Annual Pontoon Slip Drawing – 2015

Drawing Results:

Slip #   Homeowner
1. McManus
2. Erskine
3. Allen
4. Gauthier
5. Patton
6. Alex
7. Phillips
8. Milliken
9. Slothover
10. Romes
11. Walmroth
12. Flynn
Alternate: Armour
=====

 

To: All eligible homeowners in the Strawberry Hill Estates and Strawberry Point Bluffs subdivisions
From: Joint Access Committee for Strawberry Point Bluffs and Strawberry Hill Estates Homeowners Associations

Pontoon Slip Drawing
Tuesday February 24, 2015
7:00 p.m.
Hamburg Township Library – Room B

This lottery is conducted pursuant to the rules adopted by the Joint Access Committee, in conjunction with the Boards of Directors of the Strawberry Hills Estates and the Strawberry Point Bluffs Homeowners Associations.

Either you, or your proxy, must be present to win and must be prepared to make a donation to the Park Access Committee at the drawing to confirm an assigned boat slip. If you have questions regarding eligibility and other requirements, review the rules on this web site (link below) or contact a member of your Board of Directors.

Please review the drawing rules, especially rules regarding eligibility as an Association Member In Good Standing. Years ago a neighbor was prevented from participating at the drawing due to unpaid dues. Check with your Treasurer to prevent any misunderstanding. You can find the rules here:

http://www.strawberryhillestates.org/?p=24

Joint Access Committee

Oak Wilt Disease, and Hammock Theft on Gallagher

This comment from Anne Swanson was hidden on the website under “Lost & Found.” Please note her information on Oak Wilt Disease. If you want to see a frightening example of how the disease spreads from one infected oak to another, look at the trees at the corner of Gallagher and Strawberry Hill Lane. Started with one infected tree, one month later there were two, now there are three.

 

Be warned! Our hammock was stolen from the yard recently. Theft and trespassing continues!

Contact me if you want free tree saplings of various sizes and species. You dig. Fall is a good time to plant. Cercis canadensis(Redbud)and Tilia americana (Basswood)are available and recommended highly for our area. Other stuff is available too.

The following oak wilt disease(fungal)information is from Gretchen Voyle, specialist with MSU extension and Lynn M. Steiner’s book “Landscaping with Native Plants of Michigan.” Red oaks can die in about 3 weeks. White oaks take 2-3 years. By the time we see symptoms it’s too late. It’s spread by root grafts. 80% of the roots are in 18-20″ of soil. The roots go 2-3 times farther out than the longest branch spread so if one side branch is 25′ than major roots are at least 50-75′ out. A circle of 100′ or more has roots. Insects infect trees by entering wounds caused by pruning or by root damage during construction. Don’t prune oaks while insects are most active, from April 1 to July 1. Oak wilt is mainly a problem with native stands. Trenching is not a scientific deal and causes root damage—it won’t really help. Injection must be used yearly and only prevents but won’t cure. Use a certified arborist for injections. Lets hope many trees are spared!

Anne Swanson
September 11, 2014

Bluffs Annual Homeowners Meeting – 2014

STRAWBERRY POINT BLUFFS

SUBDIVISION HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION

2014 ANNUAL MEETING NOTICE

 

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Annual Meeting of the Association will be held on Monday, April 28, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. at the Hamburg Senior Community Center. There are no new business items to discuss.  Please see the Agenda below for more information.

Please keep in mind that it takes a minimum of 25 households to establish a quorum.  Your attendance is needed, and will give you an excellent opportunity to meet with your neighbors and to voice any concerns or suggestions you may have.  Please mark the date for the meeting on your calendar. We look forward to seeing you there.

NOTE:  The Board is in need of new members.  The current Board has many members that have held these responsibilities for several years now and it is time for other members of the Association to step up and take responsibility.  The order of replacement based on longevity is as follows:  Tricia Erskine, George Rogers, Don Houston, Leonard Dorazio, Tracy Uguccioni, Christopher Brehm.

Your Annual Dues Statement is enclosed.  Please remit your dues promptly.  The current dues are $50. At this time the Board does not see any need for a special assessment. The Access Committee has requested that the dues be increased by $50.00 to support improvements to Strawberry Park.  If you feel inclined to help with this please make a voluntary contribution and the proceeds will be given to the Access Committee and we will recognize your generosity.

