HACKBERRY CREEK RESIDENT UPDATE!

August 31st, 2022


Happy Wednesday Hackberry Creek Residents!


The Board Nomination period ends this week! See important info below!


Office volunteers needed for annual meeting mailing!


New information on how to submit questions for the Board Candidate Forum to be held via Zoom on September 12th, 2022 at 7:00pm. Your Village Manager will do a brief review of how voting and the election process works, then introduce all candidates running for a board of director seat. Candidates will have an opportunity to introduce themselves, make a brief statement and answer questions. All candidates will be calling in via Zoom from their own private connection so the sound and video quality should be very good. Log-in info can be found below


If you plan on running for the Board - please submit your nominations NOW and do not wait until the last minute so we may prepare the candidate bios for inclusion in the annual meeting packet!


Other news in this Mid-Week Update includes...


  • City of Irving Changing Trash Pick-up Service
  • Board Candidate Forum Ground Rules - Submitting Questions
  • Volunteering Info - Office Help Needed for Annual Mtg Pkt. Mailing
  • Village Rules - Decorations & Religious Displays - Did You Know?
  • Board Nomination Period Closes September 4th for electronic submissions - Friday, September 2nd at 5pm for in-person submissions.
  • Annual Meeting / Election Questions Forum Category Added
  • September Board Meeting - Save The Date


Have a great week and as always, if you have any questions, please call the Hackberry Creek office at 972-401-4946.

OFFICE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR ANNUAL MEETING MAILING PACKET PREPARATION!

Help needed in the office for decal order form and annual meeting packet mailing!


If you can help stuff envelopes with the decal order forms and annual meeting information - we need you September 7th through September 9th and to assist with resident decal distribution from September 26th until October 31st


Contact Audri Skillern if interested by clicking button below!

Email Audri

IMPORTANT TRASH SERVICE UPDATE

EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST


Effective Oct. 1, Irving Solid Waste Services (SWS) collection schedule, guidelines and fees will be adjusted to continue providing residential trash, recycling, brush and bulky service while a permanent plan is developed.


Note: There will no longer be twice per week trash collection.


HACKBERRY TRASH DAY IS TUESDAY


  • All trash, recycling, brush and bulky collections are performed once per week on the same day.
  • The city is divided into 4 service areas, and collection will take place on either Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday depending on where the resident lives.
  • If collection day falls on a city holiday, collection will shift to the next day for each service day within the holiday week (Monday to Tuesday, Tuesday to Wednesday, Wednesday to Thursday and Thursday to Friday).
  • Waste must be placed at curb by 7 a.m. on collection day and after 6 p.m. the night before collection.
  • Residents can only place solid waste for collection at the address listed on their utility account.
  • Trash, recycling, brush and bulky piles must be separated by 2 – 3 feet of unobstructed space.
  • If exceeding quantity or size limits on collection day, residents are encouraged to contact Solid Waste Services regarding a special collection to pick up excess items (special collection fees apply).
  • Residents may haul additional trash, brush, bulk or construction/demolition debris to the Hunter Ferrell Landfill (landfill fees will apply) or rent a roll-off container (roll-off fees apply).


To learn more and go to the City website page detailing changes - click button below.

Visit City Website

SUBMIT YOUR BOARD NOMINATION NOW!

The Board of Director nomination period is about to close! Submit your nomination NOW in order to provide your association staff the time to prepare!


An online form is available to submit your nomination. If you'd like to self-nominate, please use the online form (log-in first) or contact the office in-person or by mail.


We will need a simple, written consent form from you stating your desire to run for the board with a brief biography with a maximum of 500 words. The nomination period closes on September 4th at 11:59pm.

 

Since the 4th is a Sunday and the 5th is a holiday, if you plan to turn in your nomination in-person, we will need to receive it in the office by 5pm (closing time) on September 2nd, 2022.

 

Please do not wait until the last minute to submit your nomination.


