The Official Website of Blairstone Forest located in Tallahassee, Florida.
Board Members – Llona Geiger, Virginia Sasser, Fred Willes
7:00 P.M. Reception with Refreshments
7:35 P.M. Call to Order
Present:
· Board Members: Llona Geiger, Fred Willes, Virginia Sasser
· Officers and Committee Chairs: Margaret Stephens (Secretary), Frank Roycraft (Crime Watch)
· TPAM (Property Management Company) Representatives: Andrew Elekes, Maggie Baker
· Stan Rosenthal – Big Bend Forestry, UF/IFAS Extension, Agent Emeritus
· Association Members: Dawn Aguero, John Aguero, Karin Brewster, Marilyn Cain, Ranelle Christle, Sue Dinges, Maria Harageones, Victoria Johnson, Mario Lopez, Mary Marotta, Mike McCrea, Sylvia Ramos, Sandra Smith, Gary Smith, Michele Sonnenfeld, Deborah Taggart, Keith Tucker, Karen Willes, Bill Wintermute
There were no floor nominations for a Board of Director. A few ballots were collected. TPAM reps will begin the count and report results at the end of the reports.
2018 was a year of changes:
February – a new president was elected, Llona Geiger
March – Justin Green resigned from the Board and as Grounds Chair. Ben Clark was selected as the new director. Ben is new to the neighborhood and a CPA. The new grounds chair, Tracie Priest, was allotted a small budget and a job description.
April – The property management company, Kelly Management quit effective July 31. The board had a chance to re-evaluate what we need and what did not get accomplished with Kelly Mgmt. There was a new emphasis on Covenant Enforcement. BFCA sought and received 3 proposals from property management companies and chose TPAM. Transition to the new Management Company involved many changes and often rocky.
July – Karen Willes resigned as treasurer
August – Ben Clark took on the role of Treasurer.
September – Ben Clark resigned as a Board Director but remained as Treasurer.
October – Virginia Sasser replaced Ben Clark as Board Director.
Beaver issues ran for most of the year with a loss of 39 trees. Mitigation efforts include trapping and wrapping the remaining trees around the pond.
Hurricane Michael arrived in October and resulted in more repairs.
The best news is we have broadened involvement (19 residents in some named capacity) and improved communication with the owners, and interest in BFCA.
Llona reported that Ben had a baby this morning and could not be at the meeting. She read a letter prepared by Ben.
Click here for Ben’s general treasurer report/letter.
Documents prepared are linked below:
2018 Treasurer’s report budget/expenditures
Andrew shared that TPAM was excited to be here and looking forward to working with our community. He said that TPAM has won an award and is growing.
Click here for Fern’s submitted ACC Report
No general report was submitted. Tracie has lost her Dad and has not been available.
Click here for the Lake Doctor’s report about the health of our pond.
Frank is still committed to walking around the neighborhood to meet people and asks for 30 days to complete this. The neighborhood has been safe. If street lights go out, please report this to Frank or Llona and they will take care of it quickly.
Stan Rosenthal, Big Bend Forestry, UF/IFAS Extension, Agent Emeritus, gave a talk about our trees and answered a few questions. He shared that our Beech Magnolia forest is susceptible to forest fires as much as water. Beavers are a byproduct of water and the most recent disturbance to our forest is invasive species and high wind events. Climate changes is also adversely affecting the trees due to a longer growing season. There are also longer dry spells and wet spells.
There was a question about why Dogwoods are not doing well. Stan answered that it was a combination of insects, mildew, fungus, climate change. Dogwoods are intolerant to the change in the length of the growing season.
Another question/comment on drainage and how clear cutting the forests is worsening the drainage. Stan concurred that yet, for example Indian Head ditches are getting narrower and deeper. It was asked whether letting our trees just fall causes problems with the flow of water. Stan recommended just looking around for obstructions and possibly removing them from the water ways.
A question on pruning was brought up and if pruning was ok. Stan said yes but get an arborist. Trees don’t heal – they compartmentalize. Live Oaks are good at compartmentalizing, but water oaks are not.
TPAM reported that 45 votes were counted, and Mike McCrae was elected the new board member.
Llona opened the floor member discussion reminding everyone that, in the interest of time, everyone gets one shot and two minutes to share what they would like to say:
Bill Wintermute commented on the pond. It used to have good readings, no plankton and toxicities were level. Llona said she would pass that along to the Lake Doctors.
Maria Harageones wanted to announce that Tuesday, during her tree removal, Silverwood would be blocked starting a 9 a.m. A few members offered parking places.
Michele Sonnenfeld asked if the logs on the side of the road will be removed. Llona said yes but not sure when. The Harper’s stump will be removed Wednesday and had to be coordinated with the city and the cable company.
Dawn Aguero noted that the trees near the football house could be an issue and asked if anything can be done about the steep drop off from the newly paved road.
Frank Roycraft wondered why there is still a tree down near the bridge/southside of the pond where the overflow is.
Fred Willes – wanted to share some issues he had with expenditures paid in the last year that the whole board didn’t approve. According to the attorney all payments should be approved by the whole board. Also, some payments were incorrect and/or late. TPAM said they will e-mail every invoice to the whole board in the future. As a courtesy to Fred the President allowed him 4 extensions of his allotted two minutes.
Marilyn gave Fred her 2 minutes.
Doris Johnson – moved here in June and was happy that the neighborhood was animal friendly. However, someone called animal control on her pet without checking with her. This is very concerning. Llona asked everyone to be a community that helps each other, like post-Michael.
Llona announced the next Board Meeting will be February 7.
Bill Wintermute asked if anything was being done about the 5 houses with beaver dams under them. Llona said no.
Some members thanked Llona for the e-mails and appreciate the improved communication.
Mike McCrae thanked Fred for his service and for helping Mike prepare for serving the board.