[VCHPOA Agenda] Board Minutes, April 10, 2007

Wed May 9 15:45:54 EDT 2007

[ As received from VCHPOA Secretary,  5/9/07 ]

Virginia City Highlands Property Owners Association
Minutes - Monthly Meeting, Tuesday April 10, 2007
Virginia City Highlands Fire Station Training Room - 7:00 p.m.

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

I. 	Call to order, declaration of a quorum and approval of meeting agenda
President Lumos called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. and declared 
that a quorum was present.  

II.       Approval of minutes of March 13, 2007
Minutes reviewed and motion made by Mike Lupo with a second by Mary 
Tallent-Stewart to approve the minutes with one correction.  It was noted 
that the CordeVista developer´s name is Blake Smith and not Brent Smith.  
Motion carries.

III.	Financial Statements (Discussion/Action)
A.	Monthly Cash Report
B.	Monthly Financial Statements
Mike Lupo reviewed the financial statements with the group.  There is 
$63,206 in checking, $127,987 in savings, receivables of $7,350 and 
expenses of $11,079.  Total cash is on the books is approximately 
$200,000.  The vehicle insurance premium is about $8,000 which is $1,000 
higher than expected due to association road coverage.  This was not 
included on the April expense report.  Mary Tallent-Stewart made a motion 
to accept the financials as submitted with a second by Rita Lumos.  
Motion carries.

IV.	Public Comments 
	None to report

V.	Comments by Association Members (NRS 116.3108(3))
Comissioner Bob Kershaw joined the group and has a map of the proposed 
Cordevista site.  It is approximately 900 acres on Devils Flat and will 
be a proposed 3 homes per acre development.  There will be a meeting in 
the Washoe County chambers on April 12 and we are hoping that Washoe and 
Storey County officials will communicate on this issue.  Feedback from 
prior town hall meeting was negative regarding the project.  Residents 
are concerned about the water table and access to the site from the 
Highlands.  The Commissioners will be at 	the meeting April 12th and 
report back to the Board here at the next meeting. 	Bob also mentioned 
that due to the number of wells being redrilled in this area building 
permits may have to be limited in the near future.  The County 
maintenance of Cartwright Road is next on the Commissioner´s agenda along 
with researching the Lousetown Road ownership issue.   

VI.	A.  Architectural Committee
Rita Lumos stated that there have been two sets of plans submitted for 
residences, one for an addition and one for an outbuilding.  All have 
been approved and fees have been paid.  

	B.  Road Report
Bob Moore has been working to transfer the old oil in the equipment yard 
to the railroad.  The water truck has been repaired and the sprayers 
tested, working well.  The water pump did go out and had to be repaired.  
Now the                                                                   
                                      truck is back in the shop as the 
front differential is out. Repairs are estimated at $2500 plus tow 
charges.  It was agreed to fix the truck because a new one is expensive.  
Grading has commenced and ditches are being cleaned and culverts put in, 
19 so far.  He purchased a CB radio for the truck for  communications.  
Cartwright was plowed on March 27th after a sudden bad storm.  The road 
was a sheet of ice and many cars were in the ditches.  Bob and a resident 
on Cartwright did a fine job of pulling out the cars and setting things 
back in order.  Currently Empire is being graded, the will go on to 
Pandhandle and Clemons.  Bob received a complaint about the condition of 
Dortort but that road is still in pretty good shape.  He would like to do 
half of Empire, then do Panhandle and Clemons and then finish Empire 
depending on how much material is left.  A resident on Mustang asked 
about grading on the corner of Mustang and Sazarac.  A resident on 
Sazarac wanted to know about the giant culvert placed on Sazarac and is 
concerned about unstemmed water flow that could possibly wash out 
Sazarac.  Rita and Eric will discuss and see what the County has to say.  
Rita said there will be a gravel road maintenance workshop on 4/16 for 
$50 and one on dust control on 4/17 and would like Bob to go.  Mike Lupo 
made a motion to approve the workshop expense with a second by Mary 
Tallent-Stewart.  Motion carries.  

