Property and Grounds Committee

Meeting Summary         April 9, 2009

Committee Members Present:

Ken Burke,  Emery Dilda,  Ann Graf,  Chuck Heath

Cindy Horan,  Bill Schwab,  Bill Spring  

Board Members Present:

Don Horan                    Tom Whalen (Liaison)

Debbie Sutton, Property Manager

A.  Statement of Work for Landscape Maintenance:  Chuck Heath presented the SOW to the committee.  It will now be sent to the Board for their input and approval.  Thank you Chuck, John Lynch and Bill Spring for working on this.  Still to be done is a map of the common areas that need maintenance, and instructions for the care of Pond 4.

B.  Trees along the Center’s parking lot and Bridgewater:  Chuck discussed the status of these trees.  It was agreed that they were planted too close to the sidewalk and will eventually cause the sidewalk to lift and be uneven.  Possible solutions:

- Root pruning to stop the growth of the roots along the sidewalk could be done, but Bartlett Trees Services discouraged that as a solution to the problem.

-Remove the trees now, before they cause a problem and before the expense of removal is too high.  This has the potential of still being costly, plus cutting down a healthy tree would not be pleasing to many in the community.

-Wait 5, 10, 15 years and then remove the trees when they are a hazard because of uneven or broken sidewalks.  It would be very costly to remove trees that old.

–Wait until the trees begin to uproot the sidewalk, and instead of removing the trees, remove the sidewalk, which would be less costly, and we would save the trees.

The committee recommends taking no action now and prefers to wait and see.

Guy Mussey, from the Va. Extension Service will be asked to look at the mulch piles around the trees on the common ground.  Bartlett Tree Service has submitted a proposal to air spade around 170 trees to remove the extra mulch and dirt that they say is not needed.

C.  Erosion repairs:   The Board approved two areas for repair this spring, the corner of the parking lot by the trash shed, and an area behind Linden Court.  Shenandoah will do the work.

D.   Pond 4:  Pulte has not determined a starting date for the 3 rivers repair.

It is obvious that the bottom of pond 4 will always be wet.  The recommended care  is to allow the grass to grow on the bottom, cutting the bottom of the pond 2 times a year.  This recommendation comes from the county, and from 3 pond management companies who looked at that pond.  Shenandoah will be instructed to cut down the sides of the pond as far a possible, and to cut more often an area that levels off in the far corner of the pond.

E.  Bench location:  A spot, just inside the Legend gate will become the home of a bench when one becomes available.

F.  Green flower pots:  With approval from the Board, it is suggested that the large, empty green pots be offered for sale to residents through Yahoo.  If any are left, they can be put on Craig’s list for disposal.  They are an eyesore to the center and the community.

G.  Long range plans:  At the request of the Board, and in preparation for the meeting between the Board and the Committee chairs, the following suggestions were made:

- Build a foot bridge over the creek between the villa and the single family homes. 

- A nature walkway around Pond 5.

- Community picnic area at Pond 5.

- Add paths, mulch areas, gazebo on the Ripplemead and Smithfield corner.

- Use National Guard, Corps of Engineers, Boy Scouts to help design and complete projects.

Next meeting:  May 14, 2009  1 pm.