February 2006 | The Ledger
Article from the President | Mark Slavik
president@theledgewoodassociation.com
The "For Sale" sign located on the small parcel between our Clubhouse parking lot and Cliffside Drive is for real. Bob Schmitt's company is selling the .81 acre property. According to the realtor, the property was approved by the City for four cluster homes. This property falls within our charter and must comply with our covenants and restrictions. I was contacted by a resident that expressed interest in helping to acquire the property but her message was accidentally erased on our answering machine - sorry! Please contact me if you have any questions. Although the property is poorly located (e.g., in a ravine) there are few options short of purchasing the property that could prevent someone from building there. The Board of Trustees will ensure that if homes get built there they fit the Ledgewood style and standards.
A major focus this coming Spring and Summer is to improve the appearance (maintenance upkeep) of our properties. Please evaluate your home and landscape to make sure it is properly maintained (house, lawn, landscape, lamp post, mail box, etc). It's not too early to start planning your repairs and improvements. You must forward to the Architectural Review Committee, for approval, any plans that would significantly change the appearance of your home. This includes, but is not limited to, your siding (style and color), an addition such as a shed or attached building, additional drives or parking spaces, satellite dish location, etc. When in doubt, please contact Sally Catt (Architectural Review Committee Trustee). We're having problems with residents depositing their leaves, branches and other materials on common property. Please don't dump anything (including leaves and branches) on common property. You may be billed if we have to have it removed or chipped. Please take down your Christmas lights once warmer weather gets here; you can't leave them up until next season! This spring we will conduct a walkthrough of the properties and ask for your help in making timely corrections. Please know that our collective purpose is to help improve your property values or investment.
We will continue to improve the appearance of our common areas this year; to include planting more trees (coniferous trees) throughout the neighborhood this Spring. Overall, the neighborhood looks very nice; Frank Bohac, our landscape vendor, has done a great job. Please let me know if you are interested in serving on any standing or project committees.
Financial | Bob Folino
treasurer@theledgewoodassociation.com
At the end of 3 months, we are $450.00 over our $112,000 budget for the same period. This can be attributed to $2300 in bad debt expense for uncollectible assessments from previous years. And on that topic, we have 39 families delinquent in their assessments this year. We will be actively pursuing these collections. The board has been very reasonable in allowing 30 other families to split their payments even though it causes Carleen extra work in tracking and follow up. There is no valid reason for 7% delinquency in Ledgewood.
Clubhouse | Jain Baruth
clubhouse@theledgewoodassociation.com
The Ledgewood Clubhouse calendar is rapidly filling up for the Spring and Summer party season. Reserve your date early by contacting Jain Baruth at (216) 401-7871. Rentals are for Ledgewood residents only. Complete rental guidelines and conditions are available on our web site or by contacting Jain at the number listed above.
Ledgewood Communications | Rick Berger
The Ledgewood website
As one of the newest members of the Ledgewood Trustees I have taken over the task of maintaining the Ledgewood website (www.LedgewoodAssociation.com). My goals for the website include (1) making it more of a resource for the Ledgewood community; (2) making it a useful sales tool for realtors to point potential investors; and to (3) keep Ledgewood residents up-to-date with the latest information on our community.
The Ledgewood List
As a fairly recent newcomer to Ledgewood, I have already found that it can be difficult to find workers who are “Ledgewood-friendly.” I propose that we all work together to share information on our favorite for-hire resources, such as painters, landscapers, babysitters, etc. A first list is offered below, and I will keep a current copy on the website as well as reprint them in the Ledger newsletter.
I want to setup an ongoing resource which I call “The Ledgewood List” (modeled after Angie’s list: http://www.angieslist.com/AngiesList/Service.asp. If you have internet access, please take a look at this page to see the kind of services we can recommend to one another). Such services can include, for example: house painter, remodeler, landscaper, etc.
Here’s what I propose: If you have a resource that you either believe deserves recommendation to your neighbors, or want to warn them about folks to keep away from, please contact me either by email (rberger@ledgewoodassociation.com) or by sending me a note to 17056 Ridge Creek Rd. I will create a list with the names and contact numbers of recommended (and unrecommended) service companies. If you are willing to provide a personal reference, please indicate that also. (This could be particularly important for big-ticket services like home remodeling, or highly personal ones like babysitting or house-sitting)
Please take a moment and jot down (or email) some of your favorite local area services that you want to recommend to your neighbors!
Anyone want to party?
I have been asked by the Trustees to try to coordinate some Ledgewood community events—particularly parties! We have the terrific resource of the Clubhouse (and pool) to use for our own purposes, and what could be more noble than a wingding to celebrate spring (when it finally comes!) I would propose that we have a party/bar-b-que at the clubhouse perhaps in late April or early May. All I need are some Ledgewood volunteers to help me coordinate it. Any volunteers?
Contact me either at the addresses above or by phone (440) 878-0887.
Architectural Review | Sally Catt
architectural@theledgewoodassociation.com
Spring is soon approaching and in Ledgewood that sets the stage for the color GREEN. Fortunately, Old Man Winter was very kind and most lawns escaped the ravage of the unfriendly snowplow. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that this continues! It is time that all exterior reminiscences of Christmas disappear. We need to begin thinking of what individual homeowner improvements are needed to not just make our development one of the most desirable areas in which to live; but through the effort of each resident to be the most desirable development in which to live. Nature, with the assistance of Bob Schmitt, has provided Ledgewood with the basics – it is up to each resident to continue the process by replacing trees and foliage that has disappeared over time, keeping in mind that it is the lush vegetation and the attention to the natural habitat that sets Ledgewood apart from other surrounding areas.
We depend on each resident to do his or her part keeping lawns, rocks, and tree lawn gutters absent of leaves. It cannot be emphasized enough how appreciative we are to the residents who continually go above and beyond to make us proud to be neighbors. Remember – property values appreciate because people want to invest and live in esthetically pleasing surroundings.
Ladies Golf – Spring Luncheon
The Ledgewood Golf League will hold its organizational meeting for the 2006 season, Tuesday, April 11th at 12:30 p.m. at TGIF’s in Strongsville (18400 Royalton Rd.). We are a nine-hole league and welcome all golfers of all ages. We will be playing at Emerald Woods Golf Course starting Tuesday, May 2nd, and please bring your $30.00 league fee. If paying by check, make check payable to Ledgewood Golf League. For more information, please call Jody at 238-7655 or Suzanne at 238-7503. Am looking forward to seeing you there.
Ledgewood Spring Team
New Residents – If you have children that would like to join the swim team for the 2006 season, please contact Angie Nandor at 238-5767.
Ledgewood Board of Trustees
Mark Slavik | President & Common Ground – 878-0027
George Smith | Pool – 572- 6041
Jain Baruth | Clubhouse – 238-3099
Sally Catt | Architectural Review – 572-2644
Bob Folino | Finance – 238-4251
Rick Berger | Communications – 878-0887
Carleen Sundvall | Recording Secretary-Treasurer – 330-887-5753.
