With freezing temperatures right around the corner, it’s a good time to refresh ourselves on precautionary measures for drops in temperature and cold weather.

The Four P’s to Prepare your Home this Winter:

• People
• Pets
• Pipes
• Plants

People

• Avoid going outside if it is not necessary. If you do, make sure you layer up from head to toe.
• To keep you and your family safe, it is imperative your home is warm.
• Make sure your heat is set to an appropriate temperature to make your entire home comfortable. Remember, heat rises so if you sleep upstairs, your room may be warmer than rooms downstairs.
• If you use a fireplace, make sure you have a screen to catch any embers that might escape or a rolling log.
• Never use your stove or oven to heat your home.
• If you smell smoke or see flames, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Pets

• While protecting your family, it is imperative to protect your pets as well.
• Pets, like humans, are vulnerable to cold temperatures. If not taken care of properly, they can succumb to frostbite and even hypothermia.
• If you have a dog that typically lives outdoors, consider letting them inside when temperatures drop to freezing. While their fur does help to keep them warm, it provides little help in freezing temperatures.
• If you absolutely cannot bring them inside, make sure they have a warm shelter, plenty of food and fresh water so it does not freeze.
• If your pet looks like it has any symptoms resembling frostbite or hypothermia, call your vet.

Pipes

• Turn off the sprinkler system shut-off valve. Most residential devices have two shut-off valves. These are typically covered in blue on the valve handles and located before and after the sprinkler system backflow device. A diagram is shown below.
• Release the water pressure from the bleeder valves. The bleeder valves are usually located under the top of the backflow device. If the water does not stop flowing you may have not shut the valves off completely.
• Leave the smaller bleeder valve open, this will let any remaining water in the line expand without breaking the device. Insulate your backflow device. Most hardware/home services stores carry backflow insulation supplies.
• Make sure to cover all your exposed pipes with a cover. You can also cover your pipes with towels, duct tape or another adhesive strip as long as they are wrapped tightly.
• You can also open up the cabinets to let warm air circulate throughout your home. Just make sure any harmful chemicals are out of reach for children and pets.

Plants

• When cold weather hits, it’s a good idea to bring in all of your outdoor plants.
• If you can’t bring in the plant, cover it with a blanket to make sure they do not die.

Other Tips

• Don’t forget to make sure your car is okay for the freezing temperatures. Check your anti-freeze and your batteries. Also make sure to check your tire pressure and the tread.
• Speaking of cars, make sure when you are on the road that you are mindful parts of the roads may be frozen, particularly bridges. Do not speed and never slam on the brakes.
• Make sure if you use a generator, it is outdoors. Do not use a generator inside, including in your garage.

Here are the major actions taken by the Board at the meeting:

• Reviewed an audit of developer expenditures and authorized reimbursement to Harborwalk L.P. of approximately $1.2 million from bond proceeds. This reimbursed Harborwalk L.P. for the cost of construction of water and wastewater lines in Harborwalk Section 6 and a portion of the cost of bulkheads in Harborwalk Section 6.
• Approved a budget for fiscal year ending March 31, 2021 prepared by Director Andries and the bookkeeper. This budget provides for more funds for maintenance and project expenses and less for administrative expenses. It is based on key assumptions and subject to change.
• At the request of the POA, approved the purchase and installation of surveillance signs on each canal.
• Voted against granting any tax exemptions for the 2020 tax year. This item is considered annually.
• Voted for a 20% penalty on taxes outstanding on August 1, 2020. This money pays for the collection of the taxes. This item is considered annually.
• Renewed District insurance with Texas Municipal League, an insurance pool for Texas local governments.
• Discussed using $13,500 for erosion projects.
• Set next meeting date on Friday, April 17, 2020 at 10:30 a.m.
• Excerpts from draft minutes—not approved by the Board

Follow Up:

• Jane McKenzie to meet with Hitchcock PD to see the appropriate wording for the surveillance signs.

Engineer to do the following:

• Finalize arrangements with contractor to place fill at approximately 20 locations in the District, to begin immediately.
• Arrange a meeting with Galveston Bay Foundation on a possible oyster reef project to help shelter the main channel from shifting silt. Jane McKenzie, Michael Vigneault and Ben Carmine interested in attending.
• Purchase no wake signs and have installed on the south channel.
• Finalize a pictorial on bulkhead repair priority categories.
• Finalize Maintenance Services Agreement and solicit interest.
• Purchase surveillance signs and have installed on the channels.

Here are the major actions taken by the Board at the meeting:

• Took bids for the sale of $1.5 million in unlimited tax bonds and accepted the bid with the lowest interest on the bonds (RBC Capital Markets at a net effective interest rate of 3.207753%).
• Authorized the auditor to perform a review of the developer reimbursements to be paid from bond proceeds.
• Approved an updated bulkhead repair policy.
• Approved installation of “no wake” signs on the south channel.
• Set new procedure to make sure resident questions are answered.
• Set next meeting date on January 24, 2020 at 10 a.m.
• Excerpts from draft minutes—not approved by the Board

Follow Up:

• Mike Andries to work with bookkeeper and engineer to prepare a District budget for fiscal year ending March 31, 2021.

