Irrigation systems

On September 19th and 20th, we will have a specialist company doing a review of the irrigation systems in the Finca San Antonio gardens to review where repair, remediation and improvement is needed. The irrigation systems have not been fully operational at any time since the urbanisation was first given it's operating license, and this effort is geared towards making sure that all sprinklers are properly located, directed and functioning. Several areas of the gardens are not watered other than by a manual process, and the plan is to correct this during the process as part of the general improvement we are trying to effect.

Importance of Being Alert

We have today had an attempted forced entry into an FSA apartment, which fortunately was foiled when the apartment occupant came to the front door where two individuals had used a device to slip the lock and gain entry. On this occasion the outcome was positive, as the two individuals ran off and were seen immediately afterwards driving down the road in a grey SEAT motor car. Nothing was taken, and no-one was hurt, although the resident got a severe fright. The event underlines the importance of securing your apartment even when you are in it: this is not the first time that we have had an attempted entry like this one. None have been successful, but the perpetrators keep trying. Please make sure you keep yourself safe by double locking your doors whether you're in the house or not. Take a look through the peephole when you receive a visitor, to make sure you know who they are. Stay safe !

Padrón Municipal - Action needed

The National Office of Stadistics has informed the Mijas Town Hall that 14.000 inhabitants may be removed from the "padrón" (official list of inhabitants) because no modifications have been made by them in the past 5 years. Those who are not in the padrón are not considered inhabitants of Mijas and as such,will not be able to receive any of the benefits offered, for example; reduction on the rates (IBI), social help etc... This will also harm the Town Hall, as the Central Government of Spain will provide less money, less policemen, less public transport and less doctors, etc to the T own. The list of persons arranged in alphabetical order can be viewed on www.mijas.es. If your name is on this list please come to Mijas Town Hall (either to Mijas Pueblo, Las Lagunas or La Cala) in order to update your registration (empadronamiento) BEFORE 31ST OCTOBER 2012. You only need to take your passport and NIE number. This is free of charge and will only take you a few minutes. If you have any doubts, you can contact the Mijas Foreigner's Department on 952 58 90 10 or via email frd@mijas.es You can also take this opportunity to check your address and leave your telephone and email. The registration in the padrón (empadronamiento) has NOTHING TO DO with your fiscal residence, meaning that a citizen can be an inhabitant of Mijas and remain a tax resident abroad. We insist on the importance of registering and urge everyone to be included on the padron. Kind Regards

Update on Block 1 Painting

Despite the hopes we had of the painting work starting on Block 1, little progress has been made to date, and I spoke this week to Paul Skirrow, the contractor. He has explained that the delay results from unexpected difficulties arising with his Spanish staff, who have told him that the unemployment benefit they are currently receiving is worth too much for them to return to work ! He has been unable to secure other reliable staff to fill the gap this leaves in his painting teams, with the result that previous contracts are still being finished. Materials have already been purchased and delivered to the site, and we are optimistic that work will start in the next week or so. Paul has apologized for the inconvenience this has caused for us. We will continue to monitor the situation and, should the circumstances require, will even consider bringing in an alternative contractor to complete the job. This is not a particularly desirable alternative, but nonetheless is an option open to us. We will provide further updates via the Blog as the situation develops. Best regards The Committee

Block 3 owners have been inconvenienced today due to an unfortunately misguided attempt by Daniel to programme a new mando for the Block 3 Garage, which resulted in a reset of the electronic memory on the gate control mechanism. As a consequence, all Block 3 mandos now have to be reprogrammed. The garage door maintenance company was unable to come on site prior to the end of the business day, but will be brought in a soon as possible, until which time the door has been put into Manual operation. Operation of the main gate is unaffected.

Apartment 32 Available for Rent

Dear Owners Brian and Jo Lloyd-Jones have advised that their apartment, number 32 in Block 2, is now available for rental. Interested parties should contact Jo on jl-j@hotmail.co.uk to get further details as necessary.