Electronic submissions via email to rasmith@ccmcnet.com or through the community website form (CONTACT > BOARD CANDIDATE NOMINATION FORM) will be accepted until 11:59pm on September 4th, 2022.


Any nominations received AFTER this date will NOT be included on the Annual Meeting Ballot.


Go To Nomination Form

ASSOCIATION OFFICE CLOSED MONDAY FOR LABOR DAY HOLIDAY

BOARD CANDIDATE FORUM

SAVE THE DATE - SEPTEMBER 12TH

Be sure to mark your calendars for the Board Candidate Forum to be held via Zoom on September 12th, 2022 at 7:00pm. Your Village Manager will do a brief review of how voting and the election process works, then introduce all candidates running for a board of director seat. Candidates will have an opportunity to introduce themselves, make a brief statement and answer questions.  All candidates will be calling in via Zoom from their own private connection so the sound and video quality should be very good. 


The entire forum will be recorded for those who cannot attend and a link will be made available on the community website the following day for those who wish to view later.

 

The format / schedule for the forum will be released after the nomination period closes as the number of candidates will dictate time allotted for each candidate to present a statement and how much time can be allotted for questions.

 

Zoom Info for meeting can be found below:

 

Topic: Hackberry Creek Board Candidate Forum

Time: Sep 12, 2022 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

 

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82848664263  

 

Meeting ID: 828 4866 4263

 

To call-in by phone only - (346) 248-7799

SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS FOR THE

BOARD CANDIDATE FORUM.

Ground rules for the candidate forum and how questions will be selected.


  • Understand that it is not possible that every submitted question can be asked of the candidates over a two - two and a half hour period.


  • Any homeowner is welcome to submit a question.


  • An as of-yet-to-be-determined number of questions will be selected from all submissions.  It is likely several questions will be similar but worded differently.


  • No candidate or current board member will have advance knowledge of the questions submitted or what questions will be selected - only the association office staff.


  • Submission of questions for candidates will be accepted via email or in-person at the office until Monday, September 12th at 12 noon.


  • The number of candidates will dictate time allotted for each candidate to present an opening statement and how much time can be allotted for questions and a closing statement.


  • There will be no debate.  Candidates will address homeowners, not other candidates, and provide answers to the submitted questions read by the moderator (Village Manager).  Each candidate will get equal time to answer each question.  Order of candidates speaking will follow the order as listed on the annual meeting ballot.


  • Homeowners attending the forum via Zoom will have their audio and video muted during the entirety of the forum. All questions asked will be homeowner-submitted questions (as read by the moderator) - no questions will be formulated by the moderator or association staff.


Guidelines for question submissions:


  • Make questions clear, concise and succinct.
  • Questions may be of an open-ended or yes/no nature.
  • Questions should address matters of operation of the Association, current issues, policies, procedures, financial / spending-related, about future plans / goals / projects, their vision fo rthe Village, or about their philosophy of governance of the Association.
  • Keep questions general and non-personal in nature.  Questions should not be disguised as a personal attack against any candidate, homeowner, or board member past or present. 
  • Avoid questions asking for specific statistics or "gotcha-type" questions.
  • Understand that questions should be brief enough and clear enough that a candidate could answer in a few minutes or with limited time.
  • Avoid multi-part questions that would require lengthy, detailed responses.


If candidates agree to publicize their contact info, at the end of the candidate forum that contact info will be provided so homeowners can reach out for more specifics from a particular candidate or candidates.


Submit a question by clicking the email link below or bring your question to the office before 12 noon on September 12th.

 

Submit Question For Candidate Forum

NEW HOMEOWNER FORUM CATEGORY

ANNUAL MEETING / ELECTION QUESTIONS

If you are new to Hackberry Creek and have any questions (or even if you are a long-time resident) about the Annual Meeting and Board of Director Election process works, feel free to submit your questions on this forum category! 


We've added a few of the more common questions here already for your information!


