November Newsletter, 1992

Homeowners Association Dues

Dues time--all year long, your Homeowners Association remembers you--dues 
are $5.00 per
year per household.  Please remember to join--the dues keep the 
Newsletter going.  This past
year there were more than 15 publications in the Newsletter series--a 
real bargain!  Where else
can you find a full year subscription for that price?!  Send dues to 
Treasurer Viviane Shammas,
2260 Prairie, Ann Arbor, MI 48105.  The dues cover a period from 
September 1992-September
1993 (based on the academic year).
     Help your Board members--they all hold full-time jobs--the work they 
do for the Homeowners'
Association comes from their "free" time.  What we really need is 
volunteers who are willing to
go door-to-door to collect this year's dues.  If you would be willing to 
do this for some number of
homes, please call Sandy, 761-1231.  Thanks--if you enjoy the Newsletter, 
this is a nice way to
contribute to its future.

Homeowners Association Meetings

December 3, March 19, June 18--all Thursdays--7:30 p.m. Thurston School 
Library.  In these
meetings we discuss issues of concern to the neighborhood and often have 
outside speakers.
All meetings are open to residents of Bromley.

Sidewalks

     The Bromley Homeowners Association has worked first to get an 
extension for homeowners
desiring it, until July 1, 1993.  That has been done and has been granted 
by the City.  Some of
you have already solved your sidewalk problems.  If so, be sure to have 
the City evaluate it; this
is a necessary step.  It's also common sense--make sure the work you just 
had done meets the
required standards.  BHA appointed a group of block captains to help get 
the word out on
understanding the benefit of this step to the individual property owner.
     BHA has sent out a number of letters requesting information on group 
rates; we have some
verbal information acquired over the telephone this past summer and fall; 
a number of
contractors were called, just to get a "feel" for the market.  The prices 
quoted, at the time,  for
new cement ranged from $4.00 to $5.00 per square foot, depending on 
market costs for the
materials and number of people together in a group.  There are a number 
of independent agents,
who work by word-of-mouth advertising who have also been active in this 
neighborhood.  With
anyone, check to be sure they are properly insured, that they will obtain 
the necessary permits
from the City, that they provide references for you to check (and then do 
so), and any of a
number of common sense items prior to hiring someone to do heavy 
construction work.

List of area sidewalk contractors--from the back of the City form sent to 
all Bromley residents--
inclusion does not imply endorsement, nor that a contractor is currently 
licensed in the State of
Michigan.  Check with the proper State agency to verify license.  This 
list was take from the
Ameritech Pages Plus, as of summer 1992.  The City, Sidewalk Office, may 
have a more current
list.

A-1 Cement Contractors--449-2100; Acme Masonry--434-9691; Advanced 
Sealing and Paving
Co.--665-6119; Ann Arbor Southeast, Inc.--971-4134; The Bostwick 
Co.--663-5600; Brothers
Construction--973-5513; Dean Glen Construction Co.--572-9350; Gilson, 
Matthew E., Residential
Builder Remodeling--439-1048; Hearns, Carl Concrete--487-5384; Huron 
Valley Concrete and
Masonry--668-3243 or 487-4520; J. R. and Son, Inc.--484-3148; Krull 
Construction Co.--426-
2317; Law Construction Co--439-7129; Metro Concrete Lifting--981-8900; 
Michigan Paving
Industries--231-2525; Ray Construction Co (517) 522-5203; Saladino 
Construction Co--665-
5913; Sam's Construction & Concrete, Inc.--973-0509; Shankwiler 
Construction--483-1090;
Sicuso Concrete Contractor--241-6111; Stoner-Desbrough, Inc--665-8150; 
Terrafirma, In,.--434-
3811; Titanic Construction Co.--461-9767; Trip-Toe Concrete 
leveling--1-800-832-8070 or 694-
2820; Wells Concrete & Trucking--761-4850; Whiting, R. A. Building & 
Maintenance--971-1560;
Wilson & Sons Concrete--483-7370; Wolverine Contracting--663-2002 or 741-0029

Written bid--for a large enough group (only one received to date).
Liberty Contractors, 4145 Michael Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48103.
662-1272

12 October, 1992

"The prices for concrete you have requested are as follows; 4 inch $3.60, 
6 inch $4.15.  These
prices are subject to change if the price of concrete drastically rises 
this summer.

