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You have probably noticed the red and green ribbons tied around our trees that appeared in the last few weeks. And you might have wondered what in the world are those for? Well, our own Building and Grounds (B&G) volunteers have been working with SavATree Tree Service to identify trees that need pruning or removing. The goal is to make a comprehensive list and then prioritize the work.

Currently we are awaiting a proposal from SavATree so we can schedule and prioritize. Once we have costs, we will determine what work can be done this season.

Trees with green ribbons are recommended for pruning. SavATree will prune low hanging limbs, dead limbs, and limbs that are interfering with buildings. Trees with red ribbons are recommended for removal. Most of these are diseased and/or a potential hazard to people or buildings. Note that none of the red ribbon trees are in danger of falling immediately.

Stay tuned for more updates as B&G volunteers work through this necessary project. If you have questions feel free to contact Melanie Rogers chair of B&G.

From mid-December 2024 to mid-January 2025 a group of owner volunteers was busy trimming and pruning our Austrian pines, hawthorns and crabapples. Under the direction of the Buildings & Grounds committee, led by Melanie Roberts, the group pruned 63 trees and logged 52 person hours over 19 work days. We estimate the task saved our association $6000 in contractor fees.

The Board has become aware that the coyotes seen near the apartments last week were seen this weekend near the condominiums around building 40. This requires immediate action to minimize the danger to children and pets.

This publication from the Department of Natural Resources offers suggestions on how to discourage coyotes from one’s property. It also offers suggestions in the rare event you are confronted by a coyote. One of those suggestions is to remove anything that could be a food source. One such source are bird feeders. Not only is the seed itself a potential food source (yes, coyotes will eat that too), but the bird feeders attract rodents who also eat the seed and in turn, those rodents attract the coyotes. Effective immediately please remove all bird feeders.

The Overlook Lakes Condominium Association (OLCA) was fortunate to have a member by the name of Ben Kosmatka living here. Ben was a tireless volunteer serving our OLCA membership in multiple capacities over 20-plus years. Sadly, Ben passed away in 2020, but in his honor, the Board of Directors created the “Ben Kosmatka OLCA Community Service Award” in 2022 to recognize Ben’s many contributions to our community that exemplify the qualities of leadership our community members have all benefited from.

Learn More About This Award

Many condo owners may have noticed the popularity of the Overlook Lakes Condominiums by the number of sales of condominiums here in the past year or so. We welcome our new residents! But there is something that should be kept in mind if you’re selling your condo. Many condo owners give a key, a garage door opener or garage door keypad code to a relative, close friend or a neighbor for emergencies. That’s a great idea, but if you’re selling your unit, be sure to get these keys or other means of entry to your unit back from them to give to the new owner.

It’s been great to see our community out walking and bicycling our beautiful development!

It has been brought to the attention of the OLCA community that while most people give “walkers” and bicycle riders a “wide berth” when driving past them, there are a few who are clearly driving at an unsafe speed.

14.08 (3) FIRE PITS

(3) RECREATIONAL BURNING (Wood Burning Appliance) A recreational fire is defined as a fire to be used for cooking, or esthetics benefit similar to that of a campfire. The fire shall be confined to a commercially designed outdoor wood burning appliance.

1. Requirements on size and location of recreational fires, and general requirements.
2. Fires shall be in an approved outdoor appliance less than or equal to 3 feet in diameter and less than or equal to 3 feet in height.
3. The fire area shall be protected by a screen or wire mesh as to hold down any flying embers.
4. Fires shall contain only wood or charcoal; any other building materials are prohibited
5. The wind velocity may not exceed 10 mph.
6. Fires shall NOT be started or accelerated using flammable liquids, such as gasoline.
7. The fire must be a minimum of 10 feet from all structures, roadways and lot lines.
8. The outdoor appliance shall not be used on any deck or wooden surface.
9. If smoke travels in such a manner that it obscures roadways, if the fire department receives complaints from the area, or it is deemed to be a hazard, the Fire Official reserves the right to require that the fire be extinguished.

Are you on Facebook? Overlook Lakes Condo Association now has a private group just for condo residents! You can chat about happenings around the neighborhood, updated OLCA news, post local events and more.

Join the group today

Have you ever returned to your condo on trash day to find your recycling container or garbage container had rolled away or blew away, maybe the lid was missing, or it was located at your neighbor’s two doors down?

Well, we can’t prevent wind or inadvertent placement. However, there is something you can do so you can identify your container.

Take a permanent marker and write your address number and street (can be abbreviated WL or WB) on the lid and drum of your recycling and garbage containers.

This way you can identify these important items should they be blown or moved away from where you placed them. And, if they end up in a neighbor’s yard, your neighbor will be able to find the rightful owner.

If you have light fixtures that suddenly flicker sporadically or do not work as intended, here are some good troubleshooting procedures from easy to more involved:

1. Check for loose light bulbs that can be tightened.
2. Make sure you are not using non-dimmable lightbulbs with a dimmer switch.
3. Replace damaged light fixture that may have damaged light sockets from years of replacing light bulbs. Be sure to turn off circuit at circuit breaker before inspecting or working.
4. Replace damaged light switch. Also be sure to turn off circuit at circuit breaker before inspecting or working.
5. Call a certified home electrical technician for assistance. The Condo Maintenance & Improvement page has some owner recommended vendors.