Shrub Bed Reno
The shrub bed next to the pump station on Blackburn Drive is now getting a long awaited facelift. The Board of Directors asked for quotes from five landscaping companies to renovate the shrub bed that has become  overgrown with cedar plants and weeds. It received written quotes from two companies and on June 10 selected Yardworx of Edmonton to complete the work. It is expected the work will be done next week. Yardworx has cleaned up the bed and is now waiting for Alberta One Call to stake out the site to ensure the work can be done safely. We will also be working to get the lighting infrastructure in front of the sign working again this summer, so the sign and the vegetation in front of it will be restored to their former glory.
A "Classic" Fence
Realizing that many of the fences in our neighborhood are now over 20 years old, your Board has endeavored to assist those members who are finding that their fences have reached the end of their lives. In  this regard, Classic Landscapes (our neighbor across the highway) offers Blackburne Creek residents their ‘Developers Rate’ for fence replacement (this is the rate charged to developers for entire neighborhoods). Using the specifications registered on our Restrictive Covenant, Classic will provide 4” x 6” pressure treated posts and rough spruce single pickets, all pre-stained to our ‘official’ colours, and installed for $39 per linear foot. Removal of existing fences will be an additional $3 per linear foot plus $350 ‘haul-away’ fees for each 120 feet of fence. For do-it-yourselfers, Classic is also able to provide pre-stained pickets for $4.50 each.
Homeowners wishing to obtain this rate must identify themselves as members of the Blackburne Creek Homeowners’ Association. As fencing prices can vary, the Board does not endorse this service as the lowest cost (although it may be) and you are advised to compare this price to that offered by other contractors. As a reminder, please ensure that your new fence complies with the design and color stipulations registered on your title. Should you wish to use Classic Landscapes for your fence replacement, kindly note that it is scheduling its contracts into late summer.
Blackburne in Bloom
Just a reminder that judging will begin in the middle of July for the annual front yard contest, Blackburne in  Bloom. 20 finalists will be selected by the end of July and then final judging is scheduled for August 9. This year only judges from outside the community will be used to judge the finalists. Results will be announced by the middle of August. As in the past judges will be looking for lots of colour from different types of flowers and similar vegetation, good looking healthy grass and exceptional maintenance. Thank you to Melissa Tilburn from the Board of Directors for organizing this year's contest and we look forward to the best that the community has to offer. For a look back at the last five years of the contest, please click here.
It's also important to note that the City of Edmonton is looking for people to nominate great yards for the city contest by June 30, so if you like a front yard in Blackburne Creek, be sure to nominate it by email.
Thanks For Your Payment
If you have already paid your association fees for the 2014-15 year we thank you. Each year the Board is always impressed with how quickly so many residents pay their fees. This year the response has even been better thanks to the introduction of online payments. There has been the odd hiccup, but generally speaking the online system has worked well and some residents have expressed their appreciation. In less than a month since the invoices were sent, more than half of our of members have paid their fees. The deadline for payments is July 31.
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