Officers: Charlene Cach, Chair & Kathy Baldwin, Co-Chair
Board Liaisons: Peggy Zonca, Sandy Nolan & Guy Balok
The Clubhouse is not only the principal place of business for the Association, but it is also the center for all social and leisure activity on the property. People come to the clubhouse to update records, pay assessments, advertise, watch TV, use the fitness center, pool, sauna or the library. The Clubhouse is where all of the meetings are usually held, both public and executive session. As such, the Clubhouse receives a great deal of attention, and because it serves as the "face" for the Highland Lakes community, it is meticulously cared for.
The Clubhouse Committee is charged with the task of maintaining and beautifying the Clubhouse and all of its various elements. Whether it be furniture re-upholstery, stair spindles or carpet, proposals are submitted when needed. They also cross paths with social committees when scheduling or coordinating events at this location. Everything having to do with the Clubhouse, over and above the day-to-day business of the administration therefore, is brought to the Clubhouse Committee for approval.
The Clubhouse at Highland Lakes has a large meeting room, library, full-service kitchen, front offices, fitness center, locker rooms, sauna, billiard room, sunken fireplace gathering area and T.V. area. If you are a resident and wish to rent the Clubhouse for a birthday, reception or private gathering, click on the icon below and submit the form to the front desk with your payment. Information about the committee is also provided below.
Officers: Brad Todorov, Chairman
Board Liaisons: Michael Baynes, Sandy Nolan & Michelle Todorov
Community involvement and homeownership at Highland Lakes has its rewards and since we have a clubhouse to host parties and events, we really go to town. Any resident in good standing can rent the clubhouse for their own personal event, but we also host community-wide gatherings that cover almost every major holiday. Clubhouse and other property events are basically a junction where three committees can realistically become involved. Depending on the type of party and location, it may be hosted by the Clubhouse Committee, Pool Committee or Community Social Committee.
Parties may be centered around children's activities, such as crafts, tree decorating and Easter Egg hunts. Others are adult parties such as the pool parties, the Christmas Party, or even luncheons or book sales. Some of the parties hosted at the clubhouse include the New Year's Eve celebration, Valentine's Day Party, Easter Egg Hunt and Party, Pool Opening Ceremony, 4th of July Celebration, Pool Closing Party, Thanksgiving Day Party and Christmas Party. A few of the committees also host their own gatherings for either members only or all residents to attend, so it is not uncommon at Highland Lakes to see the kitchen actively serving meals or to see the barbeque going on the patio outside.
If you are a family with children, they will enjoy story telling with the Easter bunny, craft shows and three Christmas trees in December, one of which is theirs to decorate with ornaments made at the clubhouse. For information about renting the clubhouse, see the Clubhouse Committee page, otherwise, the scheduling of Community Social events and dates of parties is listed on the calendar at the clubhouse, or may be obtained from the office staff.
Officers: Joel Lutz, Chairman - Diane Pittaway, Co-Chairman - Janice Howard, Secretary
Board Liaisons: Guy Balok, Aric Tosqui & Michael Baynes
Highland Lakes has 92 buildings and 691 homes in 48 courtyards.
Volunteer Co-Owners act as Court Liaisons to:
The "Court Liaison" role is not to police the court in which they reside, rather act as a LIAISON between management and the community. Refer to the current Herald issue for the Court Liaison Directory.
*This committee usually meets on the first Thursday of the month at 7pm.
Officers: Aric Tosqui, Chairman - Terry Bradley, Co-Chairman
Board Liaisons: Guy Balok, Aric Tosqui & Michael Baynes
Condominium subdivisions are very often built according to a "neighborhood scheme". This is especially the case when you have homes that share a common wall or are part of a building containing multiple units. The term "neighborhood scheme" refers to a certain style of architecture, color palette, dimensions, and outward appearance.
