Silvercreek HOA Annual Meeting Held Sept 24

The Silvercreek HOA Board of Directors kicked off the Annual Meeting last night (Sept 24) with introductions.

Community Manager Leslie Baldwin then presented Bryant Bremer, who lost his Silvercreek home in a fire caused by lightning in April, with a check for $2500. These funds came from the “Associa Cares” Program. Associa/PMG Houston is Silvercreek’s management company. Bremer thanked everyone who has helped his family in the past few months. “The outpouring of support was just amazing,” he said.

Manvel Mayor Delores Martin gave residents some facts about Manvel ETJ, in which Silvercreek is located. The ETJ (Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction) is currently made up of Silvercreek (748 homes), Rodeo Palms (1800 homes), Sedona Lakes (854 homes), and two more subdivisions that are in progress (Pomona - 183 homes and Lakeland). Martin said that the tax rate stays low in the ETJ and the City of Manvel because, “I don’t believe in citizens paying for new growth.” She also mentioned that the now-vacant Eddie’s Country Ballroom may be turned into a park if she can negotiate a donation from the owners. Martin said that she has been requesting that a couple of acres per subdivision be donated to the City for fire/EMS substations and that water/sewer lines be installed along Highway 6. “We need a grocery store!” she said. Mayor Martin also addressed the issue of apartments being built. “The zoning in the city keeps apartments out. But they are allowed in Manvel ETJ,” she said. “There’s not much I can do about that.”

Martin closed her remarks with a story. “I received a letter from a 7 year-old boy whose house had been robbed,” she said. “He asked me if I could hire more police men and women to keep the bad guys out. That’s what I am trying to do. I want to honor my promise,” she said with tears in her eyes. Martin has served as the mayor for 13 years and is known for answering her own phone. “If you want to do a job, do it well or don’t do it at all,” she said. Residents gave Mayor Martin a hearty ovation and thanked her for all she’s doing.

Precinct 2 County Commissioner Matt Sebesta was on hand to give residents an update on Brazoria County’s growth. He reported that there is currently $22.64 billion dollars in private investments, most of it going to the oil and gas pipeline business. “The City of Quintana is the smallest city in Texas,” he said. “They are now building a $13.5 billion export facility for oil and gas.” Sebesta said that there will be up to 15,000 new construction jobs created by this influx of growth. “Toll lanes will be built on the grassy median in between the existing north and southbound lanes,” he said. “Brazoria and Harris Counties are working so that both sections will be finished about the same time.”

Sebesta also addressed the mosquito problem. “The mosquitoes around here have not tested positive for West Nile. We have had one case in Brazoria County, but the bugs that are testing positive have been found in Alvin and East Pearland,” he said. Sebesta suggested that residents visit the Brazoria County website to request service from Mosquito Control. The direct link is http://www.brazoria-county.com/MosquitoControl/MosquitoReport.aspx. He reported that the county has 14 trucks and 3 planes that spray regularly when the mosquito population increases. “Spraying should cut down on the mosquitoes, but it’s not going to eliminate them completely,” he added. Silvercreek has its own trucks, which spray 3-4 times per week, depending on how bad the mosquitoes are. Homeowners are also encouraged to spray around their own properties.

Sebesta ended his presentation by introducing Ryan Cade, who is running for County Commissioner in the November elections. Sebesta is seeking a County Judge position, as he has served as Commissioner since 2007.

Sheriff Charles Wagner encouraged residents to call Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) if they see anything that looks unusual. “We’d rather send someone out and it be nothing than not be aware of something,” he said. The number to call to report suspicious activity to BCSO is 281-756-2392. “I’ve told my guys to patrol the neighborhoods, not the highway,” Wagner said. “I’d rather them catch a burglar than write a ticket.”

A resident asked Wagner about the problem with Cobblestone Apartments residents parking in Silvercreek. “There’s nothing we can do about that,” Wagner replied. BCSO’s “No Parking” signs on CR 94 have been very effective, but since Silvercreek is private property, they can’t make people move their vehicles.

Manvel Fire Chief Steve DelBello reported that they have had 77 calls from the area so far in 2014, including two fires that were caused by lightning in Silvercreek. While one home was lost, the other was spared because the fire started in the attic. “We had that one out in about 5 minutes,” he said. DelBello added that he is advocating for another station near Croix Park and another full-time employee so that someone will be at the station 24 hours a day.

