Update - 29th December 2010

Back Gate Code
It is that time again - the Back Gate codes will be changing Monday January 3rd. You should have received an email with the gate code, if you have not, please contact me at 239-656-1430.

Office Hours
Our office will be closed Friday, December 31st, 2010. Have a safe and Happy New Year!

Holiday Hours
Our office will be closed Friday, December 24th, 2010 and December 31st, 2010. I will be on vacation starting December 22nd and returning December 29th. If you have any questions or problems regarding the property while I am away, please see Michelle. She will be able to assist you or point you in the right direction.

Spa
The spa has been shut down due to the motor burning out. I have already signed the proposal to replace the pump and the company is ordering it. They are going to try to get it installed tomorrow, December 17th but if they are unable to they will be back Monday to install it.

Update - December 7th, 2010

Annual Fire Sprinkler and Fire Alarm Inspection
The annual fire sprinkler and fire alarm inspection will be taking place on January 26th starting at 9 AM. It is necessary for the alarms to sound for this inspection and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

White Trailer
There is a white trailer located by the east tower that has been at the property for some time. The trailer is not approved by the association to park in that location for any time frame. The trailer has PA tags which we tried to look up but we were unsuccessful. If this is your trailer, please contact me immediately.

North Star’s Resident Christmas Tree
I would like to thank all the owners who participated in last Friday’s Homeowner Holiday Party and contributed Christmas ornaments to the North Star Resident tree. The tree was donated to North Star by Jody Buckmeier, one of North Star’s residents. I would also like to take the time to thank Michelle for her hard work on setting up this Christmas tree and decorating it with the Blue and Silver ornaments and Silver stars. We hope to make this a yearly event put on by Michelle with the hope of the Residents' tree growing with homeowners ornaments.

Exterior Building Lights
One of Orlando's standard tasks is to check the building exterior lights once a month. If in the interim you notice a light out, please contact me and we will get it replaced as soon as possible. We do understand that there are a few lights out on the building and walk ways. We have ordered more lights that will hopefully be in this week for Orlando to replace. Please do not remove bulbs from the common area fixtures for any reason.

Many thanks,

Update - 30th November 2010

Back Gate Codes
The back gate codes will be changing Monday, December 6th. If you have not received an email with the new gate code, please contact me at 239-656-1430 or amy@sterlingpropertyfl.com.

Reminder of Events
Friday, December 3rd, there is a Homeowner Holiday Party. You should have received information from Michelle on this event. If you have not, please contact her for the information. Please remember to contact Michelle if you are wanting to reserve the theater, card room, billiard room, clubhouse etc. The month of December is filling up fast.

Homeowner Quarterly Dues
Shortly, all homeowners will be receiving their quarterly coupons in the mail. Your maintenance fees are due on January 1st, April 1st, July 1st and October 1st 2011. If you do not receive your coupons by the 15th of December, please let me know.

Parking Decals and Resident Information Sheets
In order to get your parking decals, the resident information form needs to be filled out and returned to me. We have 37 owners that have picked up their parking decals and we have only received 60 resident information sheets. The resident information sheets are for the security guards and it is very important that you fill out the form and return it.

Office Hours - Thanksgiving

The Property Management Office will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, November 25th, 2010 and will be reopen on Friday, November 26th from 8 Am to 12 PM. If you have any after hour emergencies, please contact Sterling Property Services at 239-947-4552 and wait for the after hours emergency number that you can call, but please note that this is for emergencies only. The Sales Office will be closed Thursday and Friday and will reopen on Saturday.

All of us at North Star would like to wish you and your family a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!

Blog update - 3rd November 2010

A/C in the Tower Lobbies
I have locked the thermostats in the lobbies of each tower due to someone turning the a/c down to 70 degrees. Please do not change the temperature in the lobbies. If you have a problem with the temperature, please let me know.

Clarification on Pool Rules
In the Blog posted November 1st, it stated some of the pool rules per the Florida statues. One of them, which I got a call from a resident on stating some of the residents are confused by it, was the food and drink policy. Food and beverages are not allow in the pool or in the wet deck area. The wet deck area is considered 4 feet from the pool's edge and water features. Beyond 4 feet from the pool's edge, food and drink is allowed( but please remember.. NO GLASS! ).

