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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.

Landscaping Season Is Approaching—What Can You Do?

Overlook Lakes is blessed with above-average acreage that calls for above-average landscaping. It’s no secret that we’ve had landscaping challenges recently. Our primary contractor (Villani Landshapers) has had personnel problems and our Building & Grounds Committee is understaffed. What can YOU do? (1) We need people who can focus on our buildings, to periodically look them over and report needs in their exteriors. (2) We need people who can pay attention to our grounds, to focus on shrubs, trees, grass, and keep the board and property manager informed. Our Board of Directors doesn’t have the time to do this well. If you would welcome more information on what is normally involved here, please let the board know.

Annual Meeting Is Set for May 6th

Please mark your May calendar and reserve the evening of Tuesday, May 6th, to participate in the OLCA’s Annual Meeting. 6:30 p.m. is the starting time. We meet in the multi-purpose room at  Greendale High School. The election of three members of the Board of Directors is on the agenda, as are reports and discussion of matters that affect all owners.

Want to nominate board members? Nomination forms may be found and downloaded from our website or may be picked up at the Office. Nomination forms need to be filled out and submitted prior to the meeting.

The Next “New Owners Q&A” Session is Scheduled for April 9th

Wednesday, April 9, at 6:30 p.m., is the time the next Q & A session for new owners (or any owner seeking to review information on getting things done at OLCA) is scheduled. Because of limited seating, please RSVP with Tonia at the Property Manager Office (414-427-5715).

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.

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The Greendale DPW just installed four new baby trees on Westlake Drive. While the village’s contractor is supposed to do some watering, the village would appreciate it if we would also help water.

New trees need consistent moisture to thrive. The ground should be damp, but not muddy. We accomplish this by dumping a bucket of water around the trunk every couple days. If it rains, we are off the hook.

This volunteer job is not being coordinated but rather just announced. Thus, if you feel inclined to help, walk over and dump a bucket of water.

Watering should occur this entire growing season. So, feel free to dump a bucket of water anytime in the next several months.

P.S. We are expecting to plant our own trees and bushes this year as well. Stay tuned for more watering helping announcements!

Locations on Westlake approximately in front of:

9050 apartment side
8926 apartment side
8705 condo side bldg 41
8647 condo side bldg 40

Procedure For New Windows

As spring and summer approach (yea!) the most common season for replacing windows in our condos is also coming. Especially for new owners among us, but also for all owners, this is a reminder about procedures needed to get approval of newly selected windows. The OLCA Declaration, Article 8, prohibits alterations to the external appearance of our buildings. Replacing windows with Low-E [low emissivity; energy-efficient] windows is potentially prohibited because of colorization or “tinting” issues that invariably occur. Unfortunately, the more energy-efficient new windows are, the more “colorization” results, changing external appearances. The good news is that energy-efficient windows can still be used, though with limitations. An approval form you can download from the OLCA Website (or get from the Office) informs the Board and Property Management and obtains approval for specific window models. This form allows Owners to request permission to replace windows with windows that are acceptable. Share the following with your potential vendor: (1) Our VT [visible transmittance] rating limit is in the 0.5 range, (2) we allow only 2 panes of glass, (3) we allow a maximum of 8 layers of reflective metallic shield coatings on the glass, (4) the exterior color and grid styles must remain the same as the original, and (5) [if the vendor and specific window model have not been previously approved], we ask to speak with a vendor agent, view a specification sheet and sample (if possible) of the proposed window before giving approval. Thank you for following this procedure.

Reviving The Buildings And Grounds Committee

It is no secret that Overlook Lakes is blessed with above-average acreage that requires landscaping—and above average landscaping over the years. We want to keep it that way, so we’re hoping to revive a functioning “Building and Grounds Committee” to serve all of us. We’ve enjoyed having this Committee serve us so well for many years. But for a variety of unusual reasons, the Committee lost key members and has become inactive since last year. Our hope is that interested people among us will come forward and investigate ways they can serve to maintain our property by identifying needs and recommending solutions that are always on our agenda. The Board of Directors simply doesn’t have the time to do this well. So if you are interested, or would welcome more information on what is normally involved here, please let the board know.

