Invoices Should Arrive After New Year's Day

The 2012 invoices and minutes will be in the mail just before the New Year holiday weekend.  The invoices will indicate a $115 assessment for 2012 with a due date of January 31st.  2012 marks the third straight year of a $115 assessment.  Last year we had to mail out nearly 75 reminders to late accounts, so please remember to take care of your payment promptly. 

The mailing will also include a summary of the 2011 landscaping projects and the landscaping "master plan" for the next two years.  This document can also be viewed on this website by selecting the tab above labeled "2011 Landscaping Summary and Master Plan."  Also now available on the website are the minutes of the annual meeting and the 2012 budget. 

Best wishes for a healthy and happy 2012 from your WMC Board.

2012 Budget Approved

The annual membership  meeting of the WMC took place on December 5th at Meadowbrook School.  A small group of property owners, bolstered by nearly 120 proxy votes, approved the 2012 budget.  The action ensures that the $115 assessment that has been in place for the past two years will continue in 2012. 

The meeting also included a summary of the general maintenance of the 16 acres of WMC common property, especially the tree trimming and pruning that has taken place in 2011. Additional landscaping projects slated for 2012 include mulching and edging of gardens, courts and playgrounds.   We will also "begin the discussion" about adding rain gardens and restoring native prairie grasses to several areas of the subdivision.

The complete minutes of the meeting, as well as the invoices for the 2012 assessments, will be mailed after Christmas. 

Annual Meeting Preview: 2012 Proposed Budget and Details Available

If you would like to read some details summarizing the proposed 2012 WMC budget, select the page (above) labeled "2012 Proposed Budget." You should have received a copy of the document, along with a proxy ballot.  If you have questions about the proposed budget, call WMC President Frank Remfrey. 

Each year, nearly two-thirds of the proxy ballots are not returned, even though the postcards include the $.29 postage.  Please mail your proxy ballot TODAY! 

Annual Meeting Slated for Dec. 5th

The WMC's  annual homeowners meeting will take place at 7 PM Monday, December 5th at Meadowbrook School.  The annual meeting will include a vote on the proposed budget for 2012 and the election of four individuals to one year terms on the board of directors.  In addition, the agenda will include a presentation by the Landscape Subcommittee on possible initiatives for 2012 and beyond. Prior to the meeting, homeowners will receive a copy of the proposed budget and a proxy ballot.  The proxy ballot may be mailed to the WMC's post office box in lieu of attending the meeting.  If you have any items to add to the agenda, please contact one of the current Board members.

City of Waukesha Announces Leaf Pickup Schedules

The City's website now includes details about the 2011 fall leaf pickup.  Click on the link below to get the details:

LEAF PICKUP SCHEDULE

The Windings subdivision is located in District #5.  

Neighborhood Trees Getting Spruced Up

Following a number of planning meetings and a tour of the subdivision, the Landscaping Subcommittee recommended a series of maintenance actions for the trees and shrubs in the various courts and outlots in the Windings.  The subcommittee and the Windings Board accepted a bid from Woodridge Landscapes, a local landscaping firm headed up by Windings resident and certified arborist Lee Schroedl.  So far Lee has trimmed bushes and trees near University Drive, Woodridge Court and Dartmoor Court.  If you have questions about the work being performed or suggestions for additional projects on our common property, feel free to call Windings president Frank Remfrey (262 542 0176) or Lee Schroedl (414 241 5162).

83 Residents Complete Storm Water Survey

Although not a high percentage, 83 of the 339 property owners logged into the Windings blog and completed the brief survey on storm water damage and sump pump usage.  The survey was requested by City of Waukesha engineer Paul Day, who is heading up a committee to address storm water runoff issues in Waukesha.  The number of respondents is commendable since it is close to the results we get each November when we mail out stamped, addressed postcards seeking proxy votes.  Typically, about 95-100 postcards are filled out and mailed to our post office box. 

The results of the survey have been forwarded to Day and our alderman Paul Ybarra. 

WMC Woods Used to Stash Empties

The woods near the end of Newcastle Lane was chosen as depository for a large number of empty beer cans and bottles some time in the recent past.  Since the empties were all neatly bagged, it appears that the beverages were consumed elsewhere.  If you recognize the rather unique orange ties on the garbage bag, you may want to do some investigating. 

