"And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul."
~ John Muir
Responsibilities of the homeowner: Setting up and paying their unit's utilities (electricity, water, phone, gas, etc.), trash removal, and recycling (cans are to be placed outside the night before pickup and taken back inside the same day as collection), Repairing or replacing appliances as well as furnace, AC, water heater, water softener, water pipes (interior and exterior) and sewer pipes (interior and exterior), all electrical outlets ((interior and exterior), Cleaning the patio or deck associated with their unit, watering grass areas, shrubs, etc. in the limited common areas around their units (hoses are to be recoiled every evening), and repairing or replacing windows, screens, and doors (as if it is a new replacement unit including window sill, etc.).
AT&T (www.att.com/)
Comcast (www.comcast.com)
NOTE: satellite dishes are not permitted in our association
Mishawaka Utilities: mishawaka.in.gov/mu
Nipsco: www.nipsco.com/en/home.aspx
Mishawaka Branch: 113 E 3rd St., Mishawaka, IN 46544
Friday morning pickup
Performed by WM & included on the Mishawaka Utilities bill (see city of Mishawaka)
Please do not put out the trash & recycling receptacles before Thursday evening, and please put them back in your garage ASAP
When a Federal Holiday falls on a weekday, trash will be delayed by one day (picked up Saturday and please do not place trash & recycling receptacles before Friday evening)
When a resident moves into or out of the development they have a maximum of two weeks (from the closing date) to use visitor parking, in order to use their garage as a staging area. Vehicles must be rotated to a different spot every third day. Other than this two week grace period, all vehicles must be in the garage at all times if not in use (see bylaws for more details).
Homeowners may do minor trimming and pick up sticks and branches around their unit if they desire. The sticks and branches are to be placed, first and foremost, in the garbage receptacle. Larger branches can be places in one of three areas in The Forest on Sunday night from April to October. The three spots are:
South West Corner to the Bridge Water Way Entrance. On the left when entering the complex near the parking spot
On the right across from the front of unit #1417
On the left between buildings with units #1357 and #1353.
Effective May 16, 2016 and thereafter, and pursuant to the by-laws which were approved on February 8, 2016 the following procedure will be enacted concerning plants, trees and shrubs. All home-owners may plant trees and shrubs as per the bylaws in and around their personal residence, including but not necessarily limited to the areas around their decks/patios, and the mulch and stone areas around their homes and walks. The general policy of the Board will be to use landscaping funds in the budget to plant trees and shrubs in the truly common areas which do not go to the benefit of individual owners, but to the community as a whole. Such common areas will be defined as, but not limited to, the main entrance, around utility panels or boxes, at stop signs, at intersections, in the common areas where driveways intersect with Bridge Water Way or in other areas as may be later identified by the Board of Directors.
In spirit of the community's goals for a natural, liveable, and sustainable environment, the following are set for Holiday Decorations.
November 20th to January 7th white lights, non-flashing, are permitted on bushes, or trees (No ladders may be used for safety reasons)
Interior window lights and candles are permissible
Doors may have wreaths, swags, and other holiday cheer
Decks, porches, and the unit's immediate areas can be decorated
Nothing can be attached to the buildings
Refrain from blow-up decorations and any other items that do not support the feel and natural beauty of our community.
All Grills and/or fire pits must be at least 10 feet from any combustible material (house, shrubs, pine trees, etc.) when in operation. There must also be an approved fire extinguisher in the immediate area during use. The grill must either be on your patio (if space permits) or placed on patio pavers. Wooden pallets are no longer acceptable in the developments. Thank you for being safe.
If we notice an item of deferred maintenance on your unit which is your responsibility you will be notified and a plan will be initiated to remedy the problem. Some of the items can be handled by the homeowner. If you are unable or unwilling to perform the work we will offer a solution for the work to be performed by our contractor at your expense.
If a homeowner should discover water in their crawl space the following procedure will be used: 1. The homeowner at their expense will hire a certified water remediation specialist to determine the cause of the water. (2) A copy of the report shall be sent to the HOA. (3) The homeowner is responsible for the surface grade around their unit in the limited common area. This area is defined as at least 18 inches from the exterior perimeter of the unit. (4) The homeowner is responsible for any window domes which are to be installed or the sealing off of any vents. (5) The HOA will install any new downspouts necessary as well as downspout extensions up to a maximum of ten feet. (6) Any sump pumps or similar type remedies are the responsibility of the homeowner but need Board approve prior to installation.
NOTE: The Association Insurance Policy does not cover water or sewer pipes. Additionally, the Association will not pay for repairs to these items.
If a home-owner discovers that their sewer line is clogged, they must call a service man to clear the pipe. The homeowner is responsible for the cost of clearing such clogs and determining their cause. If it is determined that the clog is caused by something which is under the control of the Board of Directors, the Board will share in the cost to remedy only that portion of the bill.
The home-owner is responsible for cleaning and maintaining their decks, patios, and porches. If an individual home-owner wishes to paint/stain their deck they may do so with Board approval of the color of the paint/stain desired, and at the owners expense for materials and labor.
The Board will not approve any cuts into the asphalt or sidewalks for the installation of telephone or cable wires (Please be aware of this while considering new vendors). If these utilities are required please email the Board so that a mutually agreeable time can be setup for a Board member or their representative to meet with the utility company to determine the best possible solution to the problem.
Ice dams are typically formed due to poor insulation and/or ventilation, both of which are the homeowner’s responsibility. If the homeowner wishes to install an exterior vent or additional vents in a soffit, they must first petition the Board for approval. This request must include the name of the company doing the work, a picture of the vent, dimensions and specs of the vent, and a copy of the company’s insurance policy, along with any other information the Board may request. The Board will review this material and give a response no later than four months following the request. The Board will not approve any type of heating cables or heating apparatus for the purpose of melting ice. The Board does not permit salt or ice melt being applied to the roof. The Board will include as part of future snow contracts the job of using a roof rake to remove snow greater than a predetermined amount from lower level roof areas wherever possible. The HOA will not be responsible for damage to the interior of a unit caused by an ice dam on the roof.
If a homeowner wishes to do any work on the exterior of a unit (for example planting) or requires the use of a company (such as utility company) to install a cable or electrical lines, which require the individual or company to call 811 to mark existing underground wires or pipes the following procedure shall be used.
The homeowner shall inform the Board of their desire or need to do the work
The homeowner will tell the Board who will be doing the work. Remember whoever calls 811 is responsible if any damage occurs. So the homeowner should not call, make the contractor call!
The homeowner shall provide the Board with a copy of the contractor’s insurance policy.
The Homeowner must remove all 811 flags once the work is completed.
Effective immediately, the Board of Directors will not supply or replace any missing keys, this includes but is not limited to house keys and/or mail box keys. It is the owner’s responsibility to obtain any necessary keys at closing. Furthermore, the Board will not maintain or hold keys for individual owners. Each owner must make arrangements for either a trusted neighbor or relative to hold any spare keys. The Board will attempt to maintain a list of emergency contacts, so if the need should arise, the Board will know who to contact, to gain entry in order to protect personal and real property. If an owner should need a replacement mailbox key, the Board suggests that the homeowner meet the mailman, pop the existing lock, and then replace it with a new lock and key. As of this time, the Board has no locks or keys available in their inventory.