Concerned neighbors and friends around the Knotty Pine Circle have set up this Blog. It is our hope that the community will use this as a source of information and help in keeping our community friendly, vibrant and thriving. Please join us in this effort.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Another person slips on pool deck
I was leaving the gallery when I got a call from one of our condo owners about our wonderful maintenance person, Scotty. He, today, became another victim of the slippery paint put down by "he who cannot be named." He slipped and fell on the pool deck banging his head hard, hurting his elbow and wrist. He has already called his lawyer. This is going to be the third law suit against us over the same issue. Will our insurance payments sky-rocket? Is the person responsible liable?
Events and Happenings Around the Community
Dear Friends:
In the last several days several of our residents have had some troubles within the community and we may be facing some law suits.
In the last several days several of our residents have had some troubles within the community and we may be facing some law suits.
- Two of our residents have been injured after slipping on painted pool surfaces that were not painted with non-skid paint.
- One of our owners who has been here for nearly 30 years and is quite ill has been harassed by board members because her 45 year old son has been staying at her property to fix it up for her. He has not been allowed a parking permit and has been threatened with towing.
- I walked the entire grounds the other night with two gentlemen who wanted to by a property here to live in. Many of our light were out making the grounds feel very unsafe at night. The grounds, through their eyes, were threadbare and unattractive. One of the men has a home in PR2North. He says that the grass there is well kept and it is abundant with flowers. He likes our layout better, but thinks out grounds look like a slum compared to where he is now.
The following letter will be delivered to the Management office today, Tuesday, August 30.
Joyce Brown
318 B-2 Knotty Pine Circle
Greenacres Florida 33463
215-205-9441 : JClay6@aol.com
PineRidge3South.blogspot.com
Allen A. Adams, Jr.
Controller
Landarama Realty, Inc.
4000 S. 57th Avenue
Suite 101
Lake Worth Florida 33463
Dear Mr. Adams:
My name is Joyce Brown and I represent 85 owners of condominium properties in the Pine Ridge 3 South community on Melaleuca Lane, Knotty Pine Circle. Our numbers grow every day. We have been attempting to get, as is our right as owners, copies of all financial documents pertaining to our association. I was told that I was allowed only one hour per session to copy the documents in the community office. I spoke to Tallahassee and they informed me that this was unreasonable and that I should be allowed the time necessary to make the copies we requested.
In the one hour allotted last week I was able to copy ¾ of an inch of nearly nine inches of documents. None of these address the needs our forensic accountant (volunteer) has requested or wants to see. It is my hope you will be able to transfer copies of the following documents, electronically, to the flash drive I will provide to you. If you need a disc instead, I will provide that as well.
We are looking for BANK STATEMENT, CHECK REGISTERS, CASH DISPERSEMENT JOURNALS AND COPIES OF CANCELLED CHECKS with bills that document them. We are interested in any checks that have been made out to Board members, payroll or otherwise.
Do you file 941’s or 1099’s. We are interested in copies of these. If officers of the Board do work, how do they get paid?
We are interested in the accounting statements for petty cash.
We would like to see the above records for at least 2010 and 2011. The recent journals for June, July and August are most important.
All of this information should be legally available to any and all homeowners of the association, without the obfuscation, threats, denial, run-arounds and obscenities thrown at us to deter us. This would all be unnecessary if we were treated with kindness and dignity.
We fully expect that after the next election and new Board of Directors will be in place. Until that time, we have the right to these documents and will be grateful to you to deliver them to us.
Sincerely
Joyce Brown
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
8-24-11 Today Theresa French and I (Joyce) exercised our rights to copy documents in the condo office. We asked for all financial documents from the last year as well as the minutes of the last four Board meetings. Only 2 sets of minutes were forthcoming. I have scanned them and hope to be able to put them into this blog. They are the minutes from 6-15-11 and 8-3-11. We then began the copying of the financial records. There was a stack 8-9 inches high. We were told that we had only one hour. I called Tallahassee for guidance on condo law and was told that, unless presented with documentation, they could not limit us to only one hour. Theresa and I held fast, but were made to leave at the end of the hour. Of the 9" of documents we were only able to copy 1/2". I spent the evening with a bookkeeper who found them useless. I will now ask for additional documentation and request the ability to copy that next week. I was told that the copying would be at their convenience alone, not at mine.
