President Mary Pracht requested the posting of Jerry McAnear Jr. regarding 'Sex Offender'.
The following i-Neighbors comments were sent to me by Jerry for re-posting.
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I logged into i-neighbors to read the threads because I had heard that people were criticizing Joel and the PD for DH residents committing crime outside the gate. I’m glad to see that isn’t the case. Our PD does an excellent job of “law enforcement” with the limited resources it is provided and balancing the BS of being sworn officers working for a corporation. I can imagine how frustrating that can be at times. But, I do agree to a certain extent about the comments concerning our POA.
Keep in mind that you can't elevate property values enough to rid yourself of crime. You might prevent typical street crime, like drug sales on street corners, petty thefts and keep prostitutes from walking our streets, but crime is going to happen. Rich people commit crime too. That said though, having a lot of rental property tends to bring in people who have no vested interest in the community. Not that all renters are bad, but many have no regard for the property they are renting nor the community in which they live.
I own my home. Ultimately I'd like to make a bit of profit when I sell my home someday. Toward that end I want DH to succeed. Like-minded property owners need policies and efforts and activities that increase property values. We need people to own the property in which they live and stay long enough to care about the community and each other. As a whole we should all want the same thing. Sadly, not everyone in DH shares that agenda.
Keep in mind that you can't elevate property values enough to rid yourself of crime. You might prevent typical street crime, like drug sales on street corners, petty thefts and keep prostitutes from walking our streets, but crime is going to happen. Rich people commit crime too. That said though, having a lot of rental property tends to bring in people who have no vested interest in the community. Not that all renters are bad, but many have no regard for the property they are renting nor the community in which they live.
I own my home. Ultimately I'd like to make a bit of profit when I sell my home someday. Toward that end I want DH to succeed. Like-minded property owners need policies and efforts and activities that increase property values. We need people to own the property in which they live and stay long enough to care about the community and each other. As a whole we should all want the same thing. Sadly, not everyone in DH shares that agenda.
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Alan, you are correct about following the law. I was present when Ms. Combs said POA didn't have to follow state laws. At that same meeting, a former board president said he remembered the POA attorney telling him the same thing. In reality, they have heard only what they wanted to hear. (Even the worst attorneys understand this) I am certain the attorney would have said that the POA doesn't have to follow state laws that apply directly to and only to state government and its political subdivisions (state boards / commissions / agencies and counties and municipalities). DH is none of those, therefore those laws do not apply. BUT, DH is a both, a property owners association AND a corporation. There are specific state laws that apply to both that our POA must abide by.
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Legal responsibility for sex offender notifications lies with our two sheriff's offices. Our PD taking it upon themselves could get DH sued. Our sex offender is a level two. Laws concerning notifications are different for different levels. Level 2 does not require public / full notification. As for crimes outside our gates committed by DH residents, If you find out about it by reading the newspaper, the rumor mill, or by filing your own FOI for information from the arresting agency, great. But if a cop tells you, he could get sued, fired, maybe even arrested. And the POA (or real estate folks for that matter) cannot use information about a criminal record to discriminate against someone. Property owners can "vet" possible renters, but only within certain parameters. Sex offenders cannot live a certain distance from schools, playgrounds, etc. But anyone else can live anywhere they want. Not the explanation some wanted but... follow Alan's advice and raise property values (and rent) beyond the reach of petty criminals. You will still have crime, but at least the criminals will be richer and better looking.
