Spring Trails - February 2022 by Peel, Inc.

THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE SPRING TRAILS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION ISSUE 2

VOL 4

The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members."

-Coretta Scott King

One of the most prevalent attributes of living in Spring Trails is our sense of community. Residents coming together to achieve a common goal, to help others, and to improve our way of life. Through the efforts of resident volunteers, Spring Trails enjoys beautiful clean green spaces, community gardens, and special little areas to observe and appreciate nature’s gifts. Many of the activities enjoyed by Spring Trails families would not be possible if not for the efforts of resident volunteers. Have you been wondering how to get involved in community programs? Well 2022 is the year for you! •

All year Spring Trails will be celebrating our 20-year anniversary with fun family activities, special events and unique opportunities to create long lasting memories.

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Maybe you’re more interested in the business end of Spring Trails… Architectural Review, Board of Directors, Foundation?

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And there’s always room for more when it comes to beautification initiatives… gardens, community clean ups, reforestation.

Make 2022 the year you take that first step…or maybe you’ve been looking for an excuse to jump back in. Whatever the case, there’s a place for you. Contact the Board through the website Request Manager. Together we’ll identify the opportunity that best fits your interests.

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Turtles Crossing

Recycling Event

Garden Grow

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MUD Trails 94 - February 2022 Spring PAGE 7

Spring Trails - February 2022

Community Contact Information INFRAMARK

February 1st – MUD 94 Board Meeting February 2nd – Recycle Pick Up February 11th – Heavy Trash Pick Up February 16th – Recycle Pick Up February 17th – HOA Board Meeting February 18th – Conroe ISD staff day (no students) February 21st – Conroe ISD holiday March 1st – MUD 94 Board Meeting March 2nd – Recycle Pick Up March 11th – Heavy Trash Pick Up March 11th - Conroe ISD staff day (no students) March 12th – Computer/Electronics Recycling Drop Off March 14-18 - Conroe ISD holiday March 16th – Recycle Pick Up March 17th – HOA Board Meeting March 19th – Spring Community Garage Sale Find details for these and other upcoming activities on the Spring Trails website Calendar.

HOA Updates Board of Directors Dr. Cedric Cloud resigned his position on the Board of Directors effective January 9th. Cedric was appointed to the Board in December 2020. His thoughtful and fresh ideas added new perspective to community planning and strategy discussions. On behalf of Spring Trails the Board extends a sincere thank you to Cedric and his family for their dedication and service to our community.

2022 Events The Board of Directors has released the community event schedule for 2022. • Computer/Electronics Recycling (March) • Spring Community Garage Sale (March) • Movie Night (April) • Document Shred Event (April) • Family Fun Day (June) • Independence Day Community Picnic (July) • Fall Community Garage Sale (September) • Market Day (October) • Winter Festival (December) A number of special events will be announced throughout the year in honor of Spring Trails’ 20th anniversary. New 2022 pool/event wristbands will be required for all community events. Distribution will be announced as supplies become available. Check the Spring Trails website and Facebook page and watch for eblast notifications for more details. Copyright © 2022 Peel, Inc.

(Spring Trails Property Management).................. 281.870.0585 SPRING TRAILS HOA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Request Manager through www.springtrails.com LEANNE KESSLER ROGER OLSEN JERRY RUESCHHOFF MARK ZIMMERHANZEL MONTGOMERY COUNTY MUD 94 MUD 94/Board of Directors........................ www.mcmud94.com MUD 94 / H2O Innovations (water and sewer)..... 281.355.1312 MUD 94/Republic Services (trash & recycle pickup).713.726.7300 SCHOOLS Sue Park Broadway Elementary.......................... 281.367.4677 Cox Intermediate School...................................... 281.465.3200 York Junior High School....................................... 832.592.8600 Grand Oaks High School...................................... 281.939.0000 Conroe I.S.D. Administration................................ 936.709.7752 ALL EMERGENCIES – 911 NON-EMERGENCY SERVICES Law Enforcement (Sheriff or Constable).936.760.5800 & press 3 Fire (South Montgomery Fire Department).......... 281.363.3473 EMS (Montgomery County Hospital District)........ 936.523.5000 Grand Oaks High School...................................... 281.939.0000 Conroe I.S.D. Administration................................ 936.709.7752 MONTGOMERY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Montgomery County............................................. 936.756.0571 Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack............... 936.539.7817 Sheriff Rand Henderson....................................... 936.760.5871 Constable Ryan Gable..........................................281.364.4211 VISIT THE SPRING TRAILS WEBSITE FOR LINKS TO THESE AND OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICE PROVIDERS

