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Speed Humps Coming in June
(February 24, 2006)
Griers Fork has met the requirements for the City of Charlotte to install two
speed humps on Griers Fork Drive. Petition signatures and a
letter of support have been delivered to the Charlotte
Department of Transportation and accepted. The city installs
speed humps for free, but the association has requested
decorative brick patterned tops at an additional cost.
The city installs
speed humps during spring and summer. Expect to see the speed
humps in Griers Fork in June.
Special thanks to
Barry Henry for coordinating the petition effort. .
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Annual Meeting Held February 23
(February 24, 2006)
The Griers Fork Homeowners Association held its meeting for 2006 on
February 23 at Central Steele Creek Presbyterian Church. A quorum was not
achieved at the first meeting on January 12, necessitating the second one.
Lewis Melton was elected to the board for a two year term, and
Barry Henry was reelected for another two year term. LeBraun
Evans, Richard Merrell, and Kevin Smith each have one year
remaining in their terms.
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Annual Homeowners Association Meeting for
2006 is January 12
(December 31, 2005)
The 2006 Griers Fork Homeowners Association meeting will be held
at 7:30 on Thursday, January 12 at the Central Steele Creek
Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall. (Jazzercise finishes up at
7:30, so the meeting may not start promptly due to a short
transition period.)
Central Steele
Creek Presbyterian Church is located at the corner of South
Tryon Street and Westinghouse Boulevard. From the Griers Fork
area, head south on Sandy Porter Road toward Food Lion. Turn
right on South Tryon Street. Continue through the blinker at the
fire station. Make a U-Turn at the next light and immediately
turn right into the church parking lot. The Fellowship Hall is
the building behind the parking lot.
Discussion will
cover updates on association finances and community issues,
including the effort to install speed humps on Griers Fork
Drive.
Terms for two
members of the Board of Directors are up, and there will be an
election to fill those. If you are interested in serving on the
Board, please contact Prism Realty (704-535-8558) or come to the
meeting prepared to present your name.
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Homeowners Association Dues Lowered to $90 for 2006
(December 31,
2005) The Griers Fork Homeowners Association annual dues have
been lowered from $100 to $90 for 2006. Payments are due on
January 1 and past due on February 1. Prism Real Estate Services
sent notices out to all homeowners in early December. Please
make payments promptly to Prism at the address on the
Contacts Page.
The Association
struggled a bit in its early years, especially when it had to
come up with $18,000 for street lights, but expenses have
remained manageable in recent years.
The Association’s
checking account balance was $2,154.34 at the end of November,
but the Association has managed to set aside $15,000 for
reserves in two accounts ($7,500 each in a CD and a Money Market
account). The one major expense expected for 2006 is $1,920 for
brick speed hump inserts.
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Speed Hump Petition being Circulated
(December 31,
2005) Two speed humps are planned for Griers Fork Drive at the
locations marked by white asterisks in the street. When they are
installed this spring, the stop signs at McGloughlin Way Court
will be removed. The petition is now being circulated.
Signatures are required from all owners of at least 60% of the
properties along Griers Fork Drive and adjacent streets. The
Association plans to request attractive brick inserts at an
additional cost.
If you haven’t
been contacted about signing the petition, please contact Barry
Henry at 704-504-5859.
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Griers Fork Greenway Trail Committee
Formed
(December 31,
2005) The Board of Directors has formed a committee to work with
the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department staff and
local community leaders during the planning and development of
the greenway trail along the creek next to the neighborhood. If
you are interested in serving on this committee or would like
more information, please contact Dave Wiggins at 704-504-5403.
Keep up with
greenway trail news on the web at
www.steelecreektrail.org.
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Two Retail Centers Planned on Corners of
Arrowood Road and Sandy Porter Road
(November 21, 2005) Two developers
have submitted rezoning petitions for land on the eastern
corners of Arrowood Road and Sandy Porter Road. Both corners
currently are zoned residential (R-3). Developers are requesting
changes to allow development of office and retail centers. Both
plans call for a 100 foot woodland landscaping strip with
walking trails along Sandy Porter Road to buffer the area from
adjacent residential areas.
Both petitions have public hearings
scheduled for January 17, 2006.
For more information on these
petitions, see the
Steele Creek Residents Association web site.
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Greenway Trail to be Tight through Griers
Fork
(October 13, 2005) Gwen Cook,
Greenway Planner with Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation
Department, walked along the Steele Creek greenway route
adjacent to Griers Fork a few weeks ago to see where the trail
might go, but she came up with more questions than answers.
Because of stream buffer
requirements, the trail can’t be built too close to the bank,
and much of the greenway property is very narrow. This presents
numerous challenges.
At the south end of Griers Fork
Drive, the trail will have to go behind the houses on the Griers
Fork side because there is no land available on the other side.
But for the remainder of the trail park planners will explore
using the other side of the creek. That will necessitate more
bridges and increase the cost.
No decisions have been made on the
specific trail route and won’t be until the community has had an
opportunity for input. Trail construction still is at least a
year away from happening, but progress is being made.
See the
Steele Creek Community Trail web site for more information on efforts to
develop trails in the community.
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Speed Humps Have Been Installed in Cedar
Brook
(October 13, 2005) This summer,
Cedar Brook, the next neighborhood to the west of Griers Fork,
had four speed humps installed along its main through street,
Cedar Hill Drive.
If you are concerned about speed
humps in Griers Fork, please go over to Cedar Brook and drive
down Cedar Hill Drive at 25 mph. You should just glide over the
speed humps with no adverse consequences.
It is not recommended, but you might
try driving over one of them at 35 or 40 mph to see what
speeders will experience. If you do, you might not want to drive
much over 25 mph over a speed hump again.
Which, of course, is the whole
point……
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Speed Hump Petitions Coming in November
October 13, 2005) Charlotte
Department of Transportation will provide the association with
petitions to request speed humps along Griers Fork Drive this
November. Signatures will be needed from all property owners of
at least 60% of the properties along Griers Fork Drive.
If you would like to help collect
signatures, please send an e-mail to contact@griersfork.org or
call Dave Wiggins at 704-504-5403.
Remember, the issue here is not
speed humps, it’s safety.
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Hardy Souls Brave July Heat to Enjoy
Griers Fork Cookout
(October 13, 2005) About 40 people
attended the Griers Fork cookout at Winget Park on July 23.
Although it was a hot day, there was plenty of fun, good food,
neighborly socializing, and door prizes. Special thanks to Dawn
Robertson for heading up the organizing committee. Also thanks
to Latasha Lawrence and Monique Birds for heading the kids’
games and to Mike Carlin and Malcolm Lawrence for cooking the
food.
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Letter to the Webmaster
Parents Should Control Children from Playing in the Streets
(Posted June 28, 2005)
My husband and myself have been
living here since 1999. We have seen speeding increase though
out the neighborhood. I realized everyone needs to slow down,
but you can only take responsibility for yourself and your
driving. The problem that I am having is some parent do not make
their children stay out of the streets. I have seen cars
literally slam on brakes because children will not move out of
the way. I was outside today washing my car and noticed children
who would not move when the cars came by them. I had to tell the
children to get out of the road. One child even fell in front of
the car before he got out of the road and for the record these
cars were not speeding. Parents need to take responsibility of
their children when they are playing outside. We should not
blame the drivers even if they are speeding because we all know
everyone speeds, but we can control our children from playing in
the streets.
Sincerely,
Concerned Resident in Griers Fork
June 5, 2005
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Y’all Come!
Griers Fork Community Cookout at Winget Park July 23
Planning Meeting July 12
(June 28, 2005; Revised July 9,
2005) Please join your neighbors at the 2005 Griers Fork
Community Cookout on Saturday afternoon July 23 from 1:00 to
4:00 at Shelter #1 at Winget Park. This will be a great
opportunity to have a great time and to get to know your
neighbors.
Volunteers are needed to help with
the setup, grilling, and clean up. We also need people to help
with games and activities, for both children and grownups.
A meeting to work out the final
arrangements is scheduled for Tuesday July 12 at 7:30 pm at Dawn
Robertson’s house (13970 Dingess Rd).
Please RSVP to Dawn at 704-583-2880
or by e-mail to dawnr3@vol.com how many in your family plan to
attend the cookout so we can prepare an appropriate amount of
food. Also contact Dawn if you plan to attend the planning
meeting or otherwise can help out.
We hope you can come to the
cookout--and help with the planning as well. There must be a lot
of talents and skills out there! The community needs more social
events. This is a chance for folks in the neighborhood to get to
know each other better and also have a great time!
Griers Fork can be a lively, vibrant
community if the residents commit to participating in activities
such as the cookout. Please plan on attending the planning
meeting on July 12 and the cookout on July 23. We guarantee it
will be an enjoyable and rewarding experience! And it will help
make Griers Fork a true COMMUNITY OF NEIGHBORS!!
