Board Update: Santa to visit Eagle Nest on Christmas Eve, snow removal policy, food truck update, resident poll results

Hello Eagle Nest residents,

Here’s a look at neighborhood news for the week of December 21:

SANTA IS COMING TO EAGLE NEST ON CHRISTMAS EVE!

We’re excited to announce that Santa and his elves are coming to Eagle Nest on Christmas Eve! That’s right – get the kids ready for a drive-by wave, socially distanced photo op and bagged candy toss to celebrate the season! Santa will start his journey through the neighborhood at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at the 82nd Street entrance and wind his way south along Teel Way, hitting every court and side street along the way.

Want to ensure Santa stops at your house? Send an email to Santa’s helper at scottthien@comcast.net by noon Thursday and we’ll add you to the visit list! (Thanks to residents Tom and Cindy Corbett, Lindsey Dix Holmes, Jack O’Tain and Board member Helen Galvin for organizing this fun event!) Happy holidays!

P.S.: After Santa leaves Eagle Nest and returns to the North Pole, track his trip around the world on NORAD’s website.

A WORD OR TWO ABOUT OUR SNOW REMOVAL POLICY

Today is the official start of winter, so the Board wanted to share our approach to plowing the neighborhood.

First, a request: When significant snowfall is forecast (anything over 2 inches), please move your vehicles off the street. Our plowing contractor's job is hard enough without having to maneuver around obstacles. Neither the Board nor our plowing contractor is responsible for "plowed in" vehicles because they weren’t moved. And nobody likes having to navigate around snow mounds left by cars during deep-freeze months. So, please, move your vehicles.

Second, please be patient. Our policy is to clear the main drags first to ensure emergency vehicles can access the development. After that, our 17 courts are addressed. Plows are instructed to make a quick pass through all courts and clear a wide lane around the perimeter first. The entire cul-de-sac will be finished later after the entire neighborhood has been addressed. Snow in the courts initially may be pushed into the center of courts, with the rest pushed into yards with the most open curb space or straight out through the main thoroughfares.

Third, accumulation threshold: Our budget is structured to cover snowfalls over 2 inches -- anything less than that will be addressed during the next significant snowfall. Exceptions are made for the intersections and drifting conditions.

Fourth, timing: We are at the mercy of the conditions, of course. For big storms, our contractor may let an accumulation build up before plowing, and that means it may be a few hours into the snow before you see a plow. Why? We get charged every time our contractor works the neighborhood, and we simply can't afford to clear the roads at every two inches. Not unless you want your dues to increase.

Fifth, salting. We will salt the main intersections and entrances and exits as needed, but again that depends on the conditions. We want to be good stewards of our financial resources, so if warm weather is expected we may delay plowing or salting in favor of Mother Nature. It doesn’t make sense to spend thousands of dollars to plow and salt the entire neighborhood if 50-degree weather is expected the next day – or even hours. And we all know that’s classic Indiana weather!

Lastly, please use extra caution. When driving through the neighborhood, allow for extra stopping time at all intersections. Snow removal is a tricky business, given the potential for changing weather conditions, and thawing/refreezing can be an issue in spots. Slow down!

If you have questions, comments or concerns about snow removal, contact Clubhouse Manager Kelly Dentler or Board President Scott Thien. We appreciate (constructive) feedback so we can work with our contractor to address any issues.

WEEKLY POLLS PROVIDE RESIDENT INSIGHT

If you’re signed up to receive the weekly Board Update, you probably have noticed the resident polls at the bottom of the message. Questions run the gamut of topics, from food trucks to neighborhood amenities to social events and more. Granted, the results aren’t wholly representative of the neighborhood, but we average responses from one fourth of residents and get a good idea of trendlines. It’s great to get feedback, too, so we’ll start sharing poll results for all to see.

Last week’s question: How long have you lived in Eagle Nest? 74 responses:

• One to five years: 17.6% (13)
• Five to 10 years: 23% (17)
• 10 to 20 years: 18.9% (14)
• 20 to 30 years: 17.6% (13)
• 30 to 40 years: 20.3% (15)
• Original occupant: 2.7% (2) 

(If you want to be added to the Constant Contact blast, please email scottthien@comcast.net and we’ll get you plugged in.)

DECEMBER 29: JET’S PIZZA CAPS 2020 FOOD TRUCK SEASON

Jet’s Pizza has confirmed they will return with their popular $5 personal pizzas on Tuesday, Dec. 29. You know the drill: Choice of sausage, pepperoni or cheese. Cash only. 5 to 7 p.m. in the front Clubhouse parking lot.

Now that winter is here, this will be our last food event of 2020. It was a busy year, too: We hosted more than 50 food truck appearances after the pandemic started, a convenience the Board hopes to resume late next spring. Thanks to everyone for supporting our local culinary partners and observing recommended CDC guidelines for masking and social distancing during your Clubhouse stops.

In other news:

FIXING DARK STREET LIGHTS: If you spot a dark street light in our neighborhood, the Board would appreciate your help in reporting it to IPL. It’s easy to do: Click this IPL link and fill out the short form with the address closest to the light pole. You will need to include the pole tag number, found at the top near the lighting element. You can use the same link for damaged or downed poles, too.

HOLIDAY LIGHTS A HIT! Thanks again to our more than 165 residents who decorated for the holidays this year. The Board has heard a lot of positive comments from residents and non-residents alike about the festive feel of the neighborhood -- and that should be a point of pride for everyone in Eagle Nest. It’s safe to say our development has the best holiday feel of area neighborhoods!

The Board wishes everyone a very merry Christmas and holiday season. Stay safe, stay healthy!

On behalf of the Board,
Scott Thien, President