You Can Locate These Dates on the Community Website Throughout the Year

Board News….

To those of you who look forward to the HOA meetings (all homeowners are invited to attend), mark you calendar for the following dates:

June 10, 2008

September 9, 2008

December 1, 2008 – Annual Meeting

Place: Amenity Center

Time: 7:00 p.m.

You can locate these dates on the community website throughout the year.

Improvements made to the Common Areas

1. In March, the Southlake BOD and Management hired Aquatic Systems to treat and maintain the retention ponds. Aquatic Systems has more than 30 years experience in pond & lake management.

1. In April, a new landscape company was hired. Nanak’s Landscapingalso has more than 30 years of experience.

1. Repairs for cracks and minor damage have been made to the entrance signs.

1. Lighting at the rear (east) entrance was re-wired because the breakers were constantly tripping.

1. The Amenity Center, fire hydrants, and entrance signs have all been painted.

1. The sidewalks and floors at the Amenity Center have been pressure washed.

Board News….

Covenant Enforcement Committee (CEC)

The CEC met on March 18, 2008, at 6:30 in the Amenity Center. Five homeowners had been previously mailed letters to discuss each violation before the committee.The committee carefully discussed each homeowner’s violation and determined the following decisions:

• Xxx Southlake Drive: Fifteen day extension for exposed water softener.
• Xxx Southlake Drive: Assessed $100.00 for stained driveway.
• Xxx Southlake Drive: Assessed $100.00 for stained driveway
• Xxx Southlake Drive: Assessed $100.00 for lawn maintenance.
• Xxx Southlake Drive:Dismissed. Stained driveway.

Violations

Property Management inspections are performed regularly and notices are mailed for items that are needed to be corrected. There are approximately 30 to 40 letters mailed monthly. The more letters mailed from First Coast, the more $$$ it costs homeowners.

The most common problems in the Southlake community are:

Lawn Maintenance
Dead grass
Weeds
Mowing
Edging / Driveway, Sidewalks & Curbs
Mildew
Dirt accumulation
Stains / Fences
Repair
Maintenance / Mailbox Stains
mildew

Finances

Have you paid your Homeowners Association dues yet? We need your dues for expenses and improvements.

As of March 27, 2008, the HOA had outstanding dues totaling $13,912. Three homes are in foreclosure and three more homes have had liens filed against their property.

Finances (Cont’d)

The Board of Directors will request an additional assessment from all Southlake homeowners within the next three months. The monies due are associated with additional costs and major repairs/maintenance. The anticipated assessment is approximately $114.00.

ARB News

The ARB Request Form can be found on the last page of this newsletter. The Board of Directors requests that the homeowner fully complete the form and mail it to the address on the form. ALL exterior projects must have prior approval (refer to Article VI, Section 3.) You can be fined if you do not comply with the CCR’s.

Please allow thirty days for a response from the committee. The Architectural Review Board consists of volunteers who have a family, a job, and other interests.

EXTRA! EXTRA! The Polluters…….

The Culprits

When it rains, water that is not absorbed into the ground, intercepted by vegetation, or evaporated flows into surface waters such as rivers and coastal waters. This flow is called runoff. As the runoff flows over the roads and land, it picks up pollutants.

• Roads are a source of pollution (oils, grease, dirt, trash & cigarette butts.)
• Excess fertilizers wash off lawns & gardens when it rains and flows into surface water.
• Yard waste, contaminants, and other objects put into storm drains and on the street can end up in our rivers and coastal waters.
• Surface water can be polluted through groundwater.

Do your part to prevent stormwater pollution

• Sweep grass clippings and leaves off sidewalks and streets. Place them in the trash!
• Recycle used motor oil, paint, and other household chemicals at a hazardous waste collection site. (For locations call: 827.6980)
• Landscape your yard with trees, shrubs, and groundcovers. They help reduce runoff.

Source: St. Johns County Public Works Dept.

Car, home break-ins linked!

Thieves are getting smarter, braver, and more sophisticated to gain access into your cars and homes.

