Quarterly Newsletter October 2021
Kathy Gross, editor
Email: sunlandnorth@gmail.com
Website: https://sunlandnorthownersassociation.com
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1655, Sequim, WA 98382
Business Hours: Monday – Friday; 9 AM – 3 PM
Announcements
2021-2022 Sunland North Board of Directors
President: Gerry Hatler, president@sunlandnorth.org (new elected)
Vice President: Shirley Legg, vicepresident@sunlandnorth.org (newly elected)
Treasurer: Betty Gwaltney, treasurer@sunlandnorth.org
Secretary: Lawrence Charters, secretary@sunlandnorth.org
Board Member-at-Large: Michael Johnson, member-at-large@sunlandnorth.org
Welcome to our new Board members, Gerry Hatler and Shirley Legg. A big thank you to our continuing Board members, Betty Gwaltney, Lawrence Charters (who has graciously agreed to continue as our Secretary) and Mike Johnson.
Homeowners Association (HOA) Office Hours – Monday thru Friday, 9 am – 3 pm
We want to remind all new and current residents, the Sunland North (Division 17) Homeowners Association (HOA) Office Hours should be adhered to by all of us, except in the event of an emergency. Contact information for each Board and committee chair member is on the Sunland North Website: (https://sunlandnorthownersassociation.com/about-us/); or use the generic “Contact Form” that is on the website (https://sunlandnorthownersassociation.com/contact-us/).
Keep in mind, we don’t have paid administrative staff, and people may be away from home or otherwise occupied; anticipate at least a few days for a response.
Upcoming Sunland North Board Meetings
Homeowner Association (HOA) monthly Board business meetings are open for all owners to attend. The Board meetings always include a separate “Owner Comment Period” in which owners are encouraged to participate. The meetings are also a good way to find out what is happening in the neighborhood and how our volunteers handle different aspects of our shared HOA life. Sunland North will follow the recommendations of local, state, and federal health authorities during this time, and in-person activities may be canceled or have additional limitations to protect our members.
The Sunland North Board Meeting schedule for the fourth quarter of 2021 is as follows:
- Wednesday, October 13 (2:30 to 4:30 pm)
- Wednesday, November 10 (2:30 to 4:30 pm)
- Wednesday, December 8 (2:30 to 4:30 pm)
Note: Sunland Owners Association (SLOA) is a separate, overarching HOA that includes several other divisions, the pool, and tennis courts, and all the individual homes in Sunland; their Board meeting schedule is separate from Sunland North Division 17.
Annual Sunland North December Holiday Party Cancelled Due to COVID-19
Sadly, the annual Sunland North December Holiday Party has been canceled this year, out of an abundance of caution with the current pandemic. We hope to be back in “party mode” for 2022!
However, the “Christmas in Sunland North Parade” will be back thanks to Betty Gwaltney. Last year’s neighborhood parade was so much fun we will do it again this year. Watch for details on date and time, but start planning to decorate your cars, golf carts, bikes, dogs and cats, etc. for a fun time!
Messages and Reports from Our Volunteers
President(s) – Gerry Hatler and Susan Hamman (Retiring)
The September 8, 2021, Annual Meeting was held in person at the Sunland Golf Course ballroom. Many thanks to all of you who attended and thanks to all of you who voted for the election of new officers and the passage of the new budget and financial review.
Some highlights of this past year include:
- The conclusion of the Cascadia Loop 191/201 unit restoration and lawsuit (in favor of the HOA)
- Formalized Memorandum for Record with SLOA’s Architectural Control Committee, exempting Division 17 from SLOA’s ACC process (Division 17’s architectural standards meet or exceed SLOA’s)
- Conclusion of an agreement with Clallam Country to acquire 0.15 acre of Division 17’s greenspace area for a roundabout at the corner of Woodcock and Sequim Dungeness Avenue. Roundabout construction is expected to start in October 2021. This has been a project many years in the making.
And now I will “pass the baton” to Gerry Hatler, our new Division 17 president! Congratulations, Gerry!
