August 2023 Board Meeting

PID Board Meeting

August 23, 2023

In attendance: Marion Alford, Leslie Smith, Jamene Banks, Nate Ganz, Lori Voss and Kristi Thompson.

Meeting held at Lori’s home, 266 E. Pinebrook Drive. Meeting came to order at 6:40 p.m.

1. Budget:

Marion and Kristi had discussed budget and Kristi prepared a proposal for the next fiscal year.

Assessments: Assessment per lot will remain at $375.00 per year and the acreage assessment will remain at $900.00 per year. Kristi will give this information to the Rankin County Tax Assessor’s office for processing.

The budget for the coming year was left mostly as it was from last year with the exception of the “Professional Fees” budget item increasing from $2,500 to $10,000 for next year in anticipation of consulting an attorney regarding how to properly close the PPID in 2029 and how to responsibly allocate any remaining monies. The final interest payment on the bond will be made in February of 2029. The budget was approved.

2. Lighting:

Lighting project in median of Hugh Ward Boulevard is completed and all payments to SEC have been made.

3. Landscaping:

Because of the continued drought, SchoggenScapes, Inc. has been contacted to provide a quote to water the landscaping along the median. SchoggenScapes quoted us a charge of $650 per application (meaning watering the median from Manship Road to Avalon Way) using a watering truck, plus the cost of water from the City of Flowood of $8.00 per 1,000 gallons. The City of Flowood also requires a $2,000 deposit for the meter to measure water usage, with actual water used being deducted from that amount, and whatever is left over from that when watering ends will be returned to the PID.

Discussion included alternatives such as not watering and replacing whatever trees/bushes die as a result, or replacing/repairing the existing irrigation system. Replacing/repairing the existing irrigation system would certainly cost several thousands of dollars with ongoing maintenance an additional expense. Replacing trees/bushes would certainly cost several hundreds of dollars. It was voted to commence watering two (2) times per week until drought ends.

4. Miscellaneous:

Sidewalks. Rankin County has been contacted to repair/replace the orange warning strip in sidewalk at West Pinebrook Drive. They monitor the sidewalk for other needed repairs two times per year.

Insurance renewal. Leslie has submitted the proper paperwork to get a quote from the insurance company for insurance. The Board will vote by email once the quote comes back.

5. Next meeting: December 6, 2023 at the home of Leslie Smith.

6. Meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.

Follow-up meeting – August 30, 2023

In attendance: Marion Alford, Leslie Smith, Lori Voss, Kristi Thompson

Meeting held at home of Leslie Smith

Meeting called to order at 6:35 p.m.

Continued discussion about closing the PPID by 2029 or sooner. Kristi has talked to Jeff Goodwin and Mark Baker about options.

The Board is concerned about the ongoing maintenance of the boulevard after the PPID is closed. At the current lot/acreage contribution level there will be monies left over at the conclusion of the PPID, which at this point will be approximately $200,000. One idea was to create a non-profit for that money to be given to for continued maintenance.

Kristi has discovered that a PID cannot contribute to a non-profit.

According to Mark Baker, the PID can continue until all the remaining money is used up. The Board will not continue as the bond will have been paid. At the present cost for landscaping maintenance, the $200,000 would last a little over two years.

After that money is used, how should maintenance be funded? One option is to have all HOA’s along Hugh Ward contribute money to a single fund for maintenance. Another option is to have each HOA maintain the boulevard in front of their respective neighborhoods. A third option is to let Rankin County take over maintenance. Each of these options has pros and cons.

In conclusion, this issue will need to be further researched. After the November elections, Board members will be in contact with our new Supervisor to get the County’s input and ascertain what the County is able and willing to do to partner with the residents along Hugh Ward for the best possible outcome concerning its maintenance. It is the Board’s desire to ensure the boulevard be maintained at the same standard as it is now.