Kleinwood - July 2013

Copyright © 2013 Peel, Inc. The Kleinwood Krier - July 2013 1

KLEINWOOD

July 2013 Volume 3, Issue 7

KleinwoodKrierOfficial Publication

of the Kleinwood Homeowners Association

K KleinwoodKrierOfficial Publication

of the Kleinwood Homeowners Association

Future of water conservation in Harris County to be in hands of voters this November

Voters will have a chance to weigh in this November on a new $2.5 billion funding mechanism passed by the Texas Legislature in late May that would conserve the state’s water supply through funding from the state’s Economic Stabilization Fund.

Voters will either deny or support Senate Joint Resolution 1, a constitutional amendment authored by state Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, to create two new accounts outside of general revenue and transfer funds to the State Water Implementation Fund of Texas for the state’s new water conservation plan laid out in House Bill 4.

Passed through the Texas House and Senate late last month, HB 4 is constructed to support the next 50 years and $30 billion worth of the state’s water supply and promote water conservation in hindsight of the statewide 2011 drought that created $8.7 billion in damages. 

HB 4 was conceived in early January in response to the statewide drought in 2011. Houston’s water supply from Lake Houston experience a substantial drop in water levels forcing the city to pull from Lake Conroe. Once levels in Lake Conroe fell nine feet, the state looked to respond.

Of the projects HB 4 is expected to fund, the Luce Bayou Project awaits construction depending on voting results in November. Developed to stream water from the Trinity River into Lake Houston to alleviate Lake Conroe water levels, water supply in Harris County residential areas will look to benefit the most.

“People have to understand in a time when people are saying no new taxes, this isn’t taxes it’s an appropriation, we could lose water,” said Barbara Payne, North Harris County Regional Water Authority communications specialist.

Three major public water systems in Harris County, The City of Houston, Jersey Village and Municipal Utility District 102, are on the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s watch list of limited water supply to avoid shortages. With a combined service to 2.1 million residents, the new legislation is expected to relieve these stressed water providers as well as systems across the state.

Payne said the bill will supplement other commitments in Harris County as well as aid smaller municipalities that cannot afford to restore or repair their water systems.

According to NHCRWA Board Member Al Rendl, if voters decide to repeal SJR 1 the Luce Bayou Project will proceed as scheduled but will result in increased water bills within the NHCRWA region. Rendl said the project has been fast tracked to be a priority within the state to be completed between 2018 and 2020.

(Continued on Page 2)

2 The Kleinwood Krier - July 2013 Copyright © 2013 Peel, Inc.

KLEINWOODIMPORTANT NUMBERSKLEINWOOD MAINTENANCE BOARDLarry Chamberlin, President ........................... 281-580-2222Ronnie Brod, Vice President ............................ 281-370-9200Tom Houser, Secretary .................................... 281-379-6517Jeff Gobbell, Treasurer ..................................... 281-251-7767Kelly Smith, Director at Large ......................... 281-370-9735

KLEINWOOD MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICTRobert Ehmann, President .............................. 281-251-8621Sherry Allard, Vice President ........................... 281-923-8603Joe Fratangelo, Secretary/Treasurer .................. 281-251-3189Bernie Bryl, Assis. V. P. & Asst. Sec ................. 281-251-2688Mike Morgan, Assis. Sec.& Investment Off. .... 281-376-6607

MANAGEMENT COMPANYChaparral Management ................................... 281-537-0957

POOL MANAGEMENT COMPANYSouthwest Pool Management .......................... 281-370-2474MUD FACILITY MANAGER & BUILDING RENTALSRoger Schuett .................................................. 281-685-1275

NEIGHBORHOOD COORDINATORSMessage Board Coordinator ........................................OPENJeff Gobbell, Pool Liaison ................................ 281-251-7767Mona Currey, Newsletter Editor ............ [email protected] Brod, Tennis Liaison ........................... 281-370-9200John Bush, Signs ....................................................................Head Block Captain ....................................................OPEN

SCHOOLSMittelstadt Elementary .................................... 832-484-6711Kleb Middle School......................................... 832-249-5500Klein High School ........................................... 832-484-4000

COMMUNITY SERVICESEmergency .......................................................................911 Harris County Constable ................................ 281-376-3472C.C.E.M.S ...................................................... 281-440-4300St. Lukes Vintage Hospital .............................. 832-534-5000Methodist Willowbrook Hospital .................... 281-737-1000Poison Control Center .................................... 281-654-1701Waste Management ......................................... 713-686-6666Klein VFD Business Office .............................. 281-376-4449Water/Sewer Repairs (24/7) ............................. 832-467-1599Water/Sewer Billing Questions ........................ 832-467-1599Reliant Energy/HL&P .................................... 713-207-7777Centerpoint (report streetlight outings) ........... 713-207-2222Harris County Library, Barbara Bush Branch .. 281-376-4610Harris County, Precinct 4 ................................ 281-353-8424Harris County Animal Control ....................... 281-999-3191Aircraft Noise Complaints ............................... 281-233-3900Environmental Development Partners ............. 832-467-1599

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“What we want to do is to keep the cost of water as low as possible as long as possible,” said Rendl. “We raise our rates only to sustain and service the bonds we have.”

