President's Message

The Budget is Coming! The Budget is Coming!

Mark your calendar for our Open Budget Meeting on October 13, at 7:00 PM at the Community Center for the Townhome 1 Association. On this night, the Board will go over their proposed budget for 2012.

As a Board, we have talked, argued and sometimes even fought over what next year's budget should look like. We have run out of ideas on where, what, and how we can trim next year's budget to the bone and still maintain a lifestyle that our Homeowners want. You will be receiving a review of the 2012 budget and the proposed raise in Homeowner's fees. Yes, I used the ugly and revolting word "raise" when I am talking 2012 Homeowner's fees. The proposed budget will have a simple comparison of last year's actual expenditure and next years proposed expenditure. We don't have much wiggle room. We have to have water, landscaping, snow removal, insurance, maintenance, repairs, and management to have a safe, pleasant and comfortable environment in which to live. We want our homes to be well maintained and our yards to be green and trimmed. But to what extent is different for each Homeowner. This is where you come in.

Before the board approves the final budget, we would like to find out where you want your money spent. Do you want the lowest costs per unit, or do you want more weeding, trimming, quicker replacement of dead shrubs, and a planting of annual flowers in the spring. Would you like your 1" of snow plowed by 8:00 in the morning or do you want fees to be cut to the bone. Are you willing and able to spend some time monitoring your own property for leaks, clogged drains, damaged down spouts, or do you want a maintenance man to walk the property for you and fix what needs to be repaired. Do you want your outside paint replaced as soon as possible so your property always looks fresh or do you want to wait until there is a conspicuous need for paint before we spend the money.

Several things need to be addressed at our open budget meeting and it is here that you will be heard. The packet you get in the mail before the meeting has all of the basic information you will need to think about. If you want more detail or explanations before the meeting, call Melissa at the HOA.

There will also be door prizes to some lucky people in attendance and light refreshments. Baby sitting services are available at the Center. Call for reservations. See you there!

Association and Homeowner Insurance Requirements per new Senate Bill 167

Recently the State Legislation passed Senate Bill 167, which stipulates how an Association insures the Association and mandates several changes that affect you, as a townhome owner. Some of these changes will affect your personal coverage needs.

To assist homeowners with understanding how these changes will affect you, we will be holding an Open Forum with the Association’s Insurance Broke, Justin Peterson of The Buckner Company. Justin is fully versed in these changes, as well as the Association’s insurance requirements, and will be able to answer your questions.

The Insurance Open Forum will be held:

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

6:00 to 8:00 PM

Daybreak Community Center Rooms B/C

4544 S Harvest Moon Drive, South Jordan, UT 84095

To review the notice of the changes required by SB 167, please click here.

Welcome to the Townhome 1 Blog

We would like to thank all of the resident's that attended our Open Meeting on Thursday, August 25, 2011.  Several residents expressed an interest in increased communications regarding upcoming projects, level of services, meeting dates and other important information. The idea was raised to have a blog available with up to date information.

We agreed and established the Daybreak Townhome 1 Owners' Association Blog!

Message from the President

August 27, 2011

I just returned from a morning bicycle ride around Daybreak. It was early, so traffic was sparse and allowed me the chance to look at all the homes, yards, and various landscaping efforts. Some people go all out with flowers and trimmed bushes and perfect green lawns. Homeowners of these yards are willing and able to spend the time and money to make them worthy of the "Yard of the Month" designation. Other's yards seem to say that the residents of these homes have too much to do to or too many places to be. They elect to spend their time and money elsewhere.

While I sit on my porch and admire my own green grass and just trimmed bushes, I am one of the lucky people who own a townhome in the Townhome 1 Association of Daybreak. I don't have to worry about the right amount of water or when to trim the lawn, or if bugs are infesting my bushes. I notice one poor bush that although I have given him extra water and fertilizer, is looking rather poorly. I rather doubt that he will survive the rest of the summer. It will probably need replacing next year.

Which leads my thoughts to the last open Association meeting that was held on August 25 at the Community Center. I am one of 6 people who have volunteered to serve on the board and because no one else wanted the job, I took on the role of President. One of the homeowners who attended the meeting, suggested that we use a BLOG to let other people in the Association know just what is going on with our homes, yards, snow removal, insurance, etc. The Homeowners continue to have issues with the care of our yards and also rising quarterly fees. I have agreed to write a monthly message to our Homeowners after our Board meetings.