Power Washing Project
We will be starting to power wash the pavers by the front of the lobbies starting Friday, November 5th. Maid to Perfection, our janitorial company will start working at the west tower. Because it will be within Orlando’s regular hours, the association will only have to pay for the rental of the power washer and not any additional time. The rental is only about $100.00 for a day and both towers should be done in less than a day.

Access into North Star
Please remember to make sure you call or email the security guard if someone will be coming to the property for you if they are not on your permanent guest list, whether it is a vendor or guest. If you need us to provide access to the vendor/guest into your home, please contact Michelle or I to schedule this.

Association Flood Insurance
Since the Association’s flood insurance renewed recently, we have received a lot of calls and emails from Homeowner’s for proof of insurance for their mortgage company. If you get a letter in the mail requesting this, please send me the letter you received from the mortgage company and I can get it over to the insurance agency and send you a copy of the flood insurance declaration page for your records.

Rules and Regulations for North Star Yacht Club
If you have any questions about the rules and regulations or where to find them, you can pick up a copy at the front office.

Resident Board Member
Larry Zeigler is the Resident Board Member. If you have any questions or problems, you can always talk to him and he can discuss it with the Board of Directors if action is needed. Also, you can always contact me at 239-656-1430, or drop off a note in my box on my door after hours or via email at Amy@sterlingpropertyfl.com.

Front Resident Gate
Last week, the front resident gate had some work done to it due to damage caused by a vehicle. A return trip was necessary due to a sensor problem but as of Friday, everything should be working again. If you are still having problems with your remotes please check your batteries as a first step.

Landscape
The winter annuals will be installed on November 19th. The Mimosa weed at the back of the east tower is starting to die off from the herbicide the landscapers sprayed two weeks ago. We are closely monitoring this area as it has always been a source of problems due to the soil that was used during installation. By the end of the week, Greenscapes should be putting down a liquid application of iron to green up the turf at no expense to the association.

Pool Hours and Pool Bathrooms
Since the pool is closed from Dusk to Dawn, the pool bathrooms will also be locked during these times. The security guard will lock them every night and unlock them every morning. Also, I know some of our residents are upset about the pool closing at dusk. As I have stated before, this is a Florida State Statue. The association does not meet the requirements for lighting specified in paragraph 64E-9.006(2)(c) to allow for night swimming. I would also like to remind all residents of a few rules before season starts. Please remember there is no food, drink, glass or animals in the pool or on the pool deck. Do not dive into the pool or run on the pool deck, this is for your safety.

Parking Violations
We are still having a huge problem with homeowners not parking in their designated space. I do have the capability to look up license plate numbers to find the owners of the vehicles and will send out violation notices accordingly.

Back Gate Code Reminder
As of today, the back gate codes have been changed. You should have received an email October 26th. If you did not, please contact me.

Steam Rooms
The Steam Rooms are up and running. We have readjusted all the settings and locked the doors to the boiler room as the problems we have been experiencing are from the settings being changed. Someone was changing the temperature from 110 degrees to 140 degrees. This was causing serve damage to the boilers. The correct setting is between 100 and 120 degrees, therefore we are keeping it at 110 degrees.

Parking Decals for Residents
In the last three days, at the times specified in my previous blog, we have had only 19 residents pick up their parking decal. I will be handing out more decals to those owners that are down here to come pick them up. The schedule will be Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 9AM – 11AM, 2PM and 4PM. If you are currently not at North Star, you can get your parking decals when you get into town.

Resident Information Sheets
We are about half way there! 46 owners out of 93 have turned in their information sheets. Thank you very much to those that have turned them in so quickly!

Resident Parking Decals
The parking decals have arrived. I will be assigning parking decals for resident vehicles, Wednesday to Friday from 9 AM to 10 AM and 2 PM to 4 PM. If you cannot make it within these times, please call me at 239-656-1430 to set up a time. It should only take a few minutes at the most.

