I hope all our neighbors are doing well considering the need to stay close to home as we all work together to overcome the coronavirus outbreak. Neighbors are helping each other in many safe ways. This is an extraordinary neighborhood.
All homeowners received, in late January the letter announcing the new Property Management Company, Reimagine. In that mailing you received information about the quarterly billing and the various ways to pay dues. Should you have questions about your billing please call Reimagine directly at 803-205-0705 or email them at helpdesk@Reimagineservices.net. Reimagine is also responsible for covenant enforcement. Fortunately, our homeowners are very responsible and understand the importance or our covenants in maintaining property values. Again, should you have questions about covenants contact Reimagine at 803-205-0705 or email them at helpdesk@Reimagineservices.net
Reimagine alerted the board of the opportunity for board members to attend the South Carolina Community Association Institute. Ron Paull and I attended this Institute in February. Topics of discussion included legal issues, Insurance coverage, contract bidding, and funding reserves. It was very informative and pointed out issues and ideas effecting many other associations.
Several communication tools are being used to keep homeowners apprised of association activities and community concerns. The quarterly copy of “The Ripples” is included in this quarterly billing. It is also posted on our website www.northspringsneighbors.com The website “contact us link” allows you to email or text your questions and concerns. Additionally, registered neighbors can receive email and/or text. There are 319 listed addresses on the website. Currently 217 of our neighbors have registered. Please register if you have not done so. This way of communication offers the association the opportunity to let you know quickly about issues in the neighborhood.
Lastly, two boxes of old house plans were found in the association storage shed. It appears most of these are from the late 70’s and early 80’s. If you are interested in seeing if your plans are in these boxes please contactus@northspringsneighbors.com.
Respectfully,
Paula Matthews, President NSPOA
Life Threatening Situation: 911
Non-Life Threatening SituationRCSD Dispatch: 252-2911
RCSD Vacation Property ChecksCall: 576-3000
RCSD North Springs' Neighborhood Watch Representative: 513-3440
RCSD Crime Reporting Site: http://www.raidsonline.com
Comment: The RCSD Raidsonline.com site provides an up-to-date status of all reported crimes in the County (often within 24 hours). The site will send you a weekly summary of all crimes in a one, two, three mile radius of your address. Use it; it is far timelier than anything we can provide.
Accidents at the lake are a serious contributor to summertime injuries. The risks of drowning, high-speed impact with water, and boating/skiing accidents can cause serious injury and even death. In order to protect yourself and your loved ones, consider the following safety tips:
Thank you to all who ordered geraniums and pine straw through the North Springs Garden Club. Delivery of the Pine Straw will be March 20th and Geraniums will be delivered on April 18th. For the best results, place geraniums in spots that get full sun, partial sun, or light shade. Make sure that they will get morning sun and afternoon shade if possible. Generally, geraniums are happiest with five or six hours of sunlight a day, though this number can be a bit more or a bit less. When to water: Simply touch the soil with your finger going down a couple of inches and your geranium should tell you if she is thirsty or not. If it feels dry, it's time to water, if it's still moist, then wait another day or two and re-test. Just make sure you always allow the soil to get dry before watering and you should be fine.
Fall is a wonderful season charged with crisp cool air, falling leaves, mums and yes, Halloween. The North Springs Home and Garden Club Fall Curb Appeal Squad selected Tom and Chris Zokan of 1009 Cold Branch Drive as our first place winner. Their yard was beautifully decorated with an assortment of witches, ghosts and goblins. Orange lights lined the porch and doorway. Pumpkins and scarecrows were spotted at various sites. Lights, pumpkins and mums lined the walkway and porch. A beautiful lit fall swag draped the doorway and housed two fall wreaths. Chris and Tom have lived in North Springs Subdivision for 32 years. They raised their 5 children Billy, Joe, Jake, Nicole and Katie here and now enjoy being grandparents to an almost 1 year old grandson Nash. They love living in North Springs because of the friendly neighbors and lovely homes with their wooded lots. Tom and Chris enjoy gardening and landscaping their yard and entertaining family and friends. You can count on their house and yard being beautifully decorated every holiday and season. They received a certificate and gift card from Woodley's Garden Center.
Runner up went to Dennis and Gray Hansberry of 109 Pine Oak Drive. The adorned front porch caught the eyes of the squad. A beautiful fall wreath with a decorated swag over the doorway screamed fall and Southern Charm. A pair of scarecrows and pumpkins graced the front door of the house. Dennis and Gray have lived in North Springs for 33 years. They raised two daughters Heather and Courtney and are expecting their first grandchild in May. Both are retired and enjoy activities such as traveling, golf, bridge and music activities. They enjoy the peace and quietness the neighborhood brings as well as long time friendships. They received a certificate and a gift card from Woodley's Garden Center.
The NS Easter egg hunt previously scheduled for April 4th has been cancelled due to the coronavirus.Events in the works include a mixer/block party for the neighborhood in May so we can get to know our neighbors a little better and connect as a community. Stay tuned for more details on that. The 4th of July fireworks is set to be held on July 4th at the island. It’s still in the works but we’re hoping to have a great fireworks display, music and games for kids.
If you would like to get involved, please reach out to Emily Hancock by e-mail eahancock61@mail.com
Place yard waste loosely in plastic trash bags or personal portable containers if possible or bundle and place at curbside on your scheduled yard waste collection day by 7:00 AM. If used do NOT over-fill bags to where the bags could break. Do NOT stuff containers to where the debris cannot be easily removed. Do NOT place yard waste in the roadway where it could impede traffic in any manner. Loose piles of yard waste are also acceptable.Yard waste includes leaves, grass clippings and small tree limbs from routine yard maintenance. It does NOT include construction debris (boards, lumber, tile, bricks, etc.) or large amounts of sand or dirt. It does NOT include limbs, branches and trunks from trees larger than 4 inches in diameter which have been cut, blown down or has fall down. It also does NOT include debris from landscaping activities that is produced above and beyond routine yard maintenance. Limbs can be no larger than 4 feet long and 4 inches in diameter (see picture). Tree stumps of any size will NOT be collected. Place limbs in piles for easy handling. All yard waste must be free from household garbage, litter or other non-yard waste material for collection service. Do NOT put yard waste in your garbage roll cart. Debris from a tree removal will NOT be picked up by the county curbside haulers. The resident is fully responsible for transportation and disposal of debris from a tree removal.. Trees that are cut down, or fall down must be taken to an approved drop-off center or Landfill Tree removal waste may be taken to the county C&D landfill on Caughman Road North where the tipping fee can be waived under certain circumstances
Please do not place limbs, branches or leaves in creeks, storm drains or drainage ditches. Such material should be at least 25 feet from a drainage structure. These materials obstruct drainage flow which increases the potential for flooding and mosquito problems.
Your pile will be tagged if it is non-compliant with the reason for non-compliance given on the tag. You will have time to make the pile compliant prior to collection the next week. If no corrections are made, a citation can be issued and the pile becomes debris on a lot (per Ordinance 12-4), or illegal dumping.
The above pile would be tagged because it is non-compliant with Richland County pickup requirements. Richland County does not pick up tree trunks or any limbs larger than 4 inches in diameter.
Compliant Pile Non-Compliant Pile
Instead of bagging your grass after you mow, you can leave the clippings on the lawn. Your lawn will recycle the clippings, producing an environmentally healthy, beautiful lawn. Leaves and small shrubbery trimmings can be used as mulch around trees and bushes.To turn leaves and branches into compost, find more information at: http://www.scdhec.gov/environment/lwm/recycle/compost.htm