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Richmond Place Call & Comment Section

All posts will remain anonymous

I reserve the right to edit any comments before they are posted on the site
This page is devoted to promoting positive and constructive criticism regarding the neighborhood and the parish.

Feel free to respond to any comment or create your own topic.
Reply to richmondhoa@gmail.com to have your Anonymous comment posted

1/5/09

I would like to pass on a few things I have heard recently. A family on Petersburg near Raleigh said that an electric scooter was stolen from their garage right after Christmas. The thing that bothers me is that they only had the garage door opened about a foot. Someone had to crawl under the door to get the scooter. I have also been told that car break -ins are increasing around the Watson area. Don't be an easy target. Keep things out of sight. Also keep in mind that if you leave your vehicle in the driveway and you have a garage door opener in it you could be setting your self up. Bring it inside, hide it or if you have a lock button on the opener mounted in your garage use it. This should disable the one that is in your vehicle. I have one last suggestion I want to pass on. If your house door leading in to your garage does not have a window I would change that door out when you have a few extra dollars or add a glass storm door. Each time you open that door in the blind, you have no idea what is on the other side of it.
12/16/08 Silver Kodak EasyShare cx7530 lost. I last remember having it after taking pictures Thursday of snow before lunch time. I may have driven from my driveway near the corner of Melrose and Devereaux leaving the neighborhood with it on my rear bumper. If found, please call. I desperately need the pictures of my children playing in the snow. If the camera was found, I would deeply appreciate the return of at least the memory card containing those photos. Thank you. Michelle 664-7686/303-2280
11/24/08

I would like to share some Richmond Place development history and out side observations. Please bare with me while I get to my point. Last week I was talking to an unnamed source who had recently taken some real estate developers through our neighborhood as well as the surrounding subdivisions. They wanted to see different layouts for a new subdivision being planned. This is what I was told. The Richmond Place developer naturally wanted to make money as well make affordable homes so here are a few things that were done to cut cost. Small lots with minimal set back from the street (more houses could be built). Narrow streets (less cost for pavement), and open ditches (less cost). While these things are obvious here are a few things that might not be. High roof peaks (give the buyer the sense they were getting more square footage for the buck). Driveways in the front of the house opposed to the side or back of house (less concrete to be poured). I also feel that the garages are not true two car garages.

Now here are the observations and comments made by this planning committee. Majority of the garages which were opened and in street view were being used for storage. Majority of residents could not park vehicles in the garages and were forced to park in the driveway. Two and three vehicles in the driveways set so close to the street on top of the high pitched roofs gave the observers a sense of clutter, closed in, and just not enough room feeling.

Now here's my point in all this. I feel that Richmond Place gets a bad rap over things we had no control of. I also think that there are a lot of small things we can do to make the obvious not so obvious. I will leave that as a thought to ponder. I am proud of my home and do my best to keep it nice and attractive. I do this not only for my sense of pride but I do this for my neighbors. As a board member I am obligated to address the restrictive violations which I fine time consuming, frustrating and frankly would not have to be done at all if everyone would just take pride in their home. I am asking all of you to join me and be proud of your home and proud to say yes I live in Richmond Place. Seems so simple to me.

Thanks Karen
11/18/08 As we approach the end of year 2008 I want to enform all residents that the 2009 HOA Dues notifications will be going out in January. This is being done for two reasons. (1) The restrictive Covenants state January 1st and over the years we have gotten away from this. (2) Due to the time restraints of the court process in placing judgements and payroll garnishments for delinquent payments this earlier date gives us enough time to collect before the physical year ends. Any questions please feel free to contact me.
Karen Enderle - Treasurer kdenderle@bellsouth.net
11/18/08 We are going to try something a little different in 2009 in hopes of it being successful. In the past years the board members have pretty much always decided what they wanted to see done in the neighborhood and that is what happened or did not happen. This year we are asking all residents who have something in mind that they would like to see done next year to the neighborhood to send us these ideas. With your suggestion we also want you to do the research as we do. Send in the cost, who would do the job, the impact on the neighborhood etc. After we get these ideas we would like to send them out with the dues notice and let every one vote on them. How many projects get done all depends on cost and money available. We may be able to do one large project or several small projects. So please send us your thoughts. This is your neighberhood. Get involved. These are some of the suggestions that have come before us in the past however no one did the research. Water fountains in the lake, fishing piers, new street signs, gazebo's in the common areas. Pursue one of these or pursue your own ideas.
11/07/08 As we clean up from the storm and haul debris to the street PLEASE remember that you must call DPW to have it picked up. DPW does not make routine runs through out the parish as in other areas. So please call them @ 686-3030 Thanks Karen
11/07/08 We received a call this week from a family on Asheville. They had a blow up figurine stolen from their front yard. I mention this because the holiday season is fast approaching and as we start to decorate we need to be mindful as to what and where we place decorations in our yards. Do not be an easy target. Look out for your neighbors. Report any thing suspicious no matter how trivial it seems. I urge every one to take a peak out their windows and doors when they get up in middle of the night for a glass of water or hear the dogs barking. Lets all stay on our toes and let outsiders know we are watching. It is unfortunate that we have to resort to this but their will always be that person (s) that believes it is better to take than to give. Karen Enderle
11/07/08

We are starting to rework all the flower beds. We are considering doing away with all the landscape pavers. I would like to know how many residents would be interesting in have some of these pavers. The only stipulation is that they must be used to beautify your front yard in a timely fashion. Call or email me with your comments. Karen Enderle 405-2412 kdenderle@bellsouth.net
11/07/08 Looking for a few volunteers Saturday Nov 15 to help spread top soil etc around the new entrance sign.
We are also looking for volunteers to help remove the remaining black posts on Melrose and Raleigh. After all the posts are pulled up and the concrete is removed they will be taken to the salvage yard and sold for scrap. The money will be put back in to the general funds account. Please contact any one of the board members if you would like to help.
11/06/08

Hi my name is Blake Gibson I live on Norfolk I just had my roof replaced on my house. Anyone looking to have their roof replaced but are getting really high bids I can refer you to the guy who replaced my roof he is out of Hammond and been doing it all his life his crew done an amazing job. I had my roof replaced and upgraded to the Architectural shingles he can replace your roof for only $200.00 per a square anyone interested give me a call and I can give you his phone number my number is 225-610-4803. Also he is not exteremly backed up like a lot of roofers he can get the job done quicker than most.

10/31/08 Hi
David from 9913 chapel hill , I would like to announce a huge Star Wars themed fundraiser in Mandeville on Sunday. This is the second year this event will take place and it is planned to be bigger than last year. I am part of the 501st Legion Star Wars costuming club and our main focus is to promote the art of Star Wars, raise the bar on costumes and props and give back to the community through charitable events. The local Garrison has really worked hard to pull this together this year with some very exciting Saints autographed items going into the silent auction as well as many other really nice things.
10/20/08

My son found a bike in the woods. If you're missing a bike, describe it and it's yours 205-3814
10/16/08

MY CURRENT PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT IS GOING OUT OF BUSINESS AND I SALVAGED SOME OF THE DRY ERASE BOARDS. IF YOU KNOW ANY TEACHERS OR ANYONE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING SOME DRY ERASE BOARDS IN GOOD CONDITION FOR CHEAP, PLEASE CALL KATIE @ 791-7196.

I HAVE 3 THAT MEASURE 73 X 49 INCHES, 1 THAT MEASURES 24 X 18 INCHES, 1 THAT MEASURES 35 X 23 INCHES, AND 1 THAT MEASURES 36 X 24 INCHES.
9/22/08 I , like everyone else have sustained roof damage over the past few months. And I, like others have been left with the short end of the stick by my insurance company. I have recently been given a suggestion by a experienced roofer. He has suggested I look into overlaying my existing roof. He says it will reduce my costs by 40% and if done correctly by a experienced roofer will look wonderful. Does anyone here have any experience with this? Has anyone already done this? Are there parish codes that forbid it? The research I have done suggests that a roof overlay will possibly reduce the life of the new roof by 10 to 20 % but that there has been no proof or study done to confirm that figure. I am just trying to keep my house good looking and save some financial headaches for myself. Any comments or suggestions are appreciated, With my insurance settlement and tapping into some savings I have about 6k to spend on this.

Thanks in advance, and I promise not paint my garage door hot pink or chartreuse.