Minutes from 8-3-11 This is the covered area that they voted to keep for smokers only
All of my best efforts have not yet taught me how to format this so that it can be easily read. I will try my best to learn to give you better results in the future.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
For those of us who have been told that it would be illegal to plant any more trees, here is our Greenacres Tree Ordinances: Note the word "minimum" throughout the law!
In addition to the required perimeter plantings stated in section 16-1286, all interior residential parcels and uses for residential developments shall provide the following:
(1)
A minimum of one (1) tree and three (3) shrubs shall be installed or preserved per one thousand five hundred (1,500) square feet of area per residential parcel.
(2)
A minimum of one (1) tree and three (3) shrubs shall be installed or preserved per two thousand five hundred (2,500) square feet of areas designated as open space, excluding water management tracts or preserve areas designated under the provisions of section 16-1270
(3)
All recreation or civic areas shall be landscaped, at a minimum, according to the provisions of section 16-1287
(4)
All vegetation being installed or preserved must meet the criteria of this article for consideration as having met the internal landscape requirements.
(5)
The minimum number of trees for single family parcels which are served by septic tanks may be reduced by the city if it can be shown that the required number of trees cannot be accommodated on site in a manner that will allow for the healthy growth of these trees, while ensuring the proper functioning of the septic system.
(6)
All interior landscaped areas not dedicated to trees or to preservation of existing vegetation shall be landscaped with ground cover, shrubs, grass, or other appropriate landscape treatment.
(Ord. No. 00-06, § 1, 10-16-00)
When more than ten (10) trees are required to be planted to meet the requirements of this article, a mix of species shall be provided as follows:
Table 16-1289: TREE SPECIES MIX
| Required Number of Trees | Minimum Number of Trees Species |
| 1—10 | 1 |
| 11—20 | 2 |
| 21—30 | 3 |
| 31—40 | 4 |
| 41 + | 5 |
(Ord. No. 00-06, § 1, 10-16-00)
The following requirements for all free-standing signs and dumpster enclosures shall apply:
(1)
All dumpster areas shall provide a masonry wall six (6) feet in height on three (3) sides, or an equivalent enclosure, and a closeable gate. Shrubs at least twenty-four (24) inches in height and with a spread of eighteen (18) inches, and spaced at a maximum of twenty-four (24) inches on center, shall be installed around the outside base of the dumpster enclosure.
(2)
Shrubs at least twenty-four (24) inches in height and with a spread of eighteen (18) inches, and spaced at a maximum of twenty-four (24) inches on center, in a planting bed no less than three (3) feet in width, shall be installed around all free-standing identification and internal directory signs.
(Ord. No. 00-06, § 1, 10-16-00)
In order to enhance overall water quality, littoral areas of retention ponds shall be required to be landscaped with appropriate wetland vegetation. Littoral plantings shall be provided between one (1) foot above the Ordinary Water Low (OWL) line to two (2) feet below the OWL. Plantings shall be provided at a rate of eight (8) square feet per lineal foot of shoreline, with individual plants located no further than two (2) feet on center. Littoral planting areas shall include at least five (5) types of appropriate wetland vegetation, including water plants and wetland trees.
(Ord. No. 00-06, § 1, 10-16-00)
All rights-of-way abutting a site subject to the provisions herein, including medians, shall be landscaped utilizing high planting schemes in accordance with Palm Beach County streetscape standards.
(Ord. No. 00-06, § 1, 10-16-00)
All new commercial developments approved in the city shall participate in the city's Tree Dedication Program. One (1) Florida Grade #1 container grown Live Oak tree with minimum dimensions of twelve (12) feet in height; two (2) inches in diameter trunk at four (4) feet, and with a five-foot spread shall be dedicated at a rate one (1) tree per one thousand (1,000) square feet of building area or a fraction thereof.
