Susan Hoover charged us $575,375 for Landscape Maintenance & Repairs in 2004.

I wonder how much Susan paid her workers for mowing the lawn and pulling the weeds.

I do not have any yard expenses during the winter months because grasses and plants do not grow in the cold weather. Guess what? Susan Hoover still charged us thousand of dollars every month during the winter for doing almost NOTHING.

Both our old Board and our NEW Board played trick on us for helping Susan Hoover to retain the landscape contract. The only difference is they played the trick differently and hope we would all be easily fooled!

********************************************************************************
Who Should Plant Those Trees?

Feb 5, 2005

Subj: Who should plant those 80 trees?
Date: 2/5/2005 5:37:19 A.M. Central Standard Time
From: LS0909
To: landscape@circlecranch.info
CC: directors@circlecranch.info, committees@circlecranch.info, info@circlecranch.info, cdietz@circlecranch.info, qfennessy@circlecranch.info, mgoehring@circlecranch.info, aemartin@circlecranch.info, escruggs@circlecranch.info, surban@circlecranch.info


Susan Hoover Should Plant ALL Those Trees.

Susan charged us more than half million of landscape maintenance in 2004. She should plant all those trees.


Susan:

Could you please tell us who were the three evaluators serving on the Contract Review Committee helping you to retain the landscape contract? Are they your neighbors and friends?

Are you using those seven outside bidders to make the bidding process look legitimate?

Are we that easily to be fooled?

Lisa

We planted 80 trees this morning

More than 25 volunteers showed up to plant 80 native trees along Slaughter Creek in the Water Quality Preservation Land (Prop 2).

We had a number of children of all ages, as well. All of took turns digging. The oldest was 79 !

Everyone in Circle C Ranch was invited to join in and the reward was a chance to walk around the 1200 acres and enjoy something really special.

This property is not park land. It is land bought by the city of Austin to preserve and protect in it's most natural state. Even the majority of the northern cedar trees were removed. There are duck in the water, deer in the woods, and rabbits in the fields.

Since this is not a park, the city will not maintain it. Instead, they will rely on a group of volunteers. CCHOA director AE Martin has asked the city to allow Circle C residents to perform this duty and there are several different roles that each of you can fullfill.

If we don't get enough volunteers, then the city will simply leave the land off-limits to everyone. If we do get the volunteers we need, then the property will be opened to the public on a limited basis.

However, if we can muster a reasonable number of volunter care takers, then the city has money set asside build hike & bike trails right away. They will also mark equestrian trails and horses will be welcome.

There will never be an entrance from Circle C Metro park and you are tresspassing if you climb over the fences. Several Circle C residents and children have learned that the hard way. The police and the Game Warden are just a phone call away.

For the record, no landscaping company is allowed to work on this land.

I want to thank everyone who turned out to help on the imporant project this morning. There are similar projects all over the county and Central Texas, and this is the best time to plant trees. They will be watered with irrigation from the creek, too.

The next event should be our kick-off for the trail building project. The trails have already been sketched - what remains is to clear the paths and spread out the crushed granite.

This IS one of those community projects that will not happen with out your help. Please sign up soon. Sign up your kids, too. This a community project that is appropriate for ''community service'' and scouting activities.

Was Susan Hoover there?


Was Susan Hoover one of those 25 volunteers? How many trees has she planted?

Russ, could you do some math for us? How many trees could be planted by the professional landscaper if we use the money that the Association usually paid Susan Hoover in the winter for doing almost NOTHING?

HERE IS THE FACT: I have seen those billings with my own eyes!


Hi, Susan:

Do you feel good about yourself for obtaining our big, fat landscape contract year after year?

Could you tell us what is your profit margin? Can you sleep well at night?

Would you invite me to serve on the Contract Review Committee in the next bidding process? I know quite a lot about landscaping.

Lisa