4-6-2010: Below is an update from Don Coons
I took on a project last year to work on eliminating Christmas Berry trees from the subdivision.
I believe that everyone understands what a nuisance this very invasive bush can become.
It sprouts up under existing Ohia trees and eventually kills them off, taking over the neighborhood.
To date I have taken out nearly thirty bushes. I'm working on either the Kona Kai Boulevard right of way or on properties that I have permission to enter and remove the bushes. There is a long ways to go with this project, but at least it's a good start.
Ric Elhard, my wife Barb and I have also been working to help with the road shoulder weed control problem.
Our approach has been to walk the roads and pull out by hand all of the Pluchea bushes that we can handle. Larger ones have also been removed with either Ric's Bobcat or the backhoe that I recently purchased from Arlene Myers. We're hoping that removing these woody bushes from the immediate edge of the roadway will help to keep them from cracking the pavement and give the association a longer time frame to address the purchase of a tractor and mower.
Personally, I'm thinking that the best approach to this problem might be to just contact our membership and ask them to take care of their own frontage areas. Many folsks are already doing so. Arlene Myers hired a worker to clear the right of way edges of weeds and Cindy Schraeder and Larry Hayes also week wacked their road shoulders recently. If everyone else would do the same, perhaps we won't really need to spend $10,000 for a tractor after all.
Gary Kneeland and I moved the emulsion container and lawn mower up to the "base yard" area near the gate.
5-3-2010: Used compact john deere tractor mower purchased for $6000. Bruce & Gary picked it up from Hilo area.
5-20-2010: There has been much talk about repairing one side road & fog sealing a portion of the main road. Rick obtained a bid for over 20K but because of the high dollar amount we have tabled the matter for the next board meeting. I think it is safe to say everyone wants to see the roads maintained. It is simply a matter of how to get the most from our very limited funds. Any member input would be appreciated.
5-23-2010 : Gary & Rex installed the vents for the container and did some mowing with the tractor.
7-31-2010: Rex Mowed the top section.
8-1-2010 : Gate arm broke and Rick fixed it. Thanks Rick!
8-1-2010: Next Board meeting set for 8-8-2010 5p.m. at Bruce's house.