Stay informed and in-the-know!

Go To Annual Meeting / Election Question Forum
VILLAGE RULES - DID YOU KNOW?

Installment 6 - Decorations and Religious Displays


Each week we will be highlighting a portion of the recorded village rules for Hackberry Creek.


The Village Rules were last updated on 12/15/2021.

DECORATIONS AND RELIGIOUS DISPLAYS

 

Decorations


Residents may display cultural and holiday decorations in and on their homes and yards subject to the Association’s right to regulate the time, place, and manner of displays that are visible from the street. Decorations, including lighting displays, are permitted inside windows, on the exteriors of homes, and on front yards (but may not block sidewalks), provided


(1) they are to scale or proportionate to the size and setback of the home,

(2) they do not create a noise, appearance, or light disturbance for neighbors,

(3) they are appropriate for the holiday, and

(4) they are installed no earlier than 30 days before the date of the holiday and are removed within 14 days after the date of the holiday, except that Christmas decorations may be maintained from November 1st until January 15 of each year.

 

Religious Displays


a) These Rules are applicable to religious displays with the objective of permitting them while also striving to maintain an aesthetically harmonious and peaceful neighborhood for all neighbors to enjoy.

 

b) An owner may display or affix on owner’s or resident’s property or dwelling one or more religious items the display of which is motivated by the owner’s or resident’s sincere religious belief. For purposes of these Rules, a sincere religious belief relates to the faithful devotion to a god or gods, the supernatural or belief that addresses fundamental and ultimate questions having to do with deep and imponderable matters. A religion is comprehensive in nature; it consists of a belief-system as opposed to an isolated teaching. Religious displays are different than signs or other figures related to a cause. 

 

c) If displaying or affixing of a religious item on the owner’s or resident’s property or dwelling violates any of the following covenants, then the Association may remove or require the removal of the item(s) displayed that –


i. threaten the public health or safety;


ii. violate a law other than a law prohibiting the display of religious speech;


iii. contain language, graphics, or any display that is patently offensive to a passerby for reasons other than its religious content;


iv. is in a location other than the owner’s or resident’s property or dwelling, i.e., installed on property owned or maintained by the Association, or owned in common by two or more members of the Association;


v. is located in violation of any applicable building line, right-of-way, setback, or easement; or


vi. is attached to a traffic control device, street lamp, fire hydrant, or utility sign, pole, or fixture.

 

d) Display Parameters:


i. All religious displays must be located within 5’ of the dwelling’s frontmost building line (i.e., within 5’ of the front facade of the dwelling.)


ii. Displays may not be located within building setbacks.


iii. No portion of the display may extend above the lowest point of the dwelling’s front roof line.


iv. All displays must be kept in good repair.


v. Displays may not exceed 5’ in height x 3’ in width x 3’ in depth.


vi. The number of displays is limited to three (3).


vii. This paragraph d) shall not apply to seasonal religious holiday decorations as described in paragraph e).

viii. All religious item displays other than seasonal religious displays must receive prior approval from the MACC/VACC prior to installation, except for displays on any exterior door or door frame of the home that are 25 square inches or smaller. For example, and without limitation, no prior permission is required from the Association to place a cross, mezuzah, or other similar religious symbol smaller than 25 square inches on the dwelling’s front door or door frame.

 

e) Seasonal Religious Holiday Decorations. Seasonal religious holiday decorations are temporary decorations commonly associated with a seasonal holiday, such as Christmas or Diwali lighting, Christmas wreaths, and Hanukkah or Kwanzaa seasonal decorations. The Board of Directors has the sole discretion to determine what items qualify as seasonal religious holiday decorations.


Unless otherwise provided by the Declaration, seasonal religious holiday decorations may be displayed no more than 30 days before and no more than 21 days after the holiday in question.

To read all of the Village Rules, click the button below to go to the website page where the document is located!

