Neighborhood Updates - Lynn Veatch

• Some positive updates since April's meeting – we continue to have proactive Board members and management company, we're managing expenses to stay within budget, our webmaster Graham Phillips continues to post frequent updates to our website, we've changed landscapers, replaced pool magnet lock, replaced children's playground gate, topped tall tree on Summerfield Court to help strengthen tree and prevent it from being a falling hazard and have continued our Yard of the Month and Best Holiday Yard. Look for holiday decorations at the front of the neighborhood soon.

• Working together – Homeowners have seemed to do a better job this year of keeping yards maintained, homes pressure washed and following pool rules. Take Pride in Your Neighborhood Day on Sunday, November 1 was a success with neighbors breaking down the pool and painting scattered mailboxes.

• Graham Phillips, webmaster, spoke and reminded homeowners to please use the HOA's website as a tool to find neighborhood updates, Board meeting minutes, the President's Corner, pictures, Covenants and Restrictions, links to Grand Oaks on Facebook and Twitter and more
mtroyall.grand-oaks.org • Graham is also happy to add neighborhood related information to the website. E-mail him at mtroyall@comcast.net

Introduction to Covenants and Restrictions – Jon Henrikson

• For those of you who don't know, every homeowner can download a copy of the neighborhood Covenants and Restrictions on our website: mtroyall.grand-oaks.org

• You may have noticed that we installed signs saying that we are a community governed by Covenants and Restrictions—this is to remind current homeowners and their renters as well as to inform potential homeowners of the importance we place on the C & R's.

• The issue of solicitations was raised at the HOA meeting. A few Board members responded by saying that we contact the vendors and let them know that it is prohibited in our neighborhood. A homeowner suggested for “repeat offenders” that place their solicitations in or on mailboxes, to contact the US Postal Service

Neighborhood Programs/Covenants & Restrictions – Courtenay Brack for Susan Boykin

• Yard of the Month, Best Holiday Yard, Holiday Decorations

• Please ensure you are doing your part to maintain the outside appearance of your home, including regular yard maintenance, pressure washing and concealing trashcans and storage items. Avoid parking multiple car parking in driveways and curbs.

• Reminder that Rental homeowners need to provide C & R’s to renters. We are now sending form letters to Rental companies on ensuring that renters are provided with C & R's and that they can obtain them from our website. It was suggested at the HOA meeting that in our letters, we highlight the main recurring issue areas of the C & R's for new homeowners and homeowners who rent their homes.

• At the meeting, it was communicated that a homeowner called right before the meeting to ask that we mention asking for those homeowners who feel so inspired, please “waive your American flags” to support our troops and boost national and community spirit.

• The question was raised about rules on company vehicles. The Board responded and said there are no trailers or wreckers allowed; however, company vehicles (i.e., Terminex truck) used to travel to and from work are allowed based on a court case that ruled in favor of a homeowner who drove a company truck.

• Two different homeowners requested that Charleston Green address having a tree trimmed that is blocking an SCE & G light pole at the corner of Bent Hickory and Ivy Circle as well as some overgrown pampas grass at 727 Bent Hickory.

ACC Committee – Ron Byrd

• Explanation of ACC Committee’s role: Its role is about maintaining appearance to maintain the value of the homes in the neighborhood (i.e, preventing street line yellow house next to yours). Be aware that your property is more than likely on an easement shared with a utility company and if you place a fence or shrubs on an easement that SCE & G or Chas. Water have to access, you may have to remove your improvement(s) and incur the cost to put them back. The ACC does not generally get involved in landscaping improvements b/c they typically enhance property value. If you tie into a fence of your neighbor, we suggest you get approval from your neighbor in writing. The time line for an approved project is 90 days to 6 months once started. There have been 16 requests in the last year for new structures such as a gazebo or enclosed porch. Be careful when removing trees, even if it is a dead tree. Charleston County Zoning Ordinances say that you cannot remove any tree with a diameter of 8 or more inches measured from 4 to 6 feet from the ground. (4 feet if branched before 6 feet from the ground, and 6 feet if a single trunk.) However, it is best to get permission from the City of Charleston for all tree removals; otherwise, you could be hit with fines of up to $15,000. Call Courtenay Brack (843-670-1333) or Ron Byrd (843-402-9066) with questions related to ACC items. • Please ensure you are submitting applications for all structural modifications and/or additions, including patios and fences, and for satellite dish placement.

Covenants & Restrictions/Security – Jon Henrikson for Lewis Tittle

• Please ensure that you are doing your part to limit cars in the driveway to 2 per home and that you refrain from parking boats and/or trailers in your driveway. Vehicles parked on streets and on Charleston City land easements of each lot (curb, strip of grass along sidewalk and sidewalk) can be ticketed at the Charleston Team 4 Police Department's discretion. • We installed a security system at the pool as a second set of “eyes” to help prevent vandalism. Please help us help you by being a second set of “eyes” for the neighborhood. Please report street and pool lights out, and any other maintenance or security items needing attention. • One way of preventing vandalism is by talking to your older children and asking them to say something to younger children when they see them doing something they shouldn't; for example, swinging on the playground gate. • If there is a security problem, call the City Police non emergency number of 843-577-7434 and the Team 4 Police will be dispatched.

Inspections & Communications – Courtenay Brack

• We do our very best to respond to your inquiries and requests in a timely, professional manner. Please do not hesitate to continue to contact us with your HOA requests at 843-670-1333. • We frequently inspect the community to check on overall maintenance and Covenant and Restriction items. We closely monitor landscaping performance, pond and pool maintenance and send letters/talk with homeowners regarding adherence to C & R’s.

Financial Update, Closing Remarks – Lynn Veatch

• As of 10/16/09, the HOA has $30,000 in a CD earning 2.33% and $17,095.63 in a Savings account 2.28%. As of November 3rd, the checking account balance is $1,829.42 • The total in outstanding dues is $5,100 made up of 9 homeowners, 6 of whom owe two years' dues. We have filed 5 small claims suits to collect the dues and there are some on payment plans who owe by Dec. 31, 2009. • Billing and Collections procedure for 2010 dues - bill on Dec. 1, 2009 with due date of February 1, 2010. There will be a nominal increase of 1.35% to an even $400 vs. $394.64. For the amenities we have and compared to other neighborhoods, our HOA is very reasonable on its dues cost per home. • There are 2 Board terms up for election next year in 2010: Lynn Veatch and Lewis Tittle. We will be accepting nominations from now until the next scheduled meeting in April 2010, where we will be voting on the 2 positions. • In closing, homeowners asked if Graham Phillips could post events like holiday caroling and a possible Thanksgiving Day walk. Graham said he would be happy to add this type of information to the website. • At the very end, it was discussed that several Hamilton Grove and Portrait Homes residents cut through and speed through our neighborhood. It was suggested that homeowners on the affected streets have a petition signed with a majority requesting speed humps so that we can make a request to the City. It was also suggested that the neighborhood consider purchasing signs that say “Slow Down.”