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TRnews editors:
Roger Irwin
Tim Amsden
Contact the editors at:

Advisory Board
Genghis & Sylvia Kahn
Alfred E. Neuman

      Welcome to our "Letters to the editors" page where you may read what people are saying about topics of importance to Timberlake - Ramah area. Feel free to respond to what someone else has posted or write about an entirely new topic. Comments are welcome. We, of course, won't print inappropriate language or personal attacks. If you request, we will withhold your name from your comments. Otherwise, authorship is not anonymous since we accept postings only through email. To post your comments contact the Editors.

 Timberlake Road-Are we getting our moneys worth for the taxes we pay?

      (Posted 5-14-08) Timberlake Ranch Landowners Association has been given permission to help supplement maintenance of Canyon Road, BIA, 48A and Timberlake Road from McKinley County, Cibola County and BIA. The downside to that agreement is that Cibola County will only come out twice a year and BIA is sporadic at best. McKinley County is more proactive on maintaining their portion. TRLA landowners who have driven on the Cibola County and BIA road sections have first hand experience with how rough those washboards are and how deep the ruts can get. When driving in with your RV or 5th wheeler you may have suffered from shell shock at the end of those sections and probably had to pop your eye balls back in their sockets. All automobiles and trucks sooner or later will have to have new engine mounts, nuts and bolts, etc. if Cibola County and BIA portions of the road are not kept maintained. There are 731 lots in Timberlake Ranch subdivision and of those 331 lots are in Cibola County. More new homes are being built in Timberlake Ranch each year contributing to McKinley and Cibola Counties tax base. The services we get from Cibola County are next to none. How many of you have written or called the Cibola County Road Department or the Cibola County Commissioners and voiced your dismay? Here is your chance to be heard.

Jimmy Chavez-Public Works Director Bennie Cohoe-Cibola County Commissioner
515 W. High Avenue 515 W. High Avenue
Grants, New Mexico 87020 Grants, New Mexico 87020
(505) 287-9431 (505) 285-2511

We are a growing rural community that contributes a great deal to Cibola County infrastructure through our property taxes but get very little in return. If you plan to live here, camp or see your investments appreciate in value, then write or call the Cibola County officials about Timberlake Road. If you choose not to contact your county officials than consider donating money to TRLA to offset fuel costs. TRLA volunteers operate the grader and tractor. I would like to make one more point while I'm on a roll. Are you tired of being left behind in a cloud of dust and flying gravel by speedsters that totally disregard your safety on Timberlake Road? Get their license plate number, if you can, and contact the county sheriff departments. Law enforcement is another vital service our community needs.

Frank Gonzales- Sheriff Johnny Valdez- Sheriff
McKinley County Sheriff's Office Cibola County Sheriff's Department
2105 E. Aztec Avenue 515 W. High Street
Gallup, New Mexico 87301 Grants, New Mexico 87020
(505) 863-1410 (505) 876-5485

--Danny Montoya-dannyamontoya@hughes.net

   (Posted 6-22-07) Let me lead off this note by saying that I am so impressed with the time and energy that Timberlake board members put into their assigned roles. Serving as a board member can be a truly thankless job, and yet, a daring few still step up and honor us with their time. They know going in that they are NEVER going to make everyone happy. What works for one landowner, often works against another. What works for the majority, rarely works for their close friends. It’s a no-win situation. I thank them for their courage.

With each visit to the ranch, my husband, Wayne, and I have met some generous and interesting people. Patient people, who tolerate my “Gatlin gun” style of asking questions. These people will make great neighbors. And that’s important to me. I want to live in a community where people look out for you. Where people are respectful and value each other’s differences. Where everyone has a voice.

At the annual meeting, (which by the way was a beautiful day at the ranch) I suggested creating a Supplier Section on the new website. Request for Bids would be posted on the new Timberlake website. This section would serve as a connect point between the board and all of our area suppliers. The major purpose of this page would be to solicit open, public bids for future projects planned by the board. Rather than the board having to go out and get quotes, this would be a centralized spot for local suppliers to view project specifications, submittal deadlines, and provide bids for future projects of which they want to be involved. The board would review all submitted bids, and then select the company and bid with the right mix of price, quality, and service. (It’s never just about price…) Obviously, this would only be for large purchases, and at the end of the day, the board has final say.