8/21/08 I agree, the garage colors are getting out of hand. Blue? Orange? Come on people, save the odd colors for indoor paints. Living in a neighborhood you have to be considerate of your neighbors and the values of all of the homes in the neighborhood. Go drive through Easterly or any other upscale neighborhood and I bet you don't see any of those colors on the garages.
8/21/08 I showed up at the June meeting as I always do, and wasted my time again. The 2nd meeting to vote was rescheduled for the same day that Kindergarten started, the first full week for other students and teachers, probably the most hectic week of the year for most families. I had fully intended on going to vote, again, but did not make it back from Baton Rouge with a 5 and 3 year old until after 8 pm alone (husband worked late). I would have voted for several of the restrictions especially #1 which almost passed. I have several neighbors who were in the same position. We love(d) this neighborhood. We have been here for over 6 years and have voted every time until now. We really need to reconsider our voting procedures. Convenience is key!!!

And to those of you with the outlandish colors (red, blue, orange, high gloss black), we may differ in taste but I think the goal is to increase property value! So GIVE ME A BREAK! Go ride through any restricted(ha!) neighborhood with homes bringing in over 200K and let us know if you find any of those colors. Sometimes we must sacrifice personal taste to show a tiny bit of class! Do you think someone will CHOOSE to buy next to you unless they can pay less than down the road. So THANKS A LOT for the drop in property value you have caused for your neighbors. That's the community spirit I was hoping to see! This neighborhood has always been right on the line; not the absolute best, but close. We have definitely slipped down.
8/21/08 In response to the harsh feelings toward the HOA, I was just like the rest of you. This is why I took one of the empty spots on the board. I get to see first hand where our money is going and why the HOA sends so many letters. If everyone would take a little pride in their investment and the neighborhood there would be less letters and a lot nicer neighborhood. I myself have volunteered to do all of the yard work as well as getting some of my neighbors to help out. To the person that responded about fixing the sign and then getting the Ins. Company to pay us after, we don't have enough money to do this. It would also be nice to have a bigger participation at the meetings. We have 350 houses and only 90 people show up. Apperantly those who don't show up don't care about their investments. If this was to harsh and hurt someones felings please feel free to call me @ 225-276-9143 and ask for Charlie Long
8/17/08 Richmond Place Residents:

I would like to thank all the residents who voted yes on the first three proposals put before them this past week. Even though they did not pass, it gives me some hope that just maybe we can become the community I believe we can be. The board members work hard at trying to find new ways to make this a safer and sought after subdivision. It is very clear to me that we have residents here in Richmond that just do not have the sense of pride that the board members do. Every time you turn on the TV, listen to the radio, read the newspaper or just join in general conversation you can not get away from the topic of how the price of every thing is going up. Well guess what! How about the price of your second biggest investment (children being the first) YOUR HOME. It is so hard to understand why someone would want to do every thing possible to insure that the price of their home goes up instead of down. Sadly this is the direction I perceive Richmond is going. It also gives me great concerns when I see good neighbors putting their homes on the market because Richmond has become a place that they choose not to live in any longer.
To the resident that wrote “My Home, My Color” on their proxy I say to you Your Home, Your Color, Our House Value. It may seem cute or funny to you now but you will see how funny it is when you try to get your money back out of it. Stealing the signs and trashing the front entrance, vehicles in yards and unkept houses also make seem funny to you. But to myself and all the other residents with a sense of pride it is not quite as funny.

My last comment is to the Board Members. You work hard, you take time from your busy lives, and you get very few thanks and to many complaints. Thank You and May God Bless You.
Karen Enderle

8/16/08 Shanna i have asked for help in other ways without results all the things that you are stating is true for the hoa as well if we let Richmond go down and don't invest in our neighborhood property taxes will not be an issue as the taxes are set on the value of our homes.I did not intend to be harsh just let every one know that i was not happy with the current situation.Can i count on you as a volunteer? Time from residents is worth more than we could ever increase the dues.  Ralph Breaux
8/16/08 I feel that Ralph's posting on the website was pretty harsh. Times are tough! People are having a hard enough time paying their mortgage not to mention the outrageous gas prices. As if that isn't enough now our property taxes have increased. That being said you can not expect people to fork out more money.

Expecting volunteers isn't exactly the nicest way for our leader to ask for help.
08/12/08 Hi Neighbors,
My name is Courtney Hilton. I live on Sarasota Avenue in Richmond Place and currently use SafeCo for my Homeowners Insurance.
I put in a claim for hail and wind damage that my property incurred from the storm that hit our area back in May. SafeCo approved all of the minor claims, but denied the claim for my roof.
All of my immediate neighbors have been approved for new roofs, but none of them have SafeCo Insurance. I am now starting to question SafeCo's integrity.
Do any of you have SafeCo for your Homeowners Insurance? Were you approved for a new roof or did they deny your claim as well?? I am interested to hear your feelings and comments about how SafeCo handled your property claims from the recent storm, good or bad.
Please call or e-mail me...225-205-4929, hiltonc1@yahoo.com.
08/04/08 HI,

I RESIDE AT 9185 DEVEREAUX DR. I WANTED TO LET EVERYONE KNOW HOW PLEASED I AM WITH BROTHERS ROOFING. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ESTIMATES GIVEN TO ME BY DIFFERENT COMPANIES(8 TO BE EXACT). THE REASON I CHOSE BROTHERS IS BECAUSE THE SALES MANAGER FOR BROTHERS WAS CLEARLY BY FAR THE MOST PROFESSIONAL AND THE MOST HONEST. HE DID NOT BAD MOUTH OTHER ROOFING COMPANIES IN ORDER TO GET MY BUSINESS LIKE SO MANY OTHER ROOFERS I TALKED TO DID. HE WAS VERY INFORMATIVE AND STRAIGHT FORWARD ABOUT EVERYTHING SUCH AS THE DIFFERENT TYPE OF SHINGLES AVAILABLE, THE PRICE ETC. WHEN I ASKED THE SALES MANAGER IF BROTHERS WAS INSURED, HE DID NOT JUST SAY YES AND MOVED ON TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE, HE GAVE ME A COPY OF THE INSURANCE SO THAT I COULD CHECK IT OUT FOR MY SELF.

THE ROOFERS WERE GREAT. THEY WORKED FROM THE TIME THEY ARRIVED AT 7:30 UNTIL THE TIME THEY LEFT TAKING ONLY A 20 MINUTE LUNCH BREAK. THEY DID NOT STOP WORKING EVERY TIME A YOUNG GIRL WALKED BY TO STARE AND WHISTLE. THEY WERE FOCUSED ON THEIR JOB AND DOING IT WELL.THE ROOFERS WERE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT NOT LETTING THE SHINGLES FALL ON MY PLANTS.THEY DID AN AWESOME JOB ON MY ROOF AND AT CLEANING UP THE MESS.

AFTER THE JOB WAS DONE THE SALES MANAGER AND I DID A WALK THROUGH TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS DONE WELL. HE WAS VERY PROFESSIONAL FROM BEGINNING TO END. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND BROTHERS ROOFING.
07/24/08 In response to the negative comments made about General Roofing and Remodeling, please let me assure all homeowners that they are a class act. The replaced the roof on my home and addition (appx 50 squares) in less than a day and a half. The workers were professional and thorough. Let me also comment that prices did go up on roofing materials. It's called supply and demand. **Note that on his estimates, he shows that quotes are only good for 10 days**. We too received a lower quote initially, however we did not accept the bid until after the prices were raised. Guess what? The blame lies with us. Note that I am a manager with Home Depot corporate and I assure you that this contractor was well within a reasonable price range for his materials. Robert Ringo has been nothing short of incredible considering the stress and hardship we've been forced to put him through due to issues with our mortgage company releasing our claims check. He is perhaps one of the most understanding, friendly, and patient business owners my husband and I have ever dealt with. He not only replaced our roof, but fixed existing construction defects at no charge. In addition, he voluntarily drove 90 minutes to meet with us at our bank so we could have paperwork notarized and assist us in cashing our checks that were inadvertently made out to both General Roof and us. He most certainly did not have to do this. I am not a long time resident of this area. I do not know Robert outside of our business dealings. I have no reason to defend him except that it is right. One bad experience should not tarnish his reputation. All of my neighbors who have had roofs replaced by him have had nothing but good things to say. Check with those who have new roofs yet still display Roofs Now signs in their yards and see what they have to say. There's your answer....
07/21/08 PLEASE CHECK OUT YOUR ROOFERS AT THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU WEBSITE BEFORE HIRING THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU WILL TELL YOU HOW MANY RESOLVED AND/OR UNRESOLVED COMPLAINTS THEY HAVE HAD IN THE PAST THREE YEARS. OF COURSE IT'S NOT A GUARANTEE, BUT IT MAY SAVE YOU SOME HEADACHES. IT WOULD HAVE SAVED US YEARS OF TROUBLE WITH A LEAKY ROOF AND DAMAGED SIDING THAT WE HAD DONE 12 YEARS AGO AT OUR OLD HOUSE IN BATON ROUGE. THIS PARTICULAR ROOFER CURRENTLY HAS NUMERIOUS COMPLAINTS WITH THE BBB AND DOES NOT EVER HONOR HIS UNUSUALLY LONG WARRANTIES. I'VE SEEN HIS COMPANY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD RECENTLY. I DON'T WANT TO IDENTIFY HIM, AS THERE WERE DEATH THREATS FROM HIM YEARS AGO WHEN WE KEPT AFTER HIM TO HONOR HIS WARRANTY WITHIN MONTHS OF THE NEW ROOF BEING PUT ON AND AFTER WE CONTACTED THE BBB. FOR OUR NEW ROOF, WE WENT WITH GARCIA ROOFING. THEY WERE EXCELLENT FROM BEGINNING TO END; PUTTING UP WITH ALL MY INDECISIONS, DECISION AND THEN A FINAL CHANGE OF MIND. THEY NOT ONLY HAVE AN EXCEELENT RATING WITH THE BBB BUT PAY TO BE A MEMBER OF THE BBB. THEY ALSO AGREE TO PARTICIPATE IN A SPECIAL DIVISION OF THE BBB AND AGREE TO SPECIAL ARBITRATION IN CASE OF A COMPLAINT.
07/01/08 I just wanted to give everyone a little heads up when dealing with the company General Roofing & Remodeling (the company with the Roofs Now signs) Our next door neighbors and I both agreed to have them give us their free estimate on the same day. They said we both needed new roofs and gave us each a quote. Our house was quoted $169 per square and our neighbors on the same day were quoted $159 per square for the same roofing material. When my wife questioned them as to why our price was different he said "the cost had gone up and they must have done our neighbors quote before ours."

