Bridgewater HOA Board Meeting, Aug 26 (tonight)

Bridgewater HOA Board Meeting, Monday, August 26 (tonight) at 7:00 pm

Agenda may be obtained via the HOA's "Contact Us" page of their site.

Members of the Bridgewater Community Group discussion group have already been provided the agenda by the group owner/moderator.

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This site (bridgewatercommunity.com), this post, and this group are not affiliated with any HOA, the MUD, or any other entity.  Please advise if any information is incorrect or add any information for clarification.  Thank you. 

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Property Value Tips

Property Value Tips

"10 Weekend Projects to Improve Your Home's Value" - MSN Real Estate

"10 Cheap Fixes to Boost the Value of Your Home" - Bankrate

"7 Home Improvement & Remodeling Ideas that Increase Home Value (And What to Avoid)" - Money Crashers

"How to Increase Your Property Value" - Discovery Channel

Xeriscaping - New Laws

Xeriscaping - New Laws effective September 1, 2013

H.B. No. 449 

"A property owners' association may not adopt a provision in a dedicatory instrument that prohibits or unreasonably restricts, or enforce a provision in a dedicatory instrument in a manner that prohibits or unreasonably restricts, a property owner from xeriscaping the owner's property."

S.B. No. 198

"A property owners' association may not include or enforce a provision in a dedicatory instrument that prohibits or restricts a property owner from:

using drought-resistant landscaping or water-conserving turf."

Water Heater Temperature

Information on water heater temperature per OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) :

www.osha.gov/dts/osta/otm/legionnaires/faq.html

Q. Can Legionnaires' disease be prevented?

A. Yes. Avoiding water conditions that allow the organism to grow to high levels is the best means of prevention. Specific preventive steps include:

• Regularly maintain and clean cooling towers and evaporative condensers to prevent growth of LDB. This should include twice-yearly cleaning and periodic use of chlorine or other effective biocide.
• Maintain domestic water heaters at 60°C (140°F). The temperature of the water should be 50°C (122°F) or higher at the faucet.
• Avoid conditions that allow water to stagnate. Large water-storage tanks exposed to sunlight can produce warm conditions favorable to high levels of LDB. Frequent flushing of unused water lines will help alleviate stagnation.

Q. Do you recommend that I operate my home water heater at 60°C (140°F)?

A. Probably not if you have small children or infirm elderly persons who could be at serious risk of being scalded by the hot water. However, if you have people living with you who are at high risk of contracting the disease, then operating the water heater at a minimum temperature of 60°C (140°F) is probably a good idea. Consider installing a scald-prevention device.

Q. Can my home water heater also be a source of LDB contamination?

A. Yes, but evidence indicates that smaller water systems such as those used in homes are not as likely to be infected with LDB as larger systems in workplaces and public buildings.

Chinese Tallow Trees

Chinese Tallow Trees

According to a foundation repair company, 

"Chinese Tallow have extensive tap root systems that extract large amounts of water from the soil, which can cause major damage and require home foundation repair." 

www.dawsonfoundationrepair.com/tree-roots-and-root-barricades/#top

Information on the Chinese Tallow tree provided by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=TRSE6

According to the USDA, the Chinese Tallow tree is listed in Texas as a "noxious plant"

http://plants.usda.gov/java/noxious?rptType=State&statefips=48

Texas Invasives .org

www.texasinvasives.org/plant_database/detail.php?symbol=TRSE6

Article from Houston Chronicle, "Do NOT Plant Chinese Tallows (it’s illegal)"

http://blog.chron.com/lazygardener/2011/12/dont-plant-chinese-tallows/

From Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triadica_sebifera

"Unfortunately, tallow trees are not native and are highly damaging species. According to the US Forest Service: Tallow trees begin producing viable seed after only 3 years. They can spread by root fragments and cuttings, so are quick to invade after a hurricane. Just one tallow tree can produce 100,000 seeds every year. Nearly all of these seeds are viable and can germinate even after several years. A mature stand can produce 4,500 kg of seeds per hectare per year. Trees remain productive for 100 years. Even one tallow tree presents a danger of explosive expansion that can hurt local ecosystems. Tallow trees should be removed from yards and public spaces as well. The trees are extremely hard to kill and freshly cut trees will sprout new leaves. Chemicals aside, the best way is to remove all new sprouts and starve the tree of sunlight."

US Forest Service provides extensive information

www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/triseb/all.html

"Sellers Market in Katy"

Sellers Market in Katy: Home Prices Increasing & Supply is Low

http://coveringkaty.com/7696/business/sellers-market-katy-home-prices-increasing-supply

"The hottest areas are South Katy zip codes 77450 and 77494, which are south of Interstate 10, but north Katy above the freeway is also performing well."

“ 'North Katy is performing phenomenally compared to years past driven primarily by Katy schools and it’s proximity to the energy corridor, ' Borden said."

Grand Parkway Segment E

Grand Parkway Segment E

" ... there was an explosion of growth on both sides of the Grand Parkway, south of I-10, and the same kind of scenario is projected along the mostly-underdeveloped Segment E corridor."

per Katy Times article:

http://katytimes.com/news/article_c4f469ca-3977-11e2-ae08-001a4bcf887a.html

" 'This whole section of Cypress and Katy between I-10 and Hwy. 290 is going to enjoy a robust growth period, in my opinion.' "

per Impact News article:

http://impactnews.com/houston-metro/northwest-houston/nwh-local-grand-parkway-construction-upcoming/

West Houston Association update on the Grand Parkway:

"SP/SH 99 SEGMENT E SET FOR COMPLETION DEC, 2013

The Grand Parkway from I-10 W to US 290 is set to be open for traffic in December, 2013."

http://www.westhouston.org/grand_parkway.htm

The Grand Parkway Association - IH 10 (W) to US 290 - Segment E:

http://grandpky.com/segments/e/

"If you see something, say something."

