Hello Neighbors,

 

It is a great honor to serve again this year as the President of The Kirkwood South Committee. Your support and confidence in the Board is appreciated. As a homeowner and neighbor, the Board understands your concerns regarding deed restriction violations that persist in our subdivision. We want to reassure you that the Board is utilizing our resources to bring those homeowners to compliance via the Haywood Management team, Mike Treece our legal counsel, and Sgt. Zerick Guinn, Pct. 2 Constable. Like all area subdivisions, Kirkwood South residents are facing new economic challenges. Drive-bys reveal home maintenance issues that need attention, but due to lack of funds are being deferred as other priority issues must be addressed. The Board understands these situations and encourages any homeowner receiving a letter from Haywood Management to respond immediately to avoid further action by the Board. Kirkwood South will survive these economic times, if everyone cooperates.

 

Spring has arrived and many homeowners are working in their lawns, preparing flower beds, clearing the front lawn areas of unnecessary lawn art, spray washing the mildew off the concrete and home areas, repairing fences, replacing wood rot and painting. The Board reminds everyone that before you paint, replace a roof, do any exterior construction, extend a driveway or patio an “architectural” form must be submitted and approved before you proceed. Failure to do so may force the Board to ask you to repaint, tear out or tear down any construction project. Many homeowners are now facing legal action because they have chosen a bright color to paint their home or proceeded with construction projects which were not approved by the Board. Forms and information are available on the website. Kirkwood South is a “Deed Restricted” subdivision which means that the original developer set forth strict restrictions that The Kirkwood South Committee must enforce. These deed restrictions are in place to ensure that property values remain consistent for resale and the subdivision has great curb appeal. Please read the papers given you when you purchased the home. If you need a copy of the “Deed Restrictions and Exhibits” please contact Haywood Management.

 

Much time has passed since the last hurricane. Blue tarps can still be seen in the neighborhood and downed fences are in need of replacement or repair. If your home falls under this category, please take the time to contact Haywood Management and state the reason for your delay and give an estimate time when the repair(s) will be made; otherwise, your account will be referred to legal counsel. 

 

The Kirkwood South Committee has contracted with a new management company effective March 04, 2010, to help the Board of Directors manage each section. Haywood Management is located on Blackhawk Blvd. and services area subdivisions. Nita, Corey and staff welcome your comments. Email your questions or concerns to admin@haywoodmgt.com or call 281-464-8080. Please let the Board know of any problems you may have with Haywood Management.

The Kirkwood South Committee has also accepted a bid with Westco landscape service effective April 2010, which will reduce the annual budget amount allocated for landscape maintenance. Westco will charge separately for irrigation adjustments and repairs and for landscape renovation at Section 6 and Blackhawk. Plantings chosen are guaranteed and should flower successfully throughout the seasons. Please call Haywood Management should you see an area that was overlooked or not maintained properly.

 

Kirkwood South and Kirkmont Board of Directors have made a joint agreement to maintain and share the cost of mowing the easement stretch of land between Kirkmont and Kirkwood South fence line on a regular monthly basis from April through November for $934.00 which will also reduce the annual budgeted amount allocated for landscape maintenance. 

 

Further, homeowners who are physically unable or cannot maintain their lawns on a weekly basis should contact Haywood Management immediately. We have a list of lawn services who will mow a lawn for $20-25. Lawns not maintained on a weekly basis will receive a letter for deed violation. As a resident of Kirkwood South if you should notice your neighbor’s lawn needing maintenance, please visit your neighbor and see if you can extend a helping hand until they are able to do so or make other arrangements to care for their lawn. This is what makes Kirkwood South different from other communities.

 

The Board also wants to restart the Yard of the Month beautification program and volunteers are needed for each section.  This is a monthly commitment from April through October. 

There are so many deserving hardworking homeowners that need recognition throughout the year.  If you are interested, please email me at evdavis1948@sbcglobal.net for a volunteer assignment.   

 

Barry M. Wuntch, CPA has prepared our annual audit report and taxes for 2009. No problems were found during the examination of records. Mr. Wuntch will remain our CPA for 2010.