Mark Your Calendars For the 2024 OLCA Annual Meeting

Now is a good time to mark your May calendars and reserve the evening of Tuesday, May 7, to participate in the OLCA’s Annual Meeting. 6:30 p.m. is the starting time. We’ve already begun efforts to reserve a venue at Greendale High School and, if any changes to the time and place are necessitated, we’ll let you know. Election of members of the Board of Directors is on the agenda along with a variety of reports. We’re looking for men and women among us who are willing to stand for election as Board members, and we ask YOU to consider this. Nomination forms are available on our website as well as at the Office.

Thank you!
OLCA Board of Directors

The company that is cleaning gutters and downspouts plans to begin their work on Monday, November 13. If you see trucks near your building and workers making their way to your roof, do not be alarmed. The workers do not need to enter any of our units to do their work. And while they plan to start Monday morning, it might take them more than one day to finish—so be patient if necessary.

We now have a contract with the company that cleaned all of our dryer vents and installed new roof vents a few years ago. The plan is to have them clean dryer vents in half of our buildings in 2024 and do the second half of our buildings in 2025. Meanwhile, we all have the responsibility to remain vigilant to the potential build-up of lint and other obstructions in our dryer vents. This is a major cause of fires in utility rooms and homes nationwide. If your dryer appears to be over-heating while drying clothes, or if you see any evidence of lint building up in your appliance or vent, please take this seriously and take steps to have them cleaned.

It is our hope to have the 2024 OLCA budget information in your hands by the middle of December. With the budget (which is now being worked on by our board and property manager) will come information on revisions in our monthly HOA fees, if there will be revisions. This will give all owners sufficient time to plan for possible changes in monthly payment amounts. For example, it gives us time to adjust our ACH [Automatic Clearing House] accounts by the first of January, when any changes would go into effect. If anyone has yet to set up an ACH account [the primary system that agencies use for electronic funds transfer (EFT)] for paying their monthly HOA fees, we encourage them seriously to consider doing so.

Some of you may already know that Cecily, SCI on-site property manager in the office, has moved on to another type of work. We thank her for serving us and look forward to meeting and being served by her successor. SCI is currently interviewing candidates. Meanwhile, Cheryl Gasperetti, who served OLCA for many years until her retirement, is now serving in the office on a part-time basis. And while it’s not 100% certain, our new property manager may have already been found! Tonia Luna has been offered the position if she wants it, is being introduced to the position by Cheryl, and may well be the one to serve all of us plus those in the rental apartments! If so, welcome, Tonia!!

A new update from the OLCA Board of Directors.

Topics include:

• Introducing New Board Members
• Thanking Former Board Members
• Lawn and Landscaping projects
• Complaint Resolved
• Driveway Replacements

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Board Resignations

Tom Meyer and Russ Augustin have resigned from the Board of Directors and from the Buildings and Grounds Committee. Further, in light of their resignations, the Buildings and Grounds committee has been suspended until further notice.

Any request for services must be submitted on the appropriate work order form (download here). It must be submitted to Cecily in the Management Office () with a copy to the Board as instructed on the form.

Will mulch be spread this year?

Yes! Mulch will be spread in the next few weeks.

The lawn looks pretty dry. When will irrigation begin?

In an effort to keep to our budget for water this year, the irrigation will not begin running until the end of June. Normally, the months of May and June are the wettest months and there is no need for irrigation; however, if the current dry period continues, the Board, in conjunction with our landscape contractor (Villani), the Board will reconsider that decision. Please be aware that when the grass turns brown, it isn’t “dead’ but is simply dormant during dry periods.

Please do not set out your own lawn sprinklers and do not attempt to turn on the irrigation in advance of our irrigation contractor’s doing so (DJ’s Sprinkler Service). This can cause damage to the controllers and to our landscaping. Both of which are very expensive to repair/replace.

New Owners

We welcome our new owners of the past year or so. If you haven’t already received it, there is a “New Owners” packet of general information available in the office. Stop in to the office to request a copy if you have not already received it.

Some Summer Reminders

1. Storage on patios and balconies – Patios and balconies shall not be used for storage including the storage of motorcycles, bicycles, tires, baby carriages, or wagons. Further, patios and balconies shall not be used for handling, shaking or drying of laundry, carpet, rugs or clothing or for grilling.
2. The use of grills on the balconies of any apartment building or condo is prohibited. At ground level grills shall not be used within 10 feet of any structure and at least 36” away from any combustibles when operated. Liquid propane grills are not allowed above the ground floor and LP cylinders are never to be stored or transported through the building. They cannot be lifted to the balcony on the exterior of the building.
3. The pool is now open daily from 9AM-10PM. Guest children’s hours are from 9AM-3PM daily EXCEPT that on Mondays and Thursdays the hours are extended for guest children until 4PM. If you are a new owner, you will need to obtain an entry “fob” from the management office to gain access to the pool area.

