Landscape Contract

One of the action items from this year's HOA meeting was that the Landscape Committee would solicit competitive bids from other landscape contractors. Clearly, that did not happen and in the meantime our ''Board'' covertly approved Susan Hoover's contract for another year. None of us should be surprised by the Board's deceitful and underhanded action - it would be highly unusual for them to act in the best interest of the homeowners on any given issue.

I would like to suggest that we do not cloud this issue by making a wish list of extra services that we would like at this point. Our first step should be to get a copy of Susan Hoover's contract, which must spell out the services she is obligated to provide. With that contract in hand, the Landscape Committee can contact several local landscape companies to see if they would be willing to submit a competitive bid. Once we have 5 or 6 bids in hand, we can have one of the homeowners draft a summary document (comparing apples to apples) and forward it to the homeowners for a vote. I feel very strongly that we should not necessarily choose the cheapest contractor, but the one that we feel will be the most responsive and provide the best service.

I am willing to help the Landscape Committee with this project but I definitely think we should get started NOW, so that we do not allow another year to slip by. It makes me absolutely nauseous to write a check to Susan Hoover's personal enrichment fund each month and I think many of you feel the same way. No matter how you slice it, we are NOT getting good value for our money. Let's do something about it!!!

landscape contract

Steven, Your approach is very clear and sensible. How do we get a copy of Susan's contract? If you can donate time to this cause I support the effort (but wonder why the Landscape committee didn't do the job--vacations are not an excuse). Those who volunteer need to have time to devote, or step down and let someone else fill their shoes. We definitely are paying too much for the little that gets done.

landscaping

The committee was formed several years ago, not in the last year. At that time Susan Hoover was invited to attend our meetings and attended only one, declining the others. Bobby Thomas attended some of the later ones. We had formulated our ideas to support and enhance the original HOA restrictions which we all had to sign off on when we purchased our homes and some suggested practices to keep the fronts of homes uncluttered. We began a dialogue regarding deed restrictions. Mr. Thomas did not share the majority's interest in reinforcing or inforcing restrictions or the landscaper's performance. Sensing apathy and Ms. Hoover's failure to work with us, I chose to resign.

Ms. Hoover's group lacks effective supervision, plant knowledge, and record keeping ability. They have been slow, even unwilling to respond to reasonable requests. No complaints were registered because no one asked the users-homeowners.

Landscape Committees

Carol,

As I understand it, the Landscape Committee of which you were a part was dissolved sometime after you stepped down. At the time of the last general HOA meeting, there was no Landscape Committee in place. A new Landscape Committee was formed that night, consisting of these four members:
John Robbins, Don Brashear, Joan Maril and Ronnie Payne.

Hope this helps to clarify...