January News from Your HOA
A MESSAGE FROM YOUR HOA PRESIDENT
In my article last month, I ended with a discussion of our budget and our assessments. I explained how we go about determining a budget and the assessment amount each year. This month, I would like to cover where those assessment fees go. Do you know? There are many costs associated with running out community. Most people understand that the Pool and Landscaping are paid for from our assessment dues, but where else does the money go? Assessments cover the following. Although not a complete list, these are the major ones.
- Amenities: Pool maintenance and repairs, Lifeguards, Parks, Playgrounds, Trails & Greenways, the Tennis Court and other common areas.
- Utilities: Streetlights and common area lighting, Pool Electricity, Telephone, Security Cameras/Internet.
- Administrative: Management services including assessment collections, architectural control committee request review and processing, postage and printing, accounting task, deed restriction inspections and enforcement, website hosting, insurance and audit services by a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
- Legal Fees: Services related to assessment collections, deed violation enforcement and contract review and advice.
- Landscaping: Mowing, maintaining shrubs and flowers, trimming trees, even our share of mowing the median on Telge.
- Other Services: This can include several areas such as pest control, mosquito fogging, community events and additional constable patrol services, the flags flying at Telge and West roads and even Christmas decorations to name a few.
So, as you can see, the assessments that are collected are used for anything necessary or desirable to keep the subdivision neat and in good order in order to maintain our property values. This is just a short list of where the monies go. For a complete annual budget, all details can be found online and can be viewed at any time by any Aberdeen Trails Homeowner who is registered on TownSQ at https://townSQ.io.
Andy Finney
President - Aberdeen Trails HOA BOD
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS
STREETLIGHTS
Please report any lights that are out, blinking or on during the day. Part of your annual Homeowners fee pays for your streetlights, whether they work or not. If a light is out in your area, please call 713-207-2222 or go to www.centerpointenergy.com/outage and report it. Each light pole should have a 6-digit number on it. When reporting the light, you will need to provide the pole number and closest intersection or address. We want all our lights to work... a well lit area is a safe area!
SIGNS ON MAILBOXES, LIGHT POLES AND STREET SIGNS
If you place signs in and around the neighborhood for Garage Sales, Lost Pets, etc., please make sure you remove them in a timely manner. Remember that postal boxes are the property of the USPS and it is a crime to attach anything to the cluster mailboxes! Please help to keep Aberdeen Trails looking beautiful!
TENNIS COURT USE
We have received reports that children have been using the tennis courts for everything but tennis. Please reiterate to your children that use of the courts is for tennis play ONLY. No soccer, rollerblading, skateboarding, bike riding, basketball, etc. allowed. Children caught abusing the courts may cause their parents to be financial penalized for any damages.
THE CITY OF HOUSTON URGES RESIDENTS TO SIGN UP FOR EMERGENCY NOTIFICATIONS
Staying informed is an important way of keeping yourself and your family safe when emergencies occur. Landline home or work telephones are already a part of the ENS system and now residents can register their cell or internet phone numbers so they can be alerted about an emergency in their community. It's simple and easy; sign-up at the City of Houston Office of Emergency Management website http://alert.houstonoem.org or http://911.org and register up to four telephone numbers.
Houstonians can also register for ‘Alert Houston,’ the City of Houston's Email Notification System, which sends emails to residents when emergencies affecting a large portion of the city occur, such as severe weather and hurricanes.
Find out more about both AlertHouston and ENS by visiting http://alert.houstonoem.org.
RECREATION VEHICLES AND TRAILERS
We have been receiving numerous reports about all terrain vehicles being ridden along the drainage ditch areas and power line easements. As a reminder, this is private property and we have instructed the Constable Patrol to monitor the areas and write citations for trespassing, as well as deterring safety hazards. We have also noticed personal utility trailers being parked behind fences along the drainage ditch and will be collecting license plate information to determine ownership for violation notices from the Association, as well as the Constable Patrol issuing citations for trespassing on private property. Towing of the trailers could be an end result as well.
CONSTABLE PATROL
As a reminder, the Association has a patrol contract through Harris County Precinct 5 Constable. We share 40 hours of patrol per week at random time with Aberdeen Trails HOA. Please add the following dispatch number to your cell phones or post in a visible place at home in case you need support in a non life-threatening situation. Their non-emergency dispatch number is 281-463-6666. The Constable Patrol also offers a free vacation watch service. Log on to their website at www.co.harris.tx.us/pct5/forms.aspx to obtain a form and learn more about the program.
LOITERING AND VANDALISM
Please help us to keep our recreation areas safe and clean by reporting any and all loitering after dark directly to the Constable and then to management. Please also remember to report any suspicious persons walking around the community or at the parks immediately to the Constable Patrol non-emergency dispatch number at 281-463-6666. Better safe than sorry.
PET POLICY AND ETIQUETTE
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Only two pets per household - refer to governing documents regarding height and weight limits.
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Pick up pet waste and discard properly.
- Do not allow pets to roam around the community unrestrained - it’s the law! This includes cats too!
- Do not allow dogs to bark continuously disturbing neighbors.