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Wildwood Word - August 2025
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You are subscribed to the Wildwood Word.
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Notes from our July 2025 Board meeting - Click HERE
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Thoughts, feelings, and concerns
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Contact Information
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Property Management Company
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Community Associations Services
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11711 North College Avenue
Suite 100
Carmel, IN 46032
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Mon - Fri, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
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Julie Schaefer
jschaefer@cas-indiana.com
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Board of Directors Anyone?
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Serving on a homeowner’s association (HOA) board of directors can be a rewarding way to get involved in your community, protect your investment, and develop valuable skills. You can directly impact your neighborhood's quality of life, make a visible difference, and even enhance your professional development.
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Here's a more detailed look at the benefits:
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1. Make a Visible Difference and Improve Your Community:
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As a board member, you'll have a voice in decisions that affect your neighborhood, from common area maintenance to community events.
Protect your investment:
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You can help maintain property values by ensuring the community is well-maintained and adheres to rules and regulations.
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You can address issues that affect residents and work towards solutions that benefit everyone.
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2. Enhance Your Professional Development:
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- Develop leadership skills:
Serving on the board provides practical experience in management, communication, and decision-making.
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You'll learn about community association management, budgeting, and conflict resolution.
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- Network with professionals:
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You'll interact with management companies, contractors, and other professionals, building valuable connections.
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You'll meet your neighbors, learn about their concerns, and foster a stronger sense of community.
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- Protect your property values:
You'll play a key role in maintaining the aesthetic and financial value of your home.
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You'll gain a deeper understanding of your HOA's governing documents and local regulations.
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- Contribute to the community:
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You can give back to your neighborhood by volunteering your time and skills.
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In essence, serving on an HOA board is a chance to be an active participant in your community, shape its future, and grow personally and professionally.
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The above chart shows what the Board budgets for Repair and Maintenance (generally all maintenance on the buildings) and what is actually spent. We seem to always spend more than we budget for.
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The condos were built over 50 years ago. Every year more and more maintenance is needed. The Board has to decide what will be done. It is not an easy task. You can't always predict what maintenance will be needed and what surprises you will get.
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QUESTION - Why don't you raise the budget to meet the expense line?
ANSWER - If you raise the budget, the money has to come from somewhere. You either raise the dues or take it from another budgeted item. In all, total income has to equal total expense. Income - expense = 0.
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The associations expenses have skyrocketed in the past 5 years due to mostly inflation and insurance costs. This year our insurance costs went up $14,000. That is equivalent to $7.48 a month per unit. The Board gets bids on a regular basis. We are looking for the lowest costs for the association. Here is a good article on our website Insurance Costs
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From 2015 to 2021 monthly dues only went up $5. From 2021 to 2025 dues went up $31.50 again mostly due to inflation and insurance costs.
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What's Going On in Wildwood...
- Very timely - The city has changed vendors for our trash removal. The Board thought it was going to happen at the end of the year. News Article It did not. This week (7/28/2025) they delivered new dumpsters behind the clubhouse and at the same time took away all our old dumpsters. Today (8/1/2025) they are suppose to distribute the new dumpster to the right areas. The Board had nothing to do with it and thought it was going to happen at the end of the year.
- On 11/18/2024 a car took out our Wildwood sign at our Georgetown Road entrance. The car's insurance covered the $7,000 replacement of the sign.
- The Board of Directors is working on a bid proposal to wash down all the buildings.
- The Board of Directors is working on having trees trimmed. It will happen in two different phases because of the costs.
- Residents are still parking on the grass. This is not allowed. This is a concern because water pipes in the ground are over 50 years old. The past costs to repair broken pipes has cost the association thousands of dollars.
- There is a pothole at Oakwood Trail and Chrysler Street. Everytime we ask the city to repair it, they say it is a private street and not their liability. They are wrong. Oakwood Trail is the only city street in Wildwood. Eventually they discover this and repair it.
- Parking problems seem to be the number one concern with the Board at this time. Fifty years ago when Wildwood was built, two cars per unit was more than enough. Today, it is not. The city said parking on both sides of Oakwood Trail is not allowed (city street). Parking on yellow curbs is not allowed. Vehicle storage in parking lots is not allowed. If your vehicle does not fit in one parking spot, it should be parked on Oakwood Trail. Each unit has one reserved parking spot. The unreserved spots are a first come first served.
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