Yes Virginia, the snow is finally melting! Thank goodness! What a long and dreary winter this one has been and signs of spring are thankfully already in the air. It won't be too long before the ole'  grills take place where we once could not tread and I for one am looking forward to that day. Your officers and directors have been busy over the winter months, looking after our best interests and putting together another fun filled season for the members of SRPOA. 

    As soon as the snow finally goes away, and the frost leaves the ground, look for planting to begin on the 10 acres of land just north of Lord of Life Church on 208th. Yes, your officers and directors have managed to secure the private use of that property for the next ten years exclusively for members of SRPOA. And we are going to make a small business of the property for the benefit of members and the equine of our area. Thats right, we are getting into the hay business! Our goal is to share-crop alphalfa on the property and sell our bounty to those in need from the neighborhood. Quantities and pricing haven't been established yet, but it's going to turn out to be a deal for both the buyer and SRPOA. Were going to use a little of that same area for a Skyline community garden once the weather breaks; look for information coming soon to your favorite web-site. 

   Over the last couple of years, fundraising efforts have taken place to help in the support of the many amenities we all enjoy. While your association encourages 'everyone' to get involved, many times projects not supported by the board of directors and our annual budget often get out of control. If you are willing to make a donation to further the 'beautification' and improvement of our neighborhood, please do so by making your donation directly to the treasurer at SRPOA. You may earmark your donation to go toward anything you so desire, but ALL donations and projects should be facilitated through the board of directors of SRPOA.   

   We have a ballot that was delivered to your home @ two weeks ago, a measure to request your vote on an increase to the annual dues of SRPOA. At the date of this note, we have counted @ sixty votes with an overwhelmingly positive look on the measure. Deadline for the ballot measure is March 22nd, so make your voice heard and send that ballot to our secretary, Sue Ellen Gold as soon as you can.

   The calender of events has just been updated, so check the schedule so your not left out in the cold. Upcoming for April is our Annual Easter Egg hunt and Progressive Dinner Party. Two really fun events you don't want to miss! Organizers need your help; see the attached flyer for more information. May brings our annual meeting and spring clean up and picnic; two very important dates that I encourage you to attend. 

   Last but not least is a new page were adding to the web site. The Kids braggin board! Everyone loves to brag about their children, regardless of their age or their accomplishment; so we want to help in that process. Send an email to the web site with your story of success along with any picture you might have. We'll do our best to get it posted so all can see the great deed coming from the children of SRPOA.

 

    One would think that almost everyone in the neighborhood has read or at least 'seen' a copy of the paper newsletters we once produced, noting ongoing problems with trail use. Since the website became active almost a 2 years ago, its been posted several times so there is no confusion. We have over fifty (50) signs throughout the neighborhood at the roads edge. Its in our by-laws and been discussed at the annual meeting at least three times. Still, residents insist on using the trail system as a construction entrance for their remodeling needs and give their contractors carte blanc for it's use. An entire inventory of equipment including tandem dump trucks, bulldozers, backhoes and dumpsters have traveled to the rear of home owners residences at the cost of our "PRIVATE PROPERTY". No unauthorized vehicles seems to have another meaning to the many that violate this rule. Never would a person think to use a neighbors property to save the lawn of their own, however; thats exactly what continues to happen throughout the ranches.  

   Your directors have decided that the cost for labor and materials to restore this damage should not and will no longer come from the operating revenue of the association or its members and  volunteers. A lawn and landscaping service will be contracted to perform restoration repairs of our trail system including but not limited to grading and sod replacement as soon as the violation has been discovered. The bill for those services will be forwarded to the property owners responsible and charged to their annual homeowners fees.

   Discussion at the last officers and directors meeting centered around the future of our tree and brush pile. Many suggestions were shared including 1) Limiting the use and availability of the area to the Spring and Fall cleanup only 2) Increase in the annual dues to cover the cost of future cleanup 3) closing the area down completely 4) a combination of all three measures. Please check the website for future decisions and updates.  

    

    In my September 18th entry to our newsletter, I commented on the changes that may take place in the future for the tree and brush pile located in Skyline Corral. It appears that we have our answer regarding the support the City of Omaha will be providing to our neighborhood in the future; none! On the books with the City of Omaha is an amendment that  no entity is allowed to have open burning within the City limits. The Omaha Fire Department is not allowed to issue burn permit for this reason; added to issue is that the City of Omaha is endeavoring to participate in the nations  'green policy' for air pollution. Further, the City can no longer afford the manpower or equipment required to haul our pile away. We are on our own!