Advertising Information

PUBLISHER Peel, Inc.............................www.PEELinc.com, 512.263.9181 Advertising.....................................advertising@PEELinc.com

Newsletter Information Please support the advertisers that make Spring Trails newsletter possible. If you would like to support the newsletter by advertising, please contact our sales office at 512.263.9181 or advertising@PEELinc. com. The advertising deadline is the 8th of the month prior to the issue. Spring Trails - February 2022

SPRING TRAILS

Turtles Crossing – What’s happening? Contributed by Jerry Rueschhoff

DID YOU KNOW? There are floodgates controlling storm water backflow Now in the meantime, a well-intentioned person or persons has and surges at the bridge on Spring Trails Bend. Spring Creek collects storm water run-off from as far away as Waller, Texas (approx. 50 miles). A severe storm upstream can send a flood surge downstream and back up into our Turtle Creek. The floodgates prevent the water surge from entering the community’s storm water drainage system and minimizes flood risk to our Spring Trails neighborhoods. A unique situation occurred during the recent desilting project… the turtles of Turtle Creek began finding new routes between the upper and lower sections of Turtle Creek. With the gates normally closed, the turtles are climbing out of the creek bank and crossing Spring Trails Bend. Many of the turtles are successful, but some are being hit by passing cars. Concerned for our turtle community, the Nature Center was contacted for some direction. The Nature Center assured us the turtles will naturally seek alternate routes in search of food. Over time the turtles will adjust to the new environment. But the adjustment period could take several months.

Spring Trails - February 2022

decided that if the floodgates are propped open the turtles will be saved. This has occurred several times in recent weeks. This is not only illegal but if the flood gates are propped open they will not protect the neighborhoods from flash flooding or storm surge.

SO WHAT CAN BE DONE? First, if you are the well-intentioned person...STOP PROPPING THE GATES OPEN! Your actions could cause the floodgates to fail and Spring Trails homeowners to suffer water damage needlessly. Instead, SPREAD THE WORD. Slow down, be aware and if you see turtles in the road, STOP and let them pass or assist them to safer ground? Let’s work together as a community to ensure the safety of our neighborhoods while also protecting our environment.

SPRING TRAILS

E-Waste Recycling Event Do you have old computers, laptops, and printers piling up in the garage or storage unit? Is your junk drawer full of outdated cell phones, chargers and cords? Well help is here. Spring Trails and Myriad Tek have partnered to offer a FREE, ONSITE collection event for residents to responsibly dispose of those old, outdated, or broken electronics.

TO DO: •

Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 12th

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Gather up all those unwanted/unneeded computers, laptops, printers, cell phones, chargers and similar electronics (no televisions, CRT monitors, or commercial printers please)

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Load the devices in your trunk or back seat and drive to the Visitors Center parking lot March 12th between noon-3:00 pm.

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Staff with Myriad Tek will be onsite to unload your electronics while you wait safely in your car.

Visit www.myriadtekservice.com for a list of accepted items and exceptions.

Kindness is Contagious Pass it On

RAK (random act of kindness): Help someone unload their shopping cart into their car. Don’t pass up an opportunity to help someone struggling to load their groceries or hardware supplies into their car. Take a few minutes and lend them a hand. RAK Bonus: Return the shopping cart to the nearest cart corral…and maybe pick up a second on the way.

Visit Spring Trails’ Facebook page to learn of upcoming events and meetings, updates on community developments, activities and projects, invitations to volunteer, and general fun facts and photos. Search @springtrails and join the Spring Trails Facebook community.