Directions to Winget Park
Winget Park is about 5 miles from Griers Fork. From the Griers
Fork main entrance, turn left and go .6 miles to Steele Creek
Road (Hwy 160). Turn left and go 2.8 miles to Sledge Road.
(You’ll go through the light at Westinghouse Boulevard. Sledge
Road is about a half mile before you get to the Steele Creek
Library.) Go about a half mile on Sledge Road to the first turn
on your right at Winget Road. Continue on Winget Road past
Planters Walk and Withers Cove subdivisions to the Winget Park
entrance. Once in Winget Park, bear to the right. Park in the
parking lot next to the big construction site (new Winget Park
Elementary School). The cookout is at picnic shelter #1, which
is next to the parking lot.
Can You Contribute a Door Prize?
If you or your business can contribute a door prize, please
contact Dave Wiggins at 704-504-5403. We’ll give you credit at
the cookout and in the next issue of this newsletter. Thanks!
Please bring a dessert or salad!
The Homeowners Association will provide hamburgers, hot dogs,
buns, condiments, drinks, plates, napkins, cups, and other
essentials. Attendees are requested to bring a salad (tossed
salad, coleslaw, potato salad, etc), a dessert, chips, or other
side dish.
Also consider bringing a Frisbee,
football, or other diversion.
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Planning Meeting for Community Cookout is
June 9 - Please Come!
(June 5, 2005)
The Griers Fork Homeowners Association is planning a cookout on
Saturday afternoon July 23 at Winget Park, which is located off
South Hwy 160 near the new library.
Right now help is needed to plan and organize the event. Dawn
Robertson and other members of the Hospitality Committee have
been working on this but can use more help, not only with food
but also games and activities.
If you're able to help, please attend a planning meeting this
Thursday evening (June 9) at 7:30 pm at Dawn's house - 13970
Dingess Rd. (Look for a brick front with bow window and a Jack
Russell Terrier's hind-end sticking up in the flowerbed.)
Details will be distributed to all residents later in a
newsletter and flyer.
Direct questions to Dawn at 704-583-2880 or by e-mail at dawnr3@vol.com.
We hope you can come to the cookout--and help with the planning
as well. There must be a lot of talents and skills out there!
The community needs more social events. This is a chance for the
neighborhood to get to know each other better and also have a
great time!
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Speed Humps on Griers Fork
Drive on Hold until Fall
(April 17,
2005) The Charlotte
Department of Transportation (CDOT) has evaluated Griers Fork
Drive and Dingess Road and determined that Griers Fork Drive
(but not Dingess Road) meets their standards for installation of
speed humps. We were not able to get on the 2005 schedule and
will have to wait until next spring to get them installed.
CDOT requires
residents along the affected street to display support for speed
humps through petition signatures. CDOT will prepare and provide
the petitions in November. The petitions will include the names
of all owners as listed in current property records. All owners
of at least 60% of the properties must sign. (All owners whose
names appear on the deed for a property must sign for that
property to coun-t.)
CDOT also
requires a letter of support from the association. The Griers
Fork Board of Directors has voted unanimously to support the
speed hump effort and will provide the required letter to CDOT
this fall. At the annual Griers Fork Homeowners Association
meeting, a motion was made for the Board to take no action on
speed humps. This motion was defeated by a vote of 17 to 2.
Basic asphalt
speed humps can be installed at no cost to the association.
However, for an extra fee, we might be able to have more
attractive humps with brick surfaces.
Attendees at the
annual association meeting questioned that Dingess Road did not
qualify. CDOT set out traffic counters again and again found
that Dingess Road did not meet the minimum volume requirements.
Further
information will be forthcoming when the petition effort begins
in November.
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White Elephants on
Parade in Griers Fork April 30!
Community Yard Sale
Planned
(April 22, 2005) It’s time to
scour your garages and attics and pull out all those old white
elephants you no longer need. Griers Fork is having a community
yard sale. Your castoffs may be someone else’s treasures!
Organizers will
place an ad in the Charlotte Observer and put up signs
announcing a community yard sale. This is a good opportunity to
join your neighbors to take advantage of customers who would be
more attracted to a community sale rather than individual ones.
Experienced
bargain hunters start out at the crack of dawn, so plan on
having your stuff out early. Customers generally fade away by
early afternoon.
The City of
Charlotte requires residents to acquire a permit to have a yard
sale. The cost is $5, and these are available at the Tax
Collections Offices at the Hal Marshall Center on N Tryon Street
or the Bob Walton Plaza on Stonewall Street. Visit the
Charlotte-Mecklenburg web site at www.charmeck.org and search on
“Garage Sale” or “Yard Sale” or call 704-336-6315 for more
information.
For more
information on the Griers Fork Yard Sale, contact Chessa Hunt at
704-588-0602.
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Drivers Continue to Speed along
Griers Fork Streets
Children’s Safety is Primary Concern of Parent
Letter to the Editor
(April 22, 2005)
Speeding on Griers Fork Drive has been a problem since I moved
into a new home here in 1999. The speed limit was reduced to
25mph and a stop sign was added at McGloughlin Way Ct. Years
later people are still speeding through the stop sign and on
down the road. I remember playing ball in the street when I was
a child. People looked out for us then (by the way, I grew up in
the suburbs of DC with a lot more people and traffic than we
have here in Charlotte). I have accepted the fact that my child
cannot do that. In fact, at 5 years old, he is not allowed to
play in the front yard, much less in the street.
Having said that, I find it hard to describe the feeling that I
get when I watch a car round the corner of Griers fork and
McGloughlin Way, running the stop sign and squealing tires, with
my son and eight or nine other elementary school children
standing on that corner waiting for their school bus. My point
is that if posted speed limit signs, a stop sign and a group of
our children standing beside the street won’t slow some people
down, only speed humps or some other physical impediment will.
A petition will be coming sometime this fall, for the people
living on Griers Fork Drive and the adjacent corner houses to
sign in order to get two speed humps installed on this street.
Please, for your children’s sake (if you don’t have children,
for my child’s sake) please sign this petition when you see it.
Your concerned neighbor,
Barry Henry
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Trails and Speed Humps were Major
Topics at Annual Meeting
(April 22, 2005) A couple of dozen
residents attended the 2005 Griers Fork Annual Homeowners
Association Meeting at the Central Steele Creek Presbyterian
Church on January 25.
Shirlee Dillard,
Engineering Services Investigator with the Charlotte Department
of Transportation discussed the requirements for speed humps.
She left before a resident asked about excessive parking on the
streets. Since the streets are public, the Association cannot
regulate parking. Contact Shirlee at 704-336-3890 with questions
about parking and other issues involving the streets.
Karl Froelich,
Chairman of the Steele Creek Community Trail Committee, is
passionate about the development of a system of bicycle and
walking trails throughout the Steele Creek community. He
discussed plans for a greenway trail along Steele Creek that
will run adjacent to Griers Fork. This trail will provide a
major amenity for the Griers Fork neighborhood. Work continues
on identifying and acquiring sufficient right-of-way to provide
a route from Brown-Grier Road to Westinghouse Boulevard and
beyond—all the way to South Carolina. Keep up with trail news at
the Trail Committee web site at
www.steelecreektrail.org.
Members elected
Richard Merrell, LeBraun Evans, and Kevin Smith to the Board of
Directors for two-year terms. Barry Henry and Dave Wiggins each
have one year remaining on their terms.
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A Speed Hump is not the Same as a
Speed Bump
Editorial
(April 22, 2005) A speed hump is a
raised, rounded area of pavement approximately 22 feet in length
and no more than 4 inches in height. They typically have signage
and pavement markings to alert motorists. They are placed on
residential streets where they are needed to reduce traffic
speeds, decrease cut-through traffic volume, and reduce
accidents. Their use on public streets in Charlotte is
controlled by the Charlotte Department of Transportation.
They are not the
same thing as smaller speed bumps, which are common at shopping
centers and on other private properties.
A typical car
traveling at 20 to 25 miles per hour easily glides over a speed
hump with no adverse consequences. Cars traveling faster could
have problems, which is why they slow down. If you are concerned
about your car or personal comfort and convenience, I have to
wonder, how fast do you plan to drive over these things?
No one likes
speed humps. But that’s not the issue. The issue is that we have
a speeding problem and we need to make the streets safer,
especially for our children.
Multi-way stops
and 25 mph speed limit signs have not slowed traffic down enough
for parents to feel safe for their children. Speed humps will
not totally solve the problem, but they can help.
If you are
concerned about speeders and safety in Griers Fork, please
support the petition effort this fall.
Dave Wiggins
President
Griers Fork Homeowners Association
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It’s Time for Spring House
Cleaning!
(April 22, 2005) The once new
houses in Griers Fork aren’t so new anymore. Many have
accumulated dust, cobwebs, and, as several residents have
noticed, green algae, especially on houses in the moister areas
near the creeks. A good pressure washing can get your house
sparkling like new on the outside. If your house is showing its
age, consider contacting a pressure wash service of your choice
and having the accumulated layers of dust and grime cleaned off.
