This is an updated version of the FAQ, updated June 16, 2025.
About the HOA Board
The Saddle Ridge Association Board is currently made up of six homeowners. The current composition of the board is on the SR Association page
Who is in charge of the management of the Association?
Since 2024, Urban Monarch handles the management aspects of the association.
Does that mean Urban Monarch is responsible for the neighborhood?
No, the neighborhood is responsible for the neighborhood. More specifically, the Board of Directors makes the decisions on what to handle.
What aspects does Urban Monarch handle?
As the acting management company, Urban Monarch does all billing, receiving, meter readings, acts as a liason with our contractors (lawn maintenance and snow plowing, general common area maintenance, water and sewer, road maintenance, etc.)
Communications
How can I contact the HOA board?
You can send an email to hoa@saddleridgerockford.com
Is email the only way to contact the Board members?
Right now, it is the preferred method. However, the Board has and will continue to look at other means of communication.
I’ve noticed that when people ask a question or post a complaint to Facebook, nobody on the board responds quickly. I wish I could get answers sooner.
We certainly live in an age of instant news and communication, and while board members may serve on the group page in administrative/moderator roles, the group page does not belong to the HOA. The board has decided that the Facebook group is not a preferred way of addressing issues, concerns, or questions. It is not reasonable to expect board member(s) to be continuously monitoring and/or replying to every post or comment on the Facebook group.
We may use the Facebook Group to disseminate some information, out of convenience, but as a rule this will be in addition to email newsletters that are more likely to reach all homeowners in the neighborhood. If you have not subscribed to the newsletter, you may subscribe here (and view past email newsletters also).
Dues and Other Expenses
Who determines the amount of our dues and utilities?
The association board fixes the annual budget, determines how much we will spend on each item, and sets the amount of annual dues and quarterly utility rates accordingly.
Why are my annual dues so high?
The annual dues are what the board feels is necessary to cover the expenses of the association for the year as well as bringing in enough money to build a reserve for replacements.
What type of expenses are involved with the association?
Each year at the annual meeting, the board presents it’s proposed budget for the coming year. That budget shows what the anticipated expenses are for the neighborhood. A few of the bigger expenses are for lawn mowing, snow plowing and road salt. Road salt is typically one of the higher expenses for the association due to the steep grades of some of the hills in the neighborhood. In years past, the board has attempted to keep costs down by reducing salt usage, however, some neighbors who have been stuck trying to get up hills or spinning out in the round-a-bout have led the board to provide that enough salt is being applied so that everyone can get in and out of the neighborhood.
What do you mean “reserve for replacement”?
A reserve for replacement is generally money set aside for repairs that are not annual expenses, but are usually more expensive. For instance, some time in the next few years we are hoping to have enough money set aside to be able to start repaving some of the older roads in the neighborhood. The roads have an approximate 15-20 year useful life before they need to be completely redone. It is very expensive to replace a road, and the board is looking to the future when we will need to spend a lot of money to begin replacing the roads. The board would rather ask for a reasonable amount each year instead of asking for a lot in one year.
Bylaws & Policies
The by-laws are a recorded document along with the Master deed. These two documents lay out such things as: The board of directors and elections, the authority to assess association dues and special assessments, use restrictions, etc. The By-laws of the Site Condominium also determine the number of Homeowners that are appointed to the Board based on how many lots Eastbrook has sold.
You mentioned use-restrictions. What do you mean use-restrictions?
Use-restrictions are kind of like the laws of the neighborhood or “rules of the association.” These are restrictions on what is allowed in the neighborhood.
What are some examples of what is not allowed in Saddle Ridge?
For example, our bylaws say that you cannot leave a boat or recreational vehicle in your driveway for a period of more than 72 hours, you cannot leave your trash bins outside of your garage, it is not permitted to discharge firearms within the subdivision, you cannot park on any street, and you cannot water your lawn between the hours of 5:00 am and 9:00 pm.
The HOA board has recognized through many complaints that not everyone adheres to these “rules of our association.” The Board has adopted a policy to notify homeowners of violations when they are brought to our attention.
What is the policy?
A first violation will result in a letter from the board notifying the homeowner of the violation and the requirement to resolve the violation. Repeated violations will be assessed a fine.
How do I report a by-law infraction?
For the time being, please report any infractions to the HOA via email.
But why can’t I water my lawn during certain times?
The water plant that serves the association, can only handle so much water at a time, early mornings see increased demand from the water plant as that is the times when most people are showering to get ready for the day. Those peak times are generally from 5:00 am to 10:00 am. The by-laws also limit the times of sprinkling as not to happen during the hottest parts of the day when a lot of water can be lost to evaporation.
I think some of the rules in the by-laws are unnecessary, can we change them?
The rules were adopted before the first house was built in the neighborhood. Everyone had a chance to know what they were buying into. The only way to change the rules is to amend the by-laws. Any amendment would require the consent of 2/3 of the property owners eligible to vote. The material changes also have to be approved by Algoma Township per the consent agreement.