It seems like we have between 2 and 15 people at our quarterly open Board meetings. Rarely do we see the same people at more than one meeting. We have over 340 Townhomes in our Association so attendance is poor. It is unfortunate that more people don't attend so that we, as a Board, could better assess the viewpoints of those in the community. Complaining to neighbors about the poor service and the high fees that everyone pays is going to achieve little more than an upset stomach for both of you. However, when we have an open meeting where we discuss ways to provide each of us with the service that we expect and brainstorm ways to achieve it, most Homeowners don't have the time or desire to attend.

Earlier in the month, I received a survey on my porch composed and distributed by A resident, who owns a Townhome in Eastlake. They are concerned about the cost of our HOA fees and took it upon themselves to investigate monthly fees charged by other HOA management companies. The Board was encouraged that they took initiative to do research regarding a concern of theirs. However, the Board was distressed that this Owner had not felt secure enough to contact us. The Board encourages Homeowners to contact the management company with your general HOA ideas or suggestions. Melissa, Erin, or Shirley will let us know of your contact and one of us will personally acknowledge relevant resident issues via email or a phone call.

Our next meeting is October 13 at 7:00. You will be getting emails regarding this important meeting. This is your chance to participate with the development our 2012 budget. If you are concerned about your home and our community, please take an hour out of your day to attend the open meetings.

Michele Hodgkins, President

　

Townhome Painting Projects

A Reserve Study is a budget planning tool which identifies the current status of the Reserve Fund and a stable and equitable Funding Plan to offset future common area expenditures. This document is prepared by an outside independent consultant and is required by State Law. Reserve Studies are, in essence, planning tools designed to help the Board anticipate, and prepare for, the property's major repair and replacement projects.

The Daybreak Townhome 1 Reserve Study was completed in 2009 and will be updated in 2011. Per the Reserve Study, the Association has a set amount of funds in 2011 and 2012 for repainting the door trim, garage door trim, window trim and window pop outs.

As part of our reserve study, funds were dedicated to be expended in 2011 & 2012 for painting projects. The Board reviewed and discussed, in great detail, four proposals to complete this project. South West Painting was awarded the contract and began the project in August, 2011.

Here is a schedule of the areas that will have their door trim, garage door trim, window trim and window pop outs repainted:

  2011:

  Townhomes along 118^th South and Harvest Sun (16 Buildings)

  Cave Run Door Trim Painting (This is only sun exposed door trim that has faded)

  2012:

  Townhomes along Calton Lane (13 Buildings)

  Townhomes along Grandville Avenue (8 Buildings)

  Townhomes along Lake Falls Road (6 Buildings)

  Townhomes along Daybreak Rim Road (1 Building)

For a unit list, please contact Melissa Carsey at mcarsey@ccmcnet.com or (801) 254-8062.

In addition to the door and window trim that needs to be repainted, we identified several homes in both Eastlake and Founder’s Village that need siding paint and possible replacement. The buildings along Grandville Avenue, Lake Falls and in Eastlake Village with peeling paint along the siding, will be repaired and painted in September, 2011. A full painting schedule will be availalbe in the upcoming weeks.

We look forward to working on upcoming projects in the Association. Should you have any questions regarding this project, the Reserve Study or other community project, please contact Melissa Carsey.

Landscape Services Update

Earlier this year, the Association incurred several unexpected building repair expenses and higher than anticipated delinquency numbers. These two factors significantly affected the available cash to pay the Association’s expenses.

During the February Open Board of the Directors meeting, the Board and management team discussed, in great detail, the financial status of the Association with the residents in attendance. Based on the discussion held at the meeting, landscape maintenance was identified as an area that could provide cost saving opportunities, if services were reduced. The Board of Directors approved the following modifications to the 2011 landscape maintenance contract:

1. Reduced season mowings from 26 to 22:
1. Eliminated　2 mowings in April
2. Eliminated 1 mowing in September (The lawn will not be mowed the week of September 26-30, 2011)
3. Eliminated 1 Mowing in October
2. Fertilization reduced from 4 to 3 times per year:
1. The second summer fertilization will not occur in September. This will change the color of the grass from bright green to dull green, even yellow during September and October.
3. Pre-emergent reduced from 2 to 1 time per year.
4. Eliminating Spring and Fall Clean-up:
1. Spring and Fall Clean-up consists of clearing the planter areas and lawn of any　debris including; leaves, garbage and other miscellaneous items.
5. Landscape Repairs and Replacements were eliminated for the 2011 Season. This includes the replacement of dead shrubs, trees and mulch.

The above reduction in services has provided the Association with the necessary savings to provide funds to pay needed expenses.