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Association Dues Remain at $100 for 2005
Griers Fork Homeowners Association
annual assessments are now due. Payments received after February 1
will incur late fees. Homeowners may pay the entire amount of $100
now or pay half now and the other half in June. Please make prompt
payment to the following address:
Griers Fork HOA
c/o Prism Realty
PO Box 18712
Charlotte, NC 28218
If you miss the due date, DO NOT
IGNORE late notices. Failure to pay will result in additional
legal and other fees. However, you may avoid subsequent fees by
making payment arrangements with Prism. Call them at 704-535-8558
to discuss options.
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2005 Annual Meeting
(January 18, 2005) Griers Fork
Homeowners Association - Tuesday January 25
The 2005 meeting will be held next
Tuesday evening (January 25) at 7:00 pm at the Central Steele
Creek Presbyterian Church (9401 S Tryon Street, at the corner of
Westinghouse Boulevard). This is your opportunity to be involved
in your community. If you care about the quality of life and
property values in Griers Fork, please come. Your participation
and continued involvement in the neighborhood can make a
difference.
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Steele Creek Greenway Trail to Follow
Griers Fork (the stream)
(January 18, 2005) The Mecklenburg
County Park and Recreation Department’s Master Greenway plan
includes a trail along the streams beside the Griers Fork
community. The developer of Griers Fork donated a strip of land
to the county for this purpose in 1999. Land used by the
homeowners association as common area actually is owned by the
county and used by the association with their permission.
The Steele Creek Community Trail Committee has been promoting
the development of the trail, especially by soliciting donations
of land along the trail’s route, which runs from Brown-Grier
Road south along Steele Creek to the South Carolina state line.
The Griers Fork portion of the trail will begin near the
entrance monument and continue behind the houses along the west
side of Griers Fork Drive. At the south end of the development,
the trail will continue into the Braddock Green/Steele Oaks and
Twelve Oaks neighborhoods.
The standard design for greenway trails is a 10-foot asphalt
path. This allows bicyclists and pedestrians to pass easily and
also permits access by emergency vehicles. An additional 5-foot
asphalt path likely would be built through county property at
the cul-du-sac end of Griers Fork Drive. This will provide
access from the south end of Griers Fork Drive.
Karl Froelich, Chairman of the Trail Committee, plans to attend
the association meeting to discuss the trail through Griers Fork
as well as planned trails throughout the Steele Creek community.
For more information, visit
www.steelecreektrail.org.
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Griers Fork Drive
Eligible for Speed Humps from Charlotte DOT
(January 18, 2005) Shirlee Dillard,
Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT) Services
Investigator for this area, will be at the annual meeting to
discuss department programs and services, as well as the status
of previous requests from Griers Fork.
The Griers Fork Homeowners Association installed multi-way stop
signs before we were annexed by the city and later requested 25
mph speed limits on Griers Fork Drive and Dingess Road through
CDOT. However, cars continue to speed through the neighborhood.
Speeders include not only residents but also cut-through drivers
from Twelve Oaks and Taragate. Many of these come through in the
morning to avoid traffic backups on Brown-Grier Road due to the
schools on Gallant Lane.
At least one child has been hit by a speeding car on Dingess
Road.
CDOT will install speed humps where traffic conditions meet
minimum requirements and residents display support for them
through petition signatures.
CDOT has conducted a study of Griers Fork Drive and Dingess Road
and has approved installation of speed humps on Griers Fork
Drive only. That street had 1200 vehicles a day and average
speeds of 35.3 in 25 mph limit. Dingess Road had only 500
vehicles a day and thus did not meet the 1000 per day minimum.
CDOT requires support from property owners of at least 60% of
the 45 lots along Griers Fork Drive--including the 8 corner lots
that face side streets. They require all persons whose names
appear on a lot’s deed to sign a petition for that lot to count.
It will be the responsibility of the association to collect the
signatures. We can begin collecting these at the association
meeting, but success ultimately will require volunteers to knock
on doors.
Mike Eads, Field Services Manager with CDOT, has informed us
that they can install two speed humps in April or May of this
year if the association provides the required petition
signatures by March 1 and agrees to pay the $3000 cost. The
association can receive city funded speed humps at no cost if we
are willing to wait until spring 2006 for installation. Mr. Eads
has not yet marked the locations of the two speed humps.
Ms. Dillard will be able to answer questions about other street
and traffic issues, such as on-street parking, basketball goals,
sidewalks, and a planned addition of a left turn lane on
Brown-Grier Road at Gallant Lane.
If you are concerned about speeders and other traffic issues in
Griers Fork, please plan to attend the meeting for this
discussion.
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Hospitality Committee Holds Easter Egg
Hunt and Pumpkin Carving Party
(January 18, 2005) The Griers Fork Hospitality Committee held an
Easter Egg Hunt last spring at the Steele Creek Neighborhood
Park. A couple dozen kids searched for eggs and prizes while
their parents looked on.
Sunday afternoon, October 17th was a beautiful day for a pumpkin
carving at Griers Fork.
Members of the community were invited to carve a pumpkin
provided by Griers Fork HOA in the grassy area at the front
entrance. Each family was given their own pumpkin to carve and
baby pumpkins were given to the little children to color a face
on. Candy, coloring books, and Halloween decorations added to
the festivities. This was a great opportunity for everyone to
meet each other in the neighborhood and for the children to play
together.
Special thanks to Dawn Robertson, Elizabeth Phillips, Robin
Pratt, and other members of the Hospitality Committee for
arranging these events. Anyone interested in helping to organize
or provide ideas for future events should contact Dawn Robertson
at dawnr3@vol.com.
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Local Group Works to Establish Trail
System in Steele Creek
(September 29, 2004) A group of
Steele Creek residents has been meeting since last summer to
promote the creation of a trail system throughout the community.
They’re placing their initial emphasis on the Steele Creek
Greenway trail, which follows Steele Creek north from the South
Carolina State line to Griers Fork. It then follows Griers Fork
to Brown-Grier Road. Griers Fork is the name of the stream that
flows behind the houses along the west side of Griers Fork
Drive. Many details need to be worked out—including the actual
trail location along the creek. Mecklenburg County already owns
a strip of land along the creek where the trail will go.
The group envisions a system of 50
miles of trails following creeks, utility rights of way, and
other routes throughout Steele Creek. The development of a trail
system will take years, but the community must become proactive
now and have plans in place while potential trail routes are
still available.
The group is the Steele Creek
Community Trail Committee of the Steele Creek Residents
Association. It meets monthly at 7:00 pm on the third Thursday
at the Steele Creek Athletic Association meeting house at 13350
Choate Circle. Meetings are open to all interested persons.
For more information, visit the
committee’s web page at
www.steelecreektrail.org or e-mail them at
CommunityTrail@steelecreekresidents.org.
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NC Law Allows Homeowners Associations to
Impose Fines for Violations of Neighborhood Covenants
(September 29, 2004) The North Carolina Planned Community
Act (NC General Statutes Chapter 47F) gives homeowners
associations the power “to impose reasonable fines or suspend
privileges or services provided by the association for
reasonable periods for violations of the declaration, bylaws,
and rules and regulations of the association” after notice and
an opportunity to be heard.
The North Carolina Supreme Court had
ruled that the wording of the law only allowed associations
formed after the initial adoption of the law in 1999 to impose
fines. The General Assembly amended the Act in July 2004 to
clarify the intent of the initial law to apply to all planned
communities.
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Green Thumb Committee to Plant Winter
Pansies at the Front Entrance October 2
(September 29, 2004) The Griers Fork
Green Thumb Committee plans to pull out the summer marigolds and
plant pansies for the winter at the entrance monument on
Saturday, October 2. If you’d like to help, join them around
8:30 am. There’ll be a run to the plant store to buy the pansies
soon after 9:00. Contact Dave Wiggins for details at
704-504-5403 or contact@griersfork.org. Last spring, the
committee stained the background of the monument sign to make
the gold letters more visible and kept on going to stain the
gazebo as well.
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Front Entrance; Good News and Bad News
(April 28, 2004) Last weekend, the Griers Fork Green Thumb
Committee worked on two projects to spruce up the front
entrance. The first was to stain the wood on the entrance sign
and gazebo. The new sequoia color creates a more distinct
contrast with the gold letters, making them stand out and be
more visible. The second was to replace the winter pansies with
new spring flowers. This year's crop are yellow and orange
marigolds.
The bad news is that the two year
old Japanese maple that had stood along the wall between the
sign and gazebo was stolen Friday night. Nothing was left but a
hole and a few sprigs with red leaves. The thieves had placed
some real estate signs in front of the light to block it while
they did their digging. The other bad news is that the electric
box was pulled from the back of the monument the next night,
leaving the light dark until it can be repaired.
See the picture on the top on the
home page to see the sign and gazebo before staining and to see
the purloined Japanese maple. Coming soon: A new picture of our
new entrance sign.