The Luce Bayou canal, once completed, is expected to pump 400 million gallons of water daily to residents within the Houston Metro area.   

The 2012 State Water Plan integrated with HB 4 recommends 562 unique water supply projects to meet the state’s projected needs for additional water supplies throughout the next 50 years. 

Reprinted with permission: Community Impact News http://impactnews.com/houston-metro/northwest-houston/future-of-water-conservation-in-harris-county-to-be-hands-of/

Drought(Continued from Cover Page)

Copyright © 2013 Peel, Inc. The Kleinwood Krier - July 2013 3

KLEINWOOD

(Continued on Page 5)

STAY INFORMED ON THE GO

It only takes one hurricane strike to make it an “active” season for Harris County. Staying informed during Hurricane Season is always a must.

The Harris County Flood Control District offers multiple ways to get important information on the go, with mobile websites and user-friendly mapping tools to help learn your flood risk, track an actual storm as it approaches, and keep an eye on neighborhood flood gages if waters rise.

Our NEW Hurricane Tracker mobile website, www.thehurricanetracker.org allows residents to track a current storm, view evacuation routes and contraflow maps, access a hurricane preparedness list, and much more.

Our Flood Education Mapping Tool at www.harriscountyfemt.org provides information about mapped floodplains in Harris County. Residents can type in their address and view maps based on the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM or floodplain map) for Harris County.

Our Flood Warning System website and mobile website, www.harriscountyfws.org offer a convenient way to monitor rainfall and bayou levels near your home, places of work and daily commuter routes. This website provides data from a network of gages that continually measure rainfall and water levels in bayous and major streams throughout Harris County. A user-friendly map allows residents to check rainfall and gage levels - either at home or on-the-go -- and to stay alert for flooding risks. Please use posts below for your social media sites:

FACEBOOK: Will a major hurricane hit Harris County this season? The Harris County Flood Control District offers handy mobile websites that help you get prepared and stay informed. You can track storms, learn your neighborhood flooding risk, keep an eye on bayou levels and more, at www.hcfcd.org #HCFCDnews #Hurricane Season #HOUwx #HOUNews

TWITTER: What’s your No.1 tip for #HurricaneSeason prep? The Flood Control District has a list at http://bit.ly/ihyixq #HCFCDnews #HOUwx #HOUNews

Submitted by one of our neighbors…2011 tweaks hold key to

rights vs. homeowners groups Lots of people can’t get their HOA boards to tell them where

their money is going, and they’ve faced resistance when they have tried to document meetings. The solution, according to Texas HOA experts, is to request information in writing and to be aware of new state laws.

In 2011, the Texas Legislature approved significant changes that will help owners have greater access to HOA information. Most updates applied to non-condo associations. Condo guidelines still remain less detailed.

“They adopted what I call light versions of the open meetings and open records laws that provide a lot of guidance and specific procedures for requesting to inspect and obtain documents from an HOA,” said Austin lawyer Gregory Cagle, a real estate and business litiga- tion attorney who focuses his practice on HOA law.

  Now, associations can be sued more easily and cheaply for denying access to records.

“As a general rule, homeowners are permitted to see the books and records of the association and, generally, there are just a few things that can be excluded,” said Mitchell Katine, a Houston real estate lawyer who represents HOAs and homeowners.

Minutes as well as vendor, bank account and contract information should be available. Records related to attorney-client privilege are excluded as are employee personnel records. Associations also cannot release an individual owner’s violations, financial history or contact information other than address.

“If an HOA does not reply and provide the records, there is now this procedure where a homeowner can go to a justice of the peace court and get an order requiring the association to provide the records,” Katine said. “Otherwise, associations would not respond, would ignore it, not reply and the homeowner would have no place to go.”

According to the Texas Community Association Advocates, HOAs govern the residences of nearly 5 million people statewide.

“The law requires that they send a written request by certified mail detailing the records they are requesting and electing either to inspect the records in person or, if they want copies,

4 The Kleinwood Krier - July 2013 Copyright © 2013 Peel, Inc.

KLEINWOOD

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Kids’ Cross-Country Team’s Season Starts September 10th

The Northwest Flyers Track Club Youth Cross-Country Team kicks off the fall season with registration and an orientation for parents and athletes on Tuesday, September 10, 2013, at 6:00 p.m. (location to be announced). The first practice will be held at the Cypress Creek YMCA on Thursday, September 12.

