MTHA President's Letter, Annual Meeting Recap & Board of Directors Monthly Meeting
January 3, 2024
Meghan Lee
President
15411 Old Stone Trail
281.250.5524
Board of Directors Monthly Meeting
When: Wednesday, January 10, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Meghan Lee's house, 15411 Old Stone Trail
Agenda:
Board of Directors Monthly Meeting
December Minutes Approval
Old Business
Continued discussions re: problematic MT properties
Director and Officer Reports
ACC update
New Business
2024 Goals and Objectives
MTHA Annual Meeting
Thanks to everyone who attended in person (or via proxy) the MTHA Annual Meeting last month. We hope that you found it informative and a good opportunity to reconnect with your neighbors and meet new ones. It was certainly a full house.
President's Newsletter
I would like to provide an update and summary of information related to our Memorial Thicket neighborhood. For more detailed information please refer to our "Memorial Thicket Information Guide & Residents Directory" or the Memorial Thicket website at www.memorialthicket.org. If you should have any questions or comments that I haven't addressed, please contact me at meg.e.thomas@gmail.com or 281.250.5524 or the appropriate officer.
Memorial Thicket Officers for 2023
Thank you to those who are volunteering to serve our neighborhood!
President Meghan Lee 281-250-5524
VP - Operations Mary Sergesketter 713-240-9936
VP - Security Jerry Fabian 713-854-7957
Treasurer Ray Schmidt 832-418-1111
Secretary Lynn Buza 281-684-0850
Asst. Treasurer Greg Sergesketter 281-235-5715
ACC Chair Tom Skerl 832-276-2348
ACC Member Shaz Butte 832-816-7617
ACC Member Sherry Campbell 281-705-726
2024 Residents' Directory
We are working to update our residents' directory for 2024. If you are new to the neighborhood, or your information has changed please stop by the guardhouse and complete a resident information sheet. All residents should complete this form so we have the most current contact information. We use this information for the directory, and the guards use it to contact you in the case of an emergency. If you have any questions regarding the directory, please contact the Secretary, Lyn Buza, at artteach123@sbcglobal.net or 281.684.0850.
Annual Assessment
The 2024 annual assessment of $2,000 was due January 1, 2024 with a grace period until January 31, 2024. If the payment for your lot(s) is not received (received, not mailed) by the end of the month, a $25 administration fee will be added for each month in which your payment is not received. Your payment may be given to the guard on duty or mailed to our MTHA address at 702 Plainwood Dr., Houston, TX 77079. If you have questions regarding the payment, please contact the Treasurer, Ray Schmidt, at rschmidt@lynnelliott.com or the number listed above.
Operations
Landscaping & Trash
The Operation board member for the neighborhood covers maintenance and landscaping for all common areas as well as trash collection and recycling. The costs related to these functions are paid for through your annual assessment. Our current contract with Texas Pride calls for "backdoor" trash collection on Tuesday and Friday of each week. Yard waste and bulky items should be placed at the curbside no earlier than the evening before trash collection days. Trash cans should be out of view on non-collection days. Recycling materials are being collected once a week on Tuesday and these items are to be clearly marked for recycling and visible from the street. You may obtain a recycling sticker/banner from the guards at the front of the neighborhood. Questions regarding landscaping or trash/recycling should be directed to Mary Sergesketter at sergesketter@yahoo.com, or at the number above.
Architectural Control
Article VI of our DCCRs outlines the duties of the Architectural Control Committee (ACC) and the guidelines for approving exterior construction or remodeling, including; fences, mailboxes, lamp posts, driveways, landscaping, drainage, and pools. These provisions are too detailed to be reviewed here, but homeowners should consult and become familiar with them prior to undertaking any modification of their residences or properties. Changes or additions to properties have an impact on Memorial Thicket’s℠ appearance and ultimately on homeowners' property values. The DCCR can be found under 'documents' on the Memorial Thicket website.If you are contemplating changes to your property, please contact the ACC Chairperson, Tom Skerl at 281-531-6450, tom@skerl.com, prior to starting any work.
Security
Alarm Systems
Memorial Thicket has a contract with a private security firm, Smith Thompson (713.492.1064), to provide monitoring services for homeowners' security systems. Our deed restrictions (DCCRs) require each home has a monitored functioning security system in place that notifies the guards when triggered. Your system not only protects you but also protects your neighbors. Our contract with Smith Thompson includes payment of the monthly monitoring fee for those homeowners signed up with them. This cost is covered by your annual assessment. Installation and maintenance of the system are the responsibility of the homeowner and should be discussed with Smith Thompson. Of course, each homeowner is permitted to select a security firm other than Smith Thompson, however, in that case, all costs and monitoring fees are the responsibility of the homeowner. Please remember to check your alarm system regularly to make sure it is working properly. If you are unsure whether your system adequately protects you, your family, and your property, have your security company do an assessment. When you do go out of town, please complete an out-of-town notice with the guards. For added security, you may also request the guards walk your home’s perimeter while you are away.
Car Decals
As part of our overall security efforts for the neighborhood, we ask that you obtain and display a Memorial Thicket decal in the lower-left corner of the windshield of all autos that are normally "garaged" in Memorial Thicket. You may obtain decals from the guards.
Street Safety and Speeding
Our biggest complaint in the neighborhood is speeding. We all are in a hurry sometimes, but for the sake of each and every resident, please try to monitor your speed within the neighborhood. Since we do not have sidewalks, we have a lot of walkers, children, and pets on our streets and it is easy to get distracted. We do not want an accident. We ask all homeowners, renters, guests, and contractors to drive at 20 mph through the neighborhood.
Parking
For the safety of your vehicle, it is recommended that cars not park on the street. Also, be aware that the City of Houston prohibits the parking of any vehicle on the street for longer than 24 hours.
Yard Lamps
The streets within Memorial Thicket are City of Houston public streets. Many years ago when our neighborhood was formed the developers determined that individual homeowners would provide individual yard lamps for illumination rather than have city street lights installed. This was then written into our DCCRs. For the safety and security of all residents, each homeowner is required to have a functioning yard light within the parameters set forth by the ACC. The guards will put a notice in your mailbox if your lamp post is not working. We ask you to respond to their notices within seven days. The more illumination in our neighborhood the safer it will be. We ask each homeowner to keep their yard lamp working, and use the brightest bulbs to contribute to the safety of our neighborhood.
Contact
Please remain diligent. If you see suspicious activity, please contact the guards at 713-501-5406. If you should have any questions regarding our neighborhood security, please contact the Vice President of Security, Jerry Fabian, at mthaboardsafety@gmail.com or at the number listed above.
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