Hello Neighbors!
We wanted to share an update on the road work plans and summary of our last meeting with everyone.
Thank you to everyone who attended the last road committee meeting, it was great to get important feedback from the neighbors and discuss the future plans for the road.
Here is a quick summary of the meeting:
- Reviewed financial status: Operated at a net loss of nearly $6k in 2018, as of the end of the meeting had already used 65% of collected 2019 dues. Very real possibility of spending all remaining funds in 2019 if we have another wet summer and no additional contributions. Good news is that more neighbors are contributing!
- Reminder that if you plow, to be extra careful to avoid damaging drainage systems and ensure snow is not blocking culverts. Sever damage was caused to road in one of the last snows due to a neighbor blocking drainage ways for melting snow when they plowed. Also a reminder that plowing and other “good neighbor” volunteering on the road is not considered to be in lieu of contributing to the road dues.
- Please contact the road committee before doing work on the road to ensure all our efforts are coordinated and efforts are not duplicated/wasted.
- Please remember to trim back all brush along your property from the road.
- Some neighbors asked to be reminded about what the road committee maintains. We do our best to maintain the road from Lime Kiln to Wild Goose Lane. See picture below:
- We would like to be able to maintain all the spurs in the future, but are unable to even maintain the section we do now given current financial constraints.
- We received estimates for what it would cost to pave or do “tar and chip” on the length of the road we currently maintain both were close to $200k and neither company would proceed without first regrading the entire road due to the poor drainage situation.
- Discussed plans for future maintenance of the road as well as possible scenarios for road dues.
- Reminded neighbors that we are trying to have a tighter budget and better plan going forward, so regardless of when you used to contribute to the road fund, we ask everyone to make their contributions at the first of the year going forward.
Road Work Plans
During the last meeting we discussed the need for improving the draining on the road to avoid the repeat potholes. The challenge we have found since then is availability of the road grader due to all the construction happening and scheduling time when road is workable (not wet). We will likely have to just work the road in sections to improve drainage through enhancing drainage trenches/culverts and adding rip-rap stones to slow water flow. We would really like to have the flexibility to keep the road in top-notch condition, but we are severely limited in what we can do between the costs of materials, labor, and amount of contributions.
We have spoken to Mr. Reynolds and he has graciously approved our request to stockpile millings for the road on the old bridge spur so that this summer when road construction is underway we will be able to get a reserve of millings at just the cost of delivery. This should allow us to spend less on millings/gravel than we did in 2018 and make repairs less expensive as material will already be available.
Road Dues
During the last meeting we discussed some options for road dues and how different rates would impact how we are able to maintain the road. As of the end of the last road meeting we had received contributions from 34 households, more than we have had in a long time, so great job everyone, thank you!
As a reminder, in 2018, due to all the rain and years of deterioration on the road, we had to spend over $14k. At the current dues rate of $350 / household at 34 households we would only receive $11,900, well short of what we had to spend in 2018.
To stop operating at a deficit we believe we need to, at a minimum, get contributions closer to what would cover what we spent in 2018. That would mean dues going from current rate of just $350 / year to roughly $450 / year. However, to keep the road in great shape, be able to make forward progress on improving the road so that we don’t have continual erosion and washouts, have professional snow plowing so the road is not damaged by volunteers, get the reserve funds back to a level that could respond to a significant road failure, and have a path to maintaining the spurs, we estimate dues would need to be closer to $500-$600 / year. We would like to point out that we like to keep costs low for ourselves, so if we do end up raising dues to a point that we are operating in the black again and the road is setup to be in better shape for long term maintainability, we will happily coordinate lowering dues back down. To help put these numbers in perspective, imagine sharing just one $25 bottle of Loudoun wine with the entire neighborhood per month, that would be the difference we need in cost to go from our current dues to where we need to be at $500-$600 / year.
Contributing Households
Thank you to all the neighbors who have generously contributed to the road fund in 2019!
