Richland Independence Day!
Hello, Richland ! As we bask in the warmth of summer, let’s not forget the significance of July 4th. Independence Day is just around the corner, and we have a spectacular celebration planned. Join us at the pool for grilled hot dogs by day and fireworks by night. We'll have music, hotdogs and chips. As we did last year, this is a BYOB (Bring Your Own Beverage) event. We'll also have Shaved and Italian Ice trucks in parking lot. Don't forget to bring down your lawn chairs or picnic blankets and set up along Taylor Road or in front of the clubhouse for our 3rd Annual Fireworks Show Over the Lake. Wearing Red White and Blue is encouraged, but not Required! Fireworks will start shortly after dark.
Button Gwinnett: A Local Hero
Did you know that Gwinnett County is named after Button Gwinnett, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence? This July, as we celebrate Independence Day, let’s also remember the contributions of this local hero. If you’re heading to the Mall of Georgia for some shopping, don’t forget to check out the statue of Button Gwinnett on top of the mall. It’s a great spot for a selfie! Just be careful not to climb up top or else you may be taking a selfie with the Button himself - on the other side!
Richland HOA Announcements
- Community Reminders 2023: In case you were not aware, the dumpster in the clubhouse parking lot is not for resident use and there is a a $500 fine if you are caught using the dumpster. It is for "amenities" - club house rentals, disposing of garbage from the pool or tennis courts. Each time someone disposes of their household trash, or worse - just puts it on the ground, we either pay extra to have it removed, or a neighbor has to pick it up.
- Stormwater Management Update (Lake Sedimentation): We are still actively communicating with Gwinnett County regarding the stormwater management issue affecting our lakes. We will keep you updated on the progress, but it does not look promising. See the full response at the bottom of the newsletter.
Upcoming Events 🎉
4th of July Celebration 🇺🇸
- When: Tuesday, July 4th
- What:
Celebrate Independence Day with us! Music and Hotdogs will start around 12:30pm. Fireworks will be over the lake in front of the clubhouse shortly after dark.
Bingo Night 🎲
- When: July 19th
- What: Test your luck and have a blast at our Bingo Night!
Karaoke with Ice Cream Social 🎤🍦
- When: July 15th
- What: Sing your heart out and enjoy delicious ice cream at our Karaoke and Ice Cream Social!
Special Thanks 🌟
- Kudos to Cornell for hosting Bingo.
- Thank You to the Richland Social Committee for hosting the Pool Opening Party.
- A huge thanks to Jay Bulot and Ricky Fiorillo for grilling hot dogs and hamburgers at the pool party!
Email the Social Committee if you are interested in suggesting, or helping to coordinate other events!
The Richland Social Committee (RSC)
Pickleball: The People Have Spoken! 🏓
Ladies and gentlemen, pickleball enthusiasts, and those who thought pickleball was a sport for pickles, brace yourselves... the results are in! As you may recall, a while back we purchased 4 portable pickleball nets, half-expecting them to gather dust like an old encyclopedia or that strategic plan you worked on 3 jobs ago! But lo and behold, pickleball mania appears to have swept through Richland!
We floated the idea of converting tennis courts 7 and 8 into the sacred grounds of pickleball. And you, the good people of Richland, responded like you were trying to win Taylor Swift concert tickets! A staggering 99% of those who responded gave a thunderous “YAY!” to pickleball.
So, what’s next? We have already begun to formally request quotes, and we are evaluating our capital reserve projects to see when the timing works best. But suffice to say, we'll be waving a teary goodbye to two tennis courts and rolling out the red carpet for six new pickleball courts.
So, all you pickleball-obsessed Richland Homeowners can grab your paddles, don your sweatbands, and get ready to rumble into the world of pickleball. 🎉🥒
🌊 Making Waves: A Splashing Success! 🌊
As our swim team season comes to a close (we have 2 weeks of practice left), we send out a colossal THANK YOU to the entire Richland community for making waves with your unwavering support for our neighborhood swim team! 🏊♀️🏊♂️
We had over 100 kids swimming with us this summer. 🐠
So, let’s shout out our loudest cheers, wave our banners, and celebrate the incredible achievements of our swimmers. Richland Waves, you’ve done us proud! 🌟
GO WAVES! 🌊🏅
Mailbox Makeover: Your Choice, Your Style
Hello, Richland neighbors! After a lively debate that almost turned into a scene from a Wild West movie, we've decided to simplify the mailbox replacement process.
We understand that some of our current mailboxes range from the very cheap to the very expensive. So, we're giving you the power of choice. If your mailbox needs replacing, you can either stick with the current style or opt for a new, less expensive default style.
The new mailboxes are made from rust-free aluminum, offering durability without breaking the bank. If you're interested in exploring this option, please contact Justin at justin@shabenandassociates.com for pricing details.
We'll be posting updated flyers with more information in next month's newsletter. So, whether you're sticking with the old or embracing the new, we've got you covered. Here's to a mailbox that suits your style and your budget!
