The Echo
- ashleyhougland
- Jan 31
- 6 min read
Updated: Feb 2
February 2026
Ransom Canyon Property Owners Association
Photo by Ron McWilliams
Ransom Canyon neighbors! We’re off to a fantastic start and momentum is building for a busy spring of community events from the chili cook-off to a proposed car show. The POA’s finances are healthy, important maintenance plans for the Ranch House are underway, and we’ll be mailing ballots and bylaw updates ahead of the April 7 annual meeting. So get ready to vote and get involved. Come join the fun, lend a hand.
Treasurer's Report: We finished off the year in great shape which will enable us to tackle some of the projects that need to be done around our properties.
For more details, please see the Agendas and Minutes.
Ranch House Report: We’re in the off-season but have three February bookings (two weddings) and expect steady bookings from April onward.
POA Dues: Invoices are sent out in December each year via mail or email. Annual POA dues ($60) are due by March 1st. If you prefer email, know that the invoice comes from quickbooks@notification.intuit.com.
Payment by check - You can mail check to Ransom Canyon POA Box A Ransom Canyon, TX 79366.
Payment online - To pay online you must receive the emailed invoice then click on the black box that says "Review and Pay". There is not a specific website you can visit. Invoices are tied to Quickbooks. If you have any questions, need to update your address or email please contact. Treasurer Judy Lane judylaney0@icloud.com.
All invoices for the annual assessment have been emailed or mailed. Quarterly reminders for past due invoices will be sent out as well.
April 7th Annual Meeting: If you are interested in volunteering for the Property Owners Association board, there will be three open positions available. Starting in April, it is a commitment of two years. The roles and time requirements are flexible depending on the position filled. Please email (poa@ransomcanyonpoa.org) a brief description of yourself and your reasons for wanting to serve on the board. This information will be shared with all our neighbors. I also recommend reviewing our bylaws to familiarize yourself with the different positions. The election will take place at the April 7th meeting.
Join Our Monthly Meetings:
POA meetings take place on the first Tuesday of every month at 6:30 PM at the Ranch House. These sessions offer a great chance to connect with neighbors, talk about community issues, and get updates on maintenance, and events. We appreciate your feedback and allocate time for open discussions to ensure every voice contributes to shaping the future of Ransom Canyon.
Your involvement helps maintain our community's vibrancy, safety, and welcoming atmosphere!
Agenda's will be posted to the website 10 days in advance.
Board contact information has updated. Please use the new email address poa@ransomcanyonpoa.org email or contact Secretary Ashley Hougland at 806-577-7784.
The Events Committee is taking a breather in February, but stay tuned! The Chili Cookoff was a smashing success with mouthwatering chili, delicious desserts, and loads of fun with our neighbors. Exciting photos are coming next month!
Get ready for spring as we plan a Canyon Cleanup Day!
We're buzzing with the idea of starting a garden club to explore and learn about deer-resistant plants. maybe growing to having a kids class, painting and planting pots & growing seeds, and making bat houses to help with mosquitoes. We are thinking about expanding to include a kids' class, where they can paint and plant pots, grow seeds, and even build bat houses to help with mosquitoes.
We invite all residents to join us and share their brilliant ideas. It’s a low-key commitment, but who knows? Your idea could be the game-changer we need to move forward!
Mark your calendars for our next meeting on February 22!
02/03 POA Mtg 6:30pm @ the Ranch House
02/13 City Council Mtg 6:30pm @ City Hall
02/21 Monthly Star Party at dark at the Meadow (W. Laksehore)
02/22 Monthly Events Committee Meeting 4pm @ the Ranch House
Tentative future birds walks:
February 28, 2026 - Clapp Park/Garden and Arts Arboretum
March 28 - Ransom Canyon
April 25 - Mackenzie Park (near the horse sculptures)
May 23 - Lubbock Lake Landmark
June 20 - Ransom Canyon
Please contact Heather if you are interested in participating. 806-543-8516
Host Your Next Event at the Ranch House
Are you looking for the perfect venue to celebrate a special occasion? Look no further than the Ranch House, an exceptional location that offers a warm and inviting atmosphere ideal for a variety of events. Whether you are planning a graduation celebration, a festive holiday gathering, a memorable family reunion, a significant anniversary, a beautiful wedding, or any other type of event, the Ranch House is equipped to meet your needs. By contacting Chelsea at 806-445-9994, you can inquire about resident pricing.
