MORE DETAIL ON PROPANE QUESTION

This is a follow up to the yet unanswered questions in a post below, and may or may not apply, but IS food for thought:

These declarants are setting up the subdivisions so that you are forced to purchase from vendors that they have financial arrangements with forever.

Look at the CCRs for Howard Ranch. Note any provisions obligating you to 1) install propane appliances, 2) purchase all of your propane forever from the specified propane vendor. Note that there is no obligation on the vendor to even be around tomorrow. However, the biggest concern is that propane is economically unregulated which means that they can charge you whatever they want to for propane and you have absolutely no choice but to grin and bear it.

(edit) This propane scam is occurring in subdivision after subdivision throughout central Texas. Natural gas is economically regulated - propane is not. You will have no choice as to vendor, quality, or price. If you attempt to utilize a different vendor, you can rest assured that you will be threatened with fines and foreclosure on your home by an action to enforce deed restrictions.

The HOA is the declarant's enforcement mechanism to force you to support the declarant's designated vendor. The declarant will likely control the HOA for quite some time. One might suspect that the propane vendor and declarant have a side deal that is not being disclosed to purchasers.

Although some industry-folks claim that deed restrictions preserve value, I guess you have to ask "for who?" This restriction has nothing to do with aesthetics, but rather is set up to trap residents into a particular vendor - forever. Aside from the possibility of being bilked while you are there, the habitability of your home will be tied to the welfare of the propane and water vendors. The marketability of your home will suffer if either vendor has a bad reputation, however, the converse is not true.

There are a number of companies going into the "business" of central propane systems because its extremely lucrative. The vendor has an absolute monopoly on an economically deregulated resource - propane. You won't realize you've been had until long after you move in.

Be very wary of those central propane systems. The argument is that they are "economic and efficient" or that they "benefit the community". However, they primarily benefit the declarant and vendors setting them up. Unless you have alternatives, they have zero incentive to please the customer on price, quantity, or quality.

In addition to the price per gallon for consumption, many of these vendors also require a monthly account fee for the privilege of maintaining your customer account. Most consumers are not able to tell whether they are being had because the monthly bill illustrates consumption as gaseous cubic feet (like natural gas), but propane is priced on a per liquid gallon basis.

Think about it and why the system was set up.

PROPANE PRICE

At a recent neighborhood get-together, an owner took me aside to explain how, upset by what he considered to be the price of propane, he had done some investigation. Sharp Energy told him that there was an add-on to our price by the owner of the pipeline which supplies us. This was confirmed by a spokesperson for Spanish Oaks: "Ray Welsh owns Hill Country Gas, LP (the entity that owns the gas lines in the neighborhood). Hill Country contracts with Sharp to deliver propane and maintain the system. I've been meeting with Mr. Welsh and am meeting with Sharp this week to get this all sorted out - some things may be rumor and others fact. When I have all the answers, I will send the info out to all the property owners."

STORMS!

A chain of thunderstorms with large hail and radar-indicated funnel clouds leading to possible tornadoes swept the Austin metro last night. It seems we were pretty lucky as most of the damaging potential was just north of the city.

However, the pictures above show S.O. East entrance wasn't fully spared. Pictures by Shae Riley, taken very early this morning.

WELCOME TO SPANISH OAKS

Another in a continuing series of welcomes to Spanish Oaks by the HOA was held yesterday eve at the beautiful home of Trish and Bruce Hamilton.

Although I met the new neighbors I have an amazing inability to remember full names, especially when given in a loud atmosphere. Forgive me for not labeling them. Pam Chandler told us that there were several families on the cusp of moving in, so our community is surely growing.

Several of us began a campaign for a pistol range. If you shoot, and have been to Carter Country in Houston, you know how it can be done. Basically you need a good backdrop of dirt to stop the bullets and a horseshoe of dirt to defect any noise from reaching the surroundings.

HIGHWAY 71 PLANS

Are available in detail... click on link at the top of the right column.

ACCIDENT?