🏓 Pickleball Social: A Smashing Hit! 🏓
What happens when you mix 35 to 40 spirited folks, pickleball paddles, and some scrumptious food? You get the Richland Pickleball Social Extravaganza! Our inaugural Pickleball Social on June 2nd was the talk of the town, with neighbors rallying, serving, and dishing up not just pickleballs but also some delectable eats. 🍔🌮
But wait, don’t hang up your paddles just yet! We’re serving up another Pickleball Social this fall, and you won’t want to miss it. Want to stay in the loop? Join our Pickleball GroupMe Invitee text list by sending your text information to 404-713-9528. We’ll keep you posted on all the latest pickleball gossip. So, lace up your sneakers and grab your paddles - we’ll see you on the courts! 🎉🏓
How to Reserve a Pickleball Court?
To make a reservation, visit either the Richland HOA website or richlandhoa.nabrnetwork.com. Click on 'Reservation' on the left-hand side, then scroll down to 'Tennis Courts'. Follow the instructions to set up an account and reserve a court. When reserving, select 'Pickleball'. Please note that only one court can be reserved at a time, for up to two hours.
Richland Book Club
📚 Attention, literary enthusiasts of Richland! 📚
Our beloved Richland Book Club gathers on the 4th Tuesday of every month at the clubhouse at 7 pm. Whether you're a seasoned bookworm or just looking for some intellectual conversation, we'd be thrilled to have you join us.
For more details and to RSVP, please email Ingrid Shell at ingrid.r.shell@gmail.com. Grab your favorite reading glasses, and let's dive into the world of literature together! 🤓📖
Richland HOA Management Updates
🛠️ Behold, Richlanders! Prepare for a riveting journey through the latest community projects your dedicated HOA is fervently tackling (Current as of May 18). Yes, we know how exhilarating updates on lighting can be. 😉 So, buckle up and embrace the whirlwind of thrilling news about the various endeavors we're undertaking throughout the neighborhood. We challenge you to stay awake long enough to learn about the pressure washing saga. Let the adventure begin! 🎉🔦
- Officer Positions
- Jay Bulot – President
- Alan Meeks – VP
- Don Tam– Treasurer
- Jill Jones – Secretary
- Ricky Fiorillo – Member at Large
📰 HOA Governance Update: Let's Make Voting Easier!
To this end, we're considering a change to our covenants to allow for electronic voting. This would make it easier for everyone to cast their vote, ensuring that our board truly represents the will of our community. In the coming months, we'll be sending out ballots for this proposed change. Additionally, we'll be going door-to-door to gather signatures in support of this initiative.
We believe that every voice in our community matters and should be heard. By making voting more accessible, we hope to encourage greater participation and ensure that our HOA continues to serve the best interests of all Richland residents.
Stay tuned for more updates on this initiative. Together, let's make Richland an even better place to live!
🏠 Clubhouse
- HOA is considering replacing the current folding chairs and with one single type, this should make it easier to store and use the chairs for special events.
- Exploring the possibility of using phone/app to access amenities. New Clubhouse reader ordered – pending installation.
- Currently in discussions regarding updating clubhouse appliances: fridge, dishwasher, ice maker, theater seating?
🌊 Lake Sedimentation
- Bathymetric studies have been completed for both Taylor Lake and Richlake. We are currently in the process of obtaining quotes for dredging the lakes.
- If you would like to view the presentation we made to Gwinnett County Officials, you can access the PowerPoint presentation here. After the last board meeting, we reached out to our Commissioners; the response is below:
- "James – Your inquiry to the commissioners was forward to my office. Unfortunately I don’t have any more information than when we last spoke in February. As we shared at that time, our Stormwater Utility ordinance specifies where we can spend utility dollars, and those expenditures are largely limited to stormwater assets located within the right-of-way or in easements where the county has accepted maintenance responsibility. (ref: Sec. 38-244. - Scope of responsibility for the stormwater utility.). This restricts our ability to spend utility funds on private property. We have also not been able to identify any other external sources of funding for dredging outside of the County via grants or other means.
As a reference point, there are nearly 200 lakes across the County, most of which are privately owned, and nearly all are situated in a watershed where they receive flows from upstream areas that are not within their community, but as of now we do not have the ability or funding to assist in these situations.
In response to your inquiry for modeling, while we do have hydraulic models for flood planning purposes, they do not include calculations on sedimentation rates, so we do not have that data to provide either.
Let me know if you have any questions or want to discuss further.
Thanks –
Kat"
Essentially they are telling us that the county will not be using your stormwater utility fee to remediate the damage done by the county, or the increased sediment conveyed into the Richland Lakes because of the County Storm Water Management Plan. As a result, since most of the lakes are private property, the cost to remediate them will largely fall on the lakefront property homeowners, and the HOA, for the portions of the lake that are owned by each party.
Other Important Information:
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