Strangly Silent

After some time and us obtaining legal counsel, the HOA left us alone.  I have heard stories of their abuses towards others, but have not been able to verify.  As the economy gets worse, I’m sure there will be more.  We’re waiting for the next power hungry member to come along, but until then, we’re just living life and trying to keep the HOA out of our lives.

Unbelievable

Homeowners sued by HOA for erecting sign.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/07/25/louisiana-couple-sued-by-homeowners-association-over-banner-honoring-sons/

Fantastic Site w/really helpful connections

http://www.ahrc.se/new/index.php/src/home

We are a public interest interactive website for homeowners. This section is for those who live in Homeowners Associations. The primary driving force behind the American Homeowners Resource Center (AHRC) is a national and international grassroots network of homeowners working together to protect homes.

Censorship

Apparently, some more poignant truths published on the Saratoga Woods web-site were a little too close to the truth about the out of control HOA and they've been taken off.  No problem, we are printing a series of flyers with bullets of their abuses and neighbor's stories of harassment by the CMA.  Hope to hand them out/place in mail bins soon.

This is a post on the Saratoga Woods web-site. My response follows first paragraph

Hello

Posted on: 2011-07-13

This is for all the fools who like to point fingers at the CMA and the HOA as over-zealous 'members' or attack dogs. I am a resident who moved to this neighborhood with the understanding there were some deed restrictions and that is part of the reason I moved here. I have found that a majority of the residents here care about the neighborhood as well as their neighbors. However, there are the residents that just want to piss and wine when they get a letter about something that is in the restrictions.

These people like to think they are being singled out and picked on. While they feel that nothing is wrong and the HOA is coming after them. It's your neighbors who are tired of the items that you are getting letters for and bringing up the issues.

Let's address the car issue. We seem to have people who are not happy that they received letters about parking on the street. They can't seem to be bothered with moving cars around in their driveways. To those people I can only say I am sorry if you received one and your car is only out for one instance or a real reason. For all the people who always have a car in the street (which was in the deed restriction when you moved to this neighborhood) I understand why you received a letter. I don't like having to wonder if a car is coming over the top of a hill that I might have to meet head on when there is a car in the street causing me to go around it in the oncoming lane. I don't like having to guess whether today is the day that I get hit because I have to go around a car in the street on a turn and can't see the oncoming traffic.

As far as the person with the 'Gaping hole in the street'. I am not one to preach about going to the meeting and be heard. With that being said, I would like to know, other than by your sharp posting, if you have brought it to the HOA attention. If you had gone to a meeting or contacted the HOA you may know that the drainage grates are being addressed with the city to be repaired. But I am guessing you just like to gripe and not follow up on anything.

As for the blog. I hope you think you accomplished your goal. As I see it you accomplished nothing but showing how disrespectful and uninformed you are. I honestly hope that you don't think that putting dictionary meanings in a letter proves a point or shows your intelligence. I finished the letter only thinking that I sure am glad I don't live next to them. Try next time to actually ask a question in your letter and wait for a response before being 'smart'.

My response:

Deed restrictions are fine, IF they were ever followed at all.  There are many violations of the original restrictions that were ignored as a precedent and were allowed to go on through back-door agreements with the HOA and the builder - not exactly compliant, but more like cronyism.

This "fool" was not bothered at all by CMA or HOA in any way until this "fool" recently put up a sign for a friend's business and was hassled by a busy-body lady out of nowhere within 3 minutes!  Unless this is the notorious Ally from CMA, it's as if some people in this neighborhood are sitting at their windows with binoculars.

I don't know where to start as far as the parked car issue goes.  For the past 15 years, I've seen literal car lots in front of some yards and still do.  I also know that kids need side-walks so they don't have to ride in the streets.  With this recent "crackdown" on those malicious, dirty little car-parkers, kids have to ride in the streets - right into all these grates that are collapsing.  You don't want to wonder if a car is over the hill?  Are you kidding?!  What if a kid is over that hill because the HOA and CMA is hassling people into their driveways and blocking sidewalks.  Where do you get your reasoning skills?

Yes, that grate has been brought to their attention but like everything else in this neighborhood that is REALLY important, it took a back seat to car parking, fences, and people's out-buildings - just like the house with no brick and the like.  Typical cronyism and "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours".

The blog brings CMA into the light so people can see what they've been dealing with behind the scenes so the HOA Board can remain anonymous and white as snow.  As you read on the blog, "Ally" is more concerned with how her name is pronounced than the issues at hand or people's concerns with how intrusive they have become.  We keep to ourselves, prefer to interact with neighbors only when necessary, and help those around us and elsewhere in many ways you don't need to know.  So, if you step back a bit and see things through our eyes, you'll see we're fighting back against being singled out for harassment.

