Community News – July 2020

It is our hope that everyone in our community is staying safe and well during this global pandemic.  This is an unprecedented moment in time in which we all are having to learn to do things and live our lives in a very different way. 

COVID19 and our Community

Thank you to the many owners that responded to our request to provide updated contact information to us.  As owners make changes to phone numbers, mailing address, or email addresses, please keep us updated by either calling Keith at the office, or sending an email to President@MiddlebrookPines.com. 

The Association needed to make some temporary changes to in order to align with City, County, and Statewide Stay-at-Home mandates that were put in place.  Currently, the facilities are operating as normal but please ensure that you are following safety distance and mask recommendations. 

Budget/Annual Meeting

These meetings were both held on June 2, 2020 and immediately followed by an Organizational Meeting for the BOD.  Meeting minutes are posted on this website.

• There were no additional member submissions requesting to serve as volunteers for the HOA Board of Directors. Therefore, the Board Members remain the same as last year and are listed on this website.  As always, we will strive to do our very best in service to the community.

The proposed budget was approved by the Board of Directors and the monthly maintenance assessment will increase to $297.00 beginning with the July 1, 2020 payment. 

General Maintenance/Landscape Updates

• We have paused for landscape replacement during the hot summer and rainy season. We will however soon be replacing the annuals in front of our community sign on Conroy road.
• Website Updates – Additional information has been added to our website. We encourage you to go through the different tabs to familiarize yourself with the content, services, and documents that are available. 

2020 Projects (Updates)

• Wind Mitigation Study: We have completed a Wind Mitigation analysis of all of our buildings.  It is our hope that this will allow us to obtain a discount on our Property wide insurance policy for the buildings.  Our policy renews in May and at that time, we will know the impact that this will have to the price of our policy.  We wanted to ensure that the documents generated could also be utilized by individual owners to submit to their insurance carriers to request policy discounts as well.  These documents will be valid for five (5) years.  These documents are now available on the website on the Documents tab to share with your insurance company.
• Fences: We will soon begin looking for vendors and requesting bids to begin the work of wooden fence replacement.  This will be a multi-year project but should begin this year.  No update
• Rec Area Access: Investigate a new electronic access for our recreation areas which would allow better control of facility use.  No update
• Surveillance: Investigate options and cost of video/photographic surveillance of our entrances.  No update
• Pool Bathrooms: Update Pool bathrooms.  No update
• Pool Deck: Investigate options and cost for replacement of pool deck surface.  No update
• Pool Umbrellas: Investigate options and cost for replacement of pool umbrellas.  No update
• Paint Buildings: The planned 13 buildings have been completed for 2019-2020.
• Concrete Drives: This year, we will complete the repairs on Cypress, Coral, and Willow Courts at a cost of $211,120.00.  We are currently waiting for the City of Orlando to approve the permits so that we can begin this work.
• Balcony/Rail Restore: Identify appropriate vendor and begin work to restore balconies (where needed) and paint balcony railings using a method that will improve the appearance and extend the useful life of these assets.  No update
• Traffic Posts: We have completed the property wide replacement or additions of traffic posts to ensure that grass and irrigation components are not damaged by automobiles. 

Miscellaneous Business

City Commissioner Bakari Burns and his assistant, Jason, attended our monthly meeting in May.  We were appreciative of his proactive request to attend our meeting and hear our community concerns.  It will be helpful to have this partnership to move forward with as we navigate our dealings with the City of Orlando. 

Rules and Regulations Reminders

A primary purpose of our rules and other governing documents is to ensure that components which the Association (all owners) are responsible to maintain do not get damaged, as well as ensure that the property continues to look good which positively impacts our property values. 

We have been doing regular and ongoing inspections to ensure compliance and correction.  Recently, we have had to solicit for legal services in order to have owners respond to our request or to correct violations.  The owner then becomes responsible for legal fees in addition to the cost of correcting the violation.  Please, don’t let this happen.  If you are notified of a violation and have questions or disagree, please reach out for clarification or to discuss.  If you wish to do maintenance or upgrades to the building or patio landscaping, feel free to contact us to ensure that the changes are within what is permitted.  Middlebrook Pines makes it easy for owners to reach us by phone, website, email or stop by the office during office hours Monday through Friday. 

Below is a list of examples of recent corrections that we have had to request owners make which may help identify thinks that we as owners should be thinking about…

• Personal trees/shrubs on patio – Over time, many trees planted on patios have grown quite large. Anything that is interfering/damaging the fence or building, must be removed.  Tree limbs cannot be within 2 feet from the new stone-coated metal siding and must be trimmed.  Also, bear in mind that any damage done by personal trees (falling, or during a hurricane) to the building or fence will be the financial responsibility of the owner.  We also will begin replacing fences within the year and many large trees will need to be removed.  If you have large trees, we ask that you begin planning for the removal of these trees before issues arise.
• Cables on building exterior – Several units have added satellites or other external items which require wiring. This wiring must be run in a specific manner and must be painted to match the building or they will need to be removed.
• Front Doors – while they are the responsibility of the owner, any door replacement must be the same as the original door style. Once installed, the Association will paint it.
• Sliding Glass Doors – again, they are the responsibility of the owner, but the frame installed must be dark like the original.
• Patio items seen above fence – You cannot have items on the patio (except an umbrella) which are visible above the fence. Examples are basketball hoops, storage cabinets, ladders, green houses, swings, etc. 

Again, our goal is the protect the value of our property as well as make this a pleasant place to live.  We also don’t want our owners having to waste money unnecessarily.  Please help us to help you!

Words to Live By

The art of life is a constant readjustment to our surroundings

Kakuzo Okakaura