55+ Communities (Dover, Rehoboth Beach: tree removal, township, contracts)

[rdlr]

Originally Posted by NYJoe

Speaking of which, when is Apple-Scrapple Festival this year?

Usually, October.

[NYJoe]

Originally Posted by rdlr

Usually, October.

Count me IN!!!

[Goin'2DE]

As most in Delaware already know, we had an excess of snowfall this winter. Under normal weather conditions, fees for snow removal from our walks and driveways is included in our monthly HOA fee. OOps...we went over budget this year like many cities here in the Mid Atlantic. As a result, our homeowners had to take a vote on reassessment of our snow removal budget and will be charged a one time fee to make up for the budget shortfall. It is not a painful amount of money. I'm just curious as to whether this has occurred in any of the other 55+ communities here in Delaware?

[rdlr]

Originally Posted by Goin'2DE

As most in Delaware already know, we had an excess of snowfall this winter. Under normal weather conditions, fees for snow removal from our walks and driveways is included in our monthly HOA fee. OOps...we went over budget this year like many cities here in the Mid Atlantic. As a result, our homeowners had to take a vote on reassessment of our snow removal budget and will be charged a one time fee to make up for the budget shortfall. It is not a painful amount of money. I'm just curious as to whether this has occurred in any of the other 55+ communities here in Delaware?

Goin.....Just general knowledge I've collected over the years - This is not the first I've heard of 55+ communities asking for more $. It's no secret, it just costs more to live in a community, because obviously, everything is done for the seniors. But many love it, and I know you do.

For purposes of comparison (although no comparison) In our little Town of Wyoming, having 1400 people, costs were just released for snow removal over the winter. 17 hours of overtime and a total of $386 paid to our town maintenance man. We set aside x amount of town money for snow removal (salt) and it's stored at a local business. Many in town do the snow removal work for nothing, with their scrapers, snow blowers, and shovels. Here, it's always a party! We have no Homeowners Association Fee but pay a town tax, which covers everything, including taxes of course, 2 times a week of garbage pickup, bulk pickup, recycle pickup, and garden/leaf pickup. It also includes 24 hour police protection and salaries for 3 police officers. My yearly bill for all of the above is much less than $500.00 . Very different scenario than a 55+ community, but I'd say more than half of us are 55+. This is an old-fashioned town where the younger do for the older, and we operate on a frugal budget. And, we still have money left over parties and events. Different lifestyle, I know, then in a 55+ community.

[nuts2uiam]

Here in my non 55+ community we got a wonderful surprise for the new year, our HOA fees decreased by $43 per quarter. The HOA board did a 5 year facilities study and found that we were in great shape and our reserve fund was well in excess of what was needed. Personally I would rather have continued to pay it to avoid a future hit, but the results of the 5 year study make it senseless in combination with the reserve fund.

There will be another 5 year study ordered in 2017 and we will see where it goes from there.

RDLR, I probably would have loved to live in your community as that is what I came from. I married and bought 21 houses from my parents home. The reason we chose here was that we love the beach and being totally new to the area we felt we needed the community aspect to live in. We are delighted to be here too, but Wyoming sounds just like a place I could easily fit in.

[rdlr]

That's wonderful, Nuts!!! I never heard of those fees going Down!

Your community really looks great! I was in there just the other day....lots of activity, more new homes, and everything is very well maintained.

[mtnest130]

Originally Posted by Goin'2DE

As most in Delaware already know, we had an excess of snowfall this winter. Under normal weather conditions, fees for snow removal from our walks and driveways is included in our monthly HOA fee. OOps...we went over budget this year like many cities here in the Mid Atlantic. As a result, our homeowners had to take a vote on reassessment of our snow removal budget and will be charged a one time fee to make up for the budget shortfall. It is not a painful amount of money. I'm just curious as to whether this has occurred in any of the other 55+ communities here in Delaware?

In Spring Arbor we went over our snow budget too but we do not have to pay anything extra. Since we have not had much snow the last few years that money went into the reserve and that money will pay the excess this year. We have an excelent finance committee here.

[retiree2011]

Originally Posted by rdlr

Goin.....Just general knowledge I've collected over the years - This is not the first I've heard of 55+ communities asking for more $. It's no secret, it just costs more to live in a community, because obviously, everything is done for the seniors. But many love it, and I know you do.

For purposes of comparison (although no comparison) In our little Town of Wyoming, having 1400 people, costs were just released for snow removal over the winter. 17 hours of overtime and a total of $386 paid to our town maintenance man. We set aside x amount of town money for snow removal (salt) and it's stored at a local business. Many in town do the snow removal work for nothing, with their scrapers, snow blowers, and shovels. Here, it's always a party! We have no Homeowners Association Fee but pay a town tax, which covers everything, including taxes of course, 2 times a week of garbage pickup, bulk pickup, recycle pickup, and garden/leaf pickup. It also includes 24 hour police protection and salaries for 3 police officers. My yearly bill for all of the above is much less than $500.00 . Very different scenario than a 55+ community, but I'd say more than half of us are 55+. This is an old-fashioned town where the younger do for the older, and we operate on a frugal budget. And, we still have money left over parties and events. Different lifestyle, I know, then in a 55+ community.

You make your town sound so attractive (and I know that it is, having driven thru it on earlier trips to DE). I still think you should write a weekly column on Delaware living. You know so much and have such a great way of telling a story.

[retiree2011]

Originally Posted by mtnest130

In Spring Arbor we went over our snow budget too but we do not have to pay anything extra. Since we have not had much snow the last few years that money went into the reserve and that money will pay the excess this year. We have an excelent finance committee here.

How is your snow removal budget handled? I live in a condo in CT and for years we had the same snow removal service. In the winter of 2011-2012, it only snowed once, a couple of inches. He was paid what his contract called for for the season. Then last winter, it snowed a lot, including the blizzard in Feb. He got what his contract called for (about $15,000 I believe) to plow one fairly large parking lot and 2 much smaller ones. The end of the winter he asked for and got an additional $7000. This past winter, our board chose a different plow company with a fairly reasonable rate. We just found out that was only for 13 inches of snow (which we had by December) and now he is demanding thousands more, too. So, how does Spring Arbor handle their snow budget? Do they contract with someone for the season, by the storm, by the inch? How did you have money left over? The reason I am asking is I am coming to Delaware next week to do some looking at communities and want to add that to my list of questions to ask at the various communities.
Thanks!

[nuts2uiam]

Retiree2011 -Are you active with your condo board? i.e. when they have meeting do you attend? This is where all this has to be decided and if you are unhappy, you must voice your concerns at the board meetings. It sounds like your board was presented with such a contract and signed it so you have them to blame, not the snow plow company. Now the above comments are made without benefit of knowing how many RFP's they got in advance and what the others were quoting. Additionally, you had an abnormally snowy winter, so that also played into it. I relo'd here from LI and our average annual snow fall is between 20 -35 inches of snow and I believe your state is similar if not a little higher, so it sounds like the board went for a lower initial quote and played the odds and lost. Sometimes the more reasonable one is not the best.