BAYOU ESTATES NEWSLETTER JUNE 2023 – NOVEMBER 2023
Our homeowner’s association is a corporation chartered in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida. Current Board of Directors are: President(website maintainer) – Bart Huitema ; Vice President – Owen Keesey; Secretary/Treasurer John Karnitz; Member-at-Large and Architectural Chairman – Daniel Gaughan
UPCOMING BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS
24 May – John Karnitz – 3215 6th Ave W
21 June – Bart Huitema – 506 36th St W
19 July – Daniel Gaughan – 3623 6th Ave W
16 August – Owen Keesey – 3415 6th Ave W
20 September – John Karnitz – 3215 6th Ave W
18 October – Bart Huitema – 506 36th St W
15 November – Annette Kneeland – 3515 5th Dr W
HURRICANE SEASON
1. Now is the time to take a look around your home for any hazards. You should check for trees that may have limbs/palm fronds that could break off, and along with other items around the outside of your home, become flying missiles during a strong storm. Flying debris is a major factor in personal injuries and also can cause penetration of buildings by breaking windows and putting holes in roofs.
Take a few minutes to walk around your property to pick up any loose items such as lawn chairs, toys, trash receptacles, etc. Another benefit is that your property will project a more attractive appearance. The ultimate benefit is that both you and your neighbors will feel better about living next to each other and that the neighborhood will be safer and more attractive as everyone drives through it.
2. In Manatee County there are 5 levels of evacuation A through E.
The Northern and Southern portions of Bayou Estates fall in the Level B evacuation area, requiring evacuation in the event of a Category 2 Hurricane with a potential surge inundation of at least 14 feet.
BUFFALO CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL, 7320 69th St. East, Palmetto
MILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, 7200 69th St. East, Palmetto
TILLMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, 1415 29th St. East, Palmetto.
MILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, 7200 69th St. East, Palmetto
BRADEN RIVER HIGH SCHOOL, 6545 S.R. 70 E, Bradenton
MANATEE HIGH SCHOOL, 1000 32nd St. West, Bradenton.
5. Be sure and monitor all the television and radio stations for all the latest information available. For those of you with internet service, here are a few sites that may prove useful.
weather.com/storms/hurricane-central (The Weather Channel)
nhc.noaa.gov (National Hurricane Center site)
wunderground.com (WX Underground site, look for the tropical tab)
nrlmry.navy.mil/tc_pages/tc_home.html (Navy Research Laboratory, Monterey’s Marine Meteorology Division Tropical Cyclone site)
mymanatee.org/Departments/Public_Safety (Manatee County Emergency Services)
RETENTION PONDS
Due to the sensitive nature of Florida’s environment and the need to control localized flooding in urbanized areas, storm water retention ponds are frequently
used. This is extremely important during the Hurricane season when rainfall may become very heavy at times. A storm water retention pond is generally used to temporarily store and subsequently discharge collected storm water runoff from a developed site at a rate less than or equal to the predevelopment discharge rate.
Simply put, the main purpose of a storm water retention pond is to collect and treat “the first flush” of pollutants in the storm water runoff from lawns and roadways.
All of our storm water retention ponds are of the wet retention type, meaning that during the year they will have water in them.
In recent years, storm water runoff has been recognized as a source of ground water pollution. Our retention ponds are designed to collect such runoff. Then the water, held by a retention pond, is disposed of by evaporation and infiltration into the shallow ground water aquifer.
As you can see from the above information our retention ponds are NOT a source of clean water. While local wildlife may be seen in and around the retention ponds these ponds are not a playground. It is important to speak to your children and explain to them that the water may be harmful, as the runoff can contain oil/gas/fertilizer/lead and numerous other harmful substances.
Also we all must cut down on the pollution in the ponds by not disposing of anything that may be flushed through the storm drains. We need to be more vigilant in ensuring trash and yard waste does not reach the retention ponds. When cutting your lawns DO NOT flush clippings into the street, sweep or blow them back onto the lawn. These clippings contribute to algae growth in the ponds. Let us all help to keep the retention ponds clean and uncluttered so that they can function as they are designed to.
Our community is a DEED RESTRICTED community. The definition of a deed restricted community is:
A deed-restricted community is one in which a homeowners’ association outlines and enforces rules. Those rules can regulate the way the neighborhood looks and the way the properties in it can be used. Ideally, the HOA is there to ensure the neighborhood stays in good shape, which helps keep home values where they should be.
Deed-restricted communities may charge homeowners a fee monthly, to be part of the community. This charge to the homeowners is made to ensure the common areas, storm water retention ponds and other items such as signage and entrance landscaping are maintained.
