8/18/2021

Morningside HOA Board Meeting

8/18/2021

Meeting Minutes

Ben Whipple called the meeting to order at 7:11 p.m.

In attendance:  Ben Whipple, Matt Huff, Benny Nixon, Andrew Johnson, & Jimmy Newland

Approval of Minutes:  Andrew motioned, Benny seconded, and minutes from both 6/2/21 meeting were approved with Benny’s correction.

Reports on Open Items

• RFP for Front Landscaping Maintenance: Andrew started putting together RFP for landscaping and realized it might be overkill.  He wound up just typing up a list of all that we needed.  He will email Jeff and Phillip by next week for their input and then get out to 3-4 possible providers.  There were different recollections on when the College Pro contract ran through – but Matt thinks it ends at the end of August and then is month to month.  Andrew had received a quote from Rooted Landscape for full service of the front – pine straw twice a year, mowing bi-weekly, pruning, and weed control for $17,520.  Matt replied that is several thousand more than we are currently paying between College Pro and Houseman.
• Retention Pond on Front Left Lot (as driving in): Andrew still needs to talk to homeowner about not mowing the retention pond.  The board noted the tree that came down in the storm that is in the retention pond and the need for its removal
• Pruning of Front Entrance & Berm: Matt still needs to talk to College Pro about not pruning bushes down the way so that they can provide more screening.  Ben & Andrew will prune lower limbs on trees near entrance to enhance driver visibility.
• Water up Front: Matt tried to get water turned off on June 25^th – but it may not be done yet.  We have not gotten a final bill.  Ben will talk to Corrie, with Scout, to be on the look-out for correspondence from Oconee County Utility Department
• No soliciting sign: No one has laid eyes on the old sign that we think is on the ground up front – but no one has truly searched.  The board still needs to follow through on that.
• Complaint about Parking on street: The complainant didn’t identify the house(s) he/she was referring to, but the board thought it might be one of a couple.  When Ben sent an email reminding the neighborhood of the covenants in that regard it seemed to have improved.  The board will review the covenants in regard to parking on the street.
• Patriotic Decorations: Jimmy reported that Wendy had bought 10 sizable American flags and mounting poles/tubes for the front entrance.  The cost was roughly $500 plus tax but they are of good quality and should last for a long time.  Wendy suggested bringing them out for Memorial Day, July 4^th, and Veteran’s Day.  The flags are currently stored in a box in the Newland basement.

Rough Goals for Next Year

• Ben suggested wrapping up the budget by December
• Ben wants to start a quarterly newsletter to keep community informed on what is going on – suggested first one in September
• Jimmy brought back up the idea of community trash service included in dues. The board thought this needed to be decided by September (to give neighbors 3 month notice) for a January 2022 start date.  Matt said this may take us a little over budget, but it would only very slowly eat into the still sizable surplus – all while saving neighbors a substantial amount of money each year.  Jimmy will ask Philip to reach back out to AAA to refresh their quote.
• Ben mentioned that the social committee wanted to host a Fall event – possibly a UGA tailgate themed party for an away game. While the committee has full autonomy to plan the event, the board suggested the UGA vs. TN game, November 13^th, might be a good option.
• There was discussion around a possible family-oriented Christmas event or Adult Christmas party – Ben will talk to Abbey Miller about that.

Board Election

Ben reminded the board that the election meeting would be held August 29^th, at 4 p.m., in the Blume’s Basement.

The board reiterated that they were all willing to serve again, but would step aside if someone else really wanted to run.  Ben said no one had expressed interest to him in running – after either of the two emails.  Ben will print ballots ahead of the election with the current slate of directors all listed and an option to approve that listed slate.  There would also be some blanks where people could write in names.

Ben adjourned the meeting at 8:22 p.m. after a motion by Benny and second by Andrew.

Respectfully Submitted,

Jimmy Newland (Board Secretary)