Date of Meeting: 06/07/06 Start time: 7:00pm
Location: Corbit-Calloway Library
Attendees: Board Members - Brian Falla, Eric Nichols and Michelle Falla Approx. 17 homeowners

Treasurer’s Report:

• The balance as of 6/7/06 is $22,790.15.
  Balance as of 3/8/06 was $15,862.22
  $13,793.47 received
  $6,865.54 paid out
  
• Status of 2006 dues:
  12 homes unpaid
  
• Status of past due accounts (collection of these dues has been turned over to our attorney):
  2005 – 2 homes unpaid
  2004 – 1 home unpaid
  2003 – 1 home unpaid

• Brian has asked again that someone consider volunteering to do the Treasurer’s duties until Mike is able to resume the position.
  

Pond Update:
Brandywine nurseries sprayed both ponds last fall for phragmites (reed-like water plants). Then our neighborhood landscaper cleaned the trash and dead phragmites out of ponds. Brandywine Nurseries sprayed again last week and will be back to reevaluate the ponds shortly.

Residents are asked to clean up grass clippings that accumulate on roads and sidewalks to prevent clippings from going down the storm water pipes. All the storm water pipes feed into the ponds and if grass clippings accumulate, an algae infestation will occur in our ponds. Other communities have had to spend exorbitant amounts of money to repair ponds after major algae blooms. We certainly don’t want to have this problem here. Our front pond already has a slight algae problem, so… please clean up those clippings!

Open Space Update:
Homeowners are asked not to cut into open space beyond twenty feet of their property line to allow the meadows to become established. The meadows will create a natural habitat and keeps landscaping costs down. The board understands that several areas of open space need attention. We are working with our landscaper to first control the weeds and then re-establish the natural meadow. The board asks residents to be patient as we work on the open space. If any residents have questions or concerns, please contact a board member. We will do what we can to address residents concerns.

Purple Martin birdhouses were placed throughout the neighborhood to help with insect control.
Signage will be placed around the neighborhood indicating things like “No unauthorized motor vehicles� to prevent trespasses from riding motorbikes, ATVs, go carts, etc. on open space.

Several homeowners expressed concerns about the open space meadows behind their homes. Concerns were raised related to weeds, bugs, and other unwanted critters living there. Several homeowners felt that snakes and mice come from the meadows. The board pointed out that this is a reality of living in the country. Homeowners that don’t live near the open space have had mice in their yards too. We are surrounded by wetlands and farmland that creates habitats for critters as well.

Please remember open space is not to be used for storage of personal items i.e. gardens, sheds, boats, woodpiles, yard debris, etc.

Since the meeting a walk down of open space was performed and some troubling issues were noted. Several residents are dumping grass clippings, yard debris, rocks, dirt and other refuse on open space. Open space must not be used for dumping refuse! All this trash will have to be removed by our landscaper at the expense of the whole neighborhood. Dumping on open space will not be tolerated. If you have dumped any waste on open space, please do the right thing and clean it up. If you see someone dumping waste on open space, please contact a board member immediately.

Realtor Signs:
A homeowner expressed concern about realtors placing signs in front of the neighborhood. The board said that DelDot might take them down since they are in an area that DelDot calls a “clear zone�. Anyone can call DelDot with a complaint like this (800-652-5600 or 302-760-2080).

Unauthorized Vehicles:
A concern was brought up about dirt bike use. Dirt Bikes, ATV’s, go-carts, etc are not permitted on open space or on the neighborhood roads. They are also not permitted on the 20-foot landscape easement behind resident’s property along the Robert’s farm. The only place people are allowed to use this type of motorized vehicle within Odessa Chase is on their own property. Residents are encouraged to call the New Castle County Police non-emergency # (573-2800) when violations are witnessed.

Front Sign:
It appears that someone stole the front hanging sign earlier this spring. Brian looked into the cost of replacing it (about $300). If anyone has ideas about how the new sign should look, please contact a board member.

Pets:
This is a pet friendly neighborhood. However, please clean up after your pet!

DNREC:
Michelle has scheduled a meeting with Marcia Fox from DNREC to come and talk with residents about open space/natural habitat issues. This meeting has been set for July 26th, however the exact time and place have not been determined yet. Please contact any board member for additional information.

Meeting Turnout:
We had a good meeting turnout and Brain thanked everyone for coming.

Volunteers:
Thank you to all who have volunteered in one way or another for the good of our community. We’ve had many board members (past and present) volunteer many hours managing our neighborhood. Many community members have spent time planting trees, installing birdhouses, cleaning up the neighborhood, etc. Without all of our volunteers, things would never get done.

Please keep in mind that the board can always use more help. A treasurer is still needed and the architectural control committee is still not formed. Other surrounding neighborhoods have thought about or tried hiring a professional maintenance organization to help with the duties of managing a neighborhood. However, the problem with this is that it would easily double our dues, something most people will not want. So in order to keep things running as smoothly as possible and keep costs down, please cooperate with the board any way you can. That would be a big help in itself.

E-Mail Contact List:
Join the Odessa Chase Email list!
The board is collecting email addresses from all the residents to be used for meeting reminders and emergency notifications. If you would like to be on this list, please send an email to board@odessachase.org with your name and street address.

Having no further business, the meeting adjourned at approximately 8:30 p.m.

Next Meeting: September 6th, 2006.