The President's Corner

Dear Willowbend Homeowners,

I was driving around Willowbend recently with past president George Dellos and we commented to each other how nice our community looks. Not only is it a visually appealing place to live but a resident friendly one as well. This is not by accident or due to the efforts of any one individual. It is through the collective efforts of our committee members, management team, contractors, fellow residents and lastly board members. The reputation and visual appeal of our community is the result of the close working relationships and harmony which has become synonymous with Willowbend. I have heard repeatedly from realtors that Willowbend is recognized as one of the most sought after communities in Sarasota.

Grounds, Lakes and Landscaping

Board Vice-President “Dutch” Leonard diligently chairs the grounds committee. Dutch is responsible for overseeing the work of our landscape contractor Sunstate, sprinkler water system, sod replacement, planting ARC requests etc. Yes he is very busy and does it all due to his concern for Willowbend.

Please remember ARC’s are required for all plant replacement, not just new plantings. ARC’s are also required for all external changes including roof power washing and painting, even if it is to be the same color. Please be diligent in requiring your power washing contractor (LPM has a list of approved) does not use a chlorine containing solution. It will harm your plants contrary to what some people have been told. Cost of replacement of yours and possibly your neighbors’ plantings is the contracting homeowner’s responsibility. The paint and planting palettes can be found on this website.

The board is pleased to announce the awarding of a new two year contract to Sunstate beginning January 2012. This was accomplished utilizing a closed bid process. The landscaping contract is our single largest budget expense. The contract maintains our current cost which will help greatly with our upcoming 2012 budget planning cost containment.

Sunstate is currently completing a partial community mulch. In addition to the aesthetics created with mulch it is very important for moisture retention and weed control. Full community mulching each year is a board desire but is also cost prohibitive without significant monthly assessment increases. During the upcoming budgeting process we will be exploring possible funding considerations of how to fulfill this desire. Increased frequency will create a residual buildup with the result being a decrease in amount required each application. This would eventually lead to an actual decrease in cost.

Hopefully the north and south entrance way landscape lighting has been noticed. For me it produces a feeling of pride driving in at night. We have one more area to be completed which is the planted berm across from the pool entrance. Our plans are to have this completed by year’s end.

Pool/Recreation Area

The board during its’ June meeting officially changed the time of operation for both the fitness room and pool/spa area. The area is now open 5am to 10pm. Use after 10pm is a rules violation. Please be sure the lights and television are off whenever you leave the fitness room. The new gate has finally been installed. Contrary to rumors, the delays were not due to the lack of effort by either our management company Lighthouse, or the board. We unfortunately were at the mercy of greatly delayed bid submissions and contract execution. It has been a very frustrating time for all. Everyone’s patience has been very much appreciated. The good news is the gate is installed, looks very nice and due to better components should have a longer life span.

After hours recreation area trespassing/use still remains a concern. The board continues to explore methods to deal with this problem. Board Secretary Chuck Halfast is leading the effort investigating real time off site monitored video security systems as a possible solution. All residents are urged to help. If recreation area use after 10pm is observed, simply call the non emergency sheriff’s number 941-316-1201. The key to having a deputy respond is to state there are “trespassers” in the pool/spa area. Do not- I repeat Do Not approach or become confrontational. Let the responding deputy do what they are trained to do. It is not necessary to call a board member. Unfortunately it is only a matter of time before an afterhour’s party or improper use will result in extensive damage.

Finances

Board Treasurer Lucy Crist has been busy finalizing a commissioned reserve funding study report assisted by Chuck Halfast. The good news is there should be minimal if any change to the yearly collected reserve funds. We are properly funded which will insure the maintenance of Willowbend now and into the future. The final report will be available at the October meeting. The board will continue in its’ endeavor to minimize expenses while maintaining a community we can be proud of.

Willowbend’s delinquency rate of approximately 4% of yearly expenses is a result of the economy. However, we feel our continued collection efforts, using every process and law available, has kept the economies impact to our budget less than other associations in the area.

Management

Lighthouse Property Management (LPM) continues to serve our community very well. Kyanne Merrill (kyannemerrill@mgmt.tv) is our community manager. She has as her new assistant Shannon Banks (shannonbanks@mgmt.tv). All questions or requests should be directed to them. They will then make sure your communication reaches the correct person for reply or resolution. This is one of their areas of responsibility. The LPM number is 941-966-6844.

Legal

The board initiated a search for new legal counsel as one of its’ first orders of business. Board Member at Large Nancy McAward and Lucy Crist after much investigation and interviews recommended the firm of Becker Poliakoff. The change provides us with counsel that has more resources which will hopefully translate into a cost savings. The board has made this change official.

Meetings

The board has changed the monthly meeting start time to 1:30. The meeting will continue to be held at the Baptist Church in Osprey (just north of Bay Street on 41 south).

Yours for a better Willowbend,
Gary S. Klein
President, Willowbend HOA

Dear Willowbend Homeowners,

It is so nice to rekindle friendships as our neighbors have begun to return from up North. A reprieve from the very hot weather of the summer has enabled more residents to get out and walk through our beautiful community. In September the grassscapes were green and lush. But after several weeks without rain there has once again been some browning of the yards. The pumps are operating full schedule and after a few good showers, the green will return.

