Many thanks to those who attended the annual Incline Pines Homeowners Association annual members’ meeting. For those who couldn’t make it, we provide the following recap.
Record snowfall and the coming winter season
Following an epic winter season that led to record expenditures for snow removal, HOA president Heidi Burton happily reported Incline Pines made it through the season with minimal damage. However, the HOA is moving to a new snow removal contractor this fall after our longtime contractor Mark Etcheberry decided to wind things down. We thank Mark for his many years of excellent service.
The Board and community manager Janet Krautstrunk will meet with a new snow removal contractor on Sept. 20 who promises to make Incline Pines a top priority this coming winter and will place his company’s equipment on our property for the entire season for a faster response.
Painting and roof repairs/replacements
Village Painting finished seven units, bringing to 30 the number of homes that have been painted in the past three years. Heidi said she hopes the remaining ten units will be painted next year.
The HOA is also in transition with our roofing contracts. The Board cancelled a contract with a previous roofer who’s “pandemic pricing” was at least double the going rate. Our new roofing contractor has accepted a deposit and will focus on homes with the greatest need. Labor availability continues to be a problem in the Tahoe Basin, so if the contractor is unable to finish the priority roofs before winter, we will make arrangements for emergency patch work to get them through the season.
Defensible space and fire insurance
Insurance could become our community’s biggest challenge in the coming years. Underwriters are either pulling out of the market or charging exorbitant premiums. In an effort to keep our coverage (and in the event of a wildfire, save our homes) community volunteers led by board member Doug Filipponi and owners Jeff Unverferth and Mark Burton have been clearing manzanita and tobacco bushes that could threaten nearby structures.
Incline Pines faces an additional fire threat from bark beetles, which are killing trees in our community. Rockwood Tree Service removed five dead or dying trees this season and may take down two more before winter. The company owner and arborist will provide the HOA with a long-range plan to improve our fire safety in the coming years.
Architectural requests
Incline Pines has an active architectural committee that has been reviewing architectural requests as they are submitted. Board member Renee Meldrum reported 13 applications and resubmittals from eight different owners during the past fiscal year.
Renee said one of the challenges the committee faces is the lack of awareness by owners of the difference between the narrowly-defined limited common area– available for owner improvements, and the common area– the space shared by all 40 owners and not available for individual improvements.
The architectural committee is working on a guide to deck designs, colors and materials to help streamline the approval process.
Renee is also the HOA’s treasurer, and reported the improving health of community’s reserve fund thanks to the $5,000 special assessment and increased dues.
New signage and safety bollards
The signs and broken-down bollards at the entrance to Incline Pines don’t represent our community very well. The HOA has begun the process of replacing the worst wooden posts with 42″ square bollards set on a concrete footing with the ultimate goal of replacing all of them as the budget allows. The HOA is also planning to replace the multiple signs at the entrance with cleaner and more clear signage.
Other items
Board vice president George Warren reported the surveillance camera and new signage at the dumpsters has already paid for itself with a nearly $700 settlement from the owner of a company whose pickup truck was involved in a dumping violation in July.
A second surveillance camera has been added at the hairpin turn next to Unit 20 following some suspicious activity in the neighborhood. It’s also capturing wrong-way drivers, who don’t appear to be residents or guests.
Please note these cameras are not routinely monitored and we rely on reports from owners to review recorded video.
The next regularly scheduled HOA board meeting will take place Thursday, Oct. 19 at 5:00 via Zoom.