THANKS FOR SUPPORTING WHFHA IN 2006.
2006 started with good intentions for resurrecting the Windy Hill Forest Homeowners Association. We reinstated the Association with the Secretary of State. We called a membership meeting for Feb. 28, 2006 with notice mailed to each Springleaf Circle address. The meeting was held with a quorum established and a dedicated group of volunteers were elected as directors.
During the year WHFHA completed erection of the new fence, stained the fence planks, erected signage, had concrete caps poured for the brick fence columns, and even had Christmas decorations. We also called on certain homes to act on maintenance items that may have been overlooked, and those homeowners cooperated.
WHFHA assessed a $50 annual fee to cover entrance maintenance and administration, and received over 75% support from homeowners paying the assessment. Homeowners all over the subdivision are beautifying their property and making Windy Hill Forest an attractive homeowner community. Thanks to all who have been supportive during the year.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Timberrrrr!
Most of the homes in WHF were built in 1986 with Bradford Pear Trees installed by the developer. Twenty years later, it seems this was a poor choice. See the notice from the State of Alabama Cooperative Extension. They write:
"Choose Alternatives to Bradford Pear Trees, Experts Advise
Despite their standing as one of the most popular landscape trees in the Southeast, Bradford pears aren’t what they’re cracked up to be.
For despite all the beauty they lend to thousands of landscapes throughout the region, the trees are plagued with one fatal flaw: due to their combination of vigorous growth, weak wood and poor branch structure, they often begin falling apart after only 20 years. . . ."
Many of us have had this experience in the last few years:
Homeowners are responsible for proper maintenance of their property and their trees. Please be mindful of the risk these trees pose to your property and to the property of your neighbors, and act before these trees become eyesores or worse - before their limbs come crashing down.
"Choose Alternatives to Bradford Pear Trees, Experts Advise
Despite their standing as one of the most popular landscape trees in the Southeast, Bradford pears aren’t what they’re cracked up to be.
For despite all the beauty they lend to thousands of landscapes throughout the region, the trees are plagued with one fatal flaw: due to their combination of vigorous growth, weak wood and poor branch structure, they often begin falling apart after only 20 years. . . ."
Many of us have had this experience in the last few years:
Homeowners are responsible for proper maintenance of their property and their trees. Please be mindful of the risk these trees pose to your property and to the property of your neighbors, and act before these trees become eyesores or worse - before their limbs come crashing down.
New Sign is Coming
WHF has contracted with TSA Signs to construct 2 permanent signs to erect on the fence at the subdivision entrance. The sign looks like this:
Thursday, May 25, 2006
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.]
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.]
Friday, March 3, 2006
Smyrna Yard Enforcement: 770-317-5387
One of the issues discussed during the member meeting was how to remedy a problem neighbor that lets his yard go. Properties that go unmaintained reflect poorly on the whole subdivision. It seems to happen a lot with tenant properties; tenants think yard maintenance is the landlord's job and vice versa.
The City of Smyrna will confront properties that are seriously neglected -- if you have a problem neighbor, call the Community Development Office at 770-317-5387.
The City of Smyrna will confront properties that are seriously neglected -- if you have a problem neighbor, call the Community Development Office at 770-317-5387.
Wednesday, March 1, 2006
Blue Pipe Class Actions
[At the Feb. 28 meeting, Peggy & David of 1445 offered to supply more information on underground water pipe remedies -- this is their report]
Polybutylene Plumbing
Sometimes called "Poly Blue," This was used extensively during the 1980s and 1990s, and has been prone to breakage, particularly between the house and the water meter. It is not a flawed product, but simply was not designed for the type of water pressure experienced in exterior use. Sometimes polybutelene is known to have broken inside the house, but this typically is from a plastic coupling rather than the pipe itself. The pipe, as it runs from the water meter to the house, will be blue. Inside the house, it is gray. You usually can see it where it connects to the water heater. If in doubt, be sure to have it checked by a professional plumber. If you know that you have Polybutelene pipes, it must be disclosed on the Seller's Disclosure
statement. In advance it would be a good idea to obtain an estimate for replacement of the pipe. Additional information and photos are available here: http://www.polybutylene.com/ and www.kinsella.com/polybutylene/ .
For updated information on the Cox vs. Shell class action law suit regarding Poly-Pipes, and to find out if your home may be eligible for a claim, visit
http://www.pbpipe.com/index1.htm or call 1-800-392-7591.
Another class action law suit has been filed regarding interior polybutylene pipes with gray or white plastic fittings. Information on the Spencer class action suit can be found here: http://www.spencerclass.com/mainpage.htm.
Polybutylene Plumbing
Sometimes called "Poly Blue," This was used extensively during the 1980s and 1990s, and has been prone to breakage, particularly between the house and the water meter. It is not a flawed product, but simply was not designed for the type of water pressure experienced in exterior use. Sometimes polybutelene is known to have broken inside the house, but this typically is from a plastic coupling rather than the pipe itself. The pipe, as it runs from the water meter to the house, will be blue. Inside the house, it is gray. You usually can see it where it connects to the water heater. If in doubt, be sure to have it checked by a professional plumber. If you know that you have Polybutelene pipes, it must be disclosed on the Seller's Disclosure
statement. In advance it would be a good idea to obtain an estimate for replacement of the pipe. Additional information and photos are available here: http://www.polybutylene.com/ and www.kinsella.com/polybutylene/ .
For updated information on the Cox vs. Shell class action law suit regarding Poly-Pipes, and to find out if your home may be eligible for a claim, visit
http://www.pbpipe.com/index1.htm or call 1-800-392-7591.
Another class action law suit has been filed regarding interior polybutylene pipes with gray or white plastic fittings. Information on the Spencer class action suit can be found here: http://www.spencerclass.com/mainpage.htm.
Summary of Meeting
Advanced notice of the Feb. 28, 2006 member's meeting was mailed to all homes in the association. After establishing that a quorum was present, a number of matters were discussed including: blue water pipe remedies, City of Smyrna remedies for unkept yards, problems experienced with some tenant occupants, remedies for old trash cans, parking problems and fence improvements. Also, copies of the proposed bylaws published on this blog were distributed for study and comment.
With respect to official actions, the following was taken:
The members were resolved that the board of directors be three persons: Sandy Vazquez, Haywood Franklin and Mark Groves.
Further, the membership resolved that Rochelle Martin and Susie David be co-treasurers, that Sandy Vazquez be secretary and that Haywood Franklin and Mark Groves be co-chairmen of the board.
With respect to official actions, the following was taken:
The members were resolved that the board of directors be three persons: Sandy Vazquez, Haywood Franklin and Mark Groves.
Further, the membership resolved that Rochelle Martin and Susie David be co-treasurers, that Sandy Vazquez be secretary and that Haywood Franklin and Mark Groves be co-chairmen of the board.
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