autumn at south entrance of highland hills photo by david stahl · autumn at south entrance of...

November 2016 LINKS web site: www.hhmcsequim.org Editor e-mail: [email protected]

Autumn at South Entrance of Highland Hills photo by David Stahl


President’s Message --- November 2016

Ready! Set! Vote! Vote! Vote!

Once again it’s Annual General Meeting time for all Highland Hills Maintenance Commission Members. Hopefully you exercised your voting privilege in the recent nationwide General Election following a political campaign that seemed to go on forever. Now it is time to cast your ballot for very local matters on Bell Hill. On November 16th we (our Homeowners’ Association) will be meeting to put in place the plan outline for HHMC activities in 2017. Under consideration for membership ratification at the AGM will be a budget that has been assembled by HHMC committee chairs and Trustees over the past months. Three worthy Trustee candidates are also up for election to the Board, and a recommendation to waive an independent audit of 2016 finances must be dealt with. You can vote in person at the meeting, or by absentee ballot. If you vote absentee you can appoint a proxy to vote for you on matters arising from the floor at the AGM that were not on the pre-meeting ballot. Please vote. Every vote is really important to your Association as we must meet minimum eligible voter participation requirements under Washington State Law and our own HHMC By-laws. Attendance at the AGM is not only an opportunity to meet new neighbors and renew old friendships, but provides a great opportunity for you to get updated on what is going on in the Commission, and to let the leadership know what is important to you now. In preparing your thoughts for the meeting, note that the Board-recommended 2017 budget does not include any new major infrastructure projects, and incorporates an Annual Assessment reduction from the 2016 level. As was pointed out in last month’s Highlander, there are several issues that the Board would like widespread member opinions on, including:

1) What do you think of the Board’s recommendation to only fund an independent professional audit of HHMC finances at five-year intervals?

2) What is your interest-level in community-wide emergency preparedness/disaster planning? 3) In future budgeting, should the Board propose only routine maintenance and repair projects

for our existing roads & drainage infrastructure; or should enhancements (“capital improvements”) such as safety, risk reduction, and new installation projects be planned and budgeted?

Come prepared to express yourself! AGM preparation activity was a significant topic at the early November Board of Trustees Meeting. Secretary Ted Stever reported successful completion and distribution of AGM data packages, including meeting notifications, to all HHMC members via either US Mail or e-mail. He also previewed a draft version of the PowerPoint graphic presentation planned for the AGM. Mr. Stever’s extensive preparation work was acknowledged by the Board, and is greatly appreciated. The Board then reviewed HHMC financial activities in both September and October as presented by the Treasurer. Several final invoices for recently completed major stormwater drainage system construction

Inside: President’s Message 2 AGM Info 4 Internet Update 9 Weather 10 Harrison Article 11 Photos and Comments 12

Important Dates

Board Meeting December 7 January 6 Annual General Meeting November 16 @ 7 pm


projects were paid ($26k in October), leaving a non-committed operating cash balance of approximately $69k for the remainder of 2016. A 2016 budget under-run is anticipated and the estimated carry-over into 2017 has been allowed for in the recommended 2017 budget. Committee activities in October included annual meeting venue preps by Sally Schaefer, and vote counting preps by Janet Clark, our Inspector of Election. Architectural Control Committee activities included continued monitoring of two construction activities as well as handling several tree trimming/removal and dog-fence requests. Roads & Drainage activities were reported as minimal following completion of several major summer drainage improvement projects in September. Routine monthly drainage system inspection and maintenance is planned through the end of the year. In October that included the installation of rough eight-inch rock in a high-speed drainage ditch on Fox Hollow Road (near Owls Nest Road intersection) to slow the water flow rate to reduce ditch erosion. The Welcoming Committee held a second 2016 party (27 attendees) for new residents on October 15th at O’Brien’s on Quails Roost. The newly-formed Internet Services Committee has compiled the results of their recent member survey and a summary was presented at the October Trustees’ meeting. Complete results and much other Committee information can now be found on the new Internet Services webpage recently installed in the Members-only area of the HHMC website at www.hhmcsequim.org. Take a bit of time to review their webpage. It is full of good information and portends an improved future for internet connectivity on Bell Hill as the Committee follows their well thought-out plan. A short summary of their activity and objectives will be presented at the AGM, as will a status report on emergency preparedness by an ad hoc community group led by Don Baron. With the political election season thankfully in the rear-view-mirror, and the holiday season rapidly approaching we have a little hole in the fall schedule to contemplate our HHMC future. Please review the AGM information package materials (all available in the Members-only area of the HHMC website at www.hhmcsequim.org), prepare & submit your Ballot/Proxy, and plan to attend the AGM at 7 PM on Wednesday, November 16th . Have a Happy Thanksgiving,

Ted Johnson

http://www.hhmcsequim.org/

http://www.hhmcsequim.org/


HIGHLAND HILLS MAINTENANCE COMMISSION

HHMC ANNUAL MEETING of NOVEMBER 16, 2016

AGENDA

1. Call to Order and Opening: The President will call the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. at the Sunland Golf & Country Club Ball Room. The Pledge of Allegiance will follow. The President will then make welcoming remarks, make statements regarding electronic recording of the meeting and rules for meeting conduct, review the meeting agenda and introduce officers and other members of the Board of Trustees. 2. Proof of Notice of Meeting or Waiver The Secretary will certify that each member as of the record date for the meeting (Oct. 1, 2016), determined in accordance with our By-laws, has been provided on a timely basis a Notice of the Annual Meeting and copies of the other meeting materials; or, in the case of any member as to whom that is not correct, has delivered a signed Waiver of Notice of the meeting. 3. Certification of Proxies

