming year.

--Vice-President Sherika Kimbrough outlined our Association's available working committees, and invited all neighbors to particpate in their activities. They are:

1. The Newcomer Committee - Welcomes new neighbors to the neighborhood, and offers any assistance that may make the transition to the community easier.

2. The Good News Committee - Offers well wishes to any person wishing to share a celebration with the community... for example: a promotion, a new baby, completing college, or graduating from high school etc.

3. The By-laws Committee - Assist with revising our by-laws in order to maintain compliance with state and federal law.

4.The Events Committee - Helps out with neighborhood social events... making flyers, venue set-up, meal prep and cleanup.

5. The Newsletter Committee - Helps get the newsletter out and distributed amongst our neighbors in a timely fashion.

6. The Neighborhood Watch - Helps make neighbors aware of what is going on around them. The goal is to increase awareness of our surroundings and be alert to suspicious activity.

--President Donna Mason mentioned the need for a safety class for neighborhood children riding motorcycles at high rates of speed through the neighborhood; some of them are doing so WITHOUT helmets. We will try to incorporate some effort along that line into some of our neighborhood events that bring out the greatest number of children.

--Neighbor Milrinette Nelson asked about accountability for renters abusing the homes & property they inhabit in our neighborhood.... Renters are accountable for complying with the covenants like everyone else, but the home/property owner is ultimately responsible.

--Neighbor Mike McGhee raised concerns about loose dogs roaming the neighborhood. The executive Board advised him to call Clayton County Animal Control.

--President Donna Mason mentioned hiring a company to manage this association with an attorney on its staff.

--There was general discussion on the pros and cons of having sidewalks in our neighborhood.

--Neighbor Valerie Mackey offered to help out with the newsletter.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:15p

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