Topics of discussion were a vote for a keycard system for the pool and then the City of Broken Arrow joined us to discuss the benefits and procedures for annexation into the City. Highlights from the meeting minutes are below:
Keycard system – vote of the homeowners occurred – system was approved.
Benefits:
Gate remains locked
Delinquent homeowners cannot get access pool
Cards can be shut off at any time if misused
No need for a wristband
Eagle Ridge HOA access only
1 card per household
Nominal fee for card
No monthly charge
Fee if card lost/stolen
Will not increase HOA dues
Auto-locks for bathrooms
Cost:
$22 per household (this will come from dues already collected – there will not be a special assessment).
Annexation
Michael Skates and Farhad Daroga from the City of Broken Arrow came to discuss the annexation process.
Benefits:
Trash $13.95 a month, 2 times a week, 10 bags maximum and $10 fee for special pick up
We would stay on rural water
BA police
Animal control
Code enforcement of issues like: trash, weeds, trailers, broken fences, basketball goals and broken down vehicles
Take care of gun and weapon problems
Storm sirens can be put in neighborhood after evaluation from the city
Receive reverse 911 calls for surrounding areas if a problem arise
See FAQs below for other information provided by the City.
Cost:
$1 fee for light fee and $3 fee for storm water will appear on bill
Per contact the HOA Board made to AEP – 5% increase in bill
Per contact the HOA Board made to ONG – 2% increase in bill
For July 4th fireworks, homeowner will need permit of $25
Per calculation provided by HOA Board – approx. $20 increase per month in property taxes
To proceed:
Need 75% of homeowners to sign petition for city to consider
Below are the handouts presented at last nights meeting:
~Financial information to support the approval of the keycard system:
~How to calculate your property taxes and how they would change if we were annexed into BA:
~4 page handout from the City of BA with FAQs regarding annexation:
5 comments:
An important element of emergency services that does not appear, and is more in the list of the pros/cons of annexation, is the existing interdepartmental agreements. Our area is 'covered' by agreements between multiple emergency services agencies that allow them to provide services despite the fact that we are outside of Broken Arrow or Tulsa city limits. While annexation could potentially increase official routine police presence in the neighborhood, we are not without emergency services now.
Also, a more complex point that seemed to be lost last night, is that Broken Arrow is a city experiencing growing pains. The city is already facing a 2 million dollar annual budget shortfall that has recently led to raises in water and sewer rates this year for Broken Arrow households. Likewise, as parts of the city age and require increased revenue to maintain and repair, newer developments foot the bill, as they require and receive proportionately fewer services and cost items. Annexation would expose us to these factors and risks.
Code enforcement is another interesting issue, as the restrictive covenants and HOA are in place to enforce most of these standards already.
What gun and weapon problems are we experiencing in the neighborhood? Is this actually an issue, or are people hearing the Broken Arrow police range that is just a mile away?
It seems like nearly all of our bills (with the exception of water and sewer) are going to increase without much gain. I agree with Rusty this is not the time to be joining BA. Who knows what inventive ways the city will come up with to combat the budget shortfall?
When will the petition circulate?
Regarding gun control - I am not aware of any specific issues. I was not in the meeting when that topic was brought up, so, I'm not sure if it was just an "in general" we do gun control or how it came about.
Regarding annexation - The Board of Directors does not plan to circulate the petition. The annexation portion of the meeting was for informational purposes due to questions at every HOA meeting asking about annexation. If we have a homeowner (or homeowners) that are strongly in favor of annexation, they can circulate the petition. I have a copy of it or one can be obtained from Michael Skates with the City of Broken Arrow.
A huge thank you to the board for organizing the meeting and providing homeowners with so much useful information, for once. I don't think in all the meetings I have attended in the 5+ years we have lived here has one been so worth attending. Polly, you handled the meeting very professionally. You are a huge asset to our HOA!
Also, a huge thank you for the leg work on researching and deciding on an appropriate keycard system that will finally add some security and peace of mind to our neighborhood pool! I started the process of looking into a new lock/keycard system in the summer of 2008 and am so happy to see that it is finally going to be put in place! Maybe now my children and I won't be threatened, sworn at, and verbally assaulted by adolescents from other neighborhoods swimming in our pool and refusing to leave when asked!
I hope the residents of this neighborhood realize all the time and energy it takes to run this HOA and appreicate the HUGE sacrifice you all make serving on the board. We sure do! Let me know if I can help with anything.
The disadvantages far outway the advantages of annexation. As every family is struggling in this tough econmy, the last thing we need is higher taxes and someone with their hands stuck permanently in our pockets. The City of Broken Arrow has shown it's finances are in a mess and it's agencies leave something to be disired. The $20.00per month tax increase will very quickly turn into $50.00 or more as the city tries to cover it's budget shortfall. Some more examples are: the billboard signs. Even though they are against the code, there they are big as day. Take 41st street, it's barely wide enough for 2 cars but do you really see an upgarde to widening it anytime soon, even though there are now over 2000 new homes out here with more comming every day. This annexation will be nothing more than a huge siphoning of you wallet. The list can go on and on. I vote a very strong NO and encourage others to do the same.
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