When my wife asked him why on the same exact day we were given a different price they didn't return our call after going to "look into it." My wife finally tracked down the owner of this company and he was EXTREMELY rude to my wife when asked to explain the cost difference. In fact he yelled at my wife and hung up the phone with her, never apologizing.

Just wanted to give a heads up for anyone who has been considering using this company as they as they weren't straight forward with us and we won't be using them. Please be careful who you deal with.
06/25/08 HEY,
I'M KEVIN PREJEAN, WHO RESIDES AT 9144 DEVEREAUX DR. I WANTED TO WARN ALL RESIDENTS ABOUT BROTHER'S ROOFING BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM I'M HAVING WITH THEM. DUE TO MY IGNORANCE, I CALLED THEM FOR A QUOTE TO REPAIR MY ROOF, BECAUSE OF HAIL DAMAGE. THE SALESMAN ARRIVED AND SHOWED ME A BOARD OF SHINGLE SAMPLES. ONCE WE DECIDED ON A COLOR, I ADVISED HIM I WANTED THE ARCHITECTUAL SHINGLES WITH THE SHADOW LINE. THE SALESMAN RECOMMENDED THE OWENS CORNING TEAKWOOD BECAUSE IT HAS A SHADOW LINE. ONCE AGAIN, DUE TO MY IGNORANCE, I SAID OK. HE LATER CALLED BACK, STATING THESE SHINGLES WERE ON BACK ORDER, BUT HE COULD GET ME THE TIMBERLINE SHINGLES FOR THE SAME PRICE, BUT THEY ARE ACTUALLY $2.00 MORE PER SQUARE. I THOUGHT THAT WAS FINE. THE SALESMAN STATED HE WOULD COME BY AND SHOW US A BOARD THAT HAD THE SHINGLE SAMPLES OF THIS TYPE, BUT HE DIDN'T. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION, BASED OFF OF WHAT HE TOLD ME, THAT THIS SHINGLE WOULD BE LIKE THE ATLAS PINNACLE SHINGLE, THAT I WANTED AND POINTED OUT TO HIM ON A NEARBY ROOF, BUT I WAS WRONG. THEY SHOWED UP TODAY AND BEGAN ROOFING, WHILE I WAS AT WORK. THEY WERE 2/3 DONE, WHEN I RETURNED HOME TO DISCOVER THIS WAS IN FACT NOT THE SHINGLE I WANTED. AFTER TALKING TO THE SALESMAN, HE STATED I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE SHINGLES THAT WERE INSTALLED AND FOR THE LABOR USED TO INSTALL AND TO UNINSTALL, IF I CHOSE TO GO WITH THE SHINGLES I WANTED, COSTING AN ADDITIONAL $3000.00. I ELECTED TO GO WITH THE SHINGLES THAT HE HAD INSTALLED BECAUSE I FELT STUCK. I JUST WANTED TO WARN OF RESIDENTS ABOUT THIS COMPANY BECAUSE I FELT THEY ARE DECEIVING PEOPLE SUCH AS MYSELF, DUE TO MY IGNORANCE.
05/22/08 I have been having trouble with several dogs in the neighborhood. Walking my dog around the block is no longer an option because of the dogs that approach us, often aggressively. Now, I can't even take my dog outside without a dog approaching us in my yard. As a pet owner, I know that we would all like to believe that our pets wouldn't hurt a fly, but it's hard to say what they do if the owner is no where to be found. Regardless, no dog has injured mine yet, but they have scared him out of our yard and into the house which results in more accidents because he can't do his business outside. All I am asking is that if you are going to let your dog run outside without a leash, please be close enough to it where it can be watched. It seems that something needs to be done if I have a dog that I can't let run in my own yard.
02/28/08 I have two bits of information that I would like to put out there.

The first is I would like to know if anyone is interested in a neighborhood garage sale. It was very successful in the past and I would love to participate / Coordinate this in the future.

The second is that I have recently had trouble with my dryer. It blew a thermal fuse about a month or so ago. I had that replaced and had noticed that it was taking longer and longer to dry my clothes, and at least an hour and a half for towels. We tried cleaning out the lint catcher and the piping leading into the wall. When my husband checked the tubing that leads from the attic to the roof, he was astounded at the massive clogs of lint in the tube. We discovered thru talking to other neighbors, that even if your laundry room is located on an outside wall (which mine is not) your dryer is vented thru the roof. This is not only poor construction and planning, but it is dangerous. When this tubing gets clogged it can cause damage to your dryer and even result in fire. I suggest to all the residents of Richmond and beyond to check this out. It cost us about $10.00 and 30 minutes of our time to replace this part. As soon as we did the dryer worked better than new.

Thanks ,

Kelly Carter
Kellycarter123@aol.com
11/20/07

Updated on front entrance road progress.

According to Councilman McCoy, the road crew should be back next week to finish the entrance and to also resurface Melrose.
11/16/07 The resurfacing and the addition of a right turning lane of Melrose will begin soon please be patient with the construction as this project will hopefully improve the traffic flow out of or neighborhood. I want to take the time to thank Councilman Jimmy Mc Coy for his help in this project.

Your President Ralph Breaux
10/30/07

The message board at the front of the neighborhood was destroyed and we are looking to replace it. Also, we have notified Demco of the problem with the light at the front entrance. We have a work order placed with them to get it fixed.

Have a Happy and Safe Halloween!
08/21/07 I just watched the clip on WAFB of the council meeting, and I just wanted to give a big THANK YOU to Reid Hobdy for standing up for Richmond home owners along with many other citizens and for saying what we were all thinking! You said what needed to be said with tact and dignity as Buddy Mincey showed his true colors and lack of professionalism.
Thanks, Reid. . . Way to go!!!!
08/20/07 Way to go Reid Hobdy! You did an excellent job at the council meeting that was aired on WAFB. It is good to see a fellow citizen speak truth(and manners} to power. So now our residents can have their culverts put in at cost. Lets see how long this will take and see if they will do it for Richmond residents! To see the clip of Reid Hobdy, go to http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?s=6917276
08/06/07 My husband and I rescued a puppy and are trying to find her a good home! She looks like a 4 month old black lab. She has a very sweet face and is very loving. We would love to find her a great home with a family that would love her.
You can contact us at AndieMiller07@yahoo.com. Thanks!
06/27/07 My husband and I just returned from our honeymoon in Jamaica where we purchased a soccer ball for our nephew. On Saturday, the soccer ball was taken. My husband had his vehicle pulled right up to the garage and the soccer ball was on the front bumper. It was midafternoon and we were inside our house when this ball was taken. The soccer ball is green and it says "Jamaica" on it. If anyone has seen it, we would appreciate you letting us know. This may sound petty, but this was our souvenir to our nephew who was promised a soccer ball...so it's a big deal to us. Hopefully, it was taken accidently by a young one!
06/04/07

For those of you who have been interested in wanting your front ditches filled they are mailing out the bids this week to each person who wants this done. You will have to sign it and return it to him.

Thanks,
Diane Ballard RPHA Secretary
05/23/07

Hello! My name is Deborah Kirkland, and I have volunteered to run for Vice President of the Richmond Place Homeowner's Association.

