The monument dedication took place on January 29th - Mayor Bill Hargis, Washington County Commissioner Lisa Weik, and retired Rev. Doug Nicholas were on hand for the celebration!

We are stil accepting donations for future annual maintenance, if you would like to make a contribution, click 'Visit Neighborhood Website' above and go to 'Royal Oaks Homeowner Association'.

The stone has been delivered and construction on our Royal Oaks entrance monument will be starting soon! Thank you to everyone who has so graciously contributed to these efforts! We couldn't do it with out you and could still use more support in covering the costs. If you are interested in donating money to this project, please contact Tom Halfpenny or Steve Mollner. An information and payment form is included below.

GREAT PROGRESS MADE IN FUNDRAISING DRIVE...BUT WE STILL NEED YOUR HELP!

To date, 98 Royal Oaks homeowners have signed up to be part of this volunteer no dues non-profit organization. Over 90 homeowners have made a voluntary $50.00 contribution to build an entrance monument in April 2010 at the intersection of Queens Drive and Valley Creek Road. The contributions given to date will pay for the materials and construction of the entrance monument 2 pillars. Your contribution is needed for the sign, landscaping, and possible solar panel lighting.

The spring start date is just around the corner and we’re hoping you can help us out. If you are unable to make the suggested $50.00 donation, any amount would be appreciated.

It was brought to the Royal Oaks Homeowner Association's attention during the Spring and Fall of 2009 that the new Woodbury High School Royals Stadium speaker system was very loud. President, Tom Halfpenny, on behalf ot he Association, brought this to the District 833 South Washington County School Board meeting on November 19th, 2009.

On January 21st, 2010, we received this update from Mark Porter, Superintendent of South Washington County Schools:

'The school board will be considering recommendations as to the expenditure of funds from the bond referendum fund balance at their meeting tonight. Several improvements to the WHS stadium are included in the recommended projects and I have added resolution of the sound issue to those requests. I cannot assure you that the modifications will be exactly as outlined in the proposal you provided, but I can assure you that we are allocating resources to address and resolve the concern. If approved, the recommended projects, including the WHS sound modifications, should be completed by the start of the 2010-2011 school year.'

Your Royal Oaks Homeowners Association Board is pleased to announce that very good progress is being made in funding the construction of the entrance monument on Washington County land located at the south west corner of the intersection of Valley Creek Road and Queens Drive. We have purchased the natural stone for the 2 pillars with caps and the stone edging for the landscaping. We expect a contractor to start construction the week of April 12th on the 2 pillars. Fortunately the frost level is not very deep thanks to the early blanket of snow.

In February the Board will be sending out a request for contributions to all those homeowners who did not send in a contribution in 2009. Funds are still needed for the sign and landscaping. The sign will have a special coating on it to make graffiti removal easy, if necessary.

Washington County has suggested we explore illuminating the sign with power supplied by a solar panel. They see a big need to use solar power for illuminating outdoor signs rather than power supplied by X-cel energy. They have given us a contact for the equipment as well making it a project for Century College. Our original cost estimate did not include sign illumination, but if illumination doesn't cost us anything, I think we could live with that!

Attached to this email is a computer generated photo of the monument. The colors are forest green and metallic gold, the same as used on the Wedgewood signs on County Road 19. The sign falls within the City of Woodbury signage requirements.

To date $3,000 has been collected to build an entrance monument at the Valley Creek/Queens Drive intersection. Please consider donating $50 to ROHA to reach our goal of $9000. Is $50 a stretch? Even a lesser amount will help your community fund this project.

Here are some reasons some of your fellow homeowners have given for donating:

- Gives identity to our neighborhood
- Enhances our property values
- Creates stability-buying into a neighborhood, not just an address
- Will help beautify the neighborhood
- Helps marketability-small investment gives added value
- Creates a Sense of Pride & Integrity
- Royal Oaks means something
- You never get a second chance to make a good first impression
- Good visibility on Valley Creek Drive
- It is just a good idea.

The $9,000 project covers present and future costs such as the stone pillars, stone caps, sign and a cash reserve for a replacement sign, insurance, landscaping and permits.

With your support we can make it happen!

For more information or to make a donation, please view the document below called 'Royal Oaks Monument Information and Payment Form'...or contact Steve Mollner at 651-209-8217 or via email to: steve@stevemollner.com