HELLO FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS,
Another summer has come and gone here in the ranch club. The leaves are all turning colors and the pine needles are piling up everywhere. Many of you have pulled your trailers home or south to warmer climes in anticipation of winter. Those of us who live year round are busy winterizing and hurrying to finish the projects we started during the warmer months. It’s been a busy year with lots to tell you about. I guess I should apologize for the lateness of your newsletter. September blew by like a Florida hurricane only with much less damage. For those who didn’t make it to the annual meeting on September 1, I’ll introduce myself. My name is STEVE SMITH and I’m the new President of S.M.R.C. and more by default than choice the editor/publisher of the newsletter. My wife Sandi and I have been year-round residents of the ranch club since June 2000. We love the Methow Valley and the ranch club in particular. Where else can you watch trophy mule deer devour your flowers, forest chickens (grouse) bathe in a wading pool, and wild turkeys & doves browse in your garden. Anyway enough of that. In this issue of the newsletter you’ll find minutes of the annual mtg. and the board mtgs. A list of the new directors and officers and hopefully much more useful information. Your comments and letters are greatly appreciated. Signed letters to the editor/board will be printed as space allows. Other items of merit or interest to ranch club members may be submitted for publication also. Don’t forget we a have website www.sunmountainranch.org. We will have lots of info available through it also.
PICNICS
We are planning to have monthly Potluck Picnics again next year May through September. The Assoc. will again pay for refreshments and meat. Those who attended this years picnics enjoyed many tasty salads, side dishes, and desserts, as well as some finger lickin' good barbeque. Dates will be picked in the spring and included in the newsletter as well as posted at the park, dumpster, and entrances. This is a great way to meet neighbors and make friends. All ranch club members and guests are welcome. We look forward to seeing every one again next summer.
LARKSPUR PARK & POOL
The park & pool saw lots of use again this summer. We were able to replace the tiles on the pool and still get it open by Saturday morning of Memorial Day weekend. The Solar Panels were returned to service with $100.00 worth of parts and 30hrs of labor (much cheaperthan the $7,000 replacement cost). Thanks to Denny Munsen and friend Dan for their help. The barbecue shelter was repaired and several grills were donated for club members use, both gas and charcoal. Thanks to the volunteers for their time and efforts on our behalf. The sports equipment was well utilized and even though the balls took a beating on the sharp pool fence, they were a big hit. Lots of the sports equipment was bought at yard and garage sales (HINT) and donations of same to park are appreciated. Just a few reminders; the park and pool are for the use of members and their guests, you are responsible for the actions of your children and guests and should make them aware of all rules and regulations. Objects that are small enough to fit into the skimmer openings should not be in pool. While we're on the subject, there are NO DOGS ALLOWED inside the fences or IN THE POOL at any time. The Okanogan Co. health inspector would shut it down immediately and require it to be drained and refilled. This would mean the pool be closed for about three (3) days. Dogs are welcome at the park but should remain on a leash at all times. Also there are no motorized vehicles allowed on the lawn at anytime. Again a special THANK YOU to volunteers Bill Loehr, Denny Munsen, ArnieZwick, Julie Meier, and others for all their help.
FIREWISE
The Firewise program is still available to members wishing to have their lots thinned. There's still grant money available to offset lot owner's costs. The cost is still just $100.00 per lot, a very reasonable price for tree thinning, limbing, and brush clearing. The crew is back working as of this writing. The piles of brush and limbs that have been around all summer will be burned as soon as there's some snow on the ground. Lot owners wishing to have this work done should contact member John Dailey, or the Firewise coordinator Arnie Arneson. See contact page for info.
TWIN LAKES AQUIFER COALITION
The aquifer coalition continues to work towards raising the levels of Big & Little Twin lakes as well as Barnsley and the ground water levels. They've recently taken a new direction in the face of unacceptable demands by Wash. Dept. of Fish & Wildlife. They arel ooking at buying water rights, while waiting for the state legislature to grant a water right on a trial basis. The ranch club has three (3) members on the T.L.A.C. board of directors - Ed Rhinehart, Fred Noyes, and Steve Smith. Anyone with questions should contact one of us or coalition Pres. Dick Ewing. See conact page.
DUES
Dues will remain at$275.00 for the 2005 calendar year. Anyone with a hardship should write a letter of explanation to the Board and submit a proposed payment plan. The Treasurer will contact you regarding the Board's decision.
RADAR GUN
As most members are aware our roads are private and not subject to State and County laws. This allows for both unlicensed vehicles and drivers as well as under age drivers to use our roads. This is a unique situation and allows our children and grandchildren an opportunity to ride four-wheelers & other recreational vehicles. However, as an assoc., we must provide for the SAFETY OF ALL our members. Bicycles, horses,& pedestrians have a right to use assoc. roads without fear of being run over by speeding vehicles. In the interest of both safety and the concern over liability the Board authorized the purchase of a radar gun. Volunteers are being sought to help monitor vehicle speeds and your cooperation with those volunteers will be appreciated. The Board has both a moral and legal obligation to protect assoc. members and takes those obligations seriously. There will be serious consequences for those who choose not to heed repeated friendly reminders. Remember property owners are responsible for the actions of family members as well as their guests. SAFETY IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY.
911 SIGNAGE
The Board has decided to make 911 emergency signage a priority. There have been ongoing complaints from medical and fire emergency personnel about lack of proper signage. The Board would like to sign each and every lot with proper 911 signage and is looking into the costs of doing it. Emergency 911 signs should have 4 inch reflective lettering and show 911address, not your lot and div. number. Those wishing to help with this project should contact Marquetta Munsen, Dir./Treas. or Steve Smith, President for information.
Also the Board voted to allow real estate "For Sale" signs as long as they are done in a tasteful and pleasing manner. A letter to local real estate offices has been sent advising them of this change. If you are property owner with a lot for sale, you may wish to contact your local agent. There is a "for sale" section on the website that can be utilized also.
COVENANTS
These are the rules we live by here in the ranch club. Whether we agree with them or not we should all comply, as they are designed to make this a more desirable place to live. If you are a new member and didn't receive a copy or you can't find them contact the Secretary Evelyn Watkins or the Treasurer Marquetta Munsen.
ARCHITECTURE COMMITTEE
We are seeking volunteers to serve on the architecture committee. There is a need for 2 fulltime members and 3 alternates. Any one wishing to help out should contact Steve Smith or Christy Edwards. Engineering, construction, or planning backgrounds would be beneficial but not necessary.
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