    On October 18th, your association is planning it's semi-annual cleanup of the trail system. Please make every effort to bring your own tree and brush pile to the ole' burn area as the City is making one last pickup that was committed by the Fahey administration. We would like to have as much of your properties an trails cleaned up as possible so the city can haul away the debris on their nickel.

    Normally the brush pile is not available over the winter due to the drifting snow in Skyline Corral. After the city has had a chance to pick up the pile, (sometime late this fall) we will be locking the gates to the dump area and closing it to any and all traffic until spring. By then, your directors will have 'hopefully' come up with a plan to make the area available for SRPOA members. Due to the abuse of the facility in the past by members, however; the tree and brush pile WILL NOT be available to members every day of the year, 24 hours a day. Having given this sort of access to members in the past has subject the property to abuse that we will no longer be able to sustain.

   Abuse you ask? Members have given their access key to commercial tree and landscaping services, access has been granted to family and friends that are not residents of our neighborhood, and unwanted and unlawful items still find their way to our pile. (grass, painted lumber, building materials with screws and nails, paper goods and boxes, trash, etc., etc.) Further, when the gates are closed due to the wet nature of the grounds, members still see fit to dump their rubbish where ever they wish or damage the grounds further by driving around the gates to find other access points. Members also continue to use the tree pile when events are taking place in Skyline Corral, contrary to the established rules. At the last two 'horse related' events, at least four trucks at each event attempted to drive around people and horses to dump trees and brush. Common sense: 0!  

   I ask of you members to please practice 'just a little' restraint in the future when it comes to our tree and brush pile. Don't loan out your access key, Don't use the pile if you know it's closed or Skyline Corral is in use, Don't use the area as a personal dump or allow commercial tree and landscaping services access. Your officers are meeting every other month and will have a plan in place for the future. Hope to see you at cleanup!

     

 

 

 

 

  Welcome to our new web site! Please remember to register with the directory before you exit. As time allows, more info will be added including a copy of the 'new' neighborhood directory along with email contacts for your neighbors. Pass the word!

 

   Please remember, the burn pile is closed if there is a private event taking place in Skyline Corral or if the gates are closed. If the gates are closed, it's probably because the burn area is too muddy for vehicle traffic. Please be considerate and don't make an attempt to find an alternate entry into the burn area or dump your trees anywhere you wish. By doing so you risk having your entry privileges to Skyline Corral revoked.  

 

   Recently, we have had a problem with vandalism resulting from parties getting out of control. Unfortunately, those parties began with a gate entry card used by the children of members in good standing with SRPOA. Please remember that YOU are responsible for the activity that takes place along with the resulting damage when you hand out your access card. If you witness an act of vandalism or damage to property in progress, call the Omaha Police.

 

   Keep a close eye on that key to activate the gate at Skyline Corral; a replacement is going to cost you $25.00.

 

     Looking for another location to promote your business or services? Use your association website as a vehicle to drive customers to your door. Contact the website for services and pricing.

     Make your opinions be known to your association directors. Send your comment via email through this web site directly to your directors staff. Don't like the services that have been provided since we became part of Omaha? We need to know your concerns. 

    As this web site becomes a more popular tool for your neighborhood needs, look to it for upcoming activities and events. Your directors hope to become a paperless community by the end of 2008, so please register your address and other useful information on this website. Future updates, newsletters and "things you need to know" will be emailed to your home.

 

   While just 'horsin around' some of your fellow neighbors brought home some significant iron from shows near and far. Tess Dugan, a member of our very own Skyline TrailBlazers finished Reserve Champion in Junior English Pleasure at the 2008 Fonner Park State 4H Exposition in Grand Island.  Along with Tess was resident Jenny Hansen who took the Champion trophy home for Junior Western horsemanship.

 

    Skyline resident Amber Reeble took home the prize for Reserve Grand Champion in Advanced Western Pleasure while Trailblazer member Kelly McCormick stole the show and earned Reserve Champion title for Yearling Gelding Lungeline Halter Class at the same show. Congratulations ladies on your fine representation of the Skyline TrailBlazers!

 

   Residents Dave and Sherri Reeble decided there weren't enough trophy's in Nebraska, so they loaded up the trailer and hauled down to Oklahoma City for the Ford American Quarter Horse Youth Association World Championships. Wouldn't you know, Amber Reeble and Kelly McCormick placed seventh out of 33 teams in two rounds of competition. I'm told Clancy Peterson could be given credit for the expert coaching and a small measure to their success.