Resident Information Sheets
If you have not turned in your Resident Information Sheet, please turn them into me as soon as possible. You will not be able to get your decal until you turn the form in.

Guests/Vendors
If you are having guest or a vendor coming to your home and they are not on your permanent guest/vendor list, please remember to call the guard at 239-961-8923 or email him at nsycsecurity@gmail.com. If you do not, the guard will call you, if he does not get in touch with you, your guest or vendor will be turned away.

Back Gate Codes
It is that time again. On Monday November 1st, 2010 the back gate codes will be changing. You should have received an email advising you of the new gate codes. If you have not, please call me at 239-656-1430 or email me at amy@sterlingpropertyfl.com


Clubhouse Refrigerator
We understand by a nasty note that was left on the refrigerator a few weeks ago, that a few residents are upset that some of the employees at North Star keep food items in the refrigerator. Please understand that people working at North Star need to keep their food refrigerated as we do not always have the opportunity to leave for lunch. On many occasions, people (homeowners as well as employees) have had food go missing. Please be considerate and do not take food out of the refrigerator that you did not buy. We also had all the non dairy creamers containers, about 3 of them, go missing this week already. Many thanks for your consideration.

Update October 19th, 2010

Recyclables and Trash
Please remember not to put trash in the recyclable containers by the garage doors. WastePro will not pick up the recyclables if there is trash in the bins. Orlando has had to pick out trash including food on a daily basis. We do have pictures and receipts and are trying to track down the offender.

Trash Chutes
Do NOT put cardboard boxes down the trash chute. Over the week in the east tower the trash chute got clogged because of cardboard boxes.

Possibility of Fining for Condominium Violations
The Association has the right to fine any homeowner that does not abide by the Condominium Documents and/or the Rules and Regulations of the community. Florida State Statutes allow an association to impose a fine if allowed for in the association documents up to $100.00 per day per violation with a maximum of $1,000.00. A new law went into effect this year, if the fine is $1,000.00 or more the association can put a lien on the property.

New Email Address for the Gate House
We have an email address for the gate house. It is nsycsecurity@gmail.com and the phone number is 239-961-8923.

Update - October 13 2010

Resident Information Sheets/24 hour Security
If you have not turned in your resident information sheet that was sent in the packet with the budget meeting notice, please return them as soon as possible to Michelle or myself. If you have renters in your unit, please make sure they get the paperwork as they will need to fill one out as well. The information sheets will be given to the Security Company on October 15th as they will be here 24 hours a day and the gates will be closed at all times. We are also in the process of ordering parking decals for all residents and temporary permits for guest. As soon as we get these in, we will notify all owners and residents.

Landscaping
The winter annuals will be installed early to mid November. The mulch will be laid at the beginning of January.

Super Sliders – Resident Recommendation
We have gotten complaints from residents regarding noise coming from the upstairs when chairs or furniture are being moved around on the tile. One of North Star’s Residents provided me with some information on furniture sliders that they have used in their condo. The name of this product is Super Sliders by Waxman. They can be found at Lowes or Home Depot for just over $4 for 4 of them. They are self sticking and are to be applied to each leg. They eliminate the noise you hear when sliding a chair across the floor.

Gym
When you are done using the free weights, please return them to their proper spot in the gym. On several occasions, they have been left in the aerobics room.

Unit Owners Personal Property – Section 17.7 of the Condominium Documents
No linens, clothing, household fabrics, curtains, rugs, or laundry of any kind shall be hung, shaken, dried or aired from any windows, doors, balconies, terrace or other portions of the condominium property. No articles shall be placed on balconies, patios or similar areas. The foregoing shall not prevent placing and using patio type furniture, planters and other items in such areas if the same are normally and customarily used for a residential balcony, patio or terrace area.

Dogs
We are still getting numerous complaints of dogs urinating by the entrances to the towers, inside the lobbies, and in the garages. If your dog urinates in these areas, please clean it up immediately. It is the dog owners responsibility to clean up after its pet, not the janitorial company’s responsibility. Every day time is wasted for the cleaning staff to clean up this mess when they should be cleaning other parts of the condominium property.

Steam Rooms
Both Steam Rooms are currently out of order. I will let you know when they will be up and running again.

