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| Magnolia Glen Drive and Autumn Cove are highlighted in yellow. |
The proposed resolution requested a grant for, "repaving portions of Magnolia Glen Drive and
Autumn streets in the Saint Joseph's Glen Subdivision." A dollar amount is
not included. The grant is funded through the Community Development Block Grant program using federal tax dollars and
administered by the state.
Alderman Andrea Bearden had a copy of the St. Joseph's Glen Property
Owners Association (POA) Articles of Incorporation, which she received from the
Secretary of State's office.
The articles state, "to provide for maintenance, preservation and
architectural control of the residence Lots and Common Area and to promote the
mutual benefit of all property owners ... ."
They appear to give the POA total responsibility to all maintenance
within St. Joseph's Glen. There is also no city ordinance accepting maintenance
of the streets. With no other evidence to the contrary at least four councilmen
decided the city is not responsible for streets in St. Joseph's Glen.
Alderman Faye McKeon asked Amanda Adair, who represented the state at
the public hearing held before the council meeting, if the city can apply for
the grant under these circumstances? Adair said, "No."
A public hearing was held prior to the regular council meeting in order
to identify and prioritize the community's, "needs of [the] City of
Alexander to determine whether an application for General Assistance and
Innovative Projects Grant Program funds should be developed and if so, for what
community need" according to a public hearing notice posted late last
week.
The notice also said, "These funds will be made available to cities
and counties according to need and can be used for housing, rehabilitation,
community facilities, or economic development, but must address one of the
following needs;
- Provide benefit to low and moderate income families,
- Aid in prevention of slum and blight, or
- Meet other community needs which pose a serious, immediate threat to the health or welfare of the community where no other funding is available to meet such needs."
Even though the public hearing was held to determine a list of
"needs" that may qualify under the guidelines Alderman Brad Scott
already had the resolution written so it could be discussed and voted on that
night. Repairing Magnolia Glen Drive and Autumn Cove were discussed at the
public hearing.
Despite being told the city couldn't request a grant for streets not
within the city's jurisdiction he insisted the resolution be approved anyway
and the city could accept the streets later.
Voting "no" on the motion to pass the resolution were Juanita
Wilson, Faye McKeon, Andrea Bearden, and Lonny Chapman. Farren Wadley was
absent which counted as a "no" vote. Voting "yes" were Brad
Scott, Ceola Bailey and Samuel Gregory.
After the vote McKeon asked the city's attorney, Carla Miller, to
research the legal aspect of this issue.
Miller shouted back, "You killed it, I'm not doing anything."
After a pause Bearden asked Miller, "Did I hear you tell an
alderman you weren't going to do what you were asked?"
During public comment some members of the audience accused those who
voted against the resolution of being "racists" telling those
aldermen they should have voted for it whether it's legal or not.
In other action at the March 17 meeting;
- The council approved spending $2,800 to fix one police car.
- Aldermen Lonny Chapman and Juanita Wilson asked the Mayor why on-duty firefighters are allowed to drive more than one fire department vehicle, including a tanker, to places like the Dollar General Store or to go out for lunch, "On the taxpayer's dime."
Wilson said, "This is a waste of the city's funds."
Assistant Fire Chief Blankenship said he is addressing this issue.
"It's hard to get them (young employees) to see the waste," he
said.
Hobbs told the council she gave them permission to go to Otter Creek.
- Blankenship asked that Alderman Bearden be repaid for a light she purchased for the fire department during the spending freeze. She declined saying it was a donation.
Thanks for the update. The only parts of the SJG Streets that need some repair are the small part in the lower middle of the above pic. As you can see it affects about 18 homes on dead in streets. They are the only "Citizens " who travel there.
ReplyDelete(Autumn Cv to end of Magnolia Glen Drive)
Bill
POA dues should cover that/
DeleteFrankly that is what "budgets" are for.
You assess the need, set up a budget, adjust the income to cover, schedule various needs by the months or even the years, then strictly following it. A well run POA doesn't need to amend more than annually.
TO Blankenship: Leadership means leading, you don't "try to get them to see" No is no. Going over your head didn't help either, did it.
TO mayor:
1. Isn't this how we lost the last fire truck? Ay a restaurant in Otter Creek?
TO the city: I INSIST the agreement with atty. Miller be called. We certainly don't need her or her mouth.
Since the roads in St. Joesphs Glen are not the responsibility of the city... Then why do the residence of the subdivision have to pay taxes for road repair? Yes, they do need fire protection, yes they do need police protection. I don't think that they should have to pay for roads.
ReplyDeleteI think the city needs to do what is right for the citizens of St. Joesphs Glen. Don't have a budget for that? Then as Louella so blatantly stated, work it into the budget and get it paid for. At last count there are 189 houses in the subdivision. Madam mayor, couldn't you use those votes in the next election? I am sure in the world we live in that we can find people willing to help.
Let me clarify just a tad. The budget I referred to was POA budget, "income to cover" - is dues. "needs" are many things, streets just one.
