Keep Out of the Pool

Victor Gardens pool's winter cover has been removed to perform maintenance and repairs.  Although our pool appears inviting, the water is unheated and contains strong chemicals.  Nobody should be swimming in it. 

There have already been reports of groups of middle school and high school age kids attempting to climb the pool's fence.  Please talk to your children about the importance of keeping out of the pool and staying safe.

The pool remains closed until further notice.  For the safety of all and protection of association property, Semper Fi Security has been hired again this summer to monitor the area.  Last winter, video recording technology was updated. 

Any unauthorized person entering the pool area will be considered as trespassers and will be referred to the Washington County Sheriff. Homeowners in violation of the pool rules risk losing pool privileges when the Board makes the decision to re-open.

Leave No Trace

Parents, please have a chat with your teenage kids. We should all leave our parks cleaner than we find them. Leave no trace! 

Last weekend I received a note from one of our neighbors living near Arbre Park. "Thought I’d send you a note regarding the basketball court. We’ve noticed large groups of teens leaving plastic bottles and other trash behind. You can see the bottles and McDonald’s bag complete with leftover French fries in the picture below. We’re not sure if it’s people from the neighborhood or not, but would it be possible to post something to Victor Garden News asking people to make sure they keep our parks clean?"

Pool Closed Until Further Notice

Dear Victor Gardens residents,

Victor Gardens' neighborhood community center and pool will be CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE in order to reduce the opportunity for exposure of the coronavirus (COVID-19) exposure.

With the rapidly evolving situation, Victor Gardens Community Association's Board of Directors is continuing to monitor developments along with the guidance of Minnesota's public health authorities, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Board will reconvene June 15 to review any updated information. 

It's been difficult to watch the things we care about - community, gathering, and shared recreational experiences - be restricted or canceled, although we know that is the right and necessary thing to do. Please continue to practice social distancing and safe personal hygiene habits to help keep our community healthy and safe!

Poet's Green Planter Vandalized

The Victor Gardens Community Association Board of Directors are seeking your assistance. Last week, Wednesday April 29 the Board along with management completed a Spring Walk. The Poets Green Park was visited at around 10:30am. Sometime between then and 6:00pm the fountain/planter was vandalized and it appears that the top portion was broken.

We are asking the owners around the Poets Green Park if they have any information or surveillance of the park within those times that could assist the Board in identifying the individuals responsible for the vandalism.

Any information can be provided directly to me. We thank you for the assistance in this matter.

Thanks,

Phillip McDougle, CMCA AMS

Community Manager

Notary Public

Associa Minnesota

7100 Northland Circle N. Suite 300, Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

Main: 763-225-6400

Customer Service: 763-746-1188

Digging holes in a path

Over the last few months, different neighbors have asked me about holes dug into the path near "Weaver's Pond", where Garden Way and Val Jean Blvd. will eventually connect.  It's likely that kids building some sweet jumps have been digging there.  It's become a little dangerous lately though.  Unfortunately, I've heard about a few people falling into the hole while walking or riding their bikes. Today, a neighbor stopped by to tell me that he started to fill it back in.  

Lots of people use that path to travel between Arbre Park and Val Jean Park. If your kids are interested in digging holes, please ask them not to dig into that path.  There are lots of other good places to build sweet jumps. 

Pool Opening Update

As Memorial Day weekend draws closer, Victor Gardens residents may be wondering about our community pool's opening status.  VG's Master Board of Directors is in the early stages of discussion and is collecting more information. The Board will discuss again mid-May with input from Governor Walz’s executive orders, the CDC, Minnesota Dept. of Public Health, our association's management company and pool maintenance contractors. The Board will likely make the decision mid-to-late May.

Unrelated to COVID-19, our pool’s structure, pumping, heating, and other equipment require a weeks-long process of routine pre-opening inspections, repairs, seasonal maintenance, and chemical applications. If you see contractors working there, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the Board has decided to open the pool. They’re making sure the pool will be ready when the Board decides to open it.

Did you receive your new pool key fob?  All old key fobs have been deactivated. As part of an ongoing effort to provide additional security to Victor Gardens Neighborhood Community Center and pool, new key fobs were mailed to owners last month.  Each is unique to each owner.  An entry swipe of a key fob is logged remotely and time-stamped. The use of upgraded video recording equipment coupled with key fob swipe data will assist our community manager and other authorities if necessary.

New pool key fobs mailed

The new key fob replaces your old one

Your new Victor Gardens pool key fob was recently mailed.  Below is the letter our Community Manager, Phillip McDougle sent to each owner.