 

Regarding The Kirkwood South Committee’s banking transactions; the Board has closed the Prosperity Bank accounts and transferred the funds via cashier’s checks to new accounts at CAB (operating and money market). The Smith Barney accounts include a money market and certificate deposits accounts which renew at 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months. Current bank statements will be available at the Annual Meeting on April 22 reflecting these changes and amounts. Kirkwood South remains financially solvent.

 

Mike Treece, Attorney at Law, remains our legal counsel for 2010 and has done an excellent job with uncollectible accounts and addressing homeowner violations.

 

Harris County Flood Control has been advised of our request to mow the drainage ditch crossing Kirkfair and remove any items obstructing water flow.

 

Smith Municipal completed replacing the street signs in all sections of Kirkwood South. Our first attempt (Dobie orange and white signs) did not reflect as the manufacturer stated thus production was halted and negotiations for new replacement signs were ordered at no additional charge. New future street sign laws coming into effect had a major impact on our return to the green and white choice. The total for the street signs in all six sections was $30,000.

Harris County Road and Bridges has been contacted re cleaning or replacing the yellow stop sign poles currently covered in adhesive tape from illegal posting of signs. The Board has also asked the department to streamline the number of signs and poles throughout the subdivision by combining the signs on one pole. We also asked for white crossing lines on Kirkfair denoting pedestrian crossing.

 

Citizens on Patrol is now enforced under the guidelines of the Constable’s office. Our neighbors are routinely driving the neighborhood at different times reporting any suspicious activity to the Constable Dispatch. Report all unauthorized solicitors to Haywood Management so the companies can be contacted and stopped from returning. Harris County Precinct 2 Constable’s office will present a Neighborhood Crime Prevention program on Tuesday, April 27^th at 6:30 p.m. at the Community Center at El Franco Lee Park, 9500 Hall Road.

 

Annual Dobie Scholarships will continue this year. The Kirkwood South Committee will award four (4) Kirkwood South academically deserving students a $500 scholarship to a Texas college or university.

 

Kirkwood South Website is currently being updated. Please go to www.kirkwoodsouth.org and view the website. Contact Mark Martinez, webmaster, regarding your input and any errors you find. Post your photos, announcements, alerts, garage sales, comments, etc. on the web.

 

A review of the “Drive by Reports” by section reveals repeat violators week after week. Despite the letters, residents are refusing to abide by the deed restrictions causing The Kirkwood South Committee to spend funds in legal fees. Trash cans remain at the curb or at the front of the house days after trash pick up; accumulation of front yard art; repeat garage sales; cars illegally parked or inoperable due to mechanical problems, or lack of current tags or inspection remain in the driveway or in front of the house; and, boats tend to remain in the driveway days after use. Boats must return to the boat barn after use and cannot be stored within thesubdivision. Commercial trucks cannot park in the subdivision. There is a sign prohibiting commercial trucks at the entrance to Kirkwood South. The management company will start red tagging all violations. Inoperable vehicles will be reported to the Constable’s office for removal. Please help us enforce the deed restrictions by reporting violators to Haywood Management at 281-464-8080 or email address admin@haywoodmgt.com. Your name will be kept anonymous.

 

The Board is also referring the names and telephone numbers of those individuals illegally posting signs on the poles within our community to the Constable’s office for ticketing. Any sign must be on a stake and removed no later than one day after the event. Refer to the South Belt Leader to post a notice for garage sales or lost pets.   Please refrain from littering the entrance to our subdivisions. We have not spent our hard earned money for new poles and signs to have uncaring individuals deface the property!

 

Street Numbers must be displayed on the home, mailbox, or on the curb. The Kirkwood South Committee has been contacted by the postal carriers, police enforcement agencies and volunteer fire department regarding this issue. Please display your address properly for identification from the street.

 

The Kirkwood South Committee has an open door policy. We meet on a quarterly basis on the fourth Thursday of the month through September.  I urge each of you to keep in communication with the Haywood Management or Board on any issues in between formal meetings. There is always a solution to a problem. Let’s all work together to make 2010 the best year for Kirkwood South despite the economic times. Our next meeting is May 27^th, Judge Jo Ann Delgado’s courtroom, 10851 Scarsdale Boulevard.

 

Respectfully,

Estella V. Davis, President-The Kirkwood South Committee