Spring Trails - February 2022

SPRING TRAILS

How Does Your Garden Grow? Contributed by Roger Olsen

February, when there is no arctic freeze like last year, is a good time to begin to prepare lawns for a healthy summer when warmseason grasses come out of dormancy and begin to green up. But wait, your lawn seems dead and lifeless? Not so. Your lawn is merely asleep and may continue to do so for another month or two but GET READY NOW! A great source for understanding your lawn and doing the right things to care for it is the Texas A&M Agrilife website. Don’t be afraid to go there and get smart about how to care for your lawn and reap the benefits of lower water use and a healthier lawn overall. Some basic tips to get you started: 1) Core aerate your lawn at least every 2 years. Best to do this in March. Get together with your neighbors and rent a core aerator or have a service do the job for you. The roots of your lawn need oxygen and water to survive, and microbes need oxygen to be productive and create healthy soil; 2) Fertilizer- look for a fertilizer WITHOUT weedkiller if you are going to spread it under your trees. I know it is tempting to use the combined 6

Spring Trails - February 2022

product but it will go easier on your yard trees if the weedkiller is not sucked up by their roots. No trees? No problem- use the combined product but FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS for application. Better yet, spot treat weeds with a weedkiller for use on your type of lawn which is “Southern Lawns” in most cases. You can find products at your local DIY store in concentrate for use with a garden sprayer or automatic dispensers that attach to a garden hose; 3) Water- grass species require different amounts of water. Go to the A&M Agrilife website for tips on your type of lawn. Again, most of us have plain old St Augustine turf. FLASH! There are now “smart” irrigation management systems (EPA WaterSense approved) that use local rain forecast info / heat and humidity data to apply water to your lawn and garden when needed and avoid wasting water if it’s going to rain or has recently rained. But, there is no substitute for the keen eye. During hot weather, your lawn needs 1 inch of water per week in deep watering where the water does not run off into your street. For my lawn, that’s about 2 times per week.

I water twice per day one hour apart to get the water in deep and save water. Last year I installed a “smart” irrigation system which uses weather data for better irrigation management and it significantly improved my water usage and general grass appearance; 4) Mowing- start and maintain your lawn at 2 ½ inches to 3 ½ inches for St Augustine and ½ inch to 2 inches for Bermuda. Keep your blade sharp so the grass is cut, not bludgeoned during mowing. You WILL be able to tell the difference when your blade gets dull- the tips of the grass will be gray or dead looking and give your lawn a water hungry look. Use a mulching blade that will return your expensive fertilizer to your lawn for “recycling”. Don’t bag the clippings! Last but not least, I strongly recommend downloading the pdf version of Maintaining St Augustinegrass Lawns from Texas Agrilife Extension. It gives you major expertise to wisely maintain your lawn and save you $$$. Laminate the document and keep it near wherever your lawn equipment is stored. It’s a quick reference and easy to follow by month. Copyright © 2022 Peel, Inc.

SPRING TRAILS Montgomery County Municipal Utility District No. 94

NOTICE REGARDING CANDIDATE FILING PERIOD Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 141.040, Texas Election Code and Section 49.113, Texas Water Code, each as amended, that in connection with an election to be held for Montgomery County Municipal Utility District No. 94 on May 7, 2022, the period for a candidate to file an application with such authority for a place on the ballot is as follows:

Address to MAIL an application:

First day to file for place on ballot: January 19, 2022

The next election to the Municipal Utility District No. 94, Board of Directors is May 7, 2022.

Last day to file for place on ballot: February 18, 2022 An application for a place on the ballot may be filed as follows:

Physical address for FILING IN PERSON: 1300 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 2400 Houston, Texas 77056 (Office Hours 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

1300 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 2400, Houston, Texas 77056 Attention: Montgomery County Municipal Utility District No. 94 E-MAIL an application: keddlemon@sphllp. com FAX an application: 713-623-6143

Three of the five MUD 94 Board director positions will be filled in this election cycle. To be qualified to serve as a director of the MUD 94 District, a person must be: • at least 18 years of age as of May 7, 2022, • a citizen of the United States, • a resident of the State of Texas,

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and either own land subject to taxation in the District [Spring Trails] or be a qualified voter in the District.

See Section 54.102 of the Texas Water Code, and Section 141.001 of the Texas Election Code for specific details. Candidate applications can be found on the Texas Secretary of State website at: www.sos. state.tx.us/elections/forms/pol-sub/2-21f.pdf Additional filing materials can be found on the Texas Ethics Commission website at: www.ethics.state.tx.us/forms/coh/scohfrm. php Visit the Montgomery County, Municipal Utility District No. 94 (MUD 94) website at www. mcmud94.com for details on Board membership, elections and meetings, water service, trash and recycling services, tax rates, and other useful information.

Spring Trails - February 2022

PO Box 1148 Round Rock, Texas 78680

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Spring Trails - February 2022