Stonecreek Homeowners Association

August 2000 Issue

Jul 25, 2000

STONECREEK NEWS
A MONTHLY NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSLETTER
August 2000

POOL CLOSED DUE TO MALICIOUS VANDALISM

DIRECTOR?’S CORNER:
We only had 31 lots represented at the July 19th election (which is not a quorum) so an election could not take place. Upon our attorneys advise, we now have the option of appointing the two additional members to the Board of Directors. We will notify you when this takes place.

The community pool was closed the 4th of July weekend due to vandalism. Vandals pried off approximately six linear feet of tile and stripped the fiberglass liner of the pool down to the concrete/rebar. The damage was estimated at approximately $1,500.00. The Gilbert Police are investigating the incident and have found evidence at the site. The pool was closed July 1 and reopened July 18. We are sorry for any inconvenience this caused you.

The Board would like to remind all residents that they have a responsibility to contact the Gilbert Police Department if they see something happening around Stonecreek which appears to be of a serious/suspicious nature.

ASSOCIATION ACTIVITY:
THE POOL received approximately $1,500 damage from vandalism this month.

CONTRACTS AWARDED THIS MONTH
Arbor Care Tree Removal & Trimming - $390.00

UPCOMING CONTRACTS ARE:
Tennis court surface maintenance,
Playground inspection contract,
Note: the Board of Directors has a policy of reviewing all contracts yearly to insure that the contract price is in line with the price of the contract. We solicit bids when the price is too high, the quality of work is not what we expect, or we just want to insure that we have a competitive contract. This policy is enforced with all contracts.

Q. Why was the pool closed over the holiday weekend?
A. The pool was closed because of vandalism. (See Director?’s Corner.)

Q. When the pool is closed, could you be considerate enough to at least post a sign saying when it should reopen? It?’s a real bummer to get to the pool only to find that it is closed.
A. We apologize for not posting the signs sooner. We will react sooner in the future.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:
VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE REPORT
Call Sharon Howes if you want information on a committee or want to join a committee (480-497-8124). Sharon will then handle the volunteer communications between the Board of Directors, the homeowners and Borg Property Services.

ARCHITECTURAL CONTROL
The committee processed the following requests:
RECEIVED: - 0 APPROVED - 0
DENIED: - 0 PENDING: - 0

The CC&R?’s require ACC approval before starting projects that will change the appearance of your home or yard. You can get ACC forms from:

(1) Borg Property Services at 480-456-6927 or
BorgProp@AOL.COM
(2) George at 480-926-3619 (Stonecreek Resident) or
(3) Frank at 480-926-4412 (Stonecreek Resident),

George and Frank deal with ACC issues only; they are not responsible for handling other issues - like complaints about the HOA etc.

LANDSCAPE COMMITTEE REPORT
The landscape committee reported a total of 126
violations this month.

HOA WEB PAGE
The URL to our home page is: (all lowercase letters) WWW.NEIGHBORHOODLINK.COM/STONECREEK

GET INVOLVED:
We still need help on the ACC committee. They generally meet once a month to act upon the ACC requests submitted.

You may contact the Volunteer Committee for further information on a committee or to join a committee.

NEWSLETTER INFORMATION:
The Stonecreek HOA newsletter is published monthly. If you fail to receive a newsletter or know of someone who is not getting a newsletter, please contact Borg Property Services so the situation can be corrected. Although there is no fixed publishing date at this time, we usually publish the newsletter shortly before the first of the month.

CALENDAR:
July 30 - Parent?’s Day (4th Sunday in July)
August 2 - Top Notch Pest Control on site today.
August 5 - Bring in the Clowns (480-502-1880) *
August 23 - Board of Directors meeting -
Mesa Public Library 6:45 PM-8:45 PM
August 26 - Water treatment plant ground breaking *
August 31- Scleroderma support group-Mesa Lutheran Hospital 6:30-8:30 PM
Sept 5 - Top Notch Pest Control on site today.
Sept 20 - Board of Directors meeting -
Mesa Public Library 6:45 PM-8:45 PM
Sept 23 - Fifth Congress of Neighborhoods
Sept 30 - So Long to Summer Feast
NOTE: An item in the calendar that has an ??E??Ehas a related article elsewhere in the newsletter.

MONTHLY HOMEOWNER TIP:
Tips for When You Are Working Alone:
Have you ever wanted to work on an electrical circuit, but didn?’t know which circuit breaker to turn off? Try plugging a radio into the circuit you want to turn off, and when you trip the breaker, you?’ll hear the silence.