I moved to Richmond Place from Baton Rouge in July of 2003, and this July will make 4 years for me here at Richmond Place. I have watched the completion of our neighborhood through many days of dusty windows and construction hindered roadways. I observed as new homes were bought and sold, and families moved in eager to start their lives here at Richmond Place. Many gorgeous lawns have since been developed, and relaxing common areas have been provided at both lakes. Our main entrance from Hwy. 1019 has continuously improved setting a desirable family atmosphere for all those who pass by.

Because I am aware of the need for enthusiastic and well intended homeowners to serve on the association board who have the general good of the entire neighborhood at heart, I decided to participate in the board election process. I want to be active in ensuring a safe and constantly improving neighborhood. I want to participate in the coordination of government and homeowner interaction, with my most sincere interest being on the side of the homeowner. While we may not all agree on everything, I do think we all agree that we want to live in a neighborhood that is safe, attractive, functional and relaxing.

My qualifications for running for this position include my current employment as a legal assistant with the oldest law firm in Baton Rouge, and my current elected position as President of River City Legal Professionals, Inc. for the 2nd year running in addition to holding the position of Treasurer two years prior. Through my involvement with RCLP I have gained experience working with a membership of over 80, a very legal savvy board of directors, numerous group chairmen, monthly speakers, annual scholarship funding, fundraisers, and charity events.

Thank you for your time, and I appreciate your support.

05/22/07

Thought it may or may not be late for discussing this topic. I believe that no one board member should be able to take up more than one position. As of now, you have Ralph Breaux acting as President, head of Architectural Committee, and head of Landscaping Committee. I believe this is entirely too much for one individual to hold. The reason for the board members to have to hold onto more than one position is because no one has volunteered.

I would like to suggest that others voice their opinions on this matter.
05/14/07

Regarding Nutria problems:

The trappers name is Robert Hancock and his # is 664-4215 the main # for the dep of agriculture is 925-3962 or 800-558-9741. 
05/08/07

I have learned in the past week that the illeged cleaning salesman told some people his company was in Georgia and me that it was in California. He had a pamphlet for some people and he told me he had didn't have anything when I asked for info about the product. He told me that two of my neighbors had purchased the product when I later found out that they didn't give him the time of day. He told some neighbors of mine that there was no website and he told me that there was one, but he wouldn't give it to me unless I purchased the product. Now, apparently, he does have a cleaning product that works according to some of the comments. But why all of the lies? Why such a concern with people's vehicles? I realize that he is a salesman and he was pushing a product, but obviously, a lot of people picked up on some bad vibes. I just would like to know if anyone has seen him recently.

I'm very thankful that we have the website where neighbors can share important concerns such as this!

05/04/07 This is in response to the comments about the strange salesman in the neighborhood. He came to my house on Friday. I live on Chapel Hill. He did seem a little odd, but I let him demonstrate his product and it worked. So, I bought some....he was on foot so he called his delivery guy ( the one in the dark colored SUV) and he returned within 10 minutes with the product and a pamphlet about the product. The product does work so maybe this will ease some of your minds about the situation, because everyone seems a little paranoid. Hope this helps.
05/03/07

Hi, I would ask that you please post the following in case someone picked the item up by mistake.

Last Thursday night or Friday morning, someone picked up my child's green turtle sand box from our driveway. Maybe someone was confused and believed we were setting out for trash pickup but we were not. Please return if picked up by mistake. Kim

05/03/07

In response to the comments about the suspicious man in the neighborhood.
On Monday, I was coming in from checking my mail. When the young man approximately 5'11",thin w/short brown hair and a mustache appearing to be 25-30 years old along with a scraggly looking woman came walking out of my neighbors garage. They approached me. There was no car or suv in sight. The only thing this man had was one flyer advertising his so called product "sunsational". I quickly let the man know that I wasn't interested, I took notice to the fact that he turned around specifically to look into my garage. I am not sure if in the process he managed to take notice of the video surveilance cameras mounted outside of the garage.

I later found out that he had not been speaking to my neighbor and that my neighbor did not know that these people had entered his garage.

At this time, I would like to offer some advice. My husband used to work for an alarm company. It is possible to get an alarm contact placed on the garage doors. It is likely that the reason this man is so interested in the contents of our garage's is because in most cases the garage door does not have a contact and will generally not trigger the alarm.

As I said previously, we have video cameras on our house which are hooked to a dvr system & record 24 hours a day. Supprisingly, this is not as expensive as one might think. If anyone would like any further info. on this set up, please feel free to contact my husband @ 279-1353.

Last thing is that obviously these people have been researching our neighbors, hence the knowledge of names and vehicles. It is highly possible that they are also reading our website. Lets continue to keep each other informed & let these people know that one way or the other they will not get away with whatever it is they are planning to do.

05/03/07 I live on Chapel Hill and the same dark skinned, dark haired young man scared me too, knocking at my door last Friday. I normally do not answer the door if I don't know who it is, but I was expecting a realtor to come by and I assumed that it was him. He was not in a vehicle, he was on foot and tried to coax me away from my front door to see how his cleaning product worked. I told him I was not stepping away from my front door, but that he could show me right there what he had to sell. He handed me a flyer and apologized that it was his first day on the job. He pulled out a white rag and wrote on it with an ink pen and showed me how it did in fact clean. I told him I was moving and said to leave me the flyer in case I would like to purchase from him later. He told me that he couldn't leave me the info. Unless I purchased from him. There was no website, either, which I thought was very strange now days. The strangest thing was that he said if I purchased it from him that he would deliver in within 2 hours and I didn't have to pay til then...later that day I sat back and realized how dangerous that event could have been! Very Scary !
05/03/07 Hey, i wanted to post something about the strange cleaning guy: Last friday this guy did come to our house. My husband was home at the time and thank goodness he didnt allow anyone to come in our house. He said that this guy was on foot and was also accompanied with a female. The guy said his company was based out of georgia, but we were not able to locate anything either.
05/03/07

He came by our house last Friday. When I heard the knock on my garage door, one of the neighborhood kids was at the edge of my garage asking to see my son, and he was standing beside him. When I first glanced at him I didn't pay attention to him, I didn't know if he was a relative of the kid who was there, so I ignored him at first until he spoke up and said he was not with that kid, but wanted to speak to me about a product he was selling.

I said ok, but stood in my half open doorway while he talked. He didn't have a car anywhere that I could see, but he did have a squirt bottle of his product in hand, a rag, and a paper brochure, and he did come up to the door to talk to me. He really wasn't pushy with me at all, just gave me the quick run down on the product, asked if I wanted a demo when I mentioned the only issue we had was ink on leather, but as soon as I told him no I wouldn't dare let anyone in my extremely messy house right now he just said ok - didn't push at all, and pretty much left then. He didn't seem irritated, just sort of doing his job. My son and his friend were also standing in the driveway during the conversation though. He did ask me about our new vehicle in our garage, but it didn't surprise me because we get a lot of comments on it since it's unique. And a couple hours later when I was driving out of the nieghborhood I saw him crossing the street to a house on Melrose, and he waved at me, so he was really making his rounds because we live on Wilmington.

We have so many door to door solicitors here that I really thought nothing about it. Although reading the contradictory statements other people were told does concern me.

05/03/07 My father actually fell for this scam. He bought the cleaning solution which was $70. I told him that he shouldn't have let the man in. Now I am scared, since reading everyone elses complaints, that this man will come back to my house. Also another comment I have regarding a previous post about a neighborhood park for the kids would be a fantastic idea. There is enough room in the front of the subdivision to put it. I would love to see this idea taken into consideration b/c it would help keep our kids off of the streets as much as they are now. Great Idea!
05/02/07

I have a couple of comments.

I also had the mysterious man knock on my door. I did not let him in, but he did ask alot of questions regarding my house and what I had in my garage. We did not buy any of his product, but we did get his phone number.

Also, I would like to make a suggestion after riding through Live Oak Landing Subdivision. They have a park for the children. i think that would be a great idea to bring up at the next HOA meeting.