— Susan Hamman
I would like to thank a number of people. First, of course, is Susan Hamman who has been a very active and giving member of our community for many years. Thanks for your most recent term as Board President and thanks for volunteering to remain on the Insurance Committee and the Document Retention ad hoc committee.
Next, I would like to thank another outgoing member of the Board, Dianne Bresnahan. Thanks to Susan and Dianne for their willingness to serve. Through their involvement, the HOA and its business affairs have run smoothly.
I would also like to thank the incoming Board members for their willingness to contribute to the well-being of our community. Mike Johnson, whose term had expired, kindly agreed to serve the balance of Dianne’s term as Vice President. Shirley Legg has assumed the position of Vice President. Mike will remain the Member at Large.
Finally, I would like to thank the volunteers who worked on the lawn edging beautification project: Eric Mahnerd, Mike Johnson, Barry Burns, George Bannon, and Susan Daugherty. In total, we removed approximately 6 cubic yards of material that was taken to yard waste recycling. The team has received numerous thanks for their efforts and many positive comments about “How nice it looks” along with neighborly donations of bottles of water.
I look forward to working with the new board and serving as President for the coming year.
— Gerry Hatler
Vice President – Dianne Bresnahan
Since most of my work this past quarter has been in Communications and the Welcoming Committee, please see my report under Communications below.
Treasurer – Betty Gwaltney
As we come to the last end of 2021, it’s time to look forward to 2022. Thank you for the overwhelming support of the 2022 budget! The increased budgeted maintenance spending for 2022 will go a long way in keeping our neighborhood and homes a great place to live. The 2022 Annual Assessment will be $3405/year or $851/Quarter. Please remember assessments are due on the first of each quarter (Jan 1, Apr 1, July 1, Oct 1). As per our Bylaws Article III, 2. Assessments – If any assessment is not paid within 30 days after the due date, the assessment shall bear a late charge of $10/month from the date of delinquency until paid. Please Do Not mail assessment checks to the SLOA office. Assessment checks should be mailed to: Sunland Division 17 Owners Association, P. O. Box 1655, Sequim, WA 98382.
Secretary – Lawrence Charters
Communicating during a pandemic: Electronic mail
Sunland North relies extensively on electronic communications. Email notices are sent out to all members concerning items of general interest ranging from recommendations to secure outdoor objects before storms to giving advance notice of tree maintenance. The fastest way to contact Association officers and committee volunteers is via email. Electronic forms on the website generate messages, complete with your written requests, for landscaping, exterior maintenance, or proposed architectural changes. The website also has Association meeting agendas, minutes, budget and finance information, copies of the newsletters, maps, and many other items.
The privacy and security of our members are very important. Sunland North does not sell or rent or loan our directory to anyone. Messages sent to the membership are sent out with member’s addresses blanked out. We don’t pass on information about non-Association activities or businesses, or promote causes or issues not directly related to the Association.
In September 2020, we moved our Board and three of our committee chair email accounts to @sunlandnorth.org to ensure that messages sent from and to the Association would be readily identifiable as “official” communications and provide consistent points of contact even if Board members and committee chairs changed. In one year, something like twelve thousand messages passed through sunlandnorth.org accounts.
Sunland North Website
The Sunland North website, https://sunlandnorthownersassociation.com, has been quite busy, averaging about 2,000 pages viewed per month from September 2020 to April 2021, rising to 2,300 in May 2021, 4,400 in June 2021, 8,400 in July and August 2021, and possibly even higher for September 2021. This sudden surge in activity is probably due to the sharp spike in real estate sales and potential neighbors checking out our neighborhood. There were also roughly 3,000 (unsuccessful) attacks on the site, mostly from Russia, China, Iran, and Belarus.
The most popular parts of the website, in order, are: the Home page, photo galleries, the About section (describing who does what in the Association), Homeowner Fees page, Owner Info section, Contact Us page, Agendas and Minutes of the Board, Governing Documents, Homeowner Forms, Newsletters, FAQs, and Insurance.
Cost of Communications
Relatively little correspondence is sent via postal mail. A single letter, factoring in paper, ink, envelope, labels, and postage, averages around $1.50, not including volunteer time. The annual membership meeting packet costs roughly $400 in labels, printing, envelopes, and postage, and roughly 100 hours of volunteer time is spent in preparation, filling, and addressing envelopes, applying postage, and delivering the packets to the Post Office.
