JULY 2012 NEWLETTER

IPOIA SUMMER OFFICE HOURS

I.P.O.I.A

SUMMER OFFICE HOURS

FRIDAY - 2 - 6 PM

SATURDAY - 9 AM - 5 PM

SUNDAY - 2 - 5 PM

Office Phone No. - 409-283-3653

INSTALLING PICNIC TABLES AT HELIPAD PARK

Thanks to Councilman Joe McIntyre, Ivanhoe Volunteer's Mollie & Ed Vieau, Ron & Karen Sikora and Chuck Vonderlin .  Thanks also to the students at Kirbyville High School for building the tables and to Marvin Kraft AG Teacher.

FIREWORKS FOR JULY 4TH

Since we have received much needed rain in the area, the Ivanhoe Volunteer Fire Dept. is going to provide our fireworks for July 4th on JUNE 30th.  They have scheduled it for this date due to the fact that we do have so many property owners that are up here on the weekends.  As always you can park at the Community Center, Candy Cane Park or the Charmaine Park across from the community center for the best viewing.  Many residents "float the Boat" and view from the lake.  Invite your family and friends to come join you as we celebrate July 4th on JUNE 30th. (Saturday)

City of Ivanhoe Information

City of Ivanhoe website:  cityofivanhoetx.com
If you have a question for the City, just go to their website and go to the contact section.  You will find their email address and phone number listed.  Remember:  We are a City so there are ordinances that have been put in place that must be followed.  It is in your best interest before beginning a building project to check with the City and apply for a permit.  The city ordinances are also listed on the website.  City council meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the community center.

Plans To Start Re-Posting to the Blog

As has been reported. The blog was discontinued for a few months due to  more commitments that I (the blogmaster) could possibly meet and continue to be sane.  There was also the use of the comments section on the blog to make comments about hard working volunteers that were nothing more than vicious gossip.  This blog was set up to be a "information board" for those property owners who were unable to attend meetings or unable to come to their property on a regular basis.  We also have many residents that due to health issues use our blog to keep up with what is going on in our city.  We have been encouraged by many residents to "please" start posting to the blog again.  So, here we go......sorry, the comments section will continue to be blocked, but if you do have a question for the IPOIA Board, please email them at IPOIA.Board@gmail.com    FYI:  I will get all  the City info and post it later.  

IPOIA Monthly Meeting - March 10, 2012 at 10 A.M.

Make plans to attend the monthly IPOIA meeting at the Buck Priest Community Center.  Thanks to the Friends of Ivanhoe for the successful garage sale that was held last month to raise money to repair the signs at the front entrance of Ivanhoe.  A special thanks to Karen Hamilton and all those who volunteered.

Lake Charmaine and Galahad News

At the last IPOIA meeting which was held January 14th, it was decided to open Lake Charmaine and Galahad to motorized boating.  We do ask that you stay back from the dams to prevent wave action against the aprons.  Hopefully the rains will continue and we will not have to close the lakes again.  IPOIA Board of Directors

JANUARY 2012 NEWSLETTER

WISHING YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I have enjoyed hosting this blog over the last several years.  I hope that the information posted is helpful to all who read it.  I enjoy you comments and questions.  If you are serious about wanting a direct answer from a board member I ask that you address the board members at their email address which is IPOIA.Board@gmail.com
Once again, since this is a personal message from the BLOG POSTER, God Bless and Happy New Year!  Karen Sikora

A SLIDING GATE WITH KEY LOCK HAS BEEN INSTALLED AT THE BOAT RAMP LOCATED AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER PARKING LOT.  IF YOU CURRENTLY HAVE A KEY THAT FITS THE GATES AT GALAHAD AND TRISTAN IT WILL FIT THIS LOCK.  If you do not have a key, one may be purchased for $5 at the IPOIA office.  Only one per family will be issued.  The gate must be locked once you launch your boat.  As of this date only trolling motors are allowed.

BEFORE AND AFTER - CLEANUP CONTINUES

When the Community Bulletin Board was first put in place it was for Garage Sale, Lost Pet, etc. type postings which were at one time plastered all over the guard shack at the front entrance.  We did however, allow businesses that provided services to our residents to place a sign in this location as long as it was neat and on a stake to be posted around the bulletin board.  As you can see from the before picture it became quite a mess.  Please remember, the City of Ivanhoe does have ordinances in reguards to signs and this area is being maintained so that residents can use it to post items for sale, garage sales, lost pets, etc.  We do ask, that after the event you please remove your sign.

SECURITY AT PARKS AND LAKE AREAS

It has been brought to the attention of the IPOIA Board that some undesirable activities are taking place in some of our park areas.  If you see suspicious activity, please contact the Tyler Co. Sheriff Dept. at 283-2172 or Don Saenger 377-2199 (IPOIA Security).
Plans are also being made to install lights in park areas that do not have them and to put up barriers to stop vehicles from driving down into the park areas at night. 

