Homeowners’ Annual Meeting: May 21st
The Homeowners’ Annual Meeting will be held on May 21nd (Location: to be announced in the May Edition of the HOC Newsletter). Among the items to be addressed at the meeting will be “Short-Term Rentals.”
“Short-Term Rentals”
In December 2022, one of the rentals on West State Lane applied to the Stillwater Zoning Commission to have their property zone as a short-term rental. Conversation was had with the owner at that time, informing him that our covenants did not allow such activity. Members of the HOC Board attended the zoning meeting. There, the assistant city attorney informed the members of the board that (1) there is no special zoning for short-term rentals, and (2) our HOC covenants did not restrict short-term rentals.
In late January, George Gilland, HOC Board President, contacted Ann Richard-Farinha an attorney with Hartsfield & Egbert, in Edmond, OK. The firm specifically deals with HOC’s and short-term rentals. After studying our covenant, Ann wrote: “…unless your HOA Board has passed a rule or regulation regarding the terms of leases, your documents do not seem to prohibit short term leasing.” Ann has offered to assist our HOC to incorporate a prohibition against short term rentals.
Therefore, this is an important matter for our Annual Meeting and the Board encourages member participation as we take up this matter.
Election of Board Members
Each year, the Annual Meeting is charged with the responsibility of electing new officers. Your presence and participation is needed as we move through important business in the coming year.
Carpe De Carp!
“Seize The Carp!” The Board has approved bowhunting of grass carp in the lake. Anyone hunting carp is required to dispose of any carp taken.
Please do not shoot carp with an arrow
and leave them to flounder around in the lake.
Removal of Beavers Dropping Trees Into The Lake
In June of 2022 a couple of beavers moved into a new lodge on the Southeast corner of the lake. Gerald Horn contacted Shannon Sheffert, who removed and relocated the beaver. They did drop a few small trees into the lake before being taken away.
Rocking the Lakeshore
This past year there has been a great deal of concern expressed over erosion of the shoreline. Gerald Horn called together an ad hoc committee composed of Gerald, Lori Edgmand, Zane Quible and Ray Huhnke to look into options for mitigating bank erosion. The committee decided to place rock along the shoreline to lessen erosion due to wave action.
Over the course of a couple of weeks, Tom Bentley Services delivered and spread rock on the north, west, south shoreline. We need to thank Gerald Horn and the committee for their efforts in this matter. This has certainly been a long overdue project.
Mowing The Dam and Emergency Spillway
Recently, contractors with the Payne County Conservation District mowed the dam, emergency spillway and mulched the large brush pile behind the south end of the dam. They have incredible and very expensive equipment and did an excellent job. Well worth the wait! It’s a pretty day . . . you may want to take a walk across the dam and take a look. It all looks great.
Mowing Contract for Common Areas
The HOC Board has contract with Chad Sneed of Sneed Lawn Service to mow the west side and Northwest corner of the lake, the center medians of the entrance, the frontage along West Lakeview Road, and the south end of the buffer zone behind West State Lane duplexes.
Bids were taken for the period beginning April 1 and ending October 1, with the understanding that the mowing season may be extended, based on the weather in Stillwater.
Check out the University Estates/Woodcrest HOC Website at:
HOC Board:
George A. Gilland—President
Aravind Seshadri–Vice President
Michele Bosler–Board Member and Secretary
Lori Edgmand—Treasurer
Gerald Horn–Board Member
Bettye Little–Board Member
This Newsletter and dues invoice will be going out in the mail this week.
University Estates HOC 