Fall 2024 NEWSLETTER 

Articles in this Issue

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Click HERE to download PDF with Pictures

 

• President’s Message

• Updates from our Maintenance Superintendent

• Wildfire Prevention Committee

• Social Committee

• Facilities Committee

 

President’s Message, Richard Rosemont

 

Greetings fellow Kingswood Village homeowners,

 

Fall is symbolic of change and comes with a sense of comfort and ease. Never truer than this Fall.  I’ve often said that change is not a dirty word, that change can be good, especially when change is necessary. It was this time last year when the Board changed course and adopted a new management strategy, including changing the way Kingswood Village would be maintained. Since then, we have hired a new maintenance team led by James, and together with the Board, we have worked in a cohesive and deliberate manner to change Kingswood for the better. 

 

In the year that followed, 2024, positive change has been realized, including major accomplishments related to defensible space, deferred maintenance, budget stabilization, and improved grounds maintenance.  Literature can lend its words to articulate our recent evolution of change.  In the words of F. Scott Fitzgerald, "Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the Fall."  Or, in the words of John Muir, "The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn."  These quotes ring poetic to me and hopefully to you as well. 

 

Beginning in the Fall of 2023, we started over and now there is a new freshness in the air, with the staff possessing the energy to reverse the backward slide Kingswood was experiencing, while at the same time fostering a new sense of community.  Personally, I am thankful for the change that commenced last Fall and look forward to the continued changes and property improvements that spring from this Fall. 

 

In closing, I would like to wish you all the happiest of holiday seasons and look forward to a prosperous and successful 2025. 

 

 

Updates from our Maintenance Superintendent  

 

“Small daily improvements are the key to staggering long term results.” Our maintenance staff continues to work on improvements, both LARGE and SMALL and their efforts are apparent for all to see.

 

138 new lights have been installed throughout our complex, resulting in an updated and uniform look.

 

Buildings 7, 8, and 9, which covered Units 37-54 were painted. Decks on Units 252, 204 and 197 were completed.

 

The property has been readied for winter: snow poles have been set up, chains are installed on the loader, and the snow plow is installed on the Ford truck. Staff will arrive early and stay late to clear snow and will prioritize occupied units.

 

New equipment has been approved by the Board so we can tackle snow IN-HOUSE, thus reducing our costs moving forward. The new 12-foot articulating snow plow for the loader means the parking lot will be cleared faster and with less stress on our trucks. Kingswood is also investing in a new Kubota with a front loader for moving large quantities around our property. The Kubota is very versatile and will save time, as well as reduce possible staff injuries. Again, having this equipment on property, versus renting equipment, is an investment that will pay off over time.

 

Wildfire Prevention Committee

 

We all know that KVPOA passed our defensible space property inspection this fall, a three-year effort spearheaded by Jason Gibeaut and Jim Anderson (who are, if you did not know, both professionals in the fire management field). That there were many other people involved bears repeating: the Board, community volunteers on our clean-up days, Mountain Tree Services, and our intrepid maintenance superintendent, James Longo, and his staff.

 

A special shout is due April Shackleford, NTFPD (North Tahoe Fire Protection District) who spoke at our Annual Meeting. She has worked tirelessly over the last three years with the Wildfire Prevention Committee to identify defensible space areas to address.

 

 

Thank you April!

 

What will the Wildfire Prevention Committee be considering next?

 

The committee has discussed expanding the defensible space target area from the current 3 feet( from buildings), or Zone 1, to the next zone, Zone 2, or areas up to 100 feet from structures. For our purposes, almost all of the Zone 2 space on our property is in the seasonal creek and the tennis court area on the northwest corner of the property. Because we met the goals of our 3-year plan and have been signed off by the NTFPD we have a lot of time in which to address this.

 

The committee also discussed adding additional volunteer cleanup days for the following year. For example, having a cleanup day in June, August, and October. These could be designated as property defensible space maintenance days and also include the expansion of our actions into the Zone 2 area.

 

Lastly, we discussed the creation of burn piles - in the area of the tennis courts - to dispose of vegetation. Burning piles of slash is a very common practice in forested and wildland areas and is encouraged by CalFire. With that said, it can be done only in the non-fire season months (November-April usually) and is highly regulated. It would entail obtaining a permit from CalFire, prior notice to  the North Tahoe Fire Protection District, and, of course, approval from our Board. We are looking into this and will keep everyone updated.

 

 

The Firewise* program requires we commit to an annual minimum number of hours - staff and volunteer - dedicated to defensible space and a minimal financial commitment. That data was submitted prior to the November 22 deadline and, needless to say, we exceeded those requirements by a factor of ten (at least). So we remain compliant. Our new certificate is available and will soon be on our website.

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Social Committee

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The Board has approved the creation of a new Social Committee. The mission of the Kingswood Village Property Owners Association Social Committee is to foster a vibrant, inclusive, and connected community. The committee will strive to organize fun events and activities so we can all get to know our neighbors better, enjoy our amenities, and contribute to a positive and friendly environment.

 

The committee will be responsible for developing a calendar of events, coordinating logistics, communicating details to the community, managing a budget, and gathering feedback about the events. Some of the ideas tossed around include a wine and cheese night, a chili cookoff, a casino night, and a game night. Stay tuned!

 

Speaking of social events, Kingswood Village recently had a great Friendsgiving. Over 40 Kingswood participants gathered for great food, drink, and good fellowship. Take a look: We have some excellent cooks!

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Facilities Committee

 

The Facilities Committee is working on creating signage that will identify each building and the units therein. (See sample at left). These signs will make it easier to navigate our community for residents, visitors, and first responders. In addition the KVPOA map will be updated with a QR code for FAQs and emergency numbers.

 

The Board has sent an email to all owners regarding a parking placard policy for their review.  Placards will make it easier to identify owners when a car needs to be removed due to snow conditions, debris removal, obstruction of roadways, or if a vehicle appears to be abandoned or inoperable.

 

Now that many deferred items are completed, the Facilities Committee will focus on beautification, such as plantings for the vehicular islands at our entrances, additional wood chips around the property, and foundational plants throughout the complex. For those gardeners in our midst, we might organize a beautification day.

 

Contact the Editor, Diane Keller

 

I hope you have enjoyed this newsletter. If you have comments about this newsletter or suggestions for future newsletters, please contact me at kvpoanewsletter@gmail.com.