Because of the expense, and burden to volunteers, postal mail is limited to correspondence that is legally required to be sent via postal mail. For this reason, members are highly encouraged to keep the Secretary (secretary@sunlandnorth.org) notified of any changes to your electronic contact information. Even when the pandemic recedes, electronic mail and the Association website will remain the preferred (and fastest) means of communication.
Communications Committee – Dianne Bresnahan
Our outstanding Welcome Committee members, Sue Purdy and Ellen Valway have been quite busy visiting with new homeowners and assisting in contacting homeowners for current contact information. Please remember that is not only important to have contact information, in the case of an emergency, but we are also required by Washington State law to have the homeowner’s signed approval to allow the HOA to communicate via email. If you would like to make sure your contact information is correct and up to date, you can download the contact form from the Sunland Division 17 website, under the “Form” tab, look for “Required contact information” then complete the form and send to our Secretary, Lawrence Charters at secretary@sunlandnorth.org.
Video
A slideshow of activities around Sunland North was shown at the Annual Membership Meeting, and can be found on the Sunland North site at:
Exterior Maintenance Committee – Mike Johnson and Michael VanDiver
With the resignation of Michael VanDiver, we are once again experiencing a big gulf in leadership on the Exterior Maintenance Committee. Currently, Michael Johnson will be holding down the fort until another resident steps up to take over the helm.
The best way to alert Michael Johnson about any exterior maintenance issues is to use the submission form on the Sunland North website. The website form can be found at https://sunlandnorthownersassociation.com/homeowners-forms/sunland-north-exterior-maintenance-request/.
This has been a busy season for exterior maintenance. Shortages of materials caused by pandemic issues and work crew availability have caused our local contractors to overcome difficulties related to providing us with the services we require.
The moss treatment program continued with a new company cleaning and treating the roofs that were deemed the highest priority (Phase 1), which included cleaning the rain gutters on those units. In spring 2022, we will see the company’s employees back in the neighborhood treating the roofs cleaned in 2021 with a Zinc treatment. In late spring 2022, we will survey the neighborhood and clean roofs that were a lower priority in 2021 (Phase 2).
Michael VanDiver has made a recommendation to help us to avoid a repeat of a water damage incident that resulted when a homeowner inadvertently left a hose attached to an outside hose spigot/faucet, which then froze. Using an outdoor faucet cover/freeze cap is worth the small investment required and the committee agrees. This advice continues to apply for the coming winter.
Maintenance of the exterior of your home cannot be left to just an annual inspection by volunteers. Please let us know if you observe problems. Using our website and forms provided is an effective method of notifying the HOA Board and chairman of problems, while they are still small.
Repairs & Maintenance Overview (2021)
Site Assessments
We have inspected every home in the development and have noted over 200 maintenance items that need attention. Most items are minor such as flaking paint, moss on the roof, dirt build-up on the sidewall of homes, cracks in cement, rotten wood trim, patio wall repair, and paint touch-up.
Work Completed to Date
- Phase 1 of moss removal on 21 roofs
- Fireplace flashing replaced on 12 homes
- 25 units received gutter cleaning and repair
- Water leak fixed in the Mt. Baker area
- Two skylights replaced
- 2 units received new paint (based on a 12-year cycle)
- 1 window replaced
Work to be Completed
- Removal of back cement patio for a new above ground Trex deck
- 2 units to be painted in 2022 (based on 12-year cycle)
- Spot painting of units and several privacy fences; a rebuild of a privacy fence
We are scheduled to meet with a concrete contractor who will be replacing a cracked driveway and fixing several back patios that have settled.
Due to the ongoing list of maintenance needs, it was felt that Sunland North needed to hire its own part-time worker to do the needed repairs. We have met with a contractor and have agreed he will fill this position. We are waiting for him to complete his licensing and bonding requirements. It is our hope to have him start working sometime this month.
