Election of Road Commissioner/Director for 2024,2025,2026
The Tanglewood Acres HOA Members elected Vic King as a new Road Commissioner/Director for 2024,2025,2026. Vic was elected late and instead of his term starting in 2023, he will start in 2024.
Shari Copeland has served for 4 years. This was necessary because no nominations were presented for a new Director during the 2023 Annual Tanglewood HOA Meeting in July 2023. This puts us in the position of having to elect 2 directors in 1 year. So I am asking you to carefully consider running for the position of Director. Our by-laws state that to be a Director: “The Directors need not be residents of Colorado but must be property owners”, and that “owners shall include only those maintaining property ownership, which includes keeping their property tax payments current and making their annual assessment payment on a timely basis.”. Nominations will be taken at the HOA Annual meeting. If you are interested, respond to this eMail and I will give you information on the duties that we perform.
HOA Annual meeting will be held in Jim and Mary Keefer’s cabin at 10:00AM on July 1. Remember that all are welcome but only members may vote and only 1 vote per dues paying property.
HOA Workday will start at 2PM on July 1. Bring gloves, rakes, maybe shovels. We will have a lot of forest clean up to do, and probably some fence to repair.
Ott Lehrman Memorial Service will be held on July 5, probably in David’s Chapel.
Sangre de Cristo Electric Right-of-way clearing: Over the winter, SDCEA cleared trees from the power line right-of-way. We lost probably 150 trees, some very old, very large, beautiful trees. Sad to see it happen like this, but SDCEA is reducing its liability for fires caused by trees coming in contact with power lines. You will see a difference so don’t be surprised.
Dues – Tanglewood HOA dues remain at $150 per year, one of the last great bargains actually. If you have already paid, thank you very much. These are due now if you have not paid and they may be satisfied by:
Mailing a check to: Shari Copeland, 4624 NW 161st, Edmond, OK, 73013
Bringing a check to the meeting.
Delivering a check to Shari at Tanglewood
Please don’t bring cash. It cannot be mobile deposited and requires a trip to Westcliffe to the bank.
The preferred way is to set up an automatic, recurring bank draft from your bank to United Business Bank. That way you don’t need to worry about it again. If you want to do this, respond to this email and I will set up a meeting to assist you.
For several years now, Sangre de Cristo Electric Association (SDCEA), our electric service provider, has been informing us that they intend to remove trees within the power line right-of-way. Just recently, they have reiterated the schedule for that plan and have informed us that they intend to be in Tanglewood either late summer 2023 or early fall.
Bad news for us. I know how everyone loves the trees and will not be happy to learn of this. To clarify exactly the details of the planned tree removal process and to attempt to provide any alternatives that might reduce or eliminate the necessity for this removal, Paul McGrady and I met (through zoom) with Gary Kelly, Director of Operations, Sangre de Cristo Electric Association. Gary is the person who specifies the particular mitigation effort and ultimately directs it.
SDCEA is under great pressure to reduce the fuel load within their right-of-way. They have a great deal of liability for damages caused by wildfires. The massive fires in California are examples of what they are trying to avoid. These fires are causing multimillions of dollars in property loss and loss of life. When the origin can be traced back to a power company, they are held liable. So they want to remove all potential hazards before that happens.
You may refer to the meeting notes attached, but the bottom line is that there is very little that we can do to stop this. The only costs that SDCEA will bear are the costs of tree removal. We suggested repositioning the power lines to impact fewer trees. This cost would be on us. We inquired about burying the lines. This cost would also be on us. The cost in either of these two scenarios is extremely high. I have included some examples.
If the possibility of losing trees is totally unacceptable to you, you might be considering going off the grid and installing solar. This is probably not the solution either. I have included a brief analysis of what it might cost for a typical home in our area in case you are interested.
Whatever we do, we need to consider the fact that we are not the only customers on this distribution line. We have 2 neighbors, Rupps and Puls, who will be affected by some of our decisions.
We welcome any discussion of these issues. If there are any solutions that we have not considered. Please let us know and we will attempt to negotiate with SDCEA.
Tim Wint,
Paul McGrady,
Shari Copeland
Here is a link to the notes of the meeting that we had with SDCEA and a summary of the alternatives that we requested that they consider. We urge you to download and read them. They contain a lot of detail which is too long to include here. Report on meeting with Sangre de Cristo Electric
Here is a summary:
It appears that SDCEA has decided that they will remove the trees within the power line right-of-way. As a Homeowners Association, we don’t have much say in this. We can make requests, but any possible viable options will cost a great deal of money both as an HOA and as individual homeowners.
