Friday, August 26, 2011

Of Hurricane Irene and strange critters...

I've not said anything about Hurricane Irene as it will have zero impact here at ACA  To the contrary, we'll be in the zone of subsidence and northerly breezes, and Saturday's forecast looks wonderful with highs only in the 70s.  I'm heading to Charlotte later today to help out with coverage....looks like a landfall very close to Cape Lookout (Morehead City, etc.) early Saturday (UPDATE: came ashore @ 7:30am at Cape Lookout) .  Doesn't look too good for the northeast if the track has it hugging the coast on Sunday.  Ugh.  

And now for a gratuitous dawn shot from my deck earlier this week...click to enlarge if you like...


Got a call last weekend from Linda Hughes that David had seen a bobcat walking up Staymon and not acting quite right.  Rabies is alive and well in Haywood County, and one of the tell tale signs of a rabid animal is seeing it out in the open when you rarely if ever would.  While foxes, raccoons, skunks, and bats are commonly affected, any mammal is fair game.  Haven't heard anymore about it, but I wanted to let everyone to keep an eye out for something such as this, especially for those who have dogs that roam the woods.  Too, a rabid animal can get aggressive and try to attack a human under the right circumstances.  Just good ol' FYI.

bob

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Quick note about posting comments

Al Rose brought it to my attention this morning, and it may well have been the exact same situation for Norm Jacobs that he mentioned at the annual meeting.  Because I am not one to go back and check comments that often, I'd set this blog up to notify me first of comments made for posts older than 7 days.  I'm thinking there's a glitch in the newer format and it won't let anyone comment at all on such older posts...not sure.  I have it turned off now, so posting on any entry should be possible...just no guarantee that if it's an older post it will get read.  Here is an email address for this account if you have any questions, etc. to pass along, and if I don't have an anwer I'll get it to someone who does:


applecreekacres@gmail.com


Thanks,
Bob

Friday, August 12, 2011

Road Maintenance Guidelines - New for 2011

(NOTE:  The following is a cursory yet comprehensive document for ACA road planning, the first time we've had something like this in writing.  It's a long overdue start.  Chris Martin, especially, spent many hours riding with and talking to professional road contractors, builders, and maintainers earlier this year; John Stoeckel joined him in many of these rides, as well.  Chris has since resigned from the board and is in the midst of his sojourn west, but he left this and a few other documents that he'd drawn up for us to use. Most of us would agree 'roads' are our biggest concern in ACA.

We had a great turn-out for the annual meeting last Tuesday; those minutes will be posted once they are compiled and I receive them.  If you'd like a hard copy of this report, please contact John Stoeckel, per his suggestion at the meeting.  Many thanks to Chris for his tireless work on these and other ACA road issues.)
 ____________________________________________

Road Maintenance Guidelines and Check List 
for Apple Creek Acres Road System
May 31, 2011
(compiled by Chris Martin)

 General Information from the road consultants

It takes more than one contractor to maintain the Apple Creek Road System.  The system consists not only of the paved surface (the cap) but the road base, edge, shoulder (right-of-way), culverts/drainpipes, ditches, road canopy and the gravel side roads and related shoulder, ditches, drains and canopy.  

The gravel side roads have their own unique set of maintenance issues.  Each of these road elements directly affects the overall system's health and must be maintained on a regular basis to insure passable and safe conditions. Regular maintenance also improves appearances and protects property values.

Although getting the lowest price is important, the road experts agreed that it is important to use contractors that are highly familiar with the ACA Road System and related problematic areas.   ACA's has numerous problematic areas that need to be watched and addressed each year.  These areas include Staymon road curves and drain culverts, the shoulder washing out problem adjacent the Palmer property, the spring run off adjacent the Jacobs and Foutch properties, can be reworked to reduce chronic annual repair cost.  There are other areas that need to be watched and listed.

Apple Creek Road is over 10 years old and is showing its age.  Careful planning can help off- set the aging process and protect the road against hard rains and winter.

This information was collected from discussions with the following resource people:
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CONTRACTORS
           
Doug Shock, (452-5255) Villages of Plott Creek full time road manager. Doug manages approximately 23 miles of steep roads similar to Apple Creek Acres.  Doug also has 20 years experience with IPAC paving company.

Berry Anders, 400-2278, Custom Paving, Hyatt creek road for paving repair, grading, ditching w/large equipment, sweeping, curbing for water control.

David Boyd, 926-8888, mowing and right-of-way clearing.

JKC Enterprises, LLC 828-734-6998 for Roadside mowing and ditching
           
Flat concrete work, Terry Fisher 508-0863 or Dennis Queen, works with concrete  506-0192

Dennis Franklin, road concrete drains and culvert work. (unable to meet with him at time of this paper)

Manual ditch clearing, Jose Lopez, 400-6587 Call after 5pm ask for Edgar (interpreter)

Ice melt/Salt-ACE Hardware, Dellwood Rd, Waynesville, NC, Steve Carver  828-926-0300
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 Ten Cardinal Rules from the Experts.