Reports of an accident at or near the WEST entrance this morning, reportedly at 8:15 in the fog and rain. We've been unable to get details.

AN ALMOST ACCIDENT

Count me lucky! After breakfast in Lakeway Sunday morning, we stopped for mail (east entrance, first parking space). I handed it to Terri, checked behind me driverside, passenger side, started to backup then a piece of mail she had caught my eye as I stepped on the brake to look. Just then, an SUV zoomed up the street behind us (my view obscured by a large bush) - I am certain had I continued without stopping to see the mail piece I would have been hit hard, T-boned at worst.

One solution would be to use parking space 3 as it gives a better view and more reaction time.

I couldn't see who it was or even catch them to see... but whoever you are, you are lucky too. Even when there's no injury, there's a whole world of hassle getting a car towed, fixed, etc. Deductibles apply. Inconvenience. Time spent. A big pain.

Everybody - watch out for folks backing out of the kiosk parking - there's a blind spot.

Writing of blindness, long ago I blogged with picture of the blind spot which can happen if you are turning out of the east entrance left (west) and your view of the car speeding downhill is blocked by a car turning into S.O. - you see ONE car, think it's clear, and boot it. Surprise!

Another is headed east uphill - I saw this the other day - the car in the inner lane was turning left, had stopped, but didn't have a turn signal or brake lights lit. It took a little time to realize he/she was stopped! If I had been tailgated or the outer lane was blocked...

Even another situation is when you are turning into the east entrance from the east... car behind you waits to pull over to the outer lane too long - and the car behind him isn't paying attention. You get hit.

We've all been lucky or have grown extra senses. If I had a teen just starting out, I'd sure read this to them, maybe show it in real life. There are several unusual situations lurking out there even for experienced drivers.

WHERE ARE THE "WEEKLY EMAILS"?

There haven't been any lately. There 'isn't any news.' Hard to believe, maybe, in a project this size that there isn't anything worthwhile to communicate, but that's what I've been able to learn.

Originally conceived as a way to help build a sense of the neighborhood/community, information became a trickle, then a drip.

I built this blog to counter what I thought to be poor info management and I believe it can still act as an electronic newspaper for those who care about or have invested in Spanish Oaks. Some must - there have been over 30,000 views of something or other in here to date.

And yes, it also serves as commentary, much like a newspaper has editorials.

We may be at the stage where encouraging your contributions to the blog would result in some added content. To that I say, bring it on - my email address is at the top of the right hand column. However, to be real, my experience in the media tells me that very few participate in anything involving creativity or time.

Ironically, there was a call for the HOA website to contain a forum which I built; however, it's almost never used. See my "However..." immediately above.

I ask that anything you think worthy to contribute be emailed to me, know that I do reserve the right to edit, and please don't send things anonymously. Of course, your option is to wait for the 'weekly' email.

SPANISH OAKS CLUB BOULEVARD ROCKS!!!

The situation in a nutshell (and nuts is a great starting place!) Trucks rolled over the center island buffalo grass, as they apparently (?) couldn't make the turn in the radius presented. So (this goes back some time) a wooden fence was attempted.

Then it was replaced by small rocks (have I got the chronology right?) then they were replaced by larger rocks. Then they were taken away. This is over months. And now we have another realtor open house Sunday and suddenly much bigger rocks are back!

It looks ridiculous. Cheap. Hello, management, you can do better.

BEE CAVE PARK

We knew it was proposed - a new Bee Cave Park - but where? Part of the confusion was cleared last night as we attended the meeting about Highway 71 - there, in the lobby of Bee Cave City Hall, was a sketch of the park. What cleared up is that the road shown on it doesn't exist yet - Bee Cave Parkway will extend from where it exists now (onto 620) to eventually link up with Hamilton Pool Road.

On this sketch I've inserted some text to help align your view. Click here to see it in full screen.

HIGHWAY 71

By now you know - due to pretty compete media coverage, that the 71 enhancements are underway - what you might not know - especially if not in the area (absentee lot owners, for example) is that the area of immediate concern/number of deaths is considerably west of here. Our issues will be part of another project - from Oak Hill (The Y) to beyond S.O. That's if and when. If it's funded and when it can be done.