Read Village Rules

INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED SPECIAL ASSESSMENT RESOLUTION ON THE BALLOT FOR OCTOBER ANNUAL MEETING

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING

SPECIAL GROUP ASSESSMENT

 

The Homeowners Association is responsible for capital improvements and replacements in the Village, such as streets, alleys, bridges, storm sewers, street-parallel sidewalks, parks and gatehouses. We have estimated replacement costs of over $26 million through the fiscal year 2047-48. 

 

Under a 1983 contract with the Hackberry Creek Country Club, the Homeowners Association is required to pay 20% of all Annual Assessments collected from our Members to the Country Club in exchange for certain discounts on membership fees to those homeowners who join the Club. In 2007, we negotiated an agreement with the Country Club whereby they agreed that Special Assessments used for Capital Improvements/Replacements were not subject to the 20% fee. In exchange, the Homeowners Association agreed to continue to pay the 20% fee on all Annual Assessments.

 

In order to implement this agreement, our Homeowners Association assessments must be collected in two parts:

 

Annual Assessment – Operating Expenses are raised through our Annual Assessment, which is set by our Board of Directors each June based on our approved Operating Budget. 

 

Special Group Assessment – Funds for Capital Improvements/Replacements are raised through a Special Group Assessment that is based on an analysis of our infrastructure replacement needs and other planned capital improvements. The proposed 2023 Special Group Assessment rate is $0.11 per $100 of Appraised Value. This is a lower rate than previous years and is needed to maintain our capital reserve account at an adequate level to be able to replace Village infrastructure as it wears out.

 

By separating our assessments into these two categories, we avoid paying the 20% fee to the Country Club on funds raised for our capital expenditures, yielding an annual savings to our Property Owners in excess of $200,000

In order to realize this savings, Property Owners representing at least 50.1% of the

total votes in our neighborhood must vote to approve the Special Group

Assessment resolution on the enclosed Annual Meeting Absentee Ballot.

 

The Association Board recommends a vote FOR the Resolution so that our Members will realize this significant savings.

 

If you have any questions on this matter, contact any Board Member or the Village Manager at 972-401-4946.


SEPTEMBER BOARD MEETING

SAVE THE DATE

The September Hackberry Creek HOA Board Meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 21st, 2022 at the Hackberry Creek Country Club, 1901 W Royal Ln, Irving, TX 75063. The Open Session begins at 7:00pm.

 

An agenda and more details will be published closer to the meeting. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us!
YOUR ONSITE TEAM
Randy Smith
Village Manager

The Village Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Association, including supervision of all contracted services (landscaping, maintenance, etc.) for the Association property and works hand-in-hand with the Board of Directors to deliver the high quality of service that Hackberry Creek residents deserve
Audrey Skillern
Administrative Assistant
Under the direction of the Village Manager, the Administrative Coordinator works with homeowners to provide new homeowner orientations, vehicle registrations, membership support and clerical duties. The Administrative Coordinator also processes new vendor applications, invoices, and provides the onsite team and Board of Directors with support with all facets of Hackberry Creek operations.
Jason Snider
Compliance Coordinator

Under the direction of the Village Manager, the Community Standards Coordinator conducts inspections of residential properties within the community to determine if violations of deed restrictions exist with specific reference to property maintenance and aesthetics. The Community Standards Coordinator works with Hackberry Creek homeowners to ensure compliance when violations are found, while maintaining accurate records of complaints and inspections made.
Dennis Osebe
Weiser Security Captain

The Security Captain at Hackberry Creek is tasked with the daily oversight of Gate Guard and Security operations and is responsible for scheduling and staffing all guard houses, ensuring security protocols are followed at all times. The Security Captain also monitors vehicular traffic and speeds throughout the community, issuing citations as needed and works hand-in-hand with the onsite team to ensure all residents, guest, contractors and other personnel have been appropriately screened before being granted access to the community.
Hackberry Creek Homeowners Association
Professionally managed by CCMC