If you're bothered by the blog, imagine the publicity the HOA and CMA are going to get when/if the news organizations get my request.  I literally despise organizations that have gotten a little power and go berserk as a result.  Typically, they go after you by other means while they sit back and marvel at their civic righteousness.

On another note, I actually spoke with a neighbor that said it was CMA that had the police come out and specifically ticketed his child's cars.  I wonder if our dues go towards the direct attack of a select few of our neighbors, while others are ignored like the vast amount of unlicensed vehicles and idiotic mothers pushing their babies in the middle of the street?

v/r

Fool

HOA Members

If you'd like to see who in the neighborhood is part of this group, see the list below and say hello while seeing if they're yard, cars, etc., are in order as they do you daily.  I doubt the secretary & treasurer really deal with recent harassment or know it goes on.

 

Slade Burroughs – President: 11705 Fountain Hall Court 502-240-5541

Barbara Basham - Member At Large: 11705 Wicker Court 502-266-5149

Joann Texas - Member At Large: 4425 Saratoga Hill Road 502-267-6146

Greg Kuel - Member At Large: 11520 Saratoga Club Road

Mark Kubancik - Member At Large: 11403 Saratoga Ridge Drive 502-261-9999

Brad Raque - Treasurer

Elisa Karem - Secretary

Chief of Propaganda and Enforcement for CMA

Here's a letter exchange between myself and Ally, of CMA, the HOA attack dog.  A woman that goes to your house and looks into the backyards to see if she can write you up.  I have to assume she creeps around in order to see the things they've used for complaints sent to my neighbors.
  

My name is not Ally, it is Allyson.  No one is being singled out for anything.  I am under contract to inspect the neighborhood and notify the residents of any violations of the governing documents.  If you would like a copy of your governing documents so you may review them and familiarize yourself with them I would be happy to provide you a copy or you can log onto Kentucky Land Records website and pull them up yourself.  You are misinformed in regards to board members or residents being informants.  I do the site inspections personally and make note of any violations I see.

Saratoga Woods is a deed restricted community and that is clearly stated at the entrances.  The governing documents are part of the restrictions on your deed.  You are legally bound to abide by the restrictions that govern your property.  These restrictions are designed to promote and enhance the property values and harmonious living in your community.

If you have any further questions or comments feel free to contact me directly at this email address or by calling my office.

Thank you,

Allyson Leigh, CMCA, AMS

Community Management Associates

Association Manager

(502)491-3550 Office

(502)491-3551 Fax

allyson@cmaky.com

4906 Bardstown Rd. Ste. 101

Louisville, KY  40291

---

Sent: Sunday, July 10, 2011 6:55 PM
To: info@cmaky.com
Cc: saratogawoods@gmail.com
Subject: Inquiry

Ally,

We were told in a letter that we “had ten days to comply”.  Just curious, will you be rounding us up as and shooting us, water-boarding, or just the typical garbage that spews forth from your organization?

You might want to be a little bit more specific, and give us an idea of what your latest harassment is threatening so we can respond appropriately and legally.  As I said before, I hope we don’t find any evidence of you singling us out for any specific reason since there are other obvious non-compliant issues all over this neighborhood.

Since we had the SUV in our garage for a week helping a sick relative, you need to be more specific on what “habitual” parking is.  Two days in a row?  Three?  Should we send you pictures of when it’s there or not there?  Perhaps, send our schedule to your party informants?

I wonder if anyone else here would like to tell all of Louisville what absolute fascists your organization and those associated with you have become.  Neighbors have told us you have association members going house-to-house to see what they can write down about their “neighbors”.  I’ve never called news organizations here but I wouldn’t mind trying in order to get you the publicity a narcissist typically craves.

I knew one of the association members a while back and can’t believe he and the others have come to this, especially in these times.

spe·cif·ic

adj.

1. Explicitly set forth; definite. See Synonyms at explicit.

2. Relating to, characterizing, or distinguishing a species.

3. Special, distinctive, or unique: specific qualities and attributes.

4.

  a. Intended for, applying to, or acting on a particular thing: a specific remedy for warts.

  b. Concerned particularly with the subject specified. Often used in combination: "age-specific voting patterns" (A. Dianne Schmidley).

5.

  a. Designating a disease produced by a particular microorganism or condition.

  b. Having a remedial influence or effect on a particular disease.

6. Immunology Having an affinity limited to a particular antibody or antigen.

7.

  a. Designating a customs charge levied on merchandise by unit or weight rather than according to value.

  b. Designating a commodity rate applicable to the transportation of a single commodity between named points.

n.

1.

  a. Something particularly fitted to a use or purpose.

  b. A remedy intended for a particular ailment or disorder.

2.

  a. A distinguishing quality or attribute.

  b. specifics Distinct items or details; particulars.