Early Winter, 2008

We recently had a couple of days in the Westland area when the winds blew and blew at very high speeds. Many people in the area lost electrical power. Ours, at Holliday Park, kept working through it all. I was so grateful to be able to use my computer (and my hair dryer! Few people know how I might look without the use of my hair dryer…good thing!). All of the utility wires at Holliday Park are underground. This makes us one of the most fortunate complexes, rarely losing electrical power.

January 2, 2009

I came home about 10 minutes past midnight last night. It was a cold, dark night. I was glad to reach Holliday Park. As I turned onto Spring Valley, I saw the night patrol truck with its two volunteers sitting near the entryway. They kindly followed me to my carport and waited until I was safely inside my front door before they continued their rounds, checking on the safety of all my neighbors.

January 4, 2009

My new Holliday Park friend called and asked to come over for 5 minutes. I certainly have 5 minutes, and soon she was at my door. Seems she had plotted a few weeks ago to prepare a small gift for me…..a wonderful, warm neck scarf of many bright colors! I, a non-knitter, have so much appreciation for those who have the patience. What a nice addition for my boring dark-colored winter jacket. I think this may be a friendship that I must cultivate! Let’s see. What can I offer to her, so it’s not all one-sided?

January 5, 2009

Just back from the clubhouse mini-breakfast, seeing neighbors and friends again after the holidays. The conversation was all about the old bars that used to be down by the Detroit River, near Jefferson, and the rum-runners (before my time!) that someone knew about because her uncle was a rum-runner! — Just a little local color from the city of Detroit. One of the men at the table is a volunteer at Providence Park Hospital in Novi. Another 2 residents, with German accents, told wonderful stories. And, my favorite, when asked about his baking specialty (scones) said he brings them to breakfast about once a month…..I will be back!

January 6, 2009

It’s brisk out, but I was determined to take my regular walk around the complex. When I got to a nearby parking lot, a friend was outside trying to get the hood of her car down after putting in more windshield-washer fluid. I studied the hood-support and could see nothing to push, like a button to make it unlatch….so we two women called a nearby walker in sunglasses whose head, ears and mouth were all covered to keep warm. He came right over, said, “Sure,” and effortlessly pushed the hood down, with the support nicely disappearing into the right place! I asked him his name, which I would never have had to do if I could have viewed his full face; he is a well-known neighbor who laughed that I did not know him under his “disguise;” he may also have laughed because it was so simple to close the hood, and I displayed such ignorance. The laughs we had warmed up this cold day. I lost any illusions I may have had about breaking stereotypes, and becoming a recognized “car mechanic.” The humble pie was not so good.

January 7, 2009

The whole area — highways, side streets…all… were amazingly glazed over with a thin sheet of ice, which was somewhat invisible in places. I had awakened rather early, hoping to drive to my son’s home. Traffic reports showed accidents all over the place. Yet, the comforting sound of the snow-blowing contraption then came from the parking lot, where there was no snow. I saw that the anti-slip compounds were being applied to the ice to make it possible for all of us to go out, at least as far as nearby Wayne Road, where hopefully, we could find that the county was doing the needed job of eliminating the icy spots. I took my little pail full of salt, obtained in December from maintenance, and applied it to my porch and steps. I still waited about an hour before going out. By then, the local efforts in our cooperative had taken effect, and traffic reports had improved. I am happy not to have to battle the elements all by myself.

January 8, 2009

The highlight of the day was a phone call from my six-year-grandson, who believes he is getting better at whistling (a worthy goal!).
I also spent some time shopping at nearby Westland Mall to check out Macy’s remaining, after-Christmas bargains. Being in that environment made me renew my resolution to walk every day, even when it’s so cold, by joining the Westland walkers, who begin their rounds at the mall daily at 7 a.m.
Each day, as I write my notes in this diary, it becomes more of a realization that it is really 2009, a year that has to improve in many ways; yet, I am grateful that I live in Holliday Park, as battling the financial downturns seems to be easier here than it might be somewhere else. I’ll say my silent thank-you ahead of time.

Signing off for now…….

A Property Manager is responsible for “EVERYTHING” pertaining to the efficient day-to-day management and operation of the Co-op. The duties of the Property Manager are to be performed, so as not to violate or usurp any written policy and guidelines as set forth by the volunteer Holliday Park Board of Directors, and by various state and governmental agencies.

Because of the amount of knowledge that a Property Manager must have, as the Job Description clearly says — “EVERYTHING,” most Co-ops and Condo Associations usually hire a Management Company to fulfill this responsible position.

Here at Holliday Park, we started using Management Companies, but soon discovered that one day a week did not provide sufficient time to carefully handle our Co-op, as they represent many other Associations. Therefore, the Board decided to hire a Property Manager to report directly to the duly elected, volunteer Holliday Park Board of Directors.

The Board decided that any competent Property Manager must have “hands on” knowledge of the maintenance aspects which comprise most of the problems of any cooperative. Maintenance expenses make up most of the Annual Budget of our Co-op. The Board discovered such a unique personality in one of our maintenance staff.

The first thing the Board did was to promote an intelligent, energetic maintenance worker to the role of Maintenance Property Manager. At the same time, we hired a temporary Administrative Property Manager for the Office. The Maintenance Property Manager not only developed his maintenance supervision skills, but also his administrative skills; thus, qualifying him for promotion to full Property Manager, a job which he has held for 27 years.

Our Property Manager:
1. Develops the software for the Holliday Park computer system. Realizing the importance of having the detail and history on each of the 694 units in Holliday Park, in the maintenance area, he is responsible to keep a detailed database current.

2. On any given day, our Property Manager can produce for the Board of Directors, all data on individual appliances, water heaters, furnaces, roofs, garbage disposals, plumbing, kitchen cabinets, etc., detailing the age, the type, and other any pertinent information on maintenance; besides the normal administrative data.

3. Oversees the accounting, the maintenance, the purchasing, and the contracted services; as well as special projects, the resale of units, the pool, and informational technology that is always changing with the times.

4. Analyzes Financial Reserves necessary for our aging Co-op. His expertise enables Holliday Park to avoid special assessments for future needed projects.

5. Researches all governmental housing laws that are forever changing, such as the Boca Code and Legal Opinions; and composes Policies as directed by the Holliday Park Board of Directors, for the Board’s review and approval.

6. Is self motivating, and upgrades his skills by taking new courses in various matters needed for the efficient operation of our Co-op. His courses led him to become a Certified Property Manager.

7. Writes specs for major contracts when going out for bids on major projects, rather than having an engineering service do this for a fee. Among the latest projects, was the new energy efficient, vinyl siding contract that was completed in 2008. He is now planning for the new energy efficient, furnace replacement program for 2009.

8. Knows the ins and outs of all aspects of Holliday Park, to include the infrastructure of the Holliday Park underground plumbing, water, and electric.

9. He is responsible to hire and manage all other employees of Holliday Park; while the Property Manager, himself, works for the Board of Directors. In this regard, he is the “front man” for enforcing all Board Policies, which can sometimes put him in an unpopular position, even though he is just enforcing Board Policy.

10. Our Property Manager is a private person, who possesses an inner confidence which is needed for this position. He rightfully takes great pride in his work and his accomplishments.

Holliday Park is very, very fortunate to have such an able-bodied, unique, and knowledgeable Property Manager. He has been a great asset in the success of Holliday Park. We know of no Management Company that would spend the time, have the interest, and provide the personal service as our Property Manager does for its Board of Directors, and in the best interest of the membership.

Come and join us as a member of Holliday Park; and you will get to know and appreciate the qualifications and loyalty of our Property Manager.