January 2019

2019 Budget Adopted

Yet again, the Board has approved budget for the operation and maintenance of the Association for 2019 without an increase in maintenance fees.  This budget provides funds for operations such as common element repairs, insurance, landscape maintenance, accounting, management and reasonable levels of snow removal.  More than a third of the budget (35%) is allocated for the future  replacement of capital items such as roofs, siding and driveways.  Preparation for future concrete repairs on a limited scope is a potential capital expenditure under consideration in in 2019. 

Maintenance fees, which are due on the first day of the month, will remain the same as were assessed in 2012:

Ownership Percentage: 
2.525% - $160.00 per month 
2.85% - $180.00 per month

Maintenance fees are an obligation of Condominium Membership, cannot be modified by Unit Owners in exchange for a perceived level of services, and may not be withheld or offset for any reason. 

Don’t Wipe the Sewers

The Association’s Developer did not provide us with detailed plumbing diagrams for the buildings.  As a result, it is not known if there are any shared sanitary sewer lines that serve two or more units.  Although we have no knowlege of any recent sewer backups at the Association that have affected multiple homes, the potential for damage from waste water that collects in a home is ever present.  In many cases at other Condominium Associations where sewer backup issues have presented a problem, a frequent cause has been a build up of personal wipes in sewer lines.  These products are being sold for both babies as well as adults as an improved version of toilet paper.  Although the packaging may state that these products may be flushed, they do not break down like toilet paper and the experience has been expensive and messy to say the least. A visit to the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District’s Treatment plant also confirms that wipes stay intact all the way down the drain through miles of sewer lines to Cuyahoga Heights. Wipes form a large mass in the lines leading to a clog and the waste water backs up into  homes.

The laws of physics don’t change just because one lives in a Condominium and the result can lead to expensive damage to floors, carpets as well as the unpleasantness of any sewer backup, where the clean up of interiors will not be provided by the Association. 

It is important also not to flush dental floss, diapers, personal hygiene, wipes, cooking grease, contraceptive products or other items that may form a mass in or otherwise clog sewer lines - please dispose of them in the trash.

As our homes do not have basements, the addition of an endorsement to your HO-6 Condominium Unit Owners insurance policy should be strongly considered as damage caused by water backing up from a sewer system is typically excluded from standard coverage.  We have also heard that certain insurance companies are excluding coverage for backups caused by a build up wipes and certain other obstructions that can easily be prevented from entering the sewer lines.

Snow Removal Services

The Association provides a limited portion of the monthly maintenance fee for reasonable levels of snow removal services, a maximum of two times per day, only after snow accumulation in open areas, not subject to drifting, exceeds two (2”) inches.  Salt or calcium chloride deicing agents are generally not used.  The responsibility for the removal of snow and ice at all other times is that of the unit owner.  Please report concerns to the Administration with the understanding that we are unable to provide specific services at a particular residence or accommodate personal scheduling requests. 

Winter Parking

Driveway extensions are for maneuvering in and out of garages and the temporary use of guests (a few hours maximum).  They may not be used for permanent or overnight parking as they need to be clear to enable your neighbor to access their garage and for the movement and storage of snow.   You may use the spaces in front of your garage door or the spaces on South Point Trail for additional guest parking.  When guests park in these spaces, please ask that they park vehicles in a fashion that does not occupy excess space so that the maximum amount of space is available for guests.