Roadway money is hard to come by in Texas.

THE BACKYARD

Last night at the Bee Cave Council Meeting, the Backyard presented a preliminary plan to move to the NW corner of 620 and 71 (behind the church). A 7500 seat facility is proposed, with parking for 2500 cars. If you've endured the present silly parking scheme, you might leap for joy. Good to see it's not moving FAR away.
It's still in the early stages (ha!)

EAST VERSUS WEST

While waiting, we measured. The west gate, from beep of the scanner to fully open, is about 4 seconds slower than the east. It's about 14 vs. 18 seconds. According to one of the guards, the west side gate actually lifts then opens, though we've not noticed that as it takes a few seconds to get there from the 'pad.'

Let's push for a fix to the remaining dip right as you exit the east entrance gate. They did a nice repair job on the other one down by the bridge. One down, one to go.

WHITE CAT LOST

We're missing a White Cat with 24 toes, if anybody has seen him, this neutered male cat belongs to Taylor Skinner, age 14 at 4813 Mondonedo Cove. If you find him, please call Taylor 627-6332

MISSED THE FIRST PHOTO

Walking the neighborhood this perfect afternoon, my mind wandered despite the choke chain. There were many good smells and many new shades of grey. So I failed to notice the snake thing in the street ahead and I didn't alert Bob, who was lost in his own thoughts. It's a good thing he went to the bathroom before our walk. He did see the last little bit of slither into the grass and we avoided the area.

Jessie Wood

TIME STRETCHES FOR WARNER

Pretty heavy duty stuff but a truck probably ran over it exposing the shield. Of course this is on rock, so they'd have some work to circumvent it.



This is my favorite, because for months the box was wide open! If you were ever a ten year old boy, you know the magnetism of an open box of 'stuff' - heck, once we found an unlocked traffic control box. Imagine the fun!

Well, there may or may not be any harmful voltage or amps in there, but the door swung open for months before someone closed it. However, they had this nasty cable to route. Nicely done.



More cable susceptible to whatever comes along. Did you know a new york rat can eat through concrete?

It's not that hard to find above ground cables in S.O. I assume these are TW, or somebody could conceivably do a dance with Mister Amp. Does anybody inspect this place with an eye for these things which are all too obvious and allowed to stand for YEARS?

(These are on Musket Rim - an early part of the development, so they've been there for at least three years.)

(Aside to "anonymous" who thinks I am pulling down the value of the homes by pointing these things out: this is reality.)

YOU DON'T NEED WATER FOR A POOL PARTY

Some anonymous ticked off owner left a nice contribution of vitroil over in the comments section of Sarcasm Oaks. Thinks the blog can affect his or her property values. I don't think the Fed can even do that. Put a bb in a glass jar and shake. That's the brain power being generated.

I say let's bring back Benjamin Franklin and prop him up at the east gate guardhouse. Maybe add a little perspective to what stands behind free speech.

MEANWHILE the blowout was great last night, a soft opening (bad title) a hose opening (better) of the Lodge and camp. Wish I had been drinking as I spied some mighty fine selections there in the bar. Mighty fine.

Here are some random pictures. For the archives. The pool should be ready to swim on July 4.

SARCASM OAKS

I write a blog for the locals - as 12th or 14th into this development, we've sure seen it grow while the developers were and continue to be very weak at communication - in my opinion. This gave me the idea of a blog which would basically serve as a newspaper/ organ (ahem) for the folks who were interested or bought in. This is that blog.

Well, there's certainly some political correctness necessary, even though I've been consistent in my opinion (hey, a newspaper has opinion pages!) which centers around my perception of mismanagement in various nitpicks plus the big one - lack of info flow to owners.

So far, I am the communications person (voluntary) for the development - as such - any emails sent out must be to an opt-in list and also vetted by the bigs at the Board of Directors or their assigns. Once almost weekly, they have trickled down to almost none. Frustration builds.

