Bill Barnard
Summer is here and the monsoon season has started albeit with little rain, but a lot of wind. Temps are consistently over 100 degrees and we hope that we will see some rain in the next month or so. Even though it’s hot outside, we have a lot going on in the next two months as far as projects go. I would like to update you on the current status of these projects.
Roadwork
We will be doing some patch and repair work throughout the community, which will include the replacement of cul de sacs in Unit 24 down Piccadilly Road. We will also be doing a PolyChip project in Units 8 and 11. We have not confirmed the dates of these planned projects, but estimate they will begin in early August. We also have our annual seal coating project which will be on the Eagle’s Nest side, mainly the units that border Indian School on the north, Bullard on the east, and the south units along the Roosevelt Canal. Detailed maps and dates will be provided as soon as the project dates are confirmed.
Dog Park
The dog park is reopened and the turf is in pretty good shape. We are still fine-tuning the irrigation, and will be recovering the shade awnings as soon as the material arrives. A reminder that the park is completely closed on the first Wednesday of every month for maintenance, and all other Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for mowing. This will be ongoing throughout the year. We are currently closing the park daily from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. for an extra cycle of irrigation during these high temperature months in an effort to cool the turf down and keep moisture in the roots.
Tree Trimming
Palm tree trimming is almost complete. The Eagle’s Nest side has been completed and they are finishing up on the Tuscany Falls side. There are still several units on the west side of Tuscany Falls and the TF West golf course that they are finishing up. We anticipate they will be completed in the next couple of weeks.
Golf Courses
Tuscany Falls East and Eagle’s Nest have completed their aerification projects, are reopened, and in very good condition for the transition period. The projects have helped the Bermuda start to fill in most of the void areas. Tuscany Falls West is closed for their aerification project and will reopen on Monday, Aug.1. This will give us good time to establish the Bermuda grass before we go back into the overseed period at the end of September to get ready for our winter/spring season.
Pools
We will be doing pool deck repairs at all pools this month, but the Eagle’s Nest lap pool and spa area will be completely redone. We are also replacing the three gates at the pool, and replacing the rails throughout. This project is scheduled at the end of July.
Sports Courts
We are doing some concrete work at the pickleball ramada as well as resurfacing all of the pickleball courts in August. There will be three phases to the resurfacing so that all courts will not be down at the same time, but there will be a lot of activity happening there in the next month or so. We are adding shade structures to tennis courts 12 and 13 this summer. We are also adding some fencing and shade material to the softball field down the baselines for added safety.
Tuscany Falls Clubhouse
We have several major projects scheduled for the Tuscany Falls main clubhouse that include the replacement of the tile flooring, the replacement of the electrical lighting system and fixtures, and interior painting of the building. These projects are large in scale and require the closure of the building for multiple weeks. We shut down the building on July 17 and it will remain closed through Aug. 21. There will be no activity, other than construction, allowed during that time. The front desk will be closed, and ALC will be working remotely. We are keeping our fingers crossed that all will go smoothly and we will remain on schedule. We are working with three different vendors, several different suppliers, and a design team for this project. These projects are necessities. The tile floor is the original tile and is pitted and cracked throughout the building. We have been patching holes for years now and it has become a safety issue. Instead of area rugs within the building, there will be carpet sections built into the tile. The lighting control system is also original to the building. It is obsolete and incompatible with newer, more energy-efficient lights and fixtures. This incompatibility has caused the lights to flicker and go out temporarily throughout the building. We have been lucky that it hasn’t completely failed. The new system will be more efficient and should save us future electrical costs. With the scope of these two projects, it is necessary to repaint and patch the interior walls and ceilings following replacement. We will keep the community updated on the progress of the project.
Many people question the need and/or timing of some of these projects. For the most part, these projects are part of our Long Range Plan and are funded by the Reserve Fund. There is a life cycle to all of the assets here at PebbleCreek, and replacement and repair are a necessary part of keeping PebbleCreek in great condition and up-to-date. A lot of these major projects are done during the summer months when our population and activity has decreased. In some cases, we have no choice, and are at the mercy of the vendor or suppliers. We certainly appreciate your patience and understanding as these necessary projects take place. When all is said and done, PebbleCreek will remain the wonderful and beautiful community that it is.