More of Us are Pulling
Our Share of the Load

The carrot and stick approach seems to be working.  Over the past couple of years more members have been paying their fair share.  Our Declaration of Covenants requires a new assessment be computed for each period.  The mandatory formula defined in the covenants ensures each of us pays less when more of us pay.  In other words, fewer freeloaders is a good thing.

The stack of late notices we mailed out was noticeably shorter this time.  In April of 2006 we had to mail out 193 late notices.  In April of 2007 we mailed out 163.  This time we mailed out 150.  A nice trend.

Assessment payments are cheaper!  Another nice trend.  For a single-family-residence property owner, the check written to pay the assessment has gradually decreased from $82 in 2006 to $60 in January of this year.  This assumes, of course, a zero balance at the time of the assessment.  

There is no guarantee of smaller and smaller assessments (there was actually a temporary $2 increase in July '07), but hopefully the trend of fewer and fewer past-due accounts will continue,... maintaining the downward pressure on assessments.  Unfortunately, costs everywhere are increasing, so it is doubly important we all pull our share of the load.  

While the assessment amount has been decreasing, consider the following:

• Our debts are paid off, SCA finances are in the black.
• More property-value-increasing improvements have been completed and/or are underway.
• More funds have been salted away in CDs for a rainy day.

The carrot is the Zero-Balance Credit – a 20% credit for an individual having a zero balance in their property's account at the time of the assessment.  Increased legal action is the stick – fines, liens, suits, etc.  The carrot is so much more pleasant than the stick.  With the carrot everyone saves money and feels good about it.  The stick is so much more costly for both the Association and the individual property owner.  With the stick, each past-due balance is eventually paid off one way or another, but no one feels good about the process. 

Hopefully in the future we can see more of the carrot and less of the stick.

Approval For Projects is EASY,...
(and Mandatory)

There seems to be an increase in the number of projects started without having DRC approval. Please remember our Declaration of Covenants and Development Guidelines require Development Review Committee (DRC) approval for any significant changes to a property. Fences, planters, paint jobs, roofing, parking pads, sheds, garages, swimming pools, swings, shutters, RV parking, new construction, etc., are examples of the types of projects SCA members must coordinate with the DRC. Please see the Declaration and the Development Guidelines in the Covenants section of this website, or contact us directly for hard copy. Also, Coweta County needs an approval form from the Association for any work requiring a building permit.

Projects done without DRC approval:

• Earn a $50 fine for the first occurrence with the amount of the fine doubling for every occurrence thereafter. Fines are added to the property’s balance.
• Still require DRC approval.
• Will have to be removed or modified if not approvable.
• May be vulnerable to further covenant violation action.

Over the past several months, several properties have had $50 fines added to their property’s account. This is unfortunate for at least a few reasons:

• It creates more work for the Board and DRC members. They are all volunteers. Volunteer time is better spent on making things better, not working on recurring problems.
• Generally, any activity in conflict with the Declaration of Covenants lowers property values.
• The $50 fine denies the property owner the Zero-Balance Credit on the next semi-annual assessment, since there will be a past-due balance on the property at the time of the assessment.

Please, please contact the DRC if you are thinking of modifying your property.