In keeping with the attitude that everyone should have a voice, we should also make note that not all of our local suppliers have Internet access. To remedy this, I suggest the Request for Bids also be posted at the bathhouse, with instructions on submitting their bids to the board. In all cases, all bids received by the deadline and quoted to the specifications of the Request for Bid would be acknowledged in writing or email and be eligible for consideration

With this quote process, we open the door to more competitive bids and more bidders, we develop better relationships with our local vendors, and because of the very visible process, provide all interested parties an opportunity to compete fairly.

Don’t misunderstand my point, here. I’m not advocating that the board use a specific company or justify why they selected one supplier over another. My point is - let’s make sure everyone has a voice. Let’s make sure all of the community’s suppliers are allowed to place their bids are on the table for considerations. I believe the other differentiators of quality and service, combined with price, will allow the board to make logical, informed decisions.

My two cents….--Nancy Ramm

(Posted 4-13-07) TRLA Assessment Dues

    In 1994 my wife and I bought two lots in Timberlake Ranch. Before building our home in 2002-2003, we enjoyed camping during the summer months. As nonresidents we never appreciated what the full-time residents did for us until now. We took it for granted that Timberlake Ranch was free of litter along the road, common land and lakeside. We also thought our assessment fees paid for the painting of the ranch house, bathhouse and cleaning of the grounds surrounding the Ranch House.
    Not until we became full-time residents in 2003 did we realize it was the full-time and part-time residents who volunteered to perform those chores. Our first and foremost concern has been forest fires caused by lighting strikes or careless campers. Unreported fires would devastate Timberlake Ranch. The full-time residents man Timberlake Ranch Volunteer Fire Department. We are lucky to have such vigilant guardians protecting our investment. I joined Timberlake Ranch Volunteer Fire Department because I want to give back to our community.
     As full-time residents we advocate well-maintained and graveled roads, which are essential for getting into areas in Timberlake Ranch in case of fires and/or medical emergencies. We also understand the mindset of some part-time and nonresidents who feel they should not be burdened with increased assessment fees to finance heavy equipment for road maintenance by the Board of Directors because full-time residents use the roads all year. As I mentioned before, it is the full-time residents who are your local fire fighters and they need well-maintained roads to get to your property in case of a fire. Timberlake Ranch would suffer irreversible environmental consequences and it would burn a heck of a hole in each landowner's pocket book if we were to have a forest fire such as the Show Low, Arizona fires of 2002.
    Knowing now what we did not know then, we feel the full-time residents have been the caretakers of Timberlake Ranch. Without these individuals, Timberlake Ranch might have lost its pristine beauty long ago. Our assessment fees have served us well to this point but are inadequate to keep up with the essential needs of our growing community. ---Danny Montoya

(Posted 3-2-07) TIMBERLAKE REFORMATION

Obsolete ambiguous CC&Rs have cost TRLA landowners big bucks. They have restricted options for landowners who want to build affordable housing, increase the time spent on their lots for recreational purposes and ultimately in the end reduced funds for 37 miles of side road maintenance.

Many landowners fail to understand the rationale of the decision-making by the current TRLA Board of Directors especially when it may dip into their pocket books. The Board of Directors have to adhere to the current Bylaws and CC&Rs. TRLA is composed of five subdivisions. Four of the five subdivision's CC&Rs were written in the late 1970s early 1980s. The land developers hastily wrote these documents to facilitate land sales and unintentionally sealed the financial fate of TRLA. Soon after the May 2006 TRLA Annual Meeting the new Board of Directors formed a Bylaw/CC&Rs Revision Committee composed of four landowners and two board members-one as chairperson. This committee has taken the task of revising some parts of the CC&RS that have legally/financially plagued past/current boards AND making them more landowner friendly. Many landowners cannot comprehend why TRLA has spent so much money on lawsuits. The money on legal fees is not just for court costs to validate the enforceability by TRLA but includes fees on consultation for interpretation of the Bylaws and CC&Rs.