DeleteWe all pay taxed for things we don't use, they aren't optional, it is the cost of living in a community. SJG is a community within a community; I'm thankful I didn't buy into it. It could be a lovely community, but I am afraid it is headed the other direction, and likely will become a slum. Sorry, but that is my opinion.
Oh Ricky, how ill informed you are.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all it's my understanding not all of those 189 homes are occupied. No occupants, no votes; unless you live in Chicago.
Next, there is no city road tax. Subdivisions like yours that have property owner or home owner associations which handle the maintenance are usually self-taxed. The county collects the tax and turns it over to the association or developer.
Rumor has it your developer has skipped town but is still receiving the taxes from the county. That's why nothing is getting fixed. All of you are going to have to get together and start by talking to the county to verify what I said and find out if there is a course of action that will get your tax dollars to the POA.
Your group should also have a set of covenants. If so you might want to get a copy and read it. It should answer some of your questions. You might even find out what kind of flowers you can grow.
If you checked things out you would know. Fact 1: call Joy Ballard and ask her if saline county collects tax dollars from St Joseph's Glen and she will say yes. They are collected and the road taxes go to the City of Alexander and the City of Alexander has another tax they get on the St Joseph's Glen Personal Property. Fact 2: St Joseph's Glen homeowners pay a special improvement tax on a bond that was issued to construct the subdivision. That bond is collected and sent to U.S. Bank in Minnesota. $60 a year dues pay to maintain the front entrance and keep the creek free from debris. And not all homeowners pay the dues. Call Hurricane Lake, ST. Charles Poa in Little Rock, and Hot Springs Village and ask them how a POA is ran and what it maintains. Also go to the Saline County Clerk and check out the Plat, the city of Alexander signed off on the roads, and ask any engineer and they will tell you if a city signs off they own it. And another thing, you people that live with road issues too, I have sympathy for you, but why didn't any council members before do something to help? St. Joseph's Glen pays the highest taxes in Alexander, no other area does. Even if all 189 homes aren't occupied, they still have enough votes to remove who they want and elect who they want. so keep that in mind. And another thing, instead of griping about their roads, maybe you all should help and try and grow this area and not keep it in the dumps. Besides these are nice homes, you should be going after Councilmen Bearden's home is looks horrible. Quit gripping about the roads and do something about her house, it looks like it needs to be condemned. Its ironic that she complains about everything else but her property is a public nuisance. Lonny Chapman argued about his road eroding, I think Lonny is a renter, he has no ownership to were he lives. JUST SOME FACTS!!!!
DeleteOf course Alexander residents pay the city property tax; its hidden in the Bryant School District tax. We also pay a county general tax, county road tax, and county library tax.
DeleteThe only city property tax I'm aware of is the minimum 5-mil all municipalities get. It goes to the general fund. The street fund revenue comes from the state.
And yes, the city council should have signed off on the subdivision plat; which should have included how the streets will be built. Unless someone can find an ordinance, or some kind of documentation that shows the city accepting the streets; or a state law that says otherwise; approving the plat doesn't necessarily mean the city agreed to maintain the streets.
All documents for this project need to be located and scrutinized.
PB: Any POA/HOA ANYWHERE is run according to their CC&Rs. While there may be some standard paragraphs, they are specific to the community they are written to restrict.
Deletefact #1 you are a person of who don't know half of what they are talking about and must I also say that you are also half blind ? fact # 2 sjg can hardly carry a bucket of piss lil lone the votes to carry,remove or add anyone to from Council do you math if you can . fact # 3 we the people elected the Council members that we think will serve our Committee and to watch where the money is spent and keep everything legal and I am not happy with a lot of things fact # 4 I live in a mobile home with a dirt yard with a lil grass so be very carful what you say about us mobile home people cause we can carry the votes needed to carry an election most of us own our place and we work hard for what we have it wasn't handed to us ive been over to Councilmember Bearden's home and alltho we all have a lil yard work to be done her place is way far from being condemned I can show you several places that needed to be condemned so just remember when you talk about Councilmen Bearden's home you are also talking about we other hard working, Registered voters that pay all of you to sit at a table a few hours a month to better our Community not to act like a bunch of kids in a daycare,.as for your roads you talk about all the taxes you all or as you said some of you pay you cant even get the entrance sign fixed and you all pay for that so reallllly you want to talk about your road how bout this we have a fire dept with a hole in frot of it that we can not get fixed we have a city lawer that wants to do things Illegaliy and you are ok with that ?? so grow up and grow a pair and act like an adult quit singling out people and trying to slander good peoples good name because slander is also Illegal
DeleteIf you go to the article Public Hearing to be held before Regular Meeting” scroll down to post #7, (tinted area) by Bill 3/19/2014 @ 3:25 PM ‘Bill’ makes the statement the Water Works facility board pays the Bakers (developers) $8,000.00 a month. I would think if that is true, it should be collected and would go a long way to cover the street problem.. Gathered into a designated fund for street repair and upkeep would give the property association $96,000.00 a year.
ReplyDeleteWater Works and POA maybe could get together and see about getting those funds redirected?