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April 3 - Easter Egg Hunt
(March 28, 2004) Join your neighbors for the 2nd annual Griers
Fork Easter Egg Hunt at 10:00 am on Saturday, April 3 at the
Steele Creek Neighborhood Park (next to Steele Creek Elementary
School). The festivities will be geared towards children 10 and
younger but all residents are invited to come to meet your
neighbors. Eggs will be hidden throughout the park, and plenty
of candy, prizes, and snacks will be available. The only things
you need to bring are your egg basket and the desire to find the
hidden eggs. The hunt should provide a hopping good time for all
of the children involved.
If you have any questions about the
Easter Egg Hunt or the Hospitality Committee, call Bill or Robin
Pratt at 704-587-0870 or contact them by e-mail at prattonline@hotmail.com.
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April 17 - Community Yard Sale
(March 28, 2004) If enough folks are interested, the association
will sponsor a 3rd community yard sale on April 17. The
association will pay for a newspaper ad and signs—you just need
to haul your stuff outside. But we have to know if there will be
enough participants to make the effort worthwhile. If you’re
interested, please let Gwen DeWaele know so she can get the
works in motion. Contact her at 704-504-3114 or Grin22@aol.com.
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April 24-25 - Front Entrance Spruce-Up
(March 28, 2004) The Green Thumb Committee plans to stain and
repaint the Griers Fork monument sign on Saturday, April 24 and
plant spring flowers the next day. If you’d like to help, join
them at 8:30 Saturday morning. Contact Dave Wiggins
(704-504-5403 or contact@griersfork.org) for details.
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Board Election Held at 2nd Annual Meeting
(February 20, 2004) Nine Griers Fork residents representing
eight households attended the makeup association meeting on
February 18. Sufficient proxies were
present to meet the quorum requirement. Members elected Barry
Henry and Dave Wiggins to fill the two expired terms on the
Board of Directors.
Members also approved an amendment
to the Bylaws changing the requirement for a quorum at a meeting
of members to five percent (10 properties represented in person
or by proxy) from the current 10%. The new quorum requirement
will apply to all actions except for approval of special
assessments or increasing annual dues by more than the maximum
allowed by the Griers Fork covenants. The Declaration of
Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions specifies a quorum as at
least 30% of the members for those two actions.
In a separate action, the board
elected the following officers for the upcoming year: Kevin
Smith-President, LeBraun Evans-Vice President, Dave
Wiggins-Secretary/Treasurer. The other two board members are
Mike Byers and Barry Henry.
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2nd HOA Meeting Scheduled for February 18
(February 3, 2004) Because of low attendance and lack of a
quorum at the initial Griers Fork Homeowners Association meeting
on January 12, a second meeting has been scheduled on February
18 at 7:00 p.m. at the Steele Creek Branch Library (9124 S Tryon
St) near the Food Lion. Please provide your proxy to Prism or
any board member if you will be unable to attend.
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2004 Homeowners Association Meeting Fails
to Get a Quorum
(January 12, 2004) Only 11 homeowners attended the 2004 Griers
Fork Homeowners Association Annual Meeting. With proxies, a
total of 16 properties were represented--an insufficient number
to achieve the 10% quorum of 19 properties. Thus no board
election was held. Two of the staggered board terms have
expired, leaving a board of three members: Mike Byers, LeBraun
Evans, and Kevin Smith.
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Association Expenses for December 1, 2002
through November 30, 2003
(December 27, 2003)
The homeowners association expenses for the twelve month period
from December 1, 2002 to November 30, 2003 totaled $24,891.69,
which was $6,691.69 more than the expected $18,200 annual income
from assessments (182 properties X $100). However, this included
a huge one-time expense of $9,397.14 for street lights and about
$650 for unplanned maintenance and repairs at the entrance
monument (including resetting some stones and repairing the
irrigation system).
The city still has not charged the association the $1,760 that
it owes for the Tree Co-op Program, and some additional
unexpected maintenance expenses are likely again. Otherwise,
expenses for 2004 generally should be consistent with 2003
expenses.
The association had built up a small cushion in its bank account
during the last few years, but the street lights wiped most of
that out. There should be enough income from assessments to
begin building it back up again.
Several residents have promoted the idea of having several speed
humps installed on the main through streets to slow down
traffic. That ultimately would need support from the homeowners
and may or may not ever happen, but if it does, the humps will
cost the association at least $6,000. So the association needs
to set aside some money to be prepared for that possibility.
The association could afford to have more social events, holiday
decorations, or special enhancements to the entrance sign and
gazebo, if residents will come forward to help plan and organize
these.
Administrative Expenses
Tax Preparation
Postage
Newsletter and other copies
Bank Charges
Association Events
Easter Egg Hunt
Yard Sale
Meeting space
Front Entrance
Landscaping services
Spring/fall flowers
City water
Electricity
Sprinkler repairs/maintenance
Gazebo repairs
Other repairs
Christmas decorations
Insurance
Legals/Collections
Management
Sub-Total
Street Lights
Grand Total |
|
543.19
175.00
232.82
125.37
10.00
248.59
67.63
105.96
75.00
4,642.69
3,300.00
250.81
64.31
163.04
520.00
255.00
25.00
64.53
1,096.00
2,412.08
6,552.00
$15,494.55
9,397.14
$24,891.69 |
|
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2004 Association Dues
Remain at $100 Per Property
(December 27, 2003)
These are due on January 1 and past due on February 1. Please
send payment to the following address:
Griers Fork HOA
c/o Prism Realty
PO Box 18712
Charlotte, NC 28218
Direct questions to Devi Hunter or other Prism staff at
704-535-8558.
Please Pay
Homeowners Association Dues Promptly
The 2004 Griers Fork Homeowners Association dues of $100 are due
on January 1 and past due on February 1. Homeowners who do not
pay by February 1 will be assessed a $25 late fee. Those who do
not respond to additional notices may accrue additional legal
and other fees. Ultimately the association may place a lien on
the property or foreclose on it. If you have any questions about
your account or need to arrange a special schedule for payments,
please contact Devi Hunter of Prism Reality at 704-535-8558. She
will be glad to work with you.
DO NOT IGNORE payment notices from Prism. This will only cause
your charges to mount up! You are liable for legal fees paid by
the association, and the association must recover these from
you. Accumulated fees will not be forgiven.
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2004 Annual Homeowners
Association Meeting is January 12
(December 27, 2003) The 2004 Griers Fork Homeowners
Association meeting will be held at the Central Steele Creek
Presbyterian Church on Monday, January 12 at 7:00 pm.
Terms for two board seats expire
this year and candidates are needed. The last two meetings had
poor attendance and required proxies to achieve quorums.
If you care about your community,
please plan to attend. If not, please provide your proxy to
Prism Realty, any board member, or another resident who plans to
attend.
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Griers Fork Properties in
Floodplain
(December 6, 2003) The following information was
included with December water bills:
Will you need Flood Insurance?
Check out the flood map for your property at
www.stormwaterservices.com. If you are in a floodplain, you will
likely be required to carry flood
insurance come this spring. Buying insurance now could save you
big bucks later.
In a few months the Federal
Emeregency Management Agency (FEMA) will adopt new flood
maps for all of Mecklenburg County. Flood maps are used to set
floos insurance rates. If it's
determined that you live in a floodplain, flood insurance will
be required by your mortgage
company. Call your insurance agent or 1-888-FLOOD29 to find out
more.
All of the properties on the west
side of Griers Fork Drive, plus the three properties at the
end of the cul-de-sac are in the floodplain of the adjacent
creek. They apparently were all
within the floodplain on the old maps as well. To view a map of
your property and the
floodplain, go to the Storm Water Services web site (www.stormwaterservices.com)
and
follow these steps:
1. Click on the picture of the
flooded house.
2, Click on the picture of the flodded house in the next screen.
You should see a map of
Mecklenburg County.
3. Near the middle of the page, under "SEARCH OPTIONS," click on
the magnifying
glass icon. A smaller window will pop up.
4. Enter your house number and street name, without the street
type (Road, Drive, etc.), in
the boxes provided, and click on "Submit." You should see the
property owner's name and
the address.
5. Click on the number under "PID."The map should zoom in to
your property. The box
under the FLUM (Future Land Use Map) box will tell you if your
property is in a
floodplain.
Top
|
Local Kids Clean Up
"Little House"
Dylan Grogan
and Patrick Weaver |
Jan Weaver
and Jake Grogan |
(November 11,
2003) Jan (8) and Patrick (6) Weaver joined with the three
Grogan boys from Tara Gate to clean up the "little house" at
Griers Fork's front entrance. They sanded off the graffiti,
scraped up gum and candle wax, picked up beer bottles and
cigarette butts, and scrubbed down the woodwork.
Fortunately, the graffiti was pretty tame and the damage fairly
minor. The kids were so happy to be a part of cleaning up their
neighborhood and the beloved "little house."
The next week Leo and Dennes Garcia
helped plant winter pansies in the bed at the entrance monument.
All these kids are to be commended
for their community spirit and their contributions to the
betterment of the neighborhood.