 

AGENDA

Call to order
a. Roll call of members present
Report of the Secretary
Report of the Treasure
Report of the President
Old Business
a. Funding improvements at Strawberry Park
b. Deeded rights to the park
c. Need for new Board members
New Business
a. Any business that may come before the Board
Adjournmnt

 

Election of New Board Members:

The Board currently consists of six members.  Three members must be lakeside property owners and three must be non-lakeside property owners.  We have six current and potential members and will need to vote.  We will take nominations from the floor.

 

Name Position Side Term Expires
George Rogers President Non-Lakeside 2013
Don Houston Vice President Non- Lakeside 2014
Tracy Uguccioni Treasurer Lakeside 2014
Leonard Dorazio  Secretary Lakeside 2014
Tricia Erskine Trustee Non-Lakeside 2013
Christopher Brehm Trustee Lakeside 2014

 

Standing Elections:

We welcome the nomination of any community member that would like to join the Board for the 2014-2016 term.

 

Estates Annual Homeowners Meeting – 2014

Strawberry Hill Estates Homeowners Association
Annual Meeting Announcement

Your attendance at the annual meeting is appreciated. One-third of the Members in good standing are required for a voting quorum.

Subject: Annual Meeting
Date: Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Time: 7:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Location: Hamburg Township Senior Center

Agenda:

  • Roll Call of the Membership (President)
  • Minutes of 2013 Meeting (Secretary)
  • Treasurer’s Report (Treasurer)
    • Accounts report and dues payment summary
    • Legal fee payment from lawsuit report
  • Report on vote for Beach maintenance
  • New Business
    • Other topics as raised by the membership during the meeting.
  • Election of Directors
    • Please contact Mary McLaughlin (734-646-5363 or memc@ieee.org) in advance of the meeting to nominate someone for a Director position. Process is described at: www.strawberryhillestates.org. Note: Advance nomination is required in the bylaws and must be received 15 days prior to the meeting. Please call Mary if you have questions.
    • Current Directors and respective Board Officer positions; all have been re-nominated:
      • Treasurer – Craig Mestach
      • Vice President and Secretary – Mary McLaughlin
      • President – David Walmroth
  • Close

 

Dues Reminder: Payment of 2014 dues is due prior to the meeting start in order to be able to vote. Dues are $75, and mailing your payments to the address below in advance is appreciated. Please make checks payable to Strawberry Hill Estates Homeowners Association and mail in to the below address. If you have any questions about your dues, contact Craig Mestach at 734-417-9224.

Strawberry Hill Estates Homeowners Association
P. O. Box 833
Hamburg, MI 48139-0833

Annual Pontoon Slip Drawing – 2014

Drawing Results:

Slip #   Homeowner
1. McManus
2. Erskine
3. Gauthier
4. Patton
5. Armour
6. Phillips
7. White
8. Alex
9. Allen
10. Anderson/Grob
11. Walmroth
12. Flynn
Alternate: Landis
=====

To: All eligible homeowners in the Strawberry Hill Estates and Strawberry Point Bluffs subdivisions
From: Joint Access Committee for Strawberry Point Bluffs and Strawberry Hill Estates Homeowners Associations

Pontoon Slip Drawing
Tuesday February 25, 2014
7:00 p.m.
Hamburg Township Library – Room B

This lottery is conducted pursuant to the rules adopted by the Joint Access Committee, in conjunction with the Boards of Directors of the Strawberry Hills Estates and the Strawberry Point Bluffs Homeowners Associations.

Either you, or your proxy, must be present to win and must be prepared to make a donation to the Park Access Committee at the drawing to confirm an assigned boat slip. If you have questions regarding eligibility and other requirements, review the rules on this web site (link below) or contact a member of your Board of Directors.

Please review the drawing rules, especially rules regarding eligibility as an Association Member In Good Standing. Three years ago a neighbor was prevented from participating at the drawing due to unpaid dues. Check with your Treasurer to prevent any misunderstanding. You can find the rules here:

http://www.strawberryhillestates.org/?p=24

Joint Access Committee

Swanson’s Sledding Hill Closes

After providing winter thrills to over three decades of neighborhood children, the Gallagher Road sledding hill is closed. Anne Swanson called me yesterday and requested this website posting to explain the action.

For over thirty years the Swansons carried liability insurance to cover any accident that may occur on their adjacent vacant parcel. This year their insurance company required a dramatic increase in liability coverage, to be accompanied by an equally dramatic increase in premiums. Anne deeply regrets that it is no longer feasible to carry that special coverage, and as a result children are not permitted to sled down Swanson Hill. She hopes that her neighbors will understand the unwelcome decision that the Swansons had to make. Any children who arrive at the hill will be asked to leave.