Millipedes Invade Windings Homes

This week, hundreds of small, brown worm-like creatures have appeared on and inside four out of four homes on one of our courts.  These invaders have been tentatively identified as millipedes.   The insects have been spotted in large numbers basking in the sun on garage doors and have worked their way into basements.  Below is an article on millipedes from the University of Colorado. 

Millipedes

The most common millipedes are dark brown and reach 1 to 1 1/2 inches when full grown. They are round and elongated, with many small legs. A common description is "little black worms crawling in the basement windows." When dead or disturbed, they tend to curl into a tight coil.
Millipedes do not bite or pose any danger to humans. They feed on rotting organic matter such as leaves and wood and rarely feed on tender green leaves and roots. They spend almost all their time in moist areas, such as under rocks or logs and in lawn thatch.
Movement into houses often is sudden and sporadic. Most millipede movement takes place in September and October and again in midspring. Invasions, usually into cellars, often take place shortly after a period of wet weather and end as suddenly as they start.
Because millipedes require high moisture, they usually die in a home within a day or two. Chronic problems are associated with damp conditions. Measures taken to dry out moist areas usually are sufficient. The hard body of the millipede, however, remains intact for a considerable time after it is dead.
Because millipedes cause no damage in homes other than a minor annoyance, the best way to handle infestations is to wait a few days for the problem to subside, then vacuum the bodies that remain. Remove debris and other favorable habitats from around building foundations to help reduce problems. Seal or caulk openings around the foundation to reduce future millipede problems.

Figure 2: A common species of millipede found in gardens

Where problems are persistent and severe, insecticides may help reduce invasions. These may be applied around the base of the building foundation out into lawn areas. Pyrethroid insecticides (e.g., bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, permethrin) are recommended for this use. Insecticides with these active ingredients are widely available at nurseries, sold under various trade names.
Usually only shaded sides of the home need treatment. Whole yard treatments are unnecessary and not recommended. However, most sod webworm and white grub treatments applied to lawns will also control millipedes.
When millipedes damage garden plants several practices can limit injury. Ripening fruit should be lifted off the soil, on mulch or other surfaces. Fruit that is overly ripe may be left in the garden to divert and concentrate feeding by millipedes. Similarly, millipedes can be concentrated under fruit rinds or moistened newspapers. The millipedes that are found at these sites can then be collected. Garden baits that contain carbaryl (Sevin) may also be used to control millipedes in gardens.

Figure 3: Young millipedes in strawberry fruit. (Photo by W. Cranshaw.)		Figure 4: Millipedes curl in defense and when dead. (Photo by W. Cranshaw.)

City Orders Junker Removed on Lincolnshire Court

Today a Lincolnshire Court property owner will be receiving a letter from the City of Waukesha ordering the removal of a vehicle that has become an eyesore for the neighbors.  The vehicle is in a state of disrepair and has been found to be in violation of the City's ordinances.  Alderman Paul Ybarra and the City of Waukesha's Steve Crandell were instrumental in getting the order for removal in place less a week after receiving the initial complaint.  If you have concerns about disabled automobiles or other "eyesore" issues in the Windings, feel free to contact a member of the WMC Board.

WMC to Assist City with Storm Damage Data

Please click on the link below to take the 5 question survey that will assist us in pinpointing areas of the Windings that are susceptible to storm water damage and excessive use of sump pumps:

Click Here for Link to Survey

Thank you!

Survey Crews to Begin Work Along Meadowbrook Road

The WMC has received written notification from Waukesha County that survey crews will start appearing along Meadowbrook Road in the near future.  The survey crews will be doing preliminary work for the bypass project that is still under discussion.  The crew members may ask some property owners along Meadowbrook Road for access to their yards as the crews carry out their tasks. 

City of Waukesha Reacts to Pothole Complaints

After a barrage of complaints concerning the number of potholes that appeared after the spring thaw, the City of Waukesha has announced a number of ways citizens may report potholes.  If you happen to see a pothole that appears to be a danger or a nuisance, call either of these numbers:  Waukesha Dept. of Public Works (262 524 3600) or the City of Waukesha Garage (262 524 3600).  If you prefer email, fire one off to DPW director Fred Abadi (fabadi@ci.waukesha.wi.us).  If the pothole is not near your house, be sure to have a nearby street address available to pass on to the staff.

