Dear Falcon Ridge Homeowners,
2021 is drawing to a close as we continue to experience disruptions all around us. Many of us found ourselves working remotely as the pandemic continued to affect the world. Our routines and habits were forced to change but we were also able to return to some of our normal and traditional activities during the year. It was also another year of change and progress at Falcon Ridge.
We said goodbye to departing neighbors and welcomed many new families in 2021. We were able to hold Falcon Fest and other social events that had been canceled in 2020 and our newly formed social committee is active and doing a fantastic job. We have a new, modern web site at www.falconridgehoa.net and have continued our “Renew the Ridge” actions to renew and rebuild the neighborhood amenities and features that make Falcon Ridge a great place to call home.
We continued to improve landscaping and appearance with the updates at the Woodland and Estates entrances and at the putting green along with ongoing removal and replacement of dead ash trees. The aged and deteriorating wrought iron fence along Woodland was replaced in the spring along with fencing repairs along Sunset in the Estates. Gutters and drainage changes were made at the clubhouse to address long term and ongoing water intrusion issues. The most significant update this year was the reconfiguration of 2 of the tennis courts into 6 pickleball courts.
The feedback from many of you has been extremely positive and it’s been great to see the heavy usage. On the services side of things, Perfection has done a great job as our new landscaping company as we continue to renew the appearance of Falcon Ridge. We experienced challenges with our trash and recycle service which we will continue to evaluate and take necessary actions to improve that situation. We continue to have a speeding issue on our main streets and have a committee looking at solutions to address that long term.
A copy of the 2022 budget and your annual dues statement are included with this letter. As communicated in the past, we continue to see the ongoing need for incremental dues increases as our amenities age and expenses increase. Capital improvements will continue with updates and replacements of fencing, pools, lighting, security, and entrances. The Redbud pool roof will need to be replaced soon and the bathrooms and pump room need significant repair work. We anticipate increases in our major expense areas which include landscaping, pool maintenance, trash, utilities, and insurance. We have also increased the social budget as we have expanded community events.
As a result of these items, annual dues are increasing to $820. Falcon Ridge dues continue to be less than other similar communities with comparable amenities. Financially, the board has two primary objectives. First, we want to remain fiscally sound without requiring a special assessment like many HOA’s have needed in order to remain solvent. Second, we want to spend responsibly to maintain and improve our community assets, aesthetics, and appeal. To this end, one of our primary goals is to maintain the recommended one year’s operating expenses in reserves. This is a responsible “best practice” recommended by experts to help HOA financial security and viability and to reduce the potential for unexpected assessments. We are fortunate to have a beautiful community with over 325,000 SQFT of turf, 24 landscaped common areas, 2 pools, a clubhouse (available for rental by residents), 7 sport courts, fountains and water features, putting green, and various granite and stone entry monuments. Our goal is for all of this to remain a great sense of pride for every homeowner and to make Falcon Ridge a great place to live and a highly desirable neighborhood.
We will always continue to look for ways to minimize expenses while maintaining and improving Falcon Ridge. We want to continue to involve more homeowners in HOA and community activities and continually improve communication with homeowners thru the use of the website, email, entry boards, and social media. If you are interested in becoming involved in the HOA or community activities and events or have ideas you’d like to submit, please contact one of the board members or send an email to board@falconridgehoa.net.
The HOA annual meeting and elections will be held in March, 2022. Please watch for details.
The Board is always available and willing to answer any questions or concerns regarding finances and operations of your Falcon Ridge neighborhood. We all feel fortunate to live in this exceptional community and we want to thank you for the great support. We wish you and your family the best and look forward to the year ahead!
Sincerely,
Falcon Ridge HOA Board
board@falconridgehoa.net
Todd Stanley | John Storey | Kurt Doyle | Greg Stine | Pam Brill