The Pony Express - Neighborhood News

The Pony Express
February 2014
Vol. XV, No. 1
Published bimonthly for the Oakmont Downs HOA by Neighborhood News, Inc.
Welcome to all of our new residents!
This Newsletter is published bi-monthly and contains a lot of useful information about our community. If you have any questions
or concerns, please feel free to contact our ProComm Representative and/or one of your Board Members.
A Message from the Board:
Final Newsletter to Be Published
After careful consideration, the Oakmont Downs Board has decided to
cease publication of this newsletter. This will be the last issue.
The main reason for this decision is lack of an editor to carry on the
work. In the past few years, board members have been responsible for
preparing the newsletter, but demands of family, employment, and increasing demands of the board work itself has caused members to look
elsewhere. Since no one has stepped forward to assume this responsibility, this decision is the result.
The Board became aware this summer while visiting with residents
during the special proxy canvassing that most residents do not read the
newsletter. This made the decision to cease publication somewhat easier
to make.
News and other important information will now be posted to the Oakmont Downs website (www.oakmontdowns.org) in a timely fashion.
Meeting notices and minutes already appear there as required by law.
The Board recognizes that a small number of residents do not have a
computer, but it is just not feasible to continue publication for a few. It
is hoped that these residents can visit a local public library where they
will be able to access the Oakmont Downs website on one of the public
computers available to them. Library staff is always ready to help with
this access.
The Oakmont Downs community sends their thanks to Neighborhood
News who has published this newsletter over the years and to the advertisers who supported it. We are most appreciative of your work and
support and send you our best wishes.
Are You Interested in Paying
Lower Property Taxes?
Would you like a discount on your property taxes? Did you know that
Texas law allows a variety of partial or complete exemptions from local property taxes? If you are not already taking advantage of these discounts or want to learn more, please read further.
A partial exemption removes a percentage or fixed dollar amount of
the property’s value from taxation. An absolute or total exemption excludes the entire property from taxation. Exemptions from property
taxes require that applications be filed with the Bexar County Appraisal
District.
Texas Tax Code exemption requirements are extensive. The Texas State
Comptroller’s publication Property Tax Exemptions offers a short
summary of the exemption provisions. The publication can be found
at http://www.window.state.tx.us/propertytax/exemptions/ownerexemptions/96-1740.pdf
Exemptions for homeowners include:
Residence Homestead
Age 65 or Older or Disabled Persons (Includes persons who will turn
65 in 2014)
Disabled Veterans
Surviving Spouse or Child of Disabled Veteran
Surviving Spouse or Child of Armed Service Member Who Died on
Active Duty
Further information and forms can be obtained at the Bexar County
Appraisal District, 411 N. Frio, telephone (210) 224-2432, or going to
BCAD’s website at www.bcad.org and clicking on Tax Information. You
may also want to visit the Texas State Comptroller’s website for additional information at http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxes/
Don’t wait until you receive your Notice of Appraised Value because you
may not receive a notice if the value of your property has not changed
more than $1,000. File your application for exemption now and take
advantage of the discounts to which you are legally entitled.
ProComm Representative for Oakmont Downs: Joseph Morales can be reached at 403-8135.
Page 2
February 2014
Questions? Communication issues?:
We have had several residents contact the Board to report they have had a difficult time getting a response
from personnel at ProComm. If this has been your experience, please email one of your Board Members and
we will assist you.
How does that work?:
If you are a new resident of Oakmont Downs, we welcome you! If you are new to the concept of a living in a
neighborhood with a homeowners association, we are
providing a brief outline of the roles of responsibilities
of your Board of Directors and ProComm, our property
management company. Please contact a Board member with any questions.
Your Board of Directors is responsible for making decisions regarding any contracts or repairs that need to be
approved in order to maintain the common property.
We also monitor financial activity via monthly financial
statements. Your Board has established a neighborhood Email Security Alert System. Please see Security
heading below for more information.
