News about the Lookout at Brushy Creek, a custom home community just outside Hutto, Texas.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Searchable deed restrictions!

Yes, finally!

A version of the deed restrictions that you can actually search, and even
copy and paste. This should make it much easier to find information, and
it's actually readable as well.

Click on any of the homeowner, builder, buyer or restriction buttons at the
top of the website, and you'll see the "searchable version" button
underneath the button for the original scanned version.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Dam assessment

So here's a quick overview of the visit to the dam.

First, there are only two trees too large to take out by "amateurs". Both
will need to be trimmed back some, but both can be left for now.

One is a big mesquite close to the road that is already dying. It needs to
be trimmed, but it might get bulldozed as part of building the second
spillway anyway, so just trimming it up for now is fine.

The second is surrounded by poison ivy, it's in the middle of the clump or
trees and brush in the narrow part of the dam. For sure it will probably
need to be professionally removed and backfilled, eventually. It makes
sense to do this when the berm is built and the fill work is done, although
it too needs to be trimmed and have the underbrush around it removed.

All the other brush and vegetation can be removed.

The biggest change is that with the current TCEQ requirements, a second
spillway needs to flow much less water than what was required in 2005. As a
result, it doesn't need to be another concrete one. Some fiberglass mat
compound that grass grows up and through to make it erosion resistant can be
laid on the ground and seeded. So essentially a small area can be bulldozed
next to the road and this stuff laid down and the second spillway is done.

Net result is the new estimate will probably be in the $100-110,000 range
for ALL the work that needs to be done (assuming we can get some volunteers
for the clean up of the slope and existing spillway).

There's advantages to working during a recession apparently.

This is a big enough savings that I think we need to look into getting a
loan to do the work now.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Newsletter Information

The Lookout Newsletter is a very important tool for our subdivision! Not only does it get important information out to our HOA from board members, it also is great for sharing information amongst neighbors. The newsletter, along with our website, is our communication line and just like our subdivision, is only as good as we all make it!!
If you would like to make suggestions, comments or give your information so that newsletters can be sent to your email address, please click on "Discussions" at the top of our Lookout website and post replies to the 'Newsletter' section of your choice. If you are still having problems or for urgent problems only, please email pris1003@yahoo.com. Thanks everyone!

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Dam Walk with PE

This coming Monday @ 6:00PM the PE who did our dam assessment in the past
will be coming out to reassess as well as helping us determine what work we
can do on our own versus what needs to be contracted out.

If you're interested, feel free to attend. Bring gloves, their may be work
involved ;-)

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Maintenance Updates

You may have noticed a lot of little things are being taken care of.

The fence damage from last years storm has been repaired.

Mowing around the entire fence line has been completed, and that is now a
regularly scheduled event.

Gate to the park has been sanded and repainted by neighborhood volunteers,
saving money.

Estimates to replace and/or upgrade all of the neighborhoods signage is now
being worked up by a Georgetown vendor.

Dock repairs (and possibly painting) will also soon be undertaken by
volunteers. The underlying structure is sound, there is just some vandalism
to the railings that needs to be repaired. A coat of white paint will
really make it pop. So if you want to participate, watch here for the date.

We will soon have a PE come out and inspect the dam to determine what trees
we can remove versus what will have to be professionally removed. Once that
is done, we will again be having a volunteer day to remove some of the
brush. Also, that will be the day we do some spillway maintenance. So if
you'd like to help, and save us all some money in the process, watch for the
date!