Letter From the President (May 2022)

May 21, 2022 | Amenities, Budget, Clubhouse Rentals, Community Safety, Community Updates, Financial, Homeowners' Meetings, Landscaping, President Letters, Rules & Regulations, Social Events

Happy New Year! Here’s hoping your 2022 has been a good year so far for you and your family!

This newsletter writer has been busy with life and unfortunately death, so it’s easy for time to get away from you. So let’s try to catch you all up on the goings on within the community and the Board activities since the first of the year.

The community voted in January to reelect last year’s Board members for 2022 and approved the proposed budget for this year. This budget on paper actually shows a loss for 2022 but in the past, we have under budgeted our income and over budgeted our expenses. If we do run in the red we will use our reserve money to cover the over expenditures. The Board expects our finances to be in good shape for this year.

The neighborhood came out of the winter in pretty good shape. We have some sprucing up to do in the common areas and the amenities. You probably noticed the tree trimming. We paid for some of the larger work along the creek and our landscaping crew did the pine trees along the entrance and across from the clubhouse under their monthly budget. That was very generous of them.

As usual we will power wash the clubhouse and pool deck along with some of our fencing especially where the pine trees were trimmed up. We had the metal fence around the pool repainted and additionally painted the gazebo. Next up will be painting more pickleball lines on the far tennis court so we can add a couple more areas to play within the tennis court area.

The basketball court will be refinished soon and we’ve added a large trash can that we hope will encourage the players to throw their trash in. One can only hope!

We are adding a new piece of playground equipment around July and removing two worn out items. As the years go by we would like to continue to add and grow the playground. With more families moving in this makes sense.

The social committee has been very active with wine night, bunko and the egg hunt with the bunny. They have 2 pool parties planned for this summer.

Well that wraps up most of everything. If I missed something  I’ll add them to the next letter.

I wish all the Mothers a very Happy Mother’s Day.

Congratulations to our 2022 graduates for their outstanding achievement.

Thanks for taking the time to read through the letter. Hopefully you will find it informational.

Don Roach – President CCHOA

Street Parking

Do you know the number one complaint every year for the past 10 years? Street parking! It is the reason we changed our covenants to cover it a few years ago. That and set a cap on rental properties. If you park on the street it has to be temporary, if not, you will be receiving a violation letter. Second offense will be fines. We do not go looking for violators. If you have someone that is violating this covenant you need to go on our website and file a complaint with a picture and obviously the address. If you have to park on the street for a length of time you need Board approval. There are also some parking slots at the clubhouse that you can utilize with permission. If you have to park on the street be aware of where you are parking and you are not hindering your neighbor’s ability to get in and out of their driveway. Also is/are your vehicle(s) blocking other driver’s vision such as parking on a curve or multiple vehicles in a row?

 

Financial Update

As of March 31, 2022 our total assets stand at $552,561.64. Delinquent accounts are $12,721. Approximately $1,222.50 has been collected in past due accounts in 2022.

 Our expenses are $11,247 more than we budgeted but our income is $2500 higher than we expected. So we are running slightly lower than $10,000 over budget. Expenses are running higher due to high expense items that were required early this year and we have a few more items that will require $$$ . Many of these items were cooked into the cake but they are averaged over the entire year. When that happens, the expenses become skewered versus the budget numbers. We expect the budget to come in line as the year progresses.

 

Landscape Report May 2022

Tree canopies have been raised at the creek, playground across from the clubhouse, by the tennis court and in the entrance.  The crew cleaned extra areas at the entrance and hard trimmed some of the bushes as well.  This gives the neighborhood a cleaner, neater appearance.

Shrubs are being pruned and grass is starting to be mowed.  The crew is having some start up issues such as manpower, doing work above and beyond, and equipment failure but we hope to get this worked out before the growing season starts.  All these things slow the crew down so they’ve not got a routine yet that is set.  PLEASE DON’T TALK TO THE CREW AS THIS SLOWS THEM AS WELL. Be patient, we’re working on it.

We’re allowing the use of bigger mowers having been promised they will be very careful.  Smaller mowers will still be used on smaller yards.   So far we have not seen any damage from using the larger mower and the cut looks good.

Flower beds will be planted in the next week or two and the irrigation will be checked.

We’ve had one application of pre-emergent weed spray and will have another starting Thursday 5/12 and finishing Monday 5/16.  For those having the backyard done be sure to have your gate unlocked and items picked up in your yard.

We will be having our monthly meeting with the landscape company manager this week and will address some of the issues we’ve had.  Getting them on a specific schedule being our number one goal.

Bob Weber & Landscape committee.

 

ACC News

We have had 15 ACC requests YTD.  I found another supplier for our vinyl fencing repairs. Menards.com Yardworks Belmont 6×6 White dog ear vinyl fence panels. I have forwarded the link to Robert Cox, one of our subdivision repair contractor as well. 

As a reminder to homeowners who want to modify the outside of home or any landscaping modifications the procedure is to send in the 2 page ACC request found on our website. Any alteration or change of any kind to the exterior of your home or lot requires prior approval of the ACC Committee.

Thank you,

Stephanie Barnes and ACC Committee

Amenity News

The pool opened May 1, but our monitors will not be on the job until Memorial Day weekend. Until then you swim at your own risk and monitor each other for rule compliance. For those that cannot comply with the pool rules,  we will be deactivating your cards and fines may be applied. Some residents have already had their cards deactivated because of fees not paid or other reasons. We see them trying to come in on others cards, asking someone to let them in or hold the gate for them. If this happens then both residents will have violations applied to their cards and could be fined as well. Also remember that a COVID Waiver must be on file for your key to be active. Thanks for helping to keep the pool safe.

Lastly, I’m always looking for volunteers to open and close the pool. If you’re interested see me at the pool or email me at cchoaamenities@gmail.com

The far tennis court will have additional pickleball lines drawn on it and we are purchasing two mobile nets to be used so more players can use the courts at one time.

The basketball court will be resurfaced soon. The last application did not last as expected. This company we have hired has had better results.

Both courts will be shut down during the upgrades. We will send out notifications on Facebook.

Thanks for your understanding.

Chuck

Ladies Card Game

Will be Thursday May 19 @ noon at the clubhouse. Bring five $1dollar bills and a dish to share

Bunko

Will be Saturday May 21, @ 7 PM at the clubhouse, with meet and greet at 6:30 PM. Bring $5 and a dish to share and your own drinks. Bunko is a dice game that you win at by rolling certain combinations.

Pool Party

The social committee is planning two pool parties this summer. June 4th and August 6th are the tentative dates. Both dates are on Saturday. This allows them to have a rain date the next day if possible. Mikey the DJ will be there playing music for all. Grills will be going and hot and cold food will be served. Please provide your own drinks.

Kids Safety

Every year we discuss the need to slow down while driving through the subdivision for safety reasons. Again this is a reminder to slow down and watch for children playing in or near the streets. I’m sure none of us want to have an accident with our neighbors who may not be looking out for you and your vehicle. This is not about who is right, it’s about avoiding a tragedy.