City Bush Pickup Slated for Late April

The annual brush pick up for the City of Waukesha will take place from April 26th through May 2nd.  The Windings brush will be picked up on our regular garbage day, Thursday, April 28th.  Check out the link below for details about the requirements for the brush pickup.


http://www.ci.waukesha.wi.us/web/guest/branchbrushpickup

First Fertilization Applied to Outlots

Throughout the 16 acres of Windings outlots you may have noticed the small signs that lawn care companies are required to place at the perimeter of properties that have undergone fertilization treatments.  Green Appeal Lawn Service is the contractor for the subdivision and will apply a total of three treatments during the 2011 season.  The first treatment was applied last week and is described by the company as follows:  Early Spring application:  100% slow release dry, granular phosphorus-free fertilizer coated with crabgrass preventer encapsulated to provide up to 12 weeks of green.  The cost of each treatment is $1,668. The other treatments will take place in May/June and August/September.

Bypass Update Coming Soon

A neighborhood meeting for the City of Waukesha's District 5 residents has been scheduled for 11 AM, Saturday, April 9th at Meadowbrook School.  The meeting will provide information about the proposed West Waukesha Bypass.  There will be a presentation that will give the latest details about the project a well as a question and answer session.

Photos from the Archives

Above:  This is the view looking up Lancaster with Rolling Ridge behind the photographer. Below:  The view from behind the house.  All of these shots were taken in June of 1979.

Thanks to Erna and Rudy W. (we won't use last names on this blog) for sharing a few shots of their home when it was under construction on Lancaster Drive in 1979.   Their home was one of the first to be built on Lancaster Drive.  The photo above shows their house and a small part of the home on the corner of Rolling Ridge and Lancaster.  Do you have some interesting shots from the early days?   Contact us for information on getting them up on this blog.

From the Waukesha Freeman...

Bypass tweak brings cardiac relief

Merrill Hills Road not good place for increasing traffic 

By D. Enriquez

    The sight of the big buck with its expansive chest and full rack of antlers was breathtaking.
    The breeding rut was in full force. It was nearly dusk in late fall as I drove past the Merrill Hills Golf Course.
    There he was on a hill in the golf course. I stopped my car on Merrill Hills Road to admire his grace and stature. Our eyes met before he bolted to parts unknown.
    The memory came to mind during a public meeting on the proposed bypass. Planners were considering whether to knife the high-speed road through the beautiful and mature Merrill Hills Road neighborhood.
    Completing the western portion of the bypass has been on planning maps since forever. It’s thought that Lewis and Clark used it during their expedition to the West Coast.
    In 2009, long-dormant plans for the West Waukesha Bypass were revived through state, county and local efforts.
    Merrill Hills Road between Sunset Drive and Highway 59 is an appealing ride. It reminds me of prosperous times, when owning a home on a beautiful and secluded country road was within reach of most hardworking folks.
    I was relieved to learn that the Merrill Hills Road option is now off the table.
    The bypass will be two or four lanes, depending on final plans. Using Merrill Hills Road as a section of the bypass would have meant the loss of nine to a dozen homes.
    Realistically, I don’t think it was ever a viable option. It would have been too expensive to buy up the homes. I’m sure the well-heeled golf course and country club crowd would have had their say in the matter.
    Who’d want their secluded golf course bordered by a noisy and heavily traveled bypass? Not the buck.
    A group studying the West Waukesha Bypass reported in its March newsletter that the Merrill Hills Road option was dropped from further consideration. That decision was based on engineering design, environmental impacts, costs and public input.
    The hitch in this plan is what to do with the bypass south of the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad. With the Pebble Creek environmental area smack in its path, planners are trying to figure a way to connect the existing bypass with the planned southern stretch.
    The study group kept open two options south of the railroad tracks. One is to build the bypass west of Pebble Creek’s wetlands. The other is to convert Sunset Drive to Highway X into a bypass section.
    About 140 people who attended an early February public informational meeting expressed their support for the Pebble Creek option.
    As for the question of whether the western bypass should be two or four lanes, the study group determined it should be four lanes in its entirety.
    The concrete ribbon is expected to ease the congestion that now afflicts Meadowbrook Road and carry trucks and workers to jobs in industrial and commercial parks in southern Waukesha.

2010-2011 Snowfall Tops 50" Mark

Starting today, this winter's snowfall total will begin to be considered "above average."  An average snow total for southeastern Wisconsin is 40"-50," so today's accumulation will push us over that threshold.  The WMC was affected financially when the snowfall totals reached 40."  Our snow removal contractor receives an extra $400 for every 5" beyond 40."  Accordingly, he (JNM Landscaping) will receive his second "bonus" payment with his March payment.  Despite the extra cost of today's snowfall it is quite beautiful.

