NAPLES  TRACE  NEWS
www.naplestracecondos.org

				                     Winter,  2018/19

TO THE OWNERS AND RESIDENTS OF NAPLES TRACE

	It is with mixed emotions that I inform you of my resignation from the Board of Directors for Naples Trace. My wife Judy and I have purchased a permanent home in Naples and have sold our condominium here effective November 8, 2018. Without being a resident or owner within Naples Trace, I am no longer qualified to serve on its Board of Directors. Audrey Amodie has graciously accepted to step onto the Board in the position I am vacating for the remainder of my elected term.
	I leave you all in the very capable hands of our present Board: President, Sharon Vath; Vice-President, Audrey Amodie; Secretary, Shirley Blair; Treasurer, Tom Vandusen; Director, Lupe Luera; and CAM, Hank Scholz with Guardian Management.
	Thank you all for your friendship, your support, and for the faith you have shown in me over these past ten years. I have no doubt that Naples Trace will continue to improve and thrive.
						Most Sincerely,  Everett Getchell

		From your Board of Directors:
				Wishing you all the happiest of holidays and a New Year filled with love, great health, precious moments, and prosperity.

	 All owners should be in receipt of a coupon book from Guardian Management Company from which all quarterly payments are made. If you did not receive your booklet of payment coupons, please contact Guardian (239-514-74320) immediately and explain what you are missing so they can make sure your coupon book arrives for 2019. Our next quarterly payment is due January 1, 2019. 

	Now, what we have accomplished since Irma left us ~ and it has taken all of this time and some for us to address all that needed to be done. Before explaining what we have accomplished, we would like to thank all owners and residents for their patience. We were able to identify all our needs from Irma quite quickly, but we were at the mercy of our service vendors, who were at the mercy of their suppliers, who were unprepared for the demands that followed on Irma’s footsteps!! In other words, we were on a ‘list’ and had to wait our turn for every service provider we contacted to get to us. We were at their mercy.
	We have replaced our entrance sign that was destroyed when Irma visited; we were able to duplicate the one that was there although our new one is constructed with up-to-date materials and should last us for many years. All roof damage has been corrected and completed; all soffet damage has been replaced or repaired; and all gutters have been repaired or replaced and cleaned. We had lost all our natural fencing between Naples Trace and the GreenTree Medical Plaza. After cleaning up all of that debris, we have planted a wall of Areca Palms which should grow quite quickly and give us privacy from that plaza. We also redesigned the main garden as you enter the complex. The shrubbery that was their was overgrown or diseased and needed to be replaced. Because of our lack of irrigation, the landscape company suggested a succulent garden which has been put in place. This is in its early stages at present, but as growth continues it will become more colorful and should last us a good long time. It looks wonderful! We also were forced to repair and replace the pool box that protects the pool pumps and filtration system. That has been done and the box should be painted within the next few weeks. All the trees at Naples Trace are being pruned and many large branches that have been over-hanging our drive and roadways have been trimmed back. There is still considerable landscaping work to be done, but we are trying to do a little at a time as the budget allows. The Board has also hired a new landscape company. Previous to this hire, we were using several different companies ~ one for weekly mowing and maintenance, another for fertilization, another for trimming, another for pest control. Our new company does all of this  ~ we are hoping that everything being taken care of by one company will afford us a better chance at maintaining the appearance of our grounds and will allow us to address building by building landscape improvements with consistency and positive results.  

	It is our hope for the future to redesign the landscaping in the front of all our buildings. The plan is to do one to two buildings per year as the budget allows. This will demand your patience, without applying a very considerable assessment, we can not do all eleven buildings at once ~ and we do not want to place an assessment on you if we can help it.

	Homeowners insurance is  requiring proof of wind mitigation when policies are due for renewal or when new policies are put in place. Our insurance company, at our request, is doing an up-dated inspection of our buildings this summer and will have current pictures and information ready for you. When in need of wind mitigation pictures or documented proof, please contact  IRMS at 239-649-1444 and request confirmation/pictures of wind mitigation for Naples Trace Condominiums. This contact information is also located on our website  ( www.naplestracecondos.org ) under HELPFUL INFORMATION.

	Just a reminder that when renting out or selling your unit ~ be it seasonal OR long-term ~ all rental procedures MUST BE FOLLOWED.  Occupation of units is NOT allowed until a background check and orientation meeting has been completed. Compliance to this policy is NOT an option, we enforce it strictly to keep our community a safe, happy place to reside. Procedure for renting or selling is outlined in detail on our website, complete with any and all forms required. Please be mindful, that when renting your unit, occupancy CANNOT occur until after a background check and an orientation meeting has been completed. This process requires a two week window after application for rental has been received. We try to process these as quickly and painlessly as possible, but a two week window should be expected.

	The Board of Directors has currently put any planned improvements to the complex on hold until we can re-coup from Irma. When it is financially feasible, the Board would like to begin addressing the following issues:
> removal of dead shrubbery along our entrance drive with fencing being considered as a replacement. Deep shade in that area makes shrub growth unsuccessful, and our residents in Building 2 definitely deserve a buffer from our main entrance.
> replacement of the mailbox units that  have not been replaced within the last two years;  as well as replacing our parcel post boxes with new, working ones!
>And, unfortunately, due to the lack of compliance to our constant requests to watch your speed within our complex, the Board of Directors is looking to re-install several speed bumps within the complex in respect of safety for all our residents. 

	We are hoping our website will continue as it seems to be well received by all and a great way to communicate information. If there is anyone who wishes to take over the reins, please contact a member of the Board of Directors. Everett’s wife had been taking care of it for us, but with Everett goes Judy!!