See more
photos
HERE.
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Child
hit by Car!
(October 21, 2003)
On September 21 a
3-year old boy was struck by a car when he rode his bicycle
through a stop sign in front of an oncoming vehicle. The
vehicle's estimated speed was 40 mph. The driver slammed on his
brakes but could not stop in time and skidded into the child.
Neither the child nor the driver are residents of Griers Fork.
The child was taken to the hospital, but the injuries were not
serious (road rash and a bump on the head). The child had just
begun riding his bicycle without its training wheels and was not
wearing a helmet.
Two Problems:
Children Playing
in the Streets-Parents MUST warn their children about the
dangers of playing in the street. It is a common sight in
Griers Fork to see children dart out on bicycles, skates, or
skate boards without looking
to see if cars are coming. Too many children are just not paying
attention. Parents must properly instruct children on the
dangers of playing in the streets and supervise smaller children
who are too young to be responsible for their own safety.
Note that North Carolina law requires that all bicyclists under
16 years of age wear a helmet on public roads and trails.
Speeders-Residents have been concerned about speeders
almost since Griers Fork has had streets. Multi-way stops and 25
mph speed limits have not solved the problem. An additional
remedy available is speed humps. Also remember that speeders can
be reported to the police non-emergency number at 704-353-1000.
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Charlotte DOT Changes Petition Requirements
(September 28, 2003) According to the
Charlotte Observer, the Charlotte Department of Transportation
has revised its requirements for neighborhoods to petition for
lower speed limits, street lights, 4-way stops, and traffic humps. Previously
they required a signature from one adult resident in at least 75
of the households. This resident could be a renter or other
non-owner resident. New rules require signatures from ALL
property owners, meaning each person whose name is on the deed
for a property
must sign in order for that property to count. However, the percentage of properties supporting the
change is now only 60%.
Griers Fork has
had successful petition efforts for street lights throughout the
neighborhood and for 25 mph speed limits on Dingess Road and
Griers Fork Drive under the old rules. (The association paid for
installation of the 4-way and 3-way stop signs before Charlotte
annexed Griers Fork and while the streets were still private.) If the neighborhood
pursues future efforts, including speed humps or 25 mph speed
limit on McGloughlin Way Court, the new rules will apply.
According to the
Observer, the new rules take effect on October 1, 2003.
Speed Humps
are approximately 22-foot-wide, raised sections of roadways that
are constructed to reduce vehicular speeds in residential
neighborhoods. Requirements for installation by the Charlotte
Department of Transportation include petition signatures from
property owners on affected streets and a traffic volume of at
least 1000 cars per day (24 hour period). The association would
have to pay the $1500 per hump cost. Four humps would appear to
be appropriate for Griers Fork.
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Street
Lights are Here!
(September 1, 2003) The first Griers Fork
street lights showed up along the east end of Dingess Road last
week. The rest should be in shortly.
This has been a long, long process. It began in June 2000 when
residents met to learn about Mecklenburg County's street light
program. That effort got off to a slow start and eventually
fizzled when volunteers didn't come forth to collect petition
signatures.
A second effort began in March 2002 after Charlotte had annexed
Griers Fork. This time, the association decided to go with the
city street light program and quickly submitted a request for a
plan from Duke Power through the Charlotte Department of
Transportation. At this point things bogged down, and Duke Power
didn't provide the plan until January 2003.
The next step was to collect petition signatures. This went
surprisingly well as a small but determined corps of volunteers
combed the neighborhood until they found enough people home and
got the required signatures. Step one was accomplished!
The second objective was to come with $18,794.88 to pay for the
lights. The association had enough funds to pay about half, but needed
a way to raise the rest. The board decided to apply for a loan
because this would be easier to accomplish than a special
assessment. A special assessment would require approval of at
least 2/3 of property owners
at a meeting. Getting a 30% quorum to show up was not a strong
possibility, and proxies would be required, which meant more
signatures.
The bank approved the loan, but it was put on hold until the
outcome of a
third alternative was decided. The association applied for a
Neighborhood Matching Grant on March 15 through the Charlotte
Department of Neighborhood Development. In a mild surprise, the city notified the association
at the first of May that the
grant was approved. It took another month for them to provide
the grant, but $9,397.44 was worth waiting for.
Duke Power finally received both halves of their payment on June 12. It took another
few weeks for the city to review and review the plans and for
Duke Power to order materials. But the end in almost near. The
lights are going up!
Top
Welcome Back!
School Starts August 18
By Bill Pratt, Resident and Middle School Assistant Principal
(August 9, 2003) That message will be posted in school after
school and classroom after classroom within the next couple of
weeks. Those two simple words can bring out every emotion under
the sun from happiness to sadness. If you have a child going
back to school, or just starting this year, you are probably on
the emotion roller coaster right now. If your child is like me,
I couldn’t wait until the first day of school. Even now, I can’t
resist walking through
the back to school aisle at Wal-mart. I don’t need anything, but
the feelings it gives me make me…well, speechless.
As a middle school assistant principal, I unfortunately see just
the opposite too many times—a child terrified to enter another
school year. It’s not that their entire education has been bad
but they probably had one bad year or one bad experience.
Hopefully, the tips I list below can change that for your child
and will offer you and your children a successful and happy
school year that can be looked back upon as a joyful time in
their lives.
1) Remember, every year and every teacher are different. If you
think this year will be good, that is the first and best start
you can give yourself.
2) Set up a routine early and stick to it. The most successful
people in the world follow a routine that they find works for
them. Once you get yours down, keep it, follow it, and don’t
give it up.
3) Stay organized. The biggest “excuse” students give for doing
poorly in class is that they can’t find their work, book,
notebook, or pencils. Using a three-ring binder with dividers
and a pencil pouch will improve a student’s grade immediately.
4) Stay informed. Parents and students alike need to stay
informed about what is going on in the school and specifically
in their classrooms. Parents should keep in touch with their
child’s teachers on a regular basis. Don’t let the school year
fall into the usual trap—you only hear from
the school when something bad is happening. Force the teachers
to accentuate the positive by calling them up or just showing up
at school. Know when events are taking place and plan
accordingly.
5) Support your child’s teachers and school. I have often told
parents that there are three faces their children have—one they
show their parents, one they show their friends, and one they
show at school. Yes, teachers can be wrong and do make mistakes,
but hear them out and work with them, even if it doesn’t sound
like your child. Support the school too. Either in words or in
actions. Be involved in the PTA, volunteer, visit, attend
meetings, etc. It’s your school too mom and dad.
6) Understand what is expected at your child’s school. If you
don’t know, ask. The schools would rather explain something to a
few hundred parents than have to deal with a situation that
could have been avoided.
I have personally seen the best and worst situations at school.
The best was from a single parent family where the students’
knew what was expected at school and at home and the mom held
her children to those expectations. The children were very
successful and enjoyed school. The worst situation was a parent
who said, “…I don’t even know where the school is.” This is not
an exaggeration. This child did horribly in school and was
always in trouble. They knew their parents were not going to be
involved and they decided not to be involved themselves.
School, along with everything else in life, is what you make it.
Don’t settle for any excuses and don’t provide any excuses. As
parents, do what you must do in order to make this year a
successful one.
If you have any questions this year about your children’s
education, send me an e-mail at b.pratt@cms.k12.nc.us and
identify yourself as a Griers Fork Resident. I may not be able
to answer all questions but I will try my best or find someone
who can. If it is a personal issue, let me know whether you want
your name (or that of your child) mentioned. For those of you
who attend my school, I will see you on August 18.
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No Parking for Boats
and Trucks in Griers Fork -- And Stay off the Grass
Question: Why
can’t I park my boat, truck, or trailer at my house?
(August 9,
2003) This is a residential
community. Boats, trucks, trailers, and commercial vehicles
detract from the residential character of the community. They
also take up parking space and force cars into the street. The
association covenants prohibit such nuisance vehicles anywhere
in Griers Fork except in enclosed garages. This is one of the
most common complaints residents have about their neighbors.
Please find other places to store your boats, trucks, and
trailers. Your neighbors will appreciate your cooperation.
(Parking a boat overnight to clean it or get it ready for an
outing is not a problem if it is removed promptly the next day.)
Do Not Park on
the Grass
(August 9,
2003) That means don’t park
on grass anywhere in Griers Fork, but it especially means not at
the front entrance. Cars parked on grass tend to kill it and
make muddy ruts. This is unattractive and hurts the community’s
appearance. Additionally, tires can damage sprinkler heads that
are located along the curb near the entrance monument.
The association recently had a car towed that was parked for
about a week at the front entrance and will have others towed if
they are parked off the street where they can damage the lawn
area that the association pays to maintain.
The Griers Fork Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and
Restrictions prohibits parking on grass areas (Article VI
Section 6.18). The Charlotte City Council also is considering an
ordinance prohibiting parking in front yards other than on
driveways or parking pads.