 

   Something a little out of the ordinary; resident Kristin Dudzinski spent five months this summer in the Sunlight Basin area of the Absaroka Mountains in extreme Northwestern Wyoming. Kristin worked as a wrangler for the 7D ranch and was responsible for a stock of over 100 horses and anyone under 21 years of age that threw a leg over a horse. The 7D Dude ranch has been in operation on the borders of Yellowstone since 1954, sharing the 'western experience' with thier customers. 

   

    Over the last several years, midlanders have been cheated out of the colors that fall brings. When the weather and temperature change dramatically (in one day) trees and people don't really know how to react.  Finally, the change went slowly enough for us all to enjoy the "good old colors" of fall. Unfortunately, those changes also remove the colors we all enjoyed this summer at Skyline Corral. Going away and left only to our memory is the collage of color that greeted us at the entrance to our park. Responsible for the design, fundraising, construction and maintenance of the flowered berms in and around the park fell on the strong shoulders of Jeannie Runty and Sue Atchley. Thanks ladies for your ongoing efforts to make our neighborhood beauitful.

 

   As we jump into winter, perhaps a review of trails systems use is in order. According to the City of Omaha, any motorized vehicle that makes use of the cities street requires a motor vehicle license. Almost all snowmobiles made today have all the necessary equipment to make them street legal and licensable in the City of Omaha. Your association recommends that a license be acquired for any snow mobiles operating within the boundaries of the neighborhood; however, we will not and cannot enforce or require this 'City of Omaha' rule. 

 

   Snowmobiles are allowed on the trails during the winter month's as long as they are operated in a safe and responsible manner. Please be thoughtful to those using the trails for other uses and mind your speed and control of the machine. Please also remember that guests are not allowed to use the trails without being accompanied by a member.

 

          * April 24, 2009

 

   Well, were off to a great start this spring here in the Ranches. It seems like we've not had the fortune of four seasons until recently. Coming off a beautiful fall, and an always too long winter we finally get a wonderful taste of Spring. Along with spring comes the usual cleanup of winters leftovers. I'm told by our local nursery that this winter was the worst in memory for tree and plant health. Far to many of those trees that once provided shade have ended up in the 'old' burn pile. But we have springs promise of new growth to keep our brow and our homes cool for the coming summer.

 

   As most of you are aware, the 'old' burn area is open for members use "almost" every day. The only time it is closed is when a public or private function is taking place on the grounds of Skyline Corral. Under no circumstance is anyone allowed to drop off limbs while any event is taking place. Please consider others before you make an attempt to interrupt a wedding or horse show to dump a few branches. If you happen to see an organized event taking place, turn your car around and come back at another time. Hopefully we don't have anyone quite that rude in our association. 

 

   Please check to calender of events as often as possible to keep you up to date on events happening in the Ranches. Most notable up and coming events are the Spring Cleanup and Picnic on May 3rd. Our annual members meeting has been scheduled for May 20th at Skyline Elementary. Since the facility is no longer available on weekends or when schools out, we have to work around their schedule. We will be going over the 2008 budget and actual as well as the 2009 budget for your review.

 

   What a great success the Skyline Easter Egg hunt is becoming. This years egg hunters enjoyed some great weather and stiff competition. I guess I personally witnessed at least 125 of our neighborhoods shortest residents walk away with a full basket of goodies. Thanks to our head egg tenders, Gordon and Jan Fritch for another great hunt. Another neighborhood favorite thats in the books was this years Progressive Dinner Party. As usual, SRPOA Director Pam Thielen and Diane Goeser planned a wonderful evening that was greated by over 35 couples. Great Food, Great company, what else is needed for a great evening? Thanks ladies for all of your efforts.

 

    On Monday, June 8th, the City of Omaha closed Pacific Street from 204th to 211th to widen the street to three (3) lanes to accomidate the new school being built just south of Buckskin Trail and Pacific Street. Almost immedietly, traffic in the southeast corner of our neighborhood tripled. 

    When I contacted officials from the City of Omaha in April to get a 'heads up' on what was planned for the future street closing, I was informed that there were no plans to close Pacific Street. Even today, the cities traffic engineer claimed the closing was a directive of the Elkhorn Public Schools, not the City of Omaha. In any event, the cities Traffic Engineer and I have taken steps to lessen the drive thru traffic due to the closing. Our obvious concern was the number and speed of traffic driving through our streets.   

     The City of Omaha will be erecting a sign at the entrance of Roundup Circle indicating that the entrance and the neighborhood is not a 'through street'. On Rawhide Rd, plans are in motion to control the speed of traffic by use of the Omaha Police. PLEASE watch your speed within the boundries of the neighborhood; traffic citations for travelers going over 50 mph have already been issued on Rawhide.  