Have you ever repaired the caulk around a bath tub only to have it pull apart? Try filling the bath tub with water the next time you are applying new caulk around the tub/wall joint. The weight of the water will open the gap between the wall and tub as wide as possible, preventing cracking later (your weight in the tub will also help your cause). If you apply caulk with an empty tub, when you fill the tub, the weight of the water will pull the joint apart.

WATCH 75+ CLOWNS
Go to Rawhide for the 7th annual ?“Bring in the Clowns??Eevent in honor of National Clown Week. It is the largest clown gathering in the Southwest with over 75 jolly jesters parade, free face painting and balloon sculpting for the kids. (480-502-1880)

DID YOU KNOW?
That the Town of Gilbert offers new residents a one time refuse pick-up service for move-in waste, such as boxes and packing paper. To schedule a pick-up, call (480) 503-6437.

ARE YOU AN ORGAN DONOR?
Not until you have notified your next of kin!
(They determine what happens to your remains.)

FREESTONE PARK NEWS
"Construction on the Freestone Park skate park and tennis court project began April 24 and continues on schedule. Completion of the project is scheduled for this Fall. To date, the concrete court surfaces and fencing of the tennis courts are complete with the next phases of construction to include light standards install, court surface application, water and power hookup and site landscaping. Excavation of the skate park continues with the outline of the major bowls and plaza features taking shape. Concrete flatwork has begun with the 'shotcrete' of the sides and interior features of the park to follow over the next several weeks.
Project Description:
22,000 square feet skate park,
four regulation tennis courts,
drinking fountains,
restroom with vending area,
landscaping and related site improvements.
"The staff at Parks & Recreation is looking forward to completion of the project and providing a quality skating and tennis venue. For additional information on this or other park projects, please contact Kenny Martin, Parks Superintendent at (480) 503-6282 or email at kennym@ci.gilbert.az.us"
source: ci.gilbert.az.us

SIGNIFICANT AUGUST BIRTHDAYS:
Aug. 1, 1870 William Clark was a U.S. soldier, explorer and shared command with Meriwether Lewis of the expedition to the Northwest Territory. Upon his return, he gathered all the records from the exploration, providing documentation for the journals published in 1814.
[d. September 1, 1838.]

Aug. 1, 1779 Francis Scott Key, a U.S. poet, a lawyer, was the author of the poem which eventually became the verse for the Star-spangled Banner, the U.S. national anthem.
[d. January 11, 1843]

Aug. 5, 1930 Neil Alden Armstrong, a U.S. astronaut was the first man to set foot on the moon. July 20, 1969.

Aug. 18, 1774 "Meriwether Lewis, along with William Clark, led the expedition named for them. Born on a plantation near Charlottesville, Va. Future president Thomas Jefferson, a neighbor, was a friend of the family. In 1794 he served in the militia during the Whiskey Rebellion. The next year he fought against Indians in the Northwest Territory. Soon after Thomas Jefferson became president, Lewis moved into the White House as his private secretary."
[d. October 11, 1809]
Source: Compton?’s interactive encyclopedia

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GILBERT POLICE DEPARTMENT:
Q. What are the Police Department Hours?
A. The lobby is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The Police entrance is on the West side of the Municipal building, facing Gilbert Road. (1025 S. Gilbert Road)

Records Hours: 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed on holidays.
Records obtained at the window are .20 cents per page. Records obtained through the mail are $5.00 per report. Prices are subject to change.

Q. How do I file a complaint or complement with the police department?
A. Call 480-503-6500 or come to the police station to make a report.

Q. How do I report graffiti?
A. Call 480-503-650 or come to the police station to report the location.

Q. If my house has been burglarized, what do I do?
A. Go to a neighbor or use a cell phone and call 911. Do not enter the home; this is to make sure you are not in the home with the criminal. After the home has been cleared by the officer, they will give you instructions.

Q. If my vehicle has been vandalized or burglarized, what do I do?
A. Call 480-503-6500 to report the location of your vehicle.