The application of new mulch continues. It has been about four years since Willowbend has had a complete reapplication of mulch. This summer the Board initiated a complete remulching of the community. To prevent the rapid erosion of mulch in swales, recycled mulch was applied between homes while pine bark was applied to the mulch beds in front and rear of homes. In September your Board of Directors authorized the final phase of the project which was recycled mulch along the walls and plant beds in the remaining common areas. Once the hurricane season is behind us, new pine bark will be applied to the berms inside the sidewalks just in time for the holidays. It took us almost four years to accumulate sufficient funds for this project. We anticipate increasing the annual mulch budget for next year providing sufficient funds to dress up the mulched areas but insufficient funds for a full scale mulching. At the present time there is no reserve fund for mulch. The Board will budget money to have a professional analysis of all our reserve funds in 2011. Following that analysis we may want to consider accumulating money in a special reserve fund to fully fund remulching in the future.

Our contract with SunState specifies the number of grass mowings we receive each year. Now that the growing season is coming to an end, it is no longer necessary to mow each week. Dutch Leonard and Monty have worked out the schedule so that there will always be a mowing each week prior to a holiday so the community will be at its best when your guests arrive. If the Board notices that the grass has grown an exceptional amount following a rainy period, an additional mowing will be added to insure that our community looks well kept.

It is that time of the year to consider a new budget. The annual budget meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 16th at 3:30 PM at the Baptist Church in Osprey. That date is a departure from the usual monthly meeting date. It is the third Tuesday rather than the third Thursday. At least ten business days prior to that meeting all Homeowners will receive a copy of the proposed 2011 budget. At the meeting there will be an opportunity for Homeowners to speak prior to the Board’s vote on the budget.

Shortly after the first of the year (2010) the Board authorized a trial project to reconstruct and paint fifty linear feet of the north wall as a result of damage to the foam caps as well as the expansion joints in the foam wall panels. We observed the wall during the past few months to see if the reconstruction held up. At the September meeting The Board authorized the reconstruction and painting of the remainder of the north wall. The middle wall and south wall were not constructed with foam panels and caps; therefore, they have not experienced the same degree of deterioration. Within the next few months we expect the remaining two walls will also be repainted. This project will deplete the reserve fund for maintenance of the walls, but we will continue to fund this reserve account so that in seven years we can repaint again.

The Board has authorized the movement of our operating funds from the Landmark Bank in Sarasota to the Florida Shores Bank of Venice. Payments will continue to be made to Landmark Bank, but starting in January, monthly assessments will be paid to the Florida Shores Bank. This change in banks does not necessitate any action on the part of the Homeowners at this time. Each Homeowner will receive new coupon books and procedures for auto pay as we approach the New Year. We anticipate that this will not prove to be an inconvenience to any Homeowner.

The Willowbend Board of Directors would like to know which Willowbend homes are being rented. All Homeowners who rent their homes are required to notify Lighthouse Property Management that the home is being leased. Unfortunately that notification does not always occur. There are also specific requirements that there be no leases of less than three months and no more than two sets of tenants per year. Tenants are also required to follow the same Rules and Regulations as Homeowners, and it is the responsibility of the Homeowner to ensure that they do. If you are aware of a home being rented in your neighborhood, please notify one of the Board of Directors with this information.

There have been confrontations and accidents in Willowbend as the result of unleashed dogs. Please keep your pets on leashes and pick up their droppings immediately (not once a week.) This is important for the safety and convenience of other residents.

Our active social committee has lots of plans for the upcoming months. You should have been receiving e-mails announcing their events. If you missed or misplaced these announcements, please refer to the Willowbend web site, www.willowbendcommunity.com. for details. We hope to see as many as possible at the November 6th outing (lunch, games, tennis, and golf), the Halloween event held at the rec center at 6PM on October 29th, and the special Holiday Dinner Dance on December 3. Once again I want to thank this committee as well as all other committees and individuals who give of their time and talents to make Willowbend a great place to live.

Best regards to you all,

Ken Lindberg

Willowbend President.

The following letter was sent to all Willowbend homeowners:

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR HOMEOWNERS REGARDING:

• CHANGES TO RULES AND REGULATIONS
• SUBMITTING ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW REQUESTS
• LANDSCAPING

PLEASE READ!

July 21, 2010

Dear Willowbend Homeowners,

The enclosed packet includes recent changes to the Willowbend Rules and Regulations approved at the May meeting of the Board of Directors. Specifically note changes to Section 2.3 requiring submission of architectural review forms and subsequent approval before initiating changes to landscaping and the exterior of your home. There are also several changes to the rules regarding use of the recreation center. Please review all of the Rules and Regulations and place them in a convenient place for future reference. A full version of the Willowbend Rules and Regulations can be found on the Willowbend website- www.willowbendcommunity.com It is essential that all members of deed restricted homeowner associations have access to, and are familiar with, the Association documents.

Architectural Review Committee (ARC’s) forms PLEASE!!