The Inspector of Election will certify that she has reviewed the proxies provided to her, has made a determination of their validity and has advised the Secretary of the result of that determination. 4. Verification of Quorum The Inspector of Election will verify that a quorum is present (or not) at the meeting, either in person or by proxy. 5. Disposition of the Minutes of the 2015 Annual Meeting

6. Financial Report

a) Summary of December 31, 2015 financial statements b) September 30, 2016 & Estimated December 31, 2016 financial statements c) HHMC Reserves Status d) Following reports, the floor will be open for discussion of financial reports. 7. Presentation of the Proposed 2017 HHMC Budget a) Following the Budget presentation the floor will be open for discussion of the budget b) Member voting on Issue 1---Ratification of the Proposed Budget for 2017 8. Election of New Trustees

a) Introduction of Trustee candidates b) Any candidate who wishes to do so may address the meeting regarding his/her candidacy c) Member voting on Ballot Issue No. 2---Election of Trustees d) Announcement that the polls will soon close. 8. Independent Audit of 2016 Financials


a) Board Recommendation b) Discussion c) Voting on Issue No. 3 --- Waive Independent Professional Audit of 2016 Financials in 2017 9. Closing of the Polls

Ballots not already submitted must be turned in promptly. 10. Committee Reports

a) Architectural Control --- Randy Brown b) Roads & Drainage --- Ted Johnson c) Other Committee Chairs may provide short synopses of committee actions during the past year and recognize any members of their committees. d) Written summaries of HHMC committee activities have been provided for member review. 11. Recess for Visiting and Refreshments

12. Announcement of Results of Voting

a) Ratification of Proposed 2017 Budget b) Election of New Trustees c) Audit Waiver in 2017 13. Unfinished Business

14. New Business Open opportunity for members to express their wishes and concerns as to what they would like the Board to address/investigate/study in the future.

15. Announcements and Adjournment


Internet Service Committee Activities

Survey The internet committee has completed the survey of Highland Hills residents about internet service. Thank you to the 56 respondents for taking time to complete the survey. The survey is vital to the success of our mission. It justifies our promotion of improved services from internet providers. A summary of the results has been posted on the HHMC Internet Committee Member Only web page - http://www.hhmcsequim.org/MembersOnly/Internet-Service.html . The summary shows resident ratings of their internet service providers’ quality and speed. It also lists all the resident comments and questions with answers to the questions. Individual responses are held confidential but you may contact a committee member if you would like additional non-confidential results. Internet Service Provider List The internet committee has posted a document on the Internet Committee web page, which compares internet service providers available to Highland Hills residents. This list should be useful to residents selecting an internet service provider. The list will be updated as new data comes to the attention of the committee. Improving Service Our research so far indicates Internet Service currently available to Highland Hills pales in comparison to our nearby neighborhoods and most municipalities. This affects not only our internet experience but also the market value of our property. With the survey results and internet service provider list in hand, the committee is moving on to encourage internet service providers to improve services available to Highland Hills. Recent conversations with Wave Broadband have gone well. Initial steps towards a feasibility study for installation of fiber optic cable to Highland Hills have been taken. We are continuing talks with CenturyLink about significant upgrades to their service. Thank you for your interest in the Internet Committee. Please contact me with any suggestions, comments or questions. Fritz Langenbacher 222 Quails Roost Rd (858) 692-2971 [email protected]

http://www.hhmcsequim.org/MembersOnly/Internet-Service.html


Our Monthly Weather

Well, That Was a Wet Month October 2016 rainfall total was almost twice the 2015 total. It didn’t rain all at once, it just rained almost every day. So far, November has been more in line with historical patterns. It has also been quite warm, as a result lawns have not gone completely dormant and some deciduous shrubs retain their leaves. Compare last year’s temperatures to this year’s. Autumn leaves are on schedule as depicted in the lead photograph. The prognosticators are forecasting a wet (and possibly snowy) winter.

All measurements are taken at 600’. Precipitation is measured daily at 7 am.

2016 2015

2016

2015

2016

2015

2016

2015 Precipitation Precipitation Snowfall Snowfall High High Low Low

(In.) (In.) (In.) (In.) °F °F °F °F

January 1.74 2.59 0.0 0.0 61 58 29 28

February 1.92 3.20 0.0 0.0 57 54 36 35

March 2.51 3.27 0.0 0.0 70 53 36 34

April .91 .66 0.0 0.0 81 67 45 37

May .75 .41 0.0 0.0 75 82 46 43

June 1.49 .40 0.0 0.0 88 92 45 47

July .53 .52 0.0 0.0 71 91 51 46

August .20 .83 0.0 0.0 90 90 47 46

September 1.20 1.25 0.0 0.0 75 82 46 45

October 3.57 1.84 0.0 0.0 61 73 42 40

Month to Date (Nov 13th) .90 1.96 0.0 0.0 70 52 47 36

Annual Totals 15.72 16.93 0.0 0.0 90 91 29 28

Running Year Total (11/14/15 - 11/13/16) 25.09

0.0

90

27


A Harrison Family Contribution

WINTER MORNING

I sit up in bed, with a hot cup of tea and watch the sky lighten. My world is not yet awake. My husband sleeps quietly by my side, his tea getting cold. No birds fly; no squirrels scamper; the raccoons have all gone home after a night’s foraging. My cat is awake. She’s had her first meal of the day but is settling down for a nap before the next one. The sky continues to brighten and I think: One good thing about a winter morning; you can watch the sun rise without waking up too early.


Photos and Comments

A Foggy Morning in Sequim contributed by Davy Witt

Ric’s Maple contributed by David Stahl

autumn at south entrance of highland hills photo by david stahl · autumn at south entrance of...

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