Boards of Directors, Access Committee members – 2014/15

The board members for the 2014-2015 term are:

Strawberry Point Bluffs

President, Dave Swanson – Lakeside
Vice President, Del Law – Non-lakeside
Treasurer, Tracy Uguccioni – Lakeside
Secretary, Carla Dalrymple – Lakeside
Trustee, Tricia Erskine – Non-lakeside
Trustee, Don Houston – Non-lakeside

Strawberry Hill Estates

President, David Walmroth
Vice President, Mary McLaughlin 810.299-2222
Treasurer, Craig Mestach 734.417.9224
Secretary, Mary McLaughlin 810.299-2222

The Park, Joint Access Committee

Bluffs representative, Del Law
Estates representative, Mary McCaughlin
Park Treasurer, Lori Lawrence
Member-at-large, Cheryl Houston

Access Committee Report and Plan – 2013, UPDATE June 21, 2013

Neighbors:  The Parks Committee has worked for a year and a half to come up with a budget and plan that meets the maintenance needs at the beach and that answers the concerns of our neighbors.

We have reduced the annual fee significantly from what we had originally envisioned:  to $50 per year per household per year.  We have increased the pontoon fee to $450, payable in two installments.

We know there are some passionate voices in favor, some passionate voices still against, and many people who are relatively neutral.  We want to hear from everyone, not just the particularly vocal voices.

We want the *DEMOCRATIC PROCESS* to prevail in terms of moving forward. Please cast your ballot on whether you will support the $50 increase in fees to support the park, or not.

THE PROCESS:  The Estates will vote at our meeting on 6/25 or by Proxy for people who can’t attend the meeting.  The Bluffs Association is not having a meeting.  Bluffs homeowners can still vote on the Association fee increase of $50.  We hope you do so either by dropping off your ballot or by stopping by the Estates meeting on 6/25 at 7:00 p.m. at the Senior Center.  There are vote forms on the sign on the road and one can be brought to you by sending an email to the Parks Committee.  Proxies and ballots can be dropped off at 10630 Indianola or 10727 Strawberry Hill Lane.

Thanks,
The Park Committee

 

===== Archived message from May 21, 2013 follows =====

The Park Committee has worked very hard taking input from everyone,
getting quotes for expenses and doing many iterations of the budget.  We
appreciate the many encouraging comments that helped us as we continued
in the work to keep our neighborhood beautiful.

SUMMARY:  There is a new budget online.  The ‘short story’ is that we’re
asking everyone to approve a $50 increase in the Association dues
targeted to our beach for deferred and ongoing maintenance reflected in
the budget.  We will increase the pontoon lottery to $450, with the
option for the winners to pay part at the lottery itself, and part in
August.  The pontoon slips are not at the cost of a full marina since we
do not have marina amenities (security, lights, etc.)  Also, the
resolution for vote will be very specific on managing the funds
including transparency in the budget preparation and reporting on
expenditures.

COMPARISONS:  A number of people asked what other neighborhood
associations pay.  Attached is information for 28 local subdivisions.
The average is $219 a year.  If the 1 most expensive and 1 of the least
expensive are excluded, the average is $185 per year.  Portage Lake has
a common beach much like ours with a boat moorings, lakefront and
non-lakefront houses, and there, off-lake homes pay $225 annually and
lake-front pay $200.  They don’t have a pontoon lottery.  So our
proposal is *FAR* below the average Association fee, and our pontoon
owners pay more.

VOTING:  The Estates Association in the neighborhood will vote tomorrow
at our Annual Meeting.  The Bluffs will need to schedule a vote, so we
will ask the Bluffs board president to do so.  More on that process later.

****ESTATES RESIDENTS*****

Please try to attend the meeting so we can record your vote.  If you are
unable to attend, you just need to give your proxy to someone else.

The Park Committee is happy to answer any questions.  (Except Jeff White
whose wife is having a baby *today*!)

Mary Eileen McLaughlin
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Park Budget, v21, June 2013 – SPREADSHEET

Park Budget, v21, June 2013 – PDF FILE

 

Brief History Plan – 2013
Detailed Beach History and Plan – 2013
Access Committee Role and Responsibilities

Average Association Fee.DPF