IPOIA HAS NEW WEBSITE

The new website for the IPOIA is up and running! It is packed with information and all kinds of good stuff. There is an event calendar so you can keep informed about community events - you can post items for sale - FREE - you can even see pictures that have been taken at different activities in and around our City. This blog will no longer be updated but will be kept open in case we should need it at a future time. Please go check out the IPOIA WEBSITE: www.IvanhoeTexas.com

NOVEMBER HAPPENINGS

The "Trunk or Treat" sponsored by the Friends of Ivanhoe was a great success. As we watched the rain fall and the lake rise we were a bit concerned that the event would need to be cancelled due to flooding in the surrounding area. Our intrepid "Friends" decided we did not want to disappoint the kids so we moved our "Trunks" under the awning at the community center and had approx. 116 children plus many grateful parents show up. We had a blast! We have decided that this will become an annual event for our little city and look forward to next year.
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IPOIA meeting will be held on November 9th @ 10 a.m. - Ivanhoe Community Center - Breakfast will be served that morning starting at 8:45. Cost is $5 - come have breakfast or just have a cup of coffee and visit with your friends and neighbors!
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Men's Breakfast is scheduled for November 14 @ 8 a.m.
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City Council Meeting - November 14 @ 7:00 p.m.
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BINGO - Friday Nov. 8, 15, & 22
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Game Day Luncheon - Wed. Nov. 20
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HALLOWEEN "TRUNK OR TREAT"

The Friends of Ivanhoe will sponsor a "Trunk or Treat" on OCTOBER 31st at the Buck Priest (Ivanhoe) Community Center for Ivanhoe children from 5 to 7 p.m. (or 'til candy runs out). Hot Dogs, Chips and Drinks will be available at a cost of $3. COME IN COSTUME!

MONSTER BASH PARTY & DANCE

Saturday - October 26th from 7 to 9:30 p.m. You are invited to attend the Monster Bash for Ivanhoe Children/Youth (Parents Welcome too!) at the Buck Priest (Ivanhoe) Community Center. This is a FREE event with Refreshments, Door Prizes and Fun. sponsored by Mama's Kitchen

IPOIA ANNUAL MEETING RESULTS

On September 14, 2013 the IPOIA Annual Meeting was held. Three important items were on the ballot which included: changing the Annual Membership Meeting of the IPOIA from September to February. Item passed with 69 voting for the change and 7 against...... Approval of the budget. Item passed with 67 voting for and 11 against..... We also voted to replace three members of the board who rotated off - Patsy Morris, Ronald Sikora and Mollie Vieau. They will be replaced by Cathy Bennett, Chris Lindsey and Kay Timme. A BIG WELCOME TO THESE NEW BOARD MEMBERS.... Please make plans to attend the next monthly meeting which will be held on October 12th, 10 a.m. at the community center.

BURN BAN IN EFFECT FOR TYLER COUNTY

Last Week a Burn Ban was put into effect for Tyler County which includes the City of Ivanhoe. Notice was given to our community on Monday, September 9th and will stay in effect till further notice.

Update to the September 2013 IPOIA Newsletter

Because comments have been made in the past on this blog by people who refuse to post their name, I will not allow the option for comment here. If you wish more information or to leave a comment for the board please address it to IPOIA.board@gmail.com

Special Mtg. Results to discuss Lease Agreement between City and IPOIA

Below is a statement from the IPOIA President Patsy Morris Tonight I presented a petition with 369 signatures; 6 people spoke against moving city hall as opposed to 3 people in favor plus CD read 9 communications from people against moving city hall. The community center was full of people. I would say that at least 90% were against moving city hall. In spite of overwhelming odds, Dave Baier, Tom Welch and Mark Elliott voted to relocate city hall. At the last minute, Mark Elliott made a little speech about the council being divided and him being "Thrown under the Bus" presumably because it is his election year. He asked me from the council table if IPOIA would come off the $10,000 per year rental and I told him we wouldn't so he voted with Tom and Dave. The board had discussed this possibility and decided beforehand that we would stick with our original lease. This is government in action. The people paying the bills speak out and they are ignored. Bummer! I have presented the mayor with a letter saying the city will need to vacate the building by October 1 when their current lease expires. I would like to say in all this, Let not your hearts be troubled. All things work for good for those who love the Lord. I want to thank all who took time from their busy lives and worked to get names on the petitions. Statement from the IPOIA Vice President Ron Sikora As we move forward with the election of new board members on September 14th, I would remind all members that we will survive this "Bump in the Road". Someone made the suggestion that if 100 people gave $100 a year we would make up for the loss of the City renting our facility. I make a commitment right now to give my $100. Keeping our Parks and Lakes private is what makes our community special. Our people make this community special too. I have enjoyed serving you the residents of Ivanhoe and will still be around to help as needed. God Bless

