HSR Board to Recommend Assessment Increase at 2013 Annual Meeting

For the first time in 5 years, the HSR Board will recommend an increase in the annual assessments at the 2013 Annual Meeting. The proposed $75 increase will help offset increasing maintenance and administrative costs and proposed capital spending.

Even with the proposed increase, the Association is likely to incur a significant deficit in 2013 due to anticipated, safety-related, expenditures. The deficit is expected to be between $3,000 and $5,000 and will be funded out of the HOA’s existing surplus.

Members will vote on the 2013 budget and assessments at the Association’s annual meeting, scheduled for Saturday, March 23, at 3:00pm. As in previous years, the annual meeting will be held at the HOA Pavilion and all members are welcome and encouraged to attend. In addition to reviewing 2013 budget and member assessments, the board will review 2012 accomplishments, the current state of the neighborhood and plans for 2013.

The Association is actively seeking new Board members for 2013. Board members are volunteers who are committed to a well-maintained, safe and attractive neighborhood. Their actions contribute to all members' property values and help us all enjoy neighborhood amenities. The Board ideally consists of 6-9 board members who contribute 2-3 hours per month to oversee Association business and social affairs and our relationships with local governments and agencies. Please consider helping your neighbors by joining the 2013 board.

Mark your calendars and plan to attend!

Hays County Reinstates Burn Ban

The Hays County Commissioners Court on Tuesday issued a countywide burn ban, effective immediately. Charcoal and gas grills are exempt from the ban, but burning in “burn barrels” (including barrels with screens on the top) is not allowed.

“If you are grilling outdoors, please use extreme caution,” Hays County Fire Marshal Mark Chambers said. “Make sure you have a water source nearby to douse escaping sparks and never leave your grill unattended. Place the grill away from anything else that could catch fire, including your house, and don’t dispose of coals until you are certain they are cold.”

Residents can help lower the risk of grass fires by making sure vegetation is cut back and periodically watered in compliance with any local watering restrictions. Drivers should avoid parking vehicles on grassy areas since automobile catalytic converters can start fires along the road. Tossing cigarettes – even ones that appear to be out – can spark a fire.

Questions about the burn ban can be forwarded to the Hays County Fire Marshal at 512.393-7339 or mchambers@co.hays.tx.us.

High Winds Damage Neighborhood Roofs

Neighbors cleaning up after Monday’s high winds have noticed displaced and damaged shingles here in Hidden Springs Ranch. Taking a few moments to examine your roofs and replacing damaged/missing shingles can save big repair bills.

According to the weather service, sustained winds in Dripping Springs exceeded 30mph for several hours and wind gusts peaked at 44mph. These conditions are sufficient to damage composite shingle roofs and neighbors have notice displaced and damaged shingles in the neighborhood.

Once shingles damage begins, additional winds and rain can quickly increase the cost of repairs. February and March are among the windiest months in the Hill Country and neighbors are encouraged to examine their roofs to determine if they have damaged or missing shingles.

Repairs to Old 290?

The Hidden Springs Ranch HOA Board, together with several individual members, has been working with the Jon Thompson, City of Dripping Springs Development Coordinator, on making lasting repairs to Old 290 (County Rd 320). I am writing now to ask for your support in encouraging the city to make lasting repairs to the road.

All of us travel some portion of Old 290 on a regular basis and are well aware of the deteriorating condition of the eastern end of the road. Neighbors have damaged their vehicles by dropping tires into the potholes or off the edge of the road when encountering oncoming traffic. Temporary patches only last until a significant rainfall and do nothing to repair the road edges.

Attached, for your review, is the latest bit of communication with the city. It indicates that the Council may be willing to do a new overlay on the road, but asks for an indication of support from our neighbors.  If you agree that the repairs to Old 290 are necessary, please take a moment to forward this message to Jon at jthompson@cityofdrippingsprings.com.  Please also copy the Hidden Springs Ranch Board (bod@dshiddenspringsranch.com) on the email so we can keep a tally of the number of requests that have been submitted.

Email Stream:

From: City of Dripping Springs Development Coordinator
Sent: Monday, February 25, 2013 6:39 PM
To: bod@dshiddenspringsranch.com
Cc: hoa@dshiddenspringsranch.com
Subject: RE: Old 290 Maintenance

Actually, this e-mail may have helped me with convincing the Council to spend the money to do a decent overlay on the road rather than just doing another band-aid option. Thanks for sending this. The other thing that would help would be to have other residents send e-mails in favor of a longer lasting fix, which would be to do the overlay. Thanks.

Jon

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From: Hidden Springs Ranch BOD [bod@dshiddenspringsranch.com]
Sent: Monday, February 25, 2013 6:17 PM
To: Thompson, Jon
Cc: hoa@dshiddenspringsranch.com
Subject: Old 290 Maintenance

Jon,

I’m writing on behalf of the entire neighborhood to inquire as to the possibility of making lasting repairs to Old 290. The XXXXX have kept me up to date on their exchanges, and – while not wishing to rehash the same material – I do wish to reinforce their concerns. Patching potholes will alleviate one part of the problem (at least until the next significant rainfall), but that won’t address the deteriorating road edge and the wheel and axle damage that is being caused to vehicles that inadvertently drop a wheel off the road while passing opposing traffic.

The increasing traffic in Meadow Oaks and Hidden Springs Ranch I and II, the conditions of Old 290, and the unresponsiveness of the traffic light at the west end cause more and more drivers to cut through the bank and post office parking lots on a regular basis. Combined with the extra traffic generated by the post office itself, the uncontrolled ingress onto Hwy 290 creates additional hazards and it’s a matter of time before we have a major accident as a result.

What more can we do as an association to get these issues addressed?

Hays County Lifts Burn Ban

Effective immediately, the burn ban in Hays County has been lifted.

After consultation with local fire officials and the County Fire Marshal, Hays County Judge Bert Cobb, M.D., has lifted the burn ban in Hays County until further notice. Typically the burn ban is reviewed each Tuesday at the regularly scheduled Commissioners Court meeting, but the County Judge has the authority to lift the ban or impose an emergency ban if he deems it necessary.