Frequently Asked Questions
What are Homeowners Association dues?
Dues –annual fee which is mainly in place to cover common grounds etc. (grass cutting, tree pruning etc.)
Collected once a year typically after Spring HOA meeting due late Summer. At times, assessments may be voted on to cover 1x longer term infrastructure items. Those in attendance at the annual meetings vote on budgets, assessments if needed and general rules.
What are the Annual Meetings about?
Neighborhood meetings held once a year to approve annual budget and possible suggestions and updates from the neighbors.
The budget is approved by a vote taken by those in attendance. Majority approval is required by attendees.
Budget is for current year costs.
Assessments needed are voted on at this annual meeting. Majority vote of attendees is required.
What is the role of HOA Board?
Main focus of the Board is to administer the annual meeting to approve the budget.
Board consists of… President, Vice president, treasurer and secretary. (All volunteer)
Board also helps administer the HOA rules.
Can a neighbor add fencing to their property?
Fencing needs both approval from HOA and city of Hudson. The city may grant a permit, but the HOA also must approve. Typically, the President approves after viewing plans.
What about Remodels? Can the exterior of homes be changed?
Typically, the city approves changes to the home via permit etc. General work like new roofing, landscaping etc. is at the owner’s discretion. Pools are also approved by city permitting etc. Fencing for pool to be approved by HOA board.
What is considered common grounds?
Common grounds are considered to be the main areas such as entry area grass cutting, middle road islands, annual mulching, sign maintenance, Stow road grass cutting are part of HOA common grounds, up to the tree areas. Homeowners who border Stow road are responsible for tree pruning, replacement and removal of trees if warranted, all weed control and brush control. Mulching and tree replacement is responsibility of homeowners whose yards border Stow road. Basically, the area in front of tree line is HOA’s responsibility. Areas at edge of grass line on upper side of mounds is homeowner’s responsibility. Tree replacements, tree removals and weed control is homeowners responsibility.
Pond mgmt. Is HOA responsible for ponds and pond maintenance?
Answer. NO. Homeowners who border ponds have responsibility for all costs of pond upkeep etc. these homeowners have a joint responsibility to cover all costs associated with their ponds. (Included but not limited to… annual weed spray control, overgrowth mgmt., drains, dredging and all other overall upkeep of these areas.) these costs will be divided equally by homeowners bordering ponds. One homeowner of pond areas will collect monies to manage the upkeep of the ponds. This is outside of the HOA.
Assessments. What are assessments for?
Assessments are only collected after approved by vote at annual spring mtg. The assessments are gathered typically one time or possibly over multiple years to spread the amount. Typical assessments are used for longer term infrastructure plans. Examples are new entry signs, common ground upgrades, common ground tree replacement, lighting, bridge maintenance etc.
Annual budget. How far out are we covered by collected HOA dues?
Typically, the balance kept is in the 1.5x annual need to cover the upcoming budget. This can be exceeded should an upcoming budget is needed do cover a 1x infrastructure need. (Example, new sign budget may be collected over 2 years anticipating future payment to vendor.) Any surplus over the years would typically represent an HOA fee reduction in upcoming years if warranted and voted on. The HOA typically tries to keep the annual HOA dues as consistent as possible taking into consideration inflation, upcoming 1x projects or longer-term infrastructure goals/plans.