August 2001

SPRINGLAKES NEIGHBORHOOD PICNIC

The Lake Committee has been hard at work putting together a bid package for this year’s lake dredging, tentatively scheduled for sometime in October. The Committee has also located some of the sources of our siltation problems at the footbridge and playground areas, and plans to implement stabilization measures along Reed Creek designed to eliminate future erosion problems. We will advise residents that live along the lake when we plan to lower the lake’s level, in case they need to do any clean-up work along their shoreline. Special thanks to Mike Cason and Sujit Samaddar for all their time putting together this project, as well as Paul Farrow, Caleb Brinkman and Tom Cook for their input and knowledge from past lake-dredging projects.

PRESIDENTS NOTE

The summer is in full swing and I hope that you will be able to attend the annual picnic at the clubhouse on August 11th from 5-9PM. Special thanks to Kristi Baker, Social Committee chairperson for coordinating this event. The will be lots of activities for everyone!

The Association is looking for volunteers to work on our committees. There will be a sign up sheet by committee at the picnic. I would encourage you to consider participating in your neighborhood association. It’s a great way to get to know more of your neighbors. We need you!

Ray Miller will be moving out of the area and recently resigned from the Board of Directors. I would like to extend our appreciation for his work with the Association and best wishes on his move!

Lake dredging planning is proceeding on schedule. Special thanks to Mike Cason and Sujit Samaddar for their work on this project! Bids for this work will be secured in August and work is expected to begin in late September after final Board of Directors approval.

The Association is continuing to negotiate with Tom Dunn and the Cofield/McBride homeowners on the disposition of this pond. There are legal issues on pond ownership that are being reviewed by our attorney. Hopefully this issue can be resolved soon to ensure this pond is maintained in good condition to maintain and enhance our property values.

The 7.5 acre lot off of Cofield is still available and purchase is still being considered. Our master plan is to move the tennis courts to a new property and expand the parking area at the clubhouse/pool area by utilizing the old tennis court area.

BACK TO SCHOOL

Our children are back in school and this means we will see additional morning and afternoon activity on our streets. Please support the speed limit and use caution to walkers, bicyclists and school buses. We ask parents of new teenage drivers to remind them to exercise additional safety and caution to our children on the streets.

Parents, please take the time to share safety on the streets with your children.

1. Ride your bicycle with traffic and be extra careful on blind curves.

2. Do not do doughnuts in the middle of the street.

3. The Columbia County Sheriffs Department reminds us that bicyclists are to obey the traffic laws; riding with traffic, obeying stop signs, using hand signals, etc.

4. We also ask that you support the helmet law to protect your child.

5. If you walk to school, please walk close to the curb.

6. We encourage our pedestrians not to walk on a blind curve, please walk on the opposite side of the street where you can be seen. IF YOU CANNOT SEE ON-COMING TRAFFIC - THEY CANNOT SEE YOU.

BUS SAFETY COMMITTEE

Due to last year’s bus tragedy in Columbia County, a Bus Safety Committee of Concerned Parents has been formed. This committee recommends that a parent volunteer at each bus stop meet the bus at pickup and dropoff to assist with safety and crossing the street. A suggestion is that parents get together and share their concerns and coordinate a schedule with one another at each bus stop.

We also remind you that Springlakes has 2 sidewalk areas that lead to Martinez Elementary School - one is located on Quail Springs Circle just before Flowing Wells Road and the other is located on Heathcliff Drive. If you are using these locations for dropoff and pickup, please watch your child to make sure they get to school safely and please pick up your child on time. When you take your child to the front of the school, you are assisted by staff with safety; however, if you use these locations, we ask that you assist in your child’s safety.

PET OWNERS

Pet owners please be considerate of your neighbors. When you take your animals for walks, please make sure you clean up after them. Remember you would not want someone else’s pet using your lawn to do their business.

MESSAGE FROM ASSOCIATION MANAGER

I have been advised by Tommy Stephenson of Columbia County Engineering & Environmental Services that all residents of Springlakes in good financial standing are eligible for a 20% credit on their storm water utility fee, retroactive to October 2000. Good financial standing means that there can be no outstanding liens for unpaid assessments.

To receive this credit, each homeowner must complete a Residential Pond Credit Application, and submit it to the Columbia County Engineering & Environmental Services Department. A copy of this application was included in this month’s newsletter for your convenience. The County must receive this application by October 31, 2001 to be eligible for the retroactive credit. Applications received after that date will receive credit on the first day of the month after the application has been filed.

If you have any questions on completing this application, please feel free to e-mail me at associationmanager@springlakes.org. Please take a minute now to complete this paperwork and send it back to the County before the October 31st deadline.

WELCOME NEWEST RESIDENTS

Sandi & Wendell Colston
Wesley
Clayton
Grace Ann

Susan & Steve Dodson
Elizabeth

Amy & Richard Iannacone
Crystal
Richie
Shelby
Kayler

James Lopez
Nicole
Michael

Sadie Martin

Ashley Mullinax

Marianne & Robert Petras
Christy
Mitchell

Betty & Bill Shutter

Jackie & Joe White
Jordan