Put your car keys beside your bed at night. If you hear a noise outside your home or someone is trying to get into your house, just press the panic button for your car. The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound until either your turn it off or the car battery dies.

Thieves break into your cars, steal garage door openers, and read the address from your Registration Card. Then sooner or later, the thief will gain access to your home through the garage and presto! It’s all over!

Be alert and obey school bus stop procedures!

Watch for young children who may be thinking about getting to school, but may not be thinking about their safety walking.

Keep a safe distance between you and the bus. Always remember that the bus driver can see you best when you are back away from the bus.

Be aware of the street traffic around you.

Speed limit:

20 mph.
Moms & Dads

Do you need a break from your little one?

We all do!!

St. Francis in-the-Field Episcopal Church is offering a parent’s Morning-Out Program.

If your child/children are between six months to four years old, they can be dropped off on a Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon.

The children are taught different prayer verses, bible verses, and do this while having lots of fun.

The goal of the program is to help develop and increase their Christian beliefs while giving parents a few children-free hours.

The staff is highly trained and many are members of St. Francis. Please consider having your little one(s) participate in what we believe is a great program.

Amenity Center Reservations

There is no need to make reservations for the Amenity Center. You may post a sign the evening before the planned event to avoid a conflict and to let your neighbors know of your intentions.

Please exercise noise control during the evening hours. We also ask that you please pick up and clean up after your event and return the following Monday evening after 5:00 p.m. to set out your trash at the curb. Thank you.

Community Yard Sale

Get ready! Get set! Get prepared! Are you tired of trying to make your way around that old blender, bassinet, bikes, and boxes of cast-off clothing? We have the cure……..

Mark your calendar for May 17th…………

Make a list of your best items and arrange for plenty of tables so that you can display everything prominently. Fold clothes neatly and arrange them by size. Good luck!

This ‘n That Complaints

Cars speeding throughout Southlake continue to be a huge safety issue. Please watch out for ourchildren’s safety. School will be out on June 11th. The speed limit within the community is 20 mph. Slow down! This is a family neighborhood.

Please control your barking dog! The neighbors are complaining. Don’t forget to bag your pet’s poop when out walking. The Board and Nosey Neighbor continuously receive complaints about these issues.

The Board of Directors requests that homeowners mail complaints in writing to First Coast Association Management. Complaints are very important to the Board since they lend a hand in assisting to resolve any problems within the community. You can locate a new form in this newsletter and on our website.

Lawn Info & Tips

May

Fertilize your lawn and water it or the lawn may be burned.

Begin watching for chinch bugs damage in St. Augustine lawns. The grass dies in patches and turns straw brown. Damaged areas DO NOT recover and must be plugged or re-sodded.

Mole crickets are the number one pest problem in north-east Florida. Apply an insecticide labeled for mole crickets and water it into the soil after application.

June

Fertilize trees and shrubs mid-month.

Keep mulch around ornamental plans at least two inches thick to keep weeds from growing and to conserve water. Remember to keep the mulch one to two inches away from the trunk or stem.

Remove old blooms and flower spikes from annuals. This is your last chance to apply insecticide for mole cricket control. Do by mid-June.

Source: Times-Union

A Wordfrom your Board of Directors

The Southlake BOD would like to formally notify all homeowners of their responsibility to comply with the Southlake Bylaws/covenants and restrictions. Please contact First Coast Management if you have any questions. The document may also be found on our website.

The BOD requests that all residents help keep our neighborhood clean by not littering.

Please remember to park your cars in the driveway. If a car is parked along the side of a road, it can block a driver’s view of a small child or vice versa.

DO NOT park any trailer, work vehicle, boat, camper, etc., in the driveway or on the street.

******

We are in need volunteers!

The BOD has lost their Treasurer. The family relocated to another state.

Soon, the ARB committee will lose a volunteer due to relocating to another state.

Since the Southlake BOD works in conjunction with a Management company, time spent on the board is much less than before we hired the company.

What will our next step be if we have no Board of Directors?

PLEASE VOLUNTEER!

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