 

Signs everywhere a sign

Our covenants state residents cannot place vendor advertising signs in their front yards. We have allowed them for 24 hours after the work was finished. After that they need to be removed.

Newspapers in the Driveways

Last notice: Here is another item we’ve discussed many times and continues in some locations over and over. This too will be met with violation letters and fines if necessary to bring the home into compliance. Pick up your unwanted newspapers or stop the subscription. All of these free newspapers have a number to call when you no longer want them.

Information

We have contracted with two new companies to cover our landscaping and pool needs in 2022. Our two long term vendors failed us more than usual and in some cases became contentious. Both of these new companies, Courtyard Pools and Atlanta Landscape Group come with higher price tags but offer better service and were both competitive in the bids we received from

others.

Website

I cannot say this enough, go to our website and look around. You will find everything you need, especially information to handle most of your questions and how to submit various forms and report issues. The website address is on the top of this newsletter for your convenience! Additionally our email address is centennialcommoner@yahoo.com.

Spring Cleaning

As the subdivision ages so do our homes and landscaping in the front yards. With that in mind our ACC group has been tasked to work with our CMA partner to identify residents who need to spruce up their homes and remain in compliance with our covenants. Hopefully most of you know where you need some work done or the changes needed to enhance your home. Remember you do need to fill out an ACC request form and get approval before beginning any work.

Mailbox Numbers

The Board will not replace mailbox numbers for you. You will need to do the work yourself or have it done. The Board does have some numbers that we will give to you if needed. If we don’t have your number here is a vendor that can provide you with the 2″ Williamsburg Brass Mailbox numbers:

Addresses of Distinction.com, 800-436-1647, 770-436-6198, $3.95 each plus shipping.

 

Thanks for reading,

Don Roach, President and the Board of Centennial Commons, Directors, Bob Weber, Finance & Landscaping, Chuck Whitaker, Amenities, Stephanie Davis, ACC Coordinator  and Shirley Cox, Secretary/Legal

Letter From the President (Dec. 2021)

May 21, 2022 | Amenities, Budget, Clubhouse Rentals, Community Safety, Community Updates, Financial, Homeowners' Meetings, Landscaping, President Letters, Rules & Regulations, Social Events

This is it, last letter from the Board for 2021. It has been a fairly decent year. Compared to 2020 this has been freer of restraints by the virus, although we did have a spike over the summer that was worrisome. 2022 looks to be another good year financially for us. We are spending more money for goods and services as you are doing in your households. The Board though sees enough income though to offset the rising costs this next year so the $87.50 monthly fees will remain the same. Woohoo! 

We have contracted with two new companies to cover our landscaping and pool needs in 2022. Our two long term vendors failed us more than usual and in some cases became contentious. Both of these new companies, Courtyard Pools and Atlanta Landscape Group come with higher price tags but offer better service and were both competitive in the bids we received from others.

Currently the subdivision is awash with leaves and a December pinestraw delivery is expected. The Board has placed as much pressure that we can on our current vendor Brightview without holding payment. We took this last step recently notifying the vendor if things didn’t change immediately we would be withholding monies to pay other vendors to do the work that they are contracted to do.

I cannot say this enough, go to our website and look around. You will find everything you need, especially information to handle most of your questions and how to submit various forms and report issues. The website address is on the top of this newsletter for your convenience! Additionally our email address is also at the top of the letterhead…

As the subdivision ages so do our homes and landscaping in the front yards. With that in mind our ACC group has been tasked to work with our CMA partner to identify residents who need to spruce up their homes and remain in compliance with our covenants. Hopefully most of you know where you need some work done or the changes needed to enhance your home. Remember you do need to fill out an ACC request form and get approval before beginning any work.

While this Board has, as a last resort, fined residents for ACC/Standard violations, we have come to understand that this form of persuasion to ensure compliance is very necessary. Because of this, the Board is creating a fine schedule that will be published early in 2022 that will define the consequences of non-compliance. This schedule is a reminder to longtime residents and information to new residents that they do live in a HOA community and have to adhere to the covenants.

Other non ACC/Standard violations are not treated the same. Some violations/behaviors can be corrected with a warning letter. Others are egregious enough to warrant an immediate fine. The Board acts on these violations in a manner that is best for the safety and protection of our residents, amenities and HOA.

You will find information through the letter that was discussed at our most recent executive and open meeting on Nov. 15.

Thanks for taking the time to read through the letter. Hopefully you will find it informational.

Happy Holidays to ALL!

Thanks,

Don Roach

President CCHOA

Annual Meeting

The Centennial Commons Annual Meeting will take place on Monday, January 17, 2022 at 6 PM @ the clubhouse and virtually. So you will have two options to attend. This will also allow us to go fully virtual if there is a health need to do so and we can’t meet at the clubhouse.

 

New Year’s Eve Casino Party

If our current health situation in Georgia stays the same, our plan is to go forward with this event. There may be many that attend and the clubhouse is only so large. Obviously you can wear a mask if you want but spacing will be impossible to maintain. So decide for yourselves if you want to attend this year. We plan to make this an annual event so there is always next year.

Casino Night

BYOB, refreshments and snacks – The HOA will provide some snacks and meats. Social Committee is not sure at this time what that will be.

7 PM entry to clubhouse

7:30 PM casino tables to begin

10:30 – 11 PM wrap up casino tables.

11 – 11:45 drawing for door prizes

Guests of residents not included in prize winnings.

Residents are allowed 2 guests.

Maximum number allowed in clubhouse is 40. Once count hits 40 the event is closed to any other attendees. Those that RSVP will be will be included in count. Prefer residents to RSVP with count on attending. But not mandatory.

Santa is Arriving Dec. 11 @ Clubhouse

Santa will be available for pictures and to take your children, grandchildren’s wishes between 1 and 3 PM, Saturday Dec. 11. The social committee will provide snacks and crafts for the children. Come on down and see the big guy…

Holiday Light Contest

The social committee will be driving the subdivision picking out the best dressed house again this year. There will be 4 winners selected and given Home Depot gift certificates for their hard work!

Cookie Exchange Dec. 16 7-9 PM

The social committee will be holding a cookie exchange event. Bring 2 dozen cookies to exchange for other cookies brought. Bring your recipe for others. Please bring a beverage of your choice. Also bring a white Elephant gift if you’d like to participate in that. More details are on Facebook.

Ladies Card Game

Tuesday Dec. 14 @ noon at the clubhouse. Bring five $1dollar bills and a dish to share.

Kids Safety

Every year we discuss the need to slow down while driving through the subdivision for safety reasons. Again this is a reminder to slow down and watch for children playing in or near the streets. I’m sure none of us want to have an accident with our neighbors who may not be looking out for you and your vehicle. This is not about who is right, it’s about avoiding a tragedy.

Street and Stop signs

Well Cobb County told us they were going to install the new street signs the week after Thanksgiving, and so far nothing has happened. Surprised? No I’m not, but beware they could be in here anytime and working and that’s what they are doing. If you don’t remember why, this is a new federal law that has required signs to be bigger and more reflective. Our current sign have to be replaced because of this.

