SUNLAND NORTH DIVISION 17 OWNERS ASSOCIATION
Quarterly Newsletter July 2018
Email: sunlandnorth@gmail.com
website: www.sunlandnorthownersassociation.com
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1655, Sequim, WA 98382
The next Division 17 Monthly Board Meetings are scheduled for July 11th and August 8th, at the Gathering Place, 135 Fairway Drive; and the annual meeting September 12th at the Sunland Golf and Country Club Ballroom
Welcome to all our new residents: As a reminder, please review Division 17’s Homeowners Association Governing Documents (CC&R’s, By-laws, and Rules and Regulations) available on Sunland North’s website
Volunteering in the Sunland North Neighborhood – Barbara Brooner (Volunteer)
There are so many different ways you can participate in our community! Not only are you helping us save money, you will meet new people, have fun, and contribute to making Sunland North a place to be proud of. Here are just a few of the many ways we all volunteer:
- Board positions and committee positions
- Help with Annual board meeting duties – stuffing envelopes, setting up chairs,
- Assist board members with help they might need – remember that our board members are volunteers and our neighbors so be respectful of their time and offer help if you can
- Volunteer with the holiday party, other social gatherings, or welcome committee
- Pick up trash along the highway
- Exterior maintenance assistance – they are always looking for help
- Attending board meetings! It is a great place to learn what is going on in our division
To save you money!
(Pictured: Mike Johnson, board member, evaluating–and solving–sprinkler problems, rather than just automatically hiring a contractor. Note that this is NOT a normal board function!) And it saves our division money!
To save you money!
(Pictured: Eric Mahnerd, volunteer, doing a major overhaul of the Sunland North entrance sign–rather than just hiring a contractor.)
Saving you money!
(Pictured: Alan Morris & Tom Hamman, tackling noxious weeds in the open space–rather than just hiring a contractor.)
These are just a few examples of the ways we can all help to make our community a better place to live. If you are not able to volunteer, take time to thank a board member and the other volunteers in our neighborhood. I know they will appreciate it!
Treasurer’s Report – Jim Jones (Volunteer)
Based on the preliminary June, 2018 Expense Report, Division 17 Operating Fund expenses for the first half of the year were $158,494 which is $13,579 over Budget due primarily to our insurance premium for 2018/2019 being higher than expected. The only expenses from Reserves during the first half of the year was for concrete patio repair at a cost of $4,396. There have been no expenses from the Fire Trust Fund since March. At the end of June our Operating Fund totaled $63,771, our Reserve Fund totaled $289,013, and our Fire Trust Fund totaled $528,803. More detailed information is available in the financial reports on the Sunland North website.
Division 17 has entered into a letter of engagement with Duane Wolfe, a CPA in Port Angeles, to perform the Financial Review of our 2017 financial records as approved at our 2017 Annual Meeting. He is expecting to have his final report complete in time for the August Board meeting.
We have begun a “Do It Yourself” Reserve Study using software from Association Reserves as we have in past years. The study is expected to be complete in time for the July Board meeting. State law requires that we do a Reserve Study with an on-site professional every three years which we accomplished in 2017 so we will be doing self-studies for the next two years.
As a reminder, 3rd quarter assessment payments were due July 1.
Secretary’s Report – David Walp (Volunteer)
Our Board of Directors meeting is held at the Gathering Place, 135 Fairway Drive on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, beginning at 2:30 p.m. For the 2018 calendar year, Division 17 regular Board meetings will be held on the second Wednesday of each month. The remaining scheduled dates for 2018 are: July 11th, August 8th, September 12th and October 10th. The November meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 7th at 2:30 p.m., while the December meeting will be December 5th at 2:30 p.m. Your volunteer Board of Directors really appreciates your input as we execute our duties to represent our interests as Sunland home owners. The board encourages owner attendance to observe our efforts on behalf of the owner community. Please use the e-mail address sunlandnorthsecretary@gmail.com to contact me regarding board business.
Looking ahead to the Annual Owner Meeting there are three board positions that are up for election. Please support our community – consider volunteering to be a candidate for the Board of Directors. Nominations will be accepted through the close of July 11, 2018 Board of Directors meeting.
The Annual Board Meeting on September 12, 2018 will be held at the Sunland Golf and Country Club Ballroom at 2:30 PM. Packets and ballots will be mailed to all owners of record following the August board meeting to allow time for return mailing of ballots by the absentee ballot deadline.
A BIG THANK YOU to pet owners for following SLOA and Division 17 requirements to pick up and dispose of pet feces. This keeps our neighborhood clean and safe for foot traffic.
Architectural Control Committee’s (ACC) Report – Susan Hamman (Volunteer)
It has been a relatively quiet spring in terms of exterior changes. There have been only four requests since March; 1) a screen door addition, 2) a new propane tank enclosure, 3) a replacement of an existing arbor, and 4) an addition of a wrought iron hand rail to a front porch.
There is a new change to the ACC Exterior Change Request process. In accordance with SLOA regulations, all exterior change requests from any division must also go through the SLOA ACC. The Division 17 Architectural Committee, Cindy Rhodes, Gerry Hatler, and Susan Hamman met with SLOA’s Architectural Chair, Mike Mullikin, and Ricki Bele, SLOA’s office manager on May 3, 2018. The purpose was to establish a simple, standardized process for the submission, processing, review/coordination and approval of Exterior Change Requests from Division 17 owners.