Q. What do I do if I see a dog on the loose?
A. Call 602-506-7387, Maricopa County Rabies and Animal Control.

Q. Does Gilbert have any sex offenders living here?
A. Please visit the Sex Offender page http://ci.giIbert.az.us/police/sexoffender.htm

"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face... You must do the thing you think you cannot do."
Eleanor Roosevelt

WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND A CHILD IN TROUBLE IN A POOL
1. YELL for help and get the child out of the pool.
2. CALL 9-1-1 immediately for medical assistance.
3. Begin CPR, if you are trained.
4. If you are not trained in CPR follow telephone instructions from the Fire Department until they arrive to help you.
(The Gilbert Fire Department offers public CPR classes. For information, call 503-6300.)

FINANCIAL IDENTITY
"Authorities reported that so called "identity theft" has jumped to record numbers, with one privacy group claiming that anywhere from 300,000 to 500,000 victims have had their identity stolen by thieves. Authorities estimate the racket is taking in anywhere from $700 million to $3 billion in a year.

"Trans-Union Corporation, one of the national credit bureaus, stated that the numbers of fraud inquiries it receives has skyrocketed from just over 35,000 in 1992, to nearly 523,000 in 1997.

"In May 1998, before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism, and Government it was reported that in 1997, nearly 9,500 cases of identity theft resulted in more than $745 million in losses to individual victims and financial institutions. The losses have nearly doubled in the last two years.

"Officials from Master Card reported that dollar losses relating to identity fraud represented about 96% of its member banks overall fraud losses of $407 million in 1997.

"Despite the problem, most people don't appear concerned about crooks getting their hands on their financial information.

"A recent survey commissioned by the Delux Corporation, a firm that specializes in products to retailers that reduce fraud, revealed that 70% of those surveyed didn't worry about someone stealing their financial identity.

"While consumers may be held liable for only $50 of fraudulent charges, it is what happens afterwards that cause the problem.

"The Federal Trade Commission reports that it can take a consumer years to clear his/her name. The agency says one victim couldn?’t get a bank loan for 11 years. Another spent three years trying to repair her damaged credit rating...."
Source:ourfrontporch [tips on identity theft]

Next month we will have some tips that may be helpful to protect your identity from being stolen.

WATER TREATMENT PLANT OPEN HOUSE AND EXPANSION GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY WILL BE ON AUGUST 26.
The open house and expansion ground breaking ceremony will be held at 2865 East Guadalupe Road. This will be the time to see how Gilbert will meet the demand for safe drinking water. As our community continues to grow, the Town is responding by expanding the existing surface water treatment plant which is scheduled to be completed in 2002. For further Information call: (480) 503-6767.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON SEASONAL COOLING SYSTEMS:
"Q. What are the warning signs that my cooling system may not be working properly?
A. Notice the sound your air conditioner makes when it is working and cooling properly. Machines often ?“tell??Eyou before they are going to quit. Pay attention to changes and you might avoid costly repairs.

"Q. What can I do in my home to make my cooling system be more cost-effective?
A. Maintain a tight seal on doors and windows to prevent air leakage. Also, keep the opening and closing of entrance and exit doors to a minimum. During the daylight, block direct sunlight. Close the blinds on the east side of your home in the morning; in the afternoon, close the blinds on the west side.

"Q. What criteria should I use when setting the temperature on my air conditioner?
A. When no one is home, move the thermostat up five or six degrees. For every degree that you move it up, you save about five percent.

"Q. When it cools down outside, can I turn off my air conditioner?
A. This is a question of preference. Shutting off the air conditioner never harms the equipment. Damage occurs when it is shut off and immediately turned on. This quick action could damage the compressor, especially in older systems.

"Q. Can I have landscaping around the outside of my air conditioning unit outside?
A. Yes, but make sure you do not obstruct air flow to the unit. Keep plants and shrubs about three feet away to assure proper air flow.

"Q. Does my air conditioning unit need to be covered when not used?
A. The only reason to cover the air conditioning unit is to protect it from falling leaves or other debris. When the unit is properly serviced, nothing will damage it if it is left exposed.

"Q. How often should my cooling system be checked by a certified technician?
A. Your cooling systems should be checked annually...."
Source: North American Technician Excellence
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Get Involved - Join the Board!
or come to the Board Meetings
---------------------------------
REMINDERS:
If you have any questions for the Board of Directors or comments on the newsletter, call Borg Property Services or attend the monthly Board meeting.

When you walk your pet, please clean up any messes that it leaves behind. To leave their mess is an HOA violation and a Town of Gilbert Code violation.

All residents are encouraged to attend the monthly Board of Directors meetings. Call Borg Property Services to confirm the time and location and to insure that we have available seating. You may also check our web page for meeting information.

