Dean Ford  has taken over the duties of the Resident Manager Contact (RMC).

You can contact him at 505-401-4262 or by email .   His address is listed in the directory in the Members Only section of the web site.

Scott has summarized the big game hunting season for the unit that includes Hidden Lake - the purpose was at least to know which type hunters we might expect to be  trespassing on Hidden Lake property and when it might happen. For example, turkey season is running right now, and some hunters use a drive-by shooting style for these birds. Use the link below to view the hunting season calendar.

 January 2007

Our property manager Kris Perreault continues to watch our roads and common areas for trespassers and potential hunters. Since November, he has contacted Game and Fish at least 5 times to check out suspicious circumstances. Game and Fish has been very responsive to date in coming up - our information is that G&F has obtained 3 convictions and fines after enforcement and court appearances.

Our long term goal is to establish a very smooth working relationship with Game and Fish, and to build a reputation across the Colfax, Mora, and Taos county communities as a difficult place to break the trespass, hunting, and fishing laws. We should all thank Kris for his diligence.

 

11-6-06

Amos Espinoza of A&J Excavation has agreed in principle to leave a front end loader with us at the Property Manager's House this winter.   This  equipment will be available for hire by both the property owners and by HLPOA as needed, and Kris Perreault will act as operator. When working for the Property Owners, both the equipment and labor come through A&J who will bill the Property Owner. Prices will be set by the vendor, but A&J has consistently been one of the low bidders for work in HL.  Mr. Espinoza cannot guarantee the equipment to be on site at all times - if in the eventuality he has emergency snow work in Guadalapita, he may need to take the loader for a bit. However, declaration of an emergency normally takes place in the afternoon after a snow so that the emergency response authorities can gauge the possibility of melt-off, and a measured response. This would leave us the morning and noon period for our own needs. Additionally, Mr. Espinoza may have a
job that requires the front loader for a few days, which might require a bit of planning ahead by a Property Owner in need of service.  While there won't be 100% coverage, Hidden Lake Operations regards this as an additional  tool and risk-reducer, and we are very pleased at Mr. Espinoza's ability to provide this opportunity.

Scott Jones, RMC

 

Telephone and Power, Advise to the Property Owner

11-01-06

Here at Hidden Lake, the fiber for our telephone service and cabling for our power were laid by the original development company and is often found beneath our ditches, under our easement, or under our roads. The cables may not be marked with the usual warning tapes, usually found a few inches to a foot above the lines. It is strongly advised that before you begin any digging operation, e.g., installing a driveway culvert, that you contact Qwest and ask for a free survey. They will search for the phone fiber by scanning for the power line, and will mark a corridor for you where digging is inadvisable. This could save you a charge for repair of the lines, and save HL from an interruption in service. For help locating a buried cable call Qwest, 1-800-922-1987, 7 a.m.-5 p.m. (possibly Eastern time) Monday through Friday. Kit Carson offers a similar service for free, call their general number, 1-800-688-6780.
 

Determining Your Hidden Lake Physical Address

11-01-06

As property owners are building homes at HL, they will discover that they need a physical address to give to various service providers (e.g., Qwest and Kit Carson). To obtain this address, you will need to contact the County Assessors Office and possibly have them issue you a street address if one does not already exist. The telephone number is 505-445-2314.
 

Security for our Common Areas

 Our Property Manager, Kris Perreault, has recently put up a 5 strand barb wire fence that runs from the Hidden Lake gate west up the hill.  It blocks the Wildlife Corridor (or as some call it, the Elk Highway)  from access by trucks and ATVs.  While it is largely a psychological barrier to hunters and perhaps to ranchers who used this access to HL in the past, it will not block elk or deer, who can use the deep gulch or go around the fence on either the East or the West.  The fence will  hold a legal no-trespassing sign that gives us legal recourse if needed.

 Our thanks to Kris for this security barrier.
 Scott Jones, RMC
 

Out-of-ordinary HL Maintenance Activity

New development at our lake in HL necessitates that we watch carefully and deliver our water drainage as designed.  Timing is important because of winter rains and spring melt, and the progress on houses and a stable, not to mention contractor equipment availability.  

The original design for lots 49A and 50 A ditch drainage would take water downhill from about 1/2 of each lot, and a culvert was designed to run it under the Lake road into the meadow in 50B.  Our property manager, Kris Perrault, discovered that the culvert didn't carry water when he was investigating a torn collar. It was clear after some excavation that the culvert was missing some section and didn't span under the road.

The Treasurer provided approval to move on the issue, if we could use surplus materials.  With some McGuyvering of collars, Kris was able to use a short section of surplus culvert stored on the hillside above the HL gate.  Kris used available contractor equipment to install the culvert repairs in the first week of October - there was a small problem with QWEST fiber optics, which were lying immediately below the culvert and not marked with warning tape.  Kris added a diversion flange (normally used on the downhill side of a culvert to prevent erosion) to the uphill side which will now help gather water into the culvert, exploiting the lay of the ditch.  

Our thanks to Kris for finding, diagnosing, proposing, scrounging supplies and equipment, and fixing this problem quickly -- only his job, he says.

Scott Jones, RMC
 

Security Posting: September 5, 2006

What Hidden Lake Is Doing for Security during the Current Hunting Season:

As you know, our property manager Kris Perreault does security rounds if and when the amount of road traffic into our development warrants, when he gets a heads-up from owners or contractors, and when in his best judgment we have a high likelihood of trespass. At the time of this posting, bow season is open with rifle season soon to follow, so the safety of our resident owners, visiting owners, and contractors requires extra vigilance. The security rounds have become an important part of Kris’ duty here at the beginning of the season, and he has reinforced our good ties with Fish and Game.

Fish and Game have made its first citations for Hidden Lake, so their response to our issues and to the request for greater coverage has been demonstrated.

You can help us keep security up to scratch here in Hidden Lake. First, let us know when you are on site, so that we can keep you informed and look out for your interests. Second, if you see anything untoward, please contact us. Anything, including late night drivers on our development’s county roads, is worth reporting.

You can call Kris Perrault at 505 613 2717 or Scott Jones at 505 613 5417. Both mobiles have voice mail and we check frequently.

Scott Jones, RMC