As our homes age many of you are considering major maintenance to your home exterior. As a result of freeze damage many of you are also considering plant replacement in your yards. As you contemplate changes to your landscaping or any change to the exterior of your home and lanai, remember that all such changes require filling out an ARC and getting approval prior to initiating the work. Failure to do so may result in fines or other action imposed by the Compliance Committee. The following activities requiring an ARC include but are not limited to

• power washing your roof, drive or home exterior with any solution other than tap water.
• adding gutters, Dream Screens, or storm shutters,
• repainting your home either the same color or a different color on the pallet. Please do not consider painting your home a color that is not on the Willowbend pallet as that is not allowed by our deed restrictions. The Willowbend color pallet is available on the Web site, www.willowbendcommunity.com. It lists Sherwin Williams color names and numbers. We have recently searched through records from two Sherwin Williams stores to identify the exterior paint color, trim color, and door color of most of our residences. If you do not know your colors, contact Lighthouse Property Management or John Wilson, chairman of the ARC committee.
• Changes to your pool or pool deck. Such changes usually require movement of materials and equipment over common property and the possibility of damage to landscaping and irrigation lines.
• modifying your landscaping (this includes new plants, trees, and shrubs added to your yard as well as replacement of existing dead or damaged plants with plants of the same kind or replacement with plants of a different species)

Most residents who wish landscaping changes can meet with Monty and Dutch at the gazebo on Wednesday mornings (9:30-10:30). An ARC can be filled out and approved at that time. ARC forms can also be downloaded from our Web site, willowbendcommunity.com. All other ARC’s for structural changes, screens or gutters, painting or power washing will not be approved at the gazebo and should be filed with Lighthouse Property Management. They have the forms if you do not wish to download them from the web site. Many of these requests are approved by the management company and you should get a response in less than a week. Other requests are forwarded to the ARC Committee for consideration at their monthly meetings.

Thank you to the residents who have been diligent in filling out required ARC’s. In order to protect all residents in our deed-restricted community, those who fail to file forms must at some point be held accountable.

Landscaping

Our community is once again looking quite attractive. Pruning is now back on the regular monthly schedule with additional crew members for the heavy growing season. A separate full-time crew is applying recycled mulch to the side yards and swales and applying pine bark to the front and back yards. Palm trees, Indian Hawthorn, and additional lighting have been added to the small island at the south entrance. The island at the end of Latitude has also been beautified by plant replacement. As funds become available plants on the outside of the wall will also be replaced. As a result of a hot dry period a number of “brown-outs” have appeared on sodded areas. Our watering schedule is monitored and restricted by Sarasota County. We are applying water as frequently as possible and it looks like the rains have returned.

Verizon

Verizon suggests that all Willowbend residents who are having service issues or would like to modify their land phone service or internet service call 1 800-501-1172. This number is answered Monday through Friday, 8AM-9PM and is reserved for Homeowners like ourselves who have group contracts for their service. If you call the regular service numbers they may not be aware of our contract and may give you erroneous information. Our contract with both Verizon and Comcast are up July 2012. Gary Klein is heading up a committee to explore our options before that time arrives. Look for more information on the Web site.

Water Heater Expansion Tanks

Recently several water expansion tanks have corroded and sprung major leaks causing damage to home interiors. If you have a small tank sitting on top of your water heater, it is an expansion tank. Since our water lines are PVC they cannot tolerate high spikes in water pressure. The purpose of the tanks is to allow the water to expand and reduce overall water pressure in your home. Unfortunately many of these tanks were installed with dissimilar metal fittings that may quickly corrode. Over a year ago the Board tried to get the word out that these tanks may need replacement. If you have not replaced your tank it is essential you get it checked out. If you have a plumber install a new tank insist that it has a stainless steel fitting.

Future Communication

One of the goals of your new Board is to institute better communication with Homeowners by electronic means. We have sent out several informational items by e-mail. Look forward to more communication from the Willowbend Board of Directors and Board Committees. Rest assured that your address will not be shared with Willowbend residents or the public unless you have given us permission to do so. If you have not received any messages perhaps you have not provided us with your e-mail address. We ask you to contact us at willowbendboard@yahoo.com or willowbendboard@gmail.com. We ask that you also check our web site from time to time for updates on your community.

It has been a challenging start of the year for Willowbend. We can be thankful that we have recovered from the freeze and anticipate a community as beautiful as ever. We also must be thankful for the many hours spent by our volunteers who patrol our streets, watch our finances, monitor our recreational facilities, plan our social programs, review our ARC’s, manage our Web site, plan for emergencies, and work side by side with the management company and Willowbend providers promoting a beautiful, friendly and exciting place to live. I also thank the Board members for their outstanding efforts these past few months.

Have a relaxing and healthy summer!

Best regards,
Ken Lindberg
Willowbend Board President

Dear Willowbend Homeowners,

Greetings and best Summer wishes from the Willowbend Board of Directors.