            C.  Document Report
Keith is down to one issue on the CC & R´s - how to set annual dues.  The 
choices are to have the Board prepare the annual budget and set the dues 
in an amount to cover it or to have dues remain at $50 per lot per year 
and levy special assessments as funds are needed.  Ballots will be sent 
out this month along with a nomination sheet for three positions coming 
up for election.  In lieu of sending in a paper ballot, voters can use 
the internet. ballots will have a control number to prevent double 
voting.  Our attorney was consulted to make sure that this was not 
considered secret balloting.  

No Park Report this meeting

VII.	Old Business

A.	A letter was mailed to residents on Sazarac regarding the shaded fuel 
break project with Firesafe Highlands. Approximately 50 Certified letters 
were mailed and 25-30 responses were received.  A representative of the 
Nevada Division of Forestry was on hand to show an example of thinning 
out growth and what the fuel break would entail.  They would like 150 
feet clearance from the road back which is the prescribed distance 
removing unnecessary fuels.  It will create a park like effect.  It is 
needed because Sazarac is a primary alternate route to get in and out of 
the Highlands and evacuation is a major concern.  Sierra Pacific Power 
will help with the cost and property owners can keep the firewood.  Brush 
and ditches will also be cleared and the power company will remove what 
they cut.  The fire station is manned with two people at all times and 
the NDF seasonal crew is coming on.  There will also be 12 reservists 
brought on by Storey County.  The water tanks are being revamped.  There 
are many dead trees to be cleared in the area and a County ordinance 
allows the fire department to clear them.  

B.	Last meeting there was a motion for request to Storey County for 
maintenance of Cartwright Road.  A letter was sent to the County 
Commission and it appears nothing can be finalized until the next fiscal 
year which begins in July.

    VIII.     New Business

A.	Ballots will be going out with vote on dues, call for nominations and 
a newsletter regarding the CC & R´s, road maintenance and information 
regarding the ballot.  

B.	Rita Lumos had a meeting with the school district as they
own the property just east of the fire station where the slash pile and 
equipment yard are located concerning maintenance of the area.  Pat
Whitten will look into insurance with the county.  Fencing the slash pile
was discussed as well as a formal lease agreement including the 10 acre
Association, the 1 acre association and the school district as well as 
possible consolidation with the 10´s in their equipment yard.  It was 
also
discussed regarding the County taking over the slash pile.  Pat will talk 
to the City Attorney about this possibility.  A $30 stump fee was also 
discussed as being added to the architectural fees when builders chop 
down trees and have to haul the stumps to the slash pile.

Rita had a call from a resident working with Dean Heller´s office to 
change the zip code in the Highlands.  A representative from the postal 
service will be at the May meeting.  Keith Judson suggested it be added 
to the newsletter.  The current zip is associated with Washoe County and 
Reno.  Our mail delivery is privately contracted.  Vehicle and 
homeowner´s insurance could potentially be impacted as well.

Pat Whitten is working with the County for a tentative May 5-19 community 
cleanup.

Executive Session
A resident on Clemons is building a shed with no permit and it is too 
close to the road.  Rita will send a registered letter to the owner 
regarding the issue.

The headwall on Sazarac was hit by the grader.  Bob Moore will file a 
report on the incident.  A claim can be filed but the owner wants to 
trade funds to repair the cracked headwall for the association covering 
the cost of the water storage tank that needs to be installed there.  The 
County is requiring that he put in the tank regardless.  He will be 
required to file a claim and turn it in to the insurance company.

It was discussed that on the corner of Delta and Cartwright, the 
residents on either side have issues with vehicles for sale in the yard 
and a large amount of construction trash.  

     VIV:    Adjourn 8:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted

Mary Tallent-Stewart
Secretary