An independent source of news and commentary concerning Lake Holiday POA in Cross Junction, VA
March 2006 – Issue 03/24
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Dog Gone Fences!

An increasing number of fence applications are being received by the Architectural Committee. They are being requested not to contain pets, but to keep them out! Families concerned about the safety of their small children and pets find it necessary to barricade themselves against external canine danger, and the open country feel of the community is slowly headed for a more compartmentalized urban appearance.

The problem lies with a small percentage of dog owners who persist in allowing their animals to run free. One roving dog can potentially cause a dozen fences to be built, whereas if the dog were properly contained, only one would be required. There are also other more preferred containment alternatives outlined in the Architectural Guidelines, which preserve the open country atmosphere.

Before erecting a costly defense perimeter, it may be worthwhile to pursue the legal alternative. The County prohibits dogs running at large, and will warn and eventually cite dog owners based on your complaint(s). The Animal Control Deputies in the Sheriff's Office can provide you with more detail, but briefly here's how it works. You should keep a dated log and videotape the dog(s) as evidence. Be sure date and time are recorded on the video and try to identify the household which owns the dog. Solicit the support of neighbors who share the problem.

Call the Sheriff's Office at 662-6162 to record the complaint and they will eventually send a Deputy to visit you. It may take several calls over several weeks, but eventually the owner will be warned, and subsequently cited. You may have to testify in court if the owner pleads not guilty. This action will usually deter most owners except, perhaps, for the extreme rural types.

Alternatively you can detain the dog and call the Sheriff's office. This can be risky and must be done humanely. Unless you are very comfortable with the dog in question it is not recommended. But if you are comfortable with it, the "danger" argument is rendered moot, leaving only the "nuisance" complaint.

The fence option should be a last resort. A fenced enclosure adds to yard maintenance time. It must be mowed around, clipped under, fixed, cleaned, painted or stained periodically. A run-down fence detracts from your property value. It isolates you from your neighbors and urbanizes the community. Regrettably, a number of enclosures have already been built throughout the community and many have turned out less attractive than envisioned. A tour of the community can be enlightening. While the Architectural Committee may grant your request for safety reasons, consideration of alternative solutions should precede construction.

March Madness

There's a lot going on, but its just not front page. So we decided to recap a bunch of tidbits into one article. As reported previously, the Clubhouse requirements are off to the architect. This includes the five top room functions, some ADA and code requirements including stairway and elevator placement, and some specifications by the Board. The current plan is to design and price a fully functional clubhouse, and defer some features if it comes in too expensive. The revised architectural plans are expected back mid-March.

The Architectural Committee is looking into updating the New Construction Guidelines, streamlining some of the application forms, and documenting a fine schedule for builder violations. Additionally, the fence guideline is being revised and clarified.

We asked about the Golf Course letter from the Board. First of all, let us say we fully appreciate the Board's initiative to disseminate this information directly. The details of the proposed venture must remain confidential for the time being, but suffice to say that the basis is sound from a business perspective. Some of our readership have speculated correctly as to the details, but not in the way imagined. As indicated in the letter, the Board will announce the details on a timely basis.

The utility rate challenge by Mr. Murray and friends has received SCC attention. About 400 owners, mostly of membership lots sent in their complaints and the SCC ruled that a refund was in order. The complaint letters also allows Mr. Murray to challenge future rate changes, which by implication includes those filed by Aqua America. Thus, the transfer may be delayed, along with the benefits and potential expansion to membership areas Aqua would bring to the table. The rider on the white horse has managed to shoot himself and his followers in the foot. The chain is symbolic of Mr. Murray's tactics. It blocks access to a lift station by the utility company over a preexisting road along side his long unfinished house.

On the bright side, bingo was a huge success Mar 4th. About 60 people attended and the pizza was great. The community needs more of this type of event, where people of all ages can get together for a bit of fun and conversation.

Residents Forum Section

Residents e-mails for the Month are printed below to simplify your navigation and our maintenance. Be a star reporter or commentator and sent your e-mail to forum@thesummitadvisor.com <--note new address!

Your e-mails are listed below in chronological order. Entries may be archived or removed every Month and/or at our discretion. Entry text is limited to 500 words (about 25 lines in this format) and may be edited to conform to standards of heading format, font and length. We do not correct spelling or grammer. By sending e-mail to forum@thesummitadvisor.com, you indicate your permission to publish here, unless you state otherwise. Retractions from same e-mail IDs will be honored - please indicate subject and date. Date and Subject will be included from the heading. If you wish your name or pseudonym known please include it in the text. Please do not send attachments - text only!

Date: 3/3/2006 18:45:57 EST
Subject: Board Member's Compensation
Perhaps, as a community, we should be willing to pay Board Members for their "professional community services (say 25K per year like council members earn in City's like Rockville) and then we as a community would be more likely to get folks with professional skills to run for the Board for appropriate compensation rather than for just for attaboys (or tomatoes). Much of the complaining comes from us as a community acting like a bunch of free loaders hoping to get good services from unpaid Board Members and that is surely just wishing on a star!

Date: 3/21/2006 14:46:37 EST
Subject: dog
Bill, Telling us to call the law and telling us how fences are ruining our community is bull s###.
Thank God Joe had the b### to just kill the dog. The whole thing was a mess once the law and your buddies at the office got involved. I think cedar house's that haven't been stained are look worse than fences. As I took my tour recently, it looked like your house needs stained. So instead of watching us you look at what you got going on. People in glass house shouldn't throw rocks.

Date: 3/23/2006 15:27:02 -0800
Subject: Fences
I kinda agree......... if you live in a community where there are regulations about boundaries and fences and anything which detracts from a 'natural' environment, then you need to look into alternatives to fencing for pets. The folks with DogWatch are far more price worthy than Invisible Fencing or other products offered in this area. And their product is on the FM radio range rather than AM (means primarily that things like your microwave going 'goofy' or other applicances or mechanics won't hurt your pets", and their prices are valid for the work performed. I'm not a sales rep; just a good shopper!

On the other hand, if the fence was put up to keep children IN, that's a different story. We have experienced on Northwood Circle, primarily from it's start all the way to where it breaks out into the "loop" at the top end, children all over the place as we drive in casually, slowly, to our house. They ride bikes without watching.... they play basketball with portable hoops set up IN THE DANG ROAD... they chase balls, each other, anything into the street.... we have watched parents in the driveway washing cars or boats and ignoring the kids and any horns blaring to get them to notice a vehicle coming.... we have experienced parents yelling AT US for blowing OUR HORN when THEIR kids are running loose in the road with no awareness......... sheesh. Folks just are not getting it. Does it take an accident??!!! Does it take a vendor or fast driving resident (yup, there are PLENTY of those, too!!)

THIS IS A DESIRED COMMUNITY (means good $$ value for most of us). THIS MEAN INCREASED TRAFFIC because of more houses going up (not so great if you liked the quiet and nature) BUT this was known when many of us bought in here.

GEE!!!

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