I would like to suggest also to our fellow homeowners, if you have a compliant with your neighbors, please talk to them first and foremost. The homeowner should take into account for your feelings and suggestions.
05/02/07 The young man I encountered was in a dark colored SUV (maybe an old explorer) and was carrying a rag in his hand to use in his cleaning demonstrations. After talking with a neighbor whom the salesman claimed he had sold his product to, I realized that this guy was not telling me the truth. He told a neighbor that there was no website for his product and told me that there was one which was used for reorders. Please, if someone sees this man in his vehicle, try to get the license plate number...just in case. This guy is trouble and I wish we could do something...I wish we could get him out of our neighborhood. From talking to other neighbors, he has been walking the neighborhood since last Friday!
05/02/07

NOMINATIONS FOR BOARD MEMBERS: We need anyone out their that's interested in being on the board to please email me at richmondhoa@gmail.com or call me at my home at 664-8083. We definitely have the Treasurer and Vice President position open. Reid and Nathan have to step down because of new bundles of joy that is coming into their lives. Ralph, President and myself, Secretary are continuing to stay on the board in our present positions, however anyone can nominate themselves for those positions as well. We need names so that we can mail out our next newsletter with a ballot so that everyone can vote for someone on the list and mail it back to us so that we will have it in enough time for our RPHA Homeowners meeting that will be coming up in June. You can nominate yourself or a neighbor but I can't stress enough how important we need board members so please send me your nominations by no later than May 16th.

Thank You, Diane Ballard Secretary
05/01/07 I live on Chapel Hill and I had a similiar experience with the guy the other day. I will usually talk with anyone who comes to my door to try to sell a product, not because I'm really intrested in buying it, but I know their just trying to do a job so I try to be nice. For some reason the boy just spooked me when I opened the door. He kept trying to come inside to show me how the product worked on my carpet, but I wouldn't move out from in front of the door. I told him that before I let him spray anything in my house I wanted to know what was in the product because my 1 1/2 year old has allergies. He just got pushier and pushier finally I told him that we were replacing the carpet in a few days so I didn't really care if it cleaned it. But I asked him If I looked it up online would it tell me what was in the product and he told me that they didn't have a website. When I asked him if I could keep the pamphlet and talk it over with my husband and call him back if we were intrested he told me that they didn't have pamphlets to give out and that the one he had on him was the only one he had. He was on foot that day so I didn't see a vehicle. After he left I told myself that I was just imagining something that wasn't there, but now I'm glad I followed my instinct and blocked his way into my house. Thanks for sharing your experience with everyone, I'm glad we have this website so we can keep each other informed when something just doesn't seem right around here.
05/01/07 My son also noticed a suspicious individual yesterday in our neighborhood, and I wonder if it is the same person. The guy yesterday got out of a dark blue or dark green SUV type vehicle, but there were two other men who remained inside. The man who got out of the vehicle had some rags and he just walked up and down Raleigh just kind of looking around like he was deciding which way to go, or which house he wanted to approach. Very suspicious and rather nervous acting. He did not approach any of the housed in our immediate area that my son could see so we don't know where he went from there. I wonder if it was the same guy?
04/30/07 BEWARE:
Today, a young man( between 25-30 )was going door to door selling a cleaning product and I got the impression that he was up to no good. He seemed to talk his way into my house before I knew it, and once he was inside, he appeared to be scoping everything out, even touching things as he made his way into my kitchen. He named several of my neighbors, stating that they had purchased his product and he recalled the types of cars that they drive in our conversation. He didn't have the product on him which made me suspicous and he claimed his delivery truck would be by later. So, I told him I would think about it. He did return later claiming he had the product in his car (not delivery truck). His first trip, he mentioned a website and 800 number that he would give me after I purchased the product. When I asked for the website, when he returned, he claimed it was for reorders only and would not give me any information since I was not purchasing the product. I searched the web for his product, SUNSATIONAL CLEANING SOLUTION, and found nothing. When I told him my final answer was no, he seemed frustrated and sped out of the driveway. His last visit made me feel uneasy, as if he would return. Right now, I want to warn my neighbors to beware of this very potential scam or even worse! I would like to know if anyone else had an odd experience with this young man or if anyone had a pleasant one (if perhaps, he is not scamming and they got a nice product). I hate to assume the worst, but something in his visits made me lock the doors and set the alarm immediately!
04/24/07 Just wanted to let everyone know that the guy we've been talking too about putting in culverts at a discounted rate if a group of us was interested should be out over the next two weeks getting measurements and then calling people on the list.

Thanks,
Diane Ballard
RPHA Secretary
4/17/07 Regarding the advance notice that RC is a restricted subdivision, I would disagree. Myself and several of my neighbors found out that RC is and has been a restricted subdivision AFTER the sale had taken place. This was three years ago and as a first time home buyer and working full time while taking time off work to meet and sign paperwork, I asked many many questions. One question I asked three times regarded whether or not the subdivision had a H.O.A. I was flatly told no on two occasions an "not sure" on the first. I looked through all of my paperwork where I purchased the house and saw within it no notice or statement that it was in fact restricted. My real estate agent never gave me any information or indication that this was a restricted neighborhood. My first introduction to the rules was when I received my first bill for dues, and I was not at all happy. I found out many, many things when I attended my first H.O.A. meeting, that I was not told by my Real Estate agent, and got my first look at the restricted covenant at that time. Even though I was not happy at the time and now have all the information about the restrictions I abide by them and I think it would be a very good idea for the association to put up the sign at the front entrance stating Restricted Area that way for anyone coming to look at homes available in our neighborhood they will notice it and know we are restricted.
04/10/07

In response to the problem with the birds nesting above your door. I have seen people place rubber snakes and plastic owls near the nesting areas of birds to get them to leave. Both snakes and owls are natural predators of birds and they seem to do the trick most of the time. Hopefully it works for you.

We actually have some birds nesting on the top of our columns, but other than make a small mess occasionally, they aren't as big a nuisance as being above the front door would be.

04/10/07 I understand how some people do not like some of the bylaws and restrictions and how sometimes they are inconvenient but at the same time those two things are why my family moved into a restricted neighborhood. I see violations in the neighborhood constantly. This is a restricted neighborhood, always has been, everyone who bought a house in here should have known that when they moved in and by purchasing the house and moving in agreed top abide by those restrictions. Everyone here has guests and parties and such but not everyone here see's the need to park in the yard. I love to fish as much or more than anyone but you will not ever see my boat from the road unless I am pulling it out on a trip. Please neighbors understand that these bylaws are meant to keep our neighborhood a pleasant beautiful place for us to live. If we make exceptions to the rules they will be steadily pushed and pushed until one day we come home and none of the rules are enforced, and this nice neighborhood will be allot less appealing to all of us.
04/10/07 I was wondering if anyone else was having a problem with birds building nestabove their front door.  It seems I have the same little family of birds who keep comming back and rebuilding their nest right above my front door.  Due to all the mess I can't even go in and out of my front door. It's not only the mess they leave, but they are destroying the paint on my house. I had everthing pressure washed about a month ago, the nest was completely removed.  Well, they are rebuilding it again.  Can anyone offer help on how to get rid of the birds, the nest and the mess?  I'm desperate!!!  Thanks!
03/24/07 Hello Everyone,

Reid here, just giving everybody a heads up on neighborhood stuff. Remember, dues are to be paid by March 31st. If you don't have a statement, let me know. The rest of the palm trees should be in hopefully by next week and the cypress trees are being moved to other areas in the neighborhood to areas that will be better for their development. We have been getting lots of feedback since the last newsletter in response to making some new restrictions for everyone to vote on. Let me know if you have any ideas for restrictions that you would like to be considered for a vote.

Notice: Effective immediately, we need a volunteer to do Yard of the Month. I am having to hand this off right away because my wife and I are expecting our first child in July. . If you are interested in volunteering please let me know. The Yard of the Month volunteer will get the emails and select from the list of nominees. They will present the sign, get their info. and take the picture, and update the message board at the front entrance. They will email the picture to Kevin Hood with Webovation Studios to post on the Richmond Website.

Notice: As of the June meeting (date and time to be announced) myself (V.P.) and Nathan Reynerson (Treasurer) will not be running for our positions on the board. I urge anyone who cares about the neighborhood to either nominate yourself, or nominate someone you know and trust. It has been a pleasure working with everyone and I am grateful for the overwhelming support that I received when developing the website. As of now I am starting the transition of transferring the Website Duties, including emails for posting on the site, to the Secretary, Diane Ballard. Anyone can still contact me if you need me, but you will notice that her email will be put on the site instead of mine.

