View the Dec Jan 2015 Newsletter (PDF)
News
Puget Sound Energy (PSE) – New Mobile Outage Reporting App
Here in Wilderness Rim, the power is serviced by Puget Sound Energy. PSE customers can now get a mobile reporting app to keep tabs on power outages. According to a PSE media release, the app is available for most web-enabled smartphones and tablets. It can be used 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Even if the electricity is out at a customer’s home or business, they can still access the app to get the information they need.
Key features of the app include:
- Report power outages to PSE
- View a map of outages
- Get estimated restoration times
- See the number of customers affected in neighborhoods
- Report natural gas emergencies
PSE customers can download the new app to their Apple iOS, Android and Windows smartphones and tablets from the various app stores. Search for “Puget Sound Energy” or “myPSE.” The easiest way to report an outage is to use the app. To do that, customers use their myPSE account information to log in; they can also quickly set up their account on the app if they need to. Outage reports can also be made at PSE.com or by calling 1-888-225-5773.
Covenants Explained – #4
The Architectural Review Committee (ARC) is a group of elected members who are responsible for dealing with issues of the Wilderness Rim Covenants. The covenants were set up in 1967 when the Rim was organized by the American Pacific Corporation. These rules are designed to protect homeowners and ensure the most beneficial development, as well as prevent activities that might diminish the value or enjoyment of our beautiful residential area.
One of the most misunderstood covenants is Covenant #4 which covers the keeping of animals. It states that no livestock, poultry or animals can be raised, bred, or kept on any lot. This does not include “house pets” like dogs and cats, but breeding or sales of these animals commercially is prohibited.
The reasons for the no livestock covenant are as follows:
- Health issues: Poultry especially carry Salmonella bacteria on their bodies and in feces. They can also carry viruses and fungi that can be infectious to humans. All livestock can harbor parasites and attract flies and other noxious insects.
- Rodent attraction: Food bits and feces attract rats, mice, and other small animals.
- Predator attraction: Chickens and other small animals attract large predators like bears, coyotes, and cougars, all which live in our area. These predators are a danger to animals as well as to humans. More about Washington State law and predator attraction can be found here: http://wildernessrim.org/bear-sightings-and-washington-law/
- Noise and smell: Live animals can negatively impact the enjoyment on our neighborhood.
All the Covenants are posted on our website (www.wildernessrim.org/legal). Questions can be sent to ARC at ARC@wildernessrim.org or give the office a call. Please check future newsletters and the website for explanations of WRA’s other covenants.
November WRA Water Utilities Committee (WUC) Update from the Chair
We had Paige Igoe of Washington State Department of Health come to the Rim to do a Sanitary Survey. The meeting consisted of Ernie Henrie (WRA), Page Igoe (DoH), Denny Scott (Sallal/WRA Water System Operator) and Jessica Besso (WRA). The meeting lasted for nearly two hours and some of the action items requested were:
- Being prepared for a possible future Bacteria/E.coli event in the Rim
- Planning for a meter replacement program
- Following up on our Cross Connection Control Program
- Fire flow (fighting a fire reduces the water pressure in the surrounding community)
These topics will be discussed and plans formulated to implement these needed programs. At this time we are still waiting for the engineer’s report so we can review it in detail. To implement some of these programs will be very easy and some will not. The fire flow and meter replacement programs will be very costly to implement and take much time while the cross connection control and E.coli programs will be far easier to initiate.
Also, WRA will be applying for water rights with Washington State Department of Ecology. This will be quite a process so stay tuned!
Want to be involved? Contact Water@wildernessrim.org or come to the committee meetings on the second Wednesday of each month.
October- November 2014 Newsletter
View the October-November 2014 Newsletter (PDF)
2014 WRA Photo Contest
The fall photo contest was a fun success! Here is the winner:
“Mom, can we keep them?”
Second place:
“Peaceful Reflection”
Third Place:
“Brewster’s Autumn Glory”
Winners may claim their prizes at the WRA Office. Thank you to everyone who submitted and “liked” the great photos!
Here are some of the other submissions to enjoy:
Baby Trees in the Park
We have some new babies in the park! Please be gentle around them and let Park@WildernessRim.org know if you would be interested in future planting parties. Here are a few pictures of our great neighbors having fun in the sun.
August – September 2014 Newsletter
View the August-September 2014 Newsletter (PDF)
Office Administrative Coordinator Hired
Wilderness Rim Association is pleased to announce the hire of Jessica Besso as the WRA Administrative Coordinator. Jessica joined the team officially on July 24th.