Apartmental Rental Needed in July

To all at FSA I am looking for an apartment that may be free on the below dates, either one of them is acceptable. I have listed the amount of money that I can pay next to each period, please let me know if anyone has availability. Arrival date 2nd July – depart 12th July = £700 or 840 Euro or Arrival date 3rd July – depart 15th July = £850 or 1000 Euro Please contact me at jason@bagzone.co.uk Many Thanks for your time Jason Ashworth (FSA #38)

Changes in FSA Blog

With Mario's departure from Finca San Antonio, the task of maintaining the blog has (temporarily, I hope) been taken on by Pete Llewellyn. Should any owner wish to assume responsibility for this, please feel free to contact me at fsacommunity2010@gmail.com, and we can discuss how this might be made to work. In the meantime, I want to let everyone know that we are trying to complete the second quarter fees requests to owner bank accounts. Unfortunately, and due to deficiencies in the information provided to the new Administrator, a number of the fee requests have not been made, and we will correct this as quickly as possible. We regret any inconvenience and confusion this delay may cause for owners. Pete Llewellyn

Resignation of the administrator

Dear owners in Finca San Antonio:

I was surprised to see that the president included in his report a recommendation to change the administrator, I was not aware of any problems during the year. In any case, I guess he represents the majority of the community, so I think it is better that you hold the next AGM with the new administrator instead of with me. I will pass him all details as soon as you confirm me his election, so he can starts on 1st April, while I complete the accounts of this first quarter.

I am only left to tell you it was a challenge to take over the community with about 70.000 euros debt, and left it 3 years after with the pools refurbished, most of the buildings painted, 14.000 euros in the bank, the big court case against SAP won, and very close to an agreement with San Antonio Properties to collect the rest of our debt. The ordinary expenses have been reduced more than 20% from 2009 to 2012. the indoor facilities were connected to electricity and water at no cost, and are now ready to be used. I'm sure that, with the help of the owners and Daniel, the new administrtor will manage to complete these tasks and any others that you need.

It was a pleasure to meet you all and work for your community. I wish you all the best.

Regards

Mario Bravo.

AGM 16th march 2012

The next AGM of our community will take place on the meetings' room next friday 16th march 2012 at 10am. Agenda, accounts and president's report have been sent by email to all owners. Copies can be asked to the administrator (info@mariobravo.com).

SEWAGE TAX

The community (and also the individual owners) have seen their water bill increased sensibly after the inclusion of a new tax for the water that goes into the sewage. There is a meter for the garden that is charged also with this tax because the swimming pools are connected to it. If we connect both swimming pools to the blocks, those meters will be only feeding the garden, which is free of this tax (water from the garden goes into the grounds directly). The cost of the connections is 848 + vat for the small pool (to be connected to block 3), and 1050 + vat for the big pool, to be connected to block 2. We could recover this money in one year, maximum 2.

Receipt from Sagesa

Pago final : final settlement. I think it is clear enough.

Looking for a storage to rent

If any of you have a storage free to rent, please contact bmjedwards2000@yahoo.co.uk

Another court case

On January 23, monday at 10 am, the judge will celebrate the hearing of the case FSA COMMUNITY vs San Antonio Properties, regarding some building defaults. The president or vicepresident should attend, together with the administrator (and of course, our lawyers)

An Owner's Thoughts on FSA

At home in Birmingham, I was rather upset by the disquietening email correspondence from certain parties at FSA that I received recently. It is easier not to get involved but I do feel that some comment should be said to my fellow Owners.

I was the second Owner to buy off plan way back in 2002. From completion in 2007, I have seen Presidents and Committees representing the interests of the community come and go. However, one thing has always remained constant, the negativity and at times downright offensive comments by certain parties within the Developement. Of course within the Community there is going to be dialogue on the running of FSA and a mixture of views on various issues. However, on a day to day basis the running of the Development falls to a group of people who are prepared to stand and be voted into the roles and give up their time to deal with the multiplicity of issues that inevitably occur. Like myself, I am sure many Owners have sat on committees and attended meetings during their professional career and do not wish to partake of this role. Miles away I am grateful to those that are prepared to take on this mantle. Unfortunately, it is a hard task and inevitably various decisions will not please everybody. The constant moaning and lambasting by certain people must be very disheartening and wearing for those in these voluntary roles.

