8/4/2019 FV Fall 2011

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/fv-fall-2011 1/5

The VillageV i

2010/2011 Board of DirectorsTom Whitney

President

TJWhitney@numail.org

770.463.4383Thom McCague

Secretary

ThomMcATL@numail.org

770.463.8136

Kevin Welch

Treasurer

kewelch@gmail.com

770.463.4244

.Letter from OurPresident…

I hope everyone is making it

through this hot summer.The French Village annualmeeting was held in Mayand once again we had a very

low turnout. We, the board, are reallysurprised that we can’t get more neighborsinvolved in their own community. This isYOUR neighborhood and we had less than10% of homeowners represented. We hadgood food, a good time, and a good exchangeof ideas with the few that did show but more

 people should have a say in this community.

The election of board members was held andonce again nothing has changed. Even thechasing down of ballots to reach thecovenant’s minimum was continued this year as it has been for the last six years. It’s a sadthing when people can’t take an hour or so per year to attend a neighborhood meeting or evenreturn a ballot by email.

Applied Aquatics completed their annualassessment of our lake this spring. Once againwe need all fishermen to catch and cull any  bass smaller than 12 inches. It wasrecommended that we take 350 lbs. of this size

(equivalent to 700 fish) out of the lake. Theyalso suggested culling any “skinny bass”regardless of length. I’m calling all fishermen(and women) to do your part to ensure thehealth of your lake.

Recently we have been informed of anincrease in theft and vandalism in theneighborhood. There have been severalincidents of items stolen from open garagesand unlocked vehicles. Also the bollards have been torn out of the cart paths three times, andsomeone used a vehicle to try to push over the

lake gate, resulting in an unbudgetedexpenditure for the repair. Please keep your garage doors closed at night and vehicleslocked if left outside. We are looking into asecurity firm to patrol the neighborhood or  possibly security cameras. Yes, this is another one of those unforeseen costs that add to the budget. Remember there is a Coweta Countycurfew for teenagers. Please know where your children are at all times.

We will be doing some much needed repairsto the cart paths in the near future. The lakegate was repaired and the walls at the lakeentrance were painted, in addition thesprinkler system (which is 19 years old) wasupdated this summer.

Let’s keep up the good work in maintainingour homes and properties which are usuallythe biggest investment of your life. This isYOUR neighborhood so let’s continue to make

it a great place to live.

 Tom WhitneyFVHOA president

1

8/4/2019 FV Fall 2011

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/fv-fall-2011 2/5

Treasurer’sReportKevin Welch, Treasurer 

We’re through our fiscal year for theFrench VillageHomeowners’Association (FVHOA) and although we’vehad a rough year financially, we’ve managedour expenses to stay just under the reducedincome, although we were not able to save anymeaningful assets into our capital reserves thisyear and that’s not good.

Our reduced HOA income is primarily due to

a higher-than-usual rate of homeowner’s duesin arrears and you can bet most of those aredue to the poor economy. This year, we alsohave had several unusual expenses like morecommunity property trees that neededremoving, repairs to the sprinkler system, lakegate, bollards, new street signs, plus higher than budget legal costs. The legal costs areassociated with having to pursue homeownersfor unpaid dues or covenant violation fines.FVHOA end of fiscal year capital reserves,

stand at $89,355.63. We will need some of those reserves for cart path repairs in thecoming fiscal year. To keep the dues-paid shortage fromimpacting our needed expenditures, theFVHOA board is watching expenses closely.Our plan is to continue the entrancelandscaping project as we can and still keep upwith more routine neighborhood expenses.We DO NOT want to raise annual dues and

have been able to keep our annual dues at$300 by cutting this year’s budgetdramatically and watching costs closer thanever. We will continue to do that.

As always, FVHOA books are open to you if you’d like to look at details. Please give me ashout to set up a time, at your convenience.

Do be careful, though, as I’m always lookingfor volunteers!!!

 Friendly Remindersand Not So FriendlyResponseWe know that people can get upset when theyreceive a "friendly reminder" notice from our management company regarding needing tomow the lawn or some other mundane thing but please keep in mind that we are simplydoing what is required of us in the covenantsthat govern this community. If we didn'tenforce our covenants you would be upset bythe ‘run-down’ look of the neighborhood andrightly upset at us for not enforcing therequirements.

 There have been several cases recentlywhere homeowners have become verballyabusive with either a Board member or our   property managers. We don't feel thatthis abuse is justified or fair. Neighbors tellus, "How could you send a letter to US! Myson or my spouse is ill, or is in the hospital,and it is insensitive of YOU to send us thisletter." Please folks, understand! We have noidea if anyone in your household is having a

 problem. You never told us.

So please just fulfill your end of the agreementthat you signed when you moved in. If youreceive a letter and you've already correctedthe issue, just let us know. It’s as simple asthat. If you have some reason for notcorrecting the problem, let us know withoutabusive comments. We always do our best to  be understanding and work with our neighbors.