Generally speaking, it is what style that you are trying to convey to the observer. Victorian, modern, brick, vinyl sided and numerous other adjectives are examples of neighborhood schemes. This is why when you drive through a community, you will not see a patchwork of dull and vibrant colors, different sizes, makes and models of doors, windows, moldings, mailboxes and other elements. It is what keeps a community uniform in style, and unfortunately, the only thing standing between a community and compliance with the neighborhood scheme, over and above the law itself, is a strong Engineering Committee.
The Engineering Committee accepts or rejects alteration request forms following discussions at monthly meetings and then submits the approved or rejected proposals to the Board for final vote. A resident completes an alteration form for any exterior and some interior modifications, including adding a deck, patio, satellite dish, changing the windows, doors, trim, adding a handrail or handicapped ramp, just to name a few. If the request varies too widely from the common scheme, it will most likely be rejected, as is the case if the materials used are substandard or not completed by a licensed contractor.
Failure to follow the engineering guidelines will result in penalties or more severe action. If you doubt the ability to complete a project without Engineering or Board approval, always ask first.
Officers: Kathy Baldwin & Barb Balok
Board Liaisons: Guy Balok & Aric Tosqui
As the name suggests, the Finance Committee is devoted entirely to the financial aspects of Association administration. The platform upon which all financial activity occurs in its broadest sense is the annual budget. The Property Manager submits a rough draft of the yearly budget to the Finance Committee in July based upon prior year spending, analysis and projections calculated to permit the business to run within certain financial guidelines. Members of the Committee then discuss every line-item of the proposed budget and either approve the rough draft or make alterations. The finished product is submitted to the Board in late August for finalizing and approval.
Remember that committee membership is restricted to co-owners only, so residents at Highland Lakes receive the added benefit of knowing that the people acting as watchdogs over the financial aspects of the property are actually watching over their own money. Every month, the Finance Committee receives and reviews the monthly financial statements to verify that the Association is spending within guidelines and also receiving the appropriate amount in income. It is also the opportunity for the Property Manager, Maintenance Management or other committees to give them a "heads up" on upcoming expenses whether contemplated beforehand or unexpected. Issues such as overages, surplus, delinquency, foreclosures and other items top the list for discussion.
The fiscal year for Highland Lakes runs between October 1st and September 30th, culminating in an Annual Audit Meeting in February where the CPA of the Association, Finance Committee, Board and residents come together to discuss financial performance for the previous year. The Finance Committee is democracy in action, where the actual owners watch for any impropriety and study general spending trends to make sure that the owners at Highland Lakes are getting what they are paying for. It is also the source of proposals relating to possible savings and innovative ideas for cost efficiency and streamlining of the administration.
Officers: Sharon Smith, Chair - Yvonne Wilson, Co-Chair
Board Liaisons: Michelle Todorov & Guy Balok
The purpose of the Grounds Committee is to oversee general landscaping operations, tree and shrub removal and planting, lawn maintenance, tree pruning, flower planting, and general beautification of the property. However, it is not limited only to foliage and greenery, but also is involved with projects pertaining to the installation of benches along our pathways, mulch, safety of stairways and sidewalks, erosion, beaches, signage and virtually anything affixed, now or contemplated, to the common element and enjoyed by all.
As with the social committees, the Grounds Committee will periodically become involved with issues associated with the Engineering or Vision Committee. Highland Lakes has 167 acres of property and miles of sidewalk within its interior and therefore, the task of maintaining the property is monumental. Separate contractors are used for tree maintenance, fertilization, lakes ecology, aquatic weed control, insecticides, goose control, shrub maintenance and general landscaping.
You can imagine the task of pruning hundreds of large old trees, a thousand shrubs and maintaining the front lawns and common areas for the entire site. Highland Lakes has a tree and shrub removal plan whereby the residents complete a request form and communicate with the front office as to which shrubs they want trimmed or removed and those that they want to maintain themselves.
As a counterpart to this, there is also the opportunity to request a new shrub or tree in its place. Any resident may, at a Grounds Committee meeting, request or make a suggestion as to landscaping projects that they would like to see on the property. Tired of looking at a building behind your home and want a fence or tree line installed? Is there a small plot of land near one of the beaches that would be a good site for a picnic area? The Grounds Committee is the place to start.