Developed Landscaping Committee – Gerry Hatler and Eric Mahnerd
It has been a busy year for us. Due to the aging of the sprinkler system, the most frequent request we received was for sprinkler repairs. There were also numerous requests for additions or removals of trees and plants.
As a reminder: to maintain the uniform and beautiful appearance of Sunland North, you need to get permission before you add or remove plants or trees. The forms can be found and submitted through our website.
Unfortunately, due to root incursion into the water main distribution boxes, we had to remove four large trees. The Sunland Water District is investigating to see if the problem exists in other distribution boxes.
Mulching was completed this year throughout the subdivision and the landscaping crew completed the project under budget.
About the budget: the COVID pandemic has played havoc on many businesses including our landscaper. This resulted in a 10 percent increase in our contract for the year. Our contract includes: weekly mowing (in season), edging every three weeks, fertilizing, trimming twice a year, spraying for weeds, and maintaining and repairing sprinklers.
Our new Developed Landscaping Chair will be Tom Steffen. Tom is a retired Methodist Minister of 46 years. He and his wife have been residents since 2014.
To send a landscaping request, go to the Sunland North website, https://sunlandnorthownersassociation.com, and click on “Landscape Maintenance Request” in the right-hand column. Or click on the “Forms” tab at the top of every page. Fill out the request form and press “Send.”
Natural Habitat/Greenspace – Sarah Miller
Throughout the summer of 2020, several Sunland North Division 17 residents carefully tended many potted native plants, watering them regularly and protecting them from being eaten by the deer herd.
In November 2020, a volunteer work party planted these trees and shrubs, and built small enclosures to once again keep the deer from nibbling the young plants to the ground. These plants will someday form a sight barrier to the roundabout which will soon be under construction at the intersection of Woodcock and Sequim-Dungeness Way.
February 2021 saw us assembling another work party to remove broken branches from the tree line along Woodcock Road. The volunteers worked for several Mondays, filling up the Bresnahans’ truck (sometimes multiple times a day), to clear away dead branches that can contribute to an increased fire danger every summer.
March brought the first month of volunteer tree waterers out to lovingly tend to our growing native trees. Our cadre of ten volunteers has done a great job of keeping the plants growing through our extremely dry summer. This has been facilitated by those homeowners that have made hoses available to support the effort.
April this year began the early spring inspections and treatment for Poison Hemlock, a noxious weed that Clallam County requires us to control. This effort is ongoing throughout the growing season, and anyone who spots poison hemlock (or even suspected poison hemlock) in our natural habitat areas is encouraged to report it.
Our natural areas have been mowed twice so far this year, with the last mowing of the year coming up next week.
We Sunland North residents love our natural areas. These areas provide great habitat for the birds, the deer, and other wildlife which we love to watch and photograph. As noted, nearly all of these activities are accomplished through volunteers. There are many opportunities to help with these efforts and others. Ivy removal and branch cleanup will be projects for this winter, and tree watering will be done again next dry season. After two years of supplemental summer water, our native plants should be able to withstand any but the most drastic drought.
I offer my sincere thanks to all the volunteers who have worked hard to steward the natural areas over the last year! Your efforts do much to make Sunland North a great place to live, both because of the healthy habitat, and the spirit of community.
Please contact me if you have an interest in helping with any of these activities, and watch for alerts in the regular newsletters or via emails that solicit volunteers to help protect and enhance our natural habitat.
Thank You!
It takes a great deal of time and effort to keep our HOA operational and maintained so as always, we thank all our Board members, coordinators, and committee members for their ongoing support and the volunteer time they donate to our community – we couldn’t do it without you.
An enormous “thank you” to retiring Board member, Susan Hamman, who has served in almost every Board office and worked on every committee since the owners assumed control of the Association in 2012. She has given a lot of time to the HOA and deserves a big “thank you” for her efforts. Also, thank you to Dianne Bresnahan for her term as Vice President as well as chair of the Communications Committee.
As always, we thank all our Board members, coordinators, and committee members for their ongoing support and the volunteer time they provide to our community – we couldn’t do it without you.
Special thanks also to our 2021 election inspectors, Eileen Farley, who has been an election inspector for several years, and Kathy Gross, for stepping in this year to count ballots and tally the votes!