Oakwords
The newsletter for Oakwoods Homeowners Association –May 2012
OHA Board Contacts
Paul Baker, President – 828-9360 Sandy Dorrell, Board Member – 310-3089
Jason Jerdee, Vice President - 212-4524 Lydia Sheehan, Board Member – 829-7319
Paula Schildt, Secretary – 827-7042 Stephanie Klingele, Board Member – 310-1475
April Jackson, Treasurer 827-0019
Street Improvement Planning Committee (SIP)
Kevin Holmes – 827-0675Dan Schiller – 827-3919
Mike Hoff – 217-473-8986John Braue – 808-0622
Message from the President
Many Thanks to Many Volunteers and an Invitation to Others: Join Them
On March 31 the Oakwoods Homeowners Association launched its first Volunteer Work Day. Twenty-four volunteers worked with a professional horticulturist to clear waterways of debris, brush, and sediment. They placed 6 tons of rip rap rock on numerous drainage structures that needed stabilization. One neighbor observed, “I have been a resident in Oakwoods for 21 years. This is the first time I have ever been part of a project like this.” Oakwoods is the largest native forested area in Bloomington owned by a subdivision. Many thanks to all the volunteers. We are off to a good start in the long journey to maintain and enhance the common land that is one of the rare places of natural beauty in our city. We invite others to join the next Volunteer Work Day.
More volunteers are also needed for another exciting project: The formation of a Park Committee to make plans for the restoration and development of two parks in our subdivision—our original OakwoodsPark and the newly established MemoryPark. The Commons Committee recommended the creation of a Park Committee and the OHA Board officially authorized its formation. The Board welcomes volunteers to join the Park Committee as neighbors work together to create new places of natural beauty and enjoyable leisure. Contact me of your interest.
Paul Baker
President, OHA
Street Improvement Planning (SIP) Committee Report: 2012-2013
This summary report of street conditions and plans for the next two years is issued by the Street Improvement Planning (SIP) Committee. The SIP Committee meets throughout the year, but each spring special attention is given to the conditions of streets after winter weather and plans are made for needed repairs to be carried out by contractors during the summer months. In the spring of 2012 additional information was provided by Jeff Kohl, City engineer, who conducted his second Paser evaluation of Oakwoods streets. Mr. Kohl has now provided expert appraisal of our streets in 2009 and 2012. This report provides a comparative assessment of street conditions for this three-year period.
Here is the Paser scale used by Mr. Kohl to rate Oakwoods streets:
Rating / Condition / Description10-9 / Excellent / “Like new”
8 / Very good / “Little or no maintenance required”
7 / Good / “First signs of aging”
6 / Good / “Shows signs of aging”
5 / Fair / “Surface aging, needs sealcoat”
4 / Fair / “Significant aging and first signs of need of strengthening”
3 / Poor / “Need patching and repair prior to resurfacing”
2 / Very Poor / “Severe deterioration”
1 / Failed / “Needs total reconstruction”
Findings about the conditions of our streets (and methods used for their improvement):
Street / 2009 / 2012 / Methods of Street ImprovementStreets that improved:
Woodhavens / 3,4,5 / 9,4,5 / Mid section resurfaced; northern end hot asphalt/CRF
Timberview / 4,5,9 / 4,5,6,9 / Sections improved by resurfacing & hot asphalt/CRF
Autumn / 4 / 5 / Hot asphalt/CRF treatment
Persimmon / 3,4 / 4,6,9 / West end resurfaced, east end hot asphalt/CRF
Palm / 4 / 4,5,10 / South end resurfaced
Juniper / 4,5 / 5 / Hot asphalt/CRF
Cedar / 4,5 / 5 / CRF treatment
Streets that stayed the same:
Yew / 6 / 6 / CRF treatment
Ivey / 5 / 5 / CRF treatment
Lakeview / 5 / 5 / CRF treatment
Clearbrook / 5 / 5 / CRF treatment
Edgewood / 5 / 5 / CRF treatment
Spiria / 5 / 5 / CRF treatment
Scenic Point / 5 / 5 / No work for improvement
Shagbark / 5 / 5 / No work for improvement
In the last three-year period, the conditions of seven streets have improved and eight streets have remained the same. Major improvements were made through two methods: (1) resurfacing, (2) hot asphalt replacement of center section of street combined with CRF treatment to rejuvenate asphalt and seal the whole street.
The resurfacing strategy is highly expensive and would be cost prohibitive as the only way to improve Oakwoods streets. A less costly second method has been adopted for several streets (Autumn, Juniper, north end of Woodhavens, east end of Persimmon, and south end of Timberview). In these cases the contractor cleaned out the deteriorated center section and replaced it with a long continuous hot asphalt patch. These streets were then crack filled and given CRF treatment.
