We will be going back to our guys doing trash beginning Monday, August 3rd. By having all maintenance guys concentrating on painting, we have gotten the base coat painting done for the year and are finishing up with the trim colors.
Category: Information - page 31
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Join the 
Saturday, Aug. 22
Grand Prairie residents can download the latest version iof the My GPTX mobile app – a convenient tool for keeping in touch with your city – from iTunes for iPhone/iPad or Google Play for Android.It seems like anytime we send a Violation warning letter to a resident to inform them that they are in violation of the CC&R or other enforceable HOA rules, we often hear the same phrase, “But, I pay my dues!” Sometimes, they will include “on time” to bolster their position, apparently. We have even had a supplemental phrase of “I pay my taxes!”, although I am unsure what that has to do with HOA rules. We have even had someone tell Terry that their dues pay her salary, so they are her boss. Really??
So, perhaps we should revisit what your monthly, mandatory dues include:
- Utilities – Water, sewer, trash pickup
- Maintenance – Exterior painting of your home and trim, exterior woodwork (soffets, facia, gables and other wood areas, excluding entry doors), gutters, front faucet, storage building (excluding framing and doors), common area fences, sidewalks, roadways and a few other things detailed in our documents.
These are the main things your monthly dues cover but also includes payroll, grounds maintenance, landscaping, pool costs and maintenance, and picking up the exorbitant amount of trash people toss out around our 22 acres. We have one maintenance guy whose primary job is to pick up trash that inconsiderate individuals toss out all over the property; his salary is better utilized maintaining the 416 homes here, but we do have prevent the area from looking like a landfill. We also acknowledge and thank the homeowners who pick up trash from near their properties; we have others, mostly renters, who believe we are here to pick up after them, as if we were their Mom.
To date, we have less than 15 homeowners apply for a Visitors Parking Permit. Anyone interested has until the July 31 deadline to apply. We will issue a final warning to those violating the Visitor Parking Only rules. In addition to the possible towing of vehicles at $300 each instance, violators are also subject to monetary fines per the CC&R, Fines and Enforcement Policy and other governing documents.
There seems to be some confusion about one of the requirements to get a rented visitor space, which states:
No visitor parking permits will be issued to any property where these two parking spaces are used for any other purpose than for parking operable motor vehicles. There are boat, trailer and RV storage places where space can be rented for those items or other recreational vehicles.
A few people think this says that you cannot park a boat, trailer or RV camper on your own property under your carport; it says no such thing. What it does say is that you will not be considered for a rental visitor parking space if you use your carport for something besides a place to park 2 cars.
We remind everyone that we do require any vehicle, boat or trailer to have current registration, inspections, or other state required permits while parked under your carport, as stated in our Parking Rules. You can be issued fines if they are expired, even under your own carport.
We are doing periodic patrols throughout the subdivision looking for any vehicles with expired Inspection or Registration. The following comes from the TxDPS website: (emphasis added)
New Timelines for Inspections
Prior to Feb, 29, 2016, you must have a passing vehicle inspection at the time you register or renew your vehicle’s registration.
If your inspection expires before your registration, you are required to get your vehicle inspected before the inspection expiration date.
After March 1, 2016, you must pass a vehicle inspection within 90 calendar days prior to registration or renewing your vehicle.
The towing company tells me they have to give someone 10 days after tagging their vehicle for expired stickers, according to State law. However, if we tag your vehicle or call it in, there is no 10 day grace period, primarily due to the fact that the Visitor Lots are located on private property. Secondarily, we have Parking rules in place that do not allow any vehicle with expired registration (tags) or inspection to park in these visitor lots, so we are towing these expired vehicles off the property.
Each Visitor Lot is well-marked with signs, so it’s not like people have not been warned.
Pool will be closed Monday, July 20, until further notice for maintenance. Pool is open today, Sunday, July 19th
We are re-instituting Pool Passes following large numbers of people using the Pool whom we cannot verify are actual residents, renters or guests. We have had several instances of MANY people showing up and saying they are the guests of some address, when the people that live at that address have never heard of them.
Residents who have already paid their $5 can come to the office and pick up a pool pass sometime next week. We will be putting out notices to properties that have already paid.
These passes are the key chain type, and are numbered. We will keep track of which pass is issued to which property. If you or your guests do not present this pool pass, you will not be allowed to use the pool. We may also rethink the number of guests allowed per pass since that has also been abused by some people.