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All Property Owners are Required to Pay
Association Dues
(August 9, 2003) I’ve always been puzzled why people don’t pay
their homeowners association dues. I was always taught to pay
what I owe, but I guess some people don’t think that way. Not
only do some people not pay the initial $100, but many continue
to hold off until they owe hundreds of dollars in late fees and
legal fees.
Before the first house was built at Griers Fork, the developer
created the Homeowners Association and registered all the legal
documents with the North Carolina Secretary of State and the
Mecklenburg County Register of Deeds. The Declaration of
Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions state that the
association has the authority to collect homeowners assessments
for every property covered by the declaration. This means that
the dues are not optional. They are required by law, and the
association has the right to take full legal action to collect
all unpaid dues and additional fees. (The Declaration is
available on the Griers Fork web site, or you may request a copy
from me.)
The dues are only $100 a year. This is less than a lot of folks
spend each month on premium TV channels and high-tech cell
phones. Anyone who is able to afford a $120,000 or more house
should be able to afford $100 a year. Yet many don’t pay.
Assessments are due on January 1 each year and past due on
February 1. Homeowners are assessed a $25 late fee if they don’t
pay by February 1. Half this fee will go to the association and
half to Prism Realty to help offset collection time and
expenses.
If the property owner doesn’t pay by July 1, another $25 late
fee is tacked on and the account is turned over to an attorney.
At this point, the legal fees start to mount. After doing a
title search, the attorney will place a lien on the property.
This means that the owner cannot sell the property until the
debt is paid off. The original $100 assessment has now risen to
about $525.
Currently about 20 homeowners have not paid their 2003
association dues, and the association is filing liens on their
houses.
If the homeowners still do not pay, additional charges will to
accrue. Prism Realty will no longer accept payment or discuss
accounts. Homeowners will be referred to the attorney. The
attorney will confirm the ownership and status of the property
and eventually begin foreclosure proceedings.
This year a homeowner repeatedly ignored notices that his house
would be foreclosed for unpaid 2002 dues and did not accept
certified letters. Eventually the account reached over $1,600,
and the association foreclosed on July 3. When the homeowner
received a notice that his house had been sold at auction on the
courthouse steps, he finally decided to respond and offered a
counter bid.
After numerous reminders and warnings that unpaid dues will
accrue additional charges, some people still do not pay. This
irresponsibility doesn’t just puzzle me, it totally baffles me.
Of course most homeowners are responsible and pay their share on
time, which is very much appreciated. So, to be fair to those
who do pay, the association will continue to use all means at
its disposal to collect from those who do not.
Dave Wiggins
President
What to do
when that Homeowners Association Assessment notice arrives
1. Pay it
promptly! That’s the best thing.
2. Don’t ignore
it. It won’t go away. It’ll just get bigger. In addition to the
assessment, you will be responsible for paying the late fees and
legal fees. These will mount up.
3. If you cannot
pay right away, CALL PRISM!! They are more than willing to work
with you to set up a payment plan. If you and the association
come to an agreement on payments, no further late fees or legal
fees will be imposed as long as you stick to the agreement.
Top
WE GOT THE GRANT!
(June 6, 2003)
Charlotte’s Department of Neighborhood Development has approved
Griers Fork’s application for a Neighborhood Matching Grant for
$9,397.44. The matching grant will pay for half of the
$18,794.88 total cost to install 41 traditional street lights
throughout the neighborhood.
The other half of
the cost will come from current assets in the Griers Fork bank
account. The association now will not have to take out a loan
and make payments for the next three years, which was the
alternate plan for supplementing available funds from the bank
account.
The association
should receive the grant funds and deliver payment to Duke Power
this week. This is a major step in the long process to get
street lights in Griers Fork, but the process is far from over.
The Charlotte Department of Transportation must review and
approve the Duke Power plan. Then Duke Power must order
materials and install the lights. All this might take anywhere
from 4 to 7 months.
Thanks again to
Kerry and Richard Merrell, who have been the coordinators for
the petition effort and with Duke Power, and to Charmie Gomaa,
who collected many of the signatures.
The end is not here
but it is closer.
(May 4, 2002) Charlotte Neighborhood Services
has notified the homeowners association that its application for a
matching grant of $9,397.44 was approved. The association will
sign a contract at a ceremony on May 12. The association will contribute
the other half of the $18,794.88 total cost. Payment will be
made to Duke Power once the association receives the grant, and Duke Power will install the
lights in 60 to 90 days.
Top
Would You Like to See Education Articles?
By Bill Pratt,
Resident and Middle School Assistant Principal
Would you like to
see an article about education in each Griers Fork newsletter?
Let Dave Wiggins know and we will include it in every
newsletter. Have a specific question, email me at b.pratt@cms.k12.nc.us.
Specific school issues won’t be able to be addressed but general
topics can be and I might even be able to direct you where to
find more information. Be sure to mention that you are a Griers
Fork Resident though so I know how to respond to your email
request.
Top
Summer Vacation? Next School Year Starts On
August 18
By Bill Pratt, Resident and Middle School Assistant Principal
(June 6, 2003)
Hard to believe huh? Here, school gets out in a couple of weeks
and we are already thinking about next school year. For some of
us, next year started being discussed in December of 2002.
Not to take away from anyone’s summer vacation, but the hardest
thing teachers face in August is “re-teaching” the students the
skills that were just taught a couple of months before. You as
parents can help start your child off on the right foot next
school year now with just a few simple things.
Give your children some math problems. Ask them to add up some
grocery prices in their heads. Ask them to round the price or
estimate the total grocery bill. For young children, teach
adding and subtracting with seashells at the beach or while
climbing the ladder at the park. For older kids, ask them to
explain how to do something; such as figuring out how many bags
of mulch to buy to cover the area or show them your Duke Power
or Piedmont Natural Gas bill and ask them to explain how to get
the total for the month. These are great multi-step problems
that will keep their brains tick-tick-ticking all summer.
To help with reading—READ to them. READ yourself. READ the signs
going down the road. READ the program at the baseball game. READ
the directions on how to fly a kite or put together a model. The
key is to keep READING. The more kids are exposed to READING,
the better they become at it. To extend it further, have them
READ an article in the paper after you do and discuss it or ask
them to tell you about the article. The point is, READ, READ,
READ.
Try crazy experiments for science. Practice cooking in the
kitchen. Ask questions like: What happens if you add this to
that? Why is the soap so slippery when you wash the car? (Hint,
Hint) What makes the grass grow so tall? (Hint, Hint) Why is
this storm so powerful? And so on.
The key is to keep making them think. Go to the library. Go to a
museum. Explore the world. Allow the kids to have fun but keep
them actively engaged in the school frame of mind. You will find
that the next school year starts off a lot different.
And just a tip: don’t spend a lot of money on school supplies
before the new school year starts. Wait until you go to the open
house or get a letter from the school stating what supplies to
get. Many teachers request certain supplies and this will save
you money in the long run. Don’t want to miss out on the sales?
Put stuff on lay-a-way. That way, if you don’t need it, you can
return it or cancel the lay-a-way. If you do need it, you got
the bargain.
Top
CMS Changes Telephone Area Code
Beginning June 30, all Charlotte-Mecklenburg School phone
numbers will change to the 980-area code. None of the school
numbers will change, just the area code. For example: Sedgefield
Middle School is now 704-343-5840. It will change to
980-343-5840. For some of the departments who currently use 444
as their prefix (704-444-5322 for example) they will also change
to a 343 number 980-343-5322). Please mark your telephone books
and change your speed dial numbers.
Top
Fund Drive Planned
for New Library
(June 6, 2003)
Supporters of
the Steele Creek Branch Library have begun organizing an effort
to raise funds for enhancements to the new branch that is under
construction on Steele Creek Road in front of the new Southwest
Middle School. The new library is expected to open in summer
2004 and will replace the current branch in Steele Creek Commons
Shopping Center.
The group's goal is to raise $75,000 to supplement purchases of
books, computer equipment, and other enhancements to the
children's area; media equipment for meeting rooms; business
references; garden walls for the courtyards on the two ends of
the library; and other improvements. They also hope to raise
enough additional funds to establish an ongoing endowment fund.
The group needs volunteers to help with the fund drive. If you
have any questions or would like to help, please contact Doug
Youngblood at 704-588-1610. or visit the Library Association web
site at
www.steelecreekresidents.org/LibraryAssociation.htm.
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Easter Egg Hunt A Success
(June 6, 2003) On Sunday, April 13, the homeowner’s association
sponsored an Easter Egg Hunt at the Steele Creek Neighborhood
Park next to Steele Creek Elementary School. It was a blast.
There were about 15 kids and they were divided into three age
categories: 3 and under, 4-6, and 7-10. All three groups found
over 60 eggs each.
Prizes were awarded for special eggs that were found and candy
filled the baskets. For many, the temptation to eat the candy
overshadowed the rush to find the eggs and some found few eggs.
Over all though, everyone had a great time and hope to do it
again next year.