Option
Advantages
Disadvantages
1. We can go all solar
Eliminates SDCEA (for us) Arguably cleaner
Very expensive Will require tree removal anyway on individual properties to make solar work Will require tree removal on SDCEA right-of-way to allow power to our neighbors. Possibly need to reduce electrical requirements Will require secondary sources of power
2. We can bury the lines
Will not require tree removal in the future Safer for us because of wind blown trees Safer due to fewer lightening strikes
Very expensive, we bear all costs Will not save trees because the trees will need to be remove for trenching. Will require owners to run secondary lines to the home Will (possibly) require new service entrances
3. We can reposition the existing lines to a less treed path.
Might reduce tree loss
We don’t have many options here. Open land is scarce Very expensive. Will require owners to run secondary lines to the home Will (possibly) require new service entrances
4. We can allow SDCEA to remove trees as planned
This is done at SDCEA expense. It reduces the risk of fires due to trees blowing over on the lines.
Annual HOA Dues are now due. These are still $150 per year per property. Please check your records and make sure that you are current. We use these funds for road and bridge maintenance mainly so it is important that we maintain a healthy checking balance to ensure that things get done the way we would like them to be. You can pay your dues several ways:
Through Paypal on the TanglewoodHOA.info website. Click here. You will need a password to access the page and it is “redgate”. You can do this directly through PayPal or use a credit or debit card. This is the least desirable way since Paypal takes 3%. If you would like to offset this cost, you can add $4.50
When you are in Tanglewood you can bring a check or cash by to Shari Copeland at 82 Mockingbird Hill or you can bring it to the annual Tanglewood Homeowners Meeting
By Mail – You can mail you check to Shari Copeland, 4624 NW161st St, Edmond, OK, 73103
What We Would Really Like To See – The very best way would be to deposit automatically into our bank account. If you would like to set that up, call me (972)955-0995 and I will give you the routing information. I don’t want to send it through email.
Important Dates:
Workday Saturday July 2 9:00am at the picnic area. Bring gloves and a rake.
HOA meeting Sunday July 3 2:00pm at the chapel right after potluck
Good afternoon. We hope you are doing well and if you are not already enjoying your time in Tanglewood, we hope to see you soon this summer. We just want to bring you up to date on a few things:
Cabin for Sale
The Huntsman Cabin is for sale. As always, we would like to make this known throughout the Tanglewood community because we know that people that love this place are most likely to share it with their family and friends. You may take a look at the listing here.
Tanglewood HOA Dues
HOA Dues are now due. These are still $150 per year per property. Please check your records and make sure that you are current. We use these funds for road and bridge maintenance mainly so it is important that we maintain a healthy balance to ensure that things get done the way we would like them to be. You can pay your due several ways:
Through Paypal on the TanglewoodHOA.info website. Click here. You will need a password to access the page and it is “redgate”. You can do this directly through PayPal or use a credit or debit card
When you are in Tanglewood You can bring a check or cash by to Shari Copeland at 82 Mockingbird Hill or you can bring it to the annual Tanglewood Homeowners Meeting
By Mail – You can mail your check to Shari Copeland, 4624 NW161st St, Edmond, OK, 73103
What We Would Really Like To See – The very best way would be to deposit automatically into our bank account. If you would like to set that up, call me (972)955-0995 and I will give you the routing information. I don’t want to send it through email.
Important Dates for 2021
Workday Friday July 2 9:00am at the picnic area. Bring gloves and a rake.
I apologize for the delay in reporting the results of the 2020 Tanglewood HOA Board of Directors Election.
Linda Witter was elected Director/Commissioner for the term 2021,2022,2023
Consequently, the current members of the Tanglewood HOA Board of Directors, their terms and responsibilities are:
Shari Copeland, 2019,2020,2021, Treasurer Paul McGrady, 2020,2021,2022, President Linda Witter, 2021,2022, 2023, Secretary
Survey If you have a minute, please respond to the following survey about the dates that you would like to schedule chipping this year and the status of Red Gate keys:
Preface: The electric company has a new, and what may be considered aggressive, program to manage vegetation around electric lines and poles. This is a report from the HOA meeting with representatives from the company.
SANGRE DE CRISTO ELECTRIC CO-OP MEETING
August 17, 2020
The meeting opened with an explanation that no clearing around power lines has been done for many years. Clearing is necessary for fire mitigation and to allow access to power lines. This Vegetation Management Initiative will be done for all areas covered by Sangre de Cristo Electric (SDCE). They anticipate starting in the Westcliffe area in 1-2 years.
There is no way to estimate the cost to bury lines due to varying accessibility in different locations. The difficult terrain makes it way more expensive to bury lines in Tanglewood. Electric lines have to be buried 4’ deep. SDCE has to do the work to ensure that it’s done correctly.
SDCE will work with each homeowner to determine what is done with the downed trees. They can leave the logs for firewood, mulch the logs or remove them.