If you have any questions regarding any of these items, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Update - 30th September 2010

Back Gate Codes
On Monday, October 4th, the back gate codes will be changing. You should be receiving an email with the new gate code. If you have not, please contact me at Amy@SterlingPropertyFL.com or 239-656-1430.

Dog Owner Etiquette
We are still getting complaints of Dog Owners letting their dogs urinate in the lobbies, elevators and hallway floors. This is not only against the rules but it is also disgusting for your neighbors. If you are a dog owner, please be responsible and clean up after your dog. We understand accidents do happen but please clean it up immediately.

Umbrellas
With more homeowners coming down for the season, I would just like to remind everyone to make sure they put the umbrellas down when they leave the pool area. I would like to thank all the homeowners who have been closing the umbrellas after they are done using them.

Parking and Storage Spots
Please remember to park in your designated parking spot. If you are unsure about your parking spot or allocated storage, please call or email me.

Just a reminder, please make sure you pick up after your dog. We have had several complaints regarding dogs that have urinated in the walkways, elevators, lobby’s of the towers and the garage. If your dog urinates in places other than the designated areas (i.e. the grass) please make sure it is wiped up.

The handrail in the east tower garage at the entrance of the clubhouse has been installed on the ramp. We apologize for the delay as it was to be completed at the end of August. The contractor ran into problems with fabricating the handrail.

We have been experiencing problems with the west tower elevators. Late yesterday afternoon, September 23rd, it was reported to me that the elevator sounded like it was rubbing or hitting something at every floor. The technician was here at the property this morning and adjusted the clutch on the elevators which was hitting the metal fascia inside the shaft. If you experience anymore problems, please let me know.

The tower floors are being maintained on a two week rotation. If you see problems with your floor being dirty, please let me know and we will have Orlando address it immediately.

Authorization to Enter (section 7.5 of the Declaration) – The Declaration states in case of an emergency to prevent damage to any common element or to any other home, the association or authorized persons by it may access the home with no advance notice required. For instance, if the home floods, the association, or persons authorized by it, may gain access into the unit to prevent damage to the unit or other units around it. This has been the procedure and will continue for the protection of all homes and the association.

Unoccupied Homes (Section 31 of the Rules and Regulations) – Any Unit owner who shall leave his unit unoccupied on a temporary or permanent basis shall:
A. Turn the water source serving the unit to ensure against any water damage in the event of a leak within the unit. (posted to the NSYC Blog September 15th, 2010)
B. Provide courtesy notification to the Association Office of any visitors utilizing the unit in the unit owners absence, which notification serves as a security and safety function for both the unit and the association.
C. Provide a key to the Association office for any vehicles intended to remain in the unit owners designated Parking Spot to ensure the Association may move vehicles for the purpose of repairing or maintenance of the parking areas.
D. Provide the Association a phone number where you can be reached to ensure the Associations ability to contact you in the event of an emergency within your unit.
E. It is mandatory that the unit owner set the unit's temperature controls to 78-80 degrees to discourage the growth of mold or mildew within the unit or the exterior of the home. (posted to the NSYC Blog September 20th, 2010)

Play Equipment, Strollers, ect. (Section 17 of the Rules and Regulations) – Bicycles, Tricycles, scooters, skateboards, and other play equipment, baby strollers and similar items shall not at any time be left, kept or stored in the hallways or other common elements of the condominium or in the limited common elements (including porches, patios, terraces, balconies, lanais), except in the limited common elements which are specifically designated for such storage use, if any.

Bicycles are to be stored in the bicycle rack located under the 2nd floor garage ramp on both towers. Also there has been a stroller that was left at the pool area by the stairs leading to the 2nd floor of the clubhouse. Earlier this week, it was moved to the door leading into the kitchen, but at this time no one has picked it up. Please remember when leaving the common areas to take all personal belongings.

If you have any question regarding any of these items posted in the blog or other items you see around the property, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you!

The carpet in the theater, card room and billiard room will be cleaned Thursday, September 23rd starting at 7 AM and should be complete by 10 AM. This is at no extra cost to the association as Tomas will be able to do it within his work week.

