Vol. 6
•
Fall, 2014
No. 3
MICROBURST AND RECORD STORMS FINLEY FARMS SOUTH AND HOMEOWNERS HIT HARD. TWICE. As many of you know, this has been a rough year, a record year, for rainstorms. In July, we had a microburst that knocked down over 15 trees. Within less than an hour after the storm, HOA Board Members walked the property and had our landscape mgmt. company here clearing the streets and the worst damage. So far the cost equals $10,000 in damages, several walls and quite a few mature trees. We know homeowners lost trees and property as well. ELS had work crews out here the same night and early the next morning to clear roads and sidewalks, and also quickly removed the stumps over a couple of weeks. Continued on back >>
WHAT’S INSIDE? • Dues increase for 2015 • Our Annual BBQ in the Park is coming: Saturday, Nov. 15 at 11am-2pm at the Tot Lot park off of Columbus • FFS Garage Sale Day: October 25 • What to do about barking dogs? • Parking rules
“MOST ORIGINAL CHILI” A CHILLED TROPICAL FRUIT CHILI RECIPE! Don’t miss it! >
REPAIRS AND TREE REPLACEMENT Big sections of walls are being repaired due to age/cracking. The areas that have been fixed so far include west of Columbus to the SRP Basin, areas in the SRP basin, along Mesquite west of Sagebrush to Val Vista and more. Please be aware that if you have a tree in your yard near a common wall that is lifting the wall or causing it to crack, you may be asked to remove it, cut the roots running to the wall or be fined for repairs. Please also be aware that if your summer sprinkler schedule is causing the common walls to stay wet, mildew or deteriorate, you may be held responsible for 50% OF THE COST OF REPAIRS. This is not a new policy, but has been in effect for two years now. We expect every homeowner to check, and monitor, their irrigation and it’s effect on common property.
See all upcoming events inside, or visit finleyfarmssouth hoa.com, or keep up-to-date on Facebook: http://groups.to/finleyfarms/
Congratulations on being Gilbert’s Community of the Year, and also Best Common Landscaping for HOAs our size in the state from Arizona Landscape Contractors Association!
ANNOUNCEMENT OF DUES INCREASE FOR 2015
As you may be aware, we have gone four years without an HOA increase. This has been largely due to careful spending, wise management and the ability to limit our use of outside legal firms for collections (which saves both individual homeowners and the HOA a lot of money when homeowners have trouble or are in arrears). Our landscaping and management companies have also withheld increasing our fees.
The $1.00 a month increase is necessary due to large amounts of wall repairs and rebuilding we are having to do, repairing irrigation, tree trimming expenses, removal and replacement of diseased trees, and increases to water and electricity for 2015. If you have questions regarding the increase, or our financials, please come to our monthly Homeowners meeting which will cover this information for homeowners.
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You will be receiving notice of the $1.00 a month increase for 2015.
RECIPE FROM OUR Chili & RiB COOKOFF
CHILLED TROPICAL FRUIT CHILI
ANNUAL BBQ IN THE PARK Please RSVP at finleyfarmssouth@wearevision.com the number of residents who will be attending, and join us at the tot lot park off of Columbus, just north of Warner for free barbeque lunch and soda courtesy of the HOA at 11:00am, on Saturday, November 15, 2014. Games, contests, bounce houses,... Don’t miss out on the fun!
NO YARD OF THE QUARTER THIS ISSUE We take submissions year-round for those yards you believe best represent Finley Farms South. Next quarter will be our Christmas Lights Contest. Email nominees’ address or your photos to: finleyfarmssouth@wearevision.com or post them to Facebook!
Resident judged and awarded first place in our 3rd Annual Chili and Rib Cookoff to Mario Colecchia for Most Original Recipe.
Tropical Fruit Chili Ingredients:
1.5 cups fruit juice mix (A variety such as peach, orange, mango, pineapple) 6 cups fresh fruit, cubed (Consider mango, pineapple, peach, kiwi, strawberry) 1 Tbsp chili powder 1 Tbsp cinnamon 1 Tbsp Tabasco Sauce 1 cup coconut milk 1 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup lime juice 3 oz Tequila Whipped cream for garnish Mint leaves for garnish
Method: Combine fruit juices, chili powder, cinnamon, and tequila in a sauce pan. Simmer for 15 minutes and then cool. Stir in Tabasco sauce, coconut milk, brown sugar, and lime juice. Add cubed fruit and marinate for 4 to 24 hours. Serve chilled with a dollop of whipped cream and a mint leaf.