  1. The main question to ask is what does the ACAHA want the AC Road System to look like in 8 to 10 years?   What will this cost annually?  How does the association keep cost down and ward against inflation while trying to achieve the 8-10 year goal. 
  1. Supervise contractors while they are working.  Make sure an ACAHA board member or representative is on hand supervise and take notes.  Contractors appreciate being accompanied by a member of the association's board.  This saves money, time and is a good learning process for the association. There are times when contractors make mistakes.  If spotted early the contractor is willing to correct the problem.  Don't wait until people start to complain.  It's usually too late by then.
  1. Get the water off the road, into ditches as soon as possible.  One expert, while driving on Apple Creek road during a heavy rain observed "that water is staying on this road too long."  Run off water gathers momentum and cuts and destroys road surfaces, shoulders and clogs drains.  In winter water carries damaging salt/ice melt to weak road sections causing further damage.
  1. Keep the road edge clear of obstructions like leaves, grass, and other water routing debris.  Water cannot drain from the road to the appropriate ditch if the road edge is blocked.  Water will stay on the road to gather momentum and cause problems.  This will increase road maintenance cost.
  1. Keep road right-of-way clear.  Keep shoulders and ditches free of foliage, small trees, sticks and rocks.  Removing small trees or saplings will reduce mowing cost.   A mower should have clear passage all the way to the top.  This also includes side roads.
  1. Keep the sun on the road. Trim trees and tree limbs that hang over the road creating a thick canopy that blocks the sun. Shade keeps roads wet and frozen.  Thaw-freeze causes serious road damage.  Tree limbs and trunks, even in winter, shade the road and significantly reduces sunlight and melting.
  1. Keep all drains clear including driveway drains.  Driveway drains are directly related to the overall drainage system in Apple Creek Acres and serves to protect the road investment.  Ask neighbors to report problems with their driveway drains and water runoff along their property right-of-ways.
  1. "Check dams" made properly from Rip-Rap in ditches in steep areas can serve to reduce water momentum.  These dams must be cleared of leaves, sticks and other matter each year.
  1. "Watch for "heaving".  A road is not all about the top or paved cap.  The base is more important.  If the base is damaged the cap will simply slide off the top.  Watch for evidence of "heaving" where the pavement appears to be oozing or sliding off the surface of the road.  This area must be dug up, the base replaced and the cap repaved.  Salt getting in the base can also cause heaving.  Never use salt on gravel roads!  This will destroy the road's base.
  1. Keep gravel side roads graded at such an angle that water will run off into the appropriate ditch, drain and culvert.  Water remaining on gravel roads will cause rutting and washing.  Capping the curves of steep gravel roads is recommended
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Road Maintenance Timetable and Checklist

Oct-Dec     Do preliminary inspection of the road system with contractor to determine areas for repair and determine estimated cost so budget can be approved and fees set for December mail out.

Nov-Dec     Mowing after first frost to remove remaining summer stubble and brush to clear ditches for cleaning and improve visibility. Clear ditches and drains in preparation winter rain and snow run off.
                       
Feb-March    Contact and meet with road contactors to inspect for road repairs and maintenance and over winter damage.  Check problematic areas such as Staymon ditches and drains.  Get cost estimates and adjust budget.
                       
April-June    Road repairs and maintenance start. Person to supervise contractors and keep president and board updated
           
June-July     Summer mowing begins.  Inspect ditches and drains after mowing.

July-Aug     Further maintenance and follow up report for Annual Meeting.  Prepare for ACAHA Annual Meeting.

-----------------------------------------------
Winter Road Conditions Guidelines for Apple Creek Acres

The ACAHA snow and Ice removal efforts are governed by the weather and available budget funds.  Best efforts are taken to make the road passable as soon as possible.  Be prepared.  Know your limitations and strengths and think carefully and please use the Apple Creek Blog to stay informed.  Remember, road conditions along the length of Apple Creek Road vary considerably.

Ice should be on hand for the snow removal contractor and road-side boxes filled before December 1 since snows appear to be arriving earlier.  There is an open charge account at ACE Hardware.  A letter establishing this letter may need to be renewed if ACE Hardware is the supplier.

  1. Check the ACA blog site at http://applecreekacres.blogspot.com for any updated weather and driving conditions along Apple Creek.  Last winter, Claire Stoeckel used to blog to post any information she had on estimated salting/plowing times, etc.
  2. Generally, snow plowing will begin after much of the predicted snow has fallen unless super heavy snows are predicted.
  3. Do not abandon your vehicle in Apple Creek Road.  This will stop plowing efforts.  Your vehicle may be seriously damaged as cars attempt to move down the road.
  4. If unable to move forward pull or back into a ditch along the right of way. 
  5. With permission park in drives, side roads and along Mauney Cove road and walk.
  6. Call your neighbors about road conditions along Apple Creek road before you leave home.   If driving in form the outside call someone before going up the mountain.  Keep the phone list with you.  Make copies.
  7. Stay with others who live lower on the mountain or in town.
  8. Ask yourself how suitable your car or driving ability is for driving on a steep snowy/icy mountain road.
  9. Carry several bags of salt or sand in your car preferably over the rear axle.
  10. Carry extra cloths, shoes, blankets, food, flashlight and medications
  11. Get some Yak-Tracks for shoes at Mast Store in town. 
  12. Have enough food, water and medications in your home for a week.
  13. During icy conditions expect power outages.
  14. Keep a battery operated weather radio handy in home and car.
  15. Have a close neighbor check on you during heavy snows.  Do the same for them.
  16. Make prior arrangements for your pets in case you are snowed out of ACA.
  17. Remember you have to go up the mountain at the end of the day.  The road starts to refreeze after 3 pm.  Try to be home before then.  If possible try to leave after 10 am and return before 3 pm.
  18. Freezing occurs rapidly at the "Blue Roof House" (Moskos) location and above.
  19. Vehicles moving down the road will usually take the right-of- away to maintain control.
  20. Avoid inviting friends and family during icy conditions.  They are most prone to be stuck or hurt.
     -------------------------------------------

    (Bob Child)

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Annual Meeting reminder

Tonight, Tuesday August 9
7:00pm
First Baptist Church fellowship hall
Main Street Waynesville
(across from the Exxon and new police station)

(where 2010 meeting was held)