We do need volunteers in any capacity so if you are willing let us know. Thanks again, Reid
3/24/07 I want to make a suggestion. I would like to see all of the same street signs, and stop signs. Some subdivisions have them surrounded by wood, or we could match the street signs. This looks very pleasing to visitors and homeowners. I also think that we should not do the boulders. I do not like the chains, though. I agree with the previous comment about the wooden picket fence. That would look very nice!
03/20/07 I saw the vote for replacing the poles and chains with boulders and I would like to add a suggestion:  What about planting some bushes close to the road, filling in the area between the trees? Or replacing the poles and chains with thick wooden posts linked together by a thick rope like what you would see at a recreational park...I know that this is basically the same thing, but I think that this is more aesthetically pleasing and would serve the same purpose. This was just a suggestion since some people have concerns about the potential hazards that boulders could cause. Just trying to find a solution that the neighborhood could agree on.
03/15/07 I have received the newsletter and have some concerns about the proposed amendments. I would like to see a list of proposed items the increased dues would be spent on. I think we should all be able to vote on what the future money is to be spent on also. I tried to look at the Treasury report online, but the information is not available at this time. I love the new signs that will be posted in the front entrance stating we are a restricted subdivision. I have heard over and over how many of the new homeowners had no idea there was an HOA for Richmond. Another proposed amendment is parking in our yards. During Spring and Summer, my truck is parked in my yard due to landscaping. During get together’s at my house, cars are parked in my yard. Never does a vehicle stay in my yard over 24 hours. I don’t want to be told I cannot park on occasion in my own yard. My guests prefer to park in my yard on occasion over parking on the street. We all know about the speeding problem in the neighborhood and parking on the street increases the chance of someone’s car getting hit and just generally blocking or hindering the traffic flow. I have a corner lot, so there is more yard space and I have more driveway space than many of the homes. The majority of the homes on Melrose have no choice if they have guests over. I also don’t think the HOA should have to police who is parked in the yards. As for changing the chains to boulders at the front entrance, I feel a vote on this issue should resolve it. I would like to know if the proposed increase in fees is to partially cover the expense of the boulders, as they are not cheap. We need to enforce the majority of the current restrictions before adding to the list of enforcements that are being ignored.
3/14/07 Instead of redoing the front of the neighborhood again how about purchasing poles for our stop signs and street signs that match our street lamps? I know this could be pricy but we could do it in stages. Just a thought.
3/14/07 I personally do not think the dues should be raised from $60 to $85. The money is not being spent on anything except the front entrance. If we continue to spend money on the same thing over and over I don't think we should supply more money. Before anybody votes on the dues issue, I believe we should be able to see what the dues are being spent on. The treasurer report is yet to be published on the website. I also do not agree with taking down the chains and the posts to put in boulders. The boulders at a cost of $100 a piece would be a very expensive project. On top of that what is to keep the next board that gets voted in from saying they don't like the boulders and wanting to change them again. I just believe that there are other projects in this subdivision that the money could be spent on other than continuing to redo the front entrance. On top of that, I worry what would happen if a teenager driver accidentally took that corner too fast and slammed into those boulders. The chains and the posts can be replaced, but the boulders could seriously injure a driver. I also think we should vote on rewriting the by-laws. Right now, the board has the right to buy anything they see fit. Why not rewrite them and put a dollar amount on it. Any project over $500 or so would have to be voted on by the association. The board should know what projects they want to do for the year in a reasonable amount of time. Then have a homeowners meeting and vote on all the projects at one time. I apprectiate the time and effort that the board spends away from their families, but I just think some of the issues need to be thought about. Thank you for allowing me to express my opinion.
3/13/07 I live on Wilmington not on the lake side and last week 2 ducks came into my garage. I am not sure where they went after that.
3/7/07 Does anyone know what has happened to the white ducks that used to be on the back lake?
3/2/07 A message from: Reid (V.P. RPHA)

We are up to about 35 names on the Ditch Quote Estimates. That is a great start. We are looking to give the contractor the list around March 15th. We want to allow the March Newsletter to get out and give everyone a chance to get their information in. We realize that not everyone has internet capabilities. Thank you all for being so supportive of what we are trying to do. Remember, the Association is not handling this project, we are just simply gathering interested homeowners and sending to the contractor. Each homeowner is responsible for anything the contractor needs, such as a permit. The Association is not paying for any portion of this project, nor will we have any financial gain from the project. This is simply to help homeowners get a group discount. Thanks again, Reid
2/28/07 I agree that the surveillance cameras will be a waste of money.. The main concern here is that we need to SLOW people down for everyone's safety. I really think we need to rethink the speed bumps...people ARE NOT going to speed if they have to go over them. This would solve the speeding problem at a much lower cost than the cameras. I also agree that something needs to be done to enforce the restrictions..There are several violations of the restrictions that need to be addressed. You know it seem as though everyone wants a solution but no one wants to compromise on a solution.
2/25/07 In regards to the non-functional surveillance cameras..I don't think that's a good idea either. Reason being that I feel that most of our vandalism is done by a handful of people that might be from our area.so they would know that the cameras are fake. I think that would be a waste of our money. Our money needs to be better put to use as far as bringing some of these residents to court that aren't following restrictions. That's what I pay my dues for..to help keep up the value of our homes and make it look nicer. Right now the neighborhood needs lots of help in the restriction area.
2/22/07 I think as a compromise for the video cameras it may be a good idea to install non-functional cameras with working lights at the entrance and other places in the neighborhood. We can put up signs by the cameras saying the neighborhood is under 24 hour video surveillance, getting the results we want, but without jeporadizing anyone's privacy. Also this would be considerably cheaper than paying for monthly monitoring fees, etc. Many businesses use this same practice.. it's similar to putting up signs in your yard or stickers on your window saying that you have an alarm system, even though you don't. Often just the thought of being caught on tape will deter criminals from taking the risk and may cause drivers to slow down as well. Just a thought...Please respond with your comments on this suggestion.
2/22/07 I do not think it's a good idea to have surveillance cameras installed in the neighborhood and have it displayed on the internet. Anyone would be able to tell when you leave and return home. I don't want to send out an open invitation for someone to break into my house.
2/21/07 This morning (2-20-2007) I witnessed a vehicle driving well above the posted speed limit past my house (I live on Melrose).  As they approached the stop sign, the driver didn't even tap the brakes, he just blasted through the stop sign.  I know the brake light work, because they finally slowed down to navigate the curve at the end of the neighborhood.  This is the kind of driving that will eventually end up with someone getting hurt, or killed.  If we want to spend money on a video surveillance system, lets post it at the stop sign on Melrose.  It may not be admissible in a court of law, but at least we as a neighborhood can see who is running stop signs, since it will be webcast on the website.  Please understand when me or my neighbors motion for you to slow down, it is because we our concerned about our children's safety.  Thank you.
2/20/07 I'dlike to say I think the surveillance cameras are a great idea & perhaps they will deter crime in the neighborhood.
2/20/07 Just wanted to make a point about the boulders.  The reason the pipes and chains were put up in the first place was to stop people from pulling off the road to talk on their cell phones.  Since they have been up I haven't seen ONE person stopped along there.  I am a little worried that if they are removed the same thing will happen again, not to mention the money spent on sod to beautify the front entrance.  I hope this sheds a little light on the subject.  Have a great day!
2/20/07 Concerning the camera/surveiilance footage...Fresno California has these cameras at major intersections. The city removed them last year because after four years of operation, and being over two million dollars over budget, they were a complete failure. How many banks and liquor stores are robbed, and we see clear video of the person robbing them on the nightly news? Video surveillance, espcially if it only refreshes every few minutes, does nothing to prevent or deter crime. If it is only posted on the front entrance, then there is no coverage of the rest of the area. Then, when the contract comes to renewal next year and we dont like the price *Introductory prices are always much lower* what next? When LPSO patrols ran last summer, speeding and the number of ATVs on Chapel Hill dropped to almost nil. When school started again, and the LVSO pulled out, Chapel Hill turned back into a racetrack. LPSO presence WORKED while they were here.
2/20/07

Please be advised that there is some complaints of barking dogs in the neighborhood. There is a restriction regarding this matter as follows:

14. No animals, livestock, poultry, or birds of any kind shall be raised, bred or kept on any lot except that dogs, cats, or other ordinary household pets may be kept provided that they are not kept, bred or maintained for any commercial purposes and further provided that they are kept, bred or maintained otherwise in accordance with law. Homeowners must keep their and their neighbors property free from animal dung. All dogs NOT kept in a controlled area shall be kept on a leash in the rear of the lot. Each resident is entitled to relative peace and quiet thus dog owners shall control constant and/or nagging barking.

