May 2001
Volume 4, Issue 2

In our last newsletter we informed our residents that this month a new Columbia County Ordinance is in effect requiring 3” reflective numbers to be placed at a height of no less than 4’ at the property line adjacent to the access drive and visible from both directions.

In an effort for uniformity, aesthetics and compliance, we are providing these numbers to you as a benefit of Springlakes Community Association. This ordinance is supported by the Director of EMS, the Chief of the Martinez Fire Department and the Director of the Columbia County Emergency Services. It has been requested by this group that the numbers be adhered on your mailbox in the following way: facing the flag side of mailbox, place last number of your address flush to the lower back corner edge of your mailbox. You will find two sets of numbers and the location of the numbers will be the same for both sides changing only the sequence of numbers (see diagram). This placement will allow the numbers to be located in the lower portion of your mailbox and to be visible with the flag in the up or down position.

Pam Tucker, Director of Columbia County Emergency Services is very excited about our neighborhood-wide participation and will be featuring Springlakes as a model neighborhood in the media. We ask that you participate in compliance with the ordinance as soon as possible. We recognize that some of you who have decorative mailboxes may want to comply in some other manner.

We also want to thank LOWES, Bobby Jones Expressway, for their assistance in making this program work for Springlakes and their continued support in our community.

If you have any questions or need additional numbers, please contact Karen Lombardy.

MAILBOX DIAGRAM FOR PLACEMENT OF NUMBERS

Summer is approaching and many of us will be going on vacation. A few simple crime watch tips may keep your home safe while you are away:

1. Notify a neighbor, especially if you have an alarm system. Give this trusted neighbor a key to your home and a telephone number to reach you.

2. Make sure your home looks occupied (use timers and don’t let the mail and newspapers pile up).

3. Use the House Watch Program, 541-2800.

Spring is in full bloom? Your covenants committee has been receiving numerous spring project requests. If you are making plans for some home improvements in the near future, do not forget to submit a project request for approval. Remember that any project which alters or changes the exterior appearance of your lot in any way, first requires prior written approval from the covenants committee before you begin. Some would say “This is too much trouble or It’s my property, why should I have to ask for approval?” Covenants is to protect each one of us as neighbors. Strong covenants will help us maintain a very appealing nice looking neighborhood that enhances and maintains our property value. Covenants help protect your investment in your home! This is why we ask your support in submitting project request for alterations. Protect your investment!

Spring is a time for planting and cleaning. Take a close look at your home and lot appearance. Take a few weekends to spruce up and clean up to show your neighbors that you want this neighborhood to look its best! It catches on from one home to the next! Thanks your support. We are also looking for more volunteers to participate in the covenants committee. Please contact a chairperson if you would like to serve on this committee.

CHILDREN'S HONORS

Jennifer McEvoy was awarded Faculty Honors for earning a 4.0 GPA at the Georgia Institute of Technology for the fall semester 2000. She is a freshman at Georgia Tech and a 2000 Honor Graduate of Evans High School. She is the daughter of Bill and Janice McEvoy. Jennifer has a younger sister, Joye Carolyn.

Laura Rushin is a 1998 graduate of Evans High School and currently a senior at Georgia Southern University. Laura is a Philosophy major and has been named to the Dean’s List for the Spring semester 2001. Laura also received a scholarship toward the study abroad program in France for this summer .

Congratulations girls and keep up the good work!!!

Many children will be riding bicycles to the pool throughout the neighborhood. Parents, please take a moment to review safe bike riding procedures with your child. If you would like any pamphlets, please contact Karen Lombardy.

Every year we experience bicycle theft at the pool/tennis area and throughout our neighborhood. Please invest in a good lock and keep your bicycles in your garage.

I would like to express my appreciation to all of the Springlakes Association staff and volunteers that made 2000 an outstanding year for the neighborhood. On January 9, during the Springlakes Association annual meeting, the 2000 accomplishments were reviewed. I was particularly proud of the new “Calling Post” phone notification system for the neighborhood and the new Springlakes website, www.springlakes.org. If you have not seen the website you should look it up! One of the biggest surprises was my home receiving the neighborhood Christmas decoration award last December! We also continued common ground improvements to keep our neighborhood at its best. Finally, the association continues to grow financially to meet our ever-expanding needs without an assessment increase.

There are major projects ahead in 2001 including dredging the lake, resurfacing the tennis courts, purchasing common property, scholarship program and planning for recreational expansion. The Association will be providing mailbox house numbers for all residents in Springlakes with the Directory issue in late April or early May. This is to comply with the 2001 Columbia County ordinance on house numbering. There are also a number of new special activities being planned for this year. It is a very full year for all of the volunteers and staff. We are always looking for volunteers and need your help! Please give me a call Reece Bridges or Sue Lang if you want to get involved. It is a great way to get to know your neighbors and help build a strong neighborhood. Best wishes to you this year. 

