Presidents Message-- Phil Gray

The Board of Directors for the Springs Homeowners Association has accomplished a great deal in the past year both in working on improving our procedures and policies as a board, but also in terms of maintaining the Springs as one of the finest HOA's in Green Valley. Again, the Board has decided not to increase dues for the coming year. The Springs is almost completely sold out at this time, and we can all look forward to a year without heavy construction equipment invading our peace and quiet.

We elected to delay the resurfacing of the streets until late December hoping that there would be little heavy equipment entering our development alter that time tearing up the newly surfaced streets. Among the other accomplishments this year: the Board has approved our becoming a Neighborhood Watch community with the coordinating committee being headed by Paul Walter and Joanne Lohr. We are also participating in the benefit for our local firehouse kitchen improvements, have established a committee to oversee the replacement of exterior light bulbs over the house numbers, and have hired a subcontractor to oversee our irrigation systems and to do common area maintenance work. The Board is still not satisfied with the appearance of the lawn areas and is considering additional landscaping improvements.

And, again, we lost board members for a variety of reasons through the year, but we were able to find excellent replacements and have been pleased at the response to our call for volunteers to help on various committees. However, we still need people to help, so please volunteer to help with the various HOA activities.

Our biggest problems no longer seem to concern dogs! Rather, we seem to have some new owners who are unfamiliar with life in an HOA with CC&R's and operate under the assumption that “my home is my castle, and I can do with it as I please!” Fortunately this attitude is a rarity among our owners who, for the most part, are cooperative and supportive neighbors.

I have served on the Springs Board since 2000 and most of that time have functioned as president. I have enjoyed working with the board members and all the marvelous people in the Springs, but feel it is time for someone else to have the opportunity to help lead the HOA. Thank you to all of you for your support and kindness.

The Architectural Review Committee (ARC) has the responsibility for the administration of the Architectural Design Guidelines and review of all applications for construction or modification. In fact, the Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions (CC&R's), a copy of which every homeowner was given when buying their home, state that the ARC must review any proposed exterior changes.

This past year has been a busy one for our Committee: Fifty-three ARC requests were received and reviewed. Fifty-two requests were approved--demonstrating that if a request is properly prepared and meets the guidelines, they are approved. Keep in mind that the ARC Design Guidelines are modified periodically, so check The Springs Website in order to stay current. The Guidelines, however, are not the exclusive basis for decisions of the ARC and compliance with the Guidelines does not guarantee approval of any application.

The ARC meetings were held on the 2nd Monday of each month. The Committee must receive all requests for architectural review no later than the Wednesday before each meeting.

Each request must be placed on The Springs Architectural Request Form. These forms are available to be downloaded at The Springs Website. Three copies of the form and any appropriate items should be sent to or placed in the mailbox at The Springs HOA Office that is located at the entrance gate. Each request should be marked--ATTN: Architectural Review Committee. Please do not take any requests to the Construction Office.

The following quote from Teddy Roosevelt was recently published in the Arizona Community Association Journal “What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for our community lives long after we are gone." From the beginning of The Springs, the various ARC volunteers have worked diligently toward fulfilling their responsibilities. Some continued to do their work even under extreme duress and situations in which they were actually threatened with bodily harm. Without such dedication, our community would be a very different place in which to live!

Grounds Committee - Ernie Cox, Jr. Chairperson

In February, we held our first neighborhood park clean-up. Over 25 residents showed up to pull weeds, collect garbage and fallen branches and rake gravel around the walking path. It was a successful day with over 40 large garbage bags filled up! We are planning another clean-up for early 2004.

Part of the park on Via de Cristal was re-graveled early in the year. The remainder of the park will be covered in 2004. We have also been working on a plan to convert three of the grass parks in Springs I to desert landscaping.

Some of our expenses, such as the application of weed-killer and pre-emergent, have been going up. We are requesting written contracts with the companies we deal with to make it easier to know how much to budget for various expenses.

We have ordered a small dumpster from Waste Management to be placed behind the storage shed off Calle Viva for use by the groundskeeper. It will be emptied weekly.

A 20 MPH speed limit sign was added near our gate house entrance.

Numerous stop signs were blown down by unusually high winds. Damaged posts were replaced with stronger square posts. Any future stop sign or street signpost replacements will also be with similar square posts. They cost more but are a lot more durable.

Some of our streets in Springs Two were in need of repair. We were going to get bids for these repairs, but Bob Steindorif was able to get them repaired at no cost to our HOA by negotiating with the original road contractors.

We have need for some sidewalk and curb damage repairs. We are in the process of getting bids for these repairs. Repairs will probably be made after the first of 2004.

We have contracted with Sunland Asphalt Co. to do some maintenance work on our streets and walking path. They have already repaired the major cracks in our walking path. Their next step, which should occur right at the end of 2003, is to seal all large cracks in our roads. The final step will be applying new protective coating to all our streets. This coating will be done early in 2004.