Don’t forget our
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS CONTEST! NOV 24 - DEC 14
BOARD of DIRECTORS President Paul Gonzales Vice President Tanner Larsen Treasurer Jonathan Bailey Board Members Rebecca Field Rita Mayer Mark Sequeira Larry Weaver Email: FinleyFarmsSouth@ WeAreVision.com Jen Amundson Community Mgr. (480) 759-4945 9633 South 48th St. Suite #150 Phoenix, AZ 85048 Emergency Pager After hours please call (480) 759-4945 When prompted, select Option 5 http://www.finley farmssouthhoa.com
We also have a resident-only group on Facebook! Join it at Finley Farms South, - Gilbert, AZ. DESIGN: MJASTUDIOS
COMPLAINTS ABOUT BARKING DOGS
PARKING - STICKERS - FINES - TOWING
We have had numerous complaints about barking dogs. Need help?
Enforcement: We are still receiving complaints about PART ONE:neighbors parked illegally in the street.
I know most pet owners in our community are trying to be good neighbors, sometimes they aren't home when the dog is barking - Maybe a stray cat is making the dog(s) go crazy. Spending a little time actually getting to know your neighbors is always a good first bet. (No one ever wants the police called on them.) Still the mediation group, "Solve It" (Part of the Leadership Centre) may also be able to help you. Some of the Board have met them and they are good people.
Please be aware that it is against HOA rules and CC&Rs to park in the street. We reserve the right to call a tow truck to remove unwanted/illegally parked cars.
http://mywebport.org/published/l/ea/leadership/home /5/ or: http://www.azcentral.com/community/gilbert/articles/20110708southeast-valley-program-helps-mediate-dog-noise-complaints.html
If you do not wish to pay impound fees, do not ignore warning stickers! A noticeable effect of our security partols has been less vandalism, graphitti, break-ins, adolescents hanging out late night in the park(s), etc. throughout the community. Of course, there have been some instances where the patrol has startled a homeowner late at night. Or asked those sitting for long periods if they reside in Finley Farms (for our resident’s safety). We apologize for any inconvenience and hope the good outweighs the bad. See back for more >>
Cut out and post near the phone or on your refrigerator
FINLEY FARMS SOUTH HOA - WWW.FINLEYFARMSSOUTHHOA.COM • FFS Community Garage Sale: Saturday, October 25th • Community Food Drive: Friday, October 25th (See Facebook for details!) • FFS FALL BBQ IN THE PARK: Saturday, November 15, 11-2pm (RSVP) • Christmas Lights Contest: November 25th thru December 14th. is every Wednesday Please do not put out bins before the night prior. Bring bins in the next day before nightfall. Please put bins in the street against the curb. Do not block sidewalks.
TRASH DAY
is picked up on Friday mornings and should be put out THURSDAY EVENING OR EARLY FRI. For what can go into recycling, go to: www.ci.gilbert.az.us/pw/recycling.cfm
RECYCLING
BULK TRASH is picked up the week of the third Monday of the month. NOT the third week of the month. People putting out bulk trash before the Saturday night prior will be fined.
BULK PICKUP: ✓ Oct 20 ✓ Nov 17 ✓ Dec 15 ✓ Jan 19
PLEASE HELP US KEEP OUR STREETS AND COMMUNITY CLEAN!
IMPORTANT #911 Police: 480-503-6500 (non-emergency) Fire: 480-503-6300 Water Conservation: 480-503-6098 PublicWorks (trash/street lights): 480-503-6400 Poison: 1-800-222-1222 SRP: 602-236-3333 Vision Management: 480-759-4945 (24-hour above#: press 5)
IT’S FALL - PLEASE ADJUST YOUR IRRIGATION/SPRINKLERS TO PROTECT COMMON WALLS!
Check or adjust your sprinklers and check for backyard block wall dampness/damage. If stucco or paint on common walls gets damaged or miscolored due to overwatering, homeowners will be billed for those repairs.
...for the Finley Farms South Annual Picnic/BBQ in the Park, Nov. 15, 11:00am-2:00pm - It’s FREE!
PARKING - STICKERS - FINES - TOWING Parents and teams found parking illegally will have their usage permit rescinded.
PART TWO: Regarding parking on Columbus for sports, use of the tot lot, youth sports. It is illegal to park on Columbus in front of the tot lot. Violators have been (and will be) asked to leave. Note that if you see violators, please let the board at FinleyFarmsSouth@WeAreVision.com or Vision Management. There is a real danger to children crossing the street when cars are parked blocking the view of drivers on Columbus. Youth sports teams will have their permit to play in our parks revoked for violation of this policy, and homeowners will receive a warning letter/could be fined. Please also be considerate of neighbors when parking on side streets. Litter, blocked driveways and noise are the most common complaints. The Finley Farms South HOA Board is happy to provide opportunities to participate in youth sports, while mitigating noise and parking concerns of nearby residents. Sports activities in the park(s) must be approved prior by the Board and is limited to 2 days a week, in each of the three parks/open spaces we have.
STORM DAMAGE (Cont.) We have submitted a claim to our property insurance company. Besides microburst damage we’ve also had problems with a number of trees this year. We have finished a complete assessment of all the trees on the property, and are in process of trimming back, feeding, monitoring, removing and replacing trees throughout Finley Farms South. Twenty new trees are also going in this Fall.