Assoc. Fees: $50 Fee is Due for 2006

(WHFHA's board met May 24 and adopted the association fee set out below. Prior to 2006, association members sought donations to replace the front entrance fence and sign. In 2004, 57 homes donated a total of $2,455 toward the project and $2,500 was paid to American Landmark Fence Company to replace the fence. In 2005, additional donations were sought to paint/stain the fence and replace the Windy Hill Forest sign; only 21 homes contributed and only $850 more was raised. Of this amount, $124.73 was spent at Home Depot for stain, and members donated their labor to apply stain to the fence and to maintain the yard around the fence. Funds were not sufficient to purchase a sign. An additional $25 was spent to pay a meeting room fee at the Smyrna Community Center. In 2006 the Association is now formally organized and is assessing a mandatory $50 fee to purchase a new sign, to hire a service to care for the front entry, to pay postage, printing and meeting room costs, and to have fund to impose covenants standards on homes that let their properties go and lien the home for the cost.)


2006 WINDY HILL FOREST HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION INVOICE

2006 Assessment: . . . . . Fifty Dollars ($50.00)**
Due Date: . . . . . . . . . . . .Due No Later Than July 31, 2006

Make Payment to:
WHFHA c/o Rochelle Martin, Treasurer
1423 Springleaf Circle Smyrna, GA 30080

**In 1985 the Windy Hill Forest Homeowner's Association recorded a declaration of covenants affecting its townhomes and their owners. It made the Association responsible for maintenance of common grounds and the lawns of each homeowner. That declaration included the right to assess $216 for lawn maintenance for 1985, and the right to annual increases of 5% of the prior year amount. The WHFHA Board of Directors has calculated an ongoing annual increase of 5% of the prior year amount from 1985 forward, and for 2006 the maximum that could be assessed is $601.77. The Association's policy is to entrust proper lawn maintenance to the Association members (which is consistent with Article IX of the WHFHA Bylaws - a copy is available at www.windyhillforest.com by clicking the "WHFHA documents" link).

Instead of assessing $601.77 for lawn maintenance, the Association is assessing only $50 for the entire 2006 year to cover fence costs, front entrance maintenance and administration costs. By paying the $50 amount, members are consenting to the Article IX bylaws, including the duty to take proper care of their lawns. If you are a member that insists on having the Association care for your lawn, then please pay $601.77 to WHFHA right away, so lawn-care arrangements can be made.

Failing to pay has consequences. Members, please understand that the Association is no longer dormant. It is in good standing with the Georgia Secretary of State, it has had a 2006 membership meeting at which a board of directors and officers were elected, and it has every right to make this assessment. A member that is delinquent in paying is subject to interest, late fees and attorney fees – those fees can add up to many hundreds of dollars and end up being filed as a lien on the member's home. Further, the Association reserves the right to contact a delinquent member's mortgage company to give them a chance to cure the delinquency before a lien is filed. Also, under the bylaws, a delinquent member delegates his voting rights to the Association. We look forward to your support and cooperation.

[Excerpts from bylaws & covenants follow - to enlarge, click on image and wait for downloading to complete.]