There are three types of electrical lines in Tanglewood. A primary line carries 7,200 volts of electricity and these lines have to be cleared of trees for 15’ on each side. An example of a primary line is the one going up Pine Cone Lane (the road going uphill past the covered bridge). A tap line carries power from a primary line to a group of cabins. These lines also have to be cleared 15’ on each side. Unfortunately, Tanglewood has quite a few of these lines and they may go across property, rather than being located on a pole near a road. Both a primary line and a tap line carry 7,200 volts of electricity and therefore must be treated the same. A secondary line carries 120-240 volts of electricity and it takes power from the tap line to the individual cabin. The electric company does NOT maintain secondary lines. It is the responsibility of the home owner to maintain the line.
SDCE representatives also mentioned that many meters are located on cabins. The preference is to have meters moved to the nearest pole.
These changes will have a dramatic affect on the aesthetics of Tanglewood. We all need to work together for our common good. We are actively in contact with SDCE to determine the cost to develop a MASTER PLAN for Tanglewood. This would likely involve moving or adding some electric poles so that Tap lines will be near a road, rather than crossing private property. At this time, we are looking at every option to reduce the loss of trees. Our recommendation is to NOT request a site visit from SDCE to determine the cost to bury your lines. The cost is $275 and we feel that a Master Plan needs to be determined first. In addition, the line to your cabin is a secondary line, and the electric company is not clearing trees around any secondary lines.
Please feel free to contact any one of us if you have any ideas, recommendations or questions.
Each year, Tanglewood HOA donates to the Custer County Hospital District in honor of our friends who have passed on during the previous year. This year we honored Keith Griffith, Russell Roberts and Troy Williams.
Tanglewood Thank You from Custer County Hospital 2020
On July 3, 2015 our annual Tanglewood Home Owners Association meeting was held and you will find the minutes of that meeting below. Of particular interest, Jim McCoy was nominated as Road Commissioner to replace outgoing commissioner Jo Kennedy (thank you Jo for all you have done). You will find that ballot also attached. Write in candidates are also accepted. You may submit your ballots either by responding to this email or by mail to the address listed below. These need to be in by October 3, 2015 according to the bylaws.
There have been no notices for 2015 HOA dues as of this date, so essentially, the only owners that have paid are some who paid at the meeting. So, if you have not paid, please send your checks to me: Tim Wint, 114 Mockingbird Hill, Westcliffe, CO 81252. I will be here until the end of August. After that you may send them to me at 1105 Prairie Creek Place, Flower Mound, TX 75028. The dues are $100 and checks should be made payable to “Tanglewood Acres HOA”. I will send out a second notice later this month for those that have not paid by then.
Thanks
Tim Wint
Jo Kennedy
Julie Johnson
Tanglewood Homeowners Association
Minutes Annual meeting July 3, 2015
* Dues – probably will email dues still owed for 2015
* Meeting called to order by Julie Johnson at 1:00PM
+ Read meeting minutes from 2014
o Becky Conway moved to accept, Mark Beigler seconded, carried
+ Deaths (Doris Salmans, Ben Newcomer) – $25 each donated to Custer County Clinic
+ Treasurers report was passed out
+ Red Gate Keys – make sure yours works
+ Old Business
o 1) Should have house addresses on mailboxes or sign post
o 2) Properties for sale – prospective buyers need to be accompanied by realtor
# Eastwood’s and Bailey’s are for sale. Newcomers is off the market
o 3) Tim Wint elected commissioner, taking Jim Keefer’s position
+ New Business
o Nomination of road commissioner – Jim McCoy (to replace Jo Kennedy) nominated by Phillis Lehrman, voted and carried. Votes to be submitted in fall.
o Homeowners dues – Ours are low. Until 2008 it was $50, and then raised to $100.
# Makes sense to raise the dues. John Balding thinks some people are getting a deal because they have slash and those that don’t are paying their share for 30 minutes of chipping.
# Becky Conway moved to raise HOA dues to $150 beginning in 2016. Second by Linda Witter
@ (Being somewhat unfamiliar with the proper procedures, we thought this was a legitimate vote. In reviewing the by-laws, we realize that it is required that we present a motion to raise dues to the entire HOA and then take a vote at the following HOA meeting. So if everyone is good with that, we will present the increase in 2016 to become effective 2017)
@ Discussion – Question – what about multiple lots in family
– (Point of clarification – this was not discussed in the meeting, however, dues are according to active lots. If you own a lot or lots in addition to the one your cabin is on, you do not owe dues for these additional lots. If, however, you would like to have multiple votes concerning Tanglewood business, then this is allowed at the rate of 1 vote per full dues paid)
– Increase will not affect distribution of dues – they will remain as they are currently.
– Carried unanimously
o Chipper will be here August 26. Each property gets 30 minutes then is asked to pay at the rate of $150 per hour. Bring slash to the road. Help is appreciated.
o Rock to be ordered for crossing
# Acknowledgement for volunteers getting crossing ready for workday and for those that helped complete the job on workday.
o Clarification of GPS database update. Updates have been made to various databases, but GPS owners need to update their maps to see the changes.
o Acknowledged Newcomers and Lotts as new property owners
o Becky Conway moved to adjourn, John Balding seconded, carried unanimously at 1:33PM