(Ord. No. 00-06, § 1, 10-16-00)
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Smoking at the pool:
At the last Board of Directors' meeting a question was raised about the posting of a designated Smoking Area under the largest covered area at the Southeast corner of the pool. There was controversy about the sparsity of smokers being placed under the largest covered area. The Board, minus one, voted to keep the sign up saying it was their decision alone to make, despite the concern of almost every owner present. We were then told, if we wanted change, we had to petition for it. Many of us are recovering cancer patients, many allergic to smoke, and many of us who do smoke do not see the need to take over this huge area disenfranchising the majority of folks who do not smoke. Kudos to the one Board member who stood up for us.
Property Values: One key element in the formula for property value is the appearance of our grounds. We have to question a number of the decisions that contribute the deterioration of appearances.
- We are living with an antiquated sprinkler system that has malfunctions on a regular basis. Despite the drought, our grounds could have a better appearance had the watering system been attended to. We question the spending of $8,800 on new curbing when the critical needs of our water usage could have been addressed instead.
- We are showing just a few of the ugly patches and repairs that have suddenly appeared all over our parking lots. Perhaps a more cosmetically and esthetically pleasing job could have been done?
Once there were 8 trees- now one tree and a twig.
No grass for two years
This twig replaces 7 trees- after three years it is 5' tall. City regulations call for replacement trees to start at 10'.
Dead tree in front of clubhouse- no need for this tree to have died.
Our Property: We have lost nearly 50% of the tree canopy that we started with 30 years ago. Hurricanes, disease and neglect have been responsible for this. Some parts of the property have little tree cover and pleasant ambiance left. It is time to start re-foresting our property and making it the beautiful oasis it once was.
· We are in a prolonged and historic drought in the area that has brought our pond to extremely low levels.
· Our grass throughout the development is brown and crunchy.
· There are high fire risks throughout the county.
· There are severe water restrictions throughout the county.
Now is the time to start considering measures that will make our properties beautiful while conserving water.
· Bring in a landscape architect (we know of one who will volunteer) to discuss alternative plantings native to Florida. These plants need less water and are drought resistant.
· Develop a plan for each of our gardens that will take advantage of native plants and will grow independent of daily care.
· Invite nurseries in with their stock so that we can buy wholesale from them (individually for our own gardens and as a complex.)
· Chose beautiful trees that are hurricane resistant and start replanting the property. Some of the trees and shrubs will be donated to us.
· Plant butterfly gardens
Dear Friends and Neighbors:
A group of your fellow Pine Ridge 3 South condo owners have gotten together to address quality of life issues within our condo community. It is our hope that you will be willing to join with us to turn our Knotty Pine Circle community into a place we can all be proud of. We hope to do this by setting way to interact with each other to bring about a community that we will all be proud and comfortable to be a part of.
To keep you informed, we have set up a Blog that you can access on your computer on a regular basis. You can comment on this blog as well. We will be publishing minutes from Board meetings and the financial documents you are entitled to review. You can access this by typing in: www.pineridge3south.blogspot.com. If you don’t have a computer, please go to any library to keep up with what is going on in our condo on a regular basis.
1. We believe that a small group of people have become entrenched in Board leadership and that they sometimes lose sight of the democratic processes and cares of the community around them. We will be proposing a new slate of candidates for your consideration in time for this year’s upcoming elections. Some of this slate will include the best of the current Board and some will be new folks bringing new energy and new ideas.
2. It’s time to bring Pine Ridge 3 South into the Twenty-First century: We will be putting all Board and Condo records on line so that any owner can access them whenever they feel the need. There will be no secrecy about condo actions or finances. We propose to have computers available to all residents in the clubhouse for condo and personal business. We will train any member in their use. We will provide wireless access to the internet to the entire community. We will publish all club activities and the schedules of any of our community’s group’s activities.
3. Our Community Landscaping needs help: Despite the protests of the current administration, the grounds have deteriorated rapidly over the last decade. We are out of compliance with city regulations for tree canopy. We are given mis-information about what we are permitted to do with our landscaping. We have plans to correct this.
4. Our sprinkler system is broken: Rather than spending $8800 on curbing for the front of the property, perhaps the sprinkler system, broken for a long period of time, should have been repaired.
5. Move the annual membership meeting to January when the largest group of owners are present: At the annual meeting the membership can raise any and all issues (according to documents) and cannot be out-voted by the Board who can only, at this meeting, vote as individuals.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
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