Many thanks to alternate Monday Morning Memo editor Bruce Liljegren for putting out last week’s Memo, and to webmaster Craig Surprise for emailing it out. We try to put out an edition each week, and with an alternate editor working in conjunction with our webmaster, it is usually possible to do so.

Labor Day Potluck

Our popular Labor Day potluck is scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m. today, Monday, September 6th at the Ramada at Sunset Park. Our Hospitality Committee will be providing the liquid libations, plates, eating utensils and napkins. You are asked to bring a favorite dish of your choice to share. This has been a popular event in the past, so come and join in the fun. Remember to bring a donation for the Food Bank if you can. Collection bins will be provided. Our information is that the local Food Bank is in very serious straits currently due to the large number of people who need help in this economy, so please remember those persons in need.

The weeds in EE this year are the worst “since the memory of man runneth not to the contrary”, and are a blight on the appearance of our neighborhood. Accordingly, the Board held an emergency meeting and devised a plan to try to deal with them, which will involve (for the first time) using HOA resources to spray in some private yards because the owners are failing to take care of them. Due to the time that would be involved in trying to make contact with the owners and have them arrange for the care needed, it was determined that the HOA would deal with the problem on a one time basis. In the future, owners who leave the area for the summer will be cautioned about arranging to have their yards tended to while they are away, and advised that if it becomes necessary for the HOA to step in and do their yard maintenance, they will be charged for it. This appears to be the only fair way to handle the situation, and is in accordance with the CC&R’s of our subdivision. The following is being adopted as HOA Board policy:

Yard weeds are the responsibility of the homeowner, and must be controlled on a regular enough basis to keep the yard weed-free. Non-compliance will result in weed removal by the HOA, at the expense of the owner plus a surcharge.

This is nothing new, and in fact is mandated by language in our CC&R’s.

Stoney Brown, HOA common areas chair, is seeking any assistance that might be available in EE to help with the weed problem. If you can spray or pull weeds, give Stoney a call at 648-7235 and he will put you to work. You can do as much or as little as you are willing and able to do.

The HOA extends its thanks to all who have taken care of their own weeds, or made arrangements with others to do it for them.

The photos of the new tile on the EE monument that were placed on our website home page were a big hit with our viewers. The site received a record number of “hits”, about 300% more than would ordinarily view the site on a typical Monday. Many complements have been received on the new appearance of the monument on Esperanza Blvd.

Speaking of our website, it has been highly complimented at meetings of our local quasi-governmental unit, the GVCCC.  Among all the HOA websites in Green Valley, ours is acknowledged to be the finest.  Check it out now and then, and you will see why.  Our webmaster, Craig Surprise, is the best.

Our Enhancement Team has an additional plan in the works to do some similar decorative tile work on our Portillo entrance monument, and also the Sunset Ramada arch on the west end of Sunset Park. The tile designs are southwestern in concept, and beautiful, and will enhance these areas with terrific eye appeal. Jim and Geri Lindberg are heading up these projects, which will be taking place in the near future.

Kudos to Stoney Brown and Bob Hunton, for filling potholes on Portillo and Napa caused by the neglect of Pima County of our streets, and to Joe McCalpin, who donated some of the material used to do it. Stoney and Bob also deserve thanks for shoveling sand off of Portillo!

Homeowners are reminded that our CC&R’s clearly prohibit storing anything in the common areas of the subdivision without specific Board approval. This includes our alleyways and wash areas. This prohibition includes using the common areas as a dumping ground for unwanted yard and other waste items. If you have anything so stored, or that you have thrown into a common area to be rid of, you are requested to retrieve it promptly and make some other disposition. Unless this practice ends promptly, some enforcement action will have to be taken against violators.

We have recieved word that long-time EE resident Bob Thees has passed away in Minnesota. He and his wife Lorraine lived in EE nearly 25 years, during which time he was active in helping out with HOA activities. Condolences to his wife and family.