2021 Annual Report
MOVING STEADILY AHEAD, TOGETHER
Missed the Annual Meeting?
by Nicole Rosario, Board President
2021 was another year of undeniable challenges. This year's Trustees, staff, volunteers, and vendors displayed passion, dedication, and commitment to serve our community while dealing with the seemingly unending pandemic, staffing shortages, vendor/supply chain delays, aging infrastructure/community property, health challenges, and more. The following are the year-end reports from the pool, clubhouse, common grounds, and architectural review. But I wanted to highlight a few items:
SPECIAL THANKS: I would also like to thank all Trustees, staff, volunteers, and vendors, but recognize one individual who stepped up to fill the role of Common Grounds Trustee - Ken Tocco. This is a never-ending job and you helped us develop a more effective system for keeping track of projects, working with our crews, etc.
FISCALLY SOUND + FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE: Ledgewood remains fiscally sound, even after facing immense increases in salaries, products and supply costs, etc. We reopened the pool and clubhouse and did not have some of the same struggles that other HOAs had recruiting guards because we were proactive, quick, and on top of things. A shout out to my fellow volunteer Trustees, our maintenance crew, clubhouse/pool manager, and lifeguards, etc. You each have played a vital role and don't always get the thanks you deserve. We maintained the budget set and are on track to contribute to Ledgewood's reserve as planned and outlined in the 2019 Reserve Study.
IT INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES: In addition to the new website and Ledger email systems, we spent this past year creating a Google Workspace-centralized, cloud-based system that will allow us to better protect and systematically manage Ledgewood’s assets to allow for transparency among current and future Trustees. With Danylo Zadony's help, we set up new secure emails, shared drives, Google Hangout, etc.
We continue to make updates to the website based on your feedback. Currently, you can visit the website to reserve the clubhouse, submit a maintenance request, ask questions or submit an architectural review request/violation report, access our bylaws, and get or share contractor suggestions, signup to volunteer, etc. If you have suggestions or questions about the site and how it can serve you better, please reach out to me at president@theledgewoodassociation.com.
ELECTRONIC ANNUAL DUES PAYMENTS: We set up a new PayPal account to allow residents to pay their annual dues. More info to come at the annual meeting about this process.
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve our community. It's been a pleasure working with and getting to know my fellow Trustees and many of you during the last two years. I look forward to the Association’s continued success as this new group of volunteers steps up to serve.
THE POOL
by Holly Zadony, Ledgewood Trustee
The 2021 Ledgewood swim season was a wonderful one! After the very different summer we had last year, we weren't entirely sure how this summer was going to be at the pool. As it turned out, our summer was filled with laughter, fun, community, and a much-needed sense of normalcy!
There were a few new changes at the pool this summer. This was the first summer that Ledgewood was able to Red Cross train and certify our lifeguards. Two of our own lifeguards are Certified Lifeguard Instructors. They were able to lead the training classes and certify all of our other lifeguards. By being able to certify our own lifeguards, we were able to avoid many of the staffing issues other area pools faced. The neighborhood kids enjoyed seeing the guards run through training drills. It was very interesting for them to see what it entails to become a lifeguard.
Another change this summer was that we began selling concessions at the pool. Snacks, drinks, and frozen treats were available for purchase. The proceeds generated from the concessions helped fund our neighborhood parties, late-night swim, and guard appreciation dinner. The concessions proved to be very popular! We hope to continue to expand the concession stand next summer, in hopes that we can host even more neighborhood events at the pool.
The last change was that individuals could reserve one of the lap lanes for an hour. Many of our resident lap swimmers enjoyed having a lane to themselves during the summer of 2020. We continued offering a lane reservation this summer. We received positive feedback from many residents. We will most likely continue to have one lap lane available to be reserved next summer.
Parties were back this summer! Ledgewood's 4th of July party had a great turnout. The pool provided pizza and hot dogs, while residents brought sides and desserts to share. A few weeks later, we held our first Christmas in July pool party. The pool grounds were decked out in Christmas decorations, including many decorated trees, a blow-up Grinch, and wreaths. Christmas music played all day and gift games for the kids were played. We received many compliments on the party and are planning to host Christmas in July again next year. We also had one late-night swim. The pool was open until 10:00 PM and the movie Moana was shown in the kiddie pool area. Unfortunately, our other late-night swim was rained out.
The swim team was back this summer! It was not the normal season we are all used to, but at least it was something. Ledgewood did host one home meet and the kids seemed to have a great time. Hopefully next year the swim team can finally have a normal season.