Financial Update

As of October 31, 2021 our total assets stand at $533,624. We still have a $20,000 cost for pinestraw that is outstanding when it is delivered. Delinquent accounts are $14,480. Approximately $4,240 has been collected in past due accounts. Delinquent accounts have stayed steady over the year.  Our income is running behind our expenses by over $10,000. Expenses are running higher due to high expense items that were required this year. Additionally we have expensed those items that we use to capitalize. We still expect to end the year close to even and maybe have a positive amount on the ledger.

Signs everywhere a sign

Our covenants state residents cannot place vendor advertising signs in their front yards. We have allowed them for 24 hours after the work was finished. After that they need to be removed.

Landscaping News

Leaves, leaves, leaves.  The landscape company is working frantically to remove the leaves and as of 12/3 they have only two streets to complete before they return to the front and start again.  Pine straw will be applied yet this month and then we’ll be done for the year.  And what a year it has been!  Brightview Landscape Company bought out our very good 4 Seasons Landscape Company early this year and it has been a battle ever since.   Every landscape company had problems getting employees but Brightview had those problems and then some.  With Covid stopping many employees from Mexico from entering the US, often early in the growing season they didn’t have enough employees to send here and weeks would go by before the neighborhood was mowed.  Throughout the season we have seen shoddy work and it was problem getting a proper response.  Only with a call to corporate headquarters were we able to get them to get the leaves up before the pine straw was applied.

Having vented enough I’m glad to report that this is our last year with Brightview.  We will begin the New Year with Atlanta Landscape Group.  They have made many promises and if they deliver on those promises the neighborhood will look as good as it should.  Let’s all pray they deliver so our beleaguered HOA Landscape Coordinator and his committee member have some rest in 2022.

Newspapers in the Driveways

Last notice: Here is another item we’ve discussed many times and continues in some locations over and over. This too will be met with violation letters and fines if necessary to bring the home into compliance. Pick up your unwanted newspapers or stop the subscription. All of these free newspapers have a number to call when you no longer want them.

New Director

Stephanie Davis will be replacing Bill Drake as the ACC Director. Stephanie has been a volunteer for the HOA for years. She is very talented and has a background in coordinating business adventures. She will be an asset to the HOA and the ACC committee. Thank you Stephanie for volunteering your talent and time to us!        

 

Mailbox Numbers

The Board will provide numbers as we have them. The Board will not replace mailbox numbers for you. You will need to do the work yourself or have it done. If you want to replace your own numbers here is a vendor that can provide you with the 2″ Williamsburg Brass Mailbox numbers:

Addresses of Distinction.com, 800-436-1647, 770-436-6198, $3.95 each plus shipping.

 

Thanks for reading,

Don Roach, President and the Board of Centennial Commons, Directors, Bob Weber, Finance & Landscaping, Chuck Whitaker, Amenities, Stephanie Davis, ACC Coordinator  and Shirley Cox, Secretary/Legal.

Letter From the President (Nov 2019)

Jan 13, 2020 | Amenities, Clubhouse Rentals, Community Safety, Community Updates, Financial, Homeowners' Meetings, Landscaping, New Board Members, President Letters, Rules & Regulations, Social Events, Tennis Court

Normally I wouldn’t be sending these out monthly but we had quite a controversial September. I quickly found out that many residents have varying ideas on our community and the Board’s work or involvement in being proactive or reactive. This is not a bad thing actually as the residents need to be concerned about how their Board functions. But if you are uninformed you may make statements that are not true or personal towards others.

But most of these things get started by some type of miscommunication and then just grow wildly. Unfortunately, the wording of the email blast that was sent to the homeowners led some to believe we had already hired the Sabens Group of (3) off-duty police officers to enforce our covenants and protect us from crime in 2020. It was corrected in an answer to a FB post but by then it was drowned out by all types of comments. This was not our intention, and we apologize for this error. However, on the bright side, it did prompt a record number of attendees at the September meeting as well as many emails with residents sharing their thoughts!

Many decided to come to the September open Board meeting (which by the way is the third Monday of every month @ 7 PM) and we had the largest crowd (30+) I’ve ever seen in the 7 or so years I’ve been attending the meetings.  I first explained how the Board and I came in contact with Mike Saben and the error on the email blast that stated we had already made up our mind on hiring the group. We had Mike Saben the founder of the group there to explain their role with HOAs and what services the group provides tp the communities they work for.

Afterward, we had a spirited debate about this subject and many more. Plenty of communication was shared which is a very good thing. A random vote was taken of the attendees for hiring the group and it was 17 for and 12 against (remember you can only cast one vote for each household). Certainly, that vote was a surprise based on Facebook posts. I’m hopeful that most of us that attended came away from the meeting much more informed than when we arrived. An email blast with the meeting minutes will be sent out by the time you receive this letter so read through it and if you have additional questions contact us via email or by attending the next homeowners meeting. There was an error on the blast that stated the percent of the vote was 70% vs 30% when actually it was closer to 60% vs 40%. My second error this year!

This Board will always keep you in the proverbial loop of all big things that are going on with our community. Thanks to all of you that support us and provide us with constructive feedback.

Please, when responding to the Board, be it email or Facebook posts, consider how you would feel if you received what you are sending. In many cases, I doubt that you would like what was written when it is worded in that way. Your words can make a difference in the wrong way. Many Board members have left and others that would be volunteers will not become Board Members because of the stress caused by some of the written vitriol that has been communicated to the Board. When this Board throws in the towel, you better have a plan in place or otherwise, it won’t take long for this community to degrade itself.

Well, I hope you enjoy the rest of the letter and the information within it. We try to provide our homeowners, who cannot make it to the open meetings, the information they need to keep abreast of the activities that they pay for.

 Thanks for reading,      

Don Roach, President

News in the Neighborhood

Time To Think About Being A Board Member

The Board will be losing two very special people this year, Kathy Andregg, Landscaping Director, and Cindi Endsley, ACC Director. We need to have 5 directors, so I’m asking and begging some of you to step up and help the community. We have had help from our volunteers, but we need full-time director help now. If you have some landscaping or supervising background, that would be helpful but not necessary. We will try to find a fit for your skills so you will be comfortable. If you’re interested, please find the form on the website and send it to CMA or to our email site listed at the top of the page. Also consider helping with our volunteer committees.

Upcoming Social Events

Bunco Nov. 16 and Dec. 14 @ 6:30 PM

Bunco is a dice game that is fun and easy to play. Bring $5 per person, a snack dish to share and your drink of choice. We have a social half hour between 6:30 and 7 to meet and greet. Game usually lasts from 7 to 9 or 9:30 dependent on crowd. Come meet your neighbors.

November and December Meeting Dates Combined

The November and December meeting dates have been canceled. One combined meeting will be held on December 9. The open meeting will begin at the normal time of 7 PM.

Attention All Homeowners Who Decorate Their Homes for the Holidays

The Social Committee for the first year will be having a contest for the best Holiday decorated home. There will be a $50.00 Home Depot gift card to the winner. The social committee will decide among all the participating sub-division homes.
We will post the winner on the community bulletin board, Facebook Post and this newsletter. Good Luck!