One remarkable coincidence had to do with two boys who showed up
after the eggs had been found. There were two prizes that hadn’t
been claimed (because no one found those eggs) so we held a
drawing for the remaining prizes. In true Easter spirit, the two
boys won the prizes in the random drawing—yes, it was random and
witnessed by other people. Even though they didn’t get any
candy, they still walked away winners.
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CUT YOUR GRASS!
(June 6, 2003)
The rainy spring we’ve been having has made it hard for folks to
keep up with their yard work. Since grass is growing so fast
now, it sometimes needs mowing as often as twice a week. There
also have been few days when grass wasn’t too wet to mow
recently. But please don’t let your yard become the blight of
the neighborhood.
1. Cut your grass before it gets to be an eyesore. If you’re
thinking about cutting it now or later, check the weather
report. If rain is in the forecast, cut it now.
2. Keep weeds cut. If you can’t treat weeds with weed preventer,
at least keep them cut back to the height of the grass. Bermuda
grass yards in particular have an abundance of weeds popping
above the short grass. Trim tall grass in flower beds and along
the edges of houses and at utility boxes.
3. Replant bare spots. New grass grows best in the fall. Plan a
major reseeding effort for the fall.
4. If you consistently drive off the driveway and create ruts in
your yard, widen your driveway with additional concrete or
paving stones. Remember to submit an architectural application
for this.
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Front Entrance Flowers - Something New
(May 4, 2003) The Griers Fork Green Thumb Committee spruced up the flower bed at the entrance monument for spring a few weeks ago. But rather than planting the usual begonias, they tried some new things.
The purple plant around the sides and back is Purple Heart, or Setcreasea. This is a low growing ground cover with striking darf purple foliage and small pink flowers. It is a perennial in warm, dry areas, especially in the southwest, but is an annual in Plant Hardiness Zone 7, which is where Charlotte is. It is a native of eastern Mexico.
The yellow flower in the middle and front is Melampodium. It has large, bright green leaves
and many perky little yellow daisylike flowers that will peer forth all summer long. It should grow profusely and fill in the whole bed.
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Goat Herder Fails to Show
(April 4, 2003) Residents who showed up at the Griers Fork front entrance on April 1 to pick up
GOATS to trim their lawns were disappointed when Swiss goat herder Bernhard Betrüger
failed to show.
It was later discovered that Betrüger actually is the German word for fraud.
Further investigation revealed that Herr Betrüger actually owns no goats at all and is a
compulsive April Fools prankster. Fortunately, the association had not paid him up front.
(Whew!)
So it looks like there's no way around it, folks. You're going to have to mow your own
grass.
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From the President
- I Wonder......
(March
29, 2003) Here are some things I've wondered about during the four years I've lived at Griers Fork and the
three years I've been on the Board of Directors.
First, the biggie:
I Wonder why people don't take more interest in the neighborhood and participate more in
association activities. The newsletter always has invitations and other opportunities for Griers
Fork residents to contribute to the neighborhood and meet with their neighbors. But participation
has been less than overwhelming in most cases and can be discouraging to the few who do show
up. We even have difficulty getting quorums for the annual meetings.
The neighborhood has 182 properties. Every owner is a member of the association and has
equal responsibility, but many are content to leave all the work to somebody else.
I Wonder
why so many people choose not to pay their association dues promptly, or even at all!
The dues aren't optional. All property owners are members of the association and are required to
pay them.
I
also wonder why some people continue to ignore payment notices and let the late fees and legal
fees to pile up. Rather than pay the $100 up front, many owners let the amount owed build up to
hundreds of dollars, even to the point where their house can be foreclosed on and sold by the
association to obtain the amounts owed.
If any property owner is unable to pay the full amount owed right away, they are encouraged to
contact Prism to arrange for a payment schedule. The association will not take any further legal
action if owners make a good faith effort to meet the agreed arrangement for payment.
I Wonder
why some people don't take better care of their yards. Now that spring is here, the
grass will be growing. Please keep yours neatly mowed. Some yards (especially those with
bermuda grass) have an abundance of weeds. If folks don't treat their yards with weed
preventer, they could at least chop them off once in a while. And don't forget those bare spots.
I Wonder if residents realize how important Architectural Review is. Without controls, our
neighborhood could look like nearby Twelve Oaks, with chain link fences and corrugated carports
everywhere. As the Architectural Review sidebar states in every newsletter, improvements that
enhance the neighborhood are encouraged. Those that detract from the neighborhood are not.
Residents who install fences and other exterior changes that violate restrictions will be asked to
remove them. In particular, solid fences are not allowed.
I Wonder why people let their pets poop in other people's yards. People probably complain more
about pets than anything else. Don't people know how offensive pets can be?
I Wonder why people put their tacky signs at the front entrance. I believe for sale or for rent
signs are eyesores and I regularly call phone numbers on the signs to ask that they be removed.
The association does not pay the landscaper to trim around them. The signs not only violate
association restrictions but also city ordinances. The association will put up signs to announce
community events, like the yard sale, however.
I Wonder why some people leave their ugly garbage cans out where other people have to look at
them
I Wonder why I don't get more suggestions, ideas, and other contributions for the newsletter or
web site. Certainly folks have ideas and news that they could share with their neighbors. I'm
starting to run out of ideas. The newsletter comes out every two months, so mid-May would be a
good time to send me something.
I Wonder why some people claim that they weren't notified about meetings or association dues.
Property owners get notices in the mail and residents get newsletters delivered in their newspaper
tubes. They usually get reminder announcements dropped off as well. If that's not enough, just
about everything you'd always want to know about Griers Fork is on the web site. I wouldn't be
surprised if you people weren't the most informed homeowners in Charlotte!
I Wonder why some people complain about things and then don't show up when they're invited
to help find a solution.
I Wonder why some people agree to do things and then don't follow through.
I Wonder if people will think this is too negative. I try to keep the newsletter positive and not
have too many scoldings, but sometimes my frustration gets the better of me.
Of course, we've had some victories, not the least of which is the recent street light effort. Most
people keep do their yards and houses up and some even have showplaces. People do talk to their
neighbors, although mostly to those who live nearby.
Griers Fork is a great neighborhood but it could be greater. When I moved here and put my
name forward for the board at the first association meeting, I'd hoped to be part of something more
vibrant and exciting than it's turned out to be.
But I'm still looking forward to a great new year and a big turnout for the three activities
planned for April.
Dave Wiggins
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Hunt
for Easter Eggs on April 13 at Steele Creek Park
(March
29) On Sunday, April 13 at 3:00, the Griers Fork Hospitality Committee will be sponsoring an Easter Egg Hunt at the Steele Creek Neighborhood Park (located right next door to Steele Creek Elementary School).
The Easter Egg Hunt is geared towards children 10 and younger but all residents
are invited to come to meet your neighbors. There will be nearly 200 eggs hidden throughout the
park with plenty of candy and prizes available. The only things you need to bring are your egg
basket and the desire to find the hidden eggs. The hunt should provide a hopping good time for all
of the children involved.
The rain date will be Sunday, April 27 at 3:00. This will be after Easter but we can still have a
great time!
If you have any questions about the Easter Egg Hunt or the Hospitality Committee,
contact Bill or Robin Pratt at 704-587-0870 or prattonline@hotmail.com.
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Join
the 2nd Annual Griers Fork Community Yard Sale on April 12
(March
29, 2002) If you've been thinking about having a Yard Sale, plan on joining your neighbors on April 12.
The Association will put an ad in the Charlotte Observer and place a sign at the front entrance.
These should help generate plenty of customers for your treasures.
Be sure to put your stuff out early to catch the folks who start out at daybreak looking
for the best bargains.
If you have any questions, please call Gwen DeWaele at 704-504-3114.
(Charlotte requires persons having yard sales to purchase permits. These cost $5 and
are available at tax collections offices at 700 N Tryon St and 700 E Stonewall St. Call
704-336-6315 with questions about permits.)
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Association Hires Goat Herder to Help with Tall Grass
Problem
(March
29) Spring has arrived, and the grass is starting to grow again. Many residents will have a
hard time digging their mowers out from among all the stuff in their garages to get them
ready for the mowing season and will let their grass and weeds grow for a while before
they get around to cutting it.
To help alleviate the problem, the association has hired Swiss goat herder Bernhard
Betrüger to provide goats for any interested residents to let loose in their yards and trim
their grass.
Bernhard will be at the Griers Fork front entrance on April 1st at 7:00 a.m. to distribute
the goats. He should have a couple dozen available. He'll also have yard stakes, rope,
buckets, and feed. Residents simply would take a goat home, secure the stake in their yard
and let the goat roam. Be sure to leave one bucket of feed and one of water for your goat.
One goat should clear either a front or back yard of tall grass and weeds in about four
hours. The goat would then need to be moved to the other half of the yard for another four
hours. Bernhard will circulate through the neighborhood at about 5:00 to collect the goats.
Not only will the goats trim the tacky grass and weeds but they'll also leave fertilizer
behind. Residents are advised to spread it around, however.