The work will be done to city specs as required and reflect the 
discounted rate for large jobs.  We
are experienced in this area as we were responsible for the Burns Park 
replacement this past
summer."
...
"I will also be happy to provide you with any necessary insurance 
documents as we are a fully
insured company.
     We would also quote individual prices to individual homeowners 
wishing to repair or replace
concrete beyond which is required by the city of Ann Arbor."

So, it might be that you and your neighbors would like to form a group 
and contact one of the
contractors on the back of your replacement form (listed above) or 
Liberty to see what sort of a
deal they will give to your group for new cement, or you might wish to 
consider lifting your
sidewalk.

If lifting is the option you wish, then you might want to call the 
Sidewalk office of the City (within
the Transportation Department of the City) and ask that they come out to 
evaluate whether or not
your walk can be lifted.  The only response, by phone,  we have on 
lifting is from Metro Concrete
Lifting (there are other firms that do this, listed on the back of your 
form from the City).  They
have a $50 minimum, when in the neighborhood; $50 is the top price 
(according to phone
conversation in October) for lifting a single sidewalk square; they will 
likely go lower for groups of
nearby homes.  Again, you might wish to get together in a group with your 
neighbors.  Metro will
also do ramping, according to a phone conversation.  A number of firms 
will do additional
cement work--driveways, basketball poles, and so forth--on an individual 
basis.

Bear in mind that BHA does not endorse any single firm; we offer 
information obtained in
response to written queries so that you might have it to use, as per your 
judgment.  What we
have been told that seems more definite, though, is this:  NOW IS THE 
TIME TO MAKE
ARRANGEMENTS FOR REPLACEMENT OR FOR LIFTING IN THE SPRING.  DON'T WAIT
UNTIL THE SPRING--THEN THE CONTRACTORS WILL BE TOO BUSY, AND YOU RISK
VIOLATING THE JULY 1 DEADLINE.
     BHA thanks all of you for your patience; this has been a very 
difficult issue for all of us to deal
with.
Questions--call Sandy--761-1231, between 5:00p.m. and 6:00p.m. (for this 
issue), Monday to
Friday.

Dolfins Pool

     The Bromley Homeowners Association supports the Dolfins Pool--the 
Bromley neighborhood
pool.  If you are new in the neighborhood, get to know the neighborhood 
facilities.  Our pool is on
Prairie, just north of Plymouth, on the east side of Prairie.  There is a 
bathhouse, outdoor pool,
and adjacent lot for volleyball and picnics.  When the tax assessment for 
these properties is
spread across the entire neighborhood, the cost works out to be $30 per 
household.  Please
consider supporting the pool at least to this extent; even better, join 
for the next season.  Call
Ken Reader for more information--994-4758.  Taxes have to be paid in the 
winter, too!

The Pool Board is actively seeking Bromley residents to serve on its 
Board.   Join this pleasant
group of people and work with them to continue to develop the Pool as a 
valuable neighborhood
asset!  Call Ken Reader--994-4758.  Time and place of election to be 
announced, but likely in
early January.  Watch BHA Newsletter for further details.

Kroger Donation Day for Thurston School
 by Shari McConnell

     Tuesday, November 24, has been designated as Kroger Donation Day for 
Thurston
Elementary School at the Traver Village Kroger Store.  Please shop at 
Kroger on that day.
When paying your bill, give the donation coupon to the cashier, and 
Kroger will donate 5% of
your total bill to the school.  This is a very generous donation by 
Kroger, and Thurston asks that
you please support this school fund raiser.  Coupons will not be 
available at the store, only from
the Thurston School office after November 15.

Letter--letter to Mayor Brater--(copy enclosed)

Erratum

     Apologies to Jeanne Schafer for the error in last month's 
Newsletter.  Former BHA Board
member Howard Schafer and his wife Jeanne have done so much to help make our
neighborhood a pleasant place;  BHA extends its appreciation to them both!