Game Day for the Ladies

Elaine Drake, Social Leader, sets up a day once a month (Thursday usually) for the ladies to get together to chat and play games. Elaine normally posts the dates, times and particulars on Facebook. Watch the calendar on our website and Facebook for the next date. As info, Dec. 5 is the next date at noon.

Other News

New Ideas

An idea at the September meeting from the crowd to the Board to lessen our workload was us to develop something that could be used by residents to fix issues. Our Secretary will be developing a page on our website which will identify concerns that have been directed to the Board that require either Cobb County Departments, CMA, police, etc. issues to handle. This will help to alleviate answering the same questions, provide phone numbers and educate our residents. This will help you to address your issues versus the Board being an intermediate between you and the problem solver.

Getting a Fire Department Inspection Approval

Recently we were notified by Cobb County Fire Dept. that we never received a final inspection on the added extension of our fitness room. The inspector inspected the entire facility and we found a few items that needed to be repaired or replaced. Most of the failures found were dated so we replaced with new. All the exits signs and floodlights were replaced. The entrance door was switched so it now opens out versus opening in towards the breezeway. This work has been completed and we will be notifying the dept. to give us a final inspection.

Rental Homes

We have 39 homes being rented in the community. Our max is 45 homes. Once we reach that maximum number no more homes will be allowed to rent unless they can show hardship to the Board.

Replacing the Spin Bike

At our Oct. meeting, the Board approved to replace the current spin bike at a cost between $1500 to $2000. The old bike will be sold to a resident before we offer it outside of the community.

Santa Coming

Santa will be at the clubhouse on December 8 from 2 to 3 PM. Santa’s helpers will be there by 1 PM for you to drop off a gift for your young one(s) if you want Santa to give them one while they are telling him what they want for Christmas. Bring your camera for some candid shots!

Landscaping News

We had our 5th front and side yard turf treatment for the growing season on September 18 and 19. The 6th and last one for the season is scheduled for November 6, and I believe it will be a liquid pre-emergent weed application. These turf treatments are at no extra cost to our residents as they are included in your monthly fee, but 4 Seasons does provide backyard treatments for $16.00/treatment as an additional cost to you. If you are new to the neighborhood and would like to get on the backyard treatment list for FUTURE applications you may call Linda Lane at 4 Seasons, 770-452-4455 to sign up.

The treatment of the fungus Spring Dead Spot took place on September 25. We have already planned a September 2020 application to the same areas as we did here in 2019 in anticipation that one application will not be enough. We will be on the lookout for any new spots that show up in later winter and early spring of 2020 to add to the list. 

The lawn maintenance crew will be doing the pruning of our shrubs over the next two months in between blowing and disposing of leaves. Shrubs throughout the subdivision have generally put on very little additional growth since our last pruning in late August/early September. Mowing is not going to be a high priority now so the crew should have more time to do the light pruning that needs to be accomplished at this time. I’d like to mention too that the crew is permitted to dispose of leaves and organic material in our wooded common property BUT not in the actual stream courses where the creek water is running. They are instructed to push the material over the break-in slope so that it is primarily out of view.

Our second and last application of pine straw to our front and side beds will likely be in mid-December after the last of the leaves have fallen and disposed of.

In Case You Missed It…

Bike Rack

If you haven’t noticed, we had a bike rack installed at the tennis court by the walkway to the playground. This will eliminate bikes or other wheeled items from being stored in the breezeway. Remember to lock your stuff at the rack to prevent theft.

Fining for Covenant Violations

The Board prefers to handle violations without fining. In fact, most cases are given many days to correct. But in some egregious violations, the Board can fine immediately and harshly dependent on the violation, safety factor and impact on homeowners. If we do fine immediately, you can request a meeting with the Board to explain your case and the Board may reduce, eliminate or leave the fine as is and will notify you of their decision in writing.

Garage Doors Open

I’m sorry we continue to preach about issues, but each one has its own importance. Leaving your garage door open while not using it or being in or around the garage or front yard leaves your home susceptible to crime.

Additionally, unless you have a beautiful garage it can be an eyesore. That’s why it’s in the covenants to keep your door closed. The Cobb Police department told us they have more home invasions by residents leaving their doors open than any other reason. Not to mention the vermin that can get in and cause havoc with your home. So please keep your door closed when the opening is not being used.

New Residents, Take Note! (from Kathy Andregg)

I have noticed that there are turf treatment signs out at a few resident’s homes during my walks around the neighborhood that do not coincide with our regularly scheduled treatments with Tru-Green through 4 Seasons. 4 Seasons subcontracts out 6 turf treatments during the growing season for your front and side yards so there is no need for a resident to hire a separate company to do your front and side yards. In fact, doing that can actually harm the health of your turf by doubling up on fertilizer and weed control that can weaken and kill your grass.

The 6 turf treatments that we get from Tru-Green are included as part of your monthly dues so they are already paid for. So save your money and let our neighborhood contract with Tru-Green do the work for you.

One other item I will mention, there we will be major changes to our front entrance landscaping in the next month to replace the 16-year-old, over-mature shrubs that we have out there right now and improve sight distance uphill on Woodstock Rd.

Complaints

I know we have addressed this before but bear with me as I try to educate those that may have not read down far enough to see my previous writings on this subject.

  1. The Board does not intend to be your intermediary in any of your disagreements with your neighbors. You need to resolve them if possible with the neighbor. If the offense is covered in the covenants, the violation will be processed through CMA. That’s why we pay for them. The Board has to live with those that live here. We do not take sides except the side of the covenants.
  2. If you are unsure of your available options you can submit your complaint via our website at https://centennialcommonshoa.org under “contact us” or write to us at centennialcommoner@yahoo.com.
  3. You may also contact Melody Daniels at CMA. Melodydaniel@cmacommunities.com. We do prefer you include the Board in your communications with CMA as we can help track the progress and ensure that timely actions are taking place.
  4. As soon as the additional page is up and running on our website, notification of violations and complaints will become easier for homeowners.

5. The Board does not do drive around to look for violations.  CMA does a drive-through twice a month.  But they will not see everything, nor do they know if a car has been parked for a long period of time. If you have an issue, you need to alert them as explained previously. Will it require some pictures, addresses, and information that only you are aware of? YES. So be prepared to provide that if you want resolution.

Roofs

As I’m sure you’re aware of we’ve had problems with the roofing shingles that the original builder installed. Many residents have replaced theirs but there are many more homes that may need it to be done. The insurance companies and roofers are well aware of our issues so be careful with both. Review your insurance contract yearly as some insurance companies are writing in a different coverage for roofs that may raise your deductible for a replacement. Others are insisting on partial replacements (that most likely would be unacceptable to the HOA) or temporary repairs until what time the roof runs out of life and or they will only pay a small portion of the cost. Also, be very careful of whom you hire as some of these companies go out of business within one or two years and who would you go back against for poor workmanship if they no longer exist.

Dog Feces

We have received many complaints regarding homeowners who walk their dogs and do not pick up after their dog. The residents have asked us to do something about this. As much as we agree that this is a very inconsiderate action, neither the board nor CMA has any recourse to this action without specific information.