As I write this letter, the crepe myrtles at Willowbend have just started to bloom. For those of you who have not been here this time of the year, it is a beautiful sight. Many of the frost damaged trees and shrubs have been replaced by Homeowners; the North and South entryways have been remulched with large pine bark and, as a result of an extra crew, SunState has now finishing up the arduous task of pruning and removing frost-damaged plants and spraying weeds in the side and rear yards. Instead of the usual single truck load of pruned material removed each week, SunState has been hauling a truck load each day since late March. We expect to be back on our regular monthly pruning cycle next week. Thank you very much for your patience as we worked our way through the damage from the freeze. We also thank Dutch, Monty, and the SunState crews who have been diligently working to make this happen. Now that the fertilizer is down on turf, trees, and mulched beds, and the weeds have been sprayed, the task of remulching will begin. Starting next week we will apply recycled mulch to the side yards, swales, and remaining common areas. Recycled mulch has proven to stay in place the best during heavy rains. Once the side yards are completed, pine bark will be added to rear yards and front yards. With a crew working full time this will likely take up to two months to complete. We believe there will be sufficient funds to touch-up the front yards in November before the Holidays. Gary Klein, Board Member in charge of lakes, reports that thousands of pounds of tilapia have been removed from the lakes in an effort to mediate the erosive effect of the fish on lake banks during the spawn. The tilapia undermine the banks as they build their nests. Treasurer, Lucy Crist reports that the Association is financially healthy. A recent collection of past dues from a foreclosure has reduced our delinquencies.

Architectural Review Committee forms PLEASE!!

As you contemplate changes to your landscaping or any change to the exterior of your home and lanai, remember that all such changes require filling out an ARC. The following activities requiring an ARC include but are not limited to

• power washing your roof, drive or home exterior
• adding gutters, Dream Screens, or storm shutters,
• repainting your home either the same color or a different color on the pallet. Please do not consider painting your home a color that is not on the Willowbend pallet as that is not allowed by our deed restrictions. The Willowbend color pallet is available on the Web site. It lists Sherwin Williams color names and numbers. We have recently searched through records from two Sherwin Williams stores to identify the exterior paint color, trim color, and door color of most of our residences. If you do not know your colors, contact Lighthouse Property Management or John Wilson, chairman of the ARC committee.
• modifying your landscaping (this includes new plants, trees, and shrubs added to your yard as well as replacement of existing dead or damaged plants with plants of the same kind or replacement with plants of a different species)

Most residents who wish landscaping changes meet with Monty and Dutch at the gazebo on Wednesday mornings (9:30-10:30). An ARC can be filled out at that time. ARC forms can also be downloaded from our Web site, willowbendcommunity.com. All other ARC’s for structural changes, screens or gutters, painting or power washing should be filed with Lighthouse Property Management. They have the forms if you do not wish to download them from the web site. Many of these requests are approved by the management company and you should get a response within a week. Other requests are forwarded to the ARC Committee for consideration at their monthly meetings. Thank you to the residents who have been diligent in filling out required ARC’s. In order to protect all residents in our deed-restricted community, those who fail to file forms must at some point be held accountable.

Pool

Again this month we have had expenditures at the pool. A new in-water light fixture and service line were installed in the shallow end of the pool. A pool surface luminosity test showed that we had inadequate pool surface light and did not meet county requirements. SunState added additional lights which now flood the deck and pool surface so we can continue to be open until 10PM. We have had a series of pump motors fail due to the many hours they operate each day. The latest failure was replaced at no cost by our provider. To help control costs we had a previously-failed motor rebuilt with new seals.

Socials

Our social committee has been doing a stellar job. On May 21, approximately 100 residents enjoyed hot dogs, shared pot luck dishes, and music by George Wood at the rec center. A great time was had by all! Look forward to future events sponsored by the committee. Announcements will be made on the Web site, willowbendcommunity.com. or by e-mail.

New Residents

We welcome new owners Hugh and Mary O’Connor at 1270 Thornapple and John Engle and Emily Watson at 1305 Thornapple

Verizon

Verizon suggests that all Willowbend residents who are having service issues or would like to modify their land phone service call 1 800-501-1172. This number is answered Monday through Friday, 8AM-9PM and is reserved for Homeowners like ourselves who have group contracts for their service. If you call the regular service numbers they may not be aware of our contract and may give you erroneous information. The area Verizon representative will be attending our monthly meeting on June 17th to interact with the Board and community. Our contract with both Verizon and Comcast are up July 2012. Gary Klein is heading up a committee to explore our options before that time arrives. Look for more information on the Web site.

Future Communication

One of the goals of your new Board is to institute better communication with Homeowners by electronic means. This report will be the first official mailing to residents using e-mail addresses. Look forward to more communication from the Willowbend Board of Directors and Board Committees. Rest assured that your address will not be shared with Willowbend residents or the public unless you have given us permission to do so. If you found this report on the Web site but have not provided us with your e-mail address we ask you to contact us at willowbendboard @yahoo.com or willowbendboard @gmail.com.

It has been a challenging start of the year for Willowbend. We can be thankful that we have recovered from the freeze and anticipate a community as beautiful as ever. We also must be thankful for the many hours spent by our volunteers who patrol our streets, watch our finances, monitor our recreational facilities, plan our social programs, review our ARC’s, manage our Web site, plan for emergencies, and work side by side with the management company and Willowbend providers promoting a beautiful, friendly and exciting place to live. I also thank the Board members for their outstanding efforts these past few months.

Have a relaxing and healthy summer!

Best regards,
Ken Lindberg
Willowbend Board President

Happy New Year!

The Board wishes all of you and your families the very best in 2010! We also hope that 2010 will be an outstanding year for our community.

Thank you Ken and Mimi Lindberg and Len and Linda Bishop for putting up the attractive Christmas decorations in the entrances and elsewhere in our community.

Thanks to all who are serving on committees. Your dedicated service and contributions of talent and time toward making this community better are much appreciated.

