Nottingham Country Newsletter

NOTTINGHAM HAPPENINGS

For the benefit of some of our neighbors who have moved to Nottingham Country the past few years, a brief history of the subdivision and facilities is in order.

Your homeowner’s association, NCCIA, is managed by a group of very committed volunteers that live within the community. The board consists of eight elected directors and at this time we are seeking to fill one vacant position. The association owns two parcels of land within Nottingham Country. The first being a park that was developed after NCCIA purchased the property from our utility district, MCUD. This park is located on Rennie Drive just south of Kingsland and features nearly five acres of trees and facilities for almost every age group. During the past few years we have added playground equipment, a jogging track, picnic tables, upgraded the drainage and continue to try to make additional improvements to the facility. Nottingham residents are welcome to use the facility during park hours which are posted on the signs at the park. If a homeowner wishes to reserve the facility for some event, they may do so by contacting SCS Management at 281-463-1777. The management company will provide the rules for reserving and cleaning the facility after usage.

Our utility district owns and operates the Community Center located at the corner of Houghton and Kingsland. All taxpayers of MCUD can enjoy the facilities and are invited to contact MCUD at 281-578-7272 for details. MCUD has done an excellent job in renovating the clubhouse, pool and tennis courts. The clubhouse can also be reserved for events. Again, contact MCUD for complete details.

At the intersection of Fry Road and Highland Knolls there is a large greenbelt area known as Greenbelt Park. This facility is owned and was developed by the Nottingham Country MUD which is the MUD for only Section 10 of Nottingham Country along with University Park and some of the neighboring Kelliwood subdivisions. NCCIA has no control or responsibility for Greenbelt Park. The park is open to the public for usage subject to the limitations posted on the park signage. Presently the park has a large jogging trail and other limited facilities but there are plans to add additional equipment there in the future.

For many years NCCIA had the responsibility of negotiating the solid waste trash pickup contract for NC. During those years homeowners received semi-annual statements for trash pick up. This past year, Mason Creek Utility District, which covers only Sections 1 through 9 of NC along with the commercial areas along the service road of I-10, took over the management of the solid waste contract. This was a tremendous benefit to NCCIA and the homeowners of NC in that the MUD was able negotiate a lower rate for our trash pickup since they were paying the vendor direct as opposed to individual homeowners making payments to the vendor. Additionally it was determined that at any given time approximately 75 NC homeowners had no trash pickup as they had not paid their bill in a timely manner. We can only imagine what those homeowners were doing with their trash! Now every homeowner in NC is billed for trash pickup which is on the monthly water and sewage bill from MCUD and there is a savings for all.

Sections 1, 2 and 3 of NC are unique in that they have alleyways behind the homes. Outside of the Fleetwood Subdivision, which was also developed by the Kickerillo Company, I am not aware of any other subdivision in Harris County with alleyways. While there are advantages and disadvantages of alleyways, their existence has been a source of great consternation for NCCIA boards the past 25 years or so. The ownership of the alleyways remains questionable but the Deed Restrictions for those three sections clearly place the responsibility for maintenance on the homeowner’s association. While NCCIA has maintained them for years, a survey of the storm sewers which lie below some of the alleyways was conducted a few years ago and it showed major problems in some of the storm sewer lines. Questions arose as to who was responsible for the storm lines below the alleyway surfaces. NCCIA was facing major prohibitive costs to repair the storm sewers and pavement in the alleyways, a cost that could have bankrupted the Association. Upon researching the project it was determined that the MUD could support a portion of the project as it relates specifically to drainage and storm sewer water control and they stepped up and agreed to assist us in the cost of repairing the storm sewers. By the end of this year all of the work on the storm sewers and alleyways in Sections 1, 2 and 3 should be completed which should resolve the problem for years to come.

Finally, on another subject matter, we are at that time of year when we all dread the thought of going out and mowing and watering the yard. Unfortunately it must be done. We are seeing many yards that are not being mowed weekly and are in need of watering. They are an eyesore for the whole community. Water is expensive but not as expensive as re-sodding a yard. Please keep your yards watered and mowed. The management company will continue to cite homeowners who do not maintain their yards.

Don Mach
NCCIA President and Legal Liaison

Yard of the Month Returns!

Many of you have asked why we no longer have a Yard of the Month in Nottingham Country. Well, WE DO!

We will start the new Yard of the Month Program beginning in August. The Board is currently in negotiations with Outback Steak House to sponsor this program and possibly award dinner certificates to the winners. More on that at a later date. Two individuals from our Volunteer group have offered to be the judges. Here is how it will work:

We will honor one yard per month on alternating sides of the Creek. This, for the current time, is one yard for the entire neighborhood. It is still a lot of territory for two people to cover. We will have the Yard of the Month awarded April through October and again in December. During the Christmas Season, we will have three houses on each side of the Creek – first, second and third places.

The house and the yard must show outstanding maintenance.

This will be a difficult job for our volunteers. I know it will because as I drive through our neighborhood I realize that there are many beautiful yards and houses.

If you would like to be a judge for Yard of the Month, please let me know by going to the website and sending me an email.

Carol Neef Brown

Cooperation:

Security is a community effort. The Constable’s contract assures that sufficient numbers of officers are available for a rapid enforcement response and to spend time patrolling Nottingham Country. But primary responsibility for security comes from daily cooperation among the residents.

1. Be vigilant and report unusual persons and vehicles to 281-463-6666, the Constable’s Officers will respond promptly to investigate.

2. Stay informed, current investigations will soon be posted on the website. If you can contribute information, contact the Constable’s office at the number above. A recent string of automobile burglaries committed by NC residents was closed with the assistance of residents.

3. Respect the rules. The Park has rules and the few recalcitrant individuals who choose not to respect the rules will be ticketed by the officers and summoned to County Court.

With over 2400 homes in NC, the Constable’s officers will provide better safety and security if all of us do our part to assist them.

Ken Gentile
NCCIA Security Director