In order to notify CMA to issue a violation, we must have either the dog owner’s name and/or address.  Also, if possible take a photo and include it, It would be helpful.  Just a photo by itself, without any other information, renders us helpless to pursue the homeowner. All names of those filing a complaint are kept completely confidential as we protect the privacy of our homeowners.

Parking

The covenants prohibit parking on the street. Consistent violators will be fined. Also if you’re unavailable to move your car at any time you are in violation of the fire code and could be ticketed according to Cobb County Police. Our streets are too narrow to allow parking in the street. If you need to park your car short term, try to park on one (right) side of the street. Don’t create a blockage (where two vehicles are face to face) on the road and be mindful of your neighbor’s ability to get out of their driveway.

New Violation Letter Verbiage Coming

CMA will be sending new violation letters with different wording in the letter. This wording has been approved by the Board so as to be more uniform and to be aligned with the covenants.

The gest of it is this, your letter will have the violation indicated, and it will give you 3 options and 10 days to notify CMA of your plan. The options are:

  1. Fix it and notify CMA when it’s completed before the 10 day period
  2. Plan to fix it and the date that it will be fixed outside of the 10 day period if needed, you need to notify CMA within the 10-day window.
  3. Contest it and ask for a Board Meeting, and notify CMA within the 10 days of your decision.

If CMA does not hear from you within the allotted 10 days another letter will be sent with the date the fine(s) have begun and they will continue until what time you notify CMA of one of the three items listed above.

We expect that this will bring about quicker resolutions, reduce additional letters, postage and other headaches caused by deferring violations with multiple notices. Once you’ve corrected the violation and you continue to violate the same offense at a later date that additional offense can be fined without a 10 day notice. This will be noted in the violation letter.

Homeowners Must Be Present with any Visitors Using the Amenities

If you or your family bring or allows visitors to use the HOA amenities, some adults from your household must be with them continuously while they are using the amenities.  We have had numerous occasions of visitors who are unaware of our rules and become offended when we tell them to follow the rules and procedures. Please help us with this issue.

Pickleball

The pickleball group had started back up playing with the warmer weather arriving but things sort of stopped because of a lack of players.  If you are interested in playing let us know at centennialcommoner@yahoo.com. A paddle and balls are supplied so all you need to do is wear comfortable clothing and tennis shoes.

Instructions will be provided. They usually play every Saturday at 10 AM until June and then move the time back to 9 AM due to the Atlanta heat.

Volunteers

We are looking for resident volunteers for committees for the 2020 Season.  If you have a little extra time and would like to help, please email us at centennialcommoner@yahoo.com.

Tennis Court Usage

The tennis courts are made for playing tennis and pickleball. Any other activities can result in damage to the courts, nets, and fencing. Skateboarding and roller blades will result in damage to the surface. Additionally, proper footwear is required to protect the surface and the user. The costs to maintain the courts are in the thousands and therefore we need to follow the procedures for playing at the courts. Please respect this amenity.

Facebook Page

Our Facebook page is the best and fastest way to get immediate information regarding the subdivision, i.e.; looking for recommendations on home issues, posting events in the community, lost dogs, found dogs, and yes, even our recent bear sighting! If you have not already done so, please go to CCHOA in Acworth on Facebook and ask to join the group. We need to remind homeowners that this page is not somewhere to post a personal grievance that you feel the board should handle.  The board does not handle the CCHOA business via FB. If you want the board to act on a complaint, make sure to send an email to centennialcommoner@yahoo.com.  Your email will be forwarded to the proper person to handle. (Make sure to take the time to read the conduct policy regarding all posts.)

In-Home Businesses

There are certain restrictions in our Covenants for running a business out of your home.   Refer to Article 8.1 Residential Use for a detailed explanation.

Email

The other way to get information is to join our email list. You are getting this because we have your email information and can send you important information quickly. If your neighbor doesn’t know why they are not getting this, it’s because the Secretary, Shirley Cox, does not have their info. Tell them to drop her a line at shirleycchoa@gmail.com. And she will add you to our community email list.

Thanks for reading!

Don Roach, President and the Board of Centennial Commons, Directors, Kathy Andregg, Landscape, Chuck Whitaker, Amenities, Cindi Endsley, ACC Coordinator and Shirley Cox, Secretary

 

Letter From the President (Nov, Dec 2018)

Jan 17, 2019 | Amenities, Budget, Clubhouse Rentals, Community Safety, Community Updates, Financial, Homeowners' Meetings, Landscaping, Meeting, New Board Members, President Letters, Rules & Regulations, Social Events, Tennis Court

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

 

Ahh, the last letter of 2018, is that a good thing? The year has sped by quickly. Many of us are trying to get ready for the holidays. Hectic times this time of year. Luckily the HOA is in great shape and needs only fine-tuning before the New Year.

You should be receiving or received a mailing from CMA with the 2019 ballot, budget and CMA payment coupons enclosed. Review the budget and the ballot and please vote one of the ways listed in the mailing. We need 20% of the homes to vote to establish a quorum to proceed with our Board and 2019 Budget. We will have again, all-day voting at the clubhouse on Jan. 21, 2019 from 7 AM to 7 PM. You can drop off your ballot that day if you like, a Board member will be there to assist you in your voting or take your ballot. You will need to sign the sign-in sheet when you vote at the clubhouse.

There are very minute differences between the 2018 & 2019 budgets. The Board feels that our 2018 planning was close to the actual expenditures. We were under budget and that was good. So some minor tweaking with a little more here and a little less there and wallah we have our 2019 budget. The nicest thing about our budget is there will be no increase in the monthly fees!

I will let you get back to your busy schedules with a thought on what is becoming our most complained about issue, parking in the streets. If you need to park in the street make it a short stay and have your neighbors and emergency vehicles in mind in your placement of the vehicle. Expect to receive violation letters and fines if you can’t abide by those two items. Remember large vehicles and trailers are not permitted in the subdivision and any parking of them has to approved by the Board prior to and removed promptly after the allotted time allowed.
The Board wishes everyone a Safe and Joyous Holiday season and we look forward to 2019 with all of you.

Thanks for reading,
Don Roach, President

Open Board Meetings

The December Open meeting was held on Dec. 4. This meeting combined the November and December meetings together to better fit the Board members schedules. The regularly scheduled December 17 meeting is canceled. The next meeting will be Jan. 21, 2019 @ 7 PM. This will be our annual meeting where ballots will be counted by CMA and a resident volunteer(s) and announced if we have a quorum of votes. Once that is established the 5 Board members selected will go into executive session to select the Board Officers, (President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer). Only emergency types of issues will be handled by the new Board if needed. The meeting will be adjourned and the new Board will select officer titles and those will be communicated to the residents.

Some Q&A will be discussed during the counting of the votes but the normal operation of an open meeting will not take place.

New Years Eve at the Clubhouse

New Years Eve Casino Night

What – Casino Games and Board Games and Celebration
When – Dec. 31
Time – 8 PM to Midnight
Cost – $5 per person to help cut the costs of raffle prizes and casino personnel.
Where – Centennial Commons Clubhouse
Bring – Your drink of choice and a snack to share with others. The HOA will provide a ham and buns.
Games – White Tie Casino will provide 2 Blackjack tables and a roulette table and dealers.
Other Games – not casino related will be played also i.e. rummy cube etc.
Each participant will be given the same amount of chips to gamble.