Officers: Mary Kay Wimsatt, Chair - Kathy Baldwin, Co-Chair - Barb Balok, Secretary
Board Liaisons: Guy Balok & Sandy Nolan
Mission Statement: The Herald Committee assists with the monthly production of the Highland Lakes Condominium Association’s (HLCA) Herald to ensure it is informative, entertaining, and reflective of the interests and values of the community.
The objectives of this committee are to assist with the monthly newsletter and its availability to residents, solicit advertising to help defray monthly printing costs, increase readership, suggest and review formats, review
and/or submit articles, and edit and research possible online options.
Meetings will be held the first Tuesday of each month at the HLCA Clubhouse or at the discretion of the Chairperson. Special meetings will be called at the direction of the Chairperson. A HLCA Board Member will serve as the Liaison to the Committee.
Thank you to our advertisers who help offset the printing costs of our monthly publication. If you are interested in advertising your business or services, please contact Emily at 248-349-4006 or email your inquiries to emily@hlca.us
Officers: Elena Howell & Laurie Castillo
Board Liaisons: Aric Tosqui, Sandy Nolan & Peggy Zonca
Located behind the clubhouse is a large sundeck that overlooks Silver Spring Lake and within this enclosure, is a huge inground, heated pool and baby pool, with plenty of seating. Adjacent to the pools is another sundeck, this one elevated, where people can sit at tables, beneath umbrellas in the shade, enjoy a meal or simply relax. From the pool enclosure, residents and guests can access locker rooms, showers, the clubhouse or the lifeguard office.
Since this is a rather large amenity at Highland Lakes, a Pool Committee aids in the smoothe operation of daily activities. Members are present at the poolside almost daily, verifying that lifeguards are watching over residents and guests, taking note of adult swim times, swim lessons, and reporting horseplay or unsafe practices. If the shower rooms need lockers, the diving board needs to be replaced, we are running low on toys, or there is a safety concern, it will most likely be discussed at the next Pool Committee meeting.
The committee also plans social events and nightime swims, where the lights are turned on, and people enjoy beverages or food while visiting other residents and guests. The Pool Committee serves as a communications liason with the Property Manager and makes proposals to the Board of Directors when necessary for implementation of new ideas, upkeep of the pool enclosure or simply to suggest efficient practices. Some recent examples include re-strapping lounge chairs, purchases of lockers, social events and nightime swims, refurbishing umbrellas and tables and buying more chairs for our guests.
Since the pool at Highland Lakes is by far the largest and most heavily used of our amenities, the Pool Committee is a vital part of our summertime operation.
Officers: Hugh Battley
Board Liaisons: Michelle Todorov & Randy Blaylock
Highland Lakes does not permit trailers, boats, RV's, motorcycles, ATV's and a variety of other recreational vehicles in our courtyard parking spaces. There is however, a gated and locked RV Lot off of Russ Fogg Drive, which is maintained by the RV Lot Committee. Residents wishing to use the RV Lot must fill out a request form and pay a very small yearly fee. Space is limited, so names are placed on the waiting list, with temporary parking available in the clubhouse lot. Fees collected are used to maintain the RV Lot.
Officers: Bud Wright
Board Liaisons: Michelle Todorov & Michael Baynes
Adjacent to the clubhouse are two tennis courts, a hockey court and a multi-use court with a basketball net. These four courts are maintained by the maintenance department and when needed, get new asphalt surfacing, netting, fencing, paint and other implements.
The tennis courts are finished with professional "Wimbledon" grade surface compositions, with any minor surface cracks being filled and repaired on a yearly basis. The Tennis Committee oversees the operation and maintenance of the tennis courts.
Keys to the courts may be checked out at the clubhouse front desk. Please remember that no dogs are permitted in the tennis court enclosure because their claws scratch the surfacing.
Highland Lakes Condominium Association
20301 Silver Spring Drive Northville, MI 48167
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