And a very special thanks to fellow Board members – Ken Lindberg, Lucy Crist, Chuck Allen, Gary Klein and Doug Durand. I have sincerely enjoyed and appreciated your very cooperative, friendly and productive team efforts this past year, and hope our residents also recognize the contributions you have made to our Willowbend community.

If you’ve been wondering what your Board has been involved with since my last news letter, here is a brief summary of things that recently happened “round the bend.”

New neighbors. Welcome to Willowbend Ellen and John McAdams.

Budget: Under the direction of Treasurer Lucy Crist, the Board approved the fiscal budget for 2010 which has been mailed to each homeowner. The new budget reflects savings in several categories due to cost saving measures undertaken. These savings are in insurance premiums, concerted efforts to collect past dues, negotiated reductions to several contracts, and on-going cost containment efforts. As a result, the monthly dues for 2010 did not change. Any monies not utilized in 2009 will be directed toward specific improvement projects to be undertaken in 2010. These projects are being determined and include mulching, painting and repairs to the walls, and additional lighting enhancements in dark areas, to name a few. The Board decided to not have “general” roll-overs of funds without assigning specific usage designations.

The Board would like to acknowledge the commitment of SunState Landscaping to the care of Willowbend, and especially to Monty English who has personally attended to all the landscaping needs of our community through long hours of service and excellent communication. In exchange for their efforts and increased responsibilites at cost savings, we have agreed to a two year contract with SunState Landscaping. And of course our continued thanks to Donna and her crew. We have had many compliments from other communities regarding the attractiveness of Willowbend.

General Beautification Projects: We hope you’ve noticed the on-going beautification efforts to improve the appearance of our community.

• The front entrances, common areas, and home lots have been trimmed with a bit more effort toward shaping of plants and better control of excessive overgrowth.
• Palm trees have been planted in the center island of the south entrance to give it a bit more flair.
• Accent lighting has been added to the center island of the north entrance island near the clubhouse which has been a dark area in the past.
• Electrical outlets have been added to both entrances to allow special lighting on our signs during holidays.
• Copperwood received a face lift after Comcast went through there and left us with some repair work. Unfortunately Comcast did not notify us that they were coming through our community. We were not able to alert our residents on Copperwood and south Thornapple, and because of the flags and work being done it was not possible for SunState to mow all areas of those properties for one week. There was some damage to plants and sod and a settlement was worked out with the subcontractor for repairs. In addition to the repairs, a variety of new plants were added as fill-ins and replacements to give the street more color and some sod was installed in several areas to provide a more balanced look with the rest of the community while still maintaining the unique look originally planned for Copperwood.

Sod Replacement. As directed, SunState brought in a special “sod patrol” and replaced dead sod in the front lawns of home sites and other visible areas throughout the community. The south gazebo landscaping was also improved.

Fertilizer. A special fertilizer mix developed for Willowbend through the direction of SunState with the supplier has now been applied. Our soil lacks a lot of nutrients and this mix should be of significant benefit to our plants and sod in 2010.

Lake banks. The lake banks that were not improved with sod during the major lake banks project have been getting extra attention in 2009. Better ground cover is being achieved by allowing the bahia grass to move down the slopes instead of edging it back. Increased care there is resulting in a better appearance. It is hoped that those areas will have the desired ground cover by next summer under this program.

Algae on lakes. This has been a major problem this year. A significant amount of attention and expense has gone into trying to find a solution. So far, nothing has worked well. We continue to pursue a solution and will be calling in other consultants to further investigate the problem. It should be noted that algae control has been a problem in many other communities as well this year.

Pool area and clubhouse. The two gardenia trees at the front entrance to the pool area have been removed and replanted elsewhere, and the door and the two columns along the sides of it have been power washed. Sparse plants along the fence have been replaced with healthier ones to provide better screening to the pool area. Ferns have been removed and replaced with a nicer variety of plants that also offer color. Fresh annuals have been planted and fresh mulch has been applied.

Spa Heater. After continued problems, the spa heater was replaced with a new titanium heat exchanger pump having greater energy efficiency and significantly increased longevity. While initial coat was greater than the old design, the new exchanger pump provides a greater return on investment over time.

Speed Control. Several residents have asked the Board to look into speed deterrents for our community. Due to access from Tamiami Trail (41) Willowbend’s Crane Prairie and Thornapple north are often used as a “short-cut” to get to Rivendell and Old Venice Road by averting the backed-up traffic and traffic lights at Old Venice Road. The Sherriff’s Department has agreed to monitor the problem over the next few weeks. You may see radar speed monitoring/notification displays in various Willowbend locations over the next few weeks. The signs will be in each location for 48 hours. Patrol officers may also be present to monitor speed and for stop sign enforcement. So be sure to observe traffic speed (25 mph) and come to a complete stop at the stop signs now and in the future to keep our community safe.

Serving the Community. The time is quickly approaching to elect a new Board of Directors. There are many people in this community who could serve it well. This current Board is willing to meet with any interested residents and provide an overview of Board activities and answer any questions that potential Board candidates may have. Please step forward – you can’t assume that if you don’t - someone else will. Talk to a friend who may also be interested and contact a Board member. And remember, if we do not field a Board, there will be one appointed as designated by Florida law. That would be extremely costly to each of us, and community business will be dealt with by persons who do not have a personal stake in our community. None of the current Board members are automatic “roll-overs” to the next Board. Five Board members will need to be elected in March.