Engineer to do the following:

• Finalize arrangements with contractor to make bulkhead cap repairs and place fill at approximately 20 locations in the District, to begin immediately.
• Arrange a meeting with Galveston Bay Foundation on a possible oyster reef project to help shelter the main channel from shifting silt. Jane McKenzie, Michael Vigneault and Ben Carmine interested in attending.
• Purchase no wake signs and have installed on the south channel.
• Finalize a pictorial on bulkhead repair priority categories.
• Finalize Maintenance Services Agreement and solicit interest.

Here are the major actions taken by the Board at the meeting:

Approved an official statement and authorized its distribution to potential bidders on a $1.5 million bond issue to reimburse the developer for infrastructure.

Approved moving forward with bulkhead cap repairs and placement of fill at approximately 20 locations in the District.

Reviewed information from the engineer on the design of an oyster reef project to help shelter the main channel from shifting silt and designated Jane McKenzie, Ben Carmine and the District engineer to meet with Galveston Bay Foundation re possible options.

Added the capacity to send out email blasts to people who sign up on the District’s website at www.flamingoislesmud.com.

Designated a committee of Michael Vigneault and the District engineer to work on relocating spoil from the current spoil location.

Set next meeting at noon on December 10, 2019.

Excerpts from draft minutes—not approved by the Board

Here are the major actions taken by the Board at the meeting:

Set the 2019 tax rate at $0.57—same rate as last year with $0.30 going to pay debt service and $0.27 going for maintenance and operations. Maintenance budget for next fiscal year is $275,000.

Authorized an additional maintenance budget of $10,000 through the end of the year to be used for bulkhead repairs on the repair list.

Authorized the engineer to get engineering proposals for design of an oyster reef project to help shelter the main channel from shifting silt.

Discussed the new website and authorized additional storage capacity. Director Andries described all the documents on the website, which can be viewed at www.flamingoislesmud.com.

Discussed moving forward with a $1.5 million bond issue to reimburse the developer for infrastructure. Received public comments on the proposal.

Excerpts from draft minutes—not approved by the Board.

Here are the major actions taken by the Board at the meeting:

• Proposed a 2019 tax rate of $0.57—same rate as last year. There will be a public hearing on the proposed tax rate at 10 a.m. on Monday, October 7, 2019.
• Discussed the bond market and authorized the consultants to prepare updated documents for a $1.5 million bond issue to reimburse the developer for construction of infrastructure.
• Reviewed construction progress. Dredging and Hurricane Harvey repair projects are substantially complete. Authorized a post dredging survey of the main channel.
• Discussed future projects and authorized the engineer to set up a meeting with the project team at the Army Corps of Engineers.
• Reviewed its Regulations on Bulkheads and Canals and decided no changes were necessary.
• Changed the official location for posting of District notices to the guard shack at the entrance of Harborwalk.
• Discussed roll-out of new District website.

Excerpts from draft minutes—not approved by the Board

Here are the major actions taken by the Board at the meeting:

• Received an unqualified opinion from its auditor and accepted the audit for fiscal year ending 3/31/19. Audit will be posted to the website as soon as it is finalized.
• Received a tax rate recommendation from its financial advisor ($0.57—same rate as last year). The average residential homestead’s appraised value decreased 1.4% from last year.
• Discussed the bond market and whether it should issue $1.5 million bond previously approved to reimburse developer for construction of infrastructure.
• Reviewed recent construction progress.
• Authorized engineer to obtain price for lab testing of the spoil to determine whether it is usable for fill in the neighborhood.
• Authorized dredging of the south channel and replacement of channel markers in the main channel.
• Discussed changing its policy on repairs of bulkhead caps now that it is using the Titan X-series for bulkhead caps.
• Discussed state law regarding District’s ability to enter private land to make inspections, do work on its facilities.

Excerpts from draft minutes—not approved by the Board

Stop disease-causing bacteria in its tracks, by keeping our waterways clean. Do your part!

At home:

• Pick up every poop
• Bag it
• Put it in the trash
• Repeat weekly

Away from home:

• Always bring bags
• Pick up every poop
• Bag it
• Put it in the trash

Veterinarians, garbage collectors and health professionals all agree that the trash is the safest way to dispose of your dog’s poop. Dog droppings left on grass wash into our storm drains, increasing the level of bacteria and making waterways unsafe for swimming and fishing.

It only takes one storm to change your life and community. Tropical cyclones are among nature’s most powerful and destructive phenomena. If you live in an area prone to tropical cyclones, you need to be prepared. Learn how at Hurricanes.gov/Prepare

Determine Your Risk
Develop an Evacuation Plan
Assemble Disaster Supplies
Get an Insurance Checkup
Strengthen Your Home
Help Your Neighbor
Complete a Written Plan