News

Audio may be found at: www.scshca.com/podcast247

Below is a synopsis of this episode.

Frontier:

1. Phase 2 was released last Friday to call in for appointments. This was done early because not enough people were calling in for whatever reason from Phase 3. Some of the street names were left off the list today for Phase 2, so when people called in they were turned down. That problem has been fixed so Phase 2 residents may call in tomorrow.
2. Phase 3 can still call in whenever they want. Once you are scheduled you may call any time after that time to make an appointment.
3. If you have the internet installed, and then decide later to have TV installed there will be a charge to have TV installed at a later date, so please keep that in mind. I am told the charge to come back at a later date to add TV services will be $85. Prices are not guaranteed.
4. The local package for about $25 per month is available. I heard a couple of residents were told it was not available from the Fronter call center. Have them check because it is available.
5. When you have the internet installed, if you want to keep your same wireless password tell the technician to program in your old username and password. That way you will not have to re-configure your wireless devices. You will need your wireless name and password to make this happen.
6. So far most people have told me they are saving between $40-$60 per month for the same services. I have had two people tell me they were not saving money, so I asked for the two billings to check if something was wrong. One person sent me the two bills and it was true his new price was $30 higher than his old price for the same services with Frontier. I went through the bill and it turns out he was getting a special promotional price of $80 less which is going to end in March. This means his bill was going to go up on March 1 by $80 per month. Once this increase takes place this person will be saving $50 per month.
7. This brings up another point, if you are currently getting a special price on services from any company, you need to check pricing and compare. If a different plan is better stay with it. The HOA has made clear you do not have to install the Frontier plan at this time. If you are getting a special price, like this resident for $80 less, then don’t install the HOA internet. You will still be saving $68 per month and then when the special pricing ends you can install the HOA internet and get the best of both worlds.
8. You do not have to sign up for the internet now. You can sign up anytime in the future and there is still no charge for the first install appointment, even if done years later. There is only a charge if you call back after the initial install to request additional services.
9. Phase 2 was released early because not as many people are calling in for appointments as projected, so Frontier needs more people calling for appointments, so the installers are kept busy the entire time. Hopefully wait time will not be too long. Could be with less people here because of the virus there are less people able to call in at the moment.
10. Frontier has full time workers and supervision on site 6 days a week. If your installation has a problem after the technician leaves your home, call the HOA office and we will give you the phone number of the on site manager to contact you.

Shadows: Special Thanksgiving Day Dinner for takeout. Need to order by Saturday 11/21 at 5 pm.

Putting Course: Planned to open on 12/1. We will have the guidelines out to you by next week. Clubs will not be able to have events because of gathering issues. It will be open for individual play only using the guidelines of masks and social distancing.

The State Order is still in effect about ‘Stay at Home’ and ‘no gatherings’. This State Order has been in effect since last March. Residents are responsible to follow the State Order. The HOA will be looking for and enforce no visitors and no gatherings on Common Property, such as streets, parking lots, Tennis courts, Pickleball courts, etc.

If a resident is walking with a guest, they can be cited for violating State Order because a guest is not supposed to be on common property. If walking, biking, etc. on Common property including streets, the people will be cited.

The HOA will not be looking for violations of the State Order on private property. We will investigate any complaints of noise or conduct on private property. We are not looking for such violations on private property, for example in your home or in your backyard. But if there is a complaint we will investigate.

Exception: The State Order allows for only 3 households to gather and it must be outside. No gatherings inside a home at any time. But there are still no guests allowed on Common property.

COVID-19 Cases are climbing everywhere in the country. Please be careful. Guidelines seem to say wear masks, stay away from each other, no gatherings. Suggestion is to postpone thanksgiving and holiday celebrations until next year. I know everyone wants to have their family over for thanksgiving, but if something goes wrong and your family member dies, is it worth it. Please ask yourself that question. If you are going to have a gathering limit it to the State Order of only 3 households and only outdoors.