ProComm is currently our property management company and they are responsible for issuing ACC Violations (lawn needs maintenance, trash can left on street,
tree branches overhanging sidewalk, leaves need to
be cleaned up, vehicle obstructing flow of traffic, etc.),
semi-annual dues statements, and collecting past due
accounts. Once a past due account totals $50.00 or
more and is 90+ days past due, the account is sent to
our HOA attorney for collection. A lien will be placed
on the property until the issue is resolved. Once the delinquent account is at the Attorney’s office, ProComm
is not involved in the collection process.
Treasurer's Report:
November 2013:
Cash $90,521.37; Delinquent Accounts totaled
$8,756.75; of this total $4,979.13 were 120+ days past
due. There were a total of 17 accounts 120+ days past
due; 11 of these homes have had liens placed on their
home.
December 2013:
Cash $96,327.19; Delinquent Accounts totaled
$8,440.25; of this total $5,172.11 were 120+ days past
due. There were a total of 15 accounts 120+ days past
due;11 of these homes have had liens placed on their
home. A note of gratitude - 150 residents prepaid
their dues. That is more than 1/2 of our residents, and
we thank you!
ACC Report:
December 2013: No reports issued. January 2014: A
total of 27 ACC violation notices issued to homeowners who needed to perform leaf cleanup.
The Pony Express
Security and Safety Resources:
San Antonio Police:
Call the San Antonio Police about any crime taking
place. If it is an emergency, call 911. For non-emergencies, call 210-207-7273 or 311.
Our SAFFE Officer is Officer Raul Alonzo. You can
reach him at 210-207-7169. The Prue Police Station is
located at 5020 Prue Road, San Antonio, TX 78249.
On site Patrol:
Deputy Chapman patrols our neighborhood. If you
have any questions or concerns, you can reach him at:
[email protected].
Community Email Alert System (CEAS):
The OD Security List continues to grow. The Community Email Alert System allows residents to be quickly
informed of any security or safety issues affecting the
area. Such concerns should be sent to Chester Koza
at [email protected]. Chester will then post and
distribute Community Alerts to everyone on the CEAS
list. Your own email address is secure and will not be
shared or exposed to others when Alerts are sent out.
If you wish to join, please send your name, address,
and email to the above address, subject line: Community Email Alert System. All residents are invited to
join whether they are a homeowner or renter.
NorthEnd Dental
Ernest P.. Miller Jr.
Jr. DDS
Accepting
NEW
Patients
210-699-9761
4963 De Zavala Rd
San Antonio, TX 78249
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- B.S. Biology 2004, UTSA
- DDS 2007, UTHSC-SA
- ADA and HDA Member
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We are an in-network provider
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Schedule your own appointment 24/7 at
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Dr. Miller and staff care about your dental health
and provide the professional, quality treatment
you deserve. We listen to your needs and use
state-of-the-art technology to help you get the
fantastic, healthy smile you deserve. One visit
The Pony Express
February 2014
BOARD MEMBERS AND OFFICERS
FOR THE ASSOCIATION
President – Rose Aguirre
[email protected]
326-5985
Vice- President – Diana Armstrong
[email protected]
690-8245
Secretary – Chester Koza
[email protected]
696-8555
Treasurer – Julia O’Meara
[email protected]
641-4825
ProComm – Joseph Morales
[email protected]
545-1888
Board members are also listed on the community website
www.oakmontdowns.org
BOARD COMMITTEES
 ARCHITECTURAL CONTROL AND
COVENANTS COMMITTEE
Chair - Bill Pazak, 391-3574 Fax: 699-8764
Email address: [email protected]
All improvements to your property must be
submitted for approval.
 PAVILION RESERVATIONS
Chair – Sharon Fajkus, 690-8968,
dfajkus@sbcglobal. net
Reservations must be made by contacting Sharon.
Page 3
Christmas Decorating:
Due to the prediction of extremely cold, windy weather scheduled to arrive on Saturday, November 17, volunteers went out earlier than scheduled to decorate.
Thank you to Shirley Ferrara, Daniel O’Meara, Daniel
Perez and Julia O’Meara for decorating the entrances.
This was the first year our long-term decorating experts were not on site to supervise, so we had to fly
solo and try to meet up to everyone’s expectations.