I want to kick things off by saying our department is growing and thriving, we welcomed 9 new members this year, and we’re stronger than ever. You may see some new faces around town, but rest assured, they are top-quality people who are passionate about serving and protecting our community.
We’ve recently added a new UTV to our fleet. While we’re currently waiting on the pump due to funding constraints, every dollar raised beyond the UTV purchase is already hard at work. Those funds are being applied to our 5% match (approximately $15,000) toward a $300,000 Water Tender that was awarded to us by the Texas Forest Service through the FireConnect program. This new water truck will modernize our fleet and bring it fully into the 2000s, a huge step forward for our department.
Once our vehicle upgrades are complete, our next priority will be improvements to the McPherson Station (South Fire Station). The building is showing its age with rust, sealing issues, erosion on the east and west sides, and a need for expansion to support future growth. Since this station is city-owned, there are additional details to work through, but it’s a project we’re committed to tackling.
Most importantly, thank you to all of the residents who continue to support our fundraising efforts. We do this for our community, and we truly couldn’t do it without you.
And stay tuned… Pancake Breakfast coming soon!!! 🥞🔥The Volunteer Fire Dept is always looking for more volunteers. Come support your neighborhood and meet new neighbors! Our meeting time is 7pm on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Mondays of each month.
Ransom Canyon Reads
Ransom Canyon Reads welcomes all interested readers. Please contact Lisa Leach for more information. lisaleach@gmail.com or 806-928-6521.
Ransom Canyon Children's Library
Sunday School at 9:30am
Adults- Fellowship Hall
Young Adults - Gym in Student Building
Youth- Couch Room in the Student Building
Children - Children’s Room in Student Building
Worship Service at 10:30am
*childcare provided
Youth Bible Study Wednesdays @ 7pm
RCFC Facebook
Sunday service: 10am, Pastor Mark Stripling
Tuesday Ladies Share Group/Bible Study at 10am Pastor Janet Stripling
3rd Tuesday Share Group/Bible Study at 10am followed by the Ladies luncheon at the Ranch House at 12pm
Chapel Board
President: David Hurt
Vice President: Tanyan Whetzel
Secretary: Rachel Harmon
Treasurer: Kay Grandon
Tyler Campbell, Julie Beck, Honorary Member’s Cherie Rickard and Linda Williams.
The City Council meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month at City Hall.
Agendas are posted by 4:00pm the Friday before the meeting on the bulletin board at City Hall and on our website.
Garbage Collection Increase
The cost of garbage collection for the City increased by 2.89% in July due to nationwide
inflationary pressures, a cost the City has absorbed on behalf of residents since that time.
Caprock–Waste Connections has also indicated that an additional increase of the same
percentage is expected in July 2026.
As a result, the City Council discussed at its October 14, 2025, meeting to increase the monthly
residential solid waste fee by $5.00 per household in order to cover these rising expenses being
passed on to the City.
The City Council considered the first reading of the ordinance implementing this adjustment on
November 18, 2025. The second reading took place in December where the City Council voted
unanimously to implement the new fee. The fee will be adjusted in your water billing statement
in January 2026.
Golf Cart Renewal
It is time to renew your golf cart permit for the upcoming year at the Town of Ransom Canyon
City Hall. Golf cart permits are renewed every two years. As part of the renewal process, the
Police Department will conduct an inspection to ensure the golf cart meets city requirements.
Please call the Police Department at the following number: (806) 810-2067.
Golf carts must not be capable of exceeding 25 miles per hour on a paved surface. Off-road
vehicles, including four-wheelers and all-terrain vehicles, are not permitted. At a minimum, each
golf cart must be equipped with two headlamps, two tail lamps, side reflectors, rearview
mirror(s), and a parking brake.
A registration permit is required to operate a golf cart within the city limits and must be
purchased every two years at a cost of $100.00. Permits expire on December 31 of the second
year. If a golf cart does not pass the initial inspection and requires re-inspection, an additional fee
of $20.00 will apply.
The Echo
If you would like to be featured in the monthly Echo or would like to get information out to the community, please email poa@ransomcanyonpoa.org before the 15th of each month.
The Echo is currently only electronic and is sent out monthly on the 1st of the month.
Comments