[VCHPOA Agenda] Minutes - Feb. 13, 2007

[Agenda distribution list]

Virginia City Highlands Property Owners Association
Minutes - Monthly Meeting, Tuesday February 13, 2007
Virginia City Highlands Fire Station Training Room - 7:00 p.m.

Present:  Bill Lewis,  Rita Lumos, Mary Tallent-Stewart, Mike Lupo
                Absent:  Debra Gravenstein

I.    Call to order, declaration of a quorum and approval of meeting agenda
President Lumos called the meeting to order at 7:03 and declared a 
quorum present.

II.   Approve minutes of January 9, 2007 regular meeting
Minutes reviewed and motion made by Bill Lewis to approve the minutes 
with a second by Mike Lupo.  Motion carries.

III.  Financial Statements (Discussion/Action)
A.	Monthly Cash Report
B.	Monthly Financial Statements
Lydia Hammack was absent at this meeting. Vice President Lupo 
discussed the October and November reports.  Expenses this month were 
$3,028.13, road maintenance costs were $7,459.68 and $2,000 was spent 
on the water truck repair. Balance in checking is $39,727 and $131,406 in 
the reserve.  Bill Lewis made a motion to approve the financials as 
submitted with a second by Mary Tallent-Stewart.  Motion carried.

IV.  Public Comments County 
Commissioners were present at this meeting to introduce Mike Nevin as a 
new Commissioner.  They addressed snow removal as a priority in the 
Highlands and stated that it is time to take over maintenance of Cartwright 
Road but they need the request of the Board to do so.  VCHPOA would 
retain ownership.  Mike Lupo would like to see added signage.  The county 
would work with road manager Bob Moore and there would be a written 
agreement regarding the work to be performed. There are funds for the 
park improvement and that will be addressed in the spring with 
Commissioner Nevin.  Brett Tyler, Planning Commissioner plans to 
address noxious weed abatement.  The website washoeweed.org lists the 
top 12 noxious weeds.  He needs official authorization from the Board to 
proceed and notification sent to all homeowners.  Also an issue is water 
runoff, flood plane and formation of a county wide fload plan.  Sales tax, 
land fill money and some gas tax funds this part of the public works 
budget. 	 

V.    Comments by Association Members (NRS 116.3108(3)) 
None to report  

VI.   Committee Reports
A.	Architectural Committee
One set of house plans was reviewed and approved.  Bill Lewis will be 
vacating his seat on that committee.  He has been on the architectural 
committee for almost two years.

B.	Road Report
Bob Moore stated that most of early January 2007 was spend plowing and 
sandingCartwright.  The sander is now working properly.  The Dodge plow 
truck has been repaired.  A homeowner living off of Silverado called Bob 
and said that at night cars were parked at the bottom of Sazarac and 
Silverado due to that road being steep and slippery so Bob has been 
sanding it and this has helped.  Grading has been done on some of the 
roads to bring the material on the edge to the center of the road.  A 
punctured tire was replaced on the grader and more sand/salt mixture has 
been ordered with a mixture of 4/1.  A new starting unit was put in the front 
loader and it is now working very well.  A grant has been received to put up 
new street signs due to damage caused by the high winds this past year.

         C.   Documents
More advisory ball have been received and a tabulation conducted.  Not as 
many homeowners have voted on amending the CC & R´s.  The choice 
seems to be a simple majority of  351 households or 30%.   Setting dues 
annually in an amount to cover the annual budget was the overwhelming 
response.  Keith put together language that will be sent to homeowners to 
extend the voting period due to the current percentage required to vote.  
The Association´s attorney needs to review this.  A motion was made by 
Bill Lewis to have the attorney review the proposed amendments.  A 
second was made by Mike Lupo.  Motion carries.  

                No Park Report this meeting.

VII.	Old Business
None to report
	     
      VIII.    New Business
A.	Any Other Matters Which The Board Members Wish To Discuss
A $58,000 grant has been awarded to the Highlands to build a shaded fuel 
break along Sazarac Road, working with the Firesafe Council and the 
Nevada Division of Forestry.  The easement will be 50 feet, although the 
Division of Forestry would like to see a 100 foot easement instead.  Letters 
will be sent to property owners on Sazarac.  There will be a meeting 
tomorrow with Sierra Pacific Power regarding the trees and brush around 
telephone and power poles and possibly sharing the cost of the project.  
There is $12,000 or $13,000 left from last years grant as well.  The Fire 
Department agreed to burn the slash pile the the State of Nevada has 
mandated that 20% must be bio-fuels.  A decision was made not to burn 
the poile but have it hauled down to the prision instead.  Another issue is 
that the pile has developed a large depth of ash from all the prior burns.

President Lumos stated that we need to send out nomination forms as 
there are three seats coming up for Board seats in June.  A one page 
newsletter was suggested which would also include information on the 
road improvement progress and how the funds are being spend and 
Cartwright Road maintenance plan, etc..  The webmaster will format the 
newsletter.  Late March is the target date.  A motion was made by Bill 
Lewis to send the information/nomination in this format, a second was 
made by Mary Tallent-Stewart.  Motion carries.

The reserve study needs to be done by a licensed real estate individual 
qualified to do it and so far no has been found that has a license.  Rita has 
inquired about this and no one seems to know where there is one so the 
study has been shelved for the time being.

Rita received an e-mail regarding Ferrel Gas agreements for lower rates 
on propane on the website.  It had been approved 12/11/01 by the Board.  
She will have the webmaster post something on our website about it.

Rita received a call from Brent Smith, developer of Somersett.  He has 
purchased approximately 9,000 acres in Storey County out behind 
Lockwood and wanted to take Rita on a tour.  It is to be a mixed use 
development and he says that there would not be any impact to the 
Highlands.  There will be a Town Hall meeting at the firehouse in a few 
weeks where Mr. Smith will give a presentation regarding his proposed 
project.

		
IX.	Executive session to discuss possible violation of CCR´s
A resident on Diablo Road complained that the road was not being 
maintained where he lives.  He is in collections for the $400 special 
assessment and $200 in dues.  He and his wife have both been very ill and 
have substantial medical bills.  He currently does not have the money to 
pay them.  He had previously paid to have his section of the road plowed 
but Bob Moore has plowed it since.  Rita suggested that perhaps we could 
get the attorney´s fees waived if he would pay the dues and the 
assessment.  She will find out and let them know.

Someone left a message for Rita about a travel trailer that is an eyesore on 
Dortort.

There is a house on the corner of Cartwright and Delta roads that has been 
under construction for over a year.  Rita will send a letter to the owner to 
come to the next Board meeting to discuss the problem.

Rita talked to county officials regarding the lease on the firehouse.  The 
responsibility for maintenance was the County´s for both buildings.  The fire 
chief doesn´t feel he can justify using taxpayer´s funds to keep up the 
firehouse.  We need to look at the lease agreement.  We will move this 
issue to next month´s agenda.  The County is interested in buying the fire 
station.  Bill Lewis suggested that we get an appraisal.

The president and road manager of the 10 acre Association wants to order 
1 ½ inch material and would like the 1 acre Association to split the cost.  
Rita consulted with a civil engineer on this type of base and was advised it 
was good.  The 10 acre Association also wants to rent the water truck at 
$70 an hour which includes the driver.   Bill Hansen is thinking about 
purchasing a backhoe and would like to park it in the equipment yard and 
will rent it at $80 per hour.  A merger of the 1 acre and 10 acre road 
departments is being considered.

X.     Adjourn
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

Respectfully submitted


Mary Tallent-Stewart
Secretary