Well it’s that time of year again. Holidays, snow and so much more. Love somethings, hate others. Love snow men jokes, hate snow. Snow man jokes will commence… Please read on.
These things kind of all tie together and interact. Some are rules. Some are common courtesy and common sense. They enable effective timely snow removal, allow our neighbors to get in and out of their garages, allow delivery vans to deliver presents, allow for emergency vehicles to get in and out and more.
Regarding unit owner parking and construction or workman parking:
- We all have a total of four parking spaces each, two in garages and two immediately in front of our own garages. Please use those FOUR first before you use the street unless it’s snowing and you want your driveway cleared. When it’s snowing please use your garage first and then the street before the plows get here. The street plows can avoid the cars better than the equipment used for clearing driveways.
- Never use the turn around located at many of the units for parking. That’s to allow for deliver and emergency and your neighbors ability to maneuver. It’s not for parking or construction vehicles.
- Never park on the lawns or allow construction vehicles to park on the lawns or use the lawns to turn around.
- Construction vehicles… if they can’t fit in your two spaces directly in front of your garage have them drop their stuff off and park in the street. Oh and BTW never let them dump things (paint and drywall compound) in the storm drains. If they do please report them immediately.
Regarding snow removal and other winter matters:
- First it’s obvious. Never build snowmen in your driveway.
- Next never let you grandchildren play in your driveway during snow removal. Give them hot chocolate and let them watch through your windows. Then let them build snowmen in your yard after the snow removal is done.
- Please let the snow removal team do their jobs without interference. Try to keep cars and objects out of driveways etc.
- It’s OK if you want to shovel your own walks and driveways just don’t shovel it onto your neighbors area. If you have a heart condition or other health related issue please don’t take chances. Watch out for your neighbors if they have some kind of condition and help them. That’s just being nice… Everyone likes a nice guy.
- It’s OK if you want to apply snow melt to your own walks and other spots that get icy. ONLY USE SNOW MELT THAT IS APPROVED FOR CEMENT AND ONLY USE WHAT IS NEEDED. MAKE SURE IT IS NOT CLUMPED UP THAT WILL RESULT IN DAMAGE TO YOUR CEMENT WALK AND THAT WILL BE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX. Walks cost between $1K and $2K or more to replace.
- Regarding that ice forming where you walk, between association scheduled snow clearings, on and around your unit on walkways and in front of your garage under the gutters etc. Yes, please make sure it’s safe and you take responsibility for your own and your visitors safety. That is your responsibility and is common sense.
- The Association only provides snow clearing services when it is two inches or more. In addition at times when it makes sense we put snow melt on the driveways and the right snow melt on the walks. We do not provide on demand services or services between snow falls of two inches or less.
- Never climb on your roofs, this is the common sense part. Never throw snow melt or salt on your roof. Aluminum gutters don’t like that.
- More common sense… If you want to knock down icicles from gutters, do it when they are very small. Do not knock down large ones even if they are above your air unit. They will melt quite nicely from the bottom up without damaging anything. If you knock down a large one I can almost guarantee you it will fall faster than you can move. When they do fall, if they miss your head or foot, they can damage siding, windows, air units and more.
I’m sure we forgot something, please forgive us we’re old and confused. Just use common sense and courtesy. Lastly, go to Florida and don’t worry about it if you can, you deserve it…
