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September Board Meeting for SWHOA- including Verizon 9/24 @ Broadlands CC

Discussion in 'Southern Walk Announcements' started by SWHOA Admin, Sep 15, 2018.

  1. SWHOA Admin

    SWHOA Admin Southern Walk HOA

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    Please mark your calendars for Monday September 24th at 7 pm, to attend a presentation from Verizon Enhanced Communities to hear about new contracted broadband service from Verizon. You will hear about the portion that will become part of the HOA dues (broadband internet) and also other electable options, including television, voice, and premium services. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. at the Broadlands Community Center and seating will be limited.

    Agenda: Doors Open around 6:45 p.m.
    Meeting called to order at 7:00 p.m. sharp
    The Time Reserved for Homeowner Forum will be devoted to a presentation from Verizon and will promptly begin right at 7:00 p.m.
    Regular Board Business will begin around 7:50 p.m. (at this time homeowners are welcome to remain until Executive Session, but normal Q&A portion over at this time).
     
  2. Mike

    Mike Active Member

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    Is anyone headed to this that could provide updates to the neighborhood? I will be out of town and wont be able to attend.

    Looking forward to finally being able to watch REDZONE during the football season. Lets go Verizon!
     
  3. Zeratul

    Zeratul Well-Known Member

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    I am going to try and attend... and will gladly provide an update if I do.
     
  4. hikerbearz

    hikerbearz New Member

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    That would be great Zeratul ! We will be looking forward to your update.
     
  5. signifer

    signifer Member

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    If the answers are known (costs, schedules, etc), why not just post them here rather require attendance at a meeting (and someone who attends posting what went on)?
     
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  6. Zeratul

    Zeratul Well-Known Member

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    It would be helpful if someone from the Board could answer that. I know we have been over the whole issue of posting official material on the Forum but we have quite a few newer members that are not up to date on this answer. I think it would be helpful for a re-fresh?
     
  7. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    Well, at this point all the legal battles are over, so there shouldn't be any more need for secrecy.
    The Broadlands HOA publishes our entire budget in the newsletter.
     
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  8. Zeratul

    Zeratul Well-Known Member

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    I think until the contracts are signed... there are some limitations on what can be shared but something would be better than nothing...
     
  9. signifer

    signifer Member

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    I understood the need for secrecy while all the legal wrangling was going on but I thought since Verizon was coming to talk about the "new contracted broadband service" (from original post) that all the decisions were made and contracts signed. If that's right, I don't see why the information can't be passed along now.

    It would certainly make things easier for those who have conflicts that night.
     
    Bandit1 likes this.
  10. Three Bikers

    Three Bikers New Member

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    Don’t hold your breath on FIOS arriving soon. I’ve had it installed where I live now (near Cascades). It took about a year after it came down the street. I would guess 2020 at the earliest. I pay $245/month; internet, ultimate TV package, land line phone. I’ve never experienced Open Band personally, but from what I’ve heard, FIOS is a definite upgrade over Open Band. FIOS will definitely improve the value of your property; a definite plus when I list my rental in Southern Walk.
     
  11. kris

    kris New Member

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    can someone please post the updates?
     
  12. Zeratul

    Zeratul Well-Known Member

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    Good meeting last night. well attended too. And thank you Board members for all the hard work seeing this along, with Openband easement purchase, BHOA coordination and Verizon contract negotiations. I feel like we are in a good position for telecommunications. Prices are not set yet, it is too soon but the Board committed to work with all stakeholders and get those to us as soon as they could (30 days I think is what I heard). Additional pricing from Verizon is fluid (TV, premium content, phone etc.) but we should have clarity around that fairly soon as well. Internet ($69) + HOA fee is still targeted around $90 - $100 and will be communicated to the homeowners soon, likely in a letter as well as e-mail and Forum.

    Verizon has the easements and is recording them with the County. They have pretty much completed the engineering design and construction is moving quickly into the final planning stages. We should expect the construction to be completed in 4 phases. No timetable was provided at this point, but Verizon did acknowledge that they were looking to get us a better idea of that once things get started and the Board will communicate that to us as well.

