Home Owner Association

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2021 Board Election Information

The 2021 Village Creek Board of Directors Election is coming up fast.

Candidates interested in running must submit the Questionnaire Form, linked below, to Crest Management, no later than 5pm on Jun 17.

Link: Candidate Questionnaire

No nominations will be accepted after June 17, 2021, not will they be accepted at the annual meeting in July.

If you have any questions about the elections or the board, contact Crest Management via their website, or contact the board and manager via our contact form.

2018 Independent Audit

Click the Download Audit button at bottom of the page to view or download the 2018 Independent Audit.

If you have any questions, you may direct them to Crest Management, and/or the Board of Directors, using the Contact page.

 

Frequently Asked Questions…

An independent, professional auditor, Elaine Combs CPA.

The Village Creek Board of Directors initiated an audit in mid 2019, shortly after switching from Spectrum Management to Crest Management.

The Board of Directors developed a mistrust of the previous management company, Spectrum, who paid numerous invoices without first getting approval of the board.

Spectrum served as the association’s management company for several years, and before most if not all current board members were elected.  Spectrum was replaced in 2019, shortly after issues came to light.

Unfortunately, Spectrum had contractual authority to spend money on behalf of the association, without board approval.  The new management company, Crest, does not have this same level of authority.

In short, the auditor found that the associations financial records for 2018 are “fair and accurate”. This simply means that all the accounts and numbers add up.  Nothing was misstated or entered incorrectly.

It is important to understand that an audit cannot determine if the associated did, or did not, pay too much for something… only that something was paid for, and it all adds up correctly.

Note “H” in audit mentions $49,000 in unapproved invoices.  Did we lose $49,000, or some part of it?

There’s little doubt that Spectrum Management was sloppy in the way they managed the association’s finances. 

As a result, some money was certainly spent that didn’t need to be. 

Some of it was recovered, some was not.

For a better understanding, let’s break things down into 4 categories…

  1. Money was paid out, and then later recovered.
    • Landscaper charged, and was paid, sales tax for several months, totaling about $7,000. Village Creek HOA is a tax exempt organization.  So this amount was recovered in full, and sales tax was removed from future invoices.
    • It was somewhat shady on the part of landscaper, that the sales tax was included in the invoice total, and not shown as a separate line item.  This made it hard to spot.  It was noticed by a board member who, on a hunch, did some math and discovered the invoices were exactly 8.25% too high.
  2. Money was paid out, and work was done, yet was potentially overpriced.
    • Landscaper did substantial emergency irrigation repairs, totaling about $22,000. This was a pretty large project, so the price is likely in the ball park.  However, because the HOA did not have the opportunity to get 3 bids, the work may have been overpriced… to what degree we’ll never know.  A significant amount of necessary and urgent work was performed, but we potentially overpaid.
    • Numerous smaller invoices were also paid out by Spectrum over the years, such as insurance, electric bills, rental fees for meeting room, and so on.  It is impossible to say at this stage, whether the association received fair pricing, or overpaid, for any of those services.
  3. Money was paid out, and not recovered.
    • Landscaper charged an unauthorized “initial cleanup” fee of about $10,000, plus an “addendum” of about $10,000. So there was about $20,000 paid to the landscaper, without board approval.  Work was done at an extra cost, which should have been included as part of the original contract.
  4. Money lost or missing.
    • According to the audit, no money was lost or missing.

In summary, Spectrum cost the association a lot of money.  It is difficult to know exactly how much.

Once it was discovered, the board quickly issued an order to Spectrum, preventing them from spending any money without board approval.

Then the board sought out legal advice, as well as began a search for a new management company.

Three separate law firms advised against attempting to recover any funds, since it would likely cost more than we’d recover, and besides that, the case was weak.

The board sought legal advice from three separate law firms, and the auditor, plus our new management company (Crest).

All 5 firms agreed that Spectrum had the authority to pay the invoices, based on their contract.  Taking legal action to recover the money would easily cost more than we’d potentially recover.  And we’d likely lose the case anyway.

As result of that advice, the board voted to close the issue and move forward.

Some resulting changes since dealing with this issue include the following…

    1. New management company, Crest Management
    2. New landscape company, Landcrafters
    3. New law firm, Roberts Markel Weinberg Butler Hailey PC
    4. New pool management company, Aquatic Management
    5. New, stricter processes for authorizing payments
  • Residents should make an effort to attend meetings, at least periodically.
  • You can contact either Crest Management and/or the Board of Directors at anytime, using the Contact form at www.villagecreek.us.

2020 Pool Season

Village Creek Community Association

2020 Pool Season

This letter is to update the Village Creek homeowners and residents on the 2020 pool season and
how the COVID-19 has changed it from our normal with the following key points:

➢ First and foremost, the pool will be open for use on June 6, 2020 (06/06/2020) under these key points, guidelines, and stipulations.

