First Payment

Made the first payment; Harold got $423 cash from WF, carried it over to FNBA.  We also mailed in the paperwork for the automatic withdrawal/payment from now on.

Talked to Tommy on the phone, and their Hope job has fallen through.  The guy there got a sweet deal from the construction outfit he works for in Anchorage; they brought trucks to Seward, bought the sand and rock they needed, and will get their own excavator.  Tom said that Dave Dickgraef said that if several more driveway jobs come on line, they could still take the excavator up for several days (for  Larry’s and ours, plus?), we would have to split the mobilization costs.  Harold gave him Brendan  Maguire’s number, Tommy will call him and see if he will get on board.   Maybe we should contact the  Dr. from lot #12? Tommy also said that when he went over to walk our cut on Monday, there was a dump truck and some other equipment spread out at the end of the cul-de-sac, with an ad on it advertising dirt work, at $100/hr.  

He also said that their cabin is always open and available for overnight stays any time they are not there.  Wood heat, beds, cookstove available; just call Gillespies prior, to see what’s planned.

First Night Camping on Property

We all met at midday Saturday and  set up tents  on the property.  We then cut the remaining flagged driveway trees down to bottom.  We planned and flagged a parking area which should fit three rigs, then flagged a narrow walkway into a building site, an approximate 40’circle for yurt clearing. It sounds like we are in favor of cutting the trees in the circle spot, but leaving the moss and ground cover for now.  

Harold met Brendan MaGuire and his dad Dennis on lot #9.  Brendan (229-9232) works 2 on/2 off on the slope, is renting a cabin in Hope, his wife is an artist, they have a shelter on lot #9 and trees cut for a loop driveway. He has been in contact with the excavator guy from Sunrise, said that guy charges $100/hr.  Brendan is thinking about picking a spot on site to dig a pit for his driveway gravel, and then have all his stumps and debris piled in the hole and buried.  

We all met Kristen from lot #12, she was very nice, visited a while and walked down our driveway cut to take a look.  She has a cabin in Hope, and said she will not be developing #12 for some time.  She said the owner of lot #10 is a doctor (gastroenterologist) from Anchorage.  Kristen told us about Willie Davidson who runs dump trucks and lives at the “Fuck You Dump” mess near the Discovery Cafe.  Matt and Harold met Willie’s brother Robbie Davidson at Pioneer Liquor; he was very helpful and ready to bring gravel at $10/yard; said we should expect to hit the best gravel base about 2’ down (he and his outfit A&G built the subdivision roads and do the snowplowing).  

We set up a dinner site on the utility easement, and Jeanie and Nick created a great supper of grilled pizza.  Harold drove his truck down there for the night, and then drove out with a small load of seasoned birch cutoffs.  

That evening, Matt, Sue and Harold went down to the Seaside for beers and enjoyed the live music.  Jonas never would settle, so the Mosemans drove home to sleep; Nick came back in the morning to help out and pack up.  It was a great weekend, and the driveway cut is impressive!

This tear-off slip was on an ad in the Discovery Cafe:  “Equipment for Hire   782-3268 / 244-1604”     This is Mel.

15 x 30 Foot Culvert Required

Received the driveway permit in the mail.  Jim Connor hand wrote a note on it: 15” X 30’ culvert required.  So much for consideration.  The permit expires on 6/30/11 (Why?).  


Got our escrow account information today. The first payment is due the 1st, late fee on the 16th. Sue called them for instructions on making automatic payments (we’ll make the first payment ourselves) and how to access “FirstLine” their 24 hour information line.  That number is 1-800-856-4362 or in Anchorage it is 777-4700.  Press 1,  then 2, then  give them the account number , 52-846755, and finally the access code 7314.  For the automatic payment she printed a “debit authorization form” which we’ll mail in with that first payment.

Driveway Application Approved

Harold spoke on the phone with Jim Connor, the Borough road service area inspector, at 1-800-478-4427.  He said our driveway app was approved and sent to “the boss” for signature.  He was willing to consider a shorter culvert, once we stake out our planned lines.  He provided the cell number for Robbie Davidson of A&G Services in Hope, the outfit that put in the subd. roads.  A&G knows what gravel we need to make the approach, and has pit run.  242-0204.  Jim was very nice to talk to, and said that if we have Tommy involved, we are in great shape.

Talked to Tommy

Talked to Tommy at graduation; he has been gone 4 days at state track meet (Austin, and Seward, are

State Champs!) and he has not made any further progress on the Hope project.

First Day Clearing Trees

Nick, Harold, and Matt spent about 6 hours clearing trees from the planned driveway. About 32 trees (mostly birch, also hemlock, spruce, and willow) down, cut into sections, and stacked.  First 125 feet of 310 foot long driveway cleared.  


Seaview Cafe is open for the season, taps not up yet.

Recorded Quit Claim Deed

Received a copy of the “Recorded Quit Claim Deed” from the Borough today.

Mailed Driveway Permit

Driveway Permit application mailed to Borough.

We noticed that the subdivision map has the Alley as “Whiskers’ Drive”.

Deed Recorded

Deed should be recorded today.  

Closing!

When FATS said they have not yet received the paperwork back from the Borough, Harold
called Dan Conetta.  He checked the file, and said he had sent it all to FATS on 5/6/11 via Express Mail.  He then called FATS, Kristy found the paperwork on Nita’s desk, called us and scheduled closing for 4 PM.  CLOSING COMPLETED!  $1150.56, first payment due 6/1/11.

(Later)

Spoke with Tommy, he has not yet finalized the dates for the excavator, but will soon.
He thinks it will be in “about a month”.  He estimates up to 6 hours work, but thinks it will be less, at either $156 or $200/hr, depending upon which machine, plus about $200 mobilization fee.  We still need to contact Davidsons in Hope regarding the fill needed (likely $100/load).  He said pile the stumps for burning later.  Total: up to $1600. Need permits and culvert.

Tree Flagging and Sourdough Dru

Whole Gang met at the property, flagged trees for driveway, found the center spot for clearing.  There is no snow or water pools, the birches have budded but no open leaves yet.  We met Sourdough Dru at the bluff, checked out the trail to the beach, had a picnic in the cul-de-sac, moved the old bench to the bluff, and cleaned up after the bozos.

Metco Excavator?

Tommy called Harold with the news that Metco would be taking their excavator to Hope in
about a month, and it would be a great time to get the driveway cut in.  Larry Harmon on Lot 6 will be having Tommy do his driveway, and Tommy will also be using the excavator down at his house to dig holes to move his outbuilding onto sono tubes.

Picked up Paperwork

Harold Called Nita, she said they were waiting for the paperwork to get back, that four signatures were needed at the Borough, and that she would make us a copy of everything we would be signing so we could be ready.  We picked up the copies, and learned that the closing would cost us $1200.

Link to Percy Hope Sealed Bid results:  http://www.borough.kenai.ak.us/LandManagement/2010SBResults/SealedBidResultshope.htm

Kenny Sees the Property

Kenny and Harold looked at the property. Very little snow left, and birch firewood available.