The games will end at 11 PM and prizes will be raffled off and award(s) for best gambler(s) luckiest person(s).

We will watch the ball drop on the big screen at midnight and smooch our favorite person and hug our neighbors (optional).

Clean up and conclusion of all activities shortly after midnight.

Come have fun and meet some neighbors

– CCHOA Social Committee

Landscaping News

4 Seasons will likely be blowing leaves into the third week in December ahead of the 2nd pine straw distribution scheduled to start the week of December 17. The yard crew will be here only a couple of days per week for the next 3 months.

The contractor for pine straw will be hauling the bales in multiple loads in stake-side trucks and off-loading them in piles along the roads. They may spill onto the edge of the roads or the sidewalks but they will get it cleaned up as they spread them out. They will tuck the straw into your beds after the applications. We ask that you be patient as they work thru this.

Our 1st turf application of 2019 will likely be a liquid pre-emergent for weeds and that won’t occur until February.

In other news we had a contractor remove four tall Arborvitae trees on either side of our 2 entrance signs and he removed a bush that was blocking our view of Woodstock Rd. on the uphill side as you leave the subdivision for better visibility and safety.

Roofs

As I’m sure you’re aware of we’ve had problems with the roofing shingles that the original builder installed. Many residents have replaced theirs but there are many more homes that may need it to be done. The insurance companies and roofers are well aware of our issues so be careful with both. Review your insurance contract each year as some insurance companies are writing in a different coverage for roofs that may raise your deductible for a replacement. Others are insisting on partial replacements (that most likely would be unacceptable to the HOA) or temporary repairs until what time the roof runs out of life and or they will only pay a small portion of the cost. Also be very careful of whom you hire as some of these companies go out of business within one or two years and who would you go back against for poor workmanship if they no longer exist.

Other Previous Topics (previously published, but good information)

Holiday Decorations: Remember to put decorations in the pine straw. Decorations should be removed promptly after the holiday is over. Thank you.

2019 Year: We are looking for resident volunteers for committees for the 2019 Season. If you have a little extra time and would like to help, please email us at centennialcommoner@yahoo.com.

In-home Businesses: There are restrictions in our Covenants for running a business out of your home. Refer to Article 8.1 Residential Use for a detailed explanation.

Clubhouse Rentals Issues: We find that when there are children present at clubhouse rentals or when using the amenities at the clubhouse they become bored and will entertain themselves either in the hallway or enter the fitness room when they are not of age. You the parent are responsible for their behavior. Please keep an eye on your children or your guests to make sure no one is injured or property is damaged. You the key holder will be held accountable.

Dog Feces: We have received many complaints regarding homeowners who walk their dogs and do not pick up after their dog. The residents have asked us to do something about this. As much as we agree that this is a very inconsiderate action, neither the board nor CMA has any recourse to this action without specific information. In order to notify CMA to issue a violation, we must have either the dog owners name and/or address. Also, if possible take a photo and include it, would be helpful. Just a photo by itself, without any other information, renders us helpless to pursue the homeowner. All names of those filing a complaint are kept completely confidential as we protect the privacy of our homeowners.

Facebook page: Our Facebook page is the best and fastest way to get immediate information regarding the subdivision, (i.e. looking for recommendations on home issues, posting events in the community, lost dogs, found dogs, and yes, even our recent bear sighting!). If you have not already done so, please go to “CCHOA in Acworth” on Facebook and ask to join the group.

***We need to remind homeowners that this page is not somewhere to post a personal grievance that you feel the board should handle. If you want the board to act on a complaint, make sure to send an email to centennialcommoner@yahoo.com. Your email will be forwarded to the proper person to handle. (Make sure to take the time to read the conduct policy regarding all posts.)

Email: The other way to get information is to join our email list. You are getting this because we have your email information and can send you important information quickly. If your neighbor doesn’t know why they are not getting this, it’s because the Secretary, Shirley Cox, does not have their info. Tell them to drop her a line at shirleycchoa@gmail.com. And she will add you to our community email list.

Use of Amenities: A homeowner must be present with any visitors using the amenities. If you or your family brings or allows visitors to use the HOA amenities, at least one adult from your household must be present continuously while the guest(s) are using the amenities. We have had numerous occasions of visitors who are unaware of our rules and become offended when we tell them to follow the rules and procedures. Please help us with this issue.

New Game Day for the Ladies: Recently Elaine Drake set up a day once a month for the ladies to get together to chat and play games. The first one was June 28 and I heard it was fun and a success. Elaine normally posts the dates, times and particulars on Facebook. Currently, there are no new dates for 2018. Watch the calendar for the next date.

Bunco 6:30 PM: Our next Bunco is Jan 12th. Please bring $5 to play and a dish to share and whatever type of refreshment you’d like to drink while playing. Bunco is a simple dice game and can be easily learned during the playing of the game.

Tennis Court Usage: The tennis courts are made for playing tennis and pickle ball. Any other activities can result in damage to the courts, nets and fencing. Skateboarding and roller blades will result in damage to the surface.

Additionally, proper footwear is required to protect the surface and the user. The costs to maintain the courts are in the thousands and therefore we need to follow the procedures for playing at the courts. Please respect this amenity.

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY!

Thanks for reading,
Don Roach, President and the Board of Centennial Commons

Letter From the President (Oct 2018)

Nov 12, 2018 | Amenities, Clubhouse Rentals, Community Safety, Community Updates, Homeowners' Meetings, Landscaping, Meeting, President Letters, Rules & Regulations, Social Events

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

The Board is working hard to finish 2018 projects so we don’t have carryover expenditures into 2019. We have many budget items that carry financial implications every year. In addition, there are areas where we see a need for improvements to our landscaping and amenities that became obvious to the team in 2018. Three such items have come to our attention and I will note them as follows:

  1. Our pool has had an increase in usage year over year and the filtration system has had a hard time keeping up. The Board voted at the Sept. meeting to replace the current system with a larger more efficient system which will cost us about 5K dollars. We could have done a major overhaul at 10K but decided to make this a 2 step replacement as we see what the results are for the new filtration system. The second step can come anytime down the road dependent on our pool usage and results.
  2. Our pine straw distribution has remained the same for quite a few years. We have noticed the bales of straw are becoming smaller but the price has remained the same. The Board has two choices facing it for 2019 increase the amount of straw per household or maybe go with a colored mulch. Replacing the straw initially with mulch is very costly, 60K, but after the initial cost,  the year to year cost is basically the same. The Board has tabled this issue to be discussed at the October meeting.
  3. The basketball court is showing signs of age and will need a new paint job and some shoring up in areas where the ground is sliding or washing away.

As you can see we have some decisions to make going forward on keeping our community a favorite place to live.

