Homeowner groups in Madison County join larger federation

By GREG SMITH
Sun Staff Writer
August 8, 2007

THE RECENTLY FORMED Federation of Madison County Homeowners Associations (FMCHA) is growing and they plan to address more than just unkempt front yards.

“As a group we hope to lobby and be involved in decisions that will impact us as a community,” said Lynette Hegwood, interim secretary for the FMCHA.

The federation was established in January and has been picking up steam since. In June, 10 homeowners associations joined the federation, now 14 homeowners associations are in the federation. They include: Annandale Estates, Audubon Woods, Bear Creek Crossing, Bridgewater, Carlton Parke, Cherry Hill Plantation, Countryside Plantation, Dinsmor, Harvey Crossing, Lake Caroline, Northbay, Sheffield, Twin Cedars and Whisper Lake.

All of the homeowners associations and others that wish to be part of the FMCHA must go through an application process.

“The federation is open to all of Madison including groups of homeowners and community and homeowners associations,” said interim president and Annandale resident, Melissa Dempsey.

Once granted membership, each individual association must appoint a delegate or delegates for their association. The number of delegates approved for each association which is a member of FMCHA, is dictated by the number of homes the association is responsible for and range from one to five delegates. Dues for the federation also vary dependent on the number of houses an association is associated with.

The delegate(s) for each association are essentially the voice of each different homeowners association in the FMCHA, the delegates vote on issues presented at meeting that will be overseen by a nine person board of directors.

“The permanent board of directors will be voted in, in August, at the federation’s first public meeting,” said Doug Jones, who helped organize the federation. “I live in Madison but I am not a member of the federation. But I hope that my community joins.”

ON THE FMCHA application it states that the purpose of the federation’s formation is to promote general welfare in Madison County while addressing quality of life issues and matters by utilizing an organized group of homeowners and community associations that form the FMCHA.

“I feel like it is a really good thing for Madison,” Hegwood said. “It’s not only a way to lobby but it’s also just to connect people in the community and even just to get to know them.”

The federation’s first public meeting, where they will elect their board, will be held August 28 at 6 p.m. at Chapel of the Cross.

“I would like to be a delegate, but would like to see someone with more time elected to the board,” Dempsey said. “I just see this doing great things and I want someone who can give it the attention it deserves.”