I. Executive Summary
Overview of the commons area management for the current period. Summary of key maintenance activities and newly completed projects.
II. Grounds Maintenance & Landscaping
Mowing Operations:
Adherence to the 14-day cycle (April 1- November 15 or even later like last year). Shawn has been pretty consistent with the schedule.
Trimming around trees, ponds, and rock areas. Maintenance of wetland areas in the South Commons and near Antelope Creek. These are runoff areas, near culverts and making sure drains are cleared of debris.
Turf Care & Weed Control
Spring and fall granular fertilizer applications (low phosphorus).
Early summer and fall herbicide applications. Treatment for dandelions is typically once in the fall (the best time), and again in the spring. We will never completely avoid dandelions since it's a commons area, but we have made great efforts to limit them.
Vegetation prevention in rock areas (Round-Up applications). We call on our mower Shawn, or Adam Klingenberg who is our resident arborist, to typically trim and treat weeds in the rock areas and around the pond. As well as along the perimeter of the commons as needed.
Sidewalk Maintenance:
Monthly edging of commons sidewalk areas only.
III. Signage and Safety Improvements
New Property Signage: Installation of two new "Private Property" signs last summer. Specifications: 24x18 aluminum composite, 1-sided.
Messaging: No Trespassing, No Bicycles, No Motorized Vehicles/Bikes.
Safety Notices: Installation of specialized signage for willow trees: "Do not climb the trees, they are unsafe", as well as "Keep Out" signs for the runoff areas from ponds. Nobody should ever go into the runoff areas due to the treatments that come from the ponds (and wherever else the water comes from in the first place as part of the flood plain).
IV. Ponds and Infrastructure
Fountain Management
South Pond: Fall removal, cleaning, storage, and spring installation by Eric's Electric.
North Pond: Year-round placement with seasonal power adjustments.
We had to put in a new north fountain last week, as the old one died and had outlived it's expected time of 5-7 years.
The south pond fountain may be close as well, as it's the same time frame and not running quite as well as it did.
Water Quality
Status of signed pond treatment contracts are all by Nebraska Lake Management services. They do a great job of knowing what to do and when to do it for us.
They treat for algae in early May, and then again as needed. The recent heat has caused the need again soon, hopefully next week. They also help with weed control on occasion around the ponds.
V. Snow Removal Services
Operational Standards
Requirement for snow removal within 24 hours of snowfall end.
Trigger point: 3 inches or more. We only have a small amount of sidewalk that needs to be cleared.
VI. Contractual & Financial Review
Current Mowing Contract Status:
We are in year 2 of our three-year mowing contract.
VII. Action Items & Next Steps
Coordinate any additional contracted work (e.g., limb/tree removal). Adam Klingenberg is going to be working on as many as 90 of our commons trees starting as soon as next week, to raise canopies.
Ash tree treatment was completed by Adam a couple of months ago. This is every two years (?).
Grass seed was planted in many areas, it was donated at zero cost to us! They will plan to come back in the fall and plant more seed in the areas where it did not take.
We will not lay down sod, as it is too high-maintenance, and we can seed and fill in spots over time. In general, we will not cut down healthy trees that are in the commons. This is not good practice, and not at all recommended by the board, the commons committee, or our arborist.
Those trees that are affected by storms, we manage on a case-by-case basis. We had quite a bit of debris from our June storm, but that should be all removed now.
As trees die, we consult with Adam K to determine our next steps. We have tried to stay ahead of aging trees by planting new ones to replace them. Our work the past couple of years has really paid off, as we have a new generation of young, healthy trees. We will continue to look into that.
In all cases, as other needs arise, please always contact John or Joe to seek approval of anything that is commons-related.