Oakwords
The newsletter for Oakwoods Homeowner’s Association – March 2012
OHA Board Contacts
Paul Baker, President – 828-9360
Jason Jerdee, Vice President - 212-4524
Paula Schildt, Secretary – 827-7042
April Jackson, Treasurer 827-0019
Sandy Dorrell, Board Member – 310-3089
Lydia Sheehan, Board Member – 829-7319
Stephanie Klingele, Board Member – 310-1475
Street Improvement Planning Committee (SIP)
Kevin Holmes – 827-0675
Mike Hoff – 217-473-8986
Dan Schiller – 827-3919
John Braue – 808-0622
www.oakwoodshomeowners.org
HELP US GO GREEN
PLEASE CONSIDER READING THE OAKWORDS NEWSLETTER
FROM THE OHA WEBSITE OR THE OHA E-MAIL TREE. THE
BOARD WANTS TO MOVE AWAY FROM HARD COPY OF THE
NEWSLETTER AS RAPIDLY AS POSSIBLE. PLEASE CONTACT
LYDIA SHEEHAN (lydias15@msn.com) ABOUT RECEIVING THE
NEWSLETTER FROM THE E-MAIL TREE OR THE WEBSITE.
THANK YOU. THE OHA BOARD.
Message from the President
Transforming Acorn Drive Into a Park and an Extension of Constitution Trail
During my four years on the OHA Board fewer problems have been more frustrating than
dealing with the irresponsible drivers who repeatedly cut across a vacant lot (Acorn Drive)
traveling south to Springfield Drive or traveling north from Springfield Drive to Persimmon
Place. These drivers were looking for a short cut at the southern end of Oakwoods, but the
consequence was ugly ruts caused by car tires killing the grass. What to do? On three different
occasions I constructed a barrier to block the traffic. My method was simple and cheap. A few
steel posts were placed in the ground and a bright yellow warning ribbon was stretched across
the posts. My quick fix solution was temporary and neighbors often told me it looked rather
ugly. One claimed that it looked like a “crime scene.” But it worked for a while and each time I
thought it would teach the drivers to stay off the lot. After the third failure, I worked with the
Board to construct a wooden fence with an opening in the middle for easy walking and bicycle
access to the sidewalk on Springfield Drive.
The cars have stopped, but this is only the beginning of a good news lemon into a lemonade
story. The Commons Committee had been discussing the need to put a sidewalk or a path
through the middle of Acorn and while the topic was still under review, a neighbor, Karen
Fowler, approached me about the possibilities of constructing a sidewalk. She is a runner who
uses Acorn on her way to the Constitution Trail. The Fowler family made the case with an offer
to help pay for the sidewalk with a generous gift. I accepted their offer and informed my friends
on the Board that a new opportunity for a major improvement was at hand. The Commons
Committee and the OHA Board are deeply grateful to the Fowler family for their generous
support to help construct the Oakwoods extension to the Constitution Trail
Thanks to the inspiration of the Fowler family, the Board moved forward to develop a plan at its
next Board meeting in January. We discussed the fact that the gift from the Fowler family was
given in memory of a soldier who was a family member. Then a member of the Commons
Committee and a member of the Board dedicated money for a park bench that will be
constructed after the sidewalk is completed. Board members then discussed the idea of changing
“Acorn Drive” into “Memorial Park.” There was spontaneous consensus about this idea and
Jason Jerdee, our OHA Webmaster, placed this project on our website. After further discussion
at our February Board meeting, the Board has decided to change the name to Memory Park. (see
article in this newsletter about the rationale for “Memory Park.”)
The proposed sidewalk project has received official authorization from the Bloomington
Department of Public Works and the Department of Planning and Code Enforcement. The
concrete sidewalk meets required ADA standards that apply to all Bloomington sidewalks. The
Board also solicited and received a bid from J.G. Stewart Contractors for $6,490. (This is the
same contractor who did excellent work for Oakwoods designing and constructing the drainage
system on Palm Court.) We are now in a position to move forward with the project when we
complete the next task of raising the $6,490 needed to pay the contractor.
The annual budget for 2011-12 was reviewed and approved at the October (2011) Board meeting
and was published in the November OHA newsletter, Oakwords. There was no provision in this
budget to cover the costs of constructing a sidewalk. The original gift covers some of the costs,
but additional money is needed. The Board decided to solicit contributions from neighbors to
make up the difference. We began by asking members of the Commons Committee and the
Board to make the first contributions before we sought further support from all members of the
Association. We have taken this first step and $4,400 is now dedicated to constructing the
sidewalk. We still need an additional $2,100. We are asking all members of the Association to
consider giving a gift. Help us reach our goal and contact our Treasurer, April Jackson, with a
donation or a pledge. We need your support to complete this project.