Louella you seem to me to be a person who has no clue about this. The Bakers collect sewage dues from the water company. The Bakers own the sewage treatment facility, they tried to pawn it off years ago but no one would take it. So how does the fees the water company collects for the Bakers sewage plant that the Bakers own go to the POA? As Faye and Bob said "you can find a lot out at the court house". When everything comes out a lot of people will be in deep crap, and when I said a "savior" was coming, I didn't say it was a him or her, but someone is coming and their not coming to run the city oh no, they are coming from the outside. Poor Alexander, it's ashame people fight against improvements, but when it all goes down it will be fun to watch these poor fools loose it all. As far as Bill's statements about the water board sounds like Bill is in on it, and Bill aka --------- will probably be in deep crap too!
DeleteWith the new treatment plant maybe SJG can be added now and help pay for the bond.
DeleteI didn't claim to know anything about it, I WAS JUST DIRECTING YOU TO WHAT BILL SAID. Shoot at him not me.
Deleteif you would quit slinging mud and start being proactive BS you may get things accomplished. Your facts are skewed as normal. I do not understand why you feel the need to put down other council members homes, but then again if Mrs B.'S property was the size of a postage stamp I am sure her's would look just as NIFTY as yours! You and your peeps keep bringing up that this has not been addressed before, really where have you been? If over stepping your bounds and acting as mayor trying to get an illegal grant, well then I guess you are right no one else has but you! I don't believe "THEY" live in the "dump" as you stated. Sure ALL have areas that need improvements as all city's do. The police department, mayor, and council have worked on cleaning up for at least 8 years I have been told, and yes that includes a lot of different people past and present. Its a slow process, it has gotten better and will continue to improve, AKA progress. If you would have quit throwing your fit long enough at the meeting you and your peeps would have heard Mrs Bearden, Mrs Mckeon, and Mrs Wilson stating they want the streets fixed "LEGALLY"! YOU DONT SEEM TO HEAR THAT WORD! Certainly not the way MR S, and MRS MILLER suggested "lets pass it and go back and change it"! I for one, am proud of the council members that stood for the law and did not try to break it for their own benefit. YOU MR S SHOULD TAKE LESSONS! I am really not sure where you or your peeps think that SJG can "carry" an election, 189 houses (if all occupied, and have 2 voters registered) would only give you 378 votes. Maybe you should count the "dirt yards" and "single wide trailers" again.
ReplyDeleteWell, Get-It-Done! GOOD JOB!!! You usually don't say much - "strong silent type" But you nailed this one. S.J.G. needs leadership and legal assistance, they are a rocky situation waiting for something, maybe anything. I don't begin to know the answer, but I do know, it won't be cheap.
ReplyDeleteAlex, your headline above claims someone yelled racism. We're talking about SJG, where does race come in? I wasn't at the meeting, did I miss something here?
ReplyDeleteApparently, those who voted against applying for the grant are racist because SJG has mostly a black population (can't prove it by me). And, even though they aren't Alexander streets Alexander should take care of them anyway because they say so and screw what's legal.
DeleteGuys and gals, Let me first say that I am just a guy that bought his house in SJG before the roads were even built. And pretty new to this living in a subdivision thing. I was just looking for a few answers and didn't mean to start anything. I wonder if there is a lawyer out there who would be willing to do some pro bono work and get the folks taken care of that live on the streets that need to be taken care of. As for jumping in and fixing things, I am always willing to help where ever needed, if I need to get out and shovel some blacktop into those holes I will be more than happy to. I just want to get it done. So that we as a whole are not losing value on our houses. SO sorry to stir things up.
ReplyDeleteJust keep checking in. Another shoe will be dropping.
DeleteRick, I agree with your post, But even if you have to raise the dues a bit to cover a consultation, it would be well worth the investment. There is an answer, and a legal channel to it. The developer ignoring your situation and the fact the streets weren't installed properly in the first place has to have some kind of fair solution. Don’t go to just anyone, look for a specialist in your predicament, believe me, it isn't unique, lawyers make a lot of money on these issues and the developer is the deep pocket, not the home owner. I have no legal back ground, but it would be reasonable to look into the insurance the developer had for what he was doing, and look into the insurance the street people had for what they contracted to do there. If, as I have heard, the road bed was improperly prepared, wouldn't they be liable?
ReplyDeleteWouldn't a good law firm take it on contingency?
I agree with Alex as well, another shoe WILL drop! ;-)
I find your map funny and wrong. The grant wasn't for all of Magnolia Glen, so you might want to fix it it was for only the area from Autum cove to the dead end! So please fix it AB, wouldn't want this article to be wrong.
ReplyDeleteThe article quotes the resolution as saying, "repaving portions of Magnolia Glen Drive and Autumn streets in the Saint Joseph's Glen Subdivision." The map only shows the location of the two streets. No where in the article, nor in the caption under the picture, does it say all of Magnolia Glen Drive will be repaved. Don't read into something that isn't there. You're just looking for mistakes.
DeleteThis doesn't really relate to the article, but does anyone have the contact information for the St. Joseph's Glen POA? I moved out of state this past year and am renting my house there, but I never received notice for my dues and I cannot find contact information online.
ReplyDeleteI can try and find out but I do not know off the top of by head.
ReplyDelete