Lastly, and I might add, disappointingly, we need to speak to the delinquencies that exist in our HOA. The Board has tried to be aggressive but yet understanding in these matters. We have tried to keep the cost of collections down by using a collection agency (GAR) instead of our legal team. But even with these measures, we have some homeowners who are about to reach 2 years in arrears. Normally, once the lawyers become involved we are close to beginning the process to foreclose. Our new POA rules allow the HOA to foreclose on these delinquent homes. That is a very costly measure for both parties, and if taken to a sheriff’s auction, the homeowner can be evicted from their home. We believe, and have been instructed by our legal team, it is the best way for an HOA to collect the monies owed at this point. Now I’m not naïve enough to believe those that owe us these amounts are going to read this and change. My purpose is to inform you of the decision making that goes on so when you see the legal costs rise in our budget expense you know what we are doing.

That’s enough comments from me. I hope this letter finds you healthy and happy to be living here in Centennial Commons! Until next time…

Thanks for reading,

Don Roach, President

 

LANDSCAPING

The last pruning of our shrubs should be done by the end of October. The 2nd dressing of pine straw will be done in December after the last leaf blowing effort.

Lawns:  Growth season is over and our lawns will be cut every other week.  Please remember to NOT MOW YOUR OWN FRONT LAWNS!  That is part of our HOA Covenants and the responsibility of our Landscaping Company.

Decorations:  Remember to put decorations in the pine straw. The covenants do not allow materials in the mowing areas. During mowing season, it is difficult to mow front lawns around an abundance of decorations.

Elections

The covenants allow one sign 2’ X 2’ to be placed in your yard (in the pine straw) 2 weeks prior to voting and must be removed immediately after the election.

The 2019 Year

We are looking for resident volunteers for committees for the 2019 Season.  If you have a little extra time and would like to help, please email us at centennialcommoner@yahoo.com   Also, if you would like to add your name to the ballot for the board, email Melodydaniel@cmacommunities.com

Legal

The board has decided to change our attorney firms.  Effective November 1st, Winter, Capriola Zenner will be representing Centennial Commons in all matters that will be ongoing into 2019. We will be using our current attorney firm for small and non-litigious matters until their contract is up at the end of the year.

Clubhouse Rentals Issues

We find that when there are children present at clubhouse rentals or when using the amenities at the clubhouse they become bored and will entertain themselves either in the hallway or enter the fitness room when they are not of age. You the parent are responsible for their behavior. Please keep an eye on your children or your guests to make sure no one is injured or property is damaged. You the key holder will be held accountable.

Facebook Page

Our Facebook page is the best and fastest way to get immediate information regarding the subdivision, i.e.; looking for recommendations on home issues, posting events in the community, lost dogs, found dogs, and yes, even our recent bear sighting! If you have not already done so, please go to CCHOA in Acworth on Facebook and ask to join the group.

We need to remind homeowners that this page is not somewhere to post a personal grievance that you feel the board should handle.  If you want the board to act on a complaint, make sure to send an email to centennialcommoner@yahoo.com.  Your email will be forwarded to the proper person to handle.

(Make sure to take the time to read the conduct policy regarding all posts.)  

Pool News

Pool season is closed.

Email

The other way to get information is to join our email list. You are getting this because we have your email information and can send you important information quickly. If your neighbor doesn’t know why they are not getting this, it’s because the Secretary, Shirley Cox does not have their info. Tell them to drop her a line at shirleycchoa@gmail.com. And she will add you to our community email list.

In-Home Businesses

There are restrictions in our Covenants for running a business out of your home.   Refer to Article 8.1 Residential Use for a detailed explanation.

Dog Feces

We have received many complaints regarding homeowners who walk their dogs and do not pick up after their dog. The residents have asked us to do something about this. As much as we agree that this is a very inconsiderate action, neither the board nor CMA has any recourse to this action without specific information.  In order to notify CMA to issue a violation, we must have the dog owners name and/or address.  Also, if possible, take a photo and include it with your request.  Just a photo alone, with no other information, renders us helpless to pursue the homeowner. All names of those filing a complaint are kept completely confidential as we protect the privacy of our homeowners.

Homeowners must be present with any visitors using the amenities

If you or your family bring or allow visitors to use the HOA amenities some adult from your household must be with them continuously while they are using the amenities.  We have had numerous occasions of visitors who are unaware of our rules and become offended when we tell them to follow the rules and procedures. Please help us with this issue.

New Game Day for the Ladies

Recently Elaine Drake set up a day once a month for the ladies to get together to chat and play games. The first one was June 28, and I heard it was fun and a success. Elaine normally posts the dates, times, and particulars on Facebook. Currently, there are no new dates for 2018. Watch the calendar for the next date.

Bunco 6:30 PM

Our next Bunco is November 10th.   Please bring $5 to play and a dish to share and whatever type of refreshment you’d like to drink while playing. Bunco is a simple dice game and can be easily learned during

the playing of the game. Nov. 10 is the next scheduled date. 

Tennis Court Usage

The tennis courts are made for playing tennis and pickleball. Any other activities can result in damage to the courts, nets, and fencing. Skateboarding and roller blades will result in damage to the surface.

Additionally, proper footwear is required to protect the surface and the user. The costs to maintain the courts are in the thousands and therefore we need to follow the procedures for playing at the courts. Please respect this amenity.

Thanks for reading,

Don Roach, President and the Board of Centennial Commons

Letter From the President (Jul, Aug 2018)

Sep 12, 2018 | Amenities, Clubhouse Rentals, Community Safety, Community Updates, Homeowners' Meetings, Landscaping, Meeting, President Letters, Rules & Regulations, Social Events, Tennis Court

Letter From the President (Jul, Aug 2018)

The summer is almost half over already and our 90 degree days have set in now until mid-September. The pool will be open until late September depending on the weather. Our pool volunteers will spring into action in August as we lose our monitors during the week. We will still have lifeguards on the weekends up to and including Labor Day. Hopefully, everyone will police themselves and others to ensure the pool is kept clean. Bob Weber and his team have done a great job this summer with the pool. Thank them when you get a chance as that’s all they get paid…

As every 4th of July comes and goes we are reminded of the day, sometimes for days on end, with loud fireworks being exploded around and in our community. I’m all for some summer fun as long as it’s done safely and does not expose homeowners to continuing the abuse of noise and debris. I will ask the Board to tackle this issue at our next executive meeting. I think with the closeness of the homes in Centennial Commons it’s only a matter of time before something tragic happens.

Our current covenants state there are no fireworks allowed on the common property. If your complaint involves something other than common property, it will need to be directed to Cobb County.

The July Open meeting is canceled and the next meeting date will be August 20 at 7 PM.

I do hope all of you have had a terrific summer so far and enjoy the season for its remaining months. The Board and the volunteers will try to make that happen to the best of our abilities…

Please take the time to read this important information. Thanks!