The Sheriff's department encourages: 

"If you see something, say something." 

and 

"You are the eyes and ears of your community.".

www.iwatchharriscounty.com/home.php?id=110

Humane Society on Chaining Dogs

The Humane Society of the United States on the chaining of dogs:

The Facts About Chaining and Tethering, Why this practice is cruel to dogs

http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/chaining_tethering/facts/chaining_tethering_facts.html

"Why is tethering dogs inhumane?

Dogs are naturally social beings who thrive on interaction with human beings and other animals. A dog kept chained in one spot for hours, days, months or even years suffers immense psychological damage. An otherwise friendly and docile dog, when kept continuously chained, becomes neurotic, unhappy, anxious and often aggressive."

"Should chaining or tethering ever be allowed?

To become well-adjusted companion animals, dogs should interact regularly with people and other animals, and should receive regular exercise. It is an owner's responsibility to properly restrain her dog, just as it is the owner's responsibility to provide adequate attention and socialization. Placing an animal on a restraint to get fresh air can be acceptable if it is done for a short period or while supervised. However, keeping an animal tethered for long periods is never acceptable."

Do You Chain Your Dog? Read why chaining is inhumane and how to bring your dog inside

http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/chaining_tethering/tips/do_you_chain_your_dog.html

Chaining and Tethering

http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/chaining_tethering/

"Bring a dog inside (or help a chained dog in your neighborhood) and you’ll keep everyone safer."

What You Can Do to Help Chained Dogs, Unchain a dog in your community today

http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/chaining_tethering/tips/help_chained_dogs.html

Animal Cruelty

Houston SPCA - Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals:

www.houstonspca.org/site/PageNavigator/cruelty_and_rescue_main

EXCERPTS:

What Should You Do If You Think You Witness Animal Cruelty? Animal cruelty is a crime in Texas, and is defined as follows:

SEC. 42.092. CRUELTY TO NON-LIVESTOCK ANIMALS A person commits an offense if he intentionally or knowingly or recklessly:

1. Tortures or seriously overworks an animal
2. Fails unreasonably to provide necessary food, water, care or shelter for an animal in his custody
3. Abandons unreasonably an animal in his custody
4. Transports or confines an animal in a cruel manner
5. Kills, injures, or administers poison to an animal, belonging to another without legal authority or the owner's effective consent
6. Causes one animal to fight with another
7. Uses a live animal as a lure in dog race training or in dog coursing

If you are witness to any form of animal cruelty, we encourage you to contact the Houston SPCA and file a report. Click here to file an online Animal Cruelty Report with the Houston SPCA. You can also file a report over the phone by calling 713-869-SPCA {7722}.

  

24 Hour Animal Ambulance 

The Houston SPCA remains the only agency that provides an injured animal ambulance and rescue service 24 hours a day every day of the year. Our ambulance technicians rescued over 3,000 animals from danger and distress in 2012.

 Call 713- 869-SPCA {7722} to report an injured animal in need.

Additional Resources:

Harris County Animal Control information on Animal Laws including Animal Cruelty:

www.hcphes.org/vph/Animal_Laws/index.html

Houston Humane Society online cruelty submission form:

www.houstonhumane.org/report%2Dcruelty/

Unlawful Restraint of Dog - Texas Legislature

Unlawful Restraint of Dog, H.B. No. 1411 passed in 2007, by the Legislature of the State of Texas:

http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/80R/billtext/html/HB01411F.HTM

EXCERPTS:

Sec. 821.077.  UNLAWFUL RESTRAINT OF DOG. 

(a) An owner may  not leave a dog outside and unattended by use of a restraint that unreasonably limits the dog's movement:

(1)  between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.;

(2)  within 500 feet of the premises of a school; or

(3)  in the case of extreme weather conditions, including conditions in which:

(A)  the actual or effective outdoor temperature is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit;

(B)  a heat advisory has been issued by a local or state authority or jurisdiction; or

(C)  a hurricane, tropical storm, or tornado warning has been issued for the jurisdiction by the National Weather Service.

(b)  In this section, a restraint unreasonably limits a dog's movement if the restraint:

(1)  uses a collar that is pinch-type, prong-type, or choke-type or that is not properly fitted to the dog;

(2)  is a length shorter than the greater of:

(A)  five times the length of the dog, as measured from the tip of the dog's nose to the base of the dog's tail; or

(B)  10 feet;

(3)  is in an unsafe condition; or

(4)  causes injury to the dog.

Sec. 821.078.  EXCEPTIONS. Section 821.077 does not apply to:

(1)  a dog restrained to a running line, pulley, or trolley system and that is not restrained to the running line, pulley, or trolley system by means of a pinch-type, prong-type, choke-type, or improperly fitted collar;

(2)  a dog restrained in compliance with the requirements of a camping or recreational area as defined by a federal, state, or local authority or jurisdiction;

(3)  a dog restrained for a reasonable period, not to exceed three hours in a 24-hour period, and no longer than is necessary for the owner to complete a temporary task that requires the dog to be restrained;