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January 2023 Newsletter



Happy New Year, Richlanders!

It's a new year and we couldn't be more excited to see what 2023 has in store for Richland. We have a feeling it's going to be a wild ride, especially with all of our vampire and werewolf residents stirring up trouble (just kidding, we love you guys too).

But seriously, we hope that this year brings us all some much-needed excitement and a return to some sense of normalcy. Let's start the year off right by reminding ourselves of the importance of being good neighbors and upholding the standards of our community, even if it means ignoring the occasional howling at the moon or thirst for blood.

And if you happen to break a rule or two along the way, just remember that we have a whole committee of overzealous rule-enforcers ready to pounce at a moment's notice. So be on your best behavior, folks!

Cheers to a new year full of peaceful coexistence and harmony within Richland, even if it means putting up with a few quirks here and there.

New Years Eve - Fireworks Reminder

Gwinnett County Fireworks Ordinance - Essentially, fireworks are allowed most of the day on Dec 31 and between midnight and 1 a.m. on New Year's Day.  If people are violating the ordinance, please call the Gwinnett County Police Non-emergency line @ 770.513.5700.   The HOA does not have enforcement authority. 



Upcoming Town Hall Event - January 8, 2023

Now is your chance to meet the people that you voted for who represent your views in Gwinnett County (you did vote, didn't you!!).  As best as we've been able, we've

mined your social network posts, your text messages and your browser histories (whoo boy), and we have confirmed that Commissioner Kirkland Carden and Gwinnett PD East precinct Commander Major Cain will be in attendance.  We have also invited our Board of Education Representative Steven Knudsen to meet with the Residents of Richland.  If there are others you would like us to invite, please let us know. 

Will will be asking our esteemed guests to discuss crime, school (safety/curriculum)  tax funding, lake issues, speeding, high property tax and traffic on Lawrence Suwanee Road.

Town Hall Meeting will start at 3pm. 
  • 3:00 to 3:30pm  - Guests will be asked to respond to pressing issues.
  • 3:30 to 4:30pm Q and A with Richland Residents.  


Mardi Gras Ball @ Clubhouse Feb 11, 7pm

Dust off your finest evening attire, don your fanciest masquerade mask and FIND A BABYSITTER for the Krewe of Richland’s first ever Mardi Gras Ball (adults only).  There will be food (just a few Louisiana favorites: gumbo, jambalaya, red beans & rice), music provided by the Richland HOA sound specialists, and dancing the night away. Bring your own alcoholic beverages, if desired, as we do have a budget to stick to.
This is an adult only neighborhood event. We are limiting attendance to the first 75 residents who sign up.  Email graduates@richlander.com with the names of the adults attending from your household.  This event is open to Richland residents only. 



Your Newly Elected HOA Board

It's official: the newly elected board of the Richland Homeowners Association is ready to take the reigns!  We're not entirely sure how this motley crew ended up in charge, but rumor has it that there was some kind of election involved. How legit was it, though? We may never know.
  • Dr. Jay Bulot, President, brings his extensive knowledge of gerontology (along with a few choice dad jokes) to the table. 
  • Alan Meeks, as Vice President has promised to bring his impressive collection of novelty socks to every meeting. 
  • Don Tam, our new Treasurer, has assured us that he has a foolproof plan for managing the association's finances (which apparently involves a lot of piggy banks and a strong belief in the power of positive thinking). 
  • Jill Jones, our Secretary, will be keeping everything organized with her extensive planner collection.
  • Dr. Ricky Fiorillo, Member at Large,  will be bringing his extensive knowledge of biology and obscure board game rules.
While we still question the validity of the election, we can't wait to see what this....uh....interesting.......uh... group of individuals will accomplish in the coming year!
You can email all the board members by sending an email to: theboard@richlander.com


Thank You  Social Committe

The Richland HOA Board would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to each and every member of the Social Committee for all the hard work you put into planning and organizing the events for our community. Your dedication to bringing us together and fostering a sense of connection and camaraderie is truly appreciated.

From the summer barbecues to the holiday parties, your attention to detail and commitment to making every event a success is evident in the turnout and enjoyment of all who attend. We are lucky to have such a talented and dedicated group of individuals on our committee.  Thank you again for all that you do for our community.


Richland Volunteer of the Year

Congratulations, Carol Frye! You are the deserving recipient of the prestigious "Doug Wilson and Matt Swart Super Volunteer Award." Your tireless efforts as both a volunteer and chair of the Richland Social Committee have not gone unnoticed.

Your dedication to bringing our community together through events and fostering a sense of connection is truly admirable. We are grateful for all of your hard work and are thrilled to see you recognized for your efforts. Thank you for all that you do for our community.


Richland Nature Series

Get ready to get wild and crazy with the Richland Nature Series! Join us once a month at the club house as we invite expert speakers to share their knowledge about our furry, finned, feathered, slimy, and supernatural neighbors. Each month, we'll dive into a new topic, from mammals to fish, birds to amphibians and reptiles, bats, butt worms, and even supernatural creatures ! Yes, you read that right - butt worms - Clearly, we're not afraid to get down and dirty with the grossest, most intriguing, and paranormal creatures on the planet - or at least in Richland!  The Tentative Schedule (subject to change):
  • Note New Date: January 26th @7pm in the Richland Clubhouse  "Richland’s Mammals: Your Other Neighbors” by Dr. Chris Brown, Georgia Gwinnett College
  • February: Fish
  • March: Birds
  • April: Amphibians and Reptiles 
  • May: Bats
  • June: Buttworms!
Whether you're a nature enthusiast or just looking for a fun and educational evening out, Richland Nature Series has something for everyone. So mark your calendars and get ready to go wild with Richland Nature Series!"


