2013 Budget

At their meeting on Oct. 26, 2012 the Board of Directors adopted the 2013 Budget, which sets the 2013 monthly condo association fees at $225 for Units 16 through 167 and $80 for Units 1 through 14 (there is no Unit 15). The new monthly fees will go into effect with the January 2013 payment. 

Rather than wait until we formally notify you by mail in November, the Board felt it was important to also give you a "heads-up" as soon as possible about the condo fee increase via the flyer that was placed on your door earlier today and to also provide additional information about the 2013 Budget via this blog post.
 

What follows is some historical background along with the rationale behind the Board's decision to raise the 2013 monthly condo association fees. It focuses on Units 16 through 167 since those represent the majority of our units and that is where most of our expenses are incurred. Similar information for Units 1 through 14 (site condos) would be based on their assigned percent of value and therefore would be proportionally and significantly lower.

Tentative date for final paving

Florence Cement Co. has informed the Board of Directors that they have identified Monday, Nov. 5, 2012 as their tentative date for the paving of the final layer of asphalt on our roadways. This tentative date could be moved earlier if they experience a non-weather related delay on a different paving project but it is more likely to be moved later because of rain delays caused this week by the effects of Hurricane Sandy.  Florence Cement has assured the Board that our final paving will be completed before the end of the 2012 asphalt paving season.

Approved Minutes of Sept. 28, 2012 Board Meeting

Minutes of the September 28, 2012
Meeting of the Board of Directors of the
Manors at Central Park Condominium Association

1.      Meeting was held at the offices of Kramer-Triad Management Group, L.L.C.,

      320 East Big Beaver Road, Ste 190, Troy, MI 48083.

2.      Meeting began at 10:05 AM EDT; Quorum was established with all three Board Members being present.  Board Members present: President Mike Grobbel, Treasurer Larry Cybulski, and Secretary Bhartan Amin.  Also present: Ryan Dorner (Kramer-Triad property management).

3.      Approved the agenda for this meeting.

4.      The Board formally approved the 18 June 2012, meeting minutes.

5.      Management Report presented by Ryan Dorner.

Tree-planting activity along our berm

As I'm sure you are aware, there are many gaps in the tree line atop the berm that runs along the north and west perimeter of our property.  The gaps are where dead trees have been removed in past years and not replaced because of budget constraints. The Board is also aware that more trees will be dying in the coming years.  That is because some of the original trees did not have the supporting tree ties and stakes removed a year or two after being planted and the ties have recently begun strangling the upper half of the trees to the point where they cannot be saved.  Also, some of the Blue Spruce trees here at the Manors have been infected with rhizosphaera needle cast and phomopsis canker.  Our budget can only support the cost of fungicide treatments to the Blue Spruce trees in our side yards, so the ones on the berm will have to remain "at-risk".

Therefore, at their Sept. 28, 2012 meeting, the Board of Directors authorized the purchase and installation of 100 young evergreen trees along the top of the berm, provided we could get volunteer labor to plant them. We were able to purchase (50) Norway Spruce and (50) White Spruce trees at a total cost of $280, including fertilizer tablet and root dip.  These are bare-root, 4 year old trees with a minimum height of 2 feet.

Packard Proving Grounds Open House

The Packard Proving Grounds is holding an Open House on Sunday, October 21, 2012. This is a rain or shine event and starts at 1:00 PM – wrapping up at 5:00 PM. Admission is FREE.

Packards and other collector cars will be on display. The Open House will include food service, activities for the kids, and a chance to tour the buildings. Also, the Johnny Trudell Band will be playing their big-band sounds.

Power outage

Wednesday night at about 10:05 PM, an electrical power failure affected all of the units on Watling as well as those on the west side of Lexington East and the east side of Regent.   All of the other units in the Manors had uninterrupted service.  When I called to report our outage, I was given an automated estimate that the power would be restored by sometime between 2 and 4 AM Thursday morning.

Three DTE trucks arrived at around 11:00 PM and a few minutes later I walked down to where they were parked on Lexington West near Lexington South and spoke to one of the workers. He said they were aware of the isolated outage within the Manors and mentioned that there were also a group of homes without power in the Meadows sub to our south.

Power to the affected units in the Manors was restored at 2:38 AM.

Here is a link to DTE's Outage Center, from which you can use your computer or smart phone to report an outage on-line and also view an interactive map of reported outages.  Electrical power outages and downed lines can also be reported by calling (800) 477-4747.