Summer Wrap-up

Dear Neighbors,

         It looks like we made it through another Memphis summer and it was a pretty hot one.  Enjoy the nicer weather now as we get ready for all the holidays to come.  School is back in session so be aware of the school traffic when you plan on entering or leaving the neighborhood and maybe time your trip accordingly.  No time yet on when they will complete installation of the traffic light by the school entrance and our own west exit/entry point.

         I wish to thank the crew who trimmed a lot of our trees in the neighborhood, on a very hot day.  Thanks to Robert Crosier, Jim Lewallan, Steve Day, Ron Walker, Rick Yeager, and Eric Buring, who came out for a few hours and cut out the dead and low-lying branches of our street trees.  The trees need this every so often to help keep up our appearances and meet Collierville restrictions.

Jim Paulsen has recently retired from his printing business.  For many years, Jim has graciously printed our directory and signs at no cost to the HOA.  We all owe him a great debt so please be sure to thank him when you see him.

         We had a notification from the developer of the lot at the corner of Wolf River and Houston Levee roads.  They are planning to start excavating the site mid-September and putting in drainage and maybe lay some electric lines.  I imagine they will be bringing in a lot of dirt fill to raise the level of the area higher and out of any flood zone. No date or plan on when they will erect any buildings on the site as I don’t believe they have any businesses signed up yet.  It could look like the Halley property to the north that is just a nice plain grassy area and it could still be several years before they do any further developing, or it could be next year?  We will try and keep up with their plans and let you know how it is progressing.  The last talk we had with them their plan was for office buildings, maybe some retail and hopefully a restaurant or two.  They were also thinking of putting a drive through shop like Dunkin Donuts.  Traffic in and out will still be a concern and they have said they will work with us if we have serious objections.  The plan they presented had a lot of landscaping and was not the same type of strip mall like they have across the street.

         We have had some issues with the Common Area sprinkler systems this summer.  Thank you to all who have reported problems to us.  We think we have them sorted out now.  We did lose some trees in the Laurel Knoll Circle and will have to remove and replace them.  We will probably do this a little later this Fall.

         There may be an opening on the HOA Board if you are interested.  I have been HOA President for 7 years, off and on, and I think it would be good to have someone with new ideas to come in and give it a try.  It is not that difficult for this neighborhood and the other Board members are great help.  Plus The Laurels population is really very helpful and supportive.  If you think you would like to try it for 2 years (or more), please let me know.  Elections will be held in January.

         Thank you to everyone for keeping your homes up and keeping your yards and flower beds looking so good.  Our neighborhood is just passing its 20+ years mark and all of our homes will require more upkeep and maintenance.  I think we are still the Premier Neighborhood in Collierville and a lot of people are asking to move into The Laurels.  It is through all the work of everyone that makes our neighborhood so great!  Keep it up!

 Jim Stettler