Attending:  Carol Wilson, President; Board members: KG Mani, Jim Balthrop and Larry Clarke.  Tina Longwell and Wesley Dean represented Center Group, our administrator.

For our membership: 
Your Board serves pro bono because we are genuinely concerned about our community.  Our goal is to maintain the appearance and upkeep outlined in the legal covenants that govern the operations of our community.  We encourage everyone to go to the web site www.marcus-pointe.com download the Covenants and Architectural guidelines.  There are blank forms for addressing/requesting architectural changes to your property that require prior approval. Please do not sign contracts or begin work until you have checked this site.  We do not want to be confrontational or disagreeable, but covenant enforcement is required.  Spend a few minutes updating your family on the community requirements and avoid letters of violation.  We also encourage you to register for the Association blog where you can provide your comments any time you desire.  Our Board meetings are open to the Association membership and we encourage you to attend at least one while residing in the community.

Carol Wilson called the meeting to order and the Board adopted the minutes from the October 2009 meeting. 

Meeting Function:
This was the regular scheduled bi-monthly meeting. 
Administrator’s Report:

• Financial Report:
• Center Group collected $3,269.19 in delinquent dues, late fees and interest since the last regular meeting.
• MPHA homeowner accounts in arrears balance is currently $7,548.69.
• Two liens have been placed on significantly overdue properties.
• The lawyer is dealing with one bank sale that did not pay an account in arrears prior to settlement.
• We have three properties in foreclosure that are in arrears
• I would note Centre Group has made great progress in this account.  If 20 people who owe less than $50.00 would pay these small amounts, we would only have 6 delinquent accounts.
• The MPHA Operating Fund has a balance of $70,331.14 (It should be noted that the 2009 Reserve Fund payments have not yet been transferred from the operating fund to the Reserve Account).
• The Reserve Fund (for road repaving, sign and fence replacement) has a balance of $30,285.56. 
• Additionally, the Reserve Fund figure reflected above does not include a CD.  The CD’s balance is $25,386.99.  The Board voted some time back to place a portion of the Reserve Fund cash account in an interest yielding CD instrument to maximize growth.
• The Balance Sheet is appended to this report.
• Here is the status of the reserve funds as of December 31, 2009.

• Tasks assigned to Center Group:
• Centre Group reports the task to limb the trees to 12 feet, clear the fence of vegetation, and remove the debris and hydro-seed the area where the new sprinkler system is located in the back area of the community is complete and all debris removed.
• The Scrolling sign was installed the on Dec 21.  The operator’s manual has not yet been received but the MPHA Board does have the software disc for programming the sign.
• Eden landscaping removed the dead tree at in the rear on MP BLVD along the fence line.
• The professional signs regarding the community solicitation rules for the entrance as well as including the wording covenant managed community have been installed.  The Board voted to move one of the signs to a more visible location.  Residents are reminded that posting the sign will not stop door-to-door solicitation but it does give you an immediate out to say before they start their pitch, did you not see the no solicitation sign at the entrance and respectfully close the door.  Some have recently said they have a permit to solicit in our community.  Ask to see it and take some notes (organization issuing the permit, signature name and any phone number or address). Always ask to see identification of the person making the solicitation and record that information.  They Board would love to have a copy.
• Center Group was tasked to contact Escambia County Roads & Bridges and highlight the following issues for addressal:
• A.  Storm water drain corner of Lakemount Lane/MP BLVD rebar exposed
• B.  Storm water drain on Pine Hollow near Constantine rebar exposed
• C.  Standing water at High Point Dr/Constantine
• D.  Bartlett Pear trees on MPBLVD/Enterprise (County property) need to be trimmed (trees have not been trimmed since Ivan).

Architectural Control Actions since Last Meeting:

11/11/09          2015 Hesperia Way.  Request to install a retractable awning.  ARC disapproved request.
11/20/09          5109 Pine Hollow Drive.  Request to add shutters and replace garage door. ARC approved.
12/12/09          3029 Marquette Avenue.  Request to renovate and add an addition to existing home. ARC approved request.       
12/30/09          3025 Marquette Avenue.  Request for concrete enhancements to driveway, walk, front and back porch. ARC approved request.
01/12/10          5130 Highpointe Blvd.  Request to install a 6’ high wooden fence to back of property (tie into existing fence). ARC approved request.

