BexarMet dissolution, irrigation repairs top POA meeting
Costly plans to replace this community’s antiquated irrigation system and the San Antonio Water System’s (SAWS) acquisition of BexarMet were key issues discussed during Wednesday’s annual meeting of the Stone Oak Property Owners Association. An update of Stone Oak’s financial standing and the reelection of six members of the POA’s Board of Directors also occurred during the sparsely-attended meeting at Holy Trinity Catholic Church.
Sandy Whitley of Sonterra, Viki Melton of Big Springs and Ken Piland of Mesa Grande will each represent Stone Oak’s residential members for another two-year term. Representatives for three of the board’s commercial members -- Falcon Bank, North Central Baptist Hospital and JP Morgan Chase Bank – were also reelected for another two years. No other candidates were nominated.
With the election complete, POA representatives went on to provide an update on the past year and announced plans for 2012. The largest project the association plans to undertake is the refurbishment of Stone Oak’s aging irrigation system. Installed more than 20 years ago, the nearly 30 miles of sprinkler lines along Stone Oak’s 108 landscaped medians and public spaces have been plagued by leaks and disrepair for several years now.
“It’s in bad shape,” said Hugo Gutierrez, POA board member and chair of the Finance Committee.
The board plans to spend $250,000 to refurbish about 50 percent of the entire system. Aside from management fees, this will be the largest expenditure within the association’s $1.47 million 2012 budget, although water fees are expected to come in at a close second at $230,000. In 2011, Stone Oak spent nearly $262,000 on water, up from $110,000 the year before. Although the antiquated irrigation system is partially to blame, most of the increase was due to the ongoing drought plaguing south Texas.
“We’re bleeding water badly,” said Whitley.
On the plus side, Stone Oak did not lose any turf or trees to the drought, including the 37 mature oaks the POA relocated in 2010. Slated to be cut down by the city to make room for new turn lanes, the trees were spared and relocated by the association at a cost of $33,296. “All are alive and well,” board member Art Downey happily reported.
The POA is also planning to landscape the median of the Hardy Oak extension, which was recently constructed south of Knights Cross. The City of San Antonio has already committed 31 15-gallon trees for this project.
Other plans on the far horizon include the repaving of Stone Oak Parkway from Loop 1604 to Hwy 281, a handful of projects included in the 2012-2017 bond that will go before voters in May and the acquisition of BexarMet by the San Antonio Water System.
On Friday the U.S. Department of Justice is expected to approve the results of the November 2011 election in which 74 percent of BexarMet ratepayers voted to dissolve their water company and join SAWS. Joe Aceves, a former SAWS CEO recently hired to oversee the acquisition of BexarMet, relayed a promise during the POA meeting that Stone Oak will receive “as good or better service” by SAWS as they did with BexarMet.
SAWS’ first course of action is to transition BexarMet employees to SAWS, integrate the companies’ customer service departments and establish an Advisory Committee to ensure residents and businesses – particularly those outside city limits – are not without representation. SAWS also expects to conduct a thorough analysis of BexarMet’s water supply, contracts, infrastructure and finances, but a complete merger of the two utilities will not come quickly. Stone Oak residents, for instance, may still receive a separate water bill from BexarMet for the next six months.
“There are some serious budget challenges,” said Kelley Neumann, SAWS senior vice president of strategic resources. “We will need you to be patient with us.”
Wednesday's POA meeting included a report on area crime by SAPD SAFFE Sgt. Geraldo Hernandez as well. Car burglaries remain the most reported crime in the Stone Oak area, even within the gated communities. “It’s a false sense of security,” Hernandez said of the gates, which do not deter criminals. “If you want to keep your stuff, don’t leave it in your car.”
District 9 Councilwoman Elisa Chan ended the annual meeting with a brief presentation on her objectives for the coming year, including a plan to review how city services – particularly police officers – are distributed across the city. For years Stone Oak residents and business owners have requested a greater police presence in this area, but additional officers have come slowly thanks to the minimal number of violent crimes on the far north side.
“While we don’t have a lot of violent crime, we do have a lot of property crime,” said Chan. The councilwoman will provide more details about her objectives for 2012 during a town hall meeting at Parkhills Baptist Church Feb. 6.