Safety Signals was at the property last Friday to install the magnetic strip to the door leading from the East Tower garage to the pool area. After installing the magnetic strip, the door still did not work. The engineer found that there are low voltage wires from the power supply that need to be checked. This takes two guys and they will be on site by Wednesday, September 22nd, if not earlier. I will keep you informed. Once this gets fixed, we will be repairing the gate that connects to the wall, as it has pulled away from the wall; most likely from being tugged on.

The pool and spa have both been shut down per the Health Department. The flow meter in the pool is not working properly and the gate by the west tower garden is not automatically shutting as it is suppose to. Tri-City Pool Service and SFR Services have both been out to fix these issues. The health department will be re-inspecting the pool and spa today. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Friendly reminder, please remember to change your A/C filters once a month. Failure to do so can cause the unit to freeze up. Also, the Association’s Documents states all homeowners must keep their temperature controls no higher than 80 degrees to discourage growth of mold or mildew in the units.

NSYC Update

As you know, we are diligently touring the property many times a day, but if any owner should see anything that you feel is getting missed or not being taken care of in a timely fashion, please do not hesitate to contact me either by phone or email.

The exit gate from the east tower garage to the pool area is still not working. First it was the sensor and key pad that failed, which have been replaced. Now we are having a problem with the magnetic lock. The company, Safety Signals ordered the wrong part and has since then ordered the new part. If the part is in stock, it will be installed tomorrow.

Garage Doors by Roy North were in touch with me this morning regarding the 1st floor garage doors in both towers. We will need new motors in both garage doors and I have given them approval to go ahead and order the parts. The parts should be delivered Friday and be installed on Monday.

The cleaning company switched to a different floor cleaning product for the tiled areas. We have received complaints about the fragrance of this new product so I have asked the company to switch back to the old cleaner as it had a more pleasant smell.

The Marketing Directors are working with the developer to come to an agreement on the banner that is located on the East Tower. As soon as I get more information, I will post it via the NSYC Blog. I just assure all residents that they are still working on this issue and it has not been falling on deaf ears.

Please remember to turn off the water to your units when you leave the property for an extended period of time. I would even suggest if you go away for the weekend to turn it off to avoid any possible water leaks.

Update - 13 September 2010

The medallion on the east tower that fell off of the building earlier this year has been reattached to the building. I would like to thank everyone for their patience in this matter, as we had to go through the proper procedures with the construction company, BBL.

Just a reminder, if there is an emergency after hours, please contact 239-947-4552 and wait for the answering machine to pick up. There will be a number provided for after hour emergencies. Please call that number to speak to the on call manager. If there is an emergency after hours, please DO NOT CALL the North Star Office, 239-656-1430, as the message won’t be listened to until the next morning. We are in the process of call forwarding the two phone lines we have here for Michelle and I to the Sterling Office after hours. When I have this up and running I will let you know. Please note that if it is an emergency requiring first responders, ONLY call 911.

For those West Tower owners that use the 1st floor parking garage, the garage door is in the process of being fixed. It was reported to me on Sunday and the company was out this morning. We need to get a new starter and the repair company are trying to find one locally.

Blog Update - 2nd September 2010

New Back Gate Codes
On Tuesday, September 7th, the back gate codes will be changing and you will receive an email with the new gate code. If you do not, please contact me at Amy@sterlingpropertyfl.com or 239-656-1430.

Update on Medallion
The Medallion was not able to be reattached last week as scheduled due to inclement weather. Currently, they are shooting for today Thursday, September 2nd, to reattached the medallion.

Association’s New Bank
The Board decided to switch from BB&T to CNL Bank for the operating account to keep within the FDIC limits. For those of you who use online banking, please ensure you amend the mailing address. A letter and replacement coupons will be mailed out within the next day to two.
The new mailing address to send your payments is:

Sterling Property Services
PO Box 24479
Tampa, FL 33623-4479

Please also ensure the check is made payable to North Star Yacht Club and please note we are unable to accept any post-dated checks. Many thanks

Update - 20th August 2010....Great news on Medallion

Stains in the Pool

Tri-City Pool Service have started treating the copper stains in the pool with their initial treatment today, Friday, August 20th, 2010. After the
initial treatment, they will maintain monthly treatments to control this
issue on an ongoing basis.


