Windsor Crier
News from the Hill - Volume 1, Issue 3 - February/March 1998Windsor Hill Plantation
RicefieldMill Creek
The Colony
Indigo Ridge
Moultrie Place
Plantation Pointe
Governor's Estate
The Civic Association is in need of more members. We have a total of
approximately 800 homes here in Windsor Hill. We continue to take membership
with our goal at 75% of homeowners. This membership will give us a
strong voice in our own subdivision and county government. The annual
cost of membership is $30. You can join at the next meeting or mail
in your membership to the association.
Once again, North Charleston has brought up the subject of annexation. Only with a strong Civic Association can we defeat this measure and not become members of North Charleston.
As you all know from previous meetings and flyers, this is a hot topic for most homeowners. A few highlights of what can happen if annexed:
Higher Property Taxes.
Fire Protection Services
Police Protection
Public Services (weed trimming, road paving, street lighting).
When we bought our homes, there was a reason we chose Dorchester County.
If North Charleston has its way, there are a few major changes you
can expect. Perhaps the most significant fact to remember is that North
Charleston has set a precedent for increasing their tax rate. Once
the area is annexed into the city, it is permanent. There is no way
to "opt-out" at a later date.
Although living in Dorchester County, annexation into North Charleston
means paying both county and city taxes.
There will be a petition on annexation for all to sign at the March
10th meeting. We need everyone to sign this.
Repaving of Roads. Dorchester County has funds available
to pave all the subdivision's roads, with exception of the Parkway,
because of new construction. Complaints of potholes are the major items
and the "patches" they've done are once again holes.
Garbage Pick-Up. Are you satisfied with your service? Most of
us have dodged empty trash cans along many of our streets. One company
has promised, as a part of their services, to put the empty containers
on the curb, right side-up and lids on. Another company doesn't provide
that and whatever falls out of the can tends to stay on the ground to
blow around other yards. They also don't pick up the containers once
they've fallen over and leave lids off. We all know what a pain this
is when it's raining or windy. There is another choice in the area
for garbage pick-up. You should check prices and services before picking
a company.
ATTENTION!!! Covenant violations will be enforced. Have you read yours yet?
If not, come to the next meeting, join the association, and get your copy.
Many violations have been noticed over the last few months. One, is
large rigs (without the trailer) parked in unauthorized locations.
This is a violation of Dorchester County and Windsor Hill's covenants.
Another issue is littering on the main Parkway. The Parkway Association
is responsible for that section of road. WE pay for this service.
If the Parkway Association continues to pick up trash found along the
Parkway, WE will end up paying more per year for this service. No one
wants to pay more. It would be simpler to throw your trash away at
home.
Saving energy is still one of the best ways to save money. Some easy tips:
Controlling your thermostat is a tried-and-true money saver. Set your thermostat to 68 degrees in winter and 78 degrees in summer. It costs nothing to do and you save from 2-3% of your heating and cooling costs for each degree of change.
Install a programmable set-back thermostat. You can set it to automatically turn down the thermostat at night or when you leave the house for the day, or to shut off the air conditioning when you're away.
Control drafts. Pull drapes over windows to make the house warmer. In summer, shade the windows from the sun with awnings to keep the house cooler or drawing mini-blinds.
Change your furnace's filter often. A filter protects the blower motor from dust and dirt so it will last longer. When the filter becomes clogged, the air flow through the heating and cooling ducts is reduced, causing the motor to work harder. Buy a half-dozen filters at a time from a home center. Then routinely replace the filter every month.
Blanket your water heater. A typical 40-to-60-gallon tank gives off heat that's wasted. Buy a special fiberglass blanket to wrap around the heater. You can also try a timer for the heater called "the little gray box".
Seal around air ducts on your home's forced-air heating and cooling system. Large amounts of energy - from 10 percent to 40 percent- are lost from heated or cooled air leaking from air duct joints.
Ducts generally run in hard-to-reach areas. You may have to pull back insulation for access to the joints. To seal small cracks, use tubes of either silicone caulk or special duct sealant available from heating supply stores.
Just a few of the many ways to save on your electric bill.
This article was published in the Charleston Post and Courier, April 1997.
NOTE: Following the above tips will save you enough money to pay your annual WHCA dues!
Board Members and Officers are needed. Are YOU will to volunteer your time and effort to improve our community?
Do you want to advertise in our newsletter? For $25.00 an issue, you
can. Advertising is open to all residents and local businesses.
Future issues will include articles on home maintenance (inside and
outside the home), newcomers to the community, events taking place
within Windsor Hill. Deadline for submission is the 20th of the month
prior to publication.
For information, contact Susan Lotterer (Colony) at 767-1727.
[Clip-art of a cute baby chick hatching]
Have news to share? You can request an article submission form by e-mail, regular mail or fax.
For advertising information (1/6th page only $25.00 per issue!), please contact Windsor Crier Editor Susan Lotterer at (843) 767-1727.
Feel free to send Susan E-mail at (SuLot@aol.com).
Our very reasonable advertising rates include a link to your e-mail address to gauge response.
If an advertiser has a web site, we'll include a link to their home page at no additional charge.
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