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| lakes lifestyles | OCtOBeR 2015 | 3 By George Moyer, SLCC HOA President FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK Here we are in October. First there will be Oktoberfest followed by Halloween, then Thanksgiving, then Christmas and New Year. You probably did not want to hear that, but that's what time of year it is. 2015 has gone by pretty fast, wouldn't you say? One of the things you will be hearing a lot about this time of year is the need for committee volunteers. If you have been thinking about getting involved in the community at an entry level a committee may be just what you are looking for. Committees are important to the ongoing operations of the community. It is their recommendations that the Board relies on in approving rule changes and events. In addition, the Board will often ask for a committee's opinion on an important issue. Many current volunteers have been at it a long time and are looking to pass the torch on to some of the newer residents. You do not need a lot of experience or specific knowledge to be a committee member. You only need a willingness to serve. Please consider applying for one of the committees. It is very simple. You merely go to the administration building and ask the receptionist for an application. Fill it out, and return it. Another thing that happens every October is the approval of the next year's budget. Throughout the past several months there have been many open budget workshops and public discussions relating to the 2016 budget. Although we have done our best to minimize an assessment increase it was inevitable that an increase was going to be necessary to keep Sun Lakes in its current pristine condition, and provide for our future fiscal wellbeing. All in all, given the economic and environmental conditions we feel we are doing our best to keep the increase to a minimal and acceptable level. The Board hopes you agree. An ongoing concern for some residents is the community review being carried out by the Property Services Department and the subsequent number of non-compliance letters being sent. This is not the department manager's fault, or any of her staff. She has been given a job to do and she is doing it in accordance with our CC&Rs, By-Laws, and community rules. It is not any employee's fault that residents have not read and followed the rules. It is not her fault that people have ignored, and even defied the rules of our community. There are individuals who have knowingly and intentionally violated architectural rules, and then have the nerve to file protests when the Master Architectural Committee calls them on the carpet for their actions. This just amazes me. For example, without filing an appropriate application a couple put indoor/outdoor carpet in their front lawn, calling it artificial turf. No samples of the intended material or specification sheets were submitted for review and approval. They just did it. This was six months prior to any state legislation being passed. They knew it was not allowed at the time, but did it anyway, and this is just one example of residents who do not care to comply with the rules they agreed to live by when they moved into Sun Lakes. Can anyone tell me how this makes the Property Services Department the bad guy? To her credit Ms. Killian has begun a pro-active pilot program that has helped residents to remedy minor issues and avoid many violation letters. She has gone out of her way to be as accommodating as the rules will allow. If you receive a courtesy letter from her department I suggest that you contact her to discuss the issue. This is much better than taking a combative and abusive attitude, and will usually result in a better outcome for everyone. I am not one of those people who live and die by the letter of a rule, but I sure like the way our community has been kept up, and I take my hat off to the people charged with keeping it that way. The Planning and Compliance Department is currently conducting the annual Systematic Inspection of the Association designed to identify any violations that may exist at each residence. The department would like to minimize confusion by helping residents identify violations at their home prior to the inspection and also inform them how to correct them. One of the most common violation notices sent out are for various "unapproved modifications" to the exterior of the home. This refers to any modification made without pre-approval by the Master Architectural Committee. Some modifications were builder installed or made by previous owners which is important information that should be relayed to the department so that the property file can be noted appropriately. Unapproved modification violations can be corrected by submitting an application, for review and consideration, to the Master Architectural Committee. The committee meets the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. Another common violation found on most homes is "Encroaching Plant Material." This is any plant material, including tree branches and limbs, which cross neighboring property lines or common area. Most encroaching plant material is easily trimmed back; however, if plant material cannot be trimmed for some reason, residents are encouraged to contact the planning and compliance department so we may provide additional assistance. Please do not hesitate to contact the planning and compliance department should you have any questions pertaining to violations or architectural guidelines and procedures; we will be happy to assist you. ~ Heather Killian CCAM, Planning and Compliance Manager Solar WorkShop: The Sun Lakes Country Club Homeowners Association Board of Directors is conducting a Workshop, on Mon., Oct. 5, at 2 pm in the Main Clubhouse Ballroom, to discuss solar power options for the community. Efforts are being made to have a vendor from the industry present at the meeting. We hope you can join us! Annual Systematic Inspection Information

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