This leads to an Electric Onion approach toward it all... and a new website with a title that I feel explains it all. Nothing is true. All is fair game and in the spirit of tongue deeply in cheek. See Welcome to SARCASM OAKS! The active link will be at the top right side of this site. Please come visit, add ideas, smile.

71 INFO FROM CITIZENS FOR CHANGE ON 71

CAMPO Public Hearing: Monday, March 17th 6pm. CC71 will be on the official agenda to request funding for improvements on Hwy. 71. Location of hearing will be at the UT Thompson Center. Public comments will also be welcome from citizens regarding Uplands Ridge Boulevard to Preserve Way on Hwy. 71. http://www.campotexas.org/

comment:

Haven't we been told by legislators and reps that THERE ISN'T ANY MONEY for this and even if there was it'd take 5 years or more to complete? - Envoironmental studies, bids, design, construction process...

Nevertheless:

Texas Department of Transportation

SH 71 Action Plan

Limits: US 290 to FM 2322

After a review of roadway and accident data the following activities are proposed:

Immediately contract to roughen roadway surface in areas where wet weather related fatality accidents have occurred except for those areas already resurfaces with a porous friction course pavement. This region is from FM 2322 to Bee Creek Road (Approximately 6 miles). This activity is estimated to be complete within 30 days.

Immediately contract to rest ripe entire length of SH 71 from US 290 to FM 2322 including replacing raised pavement markers. Rumble striping will be used to alert drivers when crossing the center line or edge lines. (Approximate length 18 miles). This activity is estimated to be complete within 60 days.

Immediately contract to place porous friction course pavement in the area where bad wet weather related fatality accidents have occurred and not previously placed. This region is from FM 2322 to Bee Creek Road (Approximately 6 miles). This activity is estimated to be complete by the end of the summer.

Conduct traffic speed study for the entire SH 71 corridor from US 290 to FM 2322 and reduce speed limits where justified under the legal criteria for setting speed limits. The study is estimated to be complete within 10 days and signs installed within 45 days.

Place additional warning signs and flashing beacons where warranted. This activity is estimated to be complete within 60 days.

The total cost for the above activities is estimated to be $3 million.

Longer term activities include:

Bid project in fall of 2008 to construct a continuous left turn lane and add shoulders from FM 2322 to R.O. Drive Estimated Cost: $7 million

Continue to seek funds to add a continuous left turn lane and add shoulders for the remaining portions of the corridor.

71

Bob, I am sure you have heard about this. My cousin is friends with the family of this girl. It is such a terrible story, and to make matters more horrible, I was told that the girl's sibling was also killed in a car accident two years ago.

The guy that hit her was going 110 miles per hour! She was on the far outside lane, where her parents had told her she would be safest if someone crossed the yellow line. The driver survived.

This road is SO VERY dangerous as it is, so why would someone drive so fast on it? I don't travel the road a lot (yet) so I am not sure how much the police patrol it, but it seems to me that if they had a huge presence on that road, people would be more conscious of how fast they are going. I have already told my family how dangerous this road is and to be cautious when they visit us in the future. I would hate to think that "budget" and trying to preserve a small part of the environment would take such precedence over human lives.

Student killed in crash on Highway 71


04:28 PM CST on Monday, March 3, 2008


KVUE News, A Lake Travis High School student was killed over the weekend in the ninth deadly accident on a dangerous stretch of Highway 71 just west of Bee Creek, Texas Department of Public Safety officials said., Lake Travis High School, Michelle Kaughs, The accident happened Sunday night around 10 o'clock., One person was killed in a one vehicle accident., Lake Travis ISD identified the victim in a letter sent to parents Monday as Michelle Kaughs, a Lake Travis High School junior. The district said she was heading home from work., “I know that the care and strength of our school and community will help sustain us during this difficult time of grief and healing, ” LTHS Principal Charlie Little said in a news release. “We ask that you please keep the Kauhs family in your thoughts and prayers.”, Counselors were available to talk to students and staff., Eight people have died on that stretch of road since 2006.

Cathi Rustmann