Updates From the Buildings & Grounds Committee 2021
8-23-21 Update
On Wednesday, August 25th and/or Thursday, August 26th Villani will be back on site to do some hand weeding and apply roundup to small weeds in some of the beds as well as the cobblestone areas.
Also, we have requested that Villani inform us when they will be doing any type of lawn fertilizer or weed application so that we may inform our owners ahead of time. In some cases, that may only be a 24 hour notice because the weather can dictate when the applications need to occur. It is our understanding that there are two applications left for this season. The next application is scheduled for sometime between Mid-August through September. Again, when we are informed of the exact dates, we will communicate that to our owners.
Could it be?? Could we actually have a spring this year? These warmer March temperatures has your Buildings & Grounds Committee thinking Spring and Summer! We are anxious to see the four new feature beds installed around the complex last Fall in full bloom. In the meantime, we would like to update our owners on a couple of items regarding Spring/Summer 2021 from the Buildings & Grounds perspective.
Buildings & Grounds Budgeting for 2021
As many probably know, the budget for the year is set the prior Fall. Historically, the budgeted number for plant removals/replacements was somewhat randomly set, and then we crossed our fingers that we had enough to cover the work needed the following spring/summer. This, unfortunately, placed constraints from both a budgetary and scheduling perspective – better planning was definitely needed. So, we reviewed our processes, and decided to go into 2021 with a different plan.
With the help of Villani, our landscape contractor, we took the time last fall to identify those areas where dead plant material should be removed and/or new plantings installed. We then budgeted accordingly for these areas so we could schedule them to be completed in Spring of 2021. Specifically,
- Plant removals/replacements in areas around buildings 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 33, 36, 39, 40, 46, 47 and 48 will be scheduled (Villani has carefully chosen beautiful plant materials for these areas);
- Seeding will be done at areas around buildings 24, 25, 32, 35, 40 and 44 where trees were removed; and,
- A much needed drainage/grading project at building 36.
Rounding out the 2021 Landscaping budget is treatment for various trees around the complex…yes, this does include the Crabapple trees, as well as additional monies for miscellaneous landscape work and dead tree removals (sadly, this Ash Borer disease will eventually take all of our Ash trees). There were a couple of “iffy” areas identified last Fall that we will keep an eye on as the year progresses. Then, in the Fall of 2021, we will repeat the process.
Owner Requests
Occasionally, an owner thinks about removing or replacing plantings that are neither dead nor dying, but simply because they want something different at a particular spot. Our founding documents discourage this, and prohibit owners to make such changes on their own, even at their own expense. For the sake of consistency in appearance and consideration for the landscapers we have contracted to maintain our property, owners are to let the Building & Grounds Committee and Board oversee landscaping decisions. If any owner still wishes, at their expense, to make changes to otherwise healthy plantings, they need to contact the B&G first and proceed from there.
Please note that all work will be performed by the landscape management company contracted by OLCA. No other contractors will be allowed to perform work on OLCA property without the approval of the Board of Directors.
Help Us Out!
While we do walk around the complex quite frequently, it is a 35+ acre complex and we simply can’t catch everything. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any landscape questions or issues.
It is our hope that everyone is staying safe and healthy, and with any luck, our lives can return to a pre-pandemic “normal” in 2021!
