|
|
|
News
December 10, 2009
Fall Capital Improvement Projects Completed
High Point trustees announce that two very important projects have been completed in recent weeks. Both of these have been in the
works for some time, but timing and price opportunities moved the work ahead very quickly.
TENNIS COURT SURFACE REPLACEMENT
Announced last year, the trustees have been working to
determine the best alternative for replacing the surface on the two tennis
courts. A number of options were examined, including replacing the base and
putting in a new asphalt surface, and putting a synthetic court surface over
the existing repaired asphalt. Months of discussions and investigation led to
the decision to move to a synthetic surface. Not only do the trustees expect
this alternative to last longer, but the cost was less to provide courts that
would be more forgiving and prevent athletic injuries.
Among the providers of synthetic surfaces, there were a
number of firms that provide products and that secondary decision process took
several months. Visits were done to sites with the synthetic surface and
countless references were checked with other homeowner associations before the
choice of VersaCourt was finalized. Our evaluation of the different products
showed VersaCourt to be superior in a number of ways.
Surface repairs were completed two days before Thanksgiving
and the new surface was laid before the holiday. Timing became an issue, as the
trustees observed that the tennis court surface had significantly deteriorated
this year and might suffer additional structural damage this winter. Leveling
the court and filling the cracks under the new surface became a priority. This
project, for repair, installation and materials, was under $37,000.
Tennis players will find the new surface to be more
resilient and the US and International Tennis federations have determined the
synthetic courts to be moderately fast compared to asphalt. A notable advantage
is that the courts will be dry much faster and be playable much quicker after
rain or snow. You will also see we have changed the color to a burgundy court
surface with the surrounding area light gray.
Of special note is that with the project we installed two
“rebounders” on either end of the West court. These will allow for tennis
training or practice. Similar to backboards, these nets give a much more
realistic playback bounce and no noise like boards. Individuals can come to the
courts to practice alone and find the workout very genuine.
While we are the first homeowner association in Cleveland to
have such a surface, High Point has been a leader in the past with pool design
and playground equipment design and we fully expect to be the new standard in
premier tennis court surfaces. Our evaluation and analysis of the VersaCourt
product restores this facility to pinnacle performance status.
Residents will still NEED a KEY to enter the courts. This is
the same key that we have used for the past 20 years, so old keys still work.
NEW BASE MATERIAL FOR SWINGS
When the new playground was built, the trustees looked at
the engineered wood fiber chips that provided the safety cushion on the ground
and realized it was vastly superior to the sand the old playground used as a
base. After seeing how this material has held up, the decision was made to
replace the sand pits under the swing sets with the same wood chips.
Excavation was completed and new plastic timbers contain the
wood chips. These will provide a higher degree of safety for youngsters using
the swings and not be subject to being thrown as was the sand. Especially
during winter months, the chips will not compact and be frozen as was the sand.
In many ways, this will be a superior change for the playground area.
Photos from both of these projects are below.
Clubhouse Rentals Booking Now
As a homeowner, you may rent our club house for private parties.
Dates for 2010 – graduations, Communions, birthdays, anniversaries, sports
parties, weddings, showers, family parties - are now booking quickly. To determine available dates, go to
our website and click on “Clubhouse Rentals” in the left margin. Then click on
“View Calendar” in the upper right. You will see the rental calendar and can
check available dates. Call the High Point Homeowner Hotline, 440-638-4304,
with your date request. Dates are booking quickly. Your call about a rental will be returned
within a few days.
Summer rentals are $250, which includes the cost of lifeguards. Summer parties
using the pool may start as early as 5:00 p.m., with parties sharing the pool with
High Point residents during homeowner hours. When the pool closes to residents
at 10:00 p.m., parties have the pool to themselves. All parties
MUST END BY MIDNIGHT - 12:00 A.M. Clean-up must be completed and the club house locked up by 1:00 a.m.
(Note that this has increased by $25 due to lifeguard and utility cost increases. It is only
for parties that go beyond 10:00 pm. See option below.)
Summer Pool Rentals may also be done from 5:00 p.m. ending at 10:00 p.m. any day
(including Saturday or Sunday), for a discounted price of $125.
These events must end at 10:00 p.m. and cleanup must be done by 11:00 p.m. (No extensions are permitted.)