    The initial contract will be for 3 years... and with an additional option for up to 3 more years (total of 6) being available to the HOA if all goes well. There is nothing contractually connecting us to Verizon beyond that. The question of the need for an HOA beyond that can be on the table, but it would require a super majority of homeowner votes to make it happen.

    If I misspoke please let me know... but that is what I have from the notes I took (highlights).
     
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  13. Weasel

    Weasel Member

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    Thanks for the summary.... one thing I still don't understand is why is there a need for any type of SWHOA fee going forward?
     
  14. Zeratul

    Zeratul Well-Known Member

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    We covered that topic as well. More specifics can be found in the association budget, but in general, the HOA has ongoing fees related to insurance, First Service management costs, collections costs and some general admin. Also, the HOA must maintain a reserve fund as well to help cover delinquent homeowners who do not pay the mandatory Telecommunications fees. I think, over the years, this fee has been between $15 - $25 in "typical" situations. But we have not had much of that.... but moving forward, I think this Board will continue to do a very good job managing our finances.
     
  15. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    Wow--we all gotta pay anywhere from $21 to $31 bucks extra each month other than the $69 fee to just have Internet brought to us? That's crazy---Its like paying a "middleman" to bring us the internet when other non-SW neighbors can get internet WITHOUT having to pay "middleman" fees.

    This means over three years, each of us will all be paying an extra $756 ($21/Mo x 12 months x 3 years ) to $1,116 ($31/Mo x 12 months x 3 years) just for bringing internet access to Southern Walk residents! (Note: Im using Zeratul's original $90-$100 range...so that means extra $21 under the $90 fee or $31 extra under the $100 fee when $69 for the internet is factored out.)

    So its deja vu all over again when we have to have a reserve fund to pay for those that don't want to pay their fair share of the fees plus legal fees, etc.--so its incumbent to all of us honest folks to pay for the non-payers. I guess Broadlands gotta keep the SWHOA forever? We will never be free of SWHOA? This is a lot like Reston and Lake Ridge residents having TWO HOAs each. Crazy.

    God forbid if a homeowner sues SWHOA over the fees or we have to cough up more $$ for rising legal fees to fight the non-payers then ALL of us honest ones are gonna have to foot the legal bills all over again. That wouldn't sit well with many of us, I would gather.

    I believe it when Benjamin Franklin said that in life only two things are certain: "Death and Taxes". I'd like to be the first to add a 3rd thing that is pretty much certain: HOA Fees.

    Sigh.
     
    Last edited: Sep 25, 2018
  16. L0stS0ul

    L0stS0ul hmmmm

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    Our community has been in a situation with no easy answers. The board has found a way to bring in a company willing to fix the infrastructure and modernize our community. That is not cheap and the company needs to have some guarantees. The fact that they were able to get a 3 year contract with a possible 3 year extension is amazing to me. I think the board is doing a great job
     
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  17. btsnod

    btsnod New Member

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    I agree with Zeratul and LoutSoul. The SWHOA has worked hard to get a the OpenBand situation handled and get us to a new service provider that is offering a good deal for a much shorter term commitment than we would have expected. There is plenty to do still but the path to FIOS is in its way.
     
  18. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    Understood but one thing I'm surprised...you say "possible 3 year extension"....I was of the understanding that after the three year extension that each of us then would get our own cable/internet/phone without having to resort to bulk billing arrangements? (This comes from earlier postings)...
     
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  19. L0stS0ul

    L0stS0ul hmmmm

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    I don't think anyone can say what will happen after the contract is over. Heck, if Verizon decides to walk away at either point we may have to use the HOA to get another company to come in. We have way more sway as a group than individuals.
     
  20. Capricorn1964

    Capricorn1964 Well-Known Member

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    If verizon walks away, they can't take the wires with them and how is it any different than other neighborhoods that do not have a second HOA such as Broadlands North?
     
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