[VCHPOA Agenda] Minutes - Tuesday, May 13, 2008

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Virginia City Highlands Property Owners´ Association
Minutes - Monthly Meeting Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Virginia City Highlands Fire Station Training Room

Present: 		Rita Lumos, Bill Lewis, Mike Lupo, Steve Morrow
Absent:		Mary Tallent-Stewart (Excused, out of town on business)

I.	Call To Order, Declaration Of A Quorum, And Approval Of Meeting 
Agenda
The meeting was called to order by President Rita Lumos at 7:00 pm.  Ms. 
Lumos declared a quorum present.  The agenda was approved as posted.

II.	Approve Minutes of the April 8, 2008 Regular Meeting
A motion by Lewis, seconded by Lupo to approve the minutes as submitted 
was approved unanimously.

III.	Financial Statements
Treasurer Mike Lupo reviewed the financial statements.  The cash on hand 
on April 30, 2008 is $223,580, of which $123, 789 is the reserve account 
balance.  Major expenses for May include $5630 for liability insurance, 
$3,507 Ombudsman´s Fee, and approximately $12,000 for road 
improvements.  

Rita Lumos reported that a new savings account for operating expenses 
had been opened and the reserve funds are being maintained in the 
existing reserve savings account.  Funds necessary to meet expenses will 
be transferred monthly to the checking account from the appropriate 
savings account.  With this change there will always be an accurate 
accounting for the operating and reserve funds.

A motion by Lewis, seconded by Lupo to accept the financial report was 
approved unanimously.

IV.	Comments by Association Members

Cecilia Lak noted that traffic is moving too fast on Cartwright Road, greatly 
exceeding the speed limit.  It was suggested that more speed limit signs be 
posted.

Lumos read a letter from association member Dave Thomas requesting 
the board, jointly with the board of the Highlands Ranches POA (Tens) 
draft and present a letter to the County Commission requesting that no 
parking signs be posted on the west side of Cartwright Road adjacent to 
the old mail box shelter.  This would discourage the parking of used cars 
for sale in this area.  

Several people expressed concern that this area is needed for parking 
during heavy snow storms and that it is a convenient place to turn around 
when getting mail.  Several alternatives were discussed and the general 
consensus was that a request should be for signs stating "Emergency 
Parking Only".  Lumos will contact the HRPOA to see if they are interested 
in participating.

Jeff Cox, a VCHPOA owner and a circulation manager for the Reno 
Gazette Journal reported that he had received a complaint about the 
newspaper tubes on Cartwright and Lousetown Roads.  He explained the 
tubes are the property of the lot owners and not of the newspaper.  He has 
no authority to remove them.  Lumos noted that the issue had been 
brought up at the April meeting and an overwhelming majority of those 
present were not offended by the newspaper tubes.  There will be a 
discussion of this issue at the annual meeting in July.

V.	Committee Reports
A.	ARCHITECTURAL COMMITTEE
Rita Lumos reported that the Architectural Committee had met on May 6.  
One set of plans for an addition to an existing residence was presented 
and approved.  A fee of $75 was collected.  A written complaint about a 
shed having  been moved onto a property was received.  The owner is 
being contacted and asked to comply with all restrictions and conditions.

B.	ROAD REPORT
Bob Moore reported that work on Bonanza Road from Clemens to 
Calaveras had been completed and that work was proceeding on Highland, 
Highland Spur, and Crestview.  Fey Road will also be improved at the 
upper end of the Highlands and then work will shift to Delta and the short 
roads which intersect it.  The water truck is in service with Tom Peevers as 
the primary driver.

Bob reported that the equipment yard had been cleared of all junk with the 
help of Sharon Dixon.

Bob and Neal Melton had attended a seminar on dust control of gravel 
roads at UNR and found it very informative and worthwhile.

Steve Morrow reported that the roller will be kept another month in order to 
do regrading on some of the major roads like Empire and Sazarac.  This 
will not involve adding any new material.  Work will also be done on the 
intersections where the County is expected to add paving on the 
approaches to Cartwright and Lousetown.  

Morrow also reported that a test of the application of a magnesium chloride 
mixture on a small strip of road will be done in June.  This treatment is for 
dust control and durability of the road surface.  The chemicals are 
harmless to the environment.  He noted that the safety specifications for 
the product will be posted on the web site.  The application cannot be used 
on very steep sections of roadway.

The importance of safe speed limits on the gravel roads, both for safety 
and for protection of the road surfaces was stressed.  Many questioned 
whether there is a set speed limit on the gravel roads.  

A motion by Lupo, seconded by Lewis to set the speed limit for all the 
unpaved roads at 15 miles per hour, and to purchase signs posting the 
speed limit at the entrance to each road was approved unanimously.

It was also noted that a number of the street signs were missing and need 
to be replaced.  Although the signs are expensive they are an important 
safety issue for the Highlands.

C.	RESERVE STUDY
Rita reviewed two proposals from reserve specialists which had been 
received.  One was from a company in Las Vegas, and one from 
Sacramento, CA.  The board was reluctant to hire either one until there is 
assurance that they are registered by the state and that the study would be 
in compliance with state law.  Rita stated that she had recently spoken to 
the Ombudsman´s Office and was told that the registration process was 
not yet complete.  She will investigate further.

VI.	New Business
A.	SPRING CLEAN UP DAY
Rita reminded everyone that the clean up day had been scheduled for 
Saturday, May 17th and that volunteers are needed.  Everyone was asked 
to meet at the  mailboxes at 10:00 am.  Garbage bags will be provided.

B.	 ANNUAL MEETING PREPARATION
1.	Set Date For Annual Meeting
The annual meeting will be held Saturday, July 12, at 10:00 am.  Rita will 
contact the volunteer fire department for help in organizing a pancake 
breakfast prior to the meeting.

2.	FY 08-09 BUDGET
The proposed budget was reviewed.  It was accepted by the board and will 
be sent out to all owners with the newsletter.  Final approval of the budget 
will be at the annual meeting.

3.	Proposed Agenda for Annual Meeting
The agendas for the past two annual meetings were reviewed.  The 
agenda will be similar this year, with the addition of a report from the 
VRWPA and a discussion of the newspaper tubes.

4.	Items for Newsletter
The speed limit will be highlighted in the newsletter.  Steve will prepare a 
road report.  Fire Safe Highlands was asked to contribute an article about 
their activities.  It was noted that dogs running loose had attacked a boy at 
the park and there could be a mention of Storey County leash laws in the 
newsletter.

VII.	Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:10 pm.

Respectfully Submitted,

Rita Lumos, President
Steve Morrow, Vice President