Board Discussions of interest to the Association:

• The Board discussed and voted to approve mailing the annual dues statement the first working day of December each year.  Receiving the bill one or two days before Christmas did not seem the best approach to dealing with this issue.  No changes in fee due dates were made but the earlier notice allows another 30 days to plan for the payment.
• Centre Group advised the Board that we have one more seeding to be done as part of the November contract in the area where the new sprinkler system was installed.  That seeding has already been paid for.
• There were MPHA blog recommendations that the duplicity of speed and soliciting signs at the entrance be eliminated.  The Board directed Centre Group to remove the wooden speed sign and leave the authorized state/county speed limit sign.  The metal “No Soliciting” sign will relocated elsewhere in the community.
• The Board was advised of the new requirement to have a backflow value installed on our sprinkler systems.  We require two valves and bid requests have been mailed.  For commercial entities, like our Association, an annual inspection by ECUA of this value is required.  The cost is estimated to be $70.00 per inspection.
• The annual meeting date was set for February 23, 2010 at 6:00 PM at Marcus Pointe Baptist Church.  The board asked the Marcus Pointe Baptis Church identify the one door to be used for entry to eliminate some of the confusion from last year.
• A nominating committee has been formed chaired by Carol Wilson and is accepting nominations for Board vacancies at this time.  You may call her, send her a letter or use the blog.  Current Board Members whose terms expire include Jim Witt, KG Mani and Larry Clarke.  KG Mani and Larry Clarke have agreed to continue serving should they be reelected at the annual meeting.  Their two names are therefore in nomination.  Jim Witt will retire from the Board.  We greatly appreciate Jim’s service to our community.
• The Board voted a donation of $500.00 for use of the church facility and a sound man.
• The issue of children digging deep holes in the Gulf Power easement has been resolved and the holes filled.
• The irrigation systems was turned off during the last big freeze period.  The Board asked that it be turned on before Feb 15, 2010.
• The Board voted to purchase another CD once we have the final reserve fund cash totals available around January 31, 2010.
• On the legal side we have three properties that are entering the mediation phase for resolution of repeated covenant violations.  If mutual satisfaction can not be agreed to at mediation, our attorney will advise on any next steps.
• The attorney has three other issues that are still pending resolution.
• The Board has directed the following actions regarding landscaping:
• The area around the MPHA entrance sign be added to the Eden contract for maintenance to include weeding and approximately quarterly plant rotation.
• Bids will be solicited for select small tree and underbrush removal near the retention pond on Forrest Green.  Once removed and the stumps ground, bamboo will be planted to screen that area.
• Bids will be solicited for staggered evergreen planting at the retention pond on Pine Hollow. Some dead limb removal will be included on the large existing trees.
• As we do at every meeting, security and crime were discussed.  The Board remains convinced that returning to the security system (off duty police patrolling the community at night) we had before is not cost effective and produced marginal results.  The bids we solicited and received from private companies were all well beyond our current ability to pay.  A local homeowners association has installed cameras in their community.  We have Centre Group making contact with them to find the cost and what capability they have.  If is sounds feasible regarding coverage and cost, we will meet with that association to view the system with the intent of evaluating it for Marcus Pointe implementation.  It should be noted that attending Board members noted they have received fewer security complaints since the off duty police protection was terminated. There have been some reports of vandalism such as egging of house door or car.  The Board Secretary will contact Escambia County Sherriff’s office community relations officer and get a copy of reported crimes from April last year to April this year (once April is past) to make a comparative assessment with the crime report current on our web page.

Update on the Blossom Trail C&D Landfill (DEP file No. 0078442-002-SO):

• A subset of the 13 unapproved containers (dumpsters) filled with non-permitted waste from the site have been removed.  Some were emptied and returned empty to the site.  From the access point the Board cut through the woods 4 containers filled with debris remain in place.
• FL DEP owes the Board a call on the status of the Consent Order inspection.
• Board Secretary continues to take a periodic photos along the fence line in an attempt to document any progress towards coming into compliance with Escambia County and Florida Department of Environmental Protection regulations.
• Board Secretary has been in contact with the county inspector who is moving for an inspection in the near term.
• Your Board is tracking the issue and will provide updates.

The meeting adjourned at 2:30 local time.

Respectfully submitted,
Larry Clarke
Marcus Pointe Association Board Recording Secretary.