Thank you for your help,

A concerned resident.
2/19/07 If you are interested in getting a free quote for having your ditch filled, please reply with your name, address, and phone number so that I can get you on the list for the contractor.  He will be offering group discounts.  The Association is not picking up any of the cost.  We have simply tried to find a way for all of the residents to capitalize on a great way to come together and get something done that will improve our neighborhood as a whole.  Thanks, Reid
2/18/07 Does anyone know why the Richmond Subdivision can not be mapped on any online map service. I've tried finding my address in Google, MapQuest, Yahoo and my personal vehicles navigation system. My home is nearly 6 years old... I would have thought the address would have been added even before the home was completely built. I think it would be nice to be able to find our address online so that others could map their trip to our homes. I would like to hear your thoughts. Thank, William
2/17/06 Attention Richmond Place Residents:

We are getting close to having the contractor come out and give a free quote to anyone interested in having their ditch filled. He has requested that anyone who does decide to have the job done, the homeowner will get their own permit. I believe the permit is $10.00, but I am not certain. If you have already sent me an email requesting to be on the list, send it again because when I had my computer repaired, I may have lost the data. Thanks again, Reid
2/12/07 Hello Everyone, Reid here, V.P. RPHA.  Please be advised that Homeowners Dues for 2007 have been mailed out as of 2/1/07.  If you didn't receive your bill, please call me at 939-6849 and we will get you one.  We know that there are a few new homeowners that are not on the list and the mail forwarding took the bills to the previous homeowners.  Thanks for your help.  Reid
1/31/07 I don’t see much benefit for anybody other than those at the front of the subdivision regarding the surveillance camera. While it may deter people coming in at Melrose and Hwy. 1019 - and possibly discourage any problems with the homes in that area, it will not help those of us who live at the back part near Crestwood.
1/28/07 Resident, you raise a good point. Enforcing restrictions is a great way to improve the neighborhood, however, we do need some help in that area. Some residents do point out violations, while most don't. We, (the boardmembers) do not have enough time to specify every violation in the neighborhood, therefore, I would ask anyone who would like to volunteer to gather violations and send them to richmondhoa@gmail.com and they will be addressed as they come in. As for the price of filing judgments vs. the video surveillance, it is still within budget to do both. Thanks for writing in and I hope we do get some volunteers from this.
Reid , V.P. RPHA
1/28/07 I think we should concentrate on cleaning up the peoples properties by enforcing the restrictions a little more.
Not to much on all this surveillance stuff . The detailed police works fine when you pay them.
The money,s could be used elswhere like judgements - would be more profitable to the neighborhood.
1/27/07 Hi everyone, it Reid , V.P. RPHA. I wanted to try to clarify for you what we are looking at. Basically, just like DOTD cameras around the city, we could have our own. We are looking at a crime prevention method, that if the neighborhood would be in favor of, we could put a camera at the front entrance. We would have to post a sign that says that there is a camera, which would hopefully deter criminals from committing crime in the neighborhood. This camera could be posted live on the website, just to enhance the website, it would be still shots and update every so often. This video would be recorded to a hard drive digitally, and that is where the monitoring comes in. If there was a crime committed, like the stolen vehicle on Lynchburg in Crestwood subdivision, we could ask the service provider to pull that time frame and send it to the police.
1/27/07 This comment concerns the poll you are running about the possibility of hiring someone to do surveillance work for us at cost, plus monitoring. It sounds like good idea, but, have you checked into the legalities of doing this? Does this infringe on the rights of our privacy? What kind of monitoring are you talking about? Will this person or these persons be peaking over our privacy fences, through our windows? To what extent will this surveillance and monitoring be done? If we are talking about traffic violators, and potential crime, will this surveillance work & monitoring be allowed in court to prosecute the offenders? We are wasting our money on the police presence, in my opinion. Can you comment more on what this person or group will do for Richmond Place that obviously the Police isn't providing. A very concerned citizen
1/12/07 Please be advised that there has been a 3 foot long alligator in the lake behind Raleigh. Wildlife and Fisheries has been contacted. Thanks, Reid
12/13/06 Love the Christmas Light section on the website. Yall are doing a GREAT job. Thanks for all your TIME!!!

Cheri
11/10/06 Hi all, I just discovered a neat and free local website that is linked to the Livingston Parish Times where you can list all kinds of stuff for free, (things to sell, search for upcoming festivals and fairs, see who is having garage sales in the area, looking for an item to buy, etc.). Its really neat. Just thought I would share. go to www.livingstonparish.com
11/10/06 $100 REWARD OFFERED TO ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION REGARDING THE PROPERTY DESTRUCTION AT 35551 MELROSE AVENUE ON Tuesday NOV. 7TH BETWEEN 9:30-11PM. IT IS THE FIRST HOUSE ON THE LEFT (2 STORY). I AM HOPING IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THIS LARGE THAT SOMEONE SAW SOMETHING.

PLEASE E-MAIL DARLA @ DARLA.PITTMAN@LPSB.ORG
11/08/06 Good day guys! I live on Melrose Ave. I don't want to be the one that cried wolf...but want it to be brought to ya'll attantion that today @ 12:00 my home alarm went off....The police were sent and did not see anyone...but my back door was open....and I know that it was shut when I left this morning......If you could please bring it to everyones attention to please be on the look out just in case.....you never know these day....I can not explain how the door got open and most likley will never know....and it my be nothing other than the door not being latched right and the wind blow it open....but it does not hurt to have eyes watching.....Thanks Angie
11/08/06 I would like to vote “Yes” for the reduced speed limit. If you already obey the speed limit, it shouldn’t be a problem for you to continue obeying the new speed limit. Our children deserve to have a safe neighborhood to play in. They can’t ride their bikes or walk through people’s yards to get to their friends house so they have to use the street. That is their right and it should be safe for them to do so. It seems as though this continues to be a problem for everyone to agree on. If this can’t be resolved through the association, then maybe it needs to be resolved through a higher power.
11/06/06 I have found a contractor that will come out and measure your frontage to fill in the ditch. He will get the permit, pipe and culvert, and dirt work. His name is Dwayne Palmer, and is in the Watson area. If you are interested in an estimate, I need you to send me your contact information and I will forward it to him so that he can gather the information for the quote. This is a great way to get your ditch filled at a group discount. If you are interested in a quote, please email me at richmondhoa@gmail.comwith your name, and address and phone number. Thanks, Reid (Vice President RPHA)
10/30/06 I spoke with Livingston Parish Public Works (686-3030) today. They are no longer sending an engineer to place the pipe in the ditch and covering it at no cost. This was done in the past. They are not doing this service anymore.
You first need to obtain a "sub-surface drainage permit" in Livingston. The parish will dig the ditch to grade only and inspect the pipe / catch basins once you install them. You are responsible for filling it in.
I haven't gone so far as to contact our Councilman but this is what the office of public works told me.
Just a little information.
Thanks, Eric Rowzee
10/30/06 LAST CALL TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD GARAGE SALE DAY (scheduled for November 11th)!! :
If interested in participating and having your home on the map that all shoppers will receive, please e-mail yardgirl78@cox.net no later than Sunday, November 4th.....Its going to be huge, so far over 20 homes..... so why not join in, lets clean out our attics and garages!
10/30/06 There was a bicycle left at the front of the neighborhood. If you are the owner of this bicycle, please call 405-3345 and identify it so that it may be returned. Thanks, Ralph Breaux
10/27/06 Hi. My name is Chuck Bailey. My wife Lois and I live on Beauvoir and splitting the cost of the pipe and dirt, had the ditch between our houses filled in. We contacted the Livingston Public Works (686-3030) who sent an engineer out and advised us that they would place the pipe in the ditch and cover it at no cost to us except the cost of the pipe and the dirt. They set up the appointment after we located the pipe and the job was done with no problems. They have also come back and spread more dirt where rain had washed out. If you have any problem getting this done, you can contact Councilman Jimmie McCoy who was very helpful. I would suggest that if possible that you do this and add 6 to 12 more feet to your property and looks a lot better, and helps the value of the property. Happy days.
10/25/06 I wasn't sure where to post this, but I found a pair of eyeglasses on the road by the pond on the east side of the neighborhood near Crestwood. To claim, email Allyson at burt-n-ally@cox.net.
Would you please post this on the website? Thanks, Allyson.
10/25/06 I want to vote "No" to the speed limit change. I believe that if people want to speed, then they will. Just like anywhere else. If you want to stop the speeding, make the cop check speeds of cars.
10/19/06

A Word from our Councilman:

Reid I have been reading Richmonds web-site for several weeks now. It's nice to see concerned resident take the time to make there views know to everyone, I would like to invite anyone that has a concern that I could be of any help with to e-mail me at jimmiemccoy@yahoo.com or just call me on my cell phone at 225-573-8020. Thank you, Jimmie McCoy

10/19/06 I don't understand the reasoning. People do not obey the speed limit at 25 mph so we will reduce it to 15 mph and then they will.
10/19/06 I have two complaints. First is the speeding. It has got to stop! I would actually like to see the speed limit reduced to 15 if I had a say so in it. Some people go 30 or more. It is rediculous. Second complaint is the for sale signs in the front of the subdivision. PLEASE take them down now! It looks tacky and trashy. It makes the subdivision look bad. Also it takes away from the landscaping and beautiful sign that says Richmond, b/c it draws your attention and you can't help but to notice anything else. Thanks!!
10/18/06 I wanted to let everyone know to watch out for there yard decorations. Our Blow Up Pumpkin was Cut. In the middle of the night someone came in our yard and Cut the eyes out of the Pumpkin. I never thought things like that would happen in a kid friendly neighborhood. Just wanted to let everyone know to watch people at night.