Since Division 17’s governing documents are equal to or more stringent than SLOA’s requirements for architectural modifications, it was agreed that Division 17 would continue to follow its own approval process. However, once the Exterior Change Request is approved by the Division 17 ACC, it will be sent to the SLOA ACC for final review and approval.
We do not anticipate any slowing down of our process. We have a signed “Memorandum For Record” of the agreement between SLOA’s ACC and Division 17’s ACC.
As a reminder to all unit owners, any exterior change to your unit must go through the Division 17 Architectural Control Committee for approval.
If you have any questions about the process, please call Susan Hamman at (360) 683-1800 or e-mail her at SusanRainsHamman@gmail.com.
Welcome Committee’s Report – Artie Stone O’Kelly (Volunteer)
From Europe, from New York, from California and points in between, they come to settle in Sequim. DISTRICT 17 Welcomes our new residents in Mount Baker, Mendel Drive and Cascadia Loop.
I have done welcome visits with three of our new residents and have several more planned in the near future. This summer is a great time to say hello to your neighbors and enjoy a glass of tea on the patio!
Landscape Coordinator’s Report – Valerie Holland (Volunteer)
A huge thank you to Eric Mahnerd and Doug Hale for painting the mailboxes on Mt. Baker Drive. They look fabulous! And another thank you to Eric for painting the Sunland North entrance sign and to Kathy Mahnerd for planting the flowers. I understand that Kathy is going to do some bulb planting in the fall. It really looks classy!
A reminder that vehicles need to be parked on the STREET, with all four tires on the street…NONE on the lawn. Some of the irrigation systems are next to the street and we don’t want those broken because they are expensive to fix.
A reminder to all homeowners: If you have any landscaping issues, problems, or concerns, PLEASE contact me directly rather than talking to the lawn crew. I will initiate the proper course of action.
Neighborhood List Coordinator– Gerry & Kay Hatler (Volunteers)
Gerry and Kay maintain the residents’ address, email and phone list (social). Please let them know if you have any changes to phone numbers or email addresses. You may contact them at kay.hatler@gmail.com or phone at 253-951-8405.
Insurance Review Committee Report – Lindsay Busch (Volunteer)
The 2018 operating budget estimate for insurance premiums is $51,600 leaving us with a budget shortfall of $13,226 to be addressed by the board. CAU has indicated that two major factors impacted the premiums for coverage: the losses from the fire at 191, 201 and 231 Cascadia Loop exceeded coverage estimates; valuation for the buildings covered was adjusted to reflect actual and future replacement/restoration costs estimates. The shortfall could possibly be addressed as a special assessment at the annual meeting following any realized cost savings in the budget.
Community Association Underwriters renewed our master insurance policy at a 25% increase. The renewal premium is $64,826, which is $13,167 more than expiring premium. We have received an electronic copy of the policy from CAU, but have not yet received the paper copy.
We have the new certificate of insurance up on the website, and have received the 2 page coverage summary from CAU, which has been posted on the website.
Raccoon damage
The CAU policy does not cover damage by insects or animals. Item #4 on the coverage summary form reads: No coverage is provided for wear and tear, deterioration, damage by insects or animals, settling or cracking of foundation, walls, basements or roofs. There is no coverage for damage caused by continuous or repeated leakage or seepage from appliances or plumbing. This includes, but is not limited to, leaking from around the shower, bathtub, toilet or sink. These events are properly classified as maintenance items.”
“Originally Conveyed Appliances”
The fire loss resulted in clarification of this phrase from the CAU coverage summary under Key information regarding the associations insurance policy:
- Improvements and betterments and upgrades made at the expense of the current or previous owner are covered. This would include, but is not limited to, upgraded carpeting, cabinets and originally conveyed appliances.
CAU has interpreted this language to include the appliances that were provided by the builder to the original owners, including stoves and dishwashers. Not covered are refrigerators and washers and dryers, so be sure to include the replacement cost of these items in the personal property limits of your individual condominium owner’s insurance policy.
WebsiteCoordinator’s Report – Barbara Brooner(Volunteer)
Don’t forget: We have a great online “Owner’s Manual” for Division 17!
There’s tons of useful information for HOA living on our website, so check it out at (www.SunlandNorthOwnersAssociation.com):
And since we’re talking about volunteering for the community, may we suggest a visit this month to the “About Us” page of the Sunland North website (https://sunlandnorthownersassociation.com/about-us)? This will give you a better idea of the various neighborhood committee and coordinator roles in which you could be serving.
Then go to the “Forms” page (https://sunlandnorthownersassociation.com/homeowners-forms/) and download a Community Volunteer Application Form—you can even suggest new ways that you think you could help, don’t necessarily feel limited by what you see there!
2017 – 2018 Division 17 Board Members
President – Gary Fortmann
Vice president – John Lewis
Treasurer – Jim Jones
Secretary – David Walp
Member at large – Mike Johnson
Kay Hatler – Newsletter Editor, kay.hatler@gmail.com