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The Mapleton Mobile-izer is issued quarterly, following the MHA membership meetings. Special editions are issued as needed, for example before a quarterly meeting where MHA members will be voting for executives or making an important decision..
Volume 11.4 Newsletter of the Mapleton Home Association February 2008
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- Infrastructure Information from Jim Harrington-Living with your new heat tape
- Meet Robert Power-Our new MHA Secretary
- What to do with the plot of land North of the washhouse?
Fall 2007 Quarterly Meeting
The meeting opened with Paul nominating Robert Power for Secretary who had been our Acting Secretary for the past few months, he was unanimously voted in.
Paul then discussed the variety of MHA elected positions that will be opening to a vote in April 2008; Treasurer, Vice President, and Mngmt. Committee Chair. The folks currently in office have run for 1 term; and the MHA has a limit of 2 terms in succession. Paul urged folks to consider running for a position.
The meeting then moved to discussing the Infrastructure progress. Phase 6 and 7 are underway, the North side of the park is planned to begin in 2012 as funding was not completely in place. Thistle has recently obtained a bridge loan from the state to assist with paying for the completion of the current phase, MHA contributed 150,000 of park funds to the spring 2007 fees accrued. The 5 lots that are empty in the park currently are slated to be our contributing revenue to the infrastructure once they become occupied.
It has been clear for a while now that it would be helpful to have a Management Plan in place as there are three entities that have a stake in the park; Thistle, Hast & Co., and MHA. Thistle has said they will create one, yet it has not yet occurred. The MHA has also asked Thistle for their accounting funds for the infrastructure yet that has not been provided to us either.
The electrical concerns of the infrastucure have been held up due to a permit we need from the city. This permit is to prove that each individual trailer meets the certain requirements which allow them to be hooked up to the new electrical panels installed though the infrastructure upgrade. To acquire the permit; a city inspector would have needed to inspect each trailer to see if it met the requirements; the MHA decided it would provide an electrical contractor at no cost to the homeowner to make that determination, with the contractor only looking at the requirements; not the entire electricity system of the home. MHA is now trying to figure out who will be paying for this cost. If there are tenants that do not wish to have a contractor come into their home for the inspection, there is a potential eventual consequence of not having electricity for their home since they would not be able to hook their home to the current upgraded panel. MHA urges all tenants to permit this inspection to occur when the time comes so everyone could get upgraded. It is thought that homes built in 1978 and later would not run into any issues, yet homes of earlier manufacturing indeed might.
Hast & Co. is MMHP’s property management company, unfortunately due to the lack of a Management Plan there is a certain amount of confusion in regards to their responsibilities. They are paid from a percentage of the park’s total revenue, MHA submitted a budget to them summer 2007 to offer some suggestions to cut their operating costs (which we’re paying for), yet Hast & Co. sought Thistle to bypass these requests. One of our main concerns was the overtime Hast & Co. was paying the Onsite Maintenance position. Again, the MHA pointed out it would be helpful to have a Management Plan to have concrete boundaries and parameters to function when issues arise. It was later stated however, that Hast & Co. have been very efficacious with lowering MMHP’s delinquent lot rents which were very high when MMHP took possession over from the State. This has allowed MHA to keep costs down for everyone with all tenants paying their share of lot rent.
The meeting then turned attention to the Trailer Wrap project. On 9/21/07 CU had a ribbon cutting ceremony indicating the project was finished. Yet, MHA is in limbo waiting for the Certificate of Occupancy to be awarded to allow someone to purchase and live in the structure. There are a few issues holding the sale up however; Thistle and CU are trying to recoup their investment in the project with the sale of the trailer, to do that the cost of the trailer would need be $50,000-MHA feels that is not a feasible price for a one bedroom structure lacking walls, closets, etc. (CU states they left the areas open so the new tenant could make decisions about how the space should be divided up) MHA has recently hired 5-Star Realty to help get a better sense of what the market could bear in regards to price, which turns out to be in the area of $30,000-35,000. This price is obviously disappointing to the investing parties. The major hold-up is the lacking Certificate of Occupancy which apparently will be granted once the project is completed with the above mentioned building concerns. CU feels that they are complete with the project, so we are now trying to figure out how to get the work completed so that lot can begin to generate revenue. MHA’s original agreement to this project was to extend free lot rent until September 2006, which is when the project was supposed to be completed, with that deadline already severely passed, and the amount of holdup in regards to the Certificate of Occupancy, MHA is talking about starting to charge one or both of the investing parties the lot rent fee until we get a tenant.
