[VCHPOA Agenda] Minutes, Mar.13, 2007

[Agenda distribution list]

[ As received from VCHPOA Secretary,  4/13/07 ]

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

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

I.    Call to order, declaration of a quorum and approval of meeting 
agenda
Vice President Bill Lewis called the meeting to order at 7:00 and 
declared a quorum present.

II.   Approve minutes of February 13, 2007 regular meeting
Minutes reviewed and motion made by Mike Lupo to approve the minutes with 
a second by Mary Tallent-Stewart.  Motion carries.

III.  Financial Statements (Discussion/Action)
A.	Monthly Cash Report
B.	Monthly Financial Statements
 Vice President Lupo discussed the February reports.  Expenses this month 
were $2,100 which included road maintenance labor, bookkeeping expense 
and retular utility bills.   Balance in checking is $54,000 and $25,000 
in the reserve.  There are approximately $18,000 in outstanding 
receivables.  Sixty six late notices went out for dues not paid and 
thireteen of those are in collections.  Mary Tallent-Stewart made a 
motion to approve the financials as submitted with a second by Mike Lupo. 
 Motion carried.

IV.  Public Comments

Storey County Commissioner Kershaw attended the meeting and spoke about 
the potential CordeVista development.  Based upon views from property 
owners in the Highlands at the last town hall meeting he doesn´t feel at 
the present time that the development would be approved but the process 
has a long way to go.  The homeowners in the community of Lockwood have a 
different feeling about the project.  Currently the land that Blake Smith 
has purchased for the project is zoned heavy special industrial.  The 
master plan and zoning are currently being reviewed.  

The county´s plan to take over the maintenance of Cartwright road was 
discussed. The county has a new public works director.  There will be an 
agreement drawn between the Highlands and the county to maintain 
Cartwright and the Association will retain ownership.  Both the one acre 
and ten acre associations will have an agreement which will be revocable 
at any time.  It was stated that the county had always assumed 
responsibility for Lousetown Road but if it is truly the county´s 
responsibility then the road could be "adandoned" and given to the ten 
and forty acre association.  The county would maintain restricted 
easements.  In this regard it would give the associations more control.  
Commissioner Kershaw will ask the county commission to draft an 
agreement.  The association will save money that can be put back into the 
reserve fund.  A motion to ask the Storey County Commission to draft an 
agreement between the one acre association and the County to maintain 
Cartwright Road was made by Mike Lupo with a second by Mary Tallent-
Stewart.  Motion carries.   It was noted that Bob Moore will continue to 
work in his capacity as Road Manager.  A question was asked if the Board 
would be involved directly with the CordaVista project.  Bill Lewis 
stated that collectively any decisions may have to go to vote as a group. 
 There was discussion regarding procedures the association would take, 
however, it is too soon to determine anything at this time.  

A resident is requesting a formal letter be drafted to the Postmaster 
General the 89521 zip code reflecting Reno when it should be the 
Highlands.   It is creating problems with freight.  The postmaster is 
resisting and says there must be a legitimate reason.  It was suggested 
that we place the issue on the website for response.  The Board will 
place the issue on the April agenda for further discussion.          	 

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.  It has been slow since 
the market downturn.  

B.	Road Report
Maintenance has been completed on all the equipment but the front loader 
is using a lot of ether and needs to be checked again.  All replaced 
culverts have been disposed of except the one on Hermit and Sazarac.  
Grading took place on Empire, Hermit and Saddleback.  Bob Moore met with 
the Firesafe Council and it was indicated that the Highlands are one of 
the worst areas in the state for fire danger.  Work needs to be done to 
minimize the danger and they would like to use the proposed fire break 
along Sazarac as a model.  Property owners will need to approve the 
project .

Bob and crew spend a lot of time sanding and plowing Cartwright the past 
month.  One night it took Bob seven hours to plow all the one acre roads 
twice.  He was able to dispose of 110 gallons of the old used oil in the 
equipment yard.  There are about 300 gallons left.  The water truck has 
been repaired at a cost of about $2,000.  The cracked windshield was also 
replaced along with a battery.  Road base will start to be put down in 
April, weather permitting.  Bob did an inventory on street signs.  Out of 
105, 37 need repaired or replaced due to wind and weather damage.  Bob 
has a contact and will get prices.

         
        C.   Documents
Keith sent out advisory forms regarding proposed changes to the CC & R´s 
and dues.  Of the people that responded, 60% were in favor of setting the 
dues based upon the annual budget in an amount to cover it.  He received 
about 150 responses total.  To approve amending the CC & R´s it takes a 
vote of 51% of the property owners.  A proposed ballot was drafted and 
our attorney reviewed it.  He agreed with the dues amendment issue but 
because of the NRS 116 specific wording, any changes to the CC & R´s does 
require an absolute 51% of homeowners voting.  The documents committee 
meets this Thursday.   Ballots will be sent via mail and the election 
will be held open until November to try to get as many votes in as 
possible.  There will be 1,169 ballots mailed, one for each lot.

No Park Report this meeting.

VII.	Old Business
The firebreak project on Sazarac will begin in April and notices will be 
mailed to the property owners.
	     
      VIII.    New Business
A.	Any Other Matters Which The Board Members Wish To Discuss
None to report

IX.	Executive session to discuss possible violation of CCR´s
None to report

X.     Adjourn
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,


Mary Tallent-Stewart
Secretary