Guide to Forrest Groves Estates

Forrest Groves Estates Homeowners Association
Summary Guidelines for Owner Residents, Renters and Visitors
 
This guide is a summary of the Rules and Policies adopted by the Board of Directors to govern Forrest Groves Estates. As such, this guide does not include all the conditions and details that are found in the Covenants, the Bylaws, The Rules and Policies that the Board uses to manage the Association’s business.  Therefore, all Residents and Renters are urged to rely on the Rules and Policies posted in the Association’s website as their primary source of information of what actions and behaviors are, and are not, acceptable in the community.

WATER

• Forrest Groves Estates has consistently received excellent quality water reports from the Association's water stewards and neighborhood volunteers. 
• Water usage should be carefully monitored.  
• Please observe the summer watering schedule posted at the mailboxes.  
• We all share the wells and when there is a large draw at one time, others are then without water.  We have enough water to go around if it is used modestly.
• If you have low water pressure, be sure to notify one of the board members immediately so they can find and resolve the problem.

SEWER

• Our sewers are fragile and your actions impact all of us in the neighborhood.
• Only toilet paper and human waste is to be flushed down toilets.  
• Do NOT flush sanitary products, diapers, wipes, Q-tips, or "flushabes".  They should be bagged and placed in the dumpster.  
• Do NOT dispose of cooking grease or heavy oils down sinks. 

ROADS

• The neighborhood speed limit is 10 miles per hour.  Driving the posted speed limit protects our children, pets and helps keep the dust down, which is a health concern for all of us.  Uphill, downhill, and especially around corners please be extra careful.
• Our roads are maintained in the winter by a volunteer crew.  Insurance mandates that any volunteer operator be a homeowner.

• Regular trash pickup is on Mondays and Thursdays.
• Hooks are used on both the dumpsters and the recycling bin to keep bears out and dissuade them from looking for food in the neighborhood.  Please be sure to secure the chain latches after using the dumpsters.
• Prohibited:
  • Filling the dumpster with items other than household trash; 
  • Leaving items outside or on top of the dumpster;
  • No large construction trash, excessive yard waste, or move-in/move-out trash;
  • Appliances and large electronics.
  • By planning ahead, you can take advantage of the large roll-away dumpster the HOA supplies every fall for larger items.

• Recycling pick up is every other Wednesday.

FIRE SAFETY
Most of the western United States, including Forrest Groves Estates, is under varying degrees of drought at any given time in the spring, summer and fall. When this is combined with dry fuels, low humidity and strong winds, the possibility of wildfire becomes very strong. Notice the Fire Danger level sign above the mailboxes. Also, a Red Flag will be displayed there if a warning has been issued. When a Stage One Fire Restriction is in effect all open flame fires inside and outside of a building like fire pits, campfires, fireworks, fireplaces, charcoal fueled barbecues, the use of tools that may cause a spark, smoking and the discharge of firearms are prohibited.

Spring and Summer

• Please be aware of the extreme fire danger in our community.  
• When we are in a drought or having moderate winds, please understand that this means NO fires of any kind.  
• Use good judgement and know that this includes fire pits, charcoal barbeques, candles, fireworks, and cigarettes and includes fires inside your home in a fireplace or a woodstove.
• Violations of this county or state imposed fire ban can be hefty fines and/or jail time.   
• Updates on current restrictions and bans will be made to the FGEHOA website.

• Be vary careful with fireplace fires before snow covers the ground.
• Ashes from fireplaces and stoves should be stored in a metal container for 5-7 days before dumping. 
• Ashes are not be placed into dumpsters until they are truly cold (5-7 days in metal container).
• Metal container should be kept a distance from wooden decks and away from the sides of your home.  
• Embers often stay hot for up to 7 days and have been known to ignite fires in trash, homes and dumpsters.

• This green space is property that is  common property for all residents for their enjoyment and their guests.
• Anyone is welcome to walk, picnic or otherwise enjoy the quiet space along the central river corridor.  
• Please be respectful of those in the homes that border the island and do your part to keep it clean and free of trash.  
• Trees may not be cut or removed from the island.
• NO FIRES or SMOKING on Treasure Island. Let's keep it a treasure.

WILDLIFE

• Our neighborhood is frequently visited by bears, raccoons, deer, eagles, turkeys, and the occasional mountain lions.
  • Bears have been known to break into vehicles and homes in search of food.  
  • There have been past reports of mountain lions in the community.
• Kitchen waste should be disposed of in the dumpster right away or kept in a locked, bear proof garbage can.
• Bring bird feeders (seed and liquid) inside each and every night.  
• Do NOT store pet food outside
• Do NOT leave food, food wrappers or containers in your vehicle.  

• Plan to have a few gallons of water on hand in case of outage.  
• Keep some drinking water and some water to flush toilets partially,  though please be careful as sewage will back up quickly with no electricity for the pumps.
• During outages, use toilet paper sparingly or bag it.

• Please be aware and keep noise down in consideration of those around you.  This includes long periods of loud music, motorcycles, ATVs or other extreme noise makers.  
• Violations will be reported to the Sheriff's dispatcher for investigation.

• Dogs must be under their owner's control and should not be allowed to roam loose without their owner in control of them.  
• Pet owners are required to pick up animal waste. Bags are provided throughout the subdivision for that purpose.
• Please do not leave your dogs outside all day while you are gone. Incessant barking can be referred to Animal Control, and animal control does occasionally visit uninvited and unannounced.

• Messages pertaining to our subdivision are often posted at the mailboxes.  
• Outgoing packages that have been pre-stamped for pick-up by USPS may be placed on the top back of the mailboxes so the carrier will see them.

• Homeowner assessments are established through the Annual Budgeting process. The approved monthly assessment is invoiced and payable monthly.   Members may pre pay their monthly assessment for any number of months in a Budget year.
• The Assessments are due on the 15th of the month and past due on the 16th of the month.
• The Association offers ACH Payments to automatically pay your assessments through your checking account on the 15th of each month.  The ACH Authorization form is in the "Forms File" in this website.
• Please review Policy 8 in the "Governing Documents" section of this website for information on what happens if  your Assessment(s) is not paid in a timely manner.