Article VI of the DECLARATION lays out the, in detail, USE RESTRICTIONS that all homeowners in Bayou Estates must follow. The Bayou Estates RULES AND REGULATIONS further addresses key areas of concern in the Article VI section, in easy to understand terms.
Rights and Responsibilities for the
Bayou Estates Community
Principles for Homeowners and Community Board Members
More than a destination at the end of the day, Bayou Estates is a place people want to call home and where they feel at home. This goal is best achieved when homeowners, non-owner residents and association board members recognize and accept their rights and responsibilities. This entails striking a reasonable balance between the preferences of individual homeowners and the best interests of the community as a whole. It is with this challenge in mind that we the Bayou Estates Association Board members developed the following Rights and Responsibilities for the Bayou Estates community. Rights and Responsibilities can serve as important guideposts for all those involved in the community - board members, community managers, homeowners and non-owner residents(renters).
Homeowners Have the Right To:
A responsive and competent community association.
Honest, fair and respectful treatment by board members and managers.
Participate in governing the community association by attending meetings, serving on committees and standing for election.
Access appropriate association books and records.
Expect prudent expenditure of fees and other assessments.
Live in a community where the property is maintained according to established standards.
Fair treatment regarding financial and other association obligations, including the opportunity to discuss payment plans and options with the association before foreclosure is initiated.
Receive all documents that address rules and regulations governing the community
association—if not prior to purchase and settlement by a real estate agent or attorney,
then upon joining the community.
Appeal to appropriate community leaders those decisions affecting non-routine financial responsibilities or property rights.
Homeowners Have the Responsibility To:
Read and comply with the governing documents of the community.
Maintain their property according to established standards.
Treat association leaders honestly and with respect.
Vote in community elections and on other issues.
Pay association assessments and charges on time.
Contact association leaders or managers, if necessary, to discuss financial obligations and alternative payment arrangements.
Request reconsideration of material decisions that personally affect them.
Provide current contact information to association leaders or managers to help ensure they receive information from the community.
Ensure that those who reside on their property (e.g., tenants, relatives, friends) adhere to all rules and regulations.
Board Members Have the Right To:
Expect owners and non-owner residents(renters) to meet their financial obligations to the community.
Expect residents to know and comply with the rules and regulations of the community and to stay informed by reading materials provided by the association.
Receive respectful and honest treatment from residents.
Conduct meetings in a positive and constructive atmosphere.
Receive support and constructive input from owners and non-owner residents.
Expect personal privacy at home and during leisure time in the community.
Board Members Have the Responsibility To:
Fulfill their fiduciary duties to the association and exercise discretion in a manner they reasonably believe to be in the best interests of the community.
Exercise sound business judgment and follow established management practices.
Balance the needs and obligations of the community as a whole with those of individual homeowners and residents.
Understand the association's governing documents and become educated with respect to applicable state and local laws, and to manage the association accordingly.
Establish committees or use other methods to obtain input from owners and non-owner residents(renters).
Conduct open, fair and well-publicized elections.
Welcome and educate new members of the community—owners and non-owner residents(renters) alike.
Encourage input from residents on issues affecting them personally and the community as a whole.
Encourage events that foster neighborliness and a sense of community.
Conduct business in a transparent manner when feasible and appropriate.
Allow homeowners access to appropriate association records, when requested.
Empower a community manager to collect all monies due from owners and non-owner residents(renters).
Devise appropriate and reasonable arrangements, when needed and as feasible, to facilitate the ability of individual homeowners to meet their financial obligations to the community.
Provide a process residents can use to appeal decisions affecting their non-routine financial responsibilities or property rights—where permitted by law and the association's governing documents.
Initiate foreclosure proceedings only as a measure of last resort.
Make covenants, conditions and restrictions as understandable as possible, adding clarifying "lay" language or supplementary materials when drafting or revising the documents.
Important considerations for Resales and Leases
When selling or leasing your home please make your potential buyer or renter aware that Bayou Estates Association requires an application and background check for each adult who will reside in the residence. There is an application fee of $125.00.
Florida Statutes allows(10) business days for the process of receiving the request, sending applications to the buyer/renter, receiving the signed applications submitting requests and receiving completed background checks, or prior to submitting finalized application packets to the Board for their approval.
For processing estoppels, leases, and rental agreements, please email your request to vkenyon@rescom-mgt.com or call 941-800-3601 ext. 5.
QUESTIONS CONCERNING TRASH/YARD WASTE AND BULK TRASH PICKUP DATES/RESTRICTIONS.
CHECK OUT THE MANATEE COUNTY UTILITIES DEPARTMENT AT 941-792-8811 OR WWW.MYMANATEE.ORG/DEPARTMENT/UTILITIES.
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