THE WORK CONTINUES..........

Thanks go to George Koepke for the two new bulletin boards that have been installed at the City and IPOIA office to replace the one that was falling apart.  Also, thanks go to Ron Sikora and Don Saenger for help with the installation.

ANIMAL CONTROL IN IVANHOE

Even before Ivanhoe became a city, there was a problem with dogs running loose and causing residents problems.  I know from personal experience that there were two times that dogs threatened me in my yard as well as when I was walking for exercise.  Many residents have complained that they can not even use the walking trail at Helipad Park because of the dogs.  As we drove into Ivanhoe after dark one day last week there was a pack of dogs running together and as far as I could see, none had collars.  Below is a letter that was sent by a City of Ivanhoe Council member in which he asks that I post this on the IPOIA blog for your information.  I urge you to make plans to attend the workshop that is scheduled for January 3 at 7 p.m. @ the  Buck Priest Community Center.

On Dec. 10th, two city council members met with Robert Bentz and received a lot of information on how to set up an animal control program.  This is what Mr. Bentz does for the city of Woodville.  We are in the process of actively working to purchase traps, kennels and other material to set up our own shelter.  We will have a "Workshop" on Jan. 3rd to gather citizen input prior to setting up our animal control program.  Our program will include working with a veterinarian to insure all dogs and cats have rabies vacinations which is the law.  We will also include education for our citizens on our zoning ordinance as it pertains to "animal control".  We feel that within 30 days we will have a plan in place and then we will put out FLYERS and other communication information that will allow our citizens 30 more days to comply with the ordinance before we trap animals.  Joe McIntyre

CELEBRATING THE CITY OF IVANHOE'S SECOND ANNIVERSARY!

I know this is the IPOIA blog but I felt it was important today to mention that we all got together as a community to celebrate our city's second anniversary.  A BIG cake was donated and made by Jeanette Bourque and lots of good food was brought to be enjoyed by all.  Thank you to the Friends of Ivanhoe for doing all the set up and the wonderful decorations and door prizes. 

DECEMBER NEWSLETTER

IPOIA AND CITY RESPONSIBILITY CLARIFICATION

I feel it is important for clarification to be made once again on the responsibilities that the IPOIA have as apposed to the City responsibilities.  When Ivanhoe became a city two years ago the roads and dams were turned over to the city.  They are no longer the responsibility of the IPOIA.  Your maintenance fee's of $6 per lot and the sticker fee's are used for the parks and lakes and insurance costs for the buildings.  If you wish, you may come by the office and pick up a detailed list of where these fee's are spent.  We have heard several comments from residents that money is being spent to asphalt the park walking trail and in front of the community center and the roads are in such bad repair.  Your taxes which are paid to the city are what is used to do road and dam repair. If you have questions concerning the roads and the dams, please contact the city office.   

RE-SURFACING WALKING TRACK AT HELIPAD PARK

Work has begun at the walking trail at Helipad Park.  Many of the residents of Ivanhoe have asked that the walking track be refinished because it is a wonderful place to walk for health reasons.  In an overwhelming vote, the IPOIA board decided that it would be money well spent and beneficial to so many residents to refinish the track.  At the last IPOIA meeting John Paul Feeley requested that the board also consider adding a walkway to the helipad to make it easier to move people to the Life Flight helicopter in an emergency.  In co-operation between the City and the IPOIA, the City offered to split the cost of the walkway to the Helipad.  This is a project that greatly benefits all of the residents of Ivanhoe.  Work will also begin today on refinishing the walkway to the community center as well as adding handicap parking in front of the center (pics will be posted later).  Remember:  The funds that are used to improve your park areas are from maintenance and sticker fees that you pay to the IPOIA.

IPOIA Maintenance Fee Statements for 2012

YES, it is that time of year!  Pictured are volunteers handing out the 2012 Maintenance Fee Invoices that will be mailed out within the next week.  Many residents took this opportunity to pick up their statement and even pay Saturday to save the IPOIA the expense of mailing the statement out.  The new stickers for your vehicle, boat and golf cart are available to be purchased for a charge of $5 per sticker.  A reminder:  Since the office is staffed by all volunteer's, office hours are Tuesday from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.  After receiving your statement, if you would like to drop off your payment at a time when the IPOIA office is not open, you may enter the City Office door and immediately to your right on the wall will be a locked mail box where your payment can be deposited.  Please make sure that you identify your property by writing the property or county ID # in the memo section on your check.  We would really appreciate at this time that you do not place cash in the box.  If you would like to make a cash payment, please come by when the office is open.  NOTE:  In an effort to keep our database updated if you have a change in phone # or any other changes please make note of that and include with your payment.