Some people might feel pretty
FOOLISH having goats grazing in their yards. If so, then
April 1st would be the APPROPRIATE DAY to have them there.
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Spring Flower Planting Set
for April 26
(March
29) Help plant spring annuals and spruce up the front entrance on Saturday, April 26.
Groundbreaking will start at about 8:00 and whoever's there by 9:00 can join the trip to the
garden shop to pick out the flowers.
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Street
Light Petition Effort is Complete - Next Comes the Money
(March
16, 2003) Step 1of the Street Light Project is complete. We have
met the petition requirement! Thanks to coordinators Kerry and Richard Merrell and to Charmie Gomaa
and others, who hit the pavement and knocked on doors until they
collected 138 signatures. This exceeds the city's requirement of collecting signatures from residents of at least 75% of the residences in the
community.
A major obstacle was finding people home, but once they found people, participation was
almost unanimous. Thanks to all of those who supported the effort with their signatures.
Now for Step 2: Finding the Money...
Duke Power is charging the association $18,794.88 for the 41 street lights in the plan.
We have enough in our bank account to pay at least half. The other half will come either
from a Neighborhood Matching Grant or from a loan.
Charlotte's Neighborhood Development Department awards matching grants to
neighborhood organizations for improvements and other projects that will make them
better places. Organizations must compete for grants with other neighborhoods that apply.
The homeowners association had to include copies of the signatures in the application, so
prompt collection of the signatures was essential. The application deadline in the latest cycle was March 17. The Neighborhood Development Department will notify the
association once the review board has made a decision, which will be within 45 to 60 days.
If the matching grant is not approved, the association is prepared to acquire a 3-year
loan to cover the balance needed. Current income from annual dues is expected to cover
the payments without requiring any dues increases or additional assessments.
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Join
the Griers Fork News Alert Email List
(March
2, 2003) Send an email to
contact@griersfork.org
if you want to join the Griers Fork Homeowners Association
News Alert Email List.
(A subscription form had been set up with Server.com, but it has
been purged due to inactivity.)
This
list will be used to send news alerts when timing prevents
notification through the newsletter or to send out reminders for
meetings or other events. An example of a news alert would be
the utility construction at the front entrance scheduled for the
week of March 3, which the Board of Directors only learned about
the week before.
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Digging
at Front Entrance to Last a Few Days
(March
2, 2003) Contractors working for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg
Utilities Department will be digging up the Griers Fork front
entrance during the week of March 3 to connect a residence on
Brown-Grier Road to the line at the manhole cover near the
Griers Fork monument. They must maintain access on Griers Fork
Drive but half the street may be blocked during the week. The
city is required to restore the landscaping, pavement, and
sidewalks to their original condition. CMUD did not notify the
association of this project. Board members learned of the
project after several calls to city offices and contractors.
Additional tree planting by the Charlotte City Arborist will be
delayed.
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Speed
Limit Now 25 MPH on Griers Fork Drive
(March
2, 2003) The Charlotte Department of Transportation installed 25
MPH speed limit signs on Griers Fork Drive a week ago. Thanks to
Charmie Gomaa for collecting the last needed petition
signatures.
If
you see a driver breaking a traffic law, note the tag number,
make, and color of the vehicle plus the time of day and
location. Call the police non-emergency number (704-353-1000).
Choose the menu option to file a report (press 2). Be prepared
for a long hold, though you may get lucky. The police chief then
sends a warning letter to the vehicle's registered owner.
The speed limit
on Dingess Road also is 25 mph. The speed limit on all other
Griers Fork streets is 35 mph.
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Association
Covenants Now Online
(February
16, 2003) The Griers Fork Declaration of
Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions are now available
online through this web site by clicking on the link above. This
document sets forth certain restrictions concerning the use and
occupancy of properties within Griers Fork and are binding on
all properties. It also grants the association powers to
maintain the common area, to enforce the restrictions, and to
collect and disburse assessments. The Declaration was recorded
with the Mecklenburg County Register of Deeds on October 13,
1998.
Every property owner should have received a copy of the
Declaration from their closing attorney. To request a copy send
an email message to contact@griersfork.org.
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Board
Members Reelected at Annual Meeting
(February
10, 2003) The number of residents attending the 2003 annual
meeting on January 16, along with proxies, was sufficient to
achieve a quorum, and the current board was reelected without
opposition. Kerry Merrell and Dave Wiggins still have 1 year
left in their 2-year terms. Mike Byers, LeBraun Evans, and Kevin
Smith were reelected to new 2-year terms.
The
board selected the following officers for 2003: Dave Wiggins -
President, LeBraun Evans - Vice President, Kerry Merrell -
Secretary, and Mike Byers - Treasurer. Kevin Smith will continue
to chair the Architectural Review Committee.
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The Street Light
Petition is Ready for YOUR Signature
(February 10, 2003) The association received the street light plan from Duke Power in January, and
volunteers are circulating through the neighborhood to collect signatures. Charlotte
requires signatures by residents of at least 75% of the properties in Griers Fork before they
will approve installation by Duke Power. The association plans to pay for the lights
without increasing dues or having a special assessment.
The lights will have low-watt bulbs on 12-foot poles, and thus will not be too intrusive.
Visit Cedar Brook, the next subdivision to the west, to see what the lights look like.
Lights will enhance the community by increasing visibility at night and will deter crimes
such as vandalism and car break-ins.
If you have any question about the Griers Fork street light plan and petition effort,
contact Richard or Kerry Merrell at 704-583-5486.
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When
Do I Call 911?
(February
2, 2003) Four Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers who patrol Griers Fork and surrounding
areas of Zone 3 in the Adam 1 District attended the association meeting at Steele Creek
Presbyterian Church in January.
They said that residents should call 911 if a crime is in progress or has just happened
and you believe the person responsible may still be in the area or you can identify the
person.
Certainly dial 911 if someone is in imminent danger, but you also can call for instances
of vandalism, public disturbances, or other crimes.
Charlotte and Mecklenburg County have noise ordinances that specify what noise
levels are permissible, but if a loud party or other noise is disturbing to you, you should
call 911, especially if the noise has continued for an unreasonable length of time or has
occurred on several different occasions. Usually an officer can resolve the problem by
talking to the residents.
Remember though that dispatchers prioritize calls, and officers might not respond to
yours before other, more urgent ones, but calling 911 is appropriate when events are
occurring that police can help resolve.
When you call 911 the dispatcher will ask if you want to talk to the police when they
come, and you may ask that they not come to your house. However, the more information
you give the police, the better they will be able to help. Be sure to have information such
as descriptions and car tag numbers ready for the 911 dispatcher or the officers when they
arrive.
Call 704-353-1000 for Non-emergencies
Call the police non-emergency number and file a report if you discover a theft, damage
from vandalism, or similar crime, and no one is in the area and you don't know who was
responsible. These would be situations where the presence of an officer would not benefit
the outcome of the case. You may need a report for an insurance claim, and police use
statistics from the reports to assess patterns and tendencies. If you dial 911 and your
request isn't urgent, you will be redirected to the non-emergency number, anyway.
Call the Local Community Coordinator for
Ongoing Problems
Contact Travis Pardue, Community Coordinator for our area, to report and discuss
ongoing problems in the community. Officer Pardue reviews repeat offences and quality
of life issues. He also works with other local agencies, such as codes enforcement, to
coordinate efforts to review and resolve problems. Officer Pardue may be reached at
704-336-7800 or by email at tpardue@cmpd.org.
The officers who attended the Griers Fork meeting clearly care about the area that they
patrol and about its residents. They are dedicated to maintaining it as a safe and peaceful
place in which to live and are eager to help in situations that are appropriate for police
involvement.
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Steele Creek
Residents Association to Meet January 28
(January 13,
2003) The annual meeting of the Steele Creek Residents
Association will be held in the Kennedy Middle School
Multi-purpose Room on Tuesday January 28 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
The featured
speaker will be Wayne Weston, Director of the Mecklenburg County
Park and Recreation Department. He will speak and answer
questions on current status and plans for parks in the Steele
Creek Area. Future area parks and facilities include the Upper
Steele Creek District Park and greenways for Steele Creek and
Coffey Creek. Completion of final phases of major parks,
including the Thomas McAllister Winget Park is one of the
department's priorities.
Also speaking
will be representatives of the developers for three large
projects that are coming to Steele Creek: Berewick, Palisades,
and Island Pointe.
The Steele Creek
Residents Association was formed in 1980 to protect the
community, to ensure quality development, and to maintain Steele
Creek community as a great place to live, work, and play. The
association actively participates in the review of
rezoning requests within southwest Mecklenburg County and
provides feedback to developers, the Planning Commission, and
the Charlotte City Council. More iformation is available at the
Steele Creek Residents Association web site.
Kennedy Middle
School is located up the hill from Griers Fork. Come
through the main front door. The Multi-purpose room is straight
ahead, but you'll probably have to go around to one side or the
other to enter.
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