New Single Family Village Dues Collection Policy

Victor Gardens Single Family Village Homeowner's Association Board recently updated its sub-association's collection policy.  The best way to avoid the consequences of late payments is to set them up automatically.  Contact Kari Miller for details.

• 1/1/11 Assesment Collections Policy (full version - details)
  
  
• Schedule:
• 30 days past due: Late letter plus a $25 late fee.
• 60 days: Second late letter plus an additional $25 late fee.
• 90 days: Third late letter plus an additional $25 late fee.
• 120 days: Account forwarded to a collection agency or attorney.  Notification that Association intends to seek of a lien on the property.
• 150 days: Association files a lien on the property.
  
• After 30 days past due, priveledges are revoked. (Your pool key fob will be turned off.)
• It is the owner's obligation to ensure the Association has owner's current address.

SFV Board Meeting Tonight at 6:00pm, Neighborhood Activity Center

Here's a reminder for those of you who live in the Single Family Village and would like to attend tonight's SFV Board Meeting at 6:00pm.  The meeting will be held at VG's Neighborhood Activity Center.  

Each of these Board Meetings features a Resident Forum.  This is a good way to bring questions and problems to the Board's attention.  The Board will also be available to specifically answer questions about the upcoming special assessment or about changes to the SFV's collection policy.

Someone's Looking to Buy a Victor Gardens Home

Every once in awhile, I receive an email from someone who's interested in knowing more about building a new home or buying an existing home in Victor Gardens.

One such inquiry recently came to me. They asked my permission to post a note on this website, addressed to current owners who might be thinking of selling their home.  It's a creative approach, and I offered to post their inquiry.  Hopefully one of our residents might find the right connection with this person.

Oh and if you're wondering... this is not an ad.  I didn't ask for compensation and no-one offered to pay to post this message.

Thinking of Selling?
I have a client who is very interested in living in Victor Gardens. They can close from 30 days up to 3 months. They are looking for 3+ bedrooms, 2+bathrooms, 2+ garage stalls, 2100+ square feet.
If you are interested in selling please contact me.
David Krull
651-246-4250
david@preferredhometeam.com

D.R. Horton Homes Submits New Home Plans

D.R. Horton has submitted new home plans for the Master ARC's consideration.  The homes are proposed to be built in VG's Single Family Village.  Plans will be considered at the Master ARC's upcoming meetings.

Pratt Homes Gets Ready to Dig

Pratt Homes will be starting next week on it's newest home at the corner of Val Jean Blvd. and Victor Hugo Blvd.  The new home will be an attractive addition to the neighborhood.

Pratt Homes Approved to Build Near Val Jean Park

Last evening, Pratt Homes received approval from the Master ARC to build a new home at Victor Hugo Blvd. and Val Jean Blvd.  This new home will take advantage of its alley-garage location and corner prominence near Val Jean Park.

Last Chance - $50 Sprinkler Blow Out

A few of us were not available last weekend, and we weren't able to have our sprinkler systems blown out along with the rest of the neighborhood.  I spoke with Shawn Herman a few minutes ago and he's willing to come back at the $50 rate for winterizing each home system. 

As I posted in September, Shawn Herman of Classic Lawnscape offers Victor Gardens discounts for seasonal blowing out and shut-down of resident's individual sprinkler systems. Shawn's offered this service for the last few years. He always does a thorough and professional job.

Shawn's discounted price for blowing-out sprinklers is $50.00 per home. There may still be the opportunity to have Shawn winterize your system - but that window will be closing very soon.  Shawn Herman can also be reached directly at (612) 366-6088.

Hans Hagen Homes Decides not to Build

About a week ago, Hans Hagen Homes reported to the Master ARC that they were not going to proceed to build on 22 lots in Victor Gardens Single Family Village.  Although ARC did conditionally approve three of three plans submitted by Hans Hagen Homes, ARC did not adopt a legal agreement proposed by the builder.

Lawn Care - $50 Sprinkler Blow Out & Winterization

$50 Sprinkler Blow-Out

Tony Schwab volunteered again this year to coordinate services with lawncare professional, Shawn Herman from Classic Lawnscape. Shawn offers a Victor Gardens discount to perform seasonal blowing out and shut-down of resident's individual sprinkler systems. Shawn's offered this service for the last few years. He always does a thorough and professional job.
Shawn's price for blowing-out sprinklers is again $50.00 per home. He plans on performing the work on Saturday, October 22nd and Sunday, October 23rd.

