There have been some complaints from WRA customers that water usage totals are high for the summer months.  Here are some things to consider.

August and September were very dry, and a lot of folks watered their lawns and gardens during that period.

Under an average water pressure for a home:

• A 1/2-inch garden hose delivers about 9 gallons of water per minute.
• The standard 5/8-inch garden hose delivers 17 gallons per minute.
• Larger hoses, such as a 3/4-inch hose, use up to 23 gallons per minute.

We are billed by cubic feet.  One cubic foot is about 7.48 gallons.

If you have a standard 5/8″ hose, and you water your lawn…

• In 15 minutes, you’d use about 255 gallons (34.1 cf)
• If you water 1 time a day for 6 days during a week, you’d use 1530 gallons (204.5 cf)
• if you do that for a 4-week month, you’d use 6120 gallons (818.2 cf)
• Over two months, that’s 12240 gallons (1636.4 cf)

This doesn’t count normal, every day usage for showers, (~5 gallons/minute, according to the CF Watershed) dishes, drinking… It all adds up!

If you think your meter was read incorrectly, you can check your meter against the read value on your bill.  The system flags values it thinks are erroneous, but mistakes can happen.

If you think you have a leak, then it might be worth getting it checked out.

The WRA office has toilet dye strips available to check your toilets.

Other WRA articles to help you with water problems:
How to Compare Your Water Use to Average Neighbor

Toilet Troubleshooting

Five Ways You Might Be Wasting Water Around the House

Neighbors,

Thank you to all who attended today’s annual Membership meeting.  The ballot count for the 2017 Annual Membership Meeting ballot was 178 – one of the highest voter turnouts in our history, a testament to the  online voting system. While the online voting could have gone smoother, we didn’t have nearly as many issues as last year, and we continue to head in right direction. .

Now to the meat of the matter: Here are the results for the 2017 Annual Membership Meeting Ballot (178 total votes; 166 online plus 12 manual).

Ballot Approvals:

PASS – Approve the 2016 Annual Meeting Minutes – Yes: 155, No: 14.
PASS – Approve the 2017-2018 Budget – Yes: 129, No: 35.
PASS – Approve $36 per lot special assessment for security patrol – Yes: 121, No: 55.
PASS – Approve $100 per lot homeowner dues – Yes: 109, No: 68.
FAIL – Approve Expenditure of up to $15,000 to Assess Water System – Yes: 81, No: 95

ByLaw Amendments (66% approval – 119 yes votes – needed to pass).

FAIL – Bylaw # 2.5 – Legal Expense Control – Yes:  49, No: 83
FAIL – Bylaw # 2.6 – Legal Expense Control – Yes:  57, No: 76
FAIL – Bylaw # 3.1.1 – Number of Trustees – Yes:  62, No: 69
FAIL – Bylaw # 3.1.2 – Term and Term Limits – Yes:  75, No: 55
FAIL – Bylaw # 3.1.3 – Definition of a Member “in good standing” – Yes:  74, No: 57
FAIL – Bylaw # 3.1.14 – Appointment of Trustees to Vacant Positions – Yes:  72, No: 61
FAIL – Bylaw 3.1.18 – Trustee Resignation – Yes:  85, No: 48
FAIL – Bylaw # 3.2.3 – Presence at Meeting for Voting – Yes:  88, No: 45
FAIL –  Bylaw # 3.3.6 – Officer Duties – Yes: 66 , No: 67
FAIL – Bylaw # 3.3.7 – Staffing – Yes:  66, No: 65
FAIL – Bylaw # 4.3.0 – Annual Meeting Quorum – Yes:  42, No: 90
FAIL – Bylaw # 5.2.6 – Advisory Committee Term – Yes:  70, No: 63
FAIL – Bylaw # 5.2.6 – Advisory Committee Removal – Yes:  71, No: 60

Board of Trustees

Alan Bruckner 73
Ryan Fiedler 128
Thomas Grisso 137
Mike Kenyon 111
Heather Larson 128
Brad Summers 69

Write In Results
Subject to nominee acceptance of the appointment to fill the available 3 positions. If a nominee declines, the next nominee in line will be offered the position.

