I want to welcome our three new board members Kassie, John and Ashley. They are a welcome addition to our board. I look forward to working with each one on many different issues.
There has been a lot of talk and information about our water system which comes directly from the City of Hillsboro. Please do not worry about all of the information on the web about the scare of not having enough chlorination in our water. The system is regulated by the Oregon Health Authority and cannot be out of compliance. With that said, we can do our part by not wasting water and trying to conserve what we have. Don’t water your lawn more than necessary, and only in the cool of the morning or evening, so it does not evaporate.
With the possibility of rain, please keep an eye on the gutters in the street, as well as the drains. If you have drains in the street outside your house, please make sure to clean the leaves and junk out so they flow freely. If you cannot clear it, please send me an email and I will come out and clear it. It is very important to keep water from backing up and overflowing in our streets, creating hazards. We are a community and if you don’t help by cleaning your gutters and drains, please let us know so it does not get overlooked.
During this COVID19 outbreak we are more vulnerable than ever, and it can be more difficult to get repairs done. If we have a breakdown (water leak, sewer overflow, pavement crack) it will cause a great deal of hardship for our residents, so please be aware that what you do affects others. If you have a water leak or a sewer problem, please get it fixed right away; we cannot afford to let things get out of hand or to waste water. If you need help evaluating a leak, because you do not know if it is your responsibility to repair or if it is the HOA’s, please contact us and we can evaluate it for you.
Did you know that the single largest bill we pay is the water bill? Please conserve water as much as you can. Each dollar that does not go to our water bill can be used on our streets or other necessary repairs or upgrades.
Anyone who currently has or has added an underground lawn sprinkler system, a hot tub, a fountain, or pool directly connected to the water system must get a backflow test done each year. Under normal circumstances, the city water supply is pressurized to keep water flowing to your tap. However, unforeseen circumstances (such as the need to fight a fire, or when a water main breaks) can suddenly change the pressure in the supply piping, allowing the water to siphon from your sprinkler system, hot tub, or pool directly back into the water you are about to drink. This may threaten your health and safety. This is why we are required by the city of Hillsboro to get a backflow test done each year, and the requirements are the same for every single homeowner that has a hot tub, underground sprinkler, or pool.
I can assist you with a recommendation on who to contact to get your device(s) tested, or you can go to this link to contact a State of Oregon approved Certified Backflow Assembly Tester: https://yourwater.oregon.gov/backflow.php. You can also go to: https://www.hillsboro-oregon.gov/our-city/departments/water/backflow-prevention for more information. Once you get the backflow test done, please contact me and send me your results at kckollas@gmail.com. I can consolidate your results for our HOA. As of today, I have only received one backflow test, and there could be consequences if we are found not to be in compliance as a group.
We will be evaluating our streets for repair, repaving, and sealing in the near future. If you have questions or concerns, please let me know via email. You can help by removing weeds and grass in the cracks by your home. The weeds and grass end up making the cracks worse by widening them over time.
Recently I was personally reminded that COVID19 is not the only virus out there, so let’s try to stay safe and not infect others. If you need help, email one of us and we will see if we can find some resources for you. There are a lot of resources in Washington County and the city of Hillsboro; you may just need help in finding them. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me.
I also want to thank Frank, our president, for all of the support he has given me in the facilities area this last year. He has been a great help to all of us.
Kc & Philip Kollas
Facilities Chair & Treasurer