Infrastructure History and Information from Robert
I moved into the park almost 2 years ago, having heard about an infrastructure project that was going to take place someday, and that the “someday” had been just around the corner for a couple of years. Well, last winter, in that timeframe when the project began, it was hellacious over in the southeast section of the park with all the snow and mud and mud and mud. Then came the delays until the mud dried out and the ground frost melted. What a relief to have pavement again, in May.
Then, budget challenges followed. It became a question whether the south side of the park would be finished at all. I began to participate in the weekly infrastructure meetings with the contractor, Thistle personnel and Sandy Denny of Hast. Part of my motivation was frustration because I was perceiving a lack of communication and I wanted to know when my yard and front area would be complete (it took 12 months after the beginning of the project).
Now, after almost 6 months of participating in the meetings, I am finally writing an update to you all. It has taken me awhile to learn, and it has taken awhile for the
Mobil-izer to be reconstituted. I was also learning a lot about MHA via my participation as Secretary on the Board. (And then there is the “day job”…)
So, a few key points:
The south side of the park will be finished, possibly by the end of March, though that depends on weather. As you probably know, the remaining two streets on the south side of the park have had new water and sewer lines installed and all residents on the south side of the park should be hooked up to the new lines by the time you read this.
It looks like the electric, gas and communications (Quest and Comcast) infrastructure installations are about to begin, possibly by Friday, February 1st. At one point, a week before that, we were wondering when this would happen. I have learned why some of these projects can take a long time. In our case, scheduling Xcel to do their part of the work has been challenging. That we are starting now was apparently a “stroke of luck”.
The north side of the park is unlikely to receive new infrastructure for at least a year, and probably much longer. This is due to financial constraints. New grant funds and monies need to be found. I can’t say much more about this at the moment because I don’t know any more. I have heard that we could be waiting for 1 to 5 years after completion of the south side. These numbers haven’t come from the infrastructure meetings. They just pop up in different conversations. I’d like to be more specific, but can’t be at this time.
The last point I’d like to share is regarding the plot of land north of the washhouse. Your input on what to do with this plot of land is desired. You’ll find this addressed in another article in this Mobil-izer.
If you have any questions or concerns about the infrastructure project, feel free to call Jim Harrington at Thistle Community Housing, or Sandy Denny at Hast. I know that many people have done this because your concerns are addressed in the weekly meetings. It sometimes takes awhile to get everything handled, and the issue stays on the agenda list until it is dealt with. The reasons for delays are numerous, and invoke frustration. I jumped in because I experienced that, and now trust that if something is communicated, it will be dealt with.
As a last resort, you can also contact me at mha@powerlisteningcenter.com. I am the last resort since I volunteer and the others are paid to handle issues. I will see what I can do if your issue is unresolved and such a status doesn’t seem to change.
In October, 07, the first “organically sprouted” meeting of the MMHP Garden Club took place, with several interested gardeners and potential gardeners sharing a potluck meal and ideas on how to support and learn from each other – specifically, on how to grow productive and efficient gardens in our small plots of land. It came together rather spontaneously as conversations among a few folks led to a more “formal” meeting. Of course, since food is involved via the growing, we have to eat that food as well, so the potluck became part of the formality. So far, we are meeting monthly at a different house each time. 10-15 people per meeting have shown up (so far) with great food to share, as well as questions and answers on garden size, composting, best planting times, how to maximize gain with minimal work, etc, etc, etc. So far; we are chipping in to purchase bio-dynamic preparations which are supposed to enhance yields and also plant strength, we’re intending to build indoor vertical sprouters for those who are interested, a “seed bank” for sharing seeds is in the works, as well as trips to get the perfect manure for fertilizing organically, we’re even dreaming of greenhouses for seed starts! There is also discussion about owning a beehive or two to pollinate the squash and other plants that need pollination. We are even considering field trips, while suggesting books or articles to read, and I could go on and on. One vision we have is to have the ability to substantially feed ourselves, if such need might arise due to rising energy prices, or an economic collapse. There are other visions as well. However, the major motivating factor for everyone participating so far seems to be the enjoyment of gardening and sharing that enjoyment with others. Did I mention, the potluck food has been outstanding?
Anyway, if you have interest in participating, please email me, Robert Power, mha@powerlisteningcenter.com. At this point, all meeting reminders and other communications between meetings happen via email. We have met on the first Wednesday of the month to date, though this could change. Robert Power is the new Secretary of MHA
A note from Julie Morris; our Resident Onsite Manager
Many thanks to those residents who have diligently shoveled their sidewalks after each of the recent snowstorms. We appreciate your effort in keeping our park safe for those who like to walk through Mapleton Park.