The legal case against one of the Developers has been for me a salutary experience, having been named in Court. I had no say in the process that was begun and encouraged by the first President, who incidentally was one of the quartet of original Developers and no longer resides at FSA! I think it is naive to assume that the legal representation and process for the Community and individually named Owners comes without a cost. To date we have won the Case and await Appeal from the Developer which is something of a relief, when my Lawyer informed me that a similar case some years ago did not go the way of the Community.

I am sure that those that are so vocal have some valid points but the tone and manner inwhich they like to put over their views to the general Community is devisive and unnecessary. Actions speak stronger than words, so that they should stand for a role and if voted in represent their position and our interests.

I can assure you that I am not happy having an empty apartment standing idle next to mine. A more apposite issue facing the Community is the group of irresponsible Owners plus the Developer, who have never paid their community fees. Financially I am paying for their share along with others, to keep the community ticking over.
I am saddened that certain people seem to relish in a continous angst against the running of FSA. This ongoing verbal war has made me consider selling up but I have always had a change of heart when I visit my lovely holiday home in its unique setting.

If those who are disgruntled with FSA wish to move on, I hope the property market will turn around in the near future,

Regards.

Electricity cut off

The following notice has been published in the newspaper SUR, and resent by the foreigners department of Mijas Town Hall

"Due to works in order to extend and improve the service of ENDESA, the electricity supply will be temporarily cut off coming TUESDAY, 29th of november of 2011, from 7.30am to 6pm in following areas:"

Casitas Coloradas, Carretera Cero del Moro s/n, Urb. Cielo Mijas, Urb. Doña Pilar, Finca San Antonio, Fuente Algarrobo, Urb. Pedregales, Urb. Peña Blanquilla s/n, Hotel Novotel (Puerta del Sol) and surroundings areas.

In theory, these works are to improve the area to avoid future problems.

Mario Bravo

Language exchange workshop

The Foreigners Department of the Mijas Town Hall presented last thursday their latest project, a Language Exchange Work Shop. The idea is that foreign residents that want to speak Spanish and Spaniards that want to speak English get together to converse in both languages. “First of all we need to see who is interested and which are the best areas to hold the workshops,” pointed out Ana Skou head of the Foreigners Department. “And also see if the participants prefer to participate in morning or evening workshops.” Workshops can be set up in Mijas village, Las Lagunas and La Cala according to demand. “So many people take language classes but are lacking conversation” said Skou and then added, “These are not going to be classes but an exchange of languages, where one can practice speaking with a native”.

If you are interested in participating in this project please contact the Foreigners Department by phone 952 58 90 10 or by email frd@mijas.es

and fill-in and send back attached inscription form. Kind regards.

Katja Thirion
Departamento de Extranjeros
Foreign Residents Department
Residentenbüro


If you wish to receive information by e-mail given by the Foreigners Department, please ask to be included on the mailing list.
katja@mijas.es

frd@mijas.es

AYUNTAMIENTO DE MIJAS
Plaza Virgen de la Peña
29650 Mijas Pueblo

Tel. (34) 952.58.90.10
Fax (34) 952.58.90.11

www.mijas.es

Apartment 44 for rent

Apartment 44 in Block 2 of Finca San Antonio is available for long term letting / rental. Newly furnished, with 2 bedrooms, two bathrooms, large sunny balcony, car parking, storage room, etc. Non-smoking and no pets, please !


Rent is negotiable for interested parties.


Contact Peter Butler at mdmotors@eircom.net

Court case Sagesa vs Community FSA

On thursday 6th October, the hearing of Sagesa's claim against the community was hold. Alberto Moro was defending the community point of view, basically saying that we negotiated and paid what we owed to Sagesa, obtaining a receipt saying this was the end of the claim. Furthermore, he added a fact we knew later: San Antonio Properties paid Sagesa some years ago the amount they are claiming us now. Mario Bravo was called as a witness, confirming the above details. The sentence is expected within 30 days.

Painting block 2

The painting of block 2 started middle August, and should finish before the end of September. In case you want to use the same paint, it is from Pinturas fraycar SL revestimiento fachada Valcron