BAH-HOA resources FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Home Owners Association ? Is membership of the Home Owners Association mandatory if I buy or own a house in the Bel-Air Heights subdivision? How much of my dues goes for Trash Pickup Service? How much do I save versus having my trash collected privately ? What are the "CC&R's" ? What are the "Bylaws" ? What is the HOA "Board of Directors"? Are there any other rules for the HOA and for home owners in Bel-Air Heights? What can I do if my neighbor violates Policies and Guidelines? When and Where is the required Annual Membership Meeting? Is the Annual Membership Meeting open to all residents of the Bel-Air Heights and Rolling Hills neighborhood? Why is 'Rolling Hills' part of the Bel-Air Heights HOA ? I received a "Notice of Assessment". What is this and why must I pay this? What happens if I don't pay my assessment? I received a "Nextdoor Bel-air Heights" email. Is this an HOA initiative?
Question:	*What is a Home Owners Association ?*
Answer:	Our Bel-Air Heights 'HOA' is a non-profit corporation, registered with the State of Kansas, and managed by a duly elected Board of Directors. Its purpose is to maintain all common areas and to govern the community in accordance to the providion of the legal documents: CC&R's, Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation. The corporation is financially supported by all members.
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Question:	*Is membership of the Home Owners Association mandatory if I buy or own a house in the Bel-Air Heights subdivision?*
Answer:	Membership in the Bel-Air Heights Home Owners Association is voluntary for home owners in our subdivision (see map). However, in the 25 years I have lived here I have never understood the very small percentage of residents who don't join. There are many benefits to being a member of the HOA including a significant reduction in the cost of trash pickup and recycling. A large part of the annual dues pays for these services. Please note that payment of subdivision assessments are mandatory for all residences in the subdivision. Such assessments, required most recently at $60/year for the 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 fiscal years, are used for the common good of the whole subdivision such as for the necessary restoration and repair of the end-cap structures that exist at the entrances to the neighborhood. For the current year, no assessments apply.
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Question:	How much of my dues goes for Trash Pickup Service? And how much do I save versus having my trash collected privately ?
Answer:	Virtually ALL ($168) of your yearly dues ($180) are used to pay for the new (and lower cost!) Trash Collection contract with Deffenbaugh Industries (now part of Waste Management) that started April 1, 2016. Detailed information about the Trash Service offered through the HOA is shown on the Trash service page. Private trash contracts with Deffenbaugh are not prohibited, but annual costs are significantly higher than the HOA contract. Private rates for a year contract, paid monthly or 3-monthly, are known to range from $270 to $360, and even higher than this!
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Question:	*What are the "CC&R's" ?*
Answer:	The Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions are the governing legal documents that set the guidelines for the operation of the planned community as a non-profit corporation. The CC&R's were recorded by the Johnson County's recorders office and can be included in the title of your property. Failure to abide by the CC&R's may result in a fine to a home owner by the Association, whether the home owner is a member of the HOA or not.
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Question:	*What are the "Bylaws" ?*
Answer:	The Bylaws are the guidelines for the operation of the non-profit corporation. They define the duties of the various offices of the Board of Directors, their term, membership voting rights, required meetings and notices of meetings, and the principal office of the Association, and other specific terms that are necessary to run the Association as a business.
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Question:	*What is the HOA "Board of Directors"?*
Answer:	The HOA Board of Directors is the elected governing body of the non-profit corporation that is the Bel-Air Heights Home Owners Association. The limitation and restrictions to the powers of the Board are defined by the Association governing documents.
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Question:	*Are there any other rules for the HOA and for home owners in Bel-Air Heights?*
Answer:	In addition to the governing Rules and Regulations of the HOA: The city of Overland Park has established municipal codes that provide guidelines to home owners for common courtesies with regard to parking, vehicles, etc. and regarding property maintenance. These rules and guidelines aim to maintain the aesthetic value and integrity of the community on behalf of all owners, and hopefully protect the market value of your investment as well. Violations of these rules may result in action by the city and a fine. Many of the guidelines and information flyers provided by Overland Park are available through the "Overland Park BROCHURES" page under the Information tab.
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Question:	*What can I do if my neighbor violates Policies and Guidelines?*
Answer:	If you cannot resolve the situation between yourselves, use the on-line OPCares reporting site to file a complaint or request action by Overland Park authorities.
Question:	*When and Where is the required Annual Membership Meeting?*
Answer:	Yearly, between 10 and 60 days prior to the scheduled Annual Membership Meeting, all Bel-Air Heights residents are informed by several means of the date, time and place of the meeting which is typically held in June: the Agenda is mailed to each Bel-Air Residence and to non-resident member home owners; the meeting information is also emailed to all HOA members whose email address(es) are on-file with the HOA; the meeting information is posted on this website's Calendar page. In addition to the Meeting Agenda, the following information is also provided: Any proposed amendments to the HOA By-Laws; The slate of known nominations for the HOA Board of Directors. At the meeting, additional HOA members 'in good standing' may be nominated or may self-nominate for the annual election of the HOA Board of Directors. The Annual Financial Report of the HOA will be presented at the Annual Meeting. Voting ballots to elect the new Board of Directors will be provided to HOA members in good standing at the meeting.
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Question:	*Is the Annual Membership Meeting open to all residents of the Bel-Air Heights and Rolling Hills neighborhood?*
Answer:	Yes, all Bel-Air Heights residents are welcome. However, only members of the HOA may vote.
Question:	*Why is 'Rolling Hills' part of the Bel-Air Heights HOA ?*
Answer:	It is part and not-part: this is how this situation came about. The 'Rolling Hills' houses are grouped around the cul-de-sac 92nd Place, adjacent to the Rolling Hills Presbyterian Church (see map). When the Bel-Air Heights neighborhood was developed (see 'Restrictions'), 92nd Place was not part of the development. It was deeded and developed separately. The Bel-Air Heights HOA offers house owners at 92nd Place the option to be part of the BAH HOA in exchange for dues which largely cover the reduced group-rate trash service contract for the HOA, and with full voting rights.
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Question:	*I received a "Notice of Assessment". What is this and why must I pay this?*
Answer:	All residences in the Bel-Air Heights subdivision are collectively responsible for the maintenance of common capital assets of the subdivision such as the monuments, the endcap structures at various entrances to the neighborhood, *whether you are a member of the HOA or not*. Upon recommendations and a vote of the HOA membership, assessments may be instated for capital improvement expenses, maintenance and repair, and for future replacement and repair, and hazard insurance. Statements of any assessment will be mailed to all homes and are due 60 days after receipt.
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Question:	*What happens if I don't pay my assessment?*
Answer:	The maintenance and management services incurred by the Association are dependent upon timely receipt of the assessments due from each home owner. If payments are late you will incur a $10 per month late fee plus interest (15% annual). The By-Laws allow the Association to charge late charges (and interest) and proceed with a lien on your property for nonpayment of assessments.
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Question:	*I received a "Nextdoor Bel-air Heights" email. Is this an HOA initiative?*
Answer:	Nextdoor.com is a free, commercial site which offers neighborhoods the option to offer services or exchange information. It is promoted by Overland Park Community Services' Neighborhood Initiatives, especially for neighborhoods which lack a neighborhood website such as this one. This organization has no official link with the Bel-Air Heights HOA. However, it is a good site to find lost dogs* or to ask advice from your neighbors who might know a good Garage Door Service company.* You will also find occasionally postings on Nextdoor that point neighbors to the more permanent resources and information on this site, 'the Official Bel-Air Heights website'.
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