It's time for another exciting update on all the community projects your HOA is tirelessly working on (because let's face it, nothing is more exciting than reading about the repainting a building).

Without further ado, let's dive into all the thrilling updates on the various projects we've got going on around the neighborhood. Just try not to fall asleep before we get to the part about the pressure washing. 

  • Replaster Main and Feature Pool: Researching options to replace mushroom feature; if replacement is found, plastering will occur in the new year, otherwise it will be postponed until next year after the summer season; seeking input from community through Mike Kahren (A two time recipient of the "Doug Wilson and Matt Swart Super Volunteer Award")
  • Landscape tree work in common area: Underbrush near lower tennis courts has been cleared; a few more trees to be removed; minor debris removal still needed
  • Continue Camera System Upgrades: Met with vendor in early December to replace outdated security cameras in common areas due to vandalism and theft. Some cameras will be kept, several will be upgraded to provide better placement and resolution. 
  • Richlake Silt Study: Study underway with Solitude, expect a preliminary report soon. 
  • Nature Trail: Both trails completed, but connection to Hunt River Way may not be possible due to marshy lake area; considering cost of wooden boardwalk.
  • Bridges: HOA board members and management company met with contractor 12/27;  construction will begin on replacing the old bridges and building a connecting bridge between the two trails.  Contractor will also be providing a quote to connect phase 2 trail with the parking lot behind the guardrail. 
  • Clubhouse Repairs: Repairs made to stairs and ramp, repainted to match existing color scheme.
  • Lower Tennis Court Pavilion Repairs: Platform removed and new steps installed; seeking quotes for pressure washing and restaining the rest of the pavilion
  • Monuments:  The landscape architect is  working on a preliminary concept for the Portsmouth entrance. 

Gwinnett County Outlet Control Stucture Update:

Thank you for reaching out regarding the right of access agreement for Taylor Lake (located downstream of upcoming maintenance work to be performed at the Y-16 Dam). We have reached out to Gwinnett County legal representatives to confirm there are no issues with the changes to the document and will follow up shortly once we have any feedback. The project will require approximately 3 months of construction within the anticipated timeframe of May 2023 through May 2024. We should know a more exact project schedule in Spring of next year and will let you know as soon as possible the projected timeframe of the Taylor Lake (Y-16 Dam) work. 

If you have any other questions related to the upcoming Taylor Lake (Y-16 Dam ) project, please reach out to Gwinnett County Communications Team at DWRConstruction@gwinnettcounty.com or our Construction Communication line at 678-376-7027.


The Richland Book Club meets the 4th Tuesday of every month at 7pm at the Clubhouse. Please contact Ingrid Shell directly at ingrid.r.shell@gmail.com for more details.




Bingo is generally held the 3rd Wednesday of every month at the Clubhouse. Please check the FB Page, or email Social@richlander.com for more information.


HOA REMINDERS

Association’s Management Company:

Shaben and Associates, Inc.
P.O. Box 3189 Suwanee, GA 30024
Community Association Manager: Justin Jeffcoat
phone: 770-271-2252 | email: justin@shabenandassociates.com

Stay up to date on Richland News:

Register at www.richlander.com.  You will find that it has a Richland calendar with upcoming events, message board, document center, and much more!  It will also allow you to receive email notifications regarding upcoming social events and community newsletters.  With a searchable membership function, the Richlander website also serves as the Richland Community’s contact book.  Please keep your information up to date. 

  • Clubhouse availability and reservations are all done through the community website at www.richlander.com
  • Exterior Modifications: Approval is required from the committee prior to starting exterior projects on your property. Please plan projects in advance. The committee strives to process requests within about 10 days however some complex projects may require more time. The modification request form should be completed online through your community website: www.richlander.com 
  • Mailboxes: Should be refreshed/maintained periodically and street numbers should be legible and in good condition. If you need assistance with mailbox repairs or obtaining the correct mailbox parts, please contact Sign Kwik at 770-623-1669 | signkwik@bellsouth.net or your community manager.
  • Speeding / Parking: For the safety of our residents, we ask that you please obey the posted speed limit and park your cars in the garage and driveway so there is easy ingress and egress from the community. Please do not block driveways or access to fire hydrants. In addition, it is also helpful if cars parked in the driveway leave the sidewalk area clear for pedestrians. 
  • Pets: Pet owners please keep your pets on a leash and carry waste bags to pick up after your pets.
  • Trash Cans / Recycling Bins: Please remove your trash can from the street promptly after pick up and store it out of sight from the street and neighboring lots.

Contact Numbers

Animal Control                                                                         770.339.3200
Quality of Life (Code Enforcement)                                      770.513.5004
Dept of Transportation (sidewalk/street repairs)             770.822.7400
Environmental Health                                                             770.963.5132
Police - Non-emergency                                                           770.513.5000
Planning and Development                                                    678.518.6000
Water Resources Customer Service                                      678.376.7000
Jackson EMC (Street Light Outage)                                        770.963.6166
Advanced Disposal (Trash Provider)                                     770.381.6420
Sign Kwik                                                                                     770.623.1669


Stay up to date with all the happenings in the Richland Community. Download the NABR  Network App for your phone, or check it out on the website. Once you set up your account, you set your preferences to receive communications through text message alerts or opt to receive the same information via email or you can just regularly check the community feed for updates. Additionally, you are able to pay dues, reserve the clubhouse and submit ACC requests all virtually.



 


The Richland HOA also has a private Facebook Group. If you haven't yet joined, you can do so by following the this link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/richlandhoa.

NOTE: Please answer the questions fully if you are just joining!



This Newsletter is intended for residents of the Richland HOA.
STAY UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE NEWEST INFORMATION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AT www.richlander.com
Register for access to the NABR site or to your member profile here.



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