Joyce Jansen Total 4
Matt Rourke Total 4
Steve McDonald Total 4
Ben Larson Total 3
Brian Mogridge Total 3
Brian Warren Total 3
Donna Greathouse Total 3
Janet Sailer Total 3
Jordan Berry Total 3
Kathy Hyland Total 3
Chris Rosko Total 2
Ernie Henrie Total 2
Jaime Oberg Total 2
Joe Tradii Total 2
John Greer Total 2
Lenny Stoltman Total 2
Michael Pena Total 2
Steve Miller Total 2
Sunnie Kelly Total 2
Veronica Webber Smith Total 2
Cammy Cirhan Total 1
Courtney Fastenau Total 1
Dave Latourette Total 1
Jason Fisher Total 1
Jeff Mika Total 1
Jim Besso Total 1
Julie Warren Total 1
Julio Iglesias Total 1
Mark LaPerriere Total 1
Michael Faoro Total 1
Stuart Paulus Total 1
William Tribble Total 1

ARC Committee

Jim Besso 126

Write In Results
Subject to nominee acceptance of the appointment to fill the available 5 positions. If a nominee declines, the next nominee in line will be offered the position.

Steve McDonald Total 3
Alexis Danshita Total 2
Jerry Cummings Total 2
Matt Rourke Total 2
Steve Miller Total 2
Alan Bruckner Total 1
Art Farash Total 1
Brian Mogridge Total 1
Cathy Mika Total 1
Donna Greathouse Total 1
Janet Sailer Total 1
Jeannette Mandanas Total 1
Jeff Mika Total 1
John Smith Total 1
Joyce Jansen Total 1
Karen Goldenburger Total 1
Kathy Hyland Total 1
Katie Fiedler Total 1
Kim Huffaker Total 1
Mia Buse-Stone Total 1
Scott Fastenau Total 1
Silvia Lezama Total 1
Susann Hussels Total 1
Sylvia Salais Total 1
Thomas Grisso Total 1
William Tribble Total 1

Advisory Committee

Donna Greathouse 96
Joyce Jansen 91

Write In Results
Subject to nominee acceptance of the appointment to fill the available 3 positions. If a nominee declines, the next nominee in line will be offered the position.
Brian Mogridge Total 4
Jim Besso Total 4
Janet Sailer Total 3
Lenny Stoltman Total 3
Steve Miller Total 3
Dave Yarnchak Total 2
Jessica Besso Total 2
Joe Tradii Total 2
Stuart Paulus Total 2
Wil Chromey Total 2
Amy Mogridge Total 1
Andrea Jensen Total 1
Art Farash Total 1
Ernie Total 1
Jaime Oberg Total 1
Jerry Cummings Total 1
Karen Goldenburger Total 1
Kristen sweeney Total 1
Mike o’neil Total 1
Richard smith Total 1
Ryan Fiedler Total 1
Steve McDonald Total 1
Thea Tiryakioglu Total 1

THANK YOU to everyone who participated in the voting, and an extra thank you to those who helped set up, break down, manning the BBQ, verify the counts, and assisting in making this community a better place!

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Recent nice weather has led to an increase in member complaints. Nearly all could have been resolved by members following Rim Restrictive Covenants and Architectural Guidelines, King County Ordinances, or by talking to their neighbors and working with them to resolve the issues. Issues included:

• Dogs Barking and Off Leash. Dogs and children have recently been hurt or harassed by dogs off leash in neighborhoods or in the park or greenbelt. Dogs must be on-leash at all times in Wilderness Rim. Members have also been disturbed by loud barking dogs. If your dog is a barker, keep them inside or get a barking collar from a pet store. The Board does not have the power to intervene. Dealing with barking and off-leash dogs is a legal action handled by King County. If you cannot get your neighbor to quiet their dog, please contact King County at http://kingcounty.gov/safety/regionalAnimalServices/~/media/safety/regionalAnimalServices/documents/AnimalComplaints.ashx.
• Bright Lights on Houses. Several members raised concerns about very bright house lights that light up the neighborhood and make it difficult for nearby neighbors to sleep at nights or enjoy the stars. According to Architectural Review Guideline 8.9.1. Lighting. “Outdoor lighting shall not be intrusive on neighboring properties or roads.” If you have a bright light, consider a lower wattage bulb, a smaller, less intrusive light fixture, or a security light. Also, consider turning off the light when you go to bed at night.
• RVs and Camping Trailers. RVs and large trailers have popped up everywhere. Although great for camping, they are now taking up space on roads and some are being used for long-term living in the Rim through hook-ups to septic and propane tanks. Restrictive Covenant 7 prohibits the use of a trailer or RV as a residence either temporarily or permanently.