Reece Bridges

Even though today's cold temperatures may be a far cry from the hot, steamy days of summer, swim season is just around the corner. In order to be ready, the pool committee is hard at work making preparations for the 2001 pool season. Returning and new members are encouraged to begin planning for the upcoming season. New membership packages and renewal invoices will be sent out by mail the end of March. Membership initiation and renewal fees will be due on Tag Day, tentatively scheduled for Saturday, May 19th. The mid winter pool membership meeting is scheduled for Tuesday March 6 at 7:00pm at the clubhouse. All new and returning pool members are invited to attend the meeting as the new 2001 pool schedule, budget, and proposed rule changes. Notices regarding the meeting, will be sent in the next few weeks.

The Springlakes swimteam will tentatively begin Monday, May 21st at 4:30pm. The Stingrays are moving up to Division I and looking for energetic swimmers for a fun filled season. Any interested swimmers need to contact Kathleen Greely or see her on tag day at the pool. Please checkout the calendar of events for upcoming meets.

First Place - Mr. & Mrs. Reece Bridges 

Second Place - Mr. & Mrs. Don McCullough

Third Place - Mr. & Mrs. Earl Fagan

Congratulations to all our winners!!!

A special thanks to Mr. & Mrs. Jennings for making our children's Christmas party so special.

WELCOME NEWEST RESIDENTS

Charlene Boudet
Adam
Kathleen
Ashlyn
Sarah

Donald & Amy Catlett
Ayriana
Anaiya

Dick & Ann Collins

Roy & Kim Dailey
Alex
Abbey

John Hartfield & Nattie Polk-Fogg
David Polk

David & Mildred Hattaway
Diane Hathorn
Andrea Hattaway
Wayne Hattaway

Jay & Joyce Howard

William & Lois Monro

Ketan Patel
Tanvi
Niki

H. G. & Helena Sniders
Christina
William

Rev. Michael & Daphne Stephens
Daphne
Simone
Michael
Dominique Dickens

LAKE USE

Anyone planning to use a boat in the lake, please call ahead for a key to the gate. Also, please remember your life jackets while on the lake.

SPEEDING

There was much concern expressed at our recent annual meeting with regard to speed and safety in our neighborhood. We continue to address this problem in an effort to minimize the dangers caused by speeding. We are a neighborhood of joggers, walkers and children. Please slow down and share this information with other drivers in your home. Our vehicles share the streets with many other activities, and we need to drive within our speed limit and be very aware of the other people we share our streets with.

If you are a jogger, walker or bicyclist in Springlakes, please be aware of the many blind curves in our neighborhood. When possible, please move with traffic or cross the street before you approach a blind curve. NOTE: If you cannot see ahead of yourself - a driver of a vehicle cannot see you.

There has been some confusion as to the laws regarding golf carts, go-peds, and dirt bikes. We have contacted the Columbia County Sheriffs Department, they have given us the following information:

GOLF CARTS

Golf carts no longer require a license plate, however, they are required to be operated by a licensed driver. They are also required to have brake lights and to be operated according to other vehicle laws. They can be used in a neighborhood setting, but cannot be driven on Columbia or Flowing Wells Road.

GO-PEDS

Go-peds are skate boards or scooters with a small motor. They are permitted on our neighborhood streets, but cannot be driven on Columbia or Flowing Wells Road. They are to be driven with the same rules as a bicycle; use of a helmet, drive with traffic, do no make circles in the middle of the road, etc.

DIRT BIKES

Dirt bikes are not permitted on our streets. Dirt bikes are classified like motorcycles. Because they are designed for off road use only, they do not require a licensed driver or other requirements of a motorcycle. If a child is on the street with a dirt bike, they are driving a vehicle without a license and the parents can be cited.

Family Oriented Neighborhood

We need to continue to enjoy our neighborhood as family-oriented . If you see a child that is not in compliance with the above, it may be because they are not aware of the regulations. We want our children to enjoy our neighborhood as well as be safe in our neighborhood. We also don’t want the behavior of a few children to spoil the enjoyment for the rest. In an effort for everyone to enjoy the safety of our streets and our children to enjoy their outdoor activities, we need to work together in respecting these laws.

Invoices for the 2001 Homeowners Assessments were mailed on February 5, 2001. This year’s assessments are due on or before March 15, 2001. Assessments are the same as last year. If you did not receive an invoice, please contact Sue Lang, Association Manager so that another one can be issued. Springlakes residents that are members of the Pool are reminded that your pool tags will not be issued until your homeowners assessment has been paid.

Resident Neighborhood Directory information has been included in all assessments invoices this year. Residents are asked to review this information, and submit any corrections or additions with their assessment payment. Deadline for Directory changes is March 15, 2001.