➢ While the pool company has lifeguards ready, we are not sure if that means they are ready at this moment.

➢ Once the pool is able to open, the 25% capacity policy will be implemented and enforced to ensure the safety of everyone – meaning only 36 people will be allowed in the pool area at any given time. Should this increase throughout the county, we will follow suit. To update everyone and avoid confusion in the future, there will either be a small red or green flag indicating whether or not capacity has been met. If you see the green flag, please feel free to proceed to the pool safely, but if you see red, it means that capacity has been met and no more residents may be allowed entry at that time. In order to help us maintain this policy, we ask that no more than 5 people per family may enter, and please do not come to the pool if you are sick!

➢ We will try our best to add reminder signs and tape off areas that follow the 6’ rule where families can gather together and remain at a safe distance. This will include a sign on the restroom doors limiting entry to one family or person at a time. While it may be the friendly thing to do, playing in groups of people you do not know closely, is not recommended.

➢ If you would like to bring your own chairs, please feel free, but association furniture cannot be used and must remain stacked at all times as we cannot promise a steady and safe disinfection. Please also be sure to bring your own water and/or drinks as the water fountain will also not be open for use. Please also be sure to bring your own hand sanitizers as none will be provided.

➢ The splash pad will remain closed, per the CDC recommendation, and it will be updated as the recommendations update.

➢ Last but far from least, we ask that homeowners and residents be kind, thoughtful, and gracious to the lifeguards, the Board, and the pool management company as we move into this “new normal” as it has been called. We are all doing our best within our power to ensure a safe and comfortable situation for the residents and homeowners in the community. Please take caution and do what is in the best interest for your family, and the public health.

If you do not already have access cards and wish to obtain them, please go to www.Crest-management.com, and find the Access Card Request Form in the Village Creek community page under Community Documents, then Public Forms. The first card is free while any replacement or additional cards are $25, so long as you are current in your HOA assessment. If you wish to receive your cards in person from our office, there is an additional $20 fee per family.

The Pool Rules and Splash Park Rules can be found on the Crest Management website in the Village Creek community page as well. Go to “Communities” at the top of the page and search for Village Creek Community Association. You can find the documents under “Community
Documents” then “Public Forms.”

Please see the next page for your pool schedule.
Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact your Crest Management team, Pam and Kendall with the information below.

Kendall, Assistant Manager of the Association
Direct Phone: (281) 945-4613
Email: Kendall@crest-management.com
Pam, Manager of the Association
Direct Phone: (281) 945-4618
Email: Pam@crest-management.com

Sincerely,

Village Creek Community Association
Board of Directors

The 2020 pool schedule is as follows, subject to Harris County and Texas state orders, laws,
and codes:

June 6th – June 30th
Tuesday – Sunday 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm

July
Independence Day 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Tuesday – Sunday 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm

August 1st – 16th
Tuesday – Sunday 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm

August 18th – 31st
Monday – Friday CLOSED
Saturday – Sunday 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm

September 1st – 5th
Monday – Friday CLOSED
Saturday – Sunday 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm

September 6th and 7th
Sunday 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Labor Day 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm

2020 Easter Egg Hunt (revised plan)

Live Bunny Tracker will be available Sunday, April 12.

Note: Live Bunny Tracker will show location of Chimeria Gonzalez, who has volunteered to be the GPS source.

2020 Easter Egg Hunt has been revised to account for Social Distancing.

Instead of finding eggs in a field, we’ll find eggs placed in windows of homes around the neighborhood.

Step 1: Register by filling out the form at the bottom of this page. (registration has ended)

Step 2: Place a picture of an egg in your window or on your door.  You can draw freehand and color it however you like.  Or print an egg from online.

Step 3: Take the family out and walk the neighborhood between April 5 and 12, and hunt for eggs.  Take along pen and paper, or your phone, to take note of egg addresses.

Watch for the Easter Bunny on April 5 and again April 12th.

Easter Bunny’s route will start at pool house, circle the neighborhood, then return to pool house.

Maintain Social Distancing during the hunt.

Check back to this page for more details as they become available.

2020 Covid19 Information

Neighbors,

This morning County Judge Lina Hidalgo, with the support of Mayor Turner, issued a mandatory “Stay Home. Stay Safe.” order that will start tonight, Mar 24, at 11:59pm. The order will be valid until April 3rd at the very least.

An important aspect of the order is the closing of our community parks and facilities. You can still take walks on sidewalks and trails. However, anything you “touch” is closed. This includes the basketball court, play forts, little library box, and even our various tables and benches.

