Entrance Project and Patio Areas
M E M O R A N D U M
To: Homeowners
From: Riverbend Board of Trustees
Date: June 15, 2009
Subject: Entrance Project & Patio Areas
Entrances
We are sure that you have observed the replacement work that has begun at the entrances. The crews from Mapleton Nursery have removed the railroad ties and most of the overgrown plants and bushes. Where possible, the most attractive plantings have been saved, but the majority have been pulled in order to revitalize the entrances.
The stone for the walls will be delivered shortly and then, weather permitting, installation will begin. Both sides of the Hidden Lake Drive entrance will be replaced with new stone walls. Steps will be installed to allow a safe place for those waiting for school buses. As those steps are completed, new landscaping will be added to further enhance the Riverbend look.
Platinum Graphics has been hired to fabricate new signage. The colorful, classy design mirrors our Riverbend letterhead. The sign material is a composite product and requires minimal maintenance. Both signs at Schmidt Lane as well as the Hidden Lake Drive sign will be replaced. It will be a bright addition.
If the weather cooperates, we should be completed by early July.
Private Yards and Plantings
The landscape architect has taken a close look at the property and came back with a number of recommendations. The biggest concern about Riverbend is that the landscaping has outgrown and overgrown the homes. It makes the community look dated and ultimately impacts the property value. During a walk through recently, it was clear that Riverbend needs to remove a number of large trees from the common property. The trees have grown to the point that they are damaging sidewalks and the sprinkler system. Because of the shallow root systems, the trees are more easily toppled and present a potential danger to the homes themselves. You may recall that we lost several trees last October during a freak snow storm. As the budget allows, we will also begin clearing overgrown bushes that are causing damage to houses, lights, and signs.
The landscaper was amazed after seeing a number of the private spaces inside the fences.
EVERYONE needs to look at their own yards. There are a large number that are so overgrown that it is impossible to move around. The yards are dark and wet. No light gets through. In addition to looking bleak and jungle-like, there is damage being done to the roofs and siding of your own home, as well as your neighbors. Having vines growing up the walls and around the fence is not a good idea. The vines will eat at the wood siding/fencing and cause rotting. There is also the danger of some of these trees toppling against the houses. Homeowners need to contact their insurance companies to check their liability in the event of that happening.
Make a close examination of your yard. Look for rotted wood, blocked gutters/down spouts and green mold. Find companies that will remove the overgrown trees/bushes. In fact, this is work that our own landscaping contractor, Growing Concern, does. If you cannot do this yourself, find someone that does.
The Board is making every effort to improve the look and property values of Riverbend by addressing the overgrowth issues. Do your part to keep your values up by attending to your own yard and its contents. Everyone has their own opinion of what is attractive, but it is more than clear in these cases that growing a rain forest in your yard is not appropriate.
Thanks for your prompt attention.
EPM Bank Change
| 1 July 2009 |
The EPM bank change is effective today.
New Bank and Mailing Address
Administrator Note: This entry was received from Executive Property Management, although it is categorized under Board Notices. Naturally, the coupon book and remittance envelopes mentioned are not included here – contact EPM if you have not received your personalized materials the mail. Finally, the mentioned payment options page from the new bank is rendered as a PDF document linked from this entry.
Executive Property Management
4-08 Towne Center Drive
North Brunswick, NJ 08902
732-821-3224 Fax 732-821-6565
June, 2009
Re: NEW BANK and MAILING ADDRESS
Dear Homeowner:
Please be advised that effective July 1, 2009 your association will be changing banks and, therefore, we will be using a new lock box for receipt of the monthly assessment fees. Enclosed is a new coupon book with remittance envelopes for your convenience. Please ensure that your fee payment is mailed directly to our new bank’s lock box, in one of the remittance envelopes provided. We are excited to provide several different options for you to make payment to the association (see new payment options on reverse hereof).
Please discard any previously received coupon books after your June payment and ensure that all payments starting with July 1, 2009 are sent to:
Your Association’s Name on the coupon
c/o Executive Property Management
P. 0. Box 64148
Phoenix, AZ 85082-4148
For those homeowners who have elected electronic funds transfer (EFT) for their fee payments, you do not need to complete any new authorization forms. Please retain your coupon book in case you choose to revert back to the manual payment method or you sell your home in the upcoming year. For those homeowners who pay their bills on-line, you must have your on-line service place your full account number, as it appears on the top of your coupon, on each check remitted to ensure that proper credit is applied to your account. Please be sure to provide the new bank’s address to your on-line service beginning with July 1, 2009.
Very truly yours,
Executive Property Management
And Your Board of Trustees
(See over for Payment Options)
97 Riverbend is getting new windows!
We are taking the plunge and commiting to re-windowing the majority of our house. We’ve only lived in Riverbend since November of 2007 (almost 2 years), but it’s time to stop wasting energy and money and chalk up to the expense of new windows.
We weren’t quite sure what the Riverbend Approval process was, but after we selected the windows and vendor we contacted the Management Group via a letter stating our intentions.
Some of the rules we must follow are:
Replace all Casement windows with Casement windows. We are not allowed to have vertical closure.
The outside color of the window frames must be brown.
Receive approval from the board (or board member).
We are also replacing all 3 sets of sliding glass doors, since we lose a ton of energy through the doors too.
The reason I am posting this information is a) for informative reasons and b) so people can walk on by our place and see the difference.
Window replacements “supposedly” have an 85% ROI (return on investment) associated with them, as long as you purchase good quality windows.
The windows we have purchased are Marvin Infinity Windows (fiberglass). The installation should occur some time in mid-July over a 2-day period.
Our extra bonus is the $1500 tax credit that the government is providing via the Tax Act 2009!
Feel free to respond with any questions you may have.
My best, Christine
Recycling
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There is a recycling pickup today.
The pickups of plastic, glass, newspapers, and cardboard usually occur between 8 AM and 10 AM on alternating Thursdays. See the North Brunswick Township site for the full schedule. Riverbend is in Zone 3.
Please note that the recycling pickups near the Thanksgiving holiday hasbeen adjusted to accommodate the holiday. The reminder here has been updated to reflect the change.
As of October 2007, North Brunswick’s recycling materials were picked up by Central Jersey Waste and Recycling, Inc. of Trenton, NJ. You can reach them at 609-656-4200.
Learn more about Middlesex County’s Solid Waste Management programs, including the schedule for Household Hazardous Waste Days.
Please be a responsible citizen and recycle!
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