Wednesday, March 28, 2018

New Autumn Walk Entrance Sign

Autumn Walk has a new entrance sign!

At the Annual Meeting on October 30, 2017 the Board selected a design similar to the other signs in Emerson because the price was the most reasonable and the area was deemed too small for a wall.


The sign vendor included the quill pen in the Emerson logo (which hearkens back to Emerson's namesake, the writer Ralph Waldo Emerson) even though we had omitted it because it was supposed to cost extra as a custom design, so that was an unexpected bonus. The stone accent at the bottom was also a free option.

Our HOA is presently trying to decide how to landscape the area around the base and expect to have that area repaired and cleaned up within a few weeks.


The total price exceeded the target budget slightly once bids were received and permit fees were included, but our HOA is still very healthy financially, with reserves ahead of schedule for our major future expenses.

And the relative lack of snow this winter means our snow removal budget was largely untapped (though weather is so unpredictable a future winter could always exceed its budget).

For those interested, the pictures below show the entrance monument sign in various stages of construction:

Monday, March 26, 2018

Emerson HOA Board Meeting 3/26/18

Attendees:
  1. Emerson Board: 
    • Nancy Tucker (Howard Hughes Corp.)
    • Erica Root-Cikanek
    • Feleke Eshete
    • Unable to attend: 
      • Knott Realty Representative
      • Narsimha Doma
  1. CMC Management:
    • Steffanie Felder Nollie
    • Heather McGreevy
  1. Residents: Approx. 7 in attendance
Summary:
  • Resident Forum: dog waste stations, commercial vehicles
  • Committees need volunteers, especially Safety
  • Swimming Pool to open full-time May 26 (there will be no early opening dates)
  • Clubhouse Renovation Update
  • Emerson Finances very healthy, intend to lower assessment rate again
  • Yoga Class approved for Clubhouse (10 weeks)
  • Draft FY19 Budget to be prepared by 4/22/18, approved 5/21/18
  • Emerson wants to revitalize Committees
    • Possible Committee Night
    • Also potentially seek an intern to update web site

Meeting Details:

Thursday, March 15, 2018

Forest Conservation Easements

One of the distinguishing characteristics of Howard County is the extensive 2600 acres set aside as green open space that supports a wide variety of wildlife and also plays a critical role in floodwater management.

(According to Howard County, soil beneath a mature forest can absorb 14 times the stormwater of a mowed grass lawn.)

Reforestation Areas
Since the 1970s new developments in Howard County have been required to set a certain percentage of their land area aside for open space.

Included within that preserved land are forest conservation easements managed by Howard County Recreation and Parks, though this only directly affects a few of our houses in Autumn Walk.


Sometimes also called reforestation areas, these tree-filled lands are embedded within our communities, but as a rule neither homeowners nor HOAs are permitted to alter them.

Storm Damage (Maintenance of Reforestation Areas)
Last month Winter Storm Riley's highly unusual sustained winds of over 30 mph (with gusts over 70 mph) toppled trees in the rain-softened ground throughout the region, as well as taking off shingles, siding, and other exterior items.

The question arose prior to the storm of who can address storm-related issues in the reforestation areas:

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Autumn Walk (Early) Spring Update

80-degree days in February make it feel like Spring has already arrived, so here's a quick (Early) Spring 2018 Update:
  • Autumn Walk Welcome Committee
  • Spring Clean-Up
  • Autumn Walk Entrance Sign Construction
  • Stephens Road Bridge Project
If you have any other ideas or see issues that need to be addressed, please contact us at autumnwalkhoa@gmail.com.



1. Welcome Committee

The new Autumn Walk Welcome Committee put together a lovely basket for our newest neighbors Melody and Jim, to make sure they are welcomed to our community.