Chief DelBello also addressed the problems some residents have had with their insurance companies. “We are still at ISO 4. If your insurance company claims otherwise, call the state ISO number,” he said. ISO is a company that issues a rating based on property and casualty risk. The higher the number, the more costly the insurance. In 2008, Silvercreek’s rating was ISO 9. Thanks to new substations in and around Manvel, that number has decreased to ISO 4. Residents may call 512-440-9903 if they have any issues with their ISO rating.

HOA President Loren Kool went over some community highlights, including the recent revamping of the pool, the community monuments, new landscaping and the switch to LED lights in the common areas. Because a quorum was not reached, residents could not vote on the Director position that Pete Comeaux currently holds and hopes to keep holding. Residents who are unable to attend next month’s meeting on October 22 at Big Star Ford are encouraged to mail, fax or email their proxy forms so that the vote can take place. 75 residents are needed to reach a quorum; 57 were in attendance at the meeting. Proxy forms will be mailed out again before the October meeting. Kool encouraged all homeowners to return their forms or attend the next meeting in person so that the Director position may be filled in a timely fashion. Kool also reminded residents that their HOA dues have not been raised at all in the past 7 years.

HOA Secretary/Treasurer Stephen Bonczek gave a report on Silvercreek’s financials. The community is still operating “in the black” by about $50,000, and there is no need to increase HOA dues. Bonczek went over the cost of two recent major projects: Pool improvements - $300,000 and new monuments - $12,000. “We don’t take on any projects we cannot afford,” he said. Future projects include the resurfacing of the tennis courts to “US Open” blue and the possibility of revisiting installing a brick wall along CR 94, replacing the existing wooden fences. “We have looked into that before,” Bonczek said. “The bids we got were all close to $1 million.”

A resident asked about the “official” website for Silvercreek. Community Manager Leslie Baldwin reminded homeowners that the management company’s website is silvercreektx.com. She also encouraged attendees to register for the subdivision’s official communication tool, VOLO Village. This service allows the management company to communicate instantly with homeowners via text, email and/or telephone. Homeowners must go to the VOLO Village website and OPT-IN to receive this service. The website address to sign up is http://portal.volorecovery.com. VOLO also sends automatic weather updates and offers a private number that residents may call to receive any important information they missed. Silvercreek’s private number is 855-459-1617 and is in operation 24 hours a day/7 days a week. Other helpful links and information may be found on the Silvercreek Tribune‘s “Silvercreek Info” page at http://silvercreektribune.com/silvercreek-info/. The Silvercreek Tribune is not associated with any HOA or government organization, including the Silvercreek HOA.

HOA Vice-President Brandon Paradelas reported on the upcoming Lighting of the Lights event during the holidays. “We plan to extend the lights further back past the clubhouse and sewage treatment facility this year,” he said. Last year, Silvercreek switched to money-saving LED lights, which allowed for adding more this year. The Lighting of the Lights/Wine and Cheese/Santa’s Visit event will be held on December 6, 2024 starting at 7:00pm

Director Pat Rogers asked for homeowners to feel free to nominate their neighbors for Yard of the Month next summer. These awards are given during the months of May, June, July and August. Each winner receives a gift card and the Yard of the Month sign is placed in his or her yard for the entire month. To nominate someone, call Pat at 281-489-5028 or email her at [email protected].

HOA Director and Architectural Control Committee (ACC) Chairperson Pete Comeaux gave a report on this recently-formed group, which includes neighbors Laurie Nichols and Tami Johnson. “We try hard to turn a request around in a week,” he said. “It used to take up to 90 days to get an answer about a request, and we thought that was ridiculous.” One issue that Comeaux addressed was resident fencing. “Residents may repair their fences at the same height and style as the existing fencing without ACC approval,” he said. “Any changes in color, paint, height or style need to go through our committee.” To download an ACC request form, click here.

There was no report from the Neighborhood Watch Committee except to announce the resignation of Chairperson Stacey Glaesmann and to ask for a volunteer to step up and fill the position. Interested parties may email Stacey at [email protected] to learn more about the position.

National Night Out Committee Chairperson Gloria Dearth reported that everything is on track for a great event on October 7 starting at 6:00pm by the community pool and tennis courts. Volunteers are still needed. Interested parties may contact Gloria at [email protected].

Finally, the Grand Prize of the night, a Galaxy Tab 4 donated by Texas Landscape Group, was won by neighbor and National Night Out Committee member Andrew Pikoff.

For more information, contact Prinicpal Management Group of Houston, 11000 Corporate Centre Drive, Suite 150, Houston, TX 77041. The main number is 713-329-7100 and is answered 24 hours a day/7 days a week. The fax number is 713-329-7198. The website may be found at silvercreektx.com. Silvercreek’s Community Manager is Leslie Baldwin, CMCA, AMS.