Medallion

The medallion is scheduled to be reattached to the building on Wednesday,
August 25th. If this gets canceled due to weather or something out of our
control, I will post an update it on the blog.

Update - Wednesday August 18th

On Monday, August 16th, the heater company fixed the spa heater. If you experience any problems when using the spa, please let me know.

Elevator 3 in the East tower is out of order. Kone, the elevator company have ordered a new motor board and will be in tomorrow afternoon. If any elevator should stop running out of business hours, please contact Sterling Property Services at (239) 947-4552 and call the emergency phone number that you will be given on the answering machine message. One of the elevators in the West tower was having an issue with the clutch dragging which was causing a sound when going past the 10th floor. This was fixed this morning and you should not hear this sound anymore.

Please be aware that under the Rules and Regulations for North Star Yacht Club, kids under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a responsible adult when entering and utilizing any recreational facility.

The irrigation clock for the property has malfunctioned and an electrician will be at the property August 19th to work on the power going to the irrigation clock. With the afternoon rain showers we have been getting, we should not see any stress or loss due to the irrigation being off.

With a lot more people moving in to North Star, please remember these units are not completely sound proof.Please keep this in mind during the hours of 11 PM to 8 AM.

Update - Friday 13th August

Update on Gates by the Dock
The lock bolt has been installed at the gate by the spa. The gate and access system have been adjusted to prevent the gate from getting caught up, which should allow the gate to close and open more easily. In the interests of security, please remember when closing the gate to make sure it closes all the way and locks.

Update on the Spa
Yesterday, August 12th, ACES was out here to repair the spa heater. Unfortunately, they misdiagnosed the problem and had to order another part. They will be out at the property Monday Morning to install the new integrated control for the spa heater.

East Tower Handrail
The ramp leading from the clubhouse to the east tower garage will be fitted with a handrail by the end of the month. Please take care in this area in the interim.

Update 9th August 2010

Back Gate Push Buttons
The new push buttons were installed Friday, August 6, 2010. We are still waiting on the locking bolt for the gate by the spa. We expect this to be fixed at the latest by the first part of next week. In the interim, the pad lock will prevent anyone from forcing the gate open to gain access into North Star Yacht Club.

Lights in the water feature by the pool
Three lights were reported broken at the end of last week. These lights have been ordered and will be replaced once they come in. I will keep everyone updated on this issue via the Blog.

Water Pressure
Any residents experiencing low water pressure, please contact me via email. I will be going into all developer units starting this week to test the pressure and can do the same for any owner experiencing the same problem. If the pressure is below the guidelines, RJ Vann will be contacted to recalibrate the Pressure Reducing Valve.

Spa Update
A part has been ordered for the spa. As soon as it comes in and is installed, I will post it on the blog.

Spa Update

The pool company thought they had fixed the problem with the spa heater but it has gone down again. Tri City Pool Service has called out a specialist company, ACES, to complete the repair. We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause.

Push Buttons at Back Gates

The new push buttons have been ordered for the gates by the spa and the wading pool. They should be delivered tomorrow or Friday at the latest and Safety Signals will install them at that time. Also, the push button at the gate by the tennis court is working now.

Monday 2nd August 201 Update

Last night, there was a pretty good storm that hit North Star Yacht Club. Lightning has damaged the push buttons leading from the pool to the marina walk causing them to not respond when pushed. Safety Signals was out here early this afternoon to take a look at the issue and was be able to replace one of the push buttons but they only have one in stock. The one that is working is the gate by the spa; please use this one in the meantime. The other two push buttons will have to be ordered. The key pad works fine as all three were checked this morning. You can come back into the property from the marina walk using the new code. I apologize for the inconvenience this may cause but can assure you we will get it back up and running as soon as possible. Also, the stationary side of the gates that has the security bar going into the pavers is also being worked on to install locking mechanisms. I will keep you posted on this issue via the Blog.