     Current plans indicate that Pacific Street will be closed through August of this year.

 

   As fall quickly approaches, we all seem to ready for the coming cold in different manners. I like to fall on lessons learned from Boy Scouts and 'always be prepared'. You will find some new additions to the web site helpful for your fall planning such as the application to reserve your spot for indoor storage. We also have applications to reserve Skyline Corral for your own private event on our documents page as well. 

   If you have not reserved your spot in the quonset for storage but still want to get the trailer, camper or extra car out of the drive way for the winter we have another option. This year your association will be providing "outdoor storage" of those little things you don't want to look at over the winter. For the very reasonable fee of $25, we will be providing fenced in outdoor storage for members at Skyline Corral for the winter months. Locked inside the steel fence of our rodeo arena and out of sight from most everyone, store your trailers of any length, cars of any age and boats of any design for the usual duration of winter (October to April) for one small charge. Funds raised from this enterprise will go to help support repairs and maintenance to our aging horse facilities.

   Last week, your directors met with Omaha Mayor Suttle to try and come up with a plan for the tree and brush pile we have inside Skyline Corral. As most of you already know, we are no longer able to burn our pile as we've done for so many years as it is against Omaha City  charter. The Omaha Fire Department is unable to supply us with the necessary burn permit as a result of that city 'law'. For now, Mayor Suttle has been able to take care of the pile we have with the help of the Omaha Fire Department by using our grounds as a training tool for urban fires. Within the next month, please don't be alarmed by the plume of smoke that comes from down there! That is unfortunetly all the help the City of Omaha is going to provide as we go forward; making the future of our tree and brush pile somewhat gloomy. Your directors have been weighing our options and trying to come up with a plan that's reasonable and  affordable for the association, but the reality is that we are not going to be able to do business as usual. Once the Omaha Fire Department has cleared the way, we (your directors) don't see how we can maintain an unsupervised facility thats open to the membership at large, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. There will have to be a change in the way we allow members access; a plan we are still laboring over. 

   How do those new entrance markers look to you? Sure, we've only finished two of the five and we still have a lot of landscaping work going forward, but I think we finally have something else to brag about. 

   Don't look now, but you might see a cop on horseback on trail near you! Your directors have given an invitation to have the mounted patrol for the Omaha Police Department take the fellow four legged officers for a spin through the neighborhood. It seems the horse patrol have very few places to ride and train and Skyline Corral was just what they were looking for. 

   Things seem to be loosening ever so slowly on the property we (the association) tried to acquire at 208th & West Dodge Road. If you will recall from our annual meeting, the State Department of Roads was anxious to sell the property to the highest bidder. While we were the highest bidder, the state rejected our offer as they had appraised the property at over four times what we bid and they were not going to budge on the price. Seems now that the state would like to work with  the association and is inviting us to come up with another purchase 'alternative'. Your directors also discussed these ideas with Mayor Suttle at our meeting last week with the hope of some intervention from his office. We will keep you posted! 

   Another thing that needs to be done before the ice and cold fall upon us is finding a winter home for the six white feathered residents of Skyline Corral. Your association will provide the heat lamps, water tank, feed and bedding but they need an inside stall with a little room to move around. If you happen to have a spare stall and would like a few guests for the winter, please call Mike Dudzinski (289-1741) at your very first convenience. 

   I'd like to finish this installment of our newsletter by throwing out a few thankyou notes. The first note has to go to our new officer, Carmen Campisi. Carmen has taken over the role as treasurer from her husband Steve who served for six long years. Not to say that all of your directors don't put in their time and talent for the benefit of us all, but the treasurers position is brutal. Thanks Carmen for a great first season. A thankyou goes out to Kurt Gold for all of the work you and the boy scouts put into the tree plantings in Skyline Corral. Also, a huge thanks goes to Steve and Jeannie Runty for all the time you give to planting flowers in Skyline Corral for everyone to enjoy. The entrance this summer was breathtaking, and it seems to get better every year! Thanks to Sherry Reeble for all the work you do on behalf of the Skyline Trailblazers and Hetra and the arena mowing and the schedule for the park  and.... Last but certainly not least is our ole arena tender Jerome Given, who's been grinding the dirt around Skyline Corral for 'at least' thirty years! Everytime there's a show or event of any size, or just a couple kids practicing their moves, Jerome's there with his trusty tractor to smooth away the day. Thanks Jerome!