Reminder Letters Sent to 75 Homeowners

As of February 21st, 75 homeowners should have received letters reminding them that their 2011 assessments were due on January 31st.  A deadline of March 11th was included in the letters.  At that time the names of delinquent homeowners will be passed on to the WMC's legal counsel for the next step in the collection process. 

Freeman Covers Bypass Meeting

Contacts soundoff@conleynet.com jpetrie@conleynet.com

Residents weigh in on West Waukesha Bypass plans Southern part of project could disrupt wetland By Joe Petrie Freeman Staff     WAUKESHA – As a resident of Hawthorne Hollow area of Waukesha for the last 17 years, Steven Hammer and his family have enjoyed a very peaceful neighborhood.     Hammer said the area contains lots of wildlife, including redheaded woodpeckers.     However, with the potential of the West Waukesha Bypass coming through, Hammer said he’s concerned his family is going to lose its peaceful neighborhood to a four lane highway.     “We’re very concerned because it puts us on the edge of a highway,” he said. “We live on a wooded lot and we don’t want to live on the edge of a four lane road. We’ve lived there 17 years and we don’t want to see it ruined.”     Hammer and other residents living near the proposed bypass came out to Waukesha West High School Thursday evening to share their perspectives on the project and give input to planners.     The bypass, as proposed, entails expanding Highway TT to four lanes and expanding it from I-94 to Highway 59 and Highway X. By building the west bypass, a horseshoe bypass will be created around Waukesha, hooking up with Les Paul Parkway.     The city of Waukesha will be responsible for expanding TT between Northview Road and I-94. The county will be responsible for conducting an environmental impact study, acquiring needed real estate and constructing the bypass between Highway 18 and Northview Road. The state will be responsible for constructing the southern portion of the road and overseeing the final design of the project.     During the course of the planning, project leaders looked at Highway T and Highway SS as possible alternatives to TT in order to complete the plan. However, both the T and SS alternatives were eliminated due to cost and feasibility.     Thursday’s meeting highlighted five plans for the southern edge of the project known as golf course east, Pebble Creek, Pebble Creek west, Pebble Creek far west and Sunset Drive to Highway X.     Hammer’s daughter Susan Hammer said she also wanted to see her neighborhood preserved if the road project is built.     “People drive down our street now just because they think it’s so pretty,” she said.     According to the plans presented to to residents, the golf course east plan would involve the relocation of 13 to 14 homes, go through four acres of wetland and cost $56 million; the Pebble Creek option would involve two relocations and go through 19 acres of wetland at a cost of $48 million; the Pebble Creek west plan would involve three relocations, the use of nine acres of wetland and cost $48 million; the Pebble Creek far west plan would involve four relocations, use seven acres of wetland and cost $48 million; and the Sunset to X plan would involve eight to 10 relocations, use 10 acres of wetland and cost $48 million.     Peter Lettenberger, who lives off of Merrill Hills Road, said the data shown Thursday had him leaning in support of the Pebble Creek option.     “The major disadvantage is that it goes through wetland,” he said. “But when you look at the study, there are quite a few less relocations and it’s substantially cheaper than the golf course option.”

Bypass Meeting Slated for Thursday, Feb. 10

A presentation on the latest plans for the Waukesha bypass will take place from 4-8 PM on Thursday, February 10th at Waukesha West High School.  The session will take place in the school's library.  The gathering is designed to give participants a chance to discuss the options currently under consideration for the highway that will wind its way around the west side of the Waukesha area.  The hosts will welcome comments and record concerns that are presented.  As in past sessions, there will not be any speeches or lectures, just displays and opportunities for one-on-one conversations with the engineers and other planners in attendance. 

City Responds to Question Concerning Creek Maintenance

Several months ago, the WMC Board asked City of Waukesha Forester Peter Trazec to visit the area along Rolling Ridge Drive to inspect some erosion issues concerning trees located along the creek and to clarify who is responsible for maintaining several trees that are leaning over the sidewalk.  Trazek indicated that he checked with a number of officials at City Hall and concluded that the City is responsible for storm water runoff control and will continue to maintain the creek's banks.  (In the past City crews constructed a berm to provide flood control near the bus stop on University Drive and installed rip rap along the bank near Lancaster Drive.) However, when it comes to trimming or removing trees along the creek, Trazek said that the City would not get involved.  So it appears that the City will continue to maintain the creek regarding erosion issues, but the trees in or along the creek are the responsibility of the WMC.