The large number of people using the pool has caused a lot of problems with pool chemistry. Moreover, since some of these people are not residents, renters, or actual guests, you and I are paying for the added chemicals to keep the pool as it should be. We are having enough people use the pool that the water gets cloudy almost daily.
Due to the chemistry issues, we will keep the pool closed next week so we can drain part-way and refill it.
Last week, we send notices to every resident who has a stored or wrecked vehicle under their carport. Just so we are clear, here’s what the rules are:
Carports
a. Wrecked cars and inoperable vehicles are not allowed in any carport. (includes expired inspection stickers and expired license plates).
b. No car will be allowed to be up on jacks or blocks, or permitted to be parked with flat tires.
c. No tractors or trailers may be parked in carports.
The notices we sent out are a courtesy warning; the last thing we want is for this subdivision to look like a wrecking yard. A stored vehicle, under a tarp or other cover, is NOT an operable vehicle. If it was, it would be driven regularly, which they are not. Inoperable vehicles are also a violation of GP Codes, and can result in a visit from Code Enforcement.
Some properties have had stored or wrecked vehicles on their properties for months, if not longer. We are now addressing this and will resort to fines and other enforcement actions if required. It is not fair to those who follow the rules to allow others not to.
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New Fire Station No. 10
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 City officials broke ground on July 2 for a new Fire Station Nov. 10 located at the corner of Balboa and Grand Peninsula Drive. The $5 million, 12,000-square-foot facility will house 18 firefighters and paramedics, and feature four truck bays. Architecture for the building will be a nautical theme with a tower element resembling a light house. The new station is scheduled to open in May 2016. |
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Neighborhood Enrichment Team |
 The city of Grand Prairie Neighborhood Enrichment Team (NET) is a collaborative effort between city departments focusing on nuisance and chronic problem properties that have not responded to traditional methods of compliance. the Police Department, Code Enforcement, Fire Department, Housing and Neighborhood Services, Building Inspections, Environmental Services, Public Works, City Attorney and parks, Arts and Recreation Department are all part of the NET.
To be considered a “Nuisance or Chronic Problem Property,” the property must exhibit repeated non-compliance, constitute a long term public nuisance, or is of such a severe nature that the health, safety, and well-being of the citizens and businesses of the city of Grand Prairie is at risk. To report a complaint or concern, call 972-237-8296 for assistance. |
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New Development
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The city has approved the site plan for a new 190,000-square-foot Walmart Supercenter east of State Highway 161 between Arkansas Lane and Pioneer Parkway. Walmart’s coporate office is still in the scheduling phase.
Construction is scheduled to begin soon on a new Aldi grocery store at Great Southwest Parkway and Bardin Road.
QuikTrip will begin construction soon on a gas station and convenience store on Lake Ridge and Interstate 20.
Emerus is opening a 29,332-square-foot emergency hospital on Kingswood and SH 360. The hospital will provide emergency care services and nursing care for patients who require an overnight stay of longer than 24 hours. Construction is scheduled to begin soon.
Uplift Academy will expand its downtown Grand Prairie campus with a new 63,000-square-foot high school building north of Church Street between 2nd and 4th Streets.
State Farm will open an office on Lake Ridge south of Grand Peninsula just south of the memory care center.
Construction is set to begin on the 247-unit Reserve at Grand Prairie Apartments at the northeast corner of SH 360 and Outlet Parkway.
A new 304-unit Timberview Ranch apartment complex is under construction at SH 360 north of Crossroads Church.
The first phase of the 199-unit Enclave apartments at Mira Lagos East is under construction at the southeast corner of Grand Peninsula and Balboa. A second 108-unit phase is also planned for this site.
Construction will begin soon on the 334-unit Quadrangles apartments at the southeast corner of I-20 and Endicott. A new 249-unit Villas of Grand Prairie apartment complex is planned for Arkansas Lane and SH 161.
A 302-unit Residences at 3000 Bardin condominium development is planned at the northwest corner of Endicott and Bardin.
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We have a new Pool monitor starting tomorrow. Her name is Shawn and she will be working the second shift (afternoon to closing time). Tiffany will open the pool for the morning shift.
Let’s remember to follow the pool monitor’s instructions so you don’t have to leave the pool or get banned for the rest of the season.