WHO'S WHO?
Note: NEW Gilbert Numbers
FIRE/POLICE DEPT.
(EMERGENCY) 911
Fire Dept. (Information) 480-503-6300
Police (Information) 480-503-6500
Gilbert www.ci.gilbert.az.us
HOA www.neighborhoodlink.com/Stonecreek
Voter Registration/elections 506-1511
Borg Property Services 480-456-6927
Borg Property Services - BorgProp@AOL.COM
Sean Callahan - HOA Board of Director
Jeff D?’Aurora - HOA Board of Director
- HOA Board of Director
Sandra Lescoe - HOA Board of Director
- HOA Board of Director
Sharon Howes -Volunteer Committee 497-8124
Gilbert Police Crime Prevention 503-6527
Can I burn in my fire place? 506-6400
Town of Gilbert (barking/vicious dogs) 503-6500
Town of Gilbert (dead animal removal) 503-6400
Town of Gilbert (graffiti removal) 503-6500

SELLING YOUR HOME?
Please help yourself by telling your title company that a sale is pending and that they must notify Borg Property Services of the pending sale. Borg Property Services has seven (7) days to inspect your house before the sale can be completed. (House bill 2299) If the inspection must be done in less than seven (7) days because they did not notify Borg Property Services, then we will charge the homeowner an extra fee. We have known title companies to ask for a rush inspection because they did not notify Borg Property Services, and the homeowner is charged the extra fee.
There is always a fee associated with this inspection. The homeowner pays this fee at closing. Contact Borg Property Services for its rates.

NEED TO CONTACT YOUR PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY?
If you have a question or complaint concerning Stonecreek HOA, contact our property management company, which is Borg Property Services. Their office hours are 9-4 M-TH and 9-12 Friday.
Phone: (480) 456-6927
FAX: (480) 456-9439
E-mail: BorgProp@AOL.COM.
Send ALL correspondence and payments to:
Borg Property Services
1245 W. Guadalupe, #B6-306
Mesa, AZ 85202

APPROVED PAINT COLORS:
BASE COLORS: (Dunn Edwards or equivalent)
Pheasant, Baja White, Desert Dawn,
Navajo White, Bone China
If the house will be all one color, then no ACC approval is needed provided you use an approved Base color. If you are painting the ?“pop-outs??E(raised stucco surrounding the windows and/or garage) an approved trim color, then you do not need to submit an ACC form.

TRIM COLORS:
Original Cinnamon, Briar, Dry Earth, Adobe South
ROOF TILE = Monier #1604 or equivalent Lifetile #108

To review these colors call Frank at 926-4412 (Stonecreek Resident). You may review the chips in his home or checked out to review at your home. Please respect Frank as a fellow homeowner and contact him only between the hours of 10 am-8 PM, Monday-Friday. Leave a message if you get his answering machine.

If you choose a different color than those approved by the ACC, then you must submit an ACC form with a large sample of the color you wish to use. You must allow 45 days for approval of a new color.

Homeowners have painted the following locations if you would like to drive by and check them out.
543 N. Quartz street (Baja White, trim cinnamon) new
1326 E. Mineral - Desert Dawn (no trim)
1414 E. Mineral - Bone China with Dry Earth
1501 E. Commerce - Desert Dawn with Dry Earth

NEWSLETTER DEADLINE:
August 15 is the deadline for all information to be in the next issue. (1268 E. Laurel Ave., Gilbert, AZ 85234.)
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ATTN: All Homeowners
On the first Wednesday of each month, Top Notch Pest Control will service the inside and outside of your home for only $20.00 (Reg price $30)
** BEE CONTROL AVAILABLE **
(602) 463-3995
----------------------------------------
We Sell Stonecreek...
More than any other agent over the past 10 years!
Bill & Cindy Flowers, Assoc. Broker, CRS
Your Gilbert Realtors since 1981
Realty Executives
1420 N. Greenfield Road
Gilbert, Arizona 85234
(480) 545-9300
FlowersGetResults.com
Flowers@Realtor.com
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(480) 987-5625
Fabricators of Fine Window Coverings
Horizontals, Verticals, Etc.
Free Estimates
Call Bob, Elaine or Korby
Family owned & operated
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CALL 892-5216 for Ad Information
(Ask for the Newsletter Publisher)
We thank our Advertisers
(entered 7/25/2000)