BOARD MINUTES: May 7, 2013

(From Lorraine Connard, President)

Apple Creek Acres

May 7, 2013

Board Meeting

Present:  Lorraine Conard, Frank Moskos, Linda Hughes, Maxene Lackey, Terry Rose

Meeting called to order. 

Treasurer Report:            Beginning April Balance                 $25,763.20

                                     Deposits for April                               712.00

                                     Ending April Balance:                     26,473.20

Linn Damon tendered her resignation from the Board due to health reasons.  Motion was made and seconded to accept Maxene Lackey in the interim.   Motion Passed.  Note:  Linn Damon will stay on as chairperson for the Bylaw Revisions committee.

Linda Hughes will assume the duties of President while Lorraine Conard is out on maternity leave.

Hiring Management Company:  Frank Moskos provided information regarding a Management Firm that helps run Homeowner Associations.  Terry Rose will contact and get more specific information.

Road issues:  Linda Hughes had contacted Smith Paving about getting estimates for road repair.  Smith Paving uses an Infrared Seamless Asphalt Repair on roads.  The Board, along with Chris Martin, Doyle Love and Al Rose will meet with Mr. Joe Smith on Saturday May 11 to go over roads.

Audit:  It has been alleged that the Homeowners Association budget/accounting is in question.  To be sure that the Association is in compliance, it has been decided to have an audit completed.  Motion was made, seconded and passed.  Maxene Lackey will look into finding a firm to handle this issue.

Meeting was adjourned. New meeting date will be decided after meeting on May 11^th. 

Submitted by Terry Rose

FLOOD WATCH

Our newly cut drainage ditches are going to get a run for their money this weekend.  2-3" of rain is expected to fall this evening through Sunday night, hence the flood watch being posted for us.  The cloudy and unseasonably cool temps (41 degrees this morning) will hang around through mid week, with an omnipresent chance for rain each day.

5-3-2013

All of this moisture has made for a lush appearance on our mountain, with wildflowers out in force.  And my hummingbirds returned a week ago, about 2 weeks later than I had noted them arriving last year.  I have always referred to the first flower as a white Wake-robin (Trilium erectum) but I just read where another name for it is "Stinking Benjamin" (among many others, of course). Click on pics to enlarge.

White Wake-Robin

an exploring ant

fiddlehead fern unrolling

Smooth Yellow Violet

Chickweed

Canada Violet

Dwarf Larkspur

Blue Cohosh

Bob

ROAD/CULVERT WORK

Passing this along from Lorraine Conard, our HOA president:
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"There is currently work being done on the culvert part-way up Apple Creek Road.  This is an ongoing project that may take some time to complete as there is a problem with the water draining from above.  We are working to find a real solution to the issue rather than patch it temporarily as has been done in the past.

In the meantime, please remember that there is a deep ditch on that side of the road.  Its very important that all drivers observe the speed limit and drive courteously.  In the area of the work please drive even more slowly and cautiously.

Thank you."
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Keeping water off the road is one of the key factors in helping our roads stay in the best shape for the longest period of time...and it's easier said than done much of the time.  Of late, we've had some goodly amounts of rain, a lot of it falling hard and fast...crossing fingers that these efforts will pay off in properly diverting the runoff!

A week ago Wednesday, after a good rain, this wonderful rainbow lit up the sky.  Click to enlarge...and enjoy!

4-24-13

Bob

WEATHER, COMMUNITY WATCH, ETC.

Finishing up work out of town this morning and will be back on the mountain this afternoon.  Feisty storms are inbound from TN later today, and damaging wind gusts are likely, along with very heavy rainfall.  We took some good erosion on our gravel roads from a week ago Thursday, and more can be expected from this round, unfortunately.

There is also a freeze warning for areas above 3500 feet for Saturday morning.  The weather can't make up it's mind whether it wants to be early summer or late winter.  :-)

I think I speak for everybody that we live in a beautiful, peaceful, safe place.  The latter, unfortunately, is not always a given.  We're a private entity, Apple Creek Acres,  and our roads are as well; while the sheriff's office does make some passes through now and then, they can't cite for driving violations...in the same light, we can't enforce our 'suggested' speed limit, either. However, there are some things the sheriff can do, and things we can do to help them help us.

Recently, there has been increased activity from and complaints about two motorcycles that come from the mirror curve.  Setting aside the noise issue from over-revved engines, the complaints I've heard about are first-hand accounts of dangerous driving on their part.  Personally, I can't help but to hear them, but I've never encountered them on the road.

The sheriff's office has an officer dedicated to Community Watch programs.  If you have encountered a suspicious or unsafe situation, you are urged to call them at 
828-452-6666
As well, you should follow up with a board member with that information, so it can be disseminated. Everyone's vigilance is appreciated.

Bob

WILDFLOWER UPDATE

Went out this afternoon and just perused the greening mountainside, and here is what I saw flowering at this time.  Some are coming in a couple of weeks later than 'normal', and the Trillium won't explode for another week or so.  The lone Bellwort I photographed was an anomally as most aren't blooming just yet. Anyhow, enjoy, and click on any picture to enlarge.  (all pics off the end of Staymon Road at 3775', fyi)

BLOODROOT

DUTCHMAN'S BREECHES

SQUIRREL CORN

CUT-LEAVED TOOTHWORT

WOOD ANEMONE

(little bit on the way out as it is purple-ish)

SPRING BEAUTY

LARGE FLOWERED BELLWORT

TRILLIUM READY TO BLOOM

Bob

STORMY EVENING/NIGHT AHEAD

~640am Thursday  4-11-13   (click to enlarge)

"Red sky in morning, sailors take warning..."

By supper time tonight our skies should be rockin' and rollin' with raucous thunderstorms.  It's been quite a system with significant snows on the north/northwest side and plenty of severe storms and tornadoes on the southeast side of the system...and that's the part that approaches later today.

Always hard to pop a tornado in the mountains given the geography, but very gusty winds are expected, as well as periods of hail and good ol' lightning.  Power outages seem very likely, but I will not be on the mountain when this all hits.  The favored ETA is around 6pm, increasing in likelihood after dark.  Chances should be tailing off before sunrise as the system moves east.

The other component is too much rain for our own good. 1.5" to over 2" will be a common tally, with isolated areas getting 3"+.

Bob

ADVISORY UPDATE

Brrrrrrrd feeder

snap, crackle, pop!

Buckeye bud

2pm and 30 degrees

 Our Winter Weather Advisory has been extended until 6pm.  Just got back from Waynesville and roads all the way up to my house are perfectly fine...no ice, no slush.  Freezing rain and some lightly accumulating sleet are making very heavy limbs hanging down into the road, especially the pines around the mirror curve and below.

30 on my deck, and it's dangerously icy and slippery there and on my stairs.  It's right at 32 on the driveway.

April, huh...

Bob