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OCN > 2311 > Woodmoor Improvement Association, Oct. 25 – Board president explains WIA approach

Woodmoor Improvement Association, Oct. 25 – Board president explains WIA approach

By Jackie Burhans

At its October meeting, the Woodmoor Improvement Association (WIA) board heard remarks from President Brian Bush comparing WIA to other homeowners associations (HOAs) and reviewed board director reports.

Board president contrasts WIA with other HOAs

Bush noted that the news about homeowners associations is frequently negative, citing recent reports that Green Valley Ranch HOA foreclosed on homes without notifying owners. He noted that Colorado House Bill 22-1137, which requires improved notices and a public vote on referring debts to a collection agency, now controls the foreclosure process for HOAs.

However, he emphasized that WIA does not and never has operated that way. Bush said that WIA, which is one of the state’s largest HOAs, has never foreclosed on a property in his eight years on the board. WIA does not like to impose hearings or fine owners, preferring to work with them to correct any deficiencies. WIA wants to maintain community standards and common areas for the benefit of all residents, Bush added. All board members are volunteers, and WIA includes outstanding staff and public safety officers who focus on customer service. In one example, it was noted that a resident wondered on social media whether a 12-foot skeleton would be allowed by the HOA and was contacted by WIA staff, who said it would be fine.

Bush said if there were no HOA, he felt the area’s appearance would quickly degrade. He expressed concern about the legislative direction that might make it impossible to have or to serve on HOAs. A resident asked if WIA had any connections with the Legislature, and Bush said he had contact with our local state senator and state representative and had testified on behalf of WIA residents to the El Paso Board of County Commissioners.

Asked how WIA communicates with its residents, Bush noted there was an electronic newsletter, but WIA only has contacts for about half of its residents. Residents can subscribe to the monthly newsletter, important notices, and WPS reports at the bottom of its web page at www.woodmoor.org. Email addresses are never shared or sold, he said.

Finally, Bush noted that the WIA annual assessment is about $283, contrasting it with other HOAs that charge as much as $700 per month. WIA provides architectural and covenant control, access to many common areas, The Barn community center, and the services of Woodmoor Public Safety (WPS).

Board reports

  • Public Safety Director Brad Gleason noted that Lewis-Palmer D38 has received approval to proceed with its Safe Routes to School trail project. Once the school district finalizes its agreement with Woodmoor Water and Sanitation, the trail and the bridge will go out to bid, and the school district will take ownership and responsibility for the maintenance of the bridge over the spillway on Woodmoor Lake.
  • Board Treasurer Connie Brown reported there were 66 unpaid accounts. Bush noted that the income and expenditures were on track, and the board might end up with some savings.
  • Covenants Director Per Suhr reported 35 covenant-related items yielding two violations. Ten issues were resolved with friendly communications, and there were three unfounded complaints. WIA processed 10 HOA checks related to home sales. There were no covenant hearings in October, and none planned yet in November.
  • Architectural Control Director Ed Miller noted that 67 projects had been approved in September, and one project had been disapproved. Year to date, the number of submitted projects is 465, which is a 4.2% decrease from the prior year. The project approval rate is 98.8%.
  • Forestry Director Cindy Thrush reported there had been 15 Forestry/Firewise visits in September and that a $26,000 reimbursement request had been submitted, bringing WIA to the end of its original $245,000 matching grant for fire mitigation. An additional grant of $30,000 was received in May, and WIA is suspending new applications until it determines the amount remaining after six recent applications. Thrush said WIA is looking for new funding opportunities.
  • Common Area Director Steve Cutler said that the sprinkler system at The Barn community center would be shut down at the end of the month, common area fire mitigation is continuing, and work on common area trails would be done as weather permits, pending contractor availability.
  • Bush said that a new Woodmoor Public Safety WPS vehicle had been rear-ended and was out of commission until repairs were completed. He also noted that a bench in the Fairplay Drive median had been destroyed by a car and would be covered by insurance and replaced as soon as possible.
  • Bush said that a draft budget for WIA had been presented at the executive session ahead of the board meeting and is available to consider until the Nov. 15 board meeting, at which time the board will be asked to approve it. The budget sets salaries, expenses, and income for the year and will drive next year’s annual assessment rate. Once approved, the 2024 budget can be found at www.woodmoor.org/budget-statements.

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The WIA Board of Directors usually meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month in The Barn at 1691 Woodmoor Drive, Monument. The next meeting has been moved to Nov. 15 due to the holiday.

The WIA calendar can be found at www.woodmoor.org/wia-calendar/. WIA board meeting minutes can be found at www.woodmoor.org/meeting-minutes/ once approved and posted.

Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me

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