The Northwest Flyers Track Club is a member program of USA Track and Field (USATF), the national governing body for track and cross country. The club is in its 26th year in the northwest Houston area. Ages 6 - 18 may participate in the team, and both beginners and experienced runners are welcome.

Contact Coach Eric Wentworth at [email protected], 281-961-6603, or Coach Donnell Carter at [email protected], 281-467-4727, for more information. Visit www.northwestflyers.org to get updates and learn more about the team.

Cypress Symphony to Host Inaugural Founder’s DinnerThe Cypress Symphony cordially invites you to “Encore!” our

Inaugural Fundraising dinner. Excitement is building for Cypress Symphony’s first season and you can help by attending this event. Your $100 ticket will help secure our first year and contribute to the cultivation of an arts culture in Northwest Houston. You will also enjoy an elegant dinner at one of Cypress’ premier restaurants, Dario’s Cuisine. Look forward to a silent auction as well as a musical surprise. We can’t wait to spend this special evening with you! Tickets to this event can be purchased at csencore.eventbrite.com.

Tickets to our inaugural concert season can be purchased at cypresssymphony.org.

Copyright © 2013 Peel, Inc. The Kleinwood Krier - July 2013 5

KLEINWOOD

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there are certain costs that are outlined in the law,” said TCAA chairwoman Judi Phares, who is based in suburban Dallas.

Cagle’s 800-page “Texas Homeowners Association Law: The Essential Legal Guide for Texas Homeowners Associations and Homeowners” includes sample letters that owners can use to craft their requests. His website — www.texashoalaw.com — is an additional free resource.

HOAs also are required to give notice of board meetings and allow owners to observe the proceedings. And, everyone gets to vote regardless of their assessment payment history, the status of violations or whether the property is their primary residence.

The HOA experts also agreed that it is not unlawful for a person participating in a meeting to make a recording.

“I know a lot of boards get upset when someone sets up a big tripod,” Ka-tine said. “Put a little tape recorder in your pocket and ... don’t make a big deal about it.”

 HOA ground rules  The Texas Legislature passed sweeping reforms for property

associations in 2011. It’s important to note that different statutes govern condominium HOAs and non-condo communities. Here’s some clarification:

Records requests: Access to records should be requested in writing and sent by certified mail.

Records availability: Condo records should be available at the association’s registered or principal office for examination by a unit owner or the owner’s agent; non-condo records should be available and owners are entitled to copies. The association must adopt a records production policy and may provide documents by hard copy, electronic or other format.

Records retention: A non-condo association of more than 14 lots must adopt and comply with a records retention policy that would preserve documents from four years to permanently.

Meetings: Association and board meetings must be open to owners and notice is required. Notice for non-condo associations must be mailed to each owner 10 days in advance or provided at least 72 hours prior by posting in a common area, on a web site or by emailing owners.

Voting: Owners may not be excluded from voting for delinquent assessments or other money owed.

Recordings: Video or audio recording is not prohibited in HOA meetings.

Sources: Texas Property Code chapters 81, 82 and 209; lawyers Gregory Cagle and Mitchell Katine; Texas Community Association Advocates

Reprint: Houston Chronicle, Saturday, May 25, 2013

Submitted by Neighbor Continued from Page 3) Cypress-Tomball Democrats July Meeting The next Cypress-Tomball Democrats monthly meeting will

be on Tuesday, July 16, 2013. It will be held at Rudy’s Grill & Cantina, 11760 Grant Rd., Cypress, TX 77429, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.

All are welcome to attend and to join this growing club, which meets on the third Tuesday of every month. The meetings always feature informative guest speakers who address timely topics. For more information, visit the website at www.cytomdems.com or contact Glenn Etienne at [email protected].

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KLEINWOOD

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DISCLAIMER: Articles and ads in this newsletter express the opinions of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Peel, Inc. or its employees. Peel, Inc. is not responsible for the accuracy of any facts stated in articles submitted by others. The publisher also assumes no responsibility for the advertising content with this publication. All warranties and representations made in the advertising content are solely that of the advertiser and any such claims regarding its content should be taken up with the advertiser.* The publisher assumes no liability with regard to its advertisers for misprints or failure to place advertising in this publication except for the actual cost of such advertising.* Although every effort is taken to avoid mistakes and/or misprints, the publisher assumes no responsibility for any errors of information or typographical mistakes, except as limited to the cost of advertising as stated above or in the case of misinformation, a printed retraction/correction.* Under no circumstances shall the publisher be held liable for incidental or consequential damages, inconvenience, loss of business or services, or any other liabilities from failure to publish, or from failure to publish in a timely manner, except as limited to liabilities stated above.

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