Please be courteous to your neighbors and fellow pool enthusiasts and familiarize yourself, your children and your guests with the pool rules. View the pool rules.

OLCA Board of Directors

Topics Include:

• Lawn Repair
• Exterior Water Faucets
• Irrigation System
• Water Leak Prevention
• Furnaces, Air Conditioners & Hot Water Heaters
• Regular Inspection & Maintenance

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Dear OLCA Neighbors,

More Coyote Sightings

The Board has recently been informed of more coyote sightings.

We suspect that the coyote sightings that began last year coincide with the placing of our trash and recycle bins outside of our garages the evening before scheduled pickups.

The Board has also become aware of instances in which food waste was not properly wrapped prior to being placed in trash bins.

The combination of these circumstances allows food odors to widely spread throughout our community, thereby attracting unwelcomed animals around and within our homes.

As a remedy, the Board is asking everyone to follow these steps:

• Trash Bins
  1. Remove the remaining food from boxes, wrappers and packets and double wrap it in plastic prior to placing it into the bin.
  2. Thoroughly rinse the boxes, wrappers and packets prior to placing them into the bin.
• Recycle Bins
  1. Thoroughly rinse recyclable metal, glass and plastic food containers and re-fasten the lids prior to placing them into the bin.
• Trash and Recycle Bin Lids
  1. Be sure the lids are securely placed on your bins while they’re inside and outside of your garage.
• After Scheduled Pickups
  1. When John’s Disposal Service has collected the trash and recyclables from your bins, bring them into your garage as soon as possible.

John’s Disposal starts the pick-ups in our community very early in the morning, which is why they suggested that we put out our bins the night before; however, if you can delay putting them out until 6AM the day of pickup, please do so as that action, too, may discourage the unwelcome attention of the wildlife in our community.

Walking After Dark? Keep Yourself Safe

If you’re walking Westlake or Woodbridge Drives after dark, even if it’s only to check your mail, give yourself the ability to alert motorists of your presence by considering 1) wearing a reflective vest, 2) wearing reflective arm bands and/or 3) carrying a flashlight. A combination of these measures is the best way to keep yourself safe.

Local stores, such as Walmart, Menards, Lowe’s, Ace Hardware and bicycle shops offer a variety of reflective clothing and flashing lights.

We’re also asking everyone obey the 25MPH speed limit on Westlake and 20MPH Woodbridge Drives and to observe ALL stop signs in our community.

Ice on Driveways/Sidewalks/Rain Gutters

Although we’ve had a mild winter so far this year, snow melt from roof and gutters can create icy conditions on driveways and sidewalks. This is not unusual in our climate-changing environment – we get a day or two of above-freezing temperatures and snow and/or ice melts. Then, the temperatures drop below freezing and driveways and sidewalks can become icy again.

This does not happen on all driveways and sidewalks. It seems to depend on whether or not the building faces the sun (when it DOES come out), and the slope of the driveway/sidewalk.

The best recommendation we can make is to buy a bag of salt to keep near your front door or garage door and sprinkle it liberally if/when that happens at your condominium; however, it is important to use the right kind of salt on the sidewalks.

Villani uses a standard salt mix on our driveways so owners wanting to salt a part of their driveway – especially if their garage door faces north – can use a standard salt mix there.

However, on the sidewalks, Villani uses a non-caustic ice melt like Calcium Chloride or or an ice melt similar to ACE Hardware’s “Safe Step 6300.” Unfortunately, this type of ice melt costs almost twice as much as regular salt but is the appropriate salt to use on our sidewalks, as a number of them were replaced last year at a significant cost so we should do what we can to maximize their serviceable life and use the least caustic ice melt available on the sidewalks.

Another option could be to adjust our snow/ice removal contract with Villani when it comes time to renew it. Right now we have a “1-inch trigger” for them to address snow and ice. It could be lowered to a “half-inch trigger.” However, we would have to pay significantly more for this level of service.

Thank you for your cooperation.
OLCA Board of Directors