Frequently Asked Questions

These are questions frequently asked of Board members. If you have a question, send it our way! (These answers were updated November of 2009.)

Q. What should new residents do before construction?

Contact a board member. They will walk you through the process of getting house plans approved and the water hooked up. According to our Covenants and Bylaws, the Board must approve house plans and water hook-ups prior to construction.

Q. What's the latest on the water system?

There are four producing wells of which 3 currently provide us drinking water. One well is contaminated with a low level of arsenic and is only used in an emergency. Over the years we have deepened some of the wells to provide us with more water.

The four wells discharge into an eight inch line leading from three 10,000 gallon storage tanks.

Our system includes the wells, well pumps and main water lines. Maintenance of the system includes water quality testing as scheduled by the State Dept of Environmental Quality, and repairs or replacement of well pumps or other community water system components.

Most folks who build in Division Four will have to drill their own well for drinking water. However, there are a handful of lots in Division Four that get their water from our system. Right now we seem to be in pretty good shape for drinking water. But no one really knows how much water is under ground. So water conservation is an important part of living in Duquette Pines Subdivision.

Q. The Covenants for some of the Divisions say "No noxious or offensive activities shall be carried on that is an annoyance or nuisance to the surrounding owners." Is this being enforced?

The Board has sent letters to certain owners asking for their cooperation in keeping Duquette Pines an upscale subdivision. And when needed, the Board has sought legal action in cases where we believe someone is out of line with the spirit of the Covenants. We realize that this is a subjective matter, but the Board also believes its obligation to all homeowners requires action when things are truly 'noxious or offensive.' Usually the issues involve open storage of trash, junk vehicles, and sanitary issues.

Q. Is the Board doing anything about the wildfire threats to our Subdivision?

Our biggest concern is the BLM land directly to the west of our subdivision. We have sent letters to the BLM, asking them to manage these public lands..

In September of 2006, the BLM did some thinning of small trees. After continued efforts and meetings with BLM officials we are waiting for them to tend to the property they manage, to west of us, so riddled with dead trees. All dead standing timber should be removed quickly to avoid further infestation. Slash should be disposed of immediately and not left to attract bugs.

Several of us have had our lands thinned by a logger. Trees which are thinned have a better chance of warding off the pine beetle. Most foresters suggest that Ponderosa trees should be about thirty feet apart. This gives them more water and could also limit crown fires.

In 2006, we were the recipients of a $45,000 grant administered by the County, which allowed work to be done on individual properties. The Board is currently looking at all the ways we can continue to make Duquette Pines 'firewise.'

Q. What about speeding and dust on our roads?

The signs are posted for 20mph on our roads, but we realize that some folks don't seem to think that applies to them.

During the summer months, the Board installs speed bumps at locations of concern.  The Board has also installed several "Yield" signs at some of the major intersections.

In the summer of 2007, for the first time in the history of the subdivision, the Board began experimenting with a dust abatement chemical on the roads. Magnesium chloride is used by the County on the Bear Run road leading up to our subdivision. Gardner Construction put several small doses on all of our roads, over a period of several weeks. It worked, but not as well as some would have liked.  Mag chloride slippery when it rains, so we have been careful about putting too much on the roads. Dust abatement is addressed every two years.

Q. What is the current charge per lot for road and water?

Currently each lot owner pays $360 for road and site maintenance and $240 for water service and system maintenance. These are annual fees. Residents of all four divisions pay the same amount for road and site maintenance. Most lots in Division Four do not have access to the water system for domestic use and must drill a well.

These fees are legally binding. In 2007, the Board decided to turn property owners over to a collection agency if the fees haven't been paid for more than a year and if there has been no communication with the Board about the reason why. Our policy can be viewed on our website.

Q. How many lots are in each of the four divisions in Duquette Pines?

There are a total of 175 lots in Duquette Pines. In Division One, there are 31 lots; in Division Two, there are 34 lots; in Division Three there are 36 lots. Division Four has 65 lots, with fifteen of them able to hook into the community water system. There are also nine out-parcel lots, which are governed by the CCR's of Division One.

And there are 6.2 miles of road in Duquette Pines.

Q. What is the history of our wells?

Loyal and Barbara Willis settled in Duquette Pines in 1970 and had well #1 drilled in October of that year. This well is located near the home at 101 Meadow Drive. Its original depth was 297 ft. and the pump was placed at 247 ft. The original pump was replaced in 1990 by a new 3 hp pump. In December of 2002 this well was deepened to 550 ft. and the pump was again replaced.

This first well provided enough water for the first homes until 1976, when wells #2, #3 and #4 were drilled. All three of these wells are located on the hill above the meadow.

Well #2 was originally drilled to 445 feet. It was deepened to 600 feet in September 2003, but unfortunately caved in. In November 2003 this well was re-opened and put back on line November 27, 2003.

Well #3 was originally drilled to 296 feet and the pump was placed at 290 feet. This well produced very well until 2003, when low water levels began causing the pump to run for 45 minutes or so every 6 to 7 hours.

The third well drilled in 1976 was well #4. It was originally drilled to 250 feet. In 1990 this well was in the process of being deepened when it caved in. The pump was raised and the well continued to produce until 1994, when it became contaminated.

Well #5 was drilled to 489 feet in 1994. It is located near well #1 off Meadow Drive. The pump was installed at 295 feet. In November 2002 a new 3 hp pump was installed on this well. It is the best producer of the five wells, putting out 20 to 25 gallons per minute.

Between December 2002 and the present, $35,278.20 has been spent on the improvements to existing wells #1, #2, and #5.

As our water system continues to age and as more homes are constructed in our subdivision, more work will be required on these wells. It is also entirely possible that one or two new wells will need to be drilled in future years.
But we have found that there is less paperwork involved in deepening an existing well than in drilling a new one.

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