Facebook PageDon’t forget to join andfrequently check the FrenchVillage Facebook page. You’ll get up-to-date

2

8/4/2019 FV Fall 2011

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/fv-fall-2011 3/5

neighborhood news, warnings, plus the lakereport, ACC forms, and more. Just typeFrench Village Homeowners Association inyour search bar and send a request to join thegroup.

The Bobcat is

Back!The neighborhood bobcat has been spotted again after beingabsent for a few months. He/she was last seenon July 30th about 5:30 a.m. on Tanqueray St.Please be sure your pets are kept indoors atnight and in the early morning.

We have also had visits fromcoyotes, foxes, turkeys, snakes,and deer. Haven't seen a bear 

yet, but if anyone does pleaselet us know immediately.

BibleStudyGroupBernadette Archer andGlenna Shanko have started a Ladies Bible

Study Group and would like to invite other neighbors to join them. The group meets thefirst Tuesday of each month. September 6thwas their last meeting and Oct. 4 will be thenext. The location is 49 Biltmore Circlefrom 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm. “We have sevenladies in our group now and hope to meetothers,” says Glenna.

Bernadette and Glenna can be reached at 678-519-2196, for any questions you may have.

You don’t need to bring anything exceptyourself. “Our purpose is to read and discussthe Bible and have a prayer time plus it’s agood opportunity to get to know your neighbors. We want to be of help (if we areable to meet needs) in our community.”

Flying the FlagOver the past few years there have been many controversies in other subdivisions over flying the

American flag. Please be aware thatthe FVHOA encourages all in this community

to fly the American flag. We just ask that youdon't install a flagpole in your front yard(house, tree or mailbox post mount only) andfly the flag with honor and respect.

This, That, and theOther

We had 14 householdsattend the annualmeeting this year. Atotal of 65 votes werecounted which put us 3votes over the minimumrequirement. Thanks to all who attended thecookout and meeting and to everyone whocast a ballot, and especially to Tom Whitneyfor hosting the meeting.

There have been reports of unsupervisedchildren under age 12 down at the lake.Please remember the lake rulesstate that children under 12

cannot be at the lake without adultsupervision (for safety reasons and

others). In any case, it's the rule.

Those people who keep throwing trash alongthe entrance drives make our neighborhoodlook like a garbage dump. Please STOPthrowing your pizza boxes, beer bottles, andother garbage out the car window.If you see someone litteringand can get license numbers, please do and report them. 

People are still speeding andrunning the stop signs within the

3

8/4/2019 FV Fall 2011

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/fv-fall-2011 4/5

neighborhood. If you see someone doing thistry to get their tag number and report themonline to the Coweta County Sheriff's Officewebsite at http://p2c.coweta.ga.us, then click on “Report an Incident”. You can use this siteto report aggressive driving, theft, littering,and vandalism.

Teenagers have been seen wandering aroundthe neighborhood at all hours of the night. While teens maywant to wander, there is acurfew in Coweta County, so

 please keep your kids in the house and out of trouble. Be aware we have had an increasein thefts and vandalism inFrench Village recently.

There have been at leastthree cases of sidewalk lights being destroyed. Thelake gate was damaged, threecart path bollards have beendestroyed, firecrackers were set off on adoorstep late at night, doorbells have beenrung late at night, several thefts of gasolinecans, garden tools like edgers and blowershave been stolen. We've even had a car   broken into and items stolen out of it. The

Board is deciding what action can be taken onthis including hiring a security patrol,installing cameras, and other options. Pleasekeep your doors locked, garages closed(required in the covenants) and your eyesopen. If you see anything suspicious pleasecontact the Coweta County Sheriff'sdepartment.

Good News - The entrance signswill be painted to match the monument

signs this fall and we will be making somerepairs to the cart paths soon.

Neighborhood WatchGroup

  Nancy Welch andClaudia Debner havevolunteered to organize a Neighborhood Watch group.Lt Stephen Crook of the CowetaCo Sheriff's Department will attend a meeting

on Tuesday, September 13th at BryAnn andGregor Roner’s home, 90 Berlin Court. Hewill give us his ideas and suggestions on howto keep our neighborhood safe. He may also  be able to help with the decision about theeffectiveness of a security service versus acamera at the entrances.

We encourage you to talk with your neighborsand get as many people as possible to attendthe meeting. Be sure to bring a lawn chair. If 

you have any questions, ideas, or suggestions, please contact Nancy Welch at 770.330.4746

Welcome New Neighbors

Andrew Mansukhani (20 Berlin Ct.)Charles Jefts (261 French Village Blvd.)

Jim & Amy Lane (25 Belleview)Joan Hester (7 Gaston)

The Plummers (333 French Village Blvd.)

Claudia Debner has volunteered to take over 

the New Neighbor Welcome Committee fromBrad & Aria Williams. Thanks to you all!

 

4

8/4/2019 FV Fall 2011

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/fv-fall-2011 5/5

 

To Trish Barberio of 14 Parlor Circle, whowas named teacher of the year for 2010-2011 at Madras Middle School.

5