Don Roach, President

—————————————————————————

Easement Update
We had a meeting with the developer at our last Executive meeting and he stated he expected to have the land ready for building homes in 3 months. We asked him if he could take down a stand of trees that still block our view to the northeast and he said he would! He also has removed some trees that are concerns of the residents along Centennial Commons View. He did say that some tree trimming was limited by Cherokee County Arborists. He’s not sure when he will be tapping into our sewer but he will give us a heads up when that occurs. He does not expect it to interfere with our entrance for much more than 4 hours or so…

Pool News
Pool Parties will be on the following dates July 14 and Aug. 18. Pool parties run 4-8 PM with the social committee providing the entertainment, meat, and fixings with plates, napkins etc. You bring a side dish for others to enjoy and make sure you pick up your dish before leaving. Takeouts are not permitted unless the committee is closing and cleaning up and offering the food to the remaining residents. Absolutely no food or drinks are allowed in the pool. Extra lifeguards are employed to handle the larger crowds on these dates. Hope to see you there!

The Front of Your Home
How your home looks affects buyers for your neighbor’s homes. This is why the Board and the ACC has restrictions on the view of our homes. How you maintain those looks depends on exceptions taken by CMA, ACC or the Board. Letters are sent when you are not complying with these reasonable restrictions.

If you are not in agreement you can appeal but the final decision is the Boards and fines will be imposed to get compliance. Please take the time to improve your curb appeal so we don’t have disagreements. Remember any improvements made or changes to your home have to be approved by the ACC first.

What Reasonably Can You Expect
Recently we have had homeowners reach out to the Board and ask us to get involved in various activities that other homeowners are doing that they don’t agree with. That probably is not going to happen. If it’s a dog issue you need to reach out to Cobb County Animal Control. If it’s an illegal activity you need to contact Cobb County Police. If it’s a rule violation you need to contact CMA.

If its destruction of amenities then you need to contact the police or a Board member dependent on the severity of the action. Board members cannot be expected to put themselves in harm’s way trying to fix whatever you’re upset with.

Lastly, if you’re upset with something, be an adult about the situation and calmly describe what is that is bothering you. The Board is not your whipping posts. I have told the members not to take verbal abuse written or orally. If it’s a landscaping issue remember it’s not Kathy that is mowing your yard it’s a vendor. Be mad at the vendor. If the pool is dirty how do you think it got that way? Could be overuse or an equipment malfunction and those are not reasons to blame a Board member, is it? Let’s be civil instead of controversial. Thanks.

Landscaping News
Our next turf treatment (which is free to all residents on their FRONT AND SIDE lawns) will be sometime late July and it likely will be a liquid applied fertilizer.

4 Seasons is still willing to continue offering backyard treatments for $16/treatment but you need to contact their office as soon as you can for consideration of being on the list for the July treatment. The number you need to call is 770-452-4455 and speak to Linda Lane. Those of you that have been getting backyard turf treatments do not need to do anything else.

The pine straw distribution that was scheduled for the 1st or 2nd week of June got significantly delayed due to an industry shortage of the preferred long needled variety of pine straw. The pine straw is now being spread as we write this newsletter and likely be completed by July 12 or 13. The second pine straw distribution (we have two a year) is in December.  The lawn maintenance crew will be doing spot herbicide treatment in the pine straw beds where it won’t endanger your shrubs or plantings throughout the rest of the summer and if you have weeds in among your shrubs please send a message to the CCHOA Website and let me know so we can forward it onto 4 Seasons for them to hand pull. They’ll be on the lookout for these situations but sometimes in the effort to get the yards mowed it is overlooked.

Finally, the next pruning of our shrubs will be about late July or early August. A word of warning to all of our residents concerning pruning issues and edging, 4 Seasons tries to make sure they avoid cables and lines that are easy to see but many times the cable companies do not adequately bury their cables making it impossible for them to avoid. Take some time to check yours and if you see them exposed, please have the cable companies come out and bury them deeper so as to prevent a break in your service.

– Kathy

Homeowners must be present with any visitors using the amenities.
If you or your family bring or allow visitors to use the HOA amenities some adult from your household must be with them continuously while they are using the amenities. We have had numerous occasions of visitors who are unaware of our rules and become offended when we tell them to follow the rules and procedures. Please help us with this issue.

New Game Day For the Ladies
Recently Elaine Drake set up a day once a month for the ladies to get together to chat and play games. The first one was June 28 and I heard it was fun and a success. The next one will be on July 26 at noon. Come and enjoy the comradery. Elaine normally posts the dates, times and particulars on Facebook.

Changes in Renting the Clubhouse
A new rental form is on our website. A new Clubhouse Rental Form has been posted on our website for you to fill out if renting the clubhouse. A few changes that you will see include the hours to hold your event which will be a maximum of 6 hours.

You will still be given all-day access to set up and clean up but the event hours will be limited to 6 hours. Why? We have found events running long have built-in hazards especially if there are children and or alcohol involved. Children tend to get bored after a while and will create their own fun with whatever is available when other activities are not provided. Alcohol use after 6 hours is not safe for anyone and we don’t need the resulting problems that come with that. Additionally, when we looked at other community rentals they limit their times to 4 hours or less.

Another issue will be leaving the clubhouse no later than 11:59 PM. If you overstay your time you could lose your deposit or be charged at the least another day rental. Also, the furniture must stay in the clubhouse and not be put outside the clubhouse. The rolling chairs were purchased at over $700 apiece and we do not need them outside and being used as toys. If you are having participants i.e. young children you may want to use the fold-out tables and chairs for their use.

When you rent the clubhouse, you are responsible for the heating and cooling system. Make sure to return to its original setting. If you change the temperature the system will accommodate your desire and eventually return to the settings we have established when not in use. If you change the temperature and hit “hold”, that temperature will continue until someone releases it. This causes an unnecessary cost to all of us because of the renter not releasing the hold. Your compliance in this is expected and could affect your $200 deposit. Additionally, if you do damage to the facility we need to know immediately. If you don’t notify us we may not be able to repair the damage because of the amount of time that has elapsed, especially with stains. In those cases, you will be assessed the cost of either replacing the property or fixing it.

We believe these changes will preserve the investments we made in the clubhouse and will provide better guidelines for the homeowner renting the facility.

Paper Delivery
There have been some complaints about the Sunday ad papers that are delivered. If you don’t want these ads delivered, call them (AJC) at 404-522-4141 and tell them you want to cease delivery. They will stop delivering.

The following are Previous News Articles but good info…

Tennis Court Usage
The tennis courts are made for playing tennis and pickleball. Any other activities can result in damage to the
courts, nets, and fencing. Skateboarding and roller blades will result in damage to the surface.
Additionally, proper footwear is required to protect the surface and the user. The costs to maintain the courts are
in the thousands and therefore we need to follow the procedures for playing at the courts. Please respect this
amenity.

Pickle Ball
The pickleball group is playing on Saturdays at 9 AM. You can find out more about this group on our website.
You can email Bob Dougherty @ bobron6@bellsouth.net for more information. New players are welcome.
Paddles and balls are provided.

Bunco 6:30 PM
Bunco will not be played during June, July, and August.

Free Library
In the walkway to the fitness room, a bookcase is full of books. The smaller one has children books. You may
take a book to read or you may leave a book for others to read. Feel free to use this trade-off. Tracy Gibson is
the owner of this process you can contact her at tracygibson2004@gmail.com.

Thanks for reading,
Don Roach, President and the Board of Centennial Commons

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