The new pool company, Tri-City Pool Service, has started today. I got a report over the weekend that the spa was not as hot as it should be. It was noticed that on the heater it stated it was locked out. The pool company took a look at this problem this morning and it looks like the heater went into lock out mode due to a power surge at the property. They were able to reset it and it should now be in working order. Please let me know if you experience any problems with the spa.

The men’s bathroom out by the pool is currently out of service. The plumbing company, RJ Vann will be here today and will hopefully be able to repair it but in the interim, you can use the bathroom in the clubhouse by the front desk.

There was an incident over the weekend with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office being called to the property. The Officers were unable to gain access through the front gate and one of our residents was able to let them in using their clicker. The gate system has the “yelp system”; this means when an emergency vehicle (fire engine, deputy) hits the sirens on their vehicle, the gate system opens the gate to allow entry. I did speak to the LCSO this morning and informed them that they need to use this when coming to the property when the gates are closed.

At the clubhouse door leading to the east garage, there is a step that is not very visible and we have received some suggestions about it. I am working with a company to install a handrail. In the meantime, we have put up two traffic cones in the area to bring people’s attention to it to avoid anyone from tripping.

New Gate Code

Please remember that the gate code is changing on August 2nd. You should have received an email with the code, but if you have not please contact Amy via email at Amy@SterlingPropertyFL.com or at (239) 656 1430. Many thanks.

Pool Hours and Rules

Over the weekend, there were problems with people being in the pool after hours causing a disturbance. Please remember, for safety reasons, the pool is closed from dusk to dawn. This will be strictly enforced by Diamond Security. I had a meeting with Diamond Security this morning and have addressed the issues over the last weekend with the owner. This issue was also addressed with the individuals involved.

Also, a polite reminder, no animals are allowed in or around the pool area.

Spa and Women's Steam Room Repairs

It was reported on Tuesday morning that the spa and women's steam room are not working. Technicians will be on the premises today to look at both problems and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Reminder of Pool Rules:
Please do not dive into the pool as this can cause serious injuries - we do not want to see anyone get hurt while they are enjoying the pool - Thank you.

Front Gate Hours:
Due to the continued concerns of the majority of residents, the front gate will now only be open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday to Friday, Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (to accomodate the Sales Office). These new hours will commence tomorrow Friday July 9th.

Landscape

It was reported to me by a homeowner that we are having issues with ants on the west side of the property where a lot of owners walk their dogs. This area will be treated tomorrow, July 1st. The treatment usually takes about 48 to 72 hours to rid the area of ants. Until then, please use caution when walking dogs in this area as the mounds are not very visible. The treatment will not harm dogs if they walk in this area.

The sod is starting to come back in the area where the irrigation wires were cut (as explained in a previous blog) and the rain we have received in the last week has really helped. The landscapers have noticed that the sod behind both towers is not as green as it should be. As the soil in this area is very poor, Greenscapes is working on getting this area up to par with the use of different types of fertilizers. Greenscapes is also looking into the health of the Medjool Palms at the pool area as the fronds are turning brown prematurely, which could be a sign of a pest attacking the tree.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the landscaping, please let me know.

New Pool Company/Rules for Grills and Trash Disposal

As of August 1st, 2010, North Star will have a new pool maintenance company, Tri-City Pool Service. We have had many issues with the current company, Jackson Pool Service, with response times and repairs. Earlier this month, I solicited bids from three companies due to the problems we were having with Jackson Pool Service. Tri-City Pool Service offers a wireless control system. The pool will still be serviced 3 times a week but the wireless system will alert the technician and service manager with any changes or problems with the pool at any given time. I feel this will be very beneficial to North Star and the residents. One of the major issues we have been having is the staining around the returns. Jackson Pool Service has applied acid to these on several occasions but we have seen little to no results. Tri-City Pool Service will be able take care of this as soon as they come aboard. This will be an ongoing issue as the pipes for the pool system are copper but I feel with the new company it will be better controlled. They will also be locking the gate by the pool heaters and equipment to prevent unauthorized persons in this area.