September 2013 IPOIA Newsletter

IPOIA Annual Meeting - September 14, 2013

The IPOIA Annual Meeting will be held on September 14, 2013 @ 2 p.m. All members of the IPOIA are invited to attend.

Public Hearing on Proposed 2014 City Budget

Update on IPOIA Special Called Meeting

Approximately 50 residents braved the downpour and attended the Special Called Meeting to discuss the lease agreement between the IPOIA and the City. The current lease is as follows $700 per month for office space/$1600 per year for use of the community center for meetings/ 75% of utilities for office space/50% utilities for community center. The IPOIA share rental on a copy machine. The Cities offer was as follows: $250 per month for office space/$1000 per year for use of community center/IPOIA pays all utilities/no mention on use of copier. Mayor Brockhouse was given the floor to give his views on the purchase of a building to be used as the new city hall. He explained that this was not his idea but the idea of three of the city council members who got together and presented this proposal to him. After much discussion from the members the IPOIA Board moved to executive session to discuss a counter offer on the lease. The Board has voted to counter with the same amount that the city has been paying for the last three years. We will have to wait and see if the city accepts the lease present by the IPOIA.

August Newsletter Highlights

WEEDS! WEEDS! WEEDS! Bill Adney, Ivanhoe resident and helicopter pilot, observed the fast growing aquatic plants along the shores of Lakes Galahad and Tristan. As he flew over Lake Hyatt (a lake located to the south of us) he noticed the lake was nearly covered by similar water plants. Concerned about the fate of Ivanhoe lakes, Bill sprang into action consulting the Internet and county agricultural agent. One meeting has already been held with concerned citizens in which Mac McCune, President of Lake Management Specialists of Sugarland was an invited guest speaking about possible solutions to the weed problem. (a more detailed report is given in the August newsletter). On Saturday, August 17 at 10 a.m. there will be a second meeting for the public held at the community center with more detailed information. If you would like to speak with Bill about becoming a member of the lake committee, contact him at 409-224-2388. KUDOS FOR THE IVANHOE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT We had one of the best fireworks displays ever staged for the 4th by the Ivanhoe Volunteer Fire Department. Support of our fire department is vital to our community. They fund the fireworks by selling some of the best BBQ in Tyler Co. Labor Day Weekend you will get another chance to get a great plate of awesome BBQ as well as sweets for sale by the Ladies Civic Club. Please support your community organizations. As always - the newsletter is available at the IPOIA office and is placed in a mail box out front so you can just drive by and pick up your copy. If you wish to have one mailed to your home please contact the office for details.

SPECIAL CALLED MEETING FOR IPOIA - WED. AUG. 14TH AT 6 P.M.