March 31, 2020

Dear Homeowner,

Enclosed you will find a new key fob for the Victor Gardens Community Activity Center. The Activity Center will be outfitted with a new key fob system beginning this pool season and homeowners should use the new key fob moving forward to access the pool and activity center at 14575 Victor Hugo Blvd. Homeowners are allowed 1 key fob per household.

The new key fob is tied to your address and should not be shared with anyone outside of your household. Homeowners found to be permitting access to anyone other than members of their household may have their access privileges revoked and may incur fines from the Master Association.
If you would like to utilize the upstairs gathering room for meetings, parties, gatherings, etc. a reservation is required. To check availability and acquire the reservation form, you may contact Associa Minnesota Customer Service. Once your reservation is confirmed, your key will be activated on the day of your reservation.

The Victor Gardens Master Board of Directors encourages everyone to familiarize themselves with the Activity Center and Pool rules and regulations. Anyone found to be in violation of the rules and regulations may have their key access revoked and may incur fines to their homeowner account.

Homeowners who are delinquent on their assessments will have their new fob deactivated until the delinquency is cured. If you are having trouble accessing the Activity Center, please check with our office to ensure your account is current.

Let me know if this looks good, and I will get these printed and sent.

Thanks,

Phillip McDougle, CMCA AMS
Community Manager

Associa Minnesota
7100 Northland Circle N. Suite 300, Brooklyn Park, MN 55428
Main: 763-225-6400
Customer Service: 763-746-1188
After Hours Emergency Answering Service 763-225-6400 ext. 9

Birch resumes work

A message from our master association's landscaping maintenance contractor.

Good Morning, 

We are very grateful and pleased to share that our services are exempt as of today from the “Stay-at-home” order. (State of MN Executive Order 20-33) 

Although this is a great win, we are still amid a war as our company, families, neighbors, clients, business partners, state, country and world continue to battle COVID_19.

Our staff is returning to the field to continue the spring operations in preparing your landscape for the growing season. Although, mother-nature seems to be taking a step back, with colder temps in the next coming weeks, we will continue our spring landscape operations, while also keeping an eye out for a possible April snow event.

As mentioned before, we will continue to follow the new ‘rules’ in effort to protect the health of our staff and clients while maintaining your landscape in hopes you are able to enjoy our beautiful Minnesota spring and summer. 

You might see some of our staff with “buffs” over their face; don’t be alarmed, this is in effort to do our part to limit the spread of COVID_19. We will also be sending notifications to our clients letting them know when we will be onsite. These along with several other rules we have in place we are able to work in a safe and healthy manner.

From all of us to all of you, we wish you well and looking forward to seeing you outside (from 6 feet away).

Stay Safe. 

Please contact me with any comments, questions or concerns.

Sincerely, 

Kris Birch | President

Snow Removal for VG Residents - Special Offer from Birch

Birch is offering snow removal services for Victor Gardens single family village residents.  The company is locally owned and operated with familiar red trucks.  For years, Birch has provided quality summer and winter grounds maintenance services to our master association. 

Click on the link below for more information. 

http://contact.birchsnow.com/winter/#lp-pom-block-243

$50 Sprinkler blow-out - Scheduled for Oct. 19 & 20

Shawn Herman, Classic Lawnscape Inc.

Victor Gardens Sprinkler Winterizations 2019

Tentative schedule

Shawn Herman with Classic Lawnscape has been offering our Victor Gardens single family village HOA neighborhood a group rate of $50/ lawn (cash or check payable to Shawn Herman). The group rate will be valid the weekend of October 19 and 20. THIS PRICE IS ONLY GOOD ON THIS WEEKEND. Other times can be scheduled if this does not work for you but regular season rates will apply.

This is the tentative route he would use for the weekend based on last year numbers to help give residents a rough estimate of where they would be on the schedule.

As usual timing/scheduling will be totally dependent on the number participating and if there are any unforeseen problems encountered during the day.

Please contact Shawn directly with questions or to signup.