It has been a good year for Willowbend. As we begin the new year let’s give thanks for all our blessings, and for what most believe is a wonderful community. Please reach out to your neighbors and enjoy new friendships – and please remember that patience, kindness and understanding are what keep a community strong and vibrant.

George N. Dellos
President, Willowbend HOA

Where has the time gone! I can’t believe we are already into September. It won’t be long now before our “Snow- bird” neighbors will be back with us. It will be good to see all of you again, and the Board hopes that you will all be pleased with the appearance of your community upon your return.

The Board would like to welcome some of our newest Willowbend neighbors. Recent arrivals include:

• Ted and Ethna Wisnie, 521 Habitat
• Ramesh and Deepti Patel, 550 Luminary
• Jack and Suzanne Berkowitz, 533 Luminary
• T. Mechtensimer and B. Tamm, 566 Crane Prairie
• B. & J. Winbun and J. Henseley, 1333 Copperwood
• J. Scott and Patricia Ann Harris, 657 Crane Prairie

Note to new residents regarding Willowbend Governing Documents:
As you know, Willowbend is a deeded community. Therefore, owners need to possess and be familiar with the documents governing this community. They include:

• A. Declaration of Protective Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions For Willowbend Subdivision
• B. By-Laws of Willowbend Community Association
• C. Rules and Regulations – Willowbend Community Association Inc. (Dated 15 February 2007)

These documents should have been made available to you through the Title Company or Lawyer who handled your closing. They can also be accessed through the Willowbend web page.

What’s Going On in Willowbend since my last letter?

Landscaping:

Mulching of the fronts of homes and the visible common areas has been completed.

We continue to diligently check and repair our irrigation systems. Where there is no hope of getting dead spots rejuvenated we will soon be replacing dead sod to the extent our budget allows us to. Have patience – new mowing practices and improved irrigation are making a big difference in rejuvenating a lot of spots that appeared to be “D.O.A.” One of our well pumps and filter have been replaced. We continue to have problems keeping our wells going due to the quality of our well water. It isn’t good – but it is water.

New flowers have now been planted in the entrance areas.

New plants/trees will be installed to block off the commercial properties and Tamiami Trail on the west side of the lake at the clubhouse. SunState is contributing some of the trees, (maples), and we expect it to be very attractive.

Landscaping, trimming, and irrigation cycles have been created and are being followed. These are posted on the web site and at the clubhouse. Check them if you want to know when it’s your turn. Remember, some irrigation cycles occur at night so you won’t see it happen unless you go out and check it during the designated cycle schedule.

Note: With the loosening-up of the water restrictions, SunState is now able to do owner desired sod work to replace mulch beds, replacement plantings - and any other projects involving your landscaping. Please call SunState Landscaping at 941 776 2897 or visit Monty English at the clubhouse gazebo on Monday mornings from 9:30 to 10:30. Landscaping changes require conformance with the approved plant palette and landscaping practices, and require an Architectural Request for Change, (ARC). While it would seem that landscape is not architecture , the one form covers a number of things, including landscaping, roof washing, exterior painting, changes to exteriors, etc. (ARC’s are available at LHPM or for landscaping, from Monty) Such repairs are at homeowner expense. Thank you to all residents who have taken the time and expense of beautifying your homes, and at the same time, our community!!

Algae on Lakes. We have had a lot of algae on some of our lakes this year. This problem is being experienced in many residential communities. The Board is in constant contact with Russ Hoffman of Beautiful Ponds to get this under control. Water temperatures, sun, and other natural phenomena have made “cures” more difficult, and each cure takes 7 to 10 days before another effort can be made. So have patience. The problem is noted and we are doing everything we can to get it corrected. Normal usage of chemicals for lawns and lake beds also adds to the problem – sometimes to a greater extent than prior seasons when coupled with current climactic conditions. Willowbend works closely with SunState and Beautiful Ponds to ensure we are using chemicals that provide the desired results, while protecting the environment to the greatest extent possible.

Security Patrols. Thanks to all our neighbors who volunteer their time to patrol the neighborhood on weekends!
Problems being reported include:

• Swimmers in the pool after the 10PM curfew.
• Unauthorized use of our facilities by non-residents.
• Trash and furniture scattered in the clubhouse area.
• Please also note that we have had some vandalism to homes and facilities in Willowbend. Be sure to stay attentive – report any incidents that seem potentially threatening to persons and properties by calling 911.
• Lock doors and lanai cages, and keep garage doors closed when that area is not in use.
• Keep home perimeters free of things that provide welcome targets to persons intent on robbery or vandalism.

Financial Matters.

We continue to be financially healthy in spite of some negative impacts from the state of the economy, foreclosures, and slow payments of dues. We are currently about $18k in arrears. Most of this is attributable to 7 accounts that comprise $16k+ of the total. All these accounts either have or will have liens applied to them. Last year the Board initiated a “reserve for bad debt” account as a precautionary measure. That account is being funded to at least the current past-due levels.

Reserve Fund. Our reserve fund is fully funded to our current schedule. There are still some miscellaneous past-dues of approximately $2k. Please be sure to keep your accounts current. We all committed to pay our share when we bought here, and the community cannot be maintained without these commitments being honored by our residents.

Verizon. The Board recently discovered that Verizon, our internet provider, has been showing a $16k “past due” notice since 2007. Chuck Allen and I have been digging into this and we are now in full scale body armor vs. Verizon to get it resolved! We have provided data that we believe confirms that our payments have been equal to what should have been the “correct” charges. Chuck has patiently done a very good job of bringing this to the attention of Verizon hierarchy, and we have notified them that we need to get the matter resolved immediately or we will put it in the hands of our attorney to determine if and how we should take steps toward cancellation if Verizon does not make the necessary corrections.

Prison in Osprey? Nope. It is Not going to happen. After an out-pouring of community resistance, the Criminal Justice Commission voted unanimously to abandon all five sites being considered for a minimum security “transition” facility – including the “Osprey Inn” across the street from us. So we can put that concern behind us for now.

2010 Budget meetings are being scheduled. We will be reviewing our provider contracts to determine if they clearly define our expectations and provide a clear basis for future performance evaluation. We will also be negotiating 2010 contract prices, and determining if there are new projects that will require funding in 2010, in addition to our normal operating budget. The new budget will be reviewed with home owners in November. If you wish to serve on a review committee please contact your Board members or LHPM. The size of the committee will be kept to a manageable level, but all input and suggestions are welcome.

Board Meetings have been poorly attended. The Board puts in lots of hours to ensure good management and the well being of our community. Board meetings are for the purpose of keeping all residents apprised of what is being done and what is required to finance and carry out all these objectives. You should all have an interest in this. Additionally, it is not fair to Board members to have residents calling or emailing them asking about various projects or concerns after the fact. Please attend Board meetings. It’s your dollar - and your community!!

Reminder. Oh yes, lest we forget. There are so many talented folks in Willowbend. How about putting some of that talent to work as a future Board member. It is painless, and it is a privilege to be able to have a hand in keeping our community beautiful, and well managed. Incidentally, landscaping issues and post-mortems over plants were the major source of homeowner/Board confrontational issues in the past. This is no longer a problem, thanks to our community vote to do away with plant replacement at Association expense. Our contracts are being written so that our expectations are well defined to our service providers. So, please give it a try. Remember, if we do not field a Board from within our community, the responsibility will go to a court appointed entity. We will lose a lot of our internal freedom to do the things we want, it will significantly increase our dues to pay the significant cost of the appointed firm, and the monies spent will not provide a return to our community. The appointed entity would be required in addition to having a property management firm. That’s a big expense. Please do your share. I urge you to speak to any of our current Board members to get an informative insight into what we do.

Sincerely,
George N. Dellos
President, Willowbend HOA

Dear Residents of Willowbend,

A lot has happened in the community since the Annual Meeting in March. As you have likely heard and read by now, the Amendments vote was recessed until such time as we could field the required number of votes to determine an outcome.

To resolve the matter, a number of residents volunteered to canvas the community in order to get the required votes to either pass or defeat the proposed Amendments. The vote was up to the resident, with a sealed envelope provided in which their vote could be placed and kept confidential. The votes were tallied by LHPM and both Amendments passed.

Several residents have since asked how they should proceed when they wish to make landscaping improvements in the future. Here are some guidelines for all to follow:

An ARC still needs to be submitted for landscaping changes. There are still limitations to types, sizes and quantities of plants. Consideration will continue to be given to the number of plants currently on a property, and to the landscaper’s ability to maintain the community at current plant and tree levels, and additional impacts on budgetary levels.

Only plants that are on the original Willowbend approved palette may be planted. LHPM has a copy of this but we also intend to put it on the website at some time soon, if it can be accommodated. It is quite lengthy.

No fruit trees or vegetable plants are allowed. This has not changed. Such items attract wild life, and increase the potential for rodents.

You may pick whomever you choose to do the plantings, or do them yourself. However, Sun State knows what can be planted, where the irrigation lines are, and where plants are best located to ensure water gets to them. They are competitive considering they bring the plants to your door and plant them. Any damage to irrigation or wires such as Verizon or Comcast is to be repaired and paid for by the home owner or installer.

Please understand that the more plants added to this community, the greater the maintenance costs for trimming, fertilizer, pesticide, etc. will be. Increased plant materials will result in increased dues if plant population is significantly increased. Therefore we urge all residents to view this as a “replacement” policy rather than increasing plant population. All other rules pertinent to plant locations, lawn ornaments, annuals etc. remain in force.

The Amendment dealing with punitive action should a member of the community cause vandalism, threaten the well being of the community infrastructure or residents was also approved. The amendment allows the Board to take direct corrective or punitive action in such matters that it previously had no authority to perform.

Your new Board of Directors for 2009 are:

1. George Dellos – President
2. Doug Durand – Vice President
3. Ken Lindberg - Secretary
4. Lucy Crist – Treasurer
5. Chuck Allen – Director at Large

Doug Durand was voted in as a new Board member this year. He has served on the finance committee since its inception.

Ken Lindberg is a continued welcome sight on our Board. He has been a key reason why so many things are attended to in the community, as well as doing a great job as Secretary.

Dr. Mike Sanders resigned shortly after the election for personal reasons. This left us with just three members on the Board.