Below is a note written to all members of the IPOIA from the president of the association Patsy Morris. I will allow comments to be made on this post however, I ask that you stick to the subject of this post. Friends, here are two important issues before the IPOIA and city council for which your input is needed: Item #1 After the city council executive meeting Thursday night, city attorney Tim McDonough announced that Councilman David Baier is investigating the purchase of a portable office building to be used as a city hall. When Ivanhoe became a city, residents identified two priorities; roads and security. A separate city hall was not imagined. At present, the city hall office and meeting space is leased from the IPOIA whose volunteers use this income for community improvements. In the last few weeks, the IPOIA has spent $2700 for a new ice machine and over $8000 for the community center air conditioner. Just last week we spent $500 to locate and clean the septic tank for the office. A number of parks are mowed by volunteers whose reimbursement, if any, is only the cost of gas when hired mowing can cost as much as $35 an hour. The city council meets for a workshop to discuss the budget on Thursday, August 14th. (Remember: they are deciding how they will allocate and spend your tax dollars). Residents may attend this meeting however you will not be allowed to comment. Within the next couple of weeks, a budget hearing will be held where citizen input will be allowed which will include reading of letters and emails received at the city office about the building of a new city hall. Please make your voice heard. The city council and IPOIA should support each other to make Ivanhoe a better place to live. The current office space is adequate for both. The IPOIA has regular summer office hours of 9-5 on Saturdays and 2-4 on Sundays. The city hall is open all day from Tuesday through Friday and half day on Saturday. We share the building for one half day each Saturday, a half day on Saturday. We share the building for one half day each Saturday, a half day on Friday once a month and a few hours during the week when IPOIA volunteers complete office maintenance chores. Item #2 1. The mayor contacted Patsy Morris, the current IPOIA president to report that the city is countering the IPOIA lease agreement to reduce the current lease amount from $10,000 per year to what he says is "fair market value" and to reduce the percentage of utilities shared by the city. He will present the lease proposal Monday morning. (the city's proposal has been presented and after the Wed. night meeting I will post it for those who are unable to attend the meeting). The IPOIA board will discuss the ramifications of a reduced lease or no lease by the city at a special called meeting at 6:00 p.m. Wed. August 14th in the community center. IPOIA members will have an opportunity to voice their opinions as the board struggles with the decision to accept or reject the city proposal. Please Come! For those of you who wish to express your opinion on the city building a city hall, please address your emails to mail@cityofivanhoetx.com

SUPPORT YOUR IPOIA

We want to take this opportunity to thank all members who have paid their maintenance fee's and bought stickers. It is very important to keep our parks and lakes PRIVATE for use by residents of Ivanhoe and their invited guests. For those who live in Ivanhoe but are not members of IPOIA all that is required is that you pay the $6 per lot fee and purchase stickers for your boats, vehicles and golf carts. At this time the office is only open on Saturday from 9 to 5. As summer approaches the board will look at possibly opening for a few hours on Friday and Sunday.

A Big Thank You!

Wow! What a lot of work was accomplished in our Parks this weekend by a great group of volunteers. Thanks to city council members Morris and McIntyre who joined will all the IPOIA Board members, residents, as well as members of our Ivanhoe Volunteer Fire Dept. to install a new swing set at Heli-pad park, replace deck boards, mow, rack, burn, picked up litter and lots more. Lunch was provided for all volunteers by the IPOIA Board both days.

COMMUNITY MOVIE NITE - CANCELLED

THE MOVIE NITE WHICH WAS ANNOUNCED IN THE NEWSLETTER FOR FEB. 19TH HAS BEEN CANCELLED. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF RESEARCHING A PUBLIC PERFORMANCE SITE LICENSE WHICH WILL ALLOW US TO SHOW MOVIES IN A PUBLIC SETTING.

FEBRUARY 2013 NEWSLETTER

IPOIA YEARLY LETTER

By now all members of the IPOIA should have received their 2013 yearly maintenance fee statement. All fee's are due by January 1, 2013. In order to use any of our parks and lakes, you MUST be a property owner in good standing (all fees paid in full) and have a current sticker on your vehicle. If your maintenance fees are in arrears, please call the office to discuss setting up a payment plan. We will be glad to work with you. FYI: Current office hours are: Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Park hours are: 30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset Annual Meeting will be held on September 14, 2013 - our monthly meetings are still being held on the second Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. at the Community Center. Sticker fee for 2013 is $5.00 per vehicle, boat, golf cart Boat Launch Key is $5.00 (Fee is higher if replacement of lost key is needed) Vehicle Guest Pass - Free when arranged by property owner Boat Guest Pass - $15 Sat. or Sun. or $25 for both days or all 5 weekdays - NO holiday passes for boats issued due to limited space on the lakes. Newsletter subscription is $14 annually to pay for mail and handling fees. If you are unable to come by on Saturday to pay your fees, there is a box located at the right of the entrance to the city office in which checks (no cash please) may be placed. If you require stickers, please include your name and address, fee + 1.00 for mailing and year, make model of vehicle. ($5 for each vehicle + $1 for mailing) IPOIA Office number is: 409-283-3653 You may email us at IPOIA.board@gmail.com with any questions you might have. The IPOIA Board members want to wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy, Safe New Year!

NOTICE

LAKE CHARMAINE WILL BE LOWERED STARTING NOVEMBER 16TH SO THAT THE CITY CAN DO NEEDED REPAIRS TO THE DAM. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT THE CITY OFFICE AT 409-283-3299.