HOA PRESIDENT SPEAKS OUT

I am the Hidden Lakes President and my attempt to share our plight has been constant and tiring. I share any and all information with anyone who will listen, owners and renters. Sharing information has become our last stand to fight the neglect from the builders/owners who rent their properties and don’t pay their dues.
The Board Members are home owners and work in this position as volunteers with the goal of keeping our community in the best possible condition for the whole community. If residents mow and maintain OUR common community areas you reward the builders/owners who are renting or selling their homes at your expense. You are defeating the last and final action that we will have to save our Neighborhood. If you are maintaining these areas it is a short term solution while the builder is collecting funds that should be applied to the HOA budget.
I have been a part of the Board in one form or another since the conception of the board. It was established and determined by the builder Prospect Homes. During 2007 Bill Riley, Prospect Homes was in control and still trying to sell his homes, he was keeping up his responsibilities with the HOA while it was in his best interest. When the housing market fell and they were forced to start renting the Builders stopped supporting the development with the strict ACC rules and all finances stopped coming to the HOA. The Board was dependant on only the homeowners that paid there dues.
Meetings:
During the mid months of 2008 the Hidden Lakes Board went door to door to explain what was happening with the finances and the lack of payments from the builders and many homeowners. Every homeowner and renter was invited to a meeting in the park of which 7 people turned out, 4 were Board Members! Later in the year a formal invitation to the annual Board meeting was sent to all Homeowners and Builders and this was done through Association Services. The weekend before the Annual Board Meeting was to take place, the board went door to door to remind and invite all Hidden Lakes Homeowners of the date and time. The Board rented a hall (with out of pocket money) in anticipation that the homeowners and builders might have an interest about the financial budget for 2009, concerns for the condition of the budget and help try to solve the constant issue of non payment of dues. The turn out to the Annual Board Meeting consisted of 4 Board Members and 2 Homeowners.
If you are a Homeowner where were you?
If you are a renter, you need to talk to your Rental Management Company as they work for the largest non contributing entity affecting our community. Additionally the Board has been informed that each renter is paying a portion of their rent toward the Association Dues. Recently the board had a meeting with the BRC-Homes about bringing his dues current. This meeting resulted in an offer to pay up current only his balance for the 2008 Special Assessment which would be about $3000.00. I asked BRC-Homes what the check amount would be and I asked for a plan of how they intended to bring the outstanding balance current for 2009.
To date the board still has not received an answer to either question.
The owner of Prospect Homes also owns the majority of the rentals under a different company and some of these homes have assessed fees and fines which are all outstanding. The builder expects the HOA Board to accept a minimum check and operate with no possible means to pay bills or bring the development back up to the standard that we all enjoyed.
The landscaper and association management company supported the board and provided services for 2 months without payment in hopes that Hidden Lakes could collect back assessments and in addition to the maintenance and up keep cost the HOA pays for PSE and Insurance for the development at a budget of $5000.00 per month.
Hidden Lakes 2009’s Budget to date has received payments from 29 homeowners.
Do the math!

Feedback From Hidden Lakes

In response to your article on Hidden Lakes, all of us as residents of this neighborhood whether we own our home or rent, need to get out our lawn mowers and blowers and help maintain our common grounds. There has only been a few of us that are doing this so far. If you could run another article asking everyone to do so, our HOA president is not telling anyone what is going on with our money.

Fireworks Ordinance Needs Enforced!

Here we are approaching the 4th and already people are shooting off fireworks around town. I thought we had a law that says they’re only allowed July 4th. And then there is the problems of all the illegal fireworks purchased on the nearby reservations being detonated all over town. It is unsafe, illegal and a nuisance. The streets look like a bomb went off, with all the leftover garbage on July 5th. Local pets are terrorized by the fireworks warzone. Orting has a great community celebration with a safe fireworks display that is incredible out at Lions field. People should save themselves hundreds of dollars in the cost of illegal fireworks and head over to the legal display in town. Law enforcement should be out in full force, issueing tickets for the illegal fireworks craziness happening. It’s gotten so bad, we’re leaving town for a quieter area over the weekend and will enjoy another communities sane and safe annual celebration. We’re not the only ones. I’ve heard numerous others make the same comment.

Change In School Leadership Good

Welcome Michele Curry. We’re looking forward to the improvements you’ll be bringing to our student’s education in Orting. We hope the time of focusing on building new school facilities and remodeling is no longer the top priority under your leadership.  It’s time to get back to the basics and make sure our children are getting the best possible education available. It has been sad to have Orting parents taking  their kids to school districts nearby because they were disatisfied with the quality of education their children were getting here. It’s time to focus on learning, solid core curriculum, great staff. We’re looking forward to seeing the changes and hearing about it from you. We hope you keep the public informed with regular updates submitted to Orting News.

OHS CLASS OF 2009 ROCKS!

Way to go graduates! 127 of you made it and 36 with scholarships totalling $68,850. That is amazing. We are so proud of each of you for this great achievement and will be watching for great things from each of you in the years to come. Now go and make the world a better place. We’re counting on you!

Temple More Qualified

Incumbant Mayor Cheryl Temple has better skills, knowledge, and experience than her opponent. It would have been nice to have more choices in the upcoming election and it is a disappointment to see all the unopposed races

“We will have a new Mayor before you know it”

I am so thrilled to learn that Kim Farns of Round the Corner Cafe and Communities in Schools will be running against Cheryl Temple for Orting’s next Mayor. Best Wishes Kim!

From Smart Lady

Reader Says Carradine Had Orting Ties

Hey just a news tidbit….As you may have seen that David Carradine was found dead in the national news. He actually has connection to Orting. His daughter Calista Carradine lived on Alward Rd. & 177th twenty years ago. His granddaughter Mariah Carridine went to Orting schools. They left the area and I never really heard what happened but she did then appear in some movie things with him. Hard to believe that circles become that small…

Time to make a difference

You have to act now if you want to make a difference. June 5th is the big deadline for submitting your formal intent to actually do something about all those opinions, ideas and advice you have and put some action behind it by signing up to run for office or applying for a key community position. There are several opportunities that need application by June 5th.

Run For Orting Mayor & Open Council Positions If you’ve ever dreamed of being mayor or having the honor of being on the city council and making an impact on your community, now is the time to run for office. Orting has six positions up for election this year. Mayor Cheryl Temple and Councilmembers Scott Drennen, George Wilson, Dick Ford, Nicola McDonald and Joachim Pestingers terms are all expiring. File your Declaration of Candidacy during filing week, June 1 – June 5, 2009, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., if you are running for any of the open offices. The fee to file for council positions is $12 and for mayor is $120. File at Pierce County Election Center, 2501 South 35th Street, Suite C, Tacoma, WA 98409. A packet will be provided that includes a Declaration of Candidacy, Public Disclosure Information, Quick Info for Candidates, Voters’ Pamphlet submittal information, and a 2009 Election Manual. For more information go to http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/pc/abtus/ourorg/aud/elections/main/cand.htm

Apply for the position of Executive Director needed for the Orting Chamber of Commerce. Responsible for all aspects of operations including office management, membership development, marketing, grant writing, online and print newsletter, website, and other responsibilities as assigned by board of directors to support business and economic development in the city of Orting. Position is part-time with $1,500 monthly salary plus potential to earn a bonus based on revenue development. Email resume and cover letter by June 5th to ococ@centurytel.net

The Mayor of Orting doesn’t want to ‘Read It and Be Reminded’ when it comes to what the community posts as newsworthy or worthy of their neighbors attention.

 Do you feel that’s right?