Toys for Tots Program: The Veterans Club has been supporting the Marines "Toys for Tots" program for over 13 years. Sun City Shadow Hills and Shadow Hills HS been partners in this. The ROTC Cadets from the HS are very active with this. The Cadets cannot be as active this year because of the virus. The program is over December 4th. Please bring an unwrapped toy to any Clubhouse and drop it in one of the boxes for the program.

Thank you and take care.

Kim Fuller
President

Audio may be found at: www.scshca.com/podcast246

Below is a synopsis of this episode.

Why not reduce dues by $12 per month instead of a onetime credit of $144?

It is correct we could reduce dues by $12 per month and we did consider this alternative. We decided not to proceed that way because of the issues involved this last year when we reduced the dues by $8 per month. If we reduce the dues by $12 per month too many residents do not understand the real dues rate would be $12 higher. We spent a lot of time explaining to people all year long that the dues this year was $281, not $273. As a result, people thought the dues increase was 8% when it is actually 4.6%. Given the onetime credit of $144, the actual dues increase for next year is only $1 per month based on a balanced budget comparing this year to next year. To avoid this same confusion next year, we decided the better approach is a onetime credit so that everyone will know for certain the dues are $306 per month. This will save us time in trying to explain next year the actual dues increase and it will remove the criticism from people that believe we are increasing dues a higher percentage than the actual real increase. Next year everyone will know the dues are $306 per month and everyone will calculate the new dues rate based on $306. Just easier to explain. We don’t count Frontier in the calculation because Frontier was not part of the operations budget for this year and residents voluntarily voted to increase the dues by $12 per month in order to save money each month. Our estimate is over 70% of residents will save more than $12 per month making their net cost per month go down.

How will the billing work for January and February?

The bill for the January monthly dues will be $162 and the following 11 months will be $306. For those of you that have direct withdrawal with DRM, they will withdraw the correct amount each month, so you don’t have to worry about the change from January to February. Each person may verify that this will happen automatically by calling the HOA office. People on auto pay through a bank will have to make the change for January and then make a change again in February for the rest of the year.

Frontier Installation

Frontier install is proceeding. If you call on a Monday morning that is the busiest time for calls so you will probably be put on hold. Tuesday through Friday I have been told is going efficiently with little or not wait time on hold to make your appointment.

Most installs have been going well I have been told. There are some issues as there are with any new installation. One resident had the entire system go down an hour after the installation. The resident then tried to call to have it repaired and the service rep said they could not send out a tech unless the resident paid a fee. Now that clearly didn’t sound right. Turned out the resident got routed to a retail division and once cleared up the tech came out that night and made all the repairs. Resident says he is saving about $80 per month.

So far, I have only heard from two people that they are not saving any money. We have asked for a copy of their last two bills to see if something is in error. We are waiting for the bills so at the moment we don’t know for sure if there is a savings or not. We will see. Most people have said they are saving between $40 and $80 per month.

Golfer with COVID

I need a follow up on the announcement I made about a golfer testing positive for COVID. I made this announcement a few weeks ago.

Only the one golfer tested positive and had a very mild case. Those who were near this person and those who saw this person in the days following have all tested NEGATIVE. I want you all to know that all the others who had limited contact with the golfer tested negative. Even the spouse tested negative. Hopefully, this will reduce the curiosity and anxiety about what happened to this person. Everyone appears safe and sound.

State Order is still in Effect

Please be aware there are still no gatherings and no guests according to State Orders. Only exception is 3 households may meet outside only, not indoors. The HOA is not allowing guests on common property including streets.

We are all trying to navigate this situation the best we can so people may participate in certain activities while still being as safe as possible. The HOA is not looking for a violation of the State Order on private property but will investigate any complaint or anything obvious.

Suggestion is to leave thanksgiving and holidays to next year and keep everyone safe. Please be careful.

Thank you and take care.

Kim Fuller
President