Novembers monthly Board meeting is scheduled for November 15, 2022. It will be held at 7 pm at the Taco Cabana, 2601 Dean St., Balch Springs, TX 75180.
The Hilltop Homeowners Association Annual meeting happened on October 22, 2022, at 10 am at our park. Board members present were:
Teresa Potter – President
Ermelinda Sloop – Vice-President
James Sloop – Parks and Grounds
Laura Harper – Budget Coordinator
7 property owners showed up for the meeting.
The meeting started with the question, has everyone signed in and has an information packet (Click here to download the meeting packet). We then went on to ask if anyone was interested in being on the Board of Directors. Several homeowners asked when and where we had our monthly meetings and if it was mandatory for them to show up if they were on the Board of Directors. We let everyone know that Board meeting were on the second Tuesday of each month, they are held at the Taco Cabana at 2601 Dean St., Balch Springs, TX 75180 at 7 pm. And that everyone is welcome.
We then moved on to review the report of our deposits and expenses for January through October 21, 2022. We went over our expenses line by line.
• One homeowner wondered why we pay for water and electricity. We explained that we pay water for a sprinkler system at the front entrance and the Park. At this time the sprinkler systems at the front entry is working and the one at the park is shut down but we pay a base price to keep water available at the park. We pay for electricity for the lights at our front entrance.
• We also discussed our property taxes. As in 2020 with the lot at the front entrance, we got Dallas County to re-designate the park and pond to community property so they are valued at $100.00 each. This will reduce the property taxes on all three properties the Association owns to under $10.00 for the year. This is from a high in 2019 of over $4000.00.
• We discussed the cost of the storage unit that the Association rents and how the monthly cost has been doubled. Since the Association pays for a full year in advance the increase has not hit us yet. When we get closer to when payment is due, we plan to try to negotiate a better price or we will find a different storage place. One homeowner asked why we keep a storage unit. We keep a storage unit to store paperwork, keep signs and other items owned by the association that are currently not in use or only used on occasion.
• We still pay for a website and domain name. This is now required by law per changes made to the Texas Property Codes in 2021.
• We still have our lawyer go after a very few homeowners who we have been unable to get to pay.
• We also went over the improvements made this year as well as maintenance/repairs.
Improvements
Added additional signs at the park/basketball court pond and lot.
Added a security camera at the front entrance.
Repairs/maintenance
New front lights (after previous were stolen)
Repair of the sprinkler system at front entrance
Tree trim along front wall and cleanup at pond.
Repairs done to the surface of the basketball court
We then moved on to reviewing our proposed budget for 2022. Although our income, if everyone pays their dues, would be $38,340.00 we usually bringing in more because of payments of back owed dues as well as the income from the billboard. Costs for utilities, lawn maintenance, insurance and postage are increasing but we do our best to keep our operating budget within anticipated income to keep a bank balance available to cover unanticipated expenses or reductions in income. Our plans for next year are to do repairs on the drainage ditch that runs through the park, although we have been struggling to find someone to work with us. Also repair/replace the fence on Ridgeside Dr. and cleaning up behind it so that trees are not growing there. We also want to add a locked gate to the entrance to the pond as we have been receiving complaints about people driving down there late at night. How much of these projects will be done will depend on the cost. We have designated $24,000.00 for these projects but have not started collecting bids.
There was much discussion concerning homeowners failing to maintain there home and property, keep their dogs fenced into there yard and not let them roam free and cars parked in streets that need repair or that are unregistered. As well as how to combat mischief and illegal activity in the neighborhood. Although the Board of Directors tries to address any complaints sent to us and we contact and work with the city whenever possible it requires each homeowner to contact the police, animal control or code enforcement as the Association does not have the man power or authority to combat much of these complaints. Also brought up was the brush that had been left in the park by an unknown person, 18 wheelers that have been using the development as a shortcut and that the chain link fence behind our fence at the cul-de-sac on Ridgeside that has been cut and people are using it to enter the development. The Board plans look into all of the above.
Afterward the meeting came to an end.
Septembers monthly Board meeting is scheduled for September 13, 2022. It will be held at 7 pm at the Taco Cabana, 2601 Dean St., Balch Springs, TX 75180.
Due to recent changes in State law, we are now required to file our bylaws with Dallas County. Prior to now only the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions needed to be filed. No changes have been made to the document itself. You can view the Bylaws here or through the Governing Documents Tab.
The Homeowner’s Association has been receiving complaints about people walking their dogs and not cleaning up after them when they do their business in another homeowner’s yard. It is your responsibility as a responsible pet owner to clean up after your dog. Not only on your own property but anywhere else they may leave a surprise.
We have also been receiving reports of homeowners leaving out “feeding stations” for the local stray cats, but they are leaving them on other people’s property. If you want to feed the strays that’s fine but you can NOT leave a feeding station on another homeowner’s property or on the common property without permission of the homeowner or the Board of Directors. Please be aware that you are not only feeding the stray cats but also potentially attracting animals such as rats, possums and other undesirable wildlife.
Augusts monthly Board meeting will be changed from the second Tuesday of the month (August 9th) to August 16, 2022, at 7pm at the Taco Cabana at 2601 Dean St., Balch Springs, TX 75180.
In recent months we have had several dog attacks in the neighborhood. The Association is aware that this has been an ongoing issue, but it requires everyone in the development to do their part to solve the problem. If you see stray dogs or you or your pet are attacked by a dog, it is imperative that you contact Animal Control at 972-913-3006 or Police non-emergency at
972-557-6000 to make a report. Only if we all make reports to the authorities can we take the dogs that are causing problems off the streets.
If you are a dog owner, Section 10-147 of the Balch Springs code of Ordinances requires that your dog be contained “by a substantial fence of sufficient strength and height and continuity to prevent such dog from escaping”. By doing so you protect your neighbors, your dog and yourself.