Mapleton Park residents have been very involved in recycling and the washroom has been a place to leave items. However, recently it has become very time consuming to keep this area neat and orderly. We are requesting that the items which are left to be recycled/reused be: clean, usable and neatly stacked on the south table. Thank you for your cooperation.
Julie works for Hast & Co. as the Resident Onsite Manager of the Park. She lives on the North side of the park in #181.
Infrastructure Information from Jim Harrington-Living with your new heat tape
Two quick reminders to residents with new heat tape installed on their new water lines as part of the new infrastructure work. One, your heat tape is working if the water you turn on is warm for the first minute or so.
Two, if for any reason you turn power off to the heat tape outlet you will need to reset the heat tape after you turn the power back on. Please refer to your instructions for details and feel free to call Jim Harrington 303.443.0007 ext 117 or Chris Doyle 303.443.0007 ext 176 for more information.
Jim Harrington is the Special Project Manager for Thistle Community Housing working on the Mapleton Mobile Home Park Utility Renewal Project
Meet Robert Power-Our new MHA Secretary
You will have seen a few articles from me, Robert Power, with the email address, mha@powerlisteningcenter.com. I use that email to distinguish emails related to Mapleton from those related to my work.
I am currently the Secretary on the MHA Board. I offered to help out in June 07 and was formally elected at the last quarterly meeting. I moved into Mapleton in April 06, renovated my home, found all sorts of ways to overwhelm myself and finally looked for a way to participate. I had been friends with a past Board member, Jonathan, who has since left the park as he expanded his family. He had often shared about the vision and work that led to the current status of Mapleton with a non-profit corporation run by residents that has a 99 year lease on the land which is now owned by Thistle. I was intrigued and thought it might be interesting to participate in such a project somewhere. Then I arrived here, and it has been interesting, in no small part to the infrastructure project.
That’s basically what I want to share here, just a brief introduction, and I’ll finish with an invitation. There will soon be openings on the MHA Board for new elected residents to participate. It’s a good time to contribute to the evolution of the Park.
A lot of the challenging work of taking the Park through the transition from a private individual owning the land to Boulder City ownership to Thistle ownership is complete. I know that there are some key people to thank for that work. Mark Reeder has been thanked in a past Mobil-izer, as have other people. More will soon be acknowledged in an upcoming one.
Meanwhile, it is a great time to help shape the vision that they enacted. Please consider participating. If you have any questions, you can contact me or another Board member. I’m the newest one so I will find answers if I don’t know them. This is also the first Mobil-izer that I have contributed to, so I may be missing some important things, or dropping out a few protocol points that are common to sharing information.
One last thing. I am close to catching up with Minutes of Board meetings. You will find them soon posted on the MHA website. I am hoping to have the minutes from when I began up through January 08 on the website by the end of February. I’ll do my best. Go to HYPERLINK "http://www.colorado-housing.net/thistle/mha/index.htm"http://www.colorado-housing.net/thistle/mha/index.htm.
What to do with the plot of land North of the washhouse?
You are likely to have noticed that the area north of the washhouse has been a staging ground for the infrastructure project. You may also have noticed that it’s muddy there. Much of the concrete has disappeared. An unforeseen “gift” of the project was to remove the concrete-filled pool that had been there so that the area could be turned into something nicer.
What do you want for that area? Your input is desired. While there may not be much money left in the project budget to do all of what we determine we want, we will at least be able to get started and prepare the area. Personally, I have requested that Thistle and the contractor hear our feedback rather than just do the minimal work in that area to make it look complete. Even if we can’t get what we want, we can at least have the ground prepared; thereby minimizing the work we might have to do later on.
The Mapleton Home Association
Executive Board
Paul Keaton President.
303-939-8140
Steve Gaines Vice President.
303-449-1094
Keith Ainsworth Treasurer.
303 440-7721
Debbie Feustel Mgmt Chair
303-247-0658
Management Ccommittee
Alex Wilson
303-447-8508
Gene Langlois
303-444-4988
Mamud Kabir
303-443-8029
Site Committee
Kurt Bischoff
Attorneys Dennis R.Frohlich
Susan Perkins
More info
The Mapleton Mobile-izer is published quarterly by the Mapleton Home Association and is distributed free to all residents of Mapleton Mobile Home Park.