Pool managers Lindsey Schneider and James Race did a phenomenal job maintaining the pool and managing the pool staff. We received so many compliments on the cleanliness and temperature of the water, the beautiful flowers around the pool grounds, and the friendliness of the pool staff. It is really nice to see many of the neighborhood kids look up to the lifeguards and form friendships with them. The entire pool staff did an incredible job making sure everyone stayed safe at the pool this summer.
After Labor Day, we did not close the pool as we usually do. We wanted to address the leak issues we had last winter and early spring. So far, things are looking positive and the winter cover should be going on top of the main pool very soon.
Thank you to everyone for making our pool season fun, successful, and normal! It was so nice to catch up with friends, meet new neighbors, and see so many smiling faces throughout the summer. It was crazy how fast summer flew by! Here's hoping for a mild winter and that summer weather will be back before we know it. We are already looking forward to the next pool season. Until then, be well and think summer!
COMMON GROUNDS
by Kim Gillespie, Ledgewood Trustee
Ledgewood is known for its natural beauty and wooded surroundings effortlessly integrating into the Cleveland Metroparks Mill Stream Run Reservation. As residents, we enjoy communal features, such as tennis courts, a basketball court, a children’s playground, sidewalks, and miles of common grounds amongst other beautiful outdoor conveniences.
Over the last year, we have worked to maintain the beauty we all know as Ledgewood. As your Common Grounds Trustee, I would be remiss to not give immense credit to Ken Tocco, our Common Grounds Committee volunteer member who single-handedly managed the minutia of daily tasks while I focused on larger capital projects and tasks. A few of the projects and activities that Common Grounds have completed are on-going include the maintenance lawn equipment “Give Away,” maintenance purchased new frequently used lawn equipment to replace very old and broken equipment, many dead trees were taken down, trees were replanted, parts of split rail fencing throughout Ledgewood was replaced (some parts are still pending replacement, ETA before end of 2021), regular litter pick-up throughout the neighborhood multiple times per week, landscaping contract renewal, Ledgewood signs at the neighborhood entrances were refreshed (sanded and sealed), periodic playground inspections completed by our insurance company (no repairs were needed at the last inspection), etc.
Furthermore, let us not forget the challenges that the pandemic presented early last spring when we all wanted to go outside and play! Our first priority was safety. As a result, we contacted the Cuyahoga County Board of Health about specific requirements prior to opening our playground and courts. They advised that because the playground is outside people do not have to wear masks if they are socially distancing and that playgrounds do not require constant disinfecting. At that point, the Board took a vote and opened our recreation area. This was a very happy time for many of us.
Common Grounds has one major ongoing capital project involving the basketball court move into part of the enclosed and secure neighboring tennis courts space. This revitalization project will protect the basketball court and equipment from the constant damage the equipment receives from unknown persons and activities. Furthermore, the tennis/basketball enclosed space will be refreshed and serve our neighborhood as a multipurpose and usable space for many years to come.
As the Common Grounds Trustee, I am honored to have served our neighborhood and look forward to the next Board of Trustees and the future of our beautiful neighborhood.
CLUBHOUSE
by Josh Holder, Ledgewood Trustee
The Clubhouse was used by the residents of the neighborhood for many events this year including baby showers, weddings, bridal showers, graduation parties, birthday parties, pool parties, and family events. We are pleased to see so many of our neighbors enjoying this wonderful amenity and we have already accepted several reservations for 2022.
After very careful consideration the HOA trustees voted to eliminate the position of Clubhouse manager and by automating the reservation and application process as well as reassigning responsibilities to the pool manager, other employees, and the Clubhouse volunteer trustee, we project a savings of approximately $3,000 per year. We are extremely grateful to Diane Thompson for her years of service as she served as Clubhouse manager.
Repairs to the Clubhouse this year included minor repairs to the heating and cooling units, replacing countertops, and minor plumbing repairs to the sinks in the men's locker room.
This year the Clubhouse also welcomed our Free Little Library as yet another amenity for our neighbors to enjoy. The Free Little Library is to the right of the entrance to the Clubhouse. We have appreciated all the positive feedback from the many residents who have enjoyed the opportunity to share and borrow books. Many thanks as well to all of our neighbors who very generously donated so many books to stock the library. The library is checked regularly by the Clubhouse volunteer trustee.
We look forward to continuing to host our neighbors and their families and other neighborhood events in 2022.
ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW
by Ben Schalter and Brooke Witkofski, Ledgewood Trustees
With its rolling hills and forested landscape, Ledgewood is a wonderful place to call home. The Architectural Review Committee exists to aid in keeping Ledgewood beautiful and consistent in its natural feel. Thank you to everyone who maintains their property and keeps their lampposts lit. It’d be great if we never had to do an annual walkthrough or bring violations to property owners’ attention but such is not the case, so we conducted an annual walk-through this year with the help of several non-board member residents. Thank you to those that quickly remediated any issues identified.
A few guidelines to remember:
Contact us with pictures, specs, and plans when working on home projects, including the deck, fence, roof, or siding work. We will work with you to gain board and city approvals and permits before starting any work.
Keep sidewalks accessible. Trim trees and bushes, move your vehicles, and brush the river rocks to the side. Additionally, please maintain your post lights so our streets are safe and easy to navigate.
Remove dead trees, limbs, branches, shrubs, and all debris from the front of your properties. And, finally, please remember to store your garbage cans out of sight unless it's trash day.
Tennis and Basketball Courts
Last fall a committee comprised of Ledgewood residents made recommendations for improvements to the tennis courts and basketball courts in our beautiful park. We are currently in the process of having the project formally quoted and hope to begin construction in the Spring of 2022.
COMMUNITY GARDEN
by Kim Gillespie, Ledgewood Trustee
“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” Audrey Hepburn
Successful community gardens rely on teamwork. The 2021 edition of the Ledgewood Community Garden welcomed a few new and returning families to grow their own organic fruits, vegetables, and flowers right here in our neighborhood.
The Ledgewood HOA provides space for us to grow a multitude of delicious produce and flowers, including various tomatoes, hot and sweet peppers, squash, pumpkins, green beans, lettuce, cabbage, kale, chard, garlic, ginger, oregano, basil, rosemary, nasturtiums, marigolds, azaleas, hollyhocks, dwarf sunflowers, and much more! This year’s harvest has been abundant and rewarding! Our bounties carry on well into the fall as we continue to harvest the fruits of our labor.
Ledgewood Community Garden Background
The garden was formed in 2008 to provide Ledgewood residents with gardening opportunities for their physical and social benefits. The Community Garden is a non-profit entity created by a charter group of Ledgewood residents and is independent of the Ledgewood Association. Membership is granted first to returning gardeners, then on a first-come, first-serve basis. Utilizing our current garden capital fund (exclusively from garden membership fees), we made the following improvements:
Tore down and rebuilt deer fencing (should be able to protect all of our hard work from the hungry deer and other wildlife over the next couple of years).
Painted our existing water tank (lengthens the life of the tank by minimizing UV exposure that can age the tank, minimizes algae growth in the water, and keeps the water cool).
Replaced one of the hoses and connectors.
Built a more secure door for access.
Annual membership fees are based on plot size and the number of plots rented by each member. We have a limited number of plots of various sizes available each year exclusive to Ledgewood residents. Everyone who rents a garden plot maintains their own plot(s) and is also asked to volunteer with other aspects of the garden, like weeding shared spaces, mulching paths, and maintaining the tools/equipment (i.e. water tank, hoses, etc.).
If you’re interested in joining us next spring, please contact Kim Gillespie via email at kimdmiller@gmail.com.
A VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING
This year's Annual Meeting will be held virtually via Zoom on Nov 17, 2021, at 7:00 PM EST. Registration will be required for attendance and voting purposes.
Several Ways to Join the Zoom Meeting
You have the option to participate via computer, smartphone, or tablet. The registration link is posted on the home page of theledgewoodassociation.com or by visiting: https://tinyurl.com/ledgewoodannualmeeting.
How the Zoom Meeting Will Work
Once you register, Zoom will automatically send you the link to join the meeting. Or, if you would like to call into the meeting, use follow the steps below:
Dial 1-312-626-6799
2.When prompted enter the meeting ID: 869 3515 2061 #
3.You will then be prompted to enter the meeting Pass Code 11172021.
Can't Make the Meeting?
If you cannot attend the meeting, please submit your proxy card. You can mail a printed copy or submit an electronic version online found at https://tinyurl.com/LedgewoodZoom.
TIME TO UPDATE OUR DIRECTORY
Do you get our emails and print mailings? If not, it's probably because we don't have your current mailing or email address. Let us know!
How to Update Your Contact Info
Please send an email with the following information to president@theledgewoodassociation.com or fill out the electronic form which can be found at:
https://tinyurl.com/LedgewoodDirectory
LEDGEWOOD SWAG.
Ledgewood's store is open. If you are looking for a gift for someone special this holiday, consider purchasing a little something special from our store. You can access the store by visiting theledgewoodassociation.com home page and scrolling to the bottom or at https://tinyurl.com/LedgewoodStore