Fortunately, Lucy Crist and Chuck Allen graciously volunteered to help our community by joining the Board. Chuck is a former Board member with a lot of experience, and Lucy, besides diligently attending Board meetings, has worked on just about everything for the good of this community. We are very fortunate to have people with such experience and concern for the community step up and serve on this Board. Thank you!

This also brings up a need that every resident must address. We need people to step up and volunteer to serve the community. If we are not able to field a Board of Directors next year, State law will require that the community Association responsibility be assumed by an appointed guardian determined by the State. We will then pay for these services in addition to property management. It will be costly and we should never let it happen to Willowbend. Please start grooming your candidates. This Board welcomes the opportunity to have prospective Board members participate with us in addressing community issues to get a better grasp of what is required of a Board member. So give us a call.

Regarding the decision to do partial mulching:

This was a difficult decision to make based on current financial issues – but an easy one to make if the determining factor is based on “need”. It has been three years since our last community mulch. We have very little mulch in our community. Verizon further depleted the mulch cover during its FIOS cable project. To totally mulch the entire community would cost close to $150k, or $545 per household. The two prior Boards felt that this would be too much of a burden on residents in view of the current economy. Therefore, no mulching was undertaken.

The current Board and Sun State jointly determined a budget that allows us to mulch the fronts of homes and the common areas that most visibly impact the appearance of the community. Initially it was determined that the only way the budgetary guidelines could be met was by not mulching home sites that didn’t need it or had recently been mulched by homeowners. Therefore, some homes would be skipped during initial start-up. The budget for the mulch within these parameters and with limited margin for Sun State was $56k, including the cost of all common areas. By using Contingency Account funds, most of which were carryover monies from previously unused mulch funds, we were able to fund the $56,000 dollars required. Only the fronts of home sites would be mulched.

Note: In the interim, it has been determined that additional savings could be realized by increasing the use of recycled mulch and applying less in common areas not readily seen from the street. Sun State has also committed to minimize any additional costs encountered. Therefore, the Board has decided to apply pine bark mulch to the fronts of all home sites that are mulched with that product. A determination will be made as to how best touch-ups of sites mulched with other product can be accomplished.

Landscaping: We hope that most of you will agree that Willowbend has never looked better. We are very appreciative of the efforts of Project Manager Monte English, Donna and crew, and Sun State management in doing such a great job of working with us to make this such an attractive community!

Some reminders:

Sun State is the expert in determining which varieties of plants should be trimmed or pruned at prescribed good practice intervals. We recognize that this may mean trimming flowering plants – but remember what we had last year by comparison.

Trimming: Sun State is on a published trimming schedule that allows trimming at each home site monthly. Please see the schedule posted on the web site or at the Club bulletin board. Note: We cannot afford to do custom trimming per each resident’s desires, so please do not demand this of Sun State’s crew when working in your home site.

Irrigation: The schedule is being adhered to as prescribed by the County and to ensure we maximize the use of the water available for irrigation of plants and lawns. This schedule also is posted.

Civility: Some folks believe that the best way to get things done is through aggression; aggression toward Board members, aggression toward committee members, Sun State workers – even those laborers who are merely following orders – aggression toward Light House Property Management personnel, and aggression against other residents. Put yourself in the shoes of the person on the receiving end, and think about it before it happens. In view of the passing of the Amendment dealing with this issue, the Board will do everything it can to effectively deal with aggressive behavior.

All decisions and the facts leading up to them are discussed and determined at the Board meetings every third Thursday. Please attend those meetings. All Board meeting agenda items are recorded and published. Please read them. It is not fair to the Board to have to explain, defend and discuss each decision with an irate resident who suddenly becomes aware of implementation of a Board decision after the fact. Board members put in a lot of time addressing community needs and trying to resolve them appropriately. It would be appreciated if differences of opinion could be addressed at Board meetings instead of expecting Board members to respond to each individual via telephone, email, or when walking through the community.

Verizon and Comcast: We continue to receive complaints from residents regarding Verizon and Comcast, including everything from not getting service to inability to shut down telephone and other services for the summer. It appears that Verizon personnel simply do not understand the contract their company has agreed to with this community. Some residents are asking why we still have a bulk contract when offers are being made every month for individual contracts that offer better packaged deals than we now have. Additionally, the Association has to continue to pay the full amount monthly whether the resident is here or not, or when the home is empty due to a sale or foreclosure. A special committee chaired by Chuck Allen will be meeting with Verizon in the near future to discuss issues being experienced. If you have experienced problems with Verizon or Comcast, please contact Light House Property Management via email with the appropriate facts.

Osprey Inn as a future Community Corrections Center: The Board will continue to monitor this matter. Naturally we and other surrounding communities will take action to prevent this. We will keep you posted as more information becomes available.

This turned out to be a long message, but hopefully has addressed many of your concerns as well as explained the Board’s position on various topics. I’m sure it is a given that most of us want to be happy in our Willowbend environment and enjoy friendly interaction with our neighbors. We want Willowbend to be a showplace that maintains and adds value to the community and our homes. Please do what you can to help the Board sustain that environment- recognizing that in a deed restricted community with various home site layouts and needs – decisions made cannot always be totally equitable for all - at all times.

George Dellos, President

For previous President's Corner messages, go to the President's Corner Archive.