Questions from the First-Ever Harpeth Trace Town Hall!

View more photos from the meeting here.

Saturday, June 6 you had a chance to ask questions of the HTSA in a beautiful setting at Percy Warner Park, Deep Well. There were almost 50 neighbors at the meeting including board members and our Ghertner project manager, Keene Miller.

1.

Why don't we go back to in-person annual meetings instead of Zoom? - We started meeting on Zoom during Covid. - People who like Zoom state that because the meetings have to be held in January it's cold, weather could play a part in postponing the meeting and cold and flu season is worse. - People who want an in-person meeting (the majority at this meeting) say they are sometimes challenged technologically and that in-person meetings give you a better chance to ask questions and get answers - Asked if there is a possibility of changing the meeting date...the answer is we would have to have a 2/3 majority vote by the entire neighborhood. - The board acknowledge looking into going back to in-person or having a hybrid in-person/Zoom meeting.

2.

How do we slow down traffic?

Can we have a speed bump installed between Harpeth Trace and Valley Trace, on of the worst areas for speeding? - Matt Fields explained that during the last paving project, some people he spoke with wanted more speed bumps, some less and some wanted none at all. - Matt offered that he had been researching a flashing speed sign. Cost is about $5,000 to purchase or $1,000 per month to rent for a trial. The company will work with the neighborhood to assess where the flashing sign should go and provide a report on its effectiveness. - The downside of a flashing sign is, it's lighted and flashes. - The upside is it works by bluetooth and can be moved around the neighborhood. - Cost of a speedhump is approximately $15,000. - There was also a question about painting a crosswalk in several places in the neighborhood. - There is a committee working on this issue. If anyone wishes to be on the committe, please email contact@harpethtraceservices.org.

3.

Any thoughts about extending the walking pathway past the Knolls? - Dane Danielson explained that we looked into this about 10 years ago and the cost was exhorbitant. In addition to building the trail with railroad ties and mulch we have to navigate utilities that are not always buried as deeply as they should have been. In addition not everyone's property has the same setback. - This type of project would fall under landscaping and Dillon Blankenship said he and his committee would be happy to answer any additional questions.

4.

Flo Lewis and her next door neighbor are still waiting on driveway and street paving to correct where Metro Water dug. The area is a mess and Flo and her neighbor, Kay, have to clean it up almost daily. Metro says "we'll get to it when we can." - Unfortunately HTSA has no jurisdiction over Metro Water. Utilities (water, electricity, cable) can do whatever they want within our setbacks. But Matt Fields has three calls into the water department and will keep on them to try and at least get a better answer for Flo about when it will be fixed.

5.

How much does HTSA put into the reserve fund each month? - Dane Danielson answered, "probably not enough, and we are currently assessing what will need to be paved next and when. We are also looking into a surface treatment on the main drive that costs between $40-45K which should extend the life of the main drive eight to 10 years. Valley Trace is probably the next area that needs attention. In addiiton, Dane explained that we are renaming a money market fund to "paving reserve" to better indicate where the money is allocated. - We had a reserve study done a year and a half ago that we can use to help make any decisions about how much we need in paving reserves. - All of the money we spent for ice storm cleanup was moved out of the reserve fund. It's likely that at some point we will have to have a dues increase.

6.

Can we publish meeting minutes and board member contact information? - Keene Miller explained Ghertner's role. All financials and meeting minutes are published on the Ghertner.com website. In order to reach this site, you need to be set up with a log-in and password. This is very easy to do by calling 615.255.8531. (If you pay your dues by direct deposit you already have access to the portal.) - If anyone has questions about how to use the site OR any other questions or concerns about the neighborhood such as the height of your neighbor's grass or anything else, reach out to Keene directly at 615-622-4285 or keene.miller@ghertner.com. Keene will either answer your question or route your question to the correct board member/committee.

7.

How do you let HubNashville.gov know that you do not wish to have solicitors knock on your door? - Sign up here! You can also remind vendors that this is a "No Soliciting" neighborhood and that you are registered with HubNashville "No Knock."

There was also a question posted on our after-meeting "parking lot" that read: "Parking on both sides by vendor." We think that means that vendors (landscapers, painters, etc.) park on both sides of the steet while working in Harpeth Trace. If this was your question and we have this wrong, please elaborate at contact@harpethtraceservices.org.

Unfortunately there's no good place for trucks with trailers to park with short driveways and narrow streets. One thing homeowners can do, if you're having work done, please insure your vendors are not parking 'beside" each other makeing it difficult or impossible for larger vehicles to drive through.

Thanks again everyone for your participation! If you've thought of another question since our meeting, don't hesitate to email contact@harpethtraceservices.org and we'll get it to the appropriate person for an answer.