Pool Update - 6/22/20

Victor Gardens Community Association’s Board of Directors has been working diligently on a pool reopening plan. In accordance with the State of Minnesota rules, the board is implementing a required plan that should allow for a July 8 opening, hopefully, sooner. The costs of compliance with the state guidelines will be substantial. The board has been taking the time to ensure that our expenses are minimized and well spent.

Our management company, Associa MN, will be hiring pool attendants, aged 18+, as part of this plan. More info on Associa employment will be available soon.

The details of Victor Gardens 2020 pool opening plan will be announced within the next week or so. Residents should expect significant changes to the pool rules, hours of operation, and environment.

Summary:
- Public health safety is the driving factor of the pool opening plan.
- Victor Gardens residents only. No guests. ID required.
- All resident children must be accompanied by a resident adult aged 18+.
- The pool will be open in 2-hour time blocks Wednesday through Friday 12:00 PM to 8:00PM and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 AM through 8:00 PM. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
- Each day’s schedule will be broken up into 2-hour time block cycles. After each 2-hour block the pool, pool deck, and building will close for 30-minute cleaning. Everyone must leave after their scheduled block is over. Another 2-hour block starts after a 30-minutes cleaning. This cycle continues throughout the day.
- Residents will reserve their 2-hour time blocks via website signup.
- To enable as many residents as possible to have access to our pool, residents may only sign up for one block each day.
- Resident “walk-ups” will be allowed, but online reservations will receive first priority.
- Associa’s pool attendants and Semper Fi Security will ensure that the new rules, scheduling, distancing, cleaning plan will be followed.
- Capacity will be limited to roughly 40 including the pool, pool deck, and building.
- Signed waiver required for each time block.
- Social distancing will be expected and enforced. Face coverings while not in the pool are strongly recommended.
- Pool toys strongly discouraged.
- Bring your own portable chair. All of Victor Gardens’ chairs, lounges, tables, and umbrellas will be removed to storage.

Pool Update - 6/15/20

Today, Victor Gardens' Master Board met with our Community Manager to discuss the new Minnesota Department of Health public pool opening requirements. We're in the process of evaluating and understanding the long list of state guidance. Compliance requires increased costs and protocols. We're still waiting for some vendor's cost estimates, which we expect to have soon. The Master Board plans to meet next Monday to review the information.

VG Home Vandalized

Over the past several months, someone has repeatedly defaced the interior of a new single-family home under construction in our neighborhood. It's happened at least four times. Inside the home, they've left dumpster debris and extensive damage. They've scrawled disturbing graffiti and symbols, sending terrible messages to owners building their dream home. This activity has no place in our neighborhood or any other. The Washington County Sherrif's office is investigating. 

No-one should enter any home under construction that does not belong there, including young people or adults. No-one should be digging through or playing around construction dumpsters. 

Victor Gardens is a welcoming neighborhood. We love, respect, and look out for each other. We encourage the success of the small business owners and contractors who build homes here. 

As good neighbors, we ask for your help to protect our neighborhood from this unacceptable behavior. Be vigilant. If you see something suspicious, please call 911 immediately.

Pool Update - 6/8/20

The Victor Gardens Master Board is in the process of gathering updated information and will meet again on Monday, June 15 to discuss. There are a number of factors that will be part of the decision including recent State of Minnesota guidance, vendor information, monitoring and limiting the number of occupants, updated cleaning schedules, etc. 

Food Drive Today

The Hugo Boy Scout Troop 151 is holding a FOOD DRIVE TODAY, Saturday, June 6th from 9 am - 3 pm.

No-contact drive-through DROP OFF on June 6th at the St. John's the Baptist Church parking lot, 14363 Forest Blvd N in Hugo.

We are collecting monetary donations and non-perishable food items. All money donated will be used to purchase food for the Hugo Good Neighbors Food Shelf!

PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD. We want to FILL THE FOOD SHELVES to help our neighbors! Support the efforts of your local Boy Scouts Troop! Thank you in advance!

https://www.facebook.com/events/3020431358032546/

Grad Parade today at 6:30pm

Today the White Bear Lake 2020 seniors are graduating!

At 6:30 PM there will be a parade of Victor Gardens graduating seniors will be parading through the neighborhood. Please feel free to wave and congratulate them on your porches or sidewalks as they pass by.

The parade will end at the park pavilion in the front of the neighborhood. Anyone who would like to wish these students well from a socially acceptable distance is welcome to stop by!

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.