Thanks

10/16/06 I wanted to respond to the person about a child needing to be hit before anything happens...you know, you're probably right.

There was an evening when we witnessed a driver speeding up our street and then hit a neighbor's dog. The dog bounced onto the hood, and the driver turned their head to see us all watching this, and then sped away without stopping. The dogs owner was in the yard and saw the whole thing, as were probably a dozen neighbors and young kids playing right there. The speeding is out of control, and we are not on a cut through street, we're on the far side of the neighborhood. Do I think lowering the speed limit will help? No. Because if someone will hit a dog in front of 15 people without bothering to slow down, I don't think a reduced speed limit will do it either.

10/13/06

I have a complaint about all of the real estate signs in the front of the neighborhood. I counted 11 signs total yesterday, including some non-real estate signs. I am worried about the impression these signs are giving off about our neighborhood. To anyone passing by or entering our neighborhood it looks like everyone is trying to leave. I know that is not the case, but I have never seen so many for sale signs at the entrance to a neighborhood, and I grew up in a neighborhood in Baton Rouge, which is much larger than ours and I'm sure they had plenty of houses for sale all the time.
My opinion is that real estate signs should be placed in the yard of the house for sale. Noone is going to buy a house simply because they see a sign at the entrance of a neighborhood and I think it's safe to assume that if someone is interested in buying a house in Richmond, they would take it upon themselves to drive around too see what's for sale. We have restrictions to keep our neighborhood looking nice and to remove eyesores from our yards, lots, etc, so why not at the first thing that anyone visiting our neighborhood sees? My wife was riding into our neighborhood with her mom yesterday and asked her what she thought of the signs and she said "2 things went through my mind right way: 1. It seems like everyone is trying to leave, so why would I want to move in here? 2. With all the restrictions in place for the residents, I'm shocked that the this is allowed at the main entrance." I enjoy this neighborhood, but worry about what a passer-by will think of it with their first and maybe only impression being the main entrance. I hope this is an issue that can be resolved before our neighborhood is flooded with guests for Halloween Trick or Treating.
10/12/06 I don’t see where lowering the speed limit will help either. Unfortunately, until we have adequate police patrol, or even worse, until a child is hit, we will continue to have problems with people speeding. This is a daily problem, and from what I have personally witnessed it appears mostly to be the same people every day. Because we have a “thruway” from Hwy 1019 to Hwy 1022, people will cut through and use our neighborhood as a shortcut. As homeowners we need to protect our investments and report people speeding so that we can all enjoy our neighborhood.
In addition, as responsible parents we need to make sure we watch our children and instruct them in the dangers of playing in or near the street. Some of our streets are so busy with children playing that you literally have to stop and wait for them to move their skateboard ramps, hockey goals, etc. just so you can get to your house. The streets are NOT a playground. It’s a shame we don’t have land within our subdivision that can be dedicated to the children as a recreational area.
10/12/06 1)Vote “No” for Speed Limit change:

In agreement with a previous post …….. A reduction in the speed limit is NOT a factor that will slow the speeders down. I do not like the speeding, but do not feel a reduction in our Speed limit is going to make any progress.

2) All drivers need to be EXTRA careful b/c there has been an increase in the number of kids who have been sitting at the edge of their driveways by the street.

10/5/06 Hi, just wanted to let everyone know that Saturday, October 21st there is going to be a big  CRAFT SHOW  at the Wanneteri Lakes center in Central during the Octoberfest festival. I will be selling my hand made pillow case dresses and my boutique hair bows at one of the booths in the show. If anyone is interested in more information on the craft show, e-mail me at  yardgirl78@cox.net or call me at #664-0630.  Your neighbor, Holly
10/2/06 I absolutely do not agree with reducing the speed limit to 20 miles per hour. Reducing the speed limit 5 miles per hour will not stop the speeding, only slow those of us down who drive the speed limit. Every neighborhood I have lived in has had issues with speeding and the only thing that works is writing more tickets to those who are speeding. Eventually most of the speeders will get a ticket and the majority will slow down.
10/2/06 It has been brought to our attention that there has been increased crime around the Live Oak High School area. Approx. 10 homes have been broken into according to police. Keep an eye out for anything or anyone unusual. This information was given to me from a concerned citizen who was trying to get the word out. Thanks, Reid (Vice Pres. RPHA)
10/1/06 I'm e-mailing you to let you know that my husband and I would both like to render a "NO" vote for the suggested changes mentioned in the newsletter. I've never been in a subdivision besides ours that is less than 30mph. If they speed when it's 25 what makes anyone think they'll slow down to 20. 20 mph is way too low. I know there are small children that may dart out on accident, but we as parents need to do our job to prevent that. The best thing that worked for me was having the cops patrolling randomly. This is going to be the best way to slow people down.
As for the Stop sign proposal at Chapel Hill and Houma's House our vote is also "NO".
There's no need for it. It's not going to slow people down if that's the plan becuase it's too far down Chapel Hill to make a difference. Please feel free to let me know if you have a better reason for those proposals. Thank you
10/1/06 Wow~~I love the new website! What a great change! Keep up the hard work board members you are all doing a fantastic job. Thanks for all the time you VOLUNTEER.
9/9/06 GARAGE SALE DAY AGAIN!! Hi neighbors. Everyone has been contacting me to see if we were going to have another Garage Sale Day in the fall. YES, definitely!! Last time we had over 35 homes participating and it was a huge success. Lets reach that goal again!! It will be scheduled for sometime from mid-October to mid- November. Now that it will be cooler, maybe we can all clean out our attics this time around. Everything will be the same as the event in June. I will handle all the advertising, entrance sign, making flyers to give out to everyone, e-mailing maps to all participators plotting all the participating homes on it, and organizing the event.

If you are interested in participating, please e-mail me at yardgirl78@cox.net so I can get the contact list started. Thanks, Holly Boze
9/6/06 Good evening.....Me and five other residents in Richmond are members of FPD4 (vol. fire dept) Our dept. here in Watson is strictly volunteer at night after 5pm and on the weekends. We respond to all medical calls, car accidents, and fires. I just want to thank all the people that move out of our way when we are trying to get to a call. (medical or fire) Every minute counts. We get called out at all times of the night and we just ask for your support. Thank you.
9/6/06 I have a gray female cat that made our home her home with our male cat. She has had 2 kittens and is pregnant again. If anyone is interested in free kittens and/or a female gray cat, please call my cell at 225-202-2560.
8/29/06 We have water lettuce in the lake (behind Wilmington). This plant is a nuisance weed, it depletes the oxygen levels and will kill your fish. Water lettuce can cover a lake in no time, go look, you can see it has taken over the north end of the lake this summer and it's QUICKLY moving south. This summer it has just exploded. We must get this sprayed. We'll lose our lake, eventually both lakes and all the fish in them. The herbicide is not cheap, so it is best to move now before we have the entire lake (or both lakes) to spray. This is very serious and should be addressed immediately to minimize the financial impact.
8/28/06 Is anyone else irritated that as soon as you get your kids asleep on a SUNDAY night, the Ice Cream Truck comes around at 8:30 pm?????? I find it kind of tacky that on a work / school night the driver would even consider making his rounds that late!
8/23/06 I too have a problem with the dogs that run free. The problem that I have is that when I'm outside trying to play with my kids in the yard, loose dogs will come up and scare my children. I don't think that it is right to let your animals roam free, and it is in the restrictions as well as required by law. Keep your animals on a leash or on your property.
8/22/06 Leash Law enforcement is for both the people & the animals.
The dog issue: I learned that the dog issue just does NOT go away.
What is the solution?
This week, one of my neighbors, was on the verge of getting attacked by a vicious dog in Richmond when another Richmond resident was able to distract the dog so that an escape could happen.
Perhaps this Richmond resident would have been by herself, what could have happened? PLEASE let’s work to prevent the “what if’s…” Also the roaming dogs really startle the little ones in strollers.
This was not an isolated issue… Then later that evening I heard that the Deputies have received several complaints regarding dogs roaming freely throughout the neighborhood. There are a handful of dogs throughout the neighborhood that will run after cars and chase them—one day something will happen to these dogs. I hate to see anything happen to these dogs. Protect your pets by keeping them in fenced yards or on leashes. So roaming dogs (big & small) can have bad temperaments and cause harm to your neighbors & on the other hand these roaming dogs can get hurt themselves.
No matter what the dog’s normal temperament, the dogs of all sizes have a natural instinct to protect so therefore dogs may view bikers, walkers, joggers as invading their turf .
8/14/2006 Does anyone in the neighborhood work for or know someone who can run a title search on a property? Please e-mail