White River Citizens Group

Members of the White River Citizens group (www.whiterivercitizens.org) attended this meeting. John Griffin and Gerry Smith are Highland Park homeowners and became involved with this group during the original Walmart resistance. John Dorsett is president of this Citizen’s group. This group was organized in the fall of 2003 and has met for the last 16 months. They represent about 1500 households and 15 homeowner’s associations. Our association contributed to the group last year. This group spent approximately $15,000 last year (including attorney’s fees to Lynn Gray). About 85% of their cost represented legal fees. They emphasize that they are not anti-development but want to advocate smart growth. They don’t believe we currently have the infrastructure to support some of the big-box developments being considered. They have made contacts at the county and city level and continue to monitor growth in the township as well as additions of stop lights, etc. Three representatives have been asked to serve on county task forces. They are continuing to try to raise funds via homeowner’s associations. All members of the committee are volunteers. They hold monthly meetings with average attendance of 15-30 people. In 2004 HP’s line item for this donation was $2600. The board approved a 2005 donation of $10/house.

Service Contractors

Several board members were concerned about the lack of snow removal in the subdivision during heavy snows. Dennis will look into possible plow contractors.

Dennis has not yet seen any maintenance contracts for 2005. He will contact John to see what John has received to date. Dennis will also find out if Leisner Aquatics removed and stored the lake pumps.

Committees

The board reviewed the status of committees:

Landscape (grounds) Committee – Fritz Wurster, Chairman

Architectural Committee – Brian Benham, Chairman

Social Committee – Coleen Ellis, Chairman

Welcome Committee (subcommittee of social) – Angie Seaman

Community & Governmental Affairs Committee – John Griffin and Gerry Smith (possibly chaired by Bill Dickey)

Committee Activities

*Need to get the directory going and distributed. (Coleen will get up to speed with this.)

*Newsletters will be distributed twice/year (Coleen will produce). They will include committee updates and information, Citizen’s group updates, upcoming events, financials.

*Scott will update board member bios.

*Grounds committee members need to be established, projects need to be identified (including up-lighting, signage, beautification.)

Other outstanding board member items

*Need to determine if we are adequately insured as board members. Should we be incorporated? Lisa to check with her father-in-law who is an attorney.

*Dennis will look into an interest-bearing account for H.O. funds

*Scott will contact John to obtain a patrols summary and the document from G. Allen turning architectural control over to board.

*Bill will take a stab at drafting goals of the new Governmental Affairs committee.

*Scott will get room at White River Library for annual meeting in November.

*Lisa will put together new contact list.

*Lisa will purchase $100 gift certificate for John.

Future meetings

2005 Meetings will be held and hosted:

March 10 – Coleen

May 12 – Lisa

July 14 – Bill

September 8 – Coleen

November 10 - Scott