Meeting Time: 19:00

Attendees:

Liberty Square Board of Directors: Tony Weatherington, Carl Sulzer

Property Manager: Chardon Wyatt

Homeowners: Martha Moore, Gloria Dunaway, Dennis Hinton, Mary Maloney, Peyman Khan, Flora Odom, Brian Solomon, Marlene Nikoukary

City of Acworth: Mark Hipp, Director of Public Works ; Brandon Douglas, Assistant City Manager

 

Minutes:

The meeting was called to order at 18:05

Neighborhood Update

A brief neighborhood update was given on the currents status of the neighborhood and recent activities being undertaken on behalf of the residents

• City of Acworth Representatives were present to discuss any issues residents may have with the trees/sidewalks
• HOA financial status was reviewed – largely unchanged from May
• Pool Issues were detailed
  • The pool company used for the pool resurfacing came out to repair tiles falling off the pool prior to its opening last month. This was done free of charge.
  • Two pool lights needed to be replaced because they were tripping the breakers. This was done by a licensed electrician at a cost of $850. The timer to turn the pool lights on is located inside the clubhouse in the bathroom hallway.

Tree Management

Following the May HOA meeting, a committee was created to provide input into tree and sidewalk management in Liberty Square. Three volunteers came forward to form the committee: Jeff Bixler, Sandy Hinton, and Bill Jury. Sandy provided an update on the committee and the board’s activities over the past month:

• The board and tree committee have met with the city to obtain their viewpoint
• The city is very concerned not only with the sidewalks, but also with the underground utilities which are buried for the most part directly under the trees and are not enclosed within conduit.
• The city has committed to fixing all of the sidewalks in the neighborhood, investing $11,000 into replacing 540 feet of concrete
• Where trees need to be removed for the sidewalk to be spared further damage, the city will remove those trees
• Following talks with the city, the committee came up with three options that could be taken following the city’s initial repairs:
  • Option 1: Continue to allow the city to handle all future repairs to the sidewalks. We have been warned by the city that should they continue to handle the maintenance that they will remove any trees causing damage to the sidewalks at the time of repair.
  • Option 2: Raise funds to cover future sidewalk repairs without the assistance of the city. We discussed this option with the city, and while it’s not being presented to us as an option for this initial round of repairs (as the city has already procured funding and a contractor), we as a neighborhood would have the option to manage future repairs ourselves. This may leave us with the option of leaving trees intact, but would require sidewalks to be diverted around problem areas and encroach upon homeowner property in some situations. This would also mean that the city would no longer be responsible for the maintenance of the sidewalks, and the burden of future costs would be upon the HOA.
  • Option 3: Individual homeowners can assume the maintenance costs of the sidewalks bordering their homes should they object to the removal of trees adjacent to their property. The City has advised that in this scenario, individual homeowners would be responsible for repairing any trip hazards that develop as the trees mature, and that the City would not resume ownership of maintenance in the future unless the trees in question were removed.

Following Sandy’s summary, Brandon and Mark from the city of Acworth were given the opportunity to speak.

Brandon commented that while it initially looked as though the neighborhood would need to be clear-cut to accommodate the utility lines, the elected officials within the city council have made the determination that this option is not really viable. The city prefers to take a wait and see approach with regard to removing trees for the sake of utilities. As the trees continue to mature and cause possible damage, the city will work with the HOA whenever a tree must be removed. The city sees this as a partnership between themselves and the HOA and look forward to working with the HOA.

As Public Works Director, Mark is very concerned with the power and communications lines buried beneath the trees. He commented that knowing exactly where any line is buried is very difficult, and given the size of the available open land in Liberty Square, planting trees in other locations is not feasible.

The city representatives stated that they do not wish for the neighborhood to plant any additional trees to replace those being removed and the HOA would not be held accountable to the city tree ordinances for trees that must be removed. The HOA is welcome to plant small bushes, shrubs, or other plants that do not have extensive and invasive root systems.

Following a few questions, the HOA did indicate that we are currently seeking a landscape architect to properly plan for aesthetically pleasing replacements for any trees that the city might need to take.

If the city takes additional trees out this year, they will work with the HOA and in some cases the individual homeowners to ensure that there are no surprise removals. Once the sidewalks are dug up for replacement, the city will be able to better assess which trees are causing the most damage.

SIDEWALK REPAIRS ARE SCHEDULED TO BEGIN JULY 6^TH and should take 1-2 weeks.

Open Discussion

The floor was opened for discussion regarding any topics

• Some residents have commented that the landscapers are not doing a proper job and have asked to cease service. The HOA will arrange for the landscape company owner to meet with these residents to hear their concerns. This is a preferable option to individual residents hiring outside landscapers for mowing. Common concerns included:
  • Bald spots
  • Mowing Too fast
  • Why are large riding mowers being used when push mowers would probably be better?
    • Putting the landscape contract out for bid is a possibility next year, but specifying all-pushmower usage will likely cost much more
  • Residents discussed the pros and cons of all three tree options presented by the committee.
    • Option 1
      • Pros: Cost is borne entirely by the city; sidewalk liability remains the purview of the city
      • Cons: Additional trees will likely continue to be taken by the city
    • Option 2
      • Pros: Trees have greater potential to be saved
      • Cons: Cost is borne entirely by HOA; sidewalk liability is now the responsibility of the HOA; multiple repairs to the same areasbecause of the same trees
    • Option 3
      • Pros: Trees have greater potential to be saved; Individual homeowners have more say into the infrastructure fronting their homes
      • Cons: Cost is borne by homeowners; City no longer has any responsibility for that portion of sidewalk; Difficult to enforce a repair once a homeowner has agreed to take responsibility; Liability for that sidewalk could impact the HOA; Subsequent buyers of the home must be willing to accept responsibility
    • A vote was taken to gauge resident preference for each option:
      • Option 1: 12 Votes
      • Option 2: 0 (Zero) Votes
      • Option 3: 1 Vote
    • The grouping of residents present at the meeting voted in an overwhelming majority to allow the city to maintain the sidewalks and trees
    • A resident commented that someone attempted to break into their home during the early morning hours a few weeks ago. The police were called and determined the man was intoxicated and was claiming he was at his own house. The man was arrested for public intoxication and taken away.
    • Residents have been improperly parking along the entrances to the alleyways when plenty of street parking is still available. Residents are advised to call the city of Acworth non-emergency line to report this and the city will ticket the vehicles.

The meeting was ended at 18:55.