No computer? No luck in finding info about HOA

Thomas Tatum was upset at a neighbor letting weeds grow in his Homestead at Jackson Creek neighborhood and wanted to call someone in his homeowners association.

“I like discipline and I like things clean,” said Tatum, 80, who retired as a first sergeant after 26 years in the Army. He also served in the Navy in World War II.

Tatum moved into Jackson Creek in Monument four years ago in part because he liked the tidy neighborhood and its commitment to covenants — rules owners agreed to follow.

“We have people who let their dogs just go anywhere they want,” Tatum said. “They don’t clean up after them. And they let their weeds grow.”

But Tatum couldn’t find a recent HOA newsletter with contact information so he could report the covenant scofflaw.

“When I try to call someone, I can’t find their number,” he said. “There’s been no newsletter in months.”

Actually, Homestead at Jackson Creek hasn’t circulated a newsletter since January 2006.

Some HOAs send out monthly bulletins with contact information. But Homestead at Jackson Creek relies heavily on its Web site to communicate with its 218 homeowners.

It’s a growing trend in Springsarea neighborhoods. More HOAs turn to the Internet to post covenants, bylaws and other legal documents for easy owner access.

Web sites allow HOAs to post large volumes of information and commonly asked questions, and to send and receive e-mails from members.

Unless, that is, you are computeraverse like Tatum.

“Our homeowners association wants everybody to contact them by computer,” Tatum said. “I don’t have a computer. I don’t want to fool with it. Why should I? I have a phone.”

As neighborhood Web sites go, Homestead at Jackson Creek’s is impressive. The home page has links to neighborhood articles of incorporation, covenants, meeting minutes, maps, neighborhood groups and more.

There are notices about upcoming meetings, announcements and photos.

The site was created by neighbor Steve Meyer, who is vice president of the HOA. He said there’s a good reason the HOA relies so heavily on the Web instead of printed newsletters.

“We don’t have any dues in our HOA,” he said. “So we are looking for ways to be more efficient and more streamlined in our ability to provide information to all our members, without any income.”

Newsletter printing and postage is expensive and often was donated by the three HOA volunteers, Meyer said. And the Web site is sufficient for most residents.

“The only complaints we hear are from people who want blogs and forums,” he said, describing how the HOA used it to rally neighbors to fight a nearby development.

So what about Tatum and others who just don’t like computers?

“He brings up a good point,” Meyer said, suggesting that a neighborhood bulletin board, with contact information posted permanently, might solve the problem. “If even one resident is not feeling adequately represented, it’s important to us. We’ll have to do a better job reaching them.”

Tell me about your neighborhood: 636-0193 or bill.vogrin@gazette.com