The order makes sure to list the Essential Businesses that will continue to be open and function. These sectors are determined by the Federal Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency and is outlined at https://www.cisa.gov/identifying-critical-infrastructure-during-covid-19.

The order includes “Work Safe” provisions for Essential Businesses remaining open, to include maintaining six-foot social distancing to the greatest extent possible. Additional guidelines on Work Safe will be made available later by Harris County and we will provide you with those updates as soon as they become available. You may also check our website for updates, information and a list of member restaurants that are still open and need your help. You can find that page at https://www.houstonnwchamber.org/coronavirus-resources/.  

We understand the severity of what is currently occurring in our community. If there is anything we can do to help you, please do not hesitate to ask. We are here for you during this crisis and we will be here for you when this storm passes.

Committee Positions – Join Now!

Hey Neighbors,

Do you want to be more involved in keeping Village Creek at its best?

Do you have NEW IDEAS that you’d like to share?

Village Creek has several opportunities for you to get directly involved, as a volunteer, or even as a committee chairman.

Look through the following committees to see what interests you the most.

– Social Events
– Infrastructure (Facilities)
– Landscape
– Pool
– Media (Website, Signs, FB, etc)
– Architectural Review

Those who are interested, go to www.villagecreek.us and use the Contact page.

Thank you,
Board of Directors

2019 Holiday Decorating Contest Winner

Best Overall
17818 Scarlet Forest Drive

Most Festive
17423 Sunset Arbor Drive

Most Traditional
17122 Ligustrum Trail

Kids’ Choice
17107 Ligustrum Trail

Honorable Mention
17518 Sunset Arbor Drive
12635 Midland Creek Drive
12838 Carriage Glen Drive
12806 Sienna Trails Drive
17223 Cobble Shores Drive

2019 Village Creek Board Elections

Download: 2019 VCCA Voting Proxy

  

To Village Creek Residents:

At the Annual Meeting on July 15, 2019, two community members will be elected to fill vacant seats on the Board. 

To comply with Texas State Law, we will need to have a quorum of 75  at the meeting.  This quorum can consist of 75 members of the community (one from each household) or 75 proxies (or a combination of the two).  To comply with the law, you may attend the meeting or send your proxy as mail, or scan or photograph it and send it in by email.  The Board cannot proceed with this election or make any decisions without a quorum of 10% of the homes (75). 

You may vote 1 of 2 ways.

  1. Attend the meeting to vote for a candidate directly.  The meeting will be held July 15, 2019 at 6:30PM at The Venue, located next to Cafe Marrese at 11729 Spring Cypress (about a mile east of Village Creek).   
     
  2. Submit a proxy vote, which you can download via link at top of this article. If you wish to be represented by proxy, you will need to send in your proxy selecting one of the choices to represent you. 

Note that currently two candidates (Cynthia Moody and Lynn Lehmann) are running.  A person can also announce his or her candidacy at the meeting.  

Send your filled-in and signed proxies to either the email address or the United States Postal Service mail address below:

pam.hummel@crest-management.com

Pam Hummel
Crest Management Company, AAMC
17171 Park Row, Suite 310
Houston, Texas 77084

Crest Management Company


Neighbors,

Several months ago, due to concerns over the cost and quality of service from Spectrum Management, the board began seeking, and requesting proposals from, other management companies.

We also invited Spectrum to submit a new proposal, along with the others. Not surprisingly, they elected to withdraw themselves from consideration.

In total, we contacted and compared 9 other candidates, including our 2 management companies prior to Spectrum. We narrowed our search to 3 finalists, which we then met with, and interviewed in detail. After research, discussions, interviews, and follow up questions, the board has selected Crest Management Company.
www.crest-management.com

Crest will begin management duties starting April 1, 2019.

Some of the key benefits from the change are listed below…

  • Lower base rate and fees (up to $10,000 potential savings per year)
  • Larger, older company, with more experience and resources
  • Improved systems and controls over spending and approval process
  • Simpler fee structure for dues, collections, and other HOA business
  • Very experienced manager, Pam Hummel, handling our account
  • Friendlier contract, which we can cancel anytime, for any reason

If you have any questions or concerns, please attend our community meeting on Monday, March 18, 6:30PM at The Venue on Spring Cypress.

Or contact the board using our new website form page HERE.

Note that March 18 will be the final meeting under Spectrum Management. Crest will attend after April 1, beginning with the April 15 meeting.

POOL & SPLASH PAD
Opens: Memorial Day Wknd
Closes: Sept (date pending)
Hours: 10am – 8pm
Closed Mondays for Maint.

Signup for Email Notices

Pool Cards: Request Form


PARKS & BASKETBALL CT
Hours: 8am to 8pm Daily