If you'd like to sign-up for this service, please Call Tony Schwab (651) 429-2000 (home). Shawn Herman can also be reached directly at (612) 366-6088.
*Disclosure

Lawn Care - $40 Core Aeration Service

Core Aeration Promotes Healthy Grass

Tony Schwab has spoken to Jeff Ambrose of Pro-Aire Lawn Service again this year about lawn core aeration services.
Jeff has offered his aeration services to Victor Gardens residents for a number of years and does a very professional job. He's offering a Victor Gardens discount rate of $40/per lawn regardless of size. That's less than what most others charge for this service. For do-it-yourselfers, this is a pretty good deal considering the cost of renting the machine, time and effort involved, plus the cost of gas.
Jeff did a great job on our lawn over the last five years, and I would recommend his services to anyone.
Call Jeff directly at (651) 274-1535. He's currently coordinating a schedule of Victor Gardens appointments.
According to the U of M Extension Service website: "Core aeration is the best method of dealing with the problem of compaction in the lawn. Aeration promotes moisture and air penetration into soils, resulting in deeper and healthier root systems on the grass plants. ... The best time of year to aerate the lawn is late August to early October. Aeration can be done in the spring but will lead to additional weed seeds being brought to the surface where they may germinate. In fall, weed seeds will also be brought to the surface, but they will not sprout."
* Disclosure

Hans Hagen Homes Submits New Plans for ARC Review

At tonight's National Night Out event a number of neighbors asked me about all the survey stakes on most of the open lots within VG's Single Family Village.

Here's a bit of history before the explanation of the survey stakes: Around the time of CPDC's (VG's initial developer) foreclosure, these lots were sold to a company named Victor Gardens Mainstreet Holdings, LLC (VGMH).  A division of The Beard Group, named Neighborhood Development Partners, paid dues on, marketed, controlled and sold a few of VGMH's lots.  Prior to our Single Family Village Annual Meeting this spring, VGMH's lots were sold. Terry Forbord of Mountain Asset Management took over responsibility for the lots.

VGMH's open lots - to be built by Hans Hagen Homes

 
For a number of months and years other builders including Hartman Homes, Colfax Companies, and Homes by James placed signs on some of VGMH's lots in the hopes of attracting customers. At various times, the signs raised speculation that new building efforts were underway. In the end, Colfax Companies and Homes by James never submitted any proposals to the Master Architectural Review Committee (ARC) and no homes were built by them. A year or so ago Centex Homes abandoned their effort to build on those same lots. 

Getting back to the surveyor's stakes: In recent weeks the boundaries of these VGMH lots were staked out and identified by surveyors. Currently the VGMH's lots are in the process of being sold to a builder new to Victor Gardens. After requesting a copy of Victor Gardens building Requirements and Guidelines Hans Hagen Homes submitted, for the Master ARC's consideration, four new home plans.  Hans Hagen Homes carefully followed the ARC's adopted submission procedures. Their submitted plans are now being reviewed individually by the ARC's members. The Committee will discuss these plans (as a committee) with each other and together with Hans Hagen Homes at its next meeting, August 8.  The Master ARC's eight-person membership is made up of the same members of the Master Board.  Each of Victor Gardens sub-associations has one representative on the Master Board & ARC- except the SFV, which has two representatives due to its large size.

Upon successful approval of plans, Hans Hagen Homes is expected to pull permits and start building.  After the initial few homes are built they hope to continue building on the remaining VGMH lots.

In addition to the VGMH lots described above there are other, open SFV lots owned mostly by Alliance Bank and a few by Pratt Homes.  These are mostly located near Cosette Lane, Victor Hugo Blvd. and a few along Garden Way between Poet's Green and Arbre Park.  The last remaining SFV lot east of Clearwater Creek is nearing completion with its builder, Capstone Homes (formerly Minks Custom Homes).

Annual Meeting Tonight for Single Family Village Assn.

Please join us Tonight for Victor Gardens Single Family Village Homeowner's Association's Annual Meeting, April 28 - 7:00pm at Hugo City Hall.  Your presence at this meeting is very important.

Those attending the meeting will learn about:

• New construction in our neighborhood
• New Pool & Activity Center policies
• The upcoming season's social events schedule
• Arbre Park tree updates
• Important association financial information
• Clarification of the dues collection policy. (late notices, attorney letters, & lien filings)
• Master Association news
• Groundwater remediation update

Single Family Village Annual Meeting set for April 28, 7pm at Hugo City Hall

Please join us next Thursday for Victor Gardens Single Family Village Homeowner's Association's Annual Meeting, April 28 - 7:00pm at Hugo City Hall.  Your presence at this meeting is very important.

Those attending the meeting will learn about:

• New construction in our neighborhood
• New Pool & Activity Center policies
• The upcoming season's social events schedule
• Arbre Park tree updates
• Important association financial information
• Clarification of the dues collection policy. (late notices, attorney letters, & lien filings)
• Master Association news
• Groundwater remediation update

Two Director positions open:

This year's election will be a little different than in years past.

• One Director's position term is expiring on the SFV Board.  Julie Bixby is currently serving out the term in this position and has expressed interest in serving another term on the Board.
• Ron Mehl, of Neighborhood Development Partners has informed the Board that he will resign his Director's position, leaving his 3-year term 1-year early.  When a vacancy occurs, as in Ron's case, the Board selects a replacement to fill out the term left by the vacancy.  In this case, the Board has agreed to fill Ron's vacancy with the candidate with the elections' second most votes.
• Owners are encouraged to nominate other potential candidates for these positions. Please ensure whomever you nominate will accept the nomination. Owners can nominate themselves if they wish.  Another Neighborhood Development Partners representative has expressed interest in running for the Board.   