This is a story that begins with frustration and ends with a new opportunity. We will create a
second beautiful park as well as provide a pathway to the Constitution Trail. All homeowners in
Oakwoods will benefit from such an improvement in our subdivision. Please help us reach this
goal.
Paul Baker
President, OHA
An Update: Revising the Treasurer’s Position and Creating a New Financial Manager Position
The Board continues its work to develop a paid part-time position of financial manager.
Christine White and April Jackson created a detailed report of the many duties performed by the
OHA Treasurer and offered recommendations for transferring some of these duties to the
proposed position of Financial Manager. April Jackson presented this report to the Board in
January as an information item. After Board discussion in January, Paul Baker met with
Christine White to further develop and codify these duties. They developed a framework that
identifies six functions and 18 tasks to be performed by the Treasurer, the Financial Manager, an
Accounting Firm, and an annual Audit Committee. At the February Board meeting the Board
reviewed this document and approved it as the framework to be used in the next steps to amend
the OHA By-Laws. The framework and specified duties provide a guide for the new financial
management system.
Oakwoods Homeowners Association Financial Management Framework
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Manage Financial Transactions
Tasks to be transferred from Treasurer to Financial Manager:
a. Visit Post Office Box
b. Receive bills and invoices
c. Prepare checks for signature of President/Treasurer
d. Accounts receivable
e. Quarterly past-due statements to homeowners
f. Bi-annual billing (January)
g. Annual billing
Tasks to remain with the Treasurer
a. Approve payment of bills and invoices
b. Global financial overview/transferring between accounts/investments
Prepare Reports & Report Financial Information to Board/Members
Tasks performed jointly by Treasurer and Financial Manager
a. Prepare monthly statement for each Board meeting
b. Prepare annual budget for Board publish for OHA members
Manage Real Estate Transactions & Financing Homes
Tasks to be transferred from Treasurer to Financial Manager
a. Receive all incoming calls from bankers, realtors, attorneys concerning closing
statements or other property lien issues
b. Place property liens-reviewed by the Treasurer
c. Release property liens--reviewed by the Treasurer
Maintain & Update Directory of OHA Members & Oakwoods Residents
Tasks to be transferred from Treasurer to Financial Manager
a. Develop and maintain a directory of addresses of OHA members and Residents
(distinction is made for members who are landlords and residents who either own their
home or are renters)
b. Update addresses of homeowners and renters
Prepare Taxes
Task for an accounting firm
a.
Prepare taxes
Conduct Annual Audit
Task performed by an Audit Committee
a. Conduct annual audit
This framework will be used by the Board to develop specific language to revise the OHA ByLaws. Board members are also exploring various cost/benefit arrangements to carry out this
complex set of functions and tasks.
Why Is “Memory Park” Replacing “Acorn Drive?”
The opening piece in this newsletter describes the situation that led to the original Board decision
to give Acorn Drive the new name of “Memorial Park.” Why was Memorial Park then changed
to Memory Park? Before the January Board meeting three neighbors made gifts to get the new
park started. All three gifts were given in memory of brothers who died as soldiers. The idea of
“Memorial Park” seemed fitting. As Board members reflected further on this name and at the
February meeting it was recommended to change the name to “Memory Park.”
Here is the rationale for this change. The Board sees the need for ongoing opportunities for
members of the Oakwoods community to make gifts to enhance the beauty and
usefulness of the new park. The term “Memory Park” suggests that a gift is not
just for soldiers who have died, but for all those loved ones that neighbors may
wish to honor. The Board wants a term to honor the memory of soldiers, but also
to honor many others as well; hence Memory Park.
The last question to ask: What will happen to the official name of an abandoned street that is still
on the plat maps? The Board plans to take official action to have Acorn Drive decommissioned
and re-named Memory Park. We look to the future. A second park is all about creating a more
attractive Oakwoods community.
Spring Garage Sale -- May 19, 2012
The date for Spring Garage Sale is May 19th. Neighbors who would like to
advertise on the Association’s web site (www.oakwoodshomeowners.org) send an e-mail to
Jason Jerdee at webmaster@oakwoodshomeowners.org.
Block Captains Needed for Several Neighborhoods
The Oakwoods community is divided into twenty-five neighborhoods with a Block Captain
serving each neighborhood. At this time 7 neighborhoods are without Block Captains. These
seven neighborhoods are: Juniper, Lakeview, Cedar, Woodhavens (2101 to 2110), Woodhavens
(2302 to 2323), and Yew. If you live in one of these neighborhoods, please help your
neighborhood as your local Block Caption and contact Lydia Sheehan (lydias15@msn.com or
829-7319. Thank you.
Future OHA Board Meetings
March 12 and April 9 (at 7 Scenic Point) and May 14 in the Park