Shawn Herman
Classic Lawnscape Inc.
763-780-7231
shawn@classiclawnscape.com
Cell/text – 612-366-6088

Saturday, Oct. 19

8:30 AM - Saturday 10/19 

Poets Green 

• Becher - 14382 Poets Green
• Johnson - 14336 Poets Green

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM - Saturday 10/19 

Garden Way South to Jardin

• Pinault - 14322 Garden Way
• Schwab - 14262 Garden Way
• Anderson - 14246 Garden Way
• Bridgeman - 14222 Garden Way
• Stanko - 14212 Garden Way

10:00 AM– 11:30 AM  - Saturday 10/19 

Jardin 

• Privette - 14152 Garden Way 
• Hermann - 14136 Jardin
• Groneberg - 14096 Jardin Ave.
• 14143 Jardin
• Wentz - 14105 Jardin

11:30 AM – 1:00 AM  - Saturday 10/19 

Garden Way / Arbre

• Bosch - 4377 Garden Way
• Mittleburn - 4391 Garden Way
• Stein - 14181 Arbre Lane
• Mader - 14251 Arbre Lane
• Gloege - 4344 Arbre Lane
• Goodchild - 4376 Arbre Lane

1:00 PM – 1:30 PM - Saturday 10/19 

Garden Way North from Arbre to Victor Hugo Blvd.

• Shawn Carlson - 14303 Garden Way
• Langhoff - 14341 Garden Way

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM- Saturday 10/19 

• 14356 Cosette Way
• Coleman - 14326 Cosette Way
• Berger - 14318 Cosette Way

2:30 PM – 3:00 PM  - Saturday 10/19 

• Mike Kluska - 14292 Cosette Lane

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM - Saturday 10/19 

• Ferderer - 14622 Grantaire Lane
• Olson - 4540 Val Jean

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM - Saturday 10/19 

• Wennerstrum - 4464 Cosette Lane
• Carlson - 4488 Cosette Lane
• Ecklin - 14319 Victor Hugo Blvd.

Sunday Oct. 20 

11:30 AM - Sunday 10/20 

• Stanek - 4685 Val Jean

12:00 PM - Sunday 10/20 

• Sanders - 14415 Everton Ave N

12:30 PM - Sunday 10/20 

• Buetow - 4704 Provence Way
• Halverson–Boyd - 4667 Provence Way
• Wright - 14444 Everton

2:00 PM - Sunday 10/20 

• Houchins - 4662 Val Jean

Preliminary List – Times are Approximate

2:30 PM - Sunday 10/20 

• Anderson - 4429 Cosette

3:00 PM - Sunday 10/20 

• Sears - 14282 Garden Way - Sunday
• Sears - 14176 Garden Way - Sunday

Rice Creek Watershed Project

The Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) maintains waterways, drainage ditches and creeks throughout a number of counties, including Washington County. One of their upcoming projects includes significant drainage work to the Anoka Washington Judicial Ditch 3 (the creek that runs throughout Victor Gardens). 

This project will include removal of foliage on one side (and at times both sides) of the creek to allow machinery to dredge the creek bed. RCWD has posted a presentation outlining the project, and maps of the properties that will be impacted.

A public comments period is open until October 23rd. If you have any questions regarding this project, please reach out to the RCWD contacts on the final pages of the presentation linked above.

Irrigation Winterization

Fall is in the air and it's again time to winterize your irrigation system.  Shawn Herman with Classic Lawnscape has been offering our neighborhood a group rate of $50/ lawn (cash or check payable to Shawn Herman).  The group rate will be valid the weekend of October 19 and 20. THIS PRICE IS ONLY GOOD ON THIS WEEKEND. 

Other times can be scheduled if this does not work for you but regular season rates will apply.

This is the tentative route he would use for the weekend based on last year numbers to help give residents a rough estimate of where they would be on the schedule.

On Sat. the 19th the route starts at about 8 AM on Poets Green then to Garden Way West side of street heading south.  Around Jardin to Garden Way (usually mid morning), up Arbre, and around to catch the east side of Garden Way(usually early afternoon).  Then head east around to Cosette Way and take Victor Hugo down to Garden Way.  Go around the Park and back up the east side of Cosette Lane (mid to late afternoon) around to Victor Hugo.  From there I will head east down Val Jean to the Bridge.  Depending on response I will probably stop here due to darkness.

On the 20th the start time will depend on number of participants.  It probably would not be before 11 am.  I would begin again on Val Jean from the bridge heading east to Everton.  North on Everton, east side of street, to Provence.  Around Provence back down west side of Everton to Val Jean.  Then west down Val Jean to the Bridge.

As usual timing/scheduling will be totally dependent on the number participating and if there are any unforeseen problems encountered during the day. 

Please contact Shawn directly with questions or to signup.

Shawn Herman

Classic Lawnscape Inc.

763-780-7231

shawn@classiclawnscape.com

Cell/text – 612-366-6088.