Jessica brings over 16 years of experience in accounting, auditing, and customer service. Her capabilities include small business accounting, internal and external audit fieldwork, and project management among other skills desired for this position. As the Office Coordinator, she will be responsible for day-to-day tasks for the association as well as performing the accounting functions. With her CPA and CFE licenses and her prior experience on WRA committees including Water Utilities and Budget & Finance, Jessica has excellent knowledge of WRA business processes.
We are excited to have Jessica’s expertise in the office and she is looking forward to serving her neighbors well. The future is looking bright for Wilderness Rim!
July 2014 Annual Meeting Ballot Election Results
TOTAL BALLOTS CAST: 91 (15% of membership)
ELECTED TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES – Three Year Term
Chris Hardy
Ben Larson
Jeff Sowell
ELECTION OF ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE – One Year Term
Jessica Besso
Steve McDonald
Doug Greathouse
Fernando Platin, Jr.
Leslie Kreher
Matt Rourke
| 1) Approve the 2013 Annual Meeting Minutes | YES | 89% | |||||
| 2) Approve the Feb 2014 Special Meeting Minutes | YES | 86% | |||||
| 3) Approve the 2014-2015 Budget | YES | 84% | |||||
| 4) Approve Assessment for Security Patrol for 2014-2015 | YES | 64% | |||||
| 4a) Should #4 pass, vote for the 2014-2015 amount per lot: $40 | YES | 73% | |||||
| 5) Authorize capital expenditure to replace the Chalet roof without special assessment (Bylaw 3.2.6): | YES | 75% | |||||
| Amendments to WRA Bylaws require 67.67% to Pass | |
| 6) Bylaw Amendment #1: Intro Reference to RCW 64.38 | Passed 90% |
| 7) Bylaw Amendment #2.2 Voting By Mail | Passed 94% |
| 8) Bylaw Amendment #3.1.1 Board Powers and # of Trustees | Passed 70% |
| 9) Bylaw Amendment #3.1.2 Trustee term limited to one-year | Failed 43% |
| 10) Bylaw Amendment #3.1.7 Limit Check Signing Term | Passed 88% |
| 11) Bylaw Amendment #3.1.8 Prevent Trustee Compensation | Passed 93% |
| 12) Bylaw Amendment #3.1.13 Strengthens criminal act penalty | Passed 81% |
| 13) Bylaw Amendment #3.1.15 Protects WRA from trustees violating Bylaws | Passed 80% |
| 14) Bylaw Amendment #3.1.16 Protects WRA from trustees violating Bylaws | Passed 77% |
| 15) Bylaw Amendment #3.1.17 Candidate assurance of Bylaw compliance | Passed 83% |
| 16) Bylaw Amendment #3.2.4 Clarifies trustees’ responsibilities | Passed 85% |
| 17) Bylaw Amendment #3.2.5 WRA Real Property provision | Passed 78% |
| 18) Bylaw Amendment #3.2.10 Compliance with RCW | Passed 92% |
| 19) Bylaw Amendment #3.2.11 Requires audit every 4 years | Passed 87% |
| 20) Bylaw Amendment #3.3.0 Restricts officers from acting without Board | Failed 53% |
| 21) Bylaw Amendment #3.3.2 Restricts V.P. from acting without Board | Failed 53% |
| 22) Bylaw Amendment #3.3.3 Restricts Sec. from acting without Board | Failed 57% |
| 23) Bylaw Amendment #3.3.5 Limits secretary to one officer position | Passed 82% |
| 24) Bylaw Amendment #3.3.6 Limits officers to chairing one committee | Passed 76% |
| 25) Bylaw Amendment #4.1.0 Timing of Annual Meeting to Sept. | Passed 81% |
| 26) Bylaw Amendment #4.1.1 Requires CPA for financial reports | Passed 85% |
| 27) Bylaw Amendment #4.3 Clarifies quorum requirement | Passed 84% |
| 28) Bylaw Amendment #4.4 Changes Board meeting to third Wed. | Passed 90% |
| 29) Bylaw Amendment #4.5 Announcing special meeting of the Board | Passed 91% |
| 30) Bylaw Amendment #4.6 Clarifies Vote By Mail procedure | Passed 88% |
| 31) Bylaw Amendment #5.1.6 Updates communication methods | Passed 91% |
| 32) Bylaw Amendment #5.1.9 Clarifies Committee responsibilities | Passed 87% |
| 33) Bylaw Amendment #5.1.10 Request for Proposal procedure | Passed 84% |
| 34) Bylaw Amendment #5.2.2 Clarifies trustee financial duties | Passed 89% |
| 35) Bylaw Amendment #5.2.3 Adds Website to Communications | Passed 92% |
| 36) Bylaw Amendment #7.1 Clarifies Vote By Mail | Passed 90% |
| 37) Bylaw Amendment #7.2 To comply with RCW | Passed 80% |