The information presented indicates that several streets were given CRF treatment (Yew, Ivey, Clearbrook, Edgewood, Lakeview, Spiria) but stayed at the same Paser score. These six streets are rated as “fair condition” (at level 5 and level 6). During his inspection Mr. Kohl informed Paul Baker that if these streets had not received the CRF treatment, there is a high likelihood that they would have deteriorated to level 4. It is also important to note that one section of Timberview has been stabilized at level 4through a CRF treatment. If any street declines to level 3 it can no longer be stabilized through the CRF asphalt rejuvenation process. The good news about the many level 5streets in Oakwoods are in relatively stable condition.
The SIP Committee presented these findings on two large Oakwoods maps (2009 and 2012) that were color coded according to the Paser scale. Recent bids from McLean County Asphalt and Corrective Asphalt Materials provided needed information for the SIP Committee to submit recommended contract projects for the summer of 2012. The Committee is recommending CRF treatment of the west end of Persimmon and all of Palm Court. The Committee also recommends hot asphalt application and crack filling on the north end of Palm Court. Finally, a large asphalt hot patch is recommended for a serious pothole problem at the intersection of Spiria and Timberview.
Some of the 2012 SIP funds (approximately $19,000) are being held in reserve for a major street improvement project in 2013. In the winter of 2013 bids will be taken to construct a new concrete drainage system for the south end of Woodhavens. The SIP Committee also plans to have a contractor resurface the south end of Woodhavens and the intersection with Persimmon.
The SIP Committee is grateful to the City of Bloomington for providing the expert services of Jeff Kohl who evaluated the conditions of our streets on two occasions. Thanks to Mr. Kohl’s work, we have an independent and trustworthy appraisal that many of the streets in Oakwoods have improved during the past three years.
Christine White Is Hired To Assist OHA Treasurer
In previous newsletters (November, 2011 and March, 2012) the Board presented the case for a new management support system to relieve the OHA Treasurer of heavy work duties. The Board is pleased to announce further developments in this ongoing project. Our story begins with an emerging situation in which the Treasurer, April Jackson, will be unable for a period of time this summer to perform the usual duties required when OHA members are paying their annual dues. She will not be able to receive this mail, post these entries in her computer, or deposit the money into a special account for next year’s budget. April needs assistance to carry out these highly important tasks.
The Board has reviewed the situation and developed a plan to provide needed administrative support for the next several months. The Board has hired Christine White to serve as interim manager during the coming months when April Jackson is unavailable. Chrissy will perform several crucial tasks including: (1) make regular visits to the post office box, (2) receive bills and invoices, (3) prepare checks for the signature of President/Treasurer, (4) receive annual payments of OHA dues, (5) deposit funds in appropriate accounts, and (6) receive incoming calls from bankers, realtors, and lawyers concerning closing statements or other property lien issues.
A secured data information system has been established that allows April and Chrissy to correspond via e-mail and continually consult with each other as they work together from the same updated spread sheets. This arrangement provides Board members and others with a reliable person who can address any questions or concerns about financial matters that might arise.
The interim support position serves two goals: First, it relieves April Jackson of a huge burden from a very busy career and a long stretch of unavailability. It is a unique plan that solves a real problem in the near term. Second, the interim position provides an opportunity for April and Chrissy to work together to test the proposed Oakwoods Manager position that is still evolving as a major Board project for the coming year. The interim position provides the opportunity to learn more about the working arrangements between the OHA Treasurer and the proposed Oakwoods Manager.
Christine White is available to answer questions or assist Association members about OHA financial matters. She lives at 2 Yew Court and can be reached by phone -- 808-1147 or e-mail . PLEASE NOTE: There has been a link added on our Oakwoods Homeowners Website to request closing statements for mortgage related transactions. To request a letter you MUST fill out the online form. NO REQUESTS will be accepted via phone or email.
Please, Help Us Go Green!
PLEASE CONSIDER READING THE OAKWORDS NEWSLETTER FROM THE OHA WEBSITE OR THE OHA E-MAIL TREE. THE BOARD WANTS TO MOVE AWAY FROM HARD COPY OF THE NEWSLETTER AS RAPIDLY AS POSSIBLE. PLEASE CONTACT LYDIA SHEEHAN () ABOUT RECEIVING THE NEWSLETTER FROM THE E-MAIL TREE OR THE WEBSITE. THANK YOU. THE OHA BOARD.
Block Captains Needed for Several Neighborhoods
Block captains needed for the following blocks:
Cedar Court, Juniper Lane, Lakeview Point, Persimmon Place (2618 - 2710),
Woodhavens Drive(2101 - 2110), and Woodhavens Drive (2302 - 2323)
Duties would consist of distributing hard copy newsletters (4 times a year) to the neighbors on your block who are not signed up for electronic delivery. Please contact Lydia Sheehan ()or 829-7319 to be designated as a block captain for one of theavailable blocks.
Future OHA Board Meetings
6:00 p.m. at the OHAPark
June 11, July 9, August 27, September 10