Bottom line – Treat others as you would like to be treated!

The Board of Trustees of Wilderness Rim Association request nominations for positions on the Board of Trustees, Architectural Review Committee (ARC), and Advisory Committee. The Board is also asking for pro and con statements for proposed ballot approvals and bylaw amendments.

If you are interested in serving on the Board of Trustees, ARC, or Advisory Committee, please submit your name and a short statement (a paragraph or two) as to why you want to be on the Board, ARC, or Advisory Committee. If you would like to write a pro or con statement, limit it to a few paragraphs. Submit your name and statement of qualifications, or pro/con statement, by email to office@wildernessrim.org, by mail (WRA, PO Box 315, North Bend, WA 98045), or hand deliver to the office drop box behind the Cascade Park Chalet. Nominations and statements must be received by the Office by August 11, 2017. This information will be included in the ballot information provided to the members later in August.

The duties of the Board of Trustees are to ensure that our common resources are managed in compliance with all the applicable laws, such as the Revised Code of Washington, and in the best interests of the membership. The number of Trustees who shall manage the business affairs of the Association is 11. Two trustees are currently serving three-year terms, thus nine positions are open.

The Architectural Review Committee, also known as the Architectural Control Committee, is responsible for assuring the compliance of Association members and Wilderness Rim residents with the Wilderness Rim Restrictive or Protective Covenants as applied to members’ lots; maintaining records of construction and improvement plans; drafting or amending Architectural Guidelines, which then must be approved by the membership; and educating the membership about the Architectural Guidelines. Members serve for one year, and the Committee shall be composed of at least three, but not more than six members.

The Advisory Committee is responsible for advising the Board of Trustees about current issues that may be subject to the Association’s governing documents and continuing resolutions. The committee shall be composed of at least two but not more than five members. To be a member of the committee, you must have completed a minimum of three years on the Board of Trustees and have served as an officer for at least one of those years.

Last July, the Board decided to invoice members for their Association homeowner dues and security patrol dues every two months, rather than in a lump sum in July, as was done in the past. However, these dues were not invoiced when bills were sent out in late July 2016, as the transition to billing these dues every two months had not yet been approved by the membership. Thus, an extra set of dues will be invoiced with the May billing cycle so that there will be a total of $80 assessed for homeowner dues and $48 for security patrol dues for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2017. Your homeowner dues in May will be $26.68 and security patrol dues will be $16, twice what they were in prior bills this fiscal year. The Association apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause members.

We also ask those who drop off their payments at the Association Office or mail their payments to the Association to send their payments directly to Sallal. Their address is Sallal Water Association, P.O. Box 378, North Bend, WA 98045. In addition to providing water to Wilderness Rim, Sallal also is responsible for member billings and payments.

Based on water meter readings in recent years, the amount of water lost in our water system between where the water enters the Rim and where it reaches homeowner water meters has been calculated as high as 17%. Several factors could account for this loss, including flushing of fire hydrants, use of water by street sweepers, broken or faulty meters, and broken pipes. To get a better idea of water loss, Association volunteers and Sallal Water Association (Sallal) employees read meters on March 18 and April 1 to get a better idea of water loss over a short period of time. Based on the survey, estimated water loss was about 25%. To help determine where water leakage may be occurring, a leakage study will be done by Utility Services Associates and our water system operator in June (tentatively June 5-9). There may be some traffic diversions and short-term water shut-offs during the study period.