Welcome to Our Website!
Ever wondered why you have a homeowners association? Your association may be your best
tool to protect the value of your home and the quality of your neighborhood. Community associations
do any number of different things, such as setting and collecting the maintenance fees required and
needed to run an association, maintaining landscaping or recreation centers, and providing for events
or meeting places for neighborhood functions. One of the most important functions of an association
is to protect the value of the community assets - among those being
your home.
A Big Thanks to All
A big thanks to all homeowners, The Church at Brookhills, and Valleydale Church for the donations to the troops. Because of you, the committee was able to send 16 care packages to two different troops. Thanks again for supporting our soldiers!
New Entrance Signs to Meadowbrook
The new entrance markers for Meadowbrook have been installed and look great! The three markers are located at the main 280 entrance, the back entrance on Meadow Drive, and the third is located on Redfern Drive. A big thanks to Board member Frank May and Meadowbrook resident Mike Black for their hard work in planning, designing, and installing the markers.
What’s Worse Than Taxation Without Representation??
Earlier this year the City of Hoover enacted a tax increase on their 9-1-1 service. In doing so, the phone companies doing business in the area were notified of the change, either directly or through a company that manages the taxation function for smaller phone companies. Correctly, they identified that there are residents of the 35242 zip code residing in the City of Hoover and protected by the Hoover Fire Department. However, for some phone companies, either directly or through the company that administers this function, the new tax rate was applied to all residents of 35242 and the tax collected was remitted to the City of Hoover 9-1-1 District. It is important that consumers are taxed properly but it is even more important that the taxes collected be remitted to the 9-1-1 District providing the protection so they have the funding to provide adequate services.
Charter Communications was one of these small phone companies applying and remitting the tax improperly. They initially declined to make the change but after some discussions realized the mistake and have committed to correct their billing and remittance. This occurred in the last 30 days of this article (June 1, 2010) and should be reflected on the next billing.
As residents of Shelby County but not in the City of Hoover, we should check our phone bills and contact our phone companies until they are taxing and remitting properly. The proper rates for SHELBY COUNTY are: Business - $2.72/line and residential - $1.15/line. The HOOVER rates are: Business - $5.08/line and residential - $2.68/line. The number to call to report a problem should be located on your phone bill. If you encounter resistance to correcting the problem you can contact the Shelby County 9-1-1 District office at 205-439.6911 or the Public Service Commission.
Burning Leaves and Yard Debris
As you know, burning leaves and yard debris is a violation of the covenants and, during the summer and fall, also a violation of the law. Two Meadow Brook residents have a lawn business with a large trailer. They are available to haul your leaves and debris to the Shelby County dump. The charges would be for the dumping fee, gas and a small charge for their services.
Please call Andy at 451-6848 or Michael 837-8884 if you are interested.
Notice to Homeowners and Area Realtors
The Meadowbrook Homeowners Association asks for your cooperation when holding an Open House. In an effort to keep Meadowbrook beautiful, please observe the following guidelines:
- Directional real estate signs can only be posted for Open Houses. Directional signs that advertise a home for sale are not allowed.
- Directional signs for Open Houses may be placed in the neighborhood beginning at noon the Friday before the Open House and must be removed as soon as the Open House is over on Sunday.
- Please do not put balloons or any other "eye catching" items on the street signs. You may place such items on your directional signs.
- As a courtesy, please get the permission of the homeowner to place a directional sign in their yard.
**The MBHO reserves the right to take up any real estate and/or directional signs once the Open House is over on Sunday and signs that are not in compliance with covenants.
Our ZIP Code Determines Sales Taxes:
The following is from the U.S. Postal Service official ZIP code directory: If your ZIP code is 352xx, the postal service preferred city is Birmingham. It is not mandatory. As an example, our ZIP code is 35242, and Meadow Brook is our acceptable community name.
Many in the metro Birmingham area, while not residents of the city of Birmingham, mistakenly use Birmingham as their city name. This has resulted in loss of tax dollars for our county and puts your money in the pockets of the city of Birmingham.
If we order an item via the Internet on which sales tax is collected, and it is shipped to my address in Meadow Brook, the 5% sales tax goes to Shelby County, not Birmingham with its higher tax rate.
All residents in the metro area with 35242 in their ZIP code who do not live in the city of Birmingham should ensure their community name is correct in their address.