I have been asked many questions regarding what types of grills, if any, are allowed on the balconies. The Rules and Regulations state no gas or charcoal grills are allowed on the limited common elements which include the balconies. At the Annual Meeting, the President of the Association suggested a few residents form a committee and provide a proposal to the association for installation of a gas grill by the pool or court yards. If you would like to help with this, please contact me at 239-656-1430 or email me at Amy@SterlingPropertyFl.com.

Also, we are having problems with trash not properly being disposed of. We have seen bags that are too big to fit down the chute, which causes the door to the chute to break and boxes not broken down and in the wrong area of the garage. Please remember to break down all boxes and bring them down to the proper receptacle on the first floor garage in your tower. If the items are too big to fit in the door of the trash chute, please take it downstairs to the dumpster. Many thanks.

We have had some wonderful afternoon storms here at North Star recently. However, over this past weekend one of the large umbrellas by the pool was broken by the wind as the last person using it did not put it back to its closed position. When you leave the pool area, please be sure to bring your umbrella down and secure it with the ties. This is very important to avoid it becoming a projectile, potentially causing personal injury or property damage....Many thanks, Amy

July 2nd Pool Party

On Friday July 2nd starting at 11AM, Michelle will be hosting a pre-4th July Pool Party. All residents are encouraged to attend. Sandwiches and soda's will be provided. Goodies will be given out to kids. Please contact Michelle at 239-656-1430 for more details.

It was discovered that someone intentionally cut the irrigation wires to the east side of the property. Due to this, a lot of the sod has suffered but the landscapers feel the stressed areas will recover and green-up nicely.

We are still having issues with the pool heaters as someone is changing the temperature to 90+ degrees. We will be looking into locking the gates as this problem is still occuring.

North Star Yacht Club is launching another communication initiative called the Open Forum Residents' Meeting, with the first event on June 30th, 2010 at 6 PM. Your Resident Board Member, Larry Ziegler and I will be giving updates on all projects currently in progress as well as informing you of any major tasks that have been completed or that are upcoming. Residents will also have the opportunity to ask us about any concerns they may have. Wine and Hors D’oeuvres will be served.

Also, on June 18th, 2010, our landscape company, Greenscapes, will be installing new Annuals for the summer. After much discussion , it has been decided to go with a different type of flower that has not been planted at North Star before. Please let me know what you think.

Some owners have been changing the temperatures on the pool heaters, which is both a cost and safety issue. If you have a problem with the temperature of the pool please contact me to discuss. DO NOT change the temperature or mess with the pool equipment.

I have also received complaints from a few residents in the West tower regarding a dog that has been allowed to relieve itself on the trash can outside the lobby doors, the decorative vase inside the lobby and various places in the garage. Please be a responsible dog owner and clean up after your dog.


Thank you for the interest in your Association,


Amy

Access to the Buildings & Parking Information

Please be aware that on June 15th starting at 7.00AM, the residents' entrance at the main gate (On Hancock Bridge Parkway) will be blocked off while repairs are being made to the gate system. The work is scheduled to be completed by 1.00PM. During this time, please use either the residents' gate located at Beau Drive or the guest entrance at the Main Gate. We apologize for any inconvenience this necessary work may cause.

Also, please make sure you continue to park in your designated parking space and use your designated storage facility. The majority of NSYC units have been allocated one storage spot. If you are currently using more than one storage facility or are unsure what parking and storage is allocated to your home, please contact me at 239-947-4552 or email me at Amy@SterlingPropertyFL.com.

North Star Yacht Club

Hi North Star Residents,

As you can imagine, keeping a prestigious development such as NSYC running on a day to day basis involves a huge amount of effort from a whole team of people. At any time, there will be a number of projects “on the go”, including regular maintenance, warranty work, inspections and repairs, from cosmetic issues through to key safety systems. In order to keep all home owners informed as much as possible, we are going to be updating this blog each week with items of interest as well as on an ad-hoc basis about topical news. Please bookmark this or include it in your RSS reader so that you will get to see this information in real time.

I look forward to communicating with you all on a regular basis and would appreciate any constructive suggestions about this initiative. Please feel free to email me at Amy@SterlingPropertyFL.com