HSV Villagers Get the Dirt ⋆ Hot Springs Village Gazette

It’s a dirty job, but someone has to do it!

POA gives back to the community!

Hot Springs Village Villagers lined up around 7:00 AM on Friday, April 7, 2023, to load their vehicles with free topsoil from the HSV Property Owners’ Association. A parade of around 200 dirt-seeking men and women continued steadily until noon at the “Pit” on Deposito Paseo (off Terlingua). Friday marks the first day of the Free Topsoil Event, which is set to run every Friday in April. The rock-free soil combines leaves brought by Villagers and then composted and mixed in with silt removed from the lakes in the past year’s dredging operation.

The POA has already made a concerted effort to use this valuable resource in various projects instead of purchasing dirt, as has been done in the past. Todd Noles, Superintendent of HSVPOA Lakes, Dams, Common Property, and Forestry, said, “The golf courses have made good use of this resource, in addition to the Parks and Recreation Department. We also used the soil at the Balboa Gate. Since we have stockpiled what we need, we wanted to give back to the community and give them access to this resource.”

Noles was juggling balls from several departments as he requested that I remind Villagers to bring their POA identification card with them and to be prepared to load the dirt themselves by shovel as the POA is not allowing any mechanical equipment to be used in this event due to possible liability issues. Please bring your own shovels.

Public Services Director Ken Unger, who helped to oversee this highly successful operation, stated, “It remains to be seen, but based on the feedback we get from the property owners, our anticipation is that this is the first step in hopefully the POA being able to give back to residents from work being done.”

Unger continued, “Allowing the residents to take the topsoil material does not cost much. What is good about this compost giveaway is that we are required to keep the amount of compost material under a certain limit, or permits must be obtained. Certified people must be used after the material reaches a certain volume. Allowing residents to take the material helps the POA keep the compost under the threshold so we do not have to go through an administrative process. I am encouraged by today’s turnout and hope residents will continue to come out the remaining Fridays in April and take advantage of the free compost material.”