Bill Barnard
Summer is here and we are experiencing our hottest temperatures yet. Please stay as cool as possible and keep hydrated and safe while out in the heat. As I shared in my last message, we have many projects in progress right now, and I want to give a follow-up on where we are with these projects this month. Please keep in mind that due to publication deadline timing for the PebbleCreek Post newspaper, this information is generated in the second week of the preceding month. Some month’s my messages are more evergreen and less time or date related than others, this month, the message is more date specific. So as you read, please keep this in mind. For the most up-to-date information, please visit the PebbleCreek HOA website at PebbleCreekHOA.org.
Tuscany Falls West Golf Course Grass Replacement
I am happy to report that construction and grassing is complete. We finished sprigging the fairways last week and are now just irrigating, fertilizing, and waiting for the grass to take hold. Irrigation will be frequent and heavy for about the first week or two, and then we will begin more regular maintenance with irrigation overnight. The front-nine greens were installed a couple of weeks ago, and we have already been able to put the first mow on them and will be top dressing them this week. Top dressing with sand is an important part of the grow-in to be able to level and fill-in any voided areas and allow the new grass to creep and fill in. Optimal conditions for growing the grass is humid weather. While the temperatures have soared, we haven’t seen the humidity yet. We know it’s not comfortable for us, but the grass loves the humidity and it will help it fill in more quickly. We will also try to complete some drainage projects, sodding of some of the rough areas, and desert clean-up while we are growing the new grass. With help from Mother Nature, our goal is to start playing this fall.
Street Light Replacement
I am also happy to report that street light replacement has begun. They have completed the main roads and are working in week 2 on the schedule this week. So far, about 250 lights have been completed with minimal problems. We have been able to monitor and control the new lights with our software, so it has been exciting for us to see it in real time. We hope this project will be completed before the end of August.
Palm Tree Trimming
Palm tree trimming has been ongoing throughout the community. They have completed the main roads, parking lots, Tuscany Falls West Golf Course, and some common areas. They are currently working at Eagle’s Nest Golf Course this week while it is closed for aerification. They will move to Tuscany Falls East Golf Course when that is closed for aerification in two weeks. In the interim and following Tuscany Falls East, they will be going back into the common areas. We expect this project to go into August as well.
Gate Software Upgrades
While the gates around the community can be troublesome when damage occurs to them, we are excited to announce that we are upgrading our Community Management System (CMS) hardware panels that control access into the community via RFID. We are also updating to the most current version of the software package that makes it all work. We are confident this will serve us well as we move into the future. Park Pro, our gate vendor, will be on the ground installing the hardware at the unmanned gates beginning this week. It will take about one day at each gate to install the new hardware which will start at Tuscany Falls and move over to Eagle’s Nest, finishing at the two manned, main gates. Once the hardware installation is completed, ABDI, our software provider, will be handling the software migration in conjunction with Park Pro so that the software and hardware are communicating. We hope to have this completed by the end of next week with no disruptions. On a secondary note, repairs to both damaged gates, Gate 8 and Gate 4, began on July 10, and should be completed quickly. Again, please check the HOA website or PebbleNews for communication and updates regarding this and other projects.
Toscana’s Restaurant Renovation
The contract negotiation process has been ongoing—not unusual for a project of this size and scope. Having said that, I am optimistic that the contract will be signed. I will announce a construction schedule immediately following. Portofino’s has been open as our temporary lounge for several weeks and we have had good reviews. It is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with a limited, but really nice variety of food options. Portofino Coffee Bar is open from 7 to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday. The Eagle’s Nest Restaurant has expanded hours for the summer and is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Eagle’s Nest has a new summer menu in place, they are hosting Karaoke on Tuesday evenings, and are mixing in some musical entertainment this summer. Please check the HOA website or the weekly Cheers! Newsletter for up-to-date information.
Creative Arts Expansion
While funding for this expansion has yet to be approved by the HOA Board, there are still a lot of moving parts going on. Architectural drawings have been completed and the City of Goodyear has approved the plans. This is a major milestone so that we can seek construction estimates and bids to keep this project moving forward for possible Board consideration in 2024.
And finally, I did want to update you on two projects being done by external sources that impact our community:
* Bullard Wash: The City of Goodyear has completed their maintenance work on the Bullard Wash.
* CenturyLink/Quantum Fiber Upgrades: CenturyLink/Quantum Fiber are still on property working on upgrades to their underground fiber. They have added more crews in an effort to complete the project faster. We have been monitoring their work and are aware of the temporary patching that is being done. This patching is what they refer to as a “cold” patch that is being done to temporarily fill the holes they make. They have an asphalt crew that is starting work this week to complete the temporary patches, making them permanent. They will sawcut squares, backfill, level, and replace with hot asphalt to blend into the road. We will be monitoring the quality of their work to ensure they meet our standards. Based on conversations with them, we hope this project will be completed by the end of August. CenturyLink has established a Construction Hotline at 602-357-5502 to field any questions or concerns that our residents may have.
We are excited about the progress that we have made on these projects, and we look forward to the completion of each one. We will continue to update the community via the website and PebbleNews.