NON-POOL summer rentals are $125 (anniversaries, showers, retirements, etc.). These
can be any time during the day or evening. NO pool use is allowed with these
rentals. Call the Hotline (440-638-4304) for information on these pool and
clubhouse rental options.
A refundable security deposit of $300 is required and returned if no damage is done to
the clubhouse. Rental dates are confirmed only when separate checks (rental fee
and security deposit) are received, a rental contract has been signed by the
homeowner, and a “Release From Liability and Agreement to Indemnify” form has been executed.
Residents who rent the club house are responsible for cleaning the facility when they are
done, removing all trash and debris, taking down decorations and tape, vacuuming
the floor, and putting tables and chairs away.
Club House rentals are a privilege reserved for High Point residents only and not friends,
other relatives or the general public. Activities are limited to family entertainment and recreation,
unless otherwise approved by the trustees prior to a contract being signed. Residents renting the
facility must be present at all times and are responsible for the conduct of
guests and any damage. Inspections of the facility are done before and after
each party. Fire code capacity is 120 people.
CHOICE comes to Electric Service
Homeowners should remember that several years ago deregulation of utilities
brought choice to the natural gas industry. Strongsville and NE Ohio residents (including High Point)
were able to make their own choice of natural gas suppliers for a contract or open period of time. Over the years some
people have done very well thanks to the choice program and others have not done
as well. No matter who the supplier of the natural gas was, Columbia Gas
continued to bill for the gas and deliver the gas. You negotiated the rate for
the gas and then Columbia Gas added a charge for the delivery service. All of
that is included on your monthly bill. You pay Columbia and then they pay your
supplier. When you have problems with your natural gas line, you still call Columbia for service.
This works the same way as if you went to a BP gas station and filled your tank with Shell gasoline that was in the
underground tanks. Your pump price would include the cost of the gasoline in the
underground tank as well as the station that provides the pumps to put the gas
in your tank.
Strongsville and High Point residents recently received a letter form First
Energy (the Illuminating Company) saying that they received the request to change electric
suppliers. For many that was a surprise. Although newspapers have announced that
CHOICE is now available for electric service, many did not realize it would
require switching from First Energy. That is why you received a letter.
Homeowners can chose to OPT OUT if they wish and remain with First Energy (they
would love for you to do that.)
NOACA (Northeast Ohio Area Coordinating Agency) runs the government funding operations
throughout a multi-county area, including Cuyahoga.
They put together a consortium to purchase utilities like electricity and bid
that out. Through NOPEC (Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council) they obtained the best bids from electric
suppliers. First Energy was not the lowest. Instead, a company by the name of
Gexa was the low bid. Consequently, NOPEC notified First Energy that everyone in
Cuyahoga County would change to Gexa as their electric supplier. First Energy will still deliver the electricity
and be responsible to restore power when the electricity goes out and will still
bill you monthly for your power use. But you will see a charge for the actual
electric power and another for the transmission of the power. This is the same
as with natural gas.
NOPEC negotiated this rate based on nine counties participating in the
purchase. You can chose whatever electric supplier you want, but it might make
sense to stay with NOPEC for the first year and see how this all works out. What
is the rate? For residential customers, the rate will be $0.0651 per kilowatt
(kWh) in July and August of 2009. Then it will drop to $0.0559 per kWh in
September-December 2009. Then $0.0584 for January-May 2010. Then $0.0680 for June 2010. Then
$0.0724 for July and August. Then $0.0621 for September-January
2011. Sound confusing? You bet. But these are lower rates than were
offered by First energy. NOPEC has obtained a guarantee from Gexa that the rates
offered will always be less than First Energy.
So what do you do? It is your choice. NOPEC recommends you go with Gexa. They
researched this company and it is a strong company. In the event something would
happen, another supplier would step in. Some of you may have had natural
gas companies that went out of business in deregulation and another firm
picked up their customers. If you wish to stay with First Energy, you need to
follow instructions in the letter and notify them that you do not wish to
change.
For more information on this issue, you can go to: http://www.gexaenergy.com/NOPEC/default.aspx
Association trustees do not have a recommendation, but we rely on NOACA and
NOPEC to do the bargaining and research and feel they have obtained the best
deal possible for all residents of NE Ohio. We hope this informaiton is
helpful.
|
