The Fountain Trace Board of Directors for 2021 wishes everyone a happy spring and hopes this newsletter finds everyone healthy following this challenging winter. 

 

Your Board of Directors elected at the Annual meeting are:

 

Steve Grilli (President)

Kirk Tisdale (Vice President)

Chip Rice (Secretary)

Mark Minotti (Treasurer)

Joe Macrino (Member At Large)

Todd McNeilage (Member At Large)

 

Your Architectural Review Committee (ARC) is:

 

Chris Champion (Chairman)

Todd McNeilage

Kirk Tisdale

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

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Updated Architecture Review Committee Request Form

 

If you are planning to add or amend any structures please submit the Architecture Review Request Form found as an online “fill in the blank” form at www.fountaintrace.com under the HOMEOWNER INFO tab.  According to the Fountain Trace Restrictive Covenants “no building, fence, wall, pool, or other structure (including a detached garage) shall be commenced, erected or maintained upon the Properties, nor shall any exterior addition to or change in alteration therein be made until the plans and specifications …shall have been submitted to and approved in writing…by an architectural committee…appointed by the Association.”  Please submit the request at least 30 days prior to the desired start date to avoid any delays in your plans.  The Review Committee will work to provide approval or request any clarifications sooner than the 30 days so you can begin your project as soon as possible.

 

Also, the new Architecture Review Committee (ARC) reviewed its roles and responsibilities and identified areas for improvement.  To insure prompt request response and appropriate Committee oversight, all Architecture Review Requests are sent simultaneously to all ARC members as well as the President and Vice President of the Board of Directors. The basis for approval or disapproval of any requests is determined in Articles I to III of the Restrictive Covenants for Fountain Trace. 

 

Two requests have been sent to the ARC since February concerning the widening of a driveway and covering a deck.  Both requests were approved within 24 hours.

 

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Please curb your dog!

 

In other words…pick up their poop.  As the weather improves, we will all be enjoying the exercise of walking or running in the neighborhood.  Picking up after your pet is courteous to your neighbors, eliminates smells as the temperatures increase, and improves the appearance of the subdivision.  This includes the vacant lots as well.  Thank you for your consideration.

 

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Vacant Lots

 

“Vacant lots shall not be allowed to grow more than 15 inches before mowing is required.” – Article V; Restrictive Covenants for Fountain Trace

 

We thank the majority of vacant lot owners for maintaining their lots’ neat appearance.  This helps to decrease pests and to enhance property values.  We are contacting the lots out of compliance to address the concerns brought to the Board.

 

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Lot 119 Update

 

As the legal appeals process continues concerning construction at Lot 119, the Board of Directors determined it was appropriate to meet with the Lot owners along with their legal counsel as well as Fountain Trace Homeowners legal counsel.  Clarifications were made and it was determined that they could submit a request for work to be completed to maintain the landscaping, eliminate erosion and to remove or move construction materials in order to maintain a kept appearance as the appeals process continues.  The Board of Directors is awaiting the detailed request for approval.

 

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Family Pet Loss

 

We extend our sympathy to the family on Lakemere whose pet cat was shot by a BB or pellet gun on 4/24/21.  If anyone has any information on the cause of this incident please let a Board member know.

 

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Attentive Driving

 

With the warmer weather now upon is, it is exciting to see neighbors out walking and enjoying their leisure time.   It is all of our responsibility to give full attention when operating any vehicle in the neighborhood including keeping to safe speeds especially on hills and curves.

 

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Cemetery Road Construction

 

We spoke with KY Transportation Cabinet Bowling Green Office to provide an update on the Cemetery Road Construction Projects.    There are two safety and repaving projects taking place. 

 

The first project in front of our neighborhood extends from Keriakes Park to Hunts Lane.  It involves milling and repaving on the west (city) side of Drakes Creek which will be done at night.  On the east (Scottsville) side of Drakes Creek, which includes in front of our neighborhood, the project is taking place during the day.   The gravel shoulder is being replaced with asphalt to provide 1 foot of shoulder on the road.  The marked lane width will remain the same.  The shoulder will have rumble strips.  Most of the new paving will be over the existing road with small sections milled to match the height at the side road tie-ins.  Weather permitting, it is expected to be completed in May although the contractor has until the end of June to complete the work.   

 

The second project extends from Hunts Lane to the Allen County line.  They are reducing the slope drop off on the side of road in many areas as well as adding the same 1 foot shoulder.   This work should complete by August with a contractual date to complete by September.

 

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Repairs and Improvements

 

The Board immediately identified areas to decrease costs. 

 

• The pond fountain was continuously operating which increased electrical costs for the Association.  Thanks to our neighbor Scott Mayo, a timer was placed on the fountain and currently operates 6 AM to 8 PM daily.  This will be adjusted seasonally based upon daylight hours, freezing considerations, and possible algae control.  There is not a light on the fountain so there is not a reason to operate it for aesthetics at night.  We hope to cut our electrical costs in half.

 

• The irrigation system around the pond was operating daily increasing water use costs.  We have amended the run times to operate 3 to 4 days weekly with different sections watered on different days.  Watering will be amended as necessary to maintain the grass.

 

• The well pump that was installed originally to replace evaporated water for the pond is inoperative.  Currently all water for the pond, irrigation, and front fountain is county water that increases costs.  It is not known how long the pump has been inoperative.  The Board plans to remove the pump for repair and to insure the well is still capable of providing water.  The Board has been contacting different experts for assistance, you may have seen the volunteer fire department out there last week. 

 

• The Board is currently in the process of repairing the lighting timers at the front entrance.  It was found that the light sensors were bypassed and therefore the lights stayed on continuously.  Timers have been installed for the landscaping lighting and we are in the process of repairing sensors for the lamps.  Most of the sensors are no longer operational and will be repaired or replaced.

 

• The front fountain operation is also being reviewed to determine if cost savings are available through the use of timers for the pump’s operation and the use of water.   We are also investigated water leakage at the Cemetery Road side of the feature and how to best to maintain the fountain cost effectively: Regular cleaning schedule, timers 

 

• All maintenance vendors’ costs are being reviewed for cost efficiencies to include landscaping, fertilization and weed control, pond algae maintenance, and fountain pump maintenance.

 

If you have any suggestions for neighborhood improvements, especially any cost-saving measures, or an expertise of any of the items in this newsletter that you wish to volunteer, the Board of Directors welcome your input. The Board plans to document the detail on who, what, where and how things function in our subdivision for future reference. It does not exist today.

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