Minutes of BHNA
Board Meeting
June 7, 2007
Chairman
Mary Kay Falconer called the meeting to order at 7:35 PM.
Attendees included: Tom Vickers, Philip Froemke,
Mary Kay Falconer, Bill Jones, Peter Butzin, Mike Brezin, Andy Fink, Margie
McGinnis, Elizabeth Jenson, J.T. and Tonya Ehrhardt, Bill Jones and guests
Steve Taft from Tallahassee Public Works, Division of Real Estate and Susan
Tanski, with Tallahassee Parks and Recreation.
Steve Taft provided an update on the Betton Hills
Nature Center and Trail Park. He
explained that improvements to the area were added by Marvin Weinberger,
president of the Dana Corporation and owner of Ashford Club Apts., prior to the
required survey work and obtaining permission from the holders of easements.
Nevertheless, he is optimistic that the turn over of the entire park area from
Marvin Weinberger to the City of Tallahassee’s Parks and Recreation Department
will not be impeded. After the survey is completed, the City will seek approval
from the Florida Department of Transportation, two homeowners’ associations,
and affected businesses to use a strip of land on the west side of a drainage
dish as a park to unite McCord and Winthrop Parks.
Susan Tanski then led the Board on a tour of the
park, which consists of an amphitheatre, benches, bridges and fenced trails.
Parks and Recreation has agreed to take over the park and assume liability
after permission is obtained from the property owners. Resistance is not
expected.
The Board returned to the Club House for the
business portion of the meeting.
The minutes of the May meeting
were approved as distributed.
Submitted by Donna Legare,
386-1148
Balance as
of June 7, 2007: $3369.00
Checks
written since last report:
1180 05/04/07 145.50 Dean Hanson pizza,
Family Fun Day
1181 05/04/07 350.00 Jennie Lieb Mansfield
scholarship
1182 05/04/07 350.00 Jessica Moody Mansfield
scholarship
1183 05/08/07 60.00 CONA
banquet 2@$30.00
(attended by Tom and Wendy Schulte)
1184 05/10/07 131.48 Margie McInnes Family
Fun Day
1185 05/24/07 185.49 Elizabeth Jensen Family Fun Day
Deposits:
05/04/07 135.00 Dues and Funds
Tom
Vickers provided the membership report. 418 households have paid dues this year.
The total funds raised include $2,105 for the Bellamy fund, $1,018 for Partners
in Excellence, $749 for the Mansfield fund and $4,425 for dues and unrestricted
donations, for a total of $8,292.
Peter
Butzin indicated that he has tried, so far without success, to ask Ann Randolph
from the Growth Management Department for an update on the violation of
noncompliance issued by the Municipal Code Enforcement Board regarding the out
buildings at the corner of Thomasville and Armistead Roads. He has also placed
a call, so far unreturned, to City Attorney Jim English, to inquire about his
research regarding ordinances from other cities to limit garage sales. Peter
will keep trying and will report back to the Board.
Elizabeth
Jenson announced that she has delivered three gift baskets to new neighbors.
She also mentioned that in order to distribute additional gift baskets, we will
need to replenish the supply of donations (gifts and coupons) from the local
merchants.
Mary
Kay has added information on disaster planning (provided by Bonnie
Gaughan-Bailey and Tom Vickers) to the frequently asked questions (FAQ) section
of the web site and suggested that we continue to plan to have a table on
disaster preparedness at the fall meeting.
We
agreed to postpone a neighborhood forum on storm water (water quality and
management) based on a watershed planning initiative headed by Commissioners
Lightsey (City) and Thael (County). City
staff will participate in the forum when it is rescheduled.
Mary
Kay will attend the next CONA meeting on 6/11 and will monitor efforts to amend
the local government comprehensive plan.
Mary
Kay asked the group to start thinking about plans for the annual fall meeting.
She suggested that we should try a new approach and set of activities. One idea still under consideration is a movie
under the stars which would be at the end of an early evening annual
meeting.
Tonya
Ehrhardt presented information from the National Wildlife Federation that
encourages homeowners to have wildlife friendly yards. She passed out
information regarding a certification program for both homeowners and
neighborhoods. We agreed to promote the idea in the next newsletter and
consider adding this as an event during the year (possibly as part of Arbor Day
activities).
It
was pointed out that the neighborhood-sponsored compost container at McCord
Park is full.
The
Board thanked Phillip Froemke for his painting the neighborhood markers.
Phillip expressed disappointment that the paint only lasted three years, and
suggested that the next time they need painting we should seek professional
advice for a longer lasting coating. We
discussed options for powder or baked coatings.
We
will not meet in the month of July, but there was interest expressed in
preparing a BHNA newsletter for the summer.
There
being no further business to come before the board, the meeting adjourned at
8:15 PM.
Respectfully
Submitted,
Peter
Butzin, Secretary