APRIL 2014   
                                                               

Heather Pointe Homeowners Association

A message from its President:

I want to welcome and thank the Board Members who so graciously volunteered to be on the board.   Together we all are looking forward to a good year.

Special thanks to  Liz Reiff for her outstanding job for the past 6 years.  It takes a lot of patience, understanding and guts, to volunteer to serve 197 families, without pay, and with little thanks. As most, whom have been in that position in the past, we usually vow to never do it again.  Because of my concerns for Heather Pointe the past work that has been done, and the love for my home, I felt the need to step up and volunteer to be on the board.  

 It has been exactly 30 years since I volunteered to be on a Homeowners Association Board.  Past experience has shown me  what all it takes, the amount and types of problems, decisions and changes that would come about during the 7+ years that followed my tenure. This included (successfully I might add), litigation that lasted for 3 years, a change in my former Association’s By-Laws with a 75% vote in favor of the changes we had to make.  A much greater challenge than we currently have here at Heather Pointe (I hope), which brings me back to Liz Reiff.  

While Liz was our President, not only did she have the normal feat of getting homeowners involved, but she took on the challenge of motivating the Board and some of the homeowners who were interested in our community, to go out and speak with the other owners to vote and approve the hiring of a management company to help with running the association, answering our questions, getting bids and collecting the maintenance fees.  Heather Pointe was having problems with homeowners paying and collecting dues. Bills weren’t being paid, street lights had been turned off, and we were having break-ins throughout our neighborhood.

Liz, the other board members, and those who volunteered got the job done, worked to resolve the issues that had to be faced.  They met with the homeowners, got the votes, and hired Metcalf Realty Co. Inc., our current management company, who volunteered to loan us the money upfront to get the lights turned back on and to pay our past due bills They also  took on the unrewarding job of notifying and collecting the past due maintenance fees, along with the new and increased fees.  

I could go on and list all the accomplishments Liz, the board members, and Metcalf, did during the past 6 years.  But most of all I want all of our homeowners to be thankful to their services and for taking on the challenge of having our streets surfaced to meet Jefferson County’s codes, that the developer failed to do.  They got Jefferson County involved and then the City of Pinson, who came to our rescue and had Heather Pointe’s streets surfaced at no expense to us, the homeowners, saving each and every homeowner the expense of at least $750, and possibly close to $1,000, not including any legal fees, by taking over the necessary litigation of suing the developer at the city’s expense.  

Liz, the Board, and Metcalf’s continued dedication to our association/neighborhood is why we are in a better situation than we were a few years ago.  Let’s agree to continue to do the right thing for Heather Pointe and our neighbors.  

Let’s remember that the person or family living next door may not be your best friend, but that they are, after all, your neighbor.  Say, “Hi”. See how they’re doing, if they have a need and if you or someone can help.

  

Also, PLEASE SLOW DOWN. We have children to watch out for, your neighbor’s car, as well as your own children and cars.  

May this year and the next couple of years be warmer ones, to you and to all our neighbors.  Thank you,  Carol Halderman.

DON’T TEXT AND DRIVE; PULL OVER TO USE YOUR PHONE; AND SET ASIDE A TIME TO RESPOND TO CALLS AND TEXTS.  

The Board and Metcalf Realty  are looking at a new landscaping company  to take care of the front entrance and common areas. Whole Blooming Yard may possibly be installing rose bushes and some other blooming flowers for the front (to add
some much needed color), along with pine straw.

 The lights have already been repaired by  Webster Electric. Bids for the repair of the irrigation system with a timer installed is being explored.

Happy 2011

SMOOTH DRIVING
2011 begins anew with smooth driving on the streets of Heather Pointe. After six years of pleading to have the streets of Heather Pointe paved, it has finally happened. No one will miss the potholes, dips and bumps that have plagued the community since its beginning. Without Liz Reiff's unwavering petitions for help to the Pinson City Council, none of this could have happened. This feat may have been accomplished sooner had there been more resident representation at Pinson City Council Meetings.

There is strength in numbers.
The story is told of a mouse who spies a farmer opening a package
which contains a mousetrap. Alarmed, he tells the chicken.

The chicken tells the mouse it is to bad for the mouse but, is of no concern to
her.

The mouse then tells pig who sympathizes with him and tells the mouse that he'll pray for him.

The mouse tells the cow about the mousetrap. The cow is unfazed and only reponds with, "Duh?"

Feeling dejected and alone, the mouse returns to his home in
the wall.

During the night a sound was heard throughout the house, like the sound of a mouse trap catching its prey.

The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught.

In the darkness, she did not see that it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught.

The snake bit the farmer's wife.

The farmer rushed her to the hospital. She returned home with a fever.

Now everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient.

His wife's sickness continued so that friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock.

To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.

The farmer's wife did not get well, in fact, she died, and so many people came for her funeral the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide meat for all of them to eat.

So, the next time you think that something doesn’t concern you or that someone else will do it , remember that what concerns the least of us really concerns ALL of us.

Each year we make resolutions. We make a pledge to better ourselves in some way. By now you should have received correspondence from Metcalf. Enclosed along with your yearly dues letter is a form asking for board members.
Why not make becoming a part of your HOA one of your resolutions. By participating you will have knowledge of its inner workings and have a voice. Board meetings are held quarterly and Homeowners meetings once a year. Decide to become more involved in your community for 2011.

Speed Limit Signs have been installed.

Observation of the 20 mph speed limit in Heather Pointe will make the neighborhood safer for children and pedestrians.

THANKS to Brent Powell for decorating the front entrance for the holidays.

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