Everyone should've received their official mailings already for this meeting.  If you can't make it Thursday night, it would be very helpful if you could send Kari Miller your proxy form.

Lawn Care - Irrigation Start-Up $60 - Local Business Profile

Shawn Herman from Classic Lawnscape is offering residents group rates for irrigation start-up services this spring.  

For $60 per yard, Shawn will:

• Check your irrigation controller
• Check all sprinkler zones
• Adjust sprinklker heads as necessary
• arrange for access to your irrigation controller to start-up the system.
  

If he finds any problems requiring repairs, Shawn will inform you.  He charges $65/hr for repair work plus the cost of materials.  Of course, he'll OK all potential fixes with you first. 

Shawn is well known in the neighborhood for the quality work he does blowing-out and winterizing many of our sprinkler systems.  It's not unusual for Sahwn to do this service for more than 30 of our neighbors.  He's top notch.  I've even called him in the dead of winter for advice- after a friend's sprinkler system filled with water and froze up.

Contact Shawn at (612) 366-6088 for details and scheduling.


Disclosure Statement

Lawn Care - De-Thatching/Raking Service $40-$50 - Local Business Profile

Bud Schneider is offering discounted machine de-thatching/raking services again this spring.  Tony Schwab has negotiated group rate pricing with Bud.  The cost is the same this year as in previous years: $40-$50 depending on the size, but no more than $50. 

Many residents have been hiring Bud Schneider for a the last few years and he's done a great job.  Sure beats raking by hand!
 
Please contact Bud Schneider at (651) 429-6896.

Disclosure Statement

Pratt Homes to Build Another Single Family Home

Last night Victor Gardens Master ARC reviewed, discussed and approved plans for a new single family home near Arbre Park at 14295 Garden Way.  Pratt Homes submitted the plans and will build the home. The new home is not a model home.  It will be customized for its new owner and is expected to be completed within 3-4 months.

Single Family Village Annual Meeting set for April 28, 7:00pm

Victor Gardens Single Family Village Homeowner's Association will hold its Annual Meeting April 28, 2011, 7:00pm at Hugo City Hall.  All homeowners are asked to attend.  The annual meeting is a great time to speak with your Board, ask questions or raise concerns.  In the past, the meetings have included information about new construction planned for our neighborhood, the association's financial standing, and elections Board Directors.  Directors will also have updates to share from the Master Association and the Events Committee.  More information will be available as the meeting date draws closer.

The Single Family Village Board is also meeting on March 15, 7:00pm at the Neighborhood Activity Center to for its quarterly meeting.  Residents are always welcome to attend.

UPDATE: Previously the SFV Board meeting date was incorrect.  
The correct date is Tuesday, March 15. Thanks to Julie and John for catching my error.

Victor Gardens East 2nd Addition Nearly Complete

Construction is nearing completion on a new Sharper Homes house on Provence Way.  Only one lot remains open in the Everton Ave./Provence Way/Val Jean Blvd. (also known as V.G. East 2nd Addition) area within Victor Gardens Single Family Village.

Single Family Village Board Minutes Available

Meeting Minutes from the last several SFV Board Meetings have been uploaded to the website.  Links to the PDF documents can be found on the SFV Association Info page.

Tonight's Single Family Village Board Meeting Agenda

The Single Family Village Board will meet tonight, 7pm at Victor Gardens Neighborhood Activity Center.  All SFV residents are welcome to attend.  As always, a resident forum will be provided for those wishing to speak to the Board.  

A printer-friendly version of the Agenda is available here.

---------------------------

Victor Gardens Single Family Homeowners Association

Board of Directors & Architectural Review Committee Meeting

December 6, 2010, 7:00PM

Victor Gardens Neighborhood Activity Center, Hugo MN

Meeting Agenda

1)     Call to Order:

2)    Approval of Minutes: Review 9/14/10 Board Meeting minutes.

3)    Resident Forum The resident forum is offered to homeowners who wish to directly address the Board. 
Homeowner participation is encouraged.

4)    Financial Report 

a)    Review financial reports from Community Manager, Kari Miller.

5)    Committee Reports

a)    SFV Architectural Review Committee

                                               i.     Review Architectural & Landscape Change Applications.

                                             ii.     Discuss hot tub policy request from Minks Custom Homes

6)    Unfinished Business:

a)    New Resident Welcome Document: Finished and uploaded to victorgardensnews.org

b)    New Resident letter: Progress report

c)     Discuss revoking pool privileges for delinquent dues accounts.

d)    Discuss timing of late dues payment letters.

e)     Discuss clarifying responsibilities of Community Manager.

7)    New Business:

a)    Groundwater Drainage System: Progress report.

b)    Master Board report:

                                               i.     Holiday lighting: Goetz made a number of proposals- None of which were discussed of by the Master Board

                                             ii.     Master ARC report

·       Completion of Minks homes

·       New Sharper Homes house currently under construction

c)     Other New Business

8)    Review of Action Items:

9)    Next Meeting:

10) Adjournment: