Letter Regarding the Gate

Michelle has composed a letter and asked me to post it for the neighbors to read. It basically outlines the facts related to our gate. It will be sent to those who have a stake in Grand Firs (the banks, Mahan's team, Renaissance Homes, etc.). Jim asked to add a few comments at the end.

Hello everyone,

I am just writing to address a situation that happened in our community recently. Jim Ehnborn received a call the other day that someone was cutting the lock off the control box to our gate. By the time he got there, the lock had been cut and the control box was manipulated to have the gate open 24/7, and then a new lock was placed on the box.

For a little background on this situation...On January 11th, Jim Seldon sent me an email and agreed to let myself or Jim Ehnborn pick up the software to run the gate, with the stipulation that we kept a code for the realtors. Mandy and Chris Johnson agreed graciously to volunteer their time and effort to get our gate running again. Several homoewners came together and repaired the gate and purchased parts at their own cost to fix it. At that time, the only parties in this development were Michael Mastro, all the individual homeowners (Grand Firs Alliance), Winterwood Green and Washington Federal. We conducted several community meetings in which everyone was notified and invited to come. A vote was taken of those in attendance. We all wished to have the gates closed for our own protection. There was vandalism, car thefts, drug crimes, prostitution and drunk drivers coming through our neighborhood at all hours of the day, and we had had enough of it.

I think it is no secret that there is some disagreement within this community about when the gates should be open and who should be allowed to use them, however, this is a community wide decision. One person alone cannot make this decision, nor should anyone feel that one person has maintained control and not taken the consideration of others into mind, as everyone was given an opportunity to attend the meeting.

We will be conducting another meeting soon (notices will go out in accordance with the RCW's in place by the State of Washington). If you wish to have a say and a vote on what happens then show up, and we'll talk about it. Until that time, please leave the gates alone and know that the next time this happens authorities will be called.

This is a community full of hardworking individuals that are truly worried about their investments. We all came into Grand Firs being sold on the idea that we were going to have an upscale neighborhood and we bought into that. We are now faced with a changing neighborhood and people making decisions for us that are not in our best interest.

We need to be able to work together knowing that we need a safe place to live balanced with the need to sell and build homes. Let's not destroy our own community. Let's instead make it into a model community where people would be proud to live or purchase a home. The poor decisions made by one person have now inspired anger and hatred, and this will make this an even tougher fight to come together as a whole.

Thank you,
Michelle Spencer

Jim Ehnborn asked to add a few comments as well...

Jim Ehnborn has worked with the Tacoma Power electrical inspector over the past several months regarding the stealing of over 2 miles of the underground streetlight wiring in Phase 3. They had several on site meetings and exchanged numerous e-mails. The electrical inspector said that the thieves turn off the power at the circuit breakers before stealing the wiring and then turn the power back on. The thieves’ eventually stole the wire from the transformer to the circuit breaker box. The electrical inspector said that leaving the power on and locking the circuit breaker boxes may help control the problem. The inspector gave Jim Ehnborn the authority to lock the electrical circuit breaker boxes.

Did the man in the black Cadillac turn off the power in enable the thieves to steal more wire, rob houses on the dark streets or harm the residents?

It is a very arrogant, self centered individual that would trespass and break into a locked circuit breaker box by cutting the lock, turn off all of the power to the main gates and street lights on 231st and then install their own lock. The person did not turn on the power on the evenings for the street lights or gates on either April 19th or 20th to protect our community. The person has no concern about jeopardizing the safety and security of all of the residences of Grand Firs.

I have a zero tolerance for this type of behavior. I want the gates closed 24 x 7. I have filed a complaint with the Pierce County Sheriff.

Jim Ehnborn

Gate Box Broken Into

On Monday, April 20 at approximately 3:45pm, a white male around age 30 was seen breaking into the electrical box at our north gate. He was driving a black Cadillac sedan with nice rims. He used a pair of bolt cutters to break the lock, shut the electricity off to the gate, and replaced the lock with one of his own. This was all witnessed by a neighbor. Our gates were open for two nights because I didn't realize the power had been shut off.

We removed that lock, turned the breakers back on, and placed a new lock on the box. (This idiot isn't the only one who knows how to use bolt cutters.)

At this time, we have no idea who is responsible. I'm sure we can all come up with our own ideas.

If this person was arrogant enough to pull this off in broad daylight, I wouldn't put it past him or one of his buddies to come back and try it again. If you see anything suspicious, please gather as much information as you can and call the police.

Update: Landscaping

Grand Firs owes A-Plus landscape company over $30,000. As of now, there are no plans for them to come after our neighborhood for the balance.

We plan on getting landscape bids soon. We obviously don't have money to hire anyone right now but would like to add the figures into our budget for when we are able to take the HOA over.

Update: Tacoma Power

A lot has been happening in our neighborhood lately. I apologize about being a little slow to pass this information along. Look for several new posts in the next few days.


Issues regarding Tacoma Power: They've threatened several times to shut our power off. Thankfully, Jim has been able to work with them to keep that from happening (for now at least). There has been a discrepancy in which laws are to be followed when it comes to the money they are owed. Tacoma Power believes they are to adhere to state law (which would be in their favor), but we believe they are to adhere to federal law (which would be in our favor). Jim has been in contact with their legal team and is trying to work out a solution. For now, it's looking like each homeowner may be responsible for a small portion of the outstanding bill (about $9.48 for each home), and the banks will be responsible for the rest. In all, Tacoma Power is stating that Grand Firs owes over $3600.

Thank You

This is a couple weeks overdue, but it's better to be late than never. A handful of neighbors recently spent several hours cleaning up the common area along 231st. They cleaned up debris, mowed, etc. and it looks wonderful.

Lee and Trudy (and kids), Pat, Lisa, Mike (and son).... thank you so much for the hard work. If I'm leaving anyone out, I'm really sorry.

Luckily we've had a cold spring which has kept the grass growth slow. However, as the temperature starts to warm up, we're going to need to get a group together to handle our landscaping for this year (or until we get control of the HOA and can hire a landscape crew).

Any volunteers to help get something together?

Community Garage Sale - This Weekend

Just a quick reminder that this weekend several neighbors in Grand Firs will be holding garage sales (Friday-Saturday, 9am-4pm). The gates will be open both days.

Recent Central Park Damage

Well...here we go again! The park play system has been vandalised, and who ever did it was able to pull eight or so wooden planks off of one of the platforms used to climb up to the slide and monkey bars. I was able to see first hand all of the damage done, after seeing some of the kids at the park running and chasing one another with these planks. Let me just add how dangerous this is, considering each piece of wood has 4 or so screws sticking out both ends.
Just a reminder for parents whose children frequent the neighborhood parks...PLEASE inform your kids that breaking things maliciously is NEVER okay, and if they are caught doing so...parents will be notified immediately. So, a heads up to all the neighborhood parents...there is wood, and nails thrown about at the park. To avoid your children from a potentially serious injury...advise them to just leave them alone, and to avoid the kids who think it's a good idea to swing them at one another.
Some children doing the damage were caught in the act by a couple of neighbors, but I believe are just trying to figure out where they live.