Edgerton Trails Elementary School
On May 7 2019, voters within the Rockford school district passed two millages. Part of that millage is to build a new school on the property to the North of the entrance to Saddle Ridge. That school opened in the fall of 2024 as Edgerton Trails Elementary School.
Both the water plant and (former) sewer plant were initially designed to supply both the homes in Saddle Ridge and the elementary school. While the neighborhood no longer has a private sewer facility, the elementary school is tied in to our well and water supply.
Water & Sewer
What about PFAS?
Our water was tested for PFAS/PFOS in 2017 and the results were non-detect. This means that our water is safe to drink and use. Here are the brief and detailed reports from the 2017 testing, and the link to Algoma Township’s page for Wolverine Disposal Sites Information.
Shouldn’t we test the water yearly?
We have spoken with EGLE, and they feel that our first test is a very good indication that we are a non-detect. The plume is far enough away from our wells and moves very very slowly. They also feel that the plume is not even moving in our direction. Therefore, it is their opinion that we need not spend money on future testing.
Is water from the water hydrants available for use by homeowners or contractors?
Any resident or contractor who wants to use hydrant water must contact our management company first, and must pay the associated fees. Refer to the Contacts page for the contact information.
Is fluoride added to our water?
Fluoride is not added to our water. The only additive is a minimal amount of chlorine.
Annual Audit Vote
Every year I get a notice asking me to vote to waive an annual audit. Why?
Public Act 134 of 2013, effective January 2014, amended the Condominium Act of Michigan. Section 57, requires condominium associations with annual revenues over $20,000 to do one of two things: Either have an outside CPA perform a formal independent audit or formal independent review of our association’s year-end financial statements, or have a majority (greater than 50%) of the members of the association vote annually to opt out of the audit. The association board in the past has had one of the director’s review the financial statements. The association board feels this is better than spending upwards of $10,000 each year for an outside audit. If we were to elect the outside audit, that money would have to be paid for by the association. Therefore, if we had to pay for that it is estimated that our annual dues would have to be increased by an additional $50.
But an audit would protect us from the possibility of the management company pocketing some of our money right?
Not really. An audit would only look to check that our balance sheet actually balances. It would not find if there was actually any embezzlement.
Property Improvements & Maintenance, Including Common Areas
I want to make some alterations to my unit, maybe add a shed, increase the size of my deck, install a pool, etc. Who do I contact to get approval?
You need to contact the architectural committee. Please see the The current composition of the board is on the SR Association page for contact information or email hoa@saddleridgerockford.com.
My mailbox needs to either be replaced or stained. Who is responsible for my mailbox?
Your mailbox is your responsibility. The by-laws state that the original mailbox will be provided by the developer, any maintenance or replacement of the mailbox is the responsibility of the co-owner. If a mailbox or post needs to be replaced, it shall be of the same style, color, and quality of the original.
The color stain should be: Olympic – Cedar Tone – Semi-transparent
Replacing a single mailbox should use the Stanford Deluxe (as previously installed by the developer) or similar. While this style of box was used, do note that the box should be mounted to a round wooden post rather than the fluted aluminum post pictured. A newspaper box is not required.
The sidewalk in front of my home needs either maintenance or replacement. Who is responsible for the sidewalks in the neighborhood?
If the sidewalk is in front of your home, it is your responsibility for maintenance and replacement. If it is within the common area, it is the associations, responsibility.
Who can I contact about a street light that is out or not working properly?
You can contact Consumer Energy directly.
Other Miscellaneous Questions
Sometimes the power goes out for an extended period of time like after a strong thunderstorm or an ice storm. What’s up with that?
Even though all the electric wires in our neighborhood are under ground, we live in a rural area with lots of trees. If a tree goes down outside of our neighborhood, that might cut the feed to our neighborhood, and make it so some of us are with out power for a while. The good news is, our neighborhood seems to get restored relatively fast compared to others in the area.
What is a “Consent Agreement”?
It’s kind of a long story, but since you asked….A long time ago, Eastbrook Development company gained approval from the Algoma Township Planning Commission to develop the very land that your house resides on. Some of the residents in the surrounding area were not too keen on having a bunch of new homes coming to their area. Therefore when the public hearing was held prior to the vote from the Township Board, some people spoke that they did not want a neighborhood this size. The Township Board ultimately denied the development on a 3-2 vote. However, as happens with many denials, East Brook Development Company sued the township to be allowed to build our neighborhood. Algoma Township decided that they would stipulate with Eastbrook as opposed to defend the lawsuit, and both sides worked together to come to an agreeable consent agreement that would allow the development of the land, as long as it conformed to the agreement.
Sometimes I hear guns and have heard that bullets have hit houses in the neighborhood. Can the board do anything about that?
Our neighborhood is in a rural area surrounded by homes with acreage. There is also DNR public hunting land on the other side of the Rogue River. Although target practice is not allowed on the DNR, hunting is. Also, any neighbor can legally shoot their gun and target practice as long as they are 350 feet away from an occupied residence.
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