On Aug.1, Northern Meadows residents gathered at Ed Uhrich’s residence to discuss issues regarding the Northern Meadows Property Owners Association.
Multiple residents were in attendance, and most of the attendants have been in the area for more than 20 years.
Many residents wished to remain anonymous because they fear retaliation from the POA.
“Honor your contract, maintain the front yards like you are supposed to, that includes the gravel. Some of these houses have been here for over 25 years! Honor your contract … you can’t change the rules on convenience,” one anonymous resident said.
“My two neighbors needed to cut down some trees. They are elderly and they put tickets in to get those trees removed, and the association told them they were responsible for cutting down the trees. I had a saw so I cut them up,” another anonymous resident said. “A neighbor’s Yucca fell over; they left it for months. I got my chainsaw — and ruined my chainsaw — but I took care of it.”
This anonymous resident also said that his front yard has been flooding every night for a while and that there’s a hole causing the flooding. He has put tickets, called and talked to maintenance crews, but no one has come to fix it.
“My granddaughter was playing, and she fell in that hole. She could have easily broken her ankle, sprained her ankle,” the anonymous resident said.
Greg Pack, who is fighting (and fought) the Northern Meadows POA in court, started the discussion by informing his fellow neighbors of the court orders given to the POA.
Back in February 2022, Pack won a court case against the Northern Meadows POA by default judgment (read it here).
The meeting then consisted of airing grievances, injustices, incidents with the POA, court suits and taking action in the next Zoom meeting.
“I’d like for them to be more transparent; avoid Zoom meetings for one,” resident David Acuna said. “But now there’s no reason to have Zoom meetings. It prevents people from speaking up, and the person who has control can mute you.”
Acuna has lived in the neighborhood for 22 years and has seen a steep decline in maintenance service.
“I really admire this man [Pack], that he has stood up and put the time to raise hell about this because it’s way past time,” Acuna said.
Property manager Mark Fiedler, manages a number of homes in the Northern Meadows community, and like many people, front yard maintenance has been an issue.
“I read the article in the Observer, and I experienced some of the problems that were of concern. So, I am here to get more information,” Fiedler said. “I am not a member of the association — I have to work with them. On behalf of my clients, I would like to see better responsiveness; I’d like to see them doing what they have been hired to do.”
A follow-up private meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Aug. 8 at Uhrich’s residence, 720 Santa Fe Meadows Drive.
Those wanting to reach Uhrich can do so by emailing him at uhrichedward@hotmail.com.
RIO RANCHO Observer correspondent Daniel Zuniga wrote this piece for the Neighborhood Journal
