SUN MESA at
Gleneagle
Volume 13 - Issue 6
Z&R Management – 594-0506
October 2006
JOE PERTL, PRESIDENT OF SUN MESA HOA
FIREPLACE UPDATE:
It looks like we have everyone notified regarding the MARCO
fireplaces. I hope that those unit owners I listed in last months Newsletter
took
care of their notification to MARCO individually. I feel pretty confident that
we
are in pretty good shape with the modification. However, I have additional information for you.
Ron Pierce, our VP, adds the following to this Newsletter.
Here is some information on our gas fireplaces that you may find useful. Our fireplaces
were made by Marco, which later was sold to Lennox. Our fireplaces have an air-exchange
unit on the wall outside our homes…you’ve seen them; metal boxes about 18” square. Inside
these boxes are 2 air vents: one provides fresh air down to the fireplace for ignition, the other
vents the exhaust fumes out of the fireplace to the outside. The retrofit more securely fastened
the exhaust vent in place. Most units had this retrofit completed years ago, and Joe identified
the homes that will be contacted for the retrofit.
I asked the service representative, who completed the retrofits, to come to my home
and give me some information. I learned that in some of the homes he visited so far (including
mine); the fireplaces were emitting a musty or dusty smell. You will notice openings, vents or
louvers, above and below your fireplace. These vents circulate inside air around the outside of
fireplace box; the air heats up and comes into the house through the upper vent. But dust also
builds up in these vents and can be the cause of the musty or dusty smell. The rep helped me
clean mine with a mixture of 3
tablespoons of vinegar and a couple
Inside This Issue
cups of water. We cleaned out the
1 Fireplace Update
vent areas we could reach. The
2 Reminder: All flowers and pots in by 10/31
musty smell almost completely went
away. You can access the upper vent 3 Northgate Road Open - CAUTION
by removing the grate in front of it,
4 “Words of Wisdom” from the Prez
5 SMHOA Board Looking at Possible New
HOA Fee
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SUN MESA at Gleneagle
and the lower vent has a grate that is hinged to open. Two warnings: (1) never attempt to do
this if the fireplace is on or is hot, (2) the lower vent area has the fan controls along with many
sharp objects, use extreme care or you could cut your hands.
The rep also suggested that I run the fireplace with the fan on a low setting. This
circulates air around the box (as I’ve explained above) and helps keep the fireplace box from
getting too hot. It also pumps more warm air into the house which is an added benefit. At a low
setting, the fan does not make much noise.
The name of the rep is Roger Willis, (303) 250-6203. He is an independent
contractor and lives in Parker, Co.
Northgate Road Open
Well, half of the new Northgate Road is now open. I have heard that the other half
will be open som etime in the spring of 2007. I have not had the opportunity to
attempt a left turn at the stop sign (turning east), but I can pretty well picture more
of a problem then we had before. Now we have a left turn lane to go north on
Struthers as well as a thru lane to continue east on Northgate. Before there was only the one lane
on North Gate and occasionally a friendly driver would wave you through so you could make
your turn to go east. With the double lane you will not necessarily have a safe access since there is
now the double lane. I would be very careful since the thru lane may not be giving you access. I
feel we have a bad situation there and I am asking you to be very careful at this intersection. I feel
this is an accident prone intersection and will become even more of a problem when Northgate
goes to 4 lanes unless street lights and a traffic light are installed. I caution you to be even more
careful if we have icing conditions. Motorists coming downhill on the new North Gate will not
have good braking action if you should pull out in front of them. All of this is just my opinion and
is not the opinion of the Sun Mesa HOA or the Board of Directors. My only intent as your
President, is make you aware of this intersection, other motorists who have no smarts in winter
driving conditions, lack of street intersection lighting and traffic lights and, most important, for
you to be around to read my next Newsletter. Be careful Sun Mesa drivers.
Critters
With the cooler weather that we are experiencing, I ask each resident to keep their
garage doors closed. We have these little
four legged critters, called
mice, that just love to find a warm place for
the winter and open garage
doors are a perfect solution for them to find
a place. They will not only
invade your unit, but the connecting units as
well. The smallest crack in
your wall will permit them to expand their
living
quarters
to
the
connecting units. Believe me, I speak from
experience. So keep the
doors closed. Not only the four legged critters can get in, but the two legged variety pose a
security risk as well.
Garage Lights
Speaking of garages, I have another tip for you. If you have connected an
automatic on/off timer to your garage light switch, read further. Should both
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SUN MESA at Gleneagle
bulbs burn out at the same time (unlikely, unless you have been away on an extended trip and
not there to notice a burned out bulb) you may think that the timer has failed because the red
timer light will not be illuminated. Before you rush off to buy a new timer, check the bulbs
first.
Sprinklers
With the cold weather we will soon be turning off our sprinkler system.
It may already be off by the time this Newsletter goes to press. It would
be very helpful if each resident occasionally watered the trees and shrubs
in the front of your unit. This would especially be helpful if we have a
dry winter. Your time would be appreciated and may help saving a plant
or tree. Just one word of caution. Be sure to drain your hose and
disconnect it from the water tap to prevent freezing.
Reminder
A REMINDER TO EVERYONE. Reference our Rules and
Regulations, Par 13i Decorating Guidelines. All exterior planting pots
will be removed and stored out of sight by October 31st of each year.
Wildlife
I have discovered that the wildlife in the area may have a favorite
area for their waste deposits and it may just be around your unit; perhaps
in front or back. They do not necessarily have a preference. For my unit it was around back. So I thought
I would mention this problem so you do not put the blame on our local pets.
HOA Budget
The Board is still watching our current budget to see if an increase in dues will be
necessary. A decision will be made at the next Board meeting and I will publish the
results in the November Newsletter.
Board of Directors’ Meeting
Monday, November 20th at Roger Browne’s home (Unit 106) beginning at 3:30 PM.
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SUN MESA at Gleneagle
If you are planning to attend, please contact me at 481-3667 prior to the meeting.
The agenda will be available three days prior to the meeting.
Words of Wisdom . . . .
In the age that we are living in, we hear the word billion tossed around with little or no
thought. The most common usage today is when we hear it used in terms of money
amounts. What is a billion anyway? A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but one
advertising agency did a good job of putting that figure into some perspective.
A. A billion seconds ago it was 1959.
B. A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.
C. A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.
D. A billion days ago no one walked on the earth on two feet.
E. A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes, at the rate our
government is spending it.
Now think in terms of the amounts you hear on the news.......25 billion for this or
250 billion for something else. WOW, just where is it coming from? I guess the National
Debt Bank. Wonder how you go about opening a personal account in that organization.
Hope the month of October was a good one for each of
you. I have had no complaints.
My final comment is,
like always.......
Goooooooooo
Broncooooooooos
Your Prez. . .
Joe
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SUN MESA at Gleneagle