In no particular order:
| John Reynolds |
| David & Marilyn (Missy) Pickett |
| Fred & Nancy Hinke |
| John (Chris) West |
| Ned & Lisa Wentworth |
| Ayampillay (Jey) Jeyanathan |
| Ron & Theresa Bohn |
| Mike & Trisha Victor |
| Scott Butler & Lisa Stehman |
| Brad & Kathy Brown |
| Lou and Amy Casciano |
| Ed & Jessica Dick |
| Jim & Pam Conway |
| Dave & Mallory Horton |
| Kerry Koritko & Ingrid Gudnadottir |
| Julia & William Sanders |
| Harley & Adrienne Green |
| John & Tina Isom |
| Jim & Monica Lambert |
| Mike & Jeanne Roush |
| James & Faith Cha |
| Henry & Kathleen Becker |
| Mary Alice Crawford |
| Cory & Deb Weaver |
| Amy Reynolds |
| Deb Matthews & Che Larson |
| Sara & Chris Cook |
| William McCormick & Sandy Banaszak |
| David & Sarah Virts |
| David & Janice Judd |
| George & Hazel Coupar |
| Allison Chin |
| Jonathan & Ashley Sawyer |
| Tim & Patricia Adams |
Side Notes
A few side notes for everyone:
- We are going to start listing business/services offered by our neighbors, so if you’d like yours listed please email us as soon as possible!
- There is a new internet service provider that may be able to provide unlimited high speed internet to some houses in our neighborhood. If you have decent cell service at your house then you should contact Bit Haulers for a free site survey. We have been able to consistently receive speeds over 70Mbps rain or shine, with this service. We were very excited to remove the old Exede satellite internet dish from our yard!
- If you have any other questions, comments please feel free to email us anytime!
Current Finances
| Date | Description | Debit | Credit | Balance |
| 1/1/2018 | Carryover Balance | $18,682.45 | ||
| 2/14/2018 | 1 Resident road dues for 2017 | $300.00 | $18,982.45 | |
| 2/16/2018 | Lou/Luck Stone Gravel for hill and road | $3,447.04 | $15,535.41 | |
| 4/19/2018 | 10 Residents Dues 2018 | $3,000.00 | $18,535.41 | |
| 5/15/2018 | 6 residents dues 2018 | $1,800.00 | $20,335.41 | |
| 6/7/2018 | 2 residents dues 2018 | $600.00 | $20,935.41 | |
| 6/12/2018 | Annual PO Box fee | $112.00 | $20,823.41 | |
| 6/20/2018 | 1 residents dues 2018 | $300.00 | $21,123.41 | |
| 7/5/2018 | 1 residents dues 2018 | $300.00 | $21,423.41 | |
| 7/9/2018 | 3 residents dues 2018 | $1,200.00 | $22,623.41 | |
| 7/26/2018 | 2 residents dues 2018 | $600.00 | $23,223.41 | |
| 7/12/2018 | A.W. Smith Grade Hill | $1,465.00 | $21,758.41 | |
| 8/2/2018 | Board Insurance | $781.00 | $20,977.41 | |
| 8/8/2018 | 1 residents dues 2018 | $300.00 | $21,277.41 | |
| 9/10/2018 | A.W. Smith Grade Hill (X2) | $930.00 | $20,347.41 | |
| Insurance | $300.00 | $20,047.41 | ||
| 10/28/2018 | A.W. Smith Trim & Grade Hill | $4,680.00 | $15,367.41 | |
| A.W. Smith grade hill | $2,580.00 | $12,787.41 | ||
| 1/30/2019 | 17 Residents Road dues | $5,950.00 | $18,737.41 | |
| 2/8/2019 | AW Smith Grade, potholes, ditches & sand | $2,515.00 | $16,222.41 | |
| 2/12/2019 | 1 Residents Road dues | $350.00 | $16,572.41 | |
| 2/25/2019 | 6 Residents Road dues | $2,700.00 | $19,272.41 | |
| 3/7/2019 | AW Smith Grade, potholes, ditches & gravel | $5,826.00 | $13,446.41 | |
| 3/13/2019 | 1 Residents Road dues | $350.00 | $13,796.41 | |
| 3/21/2019 | 1 Residents Road dues | $350.00 | $14,146.41 | |
| 4/5/2019 | 4 Residents Road Dues | $2,000.00 | $16,146.41 | |
| 4/7/2018 | 3 Residents Road Dues | $1,050.00 | $17,196.41 |
Sincerely,
Harley Green, President
Goose Creek Farms Road Committee