Christmas Decorations Removal:
Thank you to Rose Aguirre, Diana Armstrong, Tom and
Kathy Kafora, Shirley Ferrara, Danny O’Meara, and Julia O’Meara for removing and storing our Community’s
Christmas decorations.
Winners of Home Decorating
Contest:
First Place: 6208 Stable Briar
2nd Place: 6203 Stable Creek
3rd Place: 6218 Stable Downs
Honorable Mention:
12215 Stable Knoll
12323 Stable Road
12226 Stable Road
12319 Stable Pass
12414 Stable Pass
6307 Stable Downs
6223 Stable Downs
6210 Stable Downs
6211 Stable Downs
12207 Stable Ridge
The Spirit Award Street was Stable Road.
Home Decorating Contest
Winners Information
Not available online.
Thanks to all for your hard work and contribution to
making Oakmont Downs a great place to live.
A deposit of $50.00 is required.
 WEBMASTER
Pamela A. Dooley, 558-3007, www.dooleywebs.com
You can find out more about Oakmont Downs website at www.oakmontdowns.org.
 NEWSLETTER EDITOR
Julia O’Meara, 641-4825, [email protected]
 SECURITY
Chad Chapman, [email protected]
 Community Email Alert System
Chester Koza, [email protected]
12002 Bandera Road Suite 111
Helotes, Texas 78023
(210) 695-9002
Alejandro Arizmendi, M.D.
Internal Medicine
Now Open!!
Call to Schedule an Appointment Today
Se Habla Español
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT NO. 204
BOERNE, TX
Oakmont Downs Homeowners Association
300 Sonterra Blvd., Ste. 350
San Antonio, Texas 78258
Time Dated
Planning Meeting: The Board met on January 9, 2014 to plan Community Calendar:
community events for this year and to determine which board member
would fill which position. The Board agreed upon the following: Rose
Aguirre-President, Diana Armstrong-Vice President, Chester Koza –
Secretary, and Security Email Alert System Chair, Julia O’Meara – Treasurer. We extend a warm welcome to Diana Armstrong for volunteering
to serve this community. She is a long-time resident and brings news
ideas and business expertise to the table. We are delighted to have her!
Rose Aguirre renewed her term as a Board Member and has agreed to
take on the task of being our President again. Chester Koza was able to
return to the Board. We missed Chester, but in many ways, we never let
him go because we kept contacting him even though he wasn’t officially
listed as a Board member for a while. Julia O’Meara is also on Board for
one more year.
Board Meeting Schedule for 2014:
Board meetings will
be held the 4th Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Boone
Elementary School. Meetings are to be no longer than one hour.
Exception: No Board meetings are held in June, July, August
and December. Planning meeting is held each January. The
Community Calendar will be posted on the website at www.
oakmontdowns.org, and you can check there for updates.
Garbage and Recycling
Recycling pickup day is Tuesday – blue container.
Garbage pickup day is Friday – brown container.
City
Websites:
This is a website to check status of
infrastructure management projects.
http://www.sanantonio.gov/
publicworks/imp/IMPApprDatelist.asp
Neighborhood Garage Sale: April 12 and October 11, 2014, from
9 am-3 pm. Signs will be posted at both entrances, and an ad will be
placed in the San Antonio Express. Permits are needed and may be purchased at HEB.
National Night Out: Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Judging Halloween Home Decorations: October 25, 2014 No prizes
awarded. Winners will be recognized on the website.
Annual Meeting: Wednesday, November 5, 2014, 6:30-9:00 pm. The
meeting will be held at Boone Elementary School, and signs will be
posted at both entrances.
Holiday Home Decorations: Homes may decorate starting November
15, 2014. Judging date to be determined. No prizes awarded. “Honorable Mention” and “Spirit Street” will be noted on the website.
Holiday Entrance Decorating: Saturday, November 22, 2014, 9 am12 pm.
Removal of Holiday Entrance Decorations: Saturday, January 10,
2015, 9 am-12 pm.
Removal of Home Decorations: By January 31, 2015.
Yard of the Month: Awarded April through September 2014. A sign
will be posted in the winner’s yard for that month.
Published and distributed by:
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San Antonio, TX 78230
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