As you read in the Timberlake Times, this Board of Directors are faced with increasing the assessment dues. Some of you will say "more money for lawsuits", "I have owned property for twenty years and have never had my roads graded or graveled", "buying a new grader instead of a used one when TRLA is financially strapped" or "the board is mismanaging our assessment dues" or "I will pay no more than $130". Others will continue not to pay their assessment dues forcing the Board of Directors to place liens on their property, hire collection agencies and/or seek legal actions such as foreclosures and thus placing an increased burden on those conscientious landowners who do comply. I for one am tired of having my assessment dues line lawyer's pockets. A mediation process as proposed in the new Bylaws makes more sense to me. It is imperative that all TRLA landowners vote YES to approve the revised Bylaws and later the CC&Rs. Revised Bylaws and CC&Rs will mean more funds going to road maintenance and TRLA infrastructure that balances the needs of all. For those reluctant landowners, what do you have to lose? The current Bylaws and CC&Rs have protected our land values but are now hindering progress for those who wish to build and for those who come for the summer months with their RVs or travel trailers.

Help make a difference-get involved and stay current with TRLA affairs. If you have not received your copy of the Timberlake Times, email or call the Board of Directors. www.trnews.info is an informative independent website. If you think the Board of Directors are doing a good job or need constructive criticism, let them know. The Board will not address anonymous letters. Three Board of Directors positions need to be filled at the annual May meeting. I volunteered to be on the Nominating Committee and if you have talents that you think will make a difference on the Board of Directors for FY 2007-2008, please contact me.

Danny Montoya
(505)783-2465

(1-21-07) I personally want to thank the Road Committee for doing such a good job of clearning the roads. I don't know if it was Jerry or who, but the truck was cleaning Yucca Drive last night at midnight. We really appreciate it.
Mary Jo & Dick Wallen

(1-12-07) Roger, Tim and others who have access to your web.
Thanks for the periodic update on Timber lake News items and particularly the weather. For
now, Timber lake is our home away from home and it is nice to get these reports.

Thanks again,
Allen and Pat Burnam

Dear Editors: I'm writing about the problem of loose Rottweilers. During
the past several months
I have been confronted with the problem of 2 Rotts (aggressive) prowling my
property. We have a small dog who walks with me on our property. I'm not
sure how these dogs would respond to my dog. I don't want to find out.
These large dogs are an intrusion.

I urge the owners to take responsibility for their dogs. Keep then on your
property.

If a person is going to own dogs, take the common sense responsible stand to
control your dogs.

Sincerely, Bill Kirchner

My compliments to you on the TRInfo website. I have been attending the annual May meetings for the past three years which allows me to meet other Timberlake folks and understand important Timberlake issues. Your website allows me and many others who are non-residents to have a connection to Timberlake throughout the year.
Thanks and happy holidays,
Nancy Wildman

My husband, Fred, and I are looking forward to retirement in a couple of years. We own land in Timberlakes, but I doubt that we will ever be able to live there, as I couldn't conceive of us contracting our own home, as Mr. Montoya did, and it seems that there is a prejudice against the more affordable manufactured homes.

Currently, we live in a wonderful warm community, Sun Lakes AZ. (It's a Robson Community) About 1/2 of the
homes here are manufactured homes, and they are very nice. Many folks here are stuckoing the exterior of their manufactured homes. They are selling for a bit under $200,000. as compared to stick homes, which are about $50,000. higher (on the average). The mixture has allowed us to enjoy a diverse but good community of people. Everyone pays the same home owner's dues, which are around $600./year. Our association has about
$1,000,000. in savings. Of course we are a larger community than Timberlakes, but making home ownership
here affordable has kept our coffers full!

Thanks again for the information, Dan and Stu! Timberlakes is lucky to have both of you! --Georgianne Giese