Autumn Lakes
Recent News
and
Upcoming Events
Recent News
and
Upcoming Events
January Association Meeting on Zoom
The Autumn Lakes Association Meeting on Wednesday 1/19/22 will be on Zoom at 7 pm.
It will be open to residents who want to 'attend' and have the Zoom app on their computer or phone.
You will also need a microphone on your computer to communicate during the meeting.
Click on this link to join the meeting at 7 pm.
Join our Zoom Meeting
We plan to keep residents muted during the committee and trustee reports.
You will be able to ask questions during the Open for Residents part of the meeting.
The Autumn Lakes Association Meeting on Wednesday 1/19/22 will be on Zoom at 7 pm.
It will be open to residents who want to 'attend' and have the Zoom app on their computer or phone.
You will also need a microphone on your computer to communicate during the meeting.
Click on this link to join the meeting at 7 pm.
Join our Zoom Meeting
We plan to keep residents muted during the committee and trustee reports.
You will be able to ask questions during the Open for Residents part of the meeting.
Change of Management Company
Beginning on January 1, 2022, the management of Autumn Lakes will move from Association Management Company (AMC) to Smith Management Group (SMG). A letter from the Board was sent out in November to highlight why the change is being made and how this new approach will best serve Autumn Lakes. Residents will soon receive a letter from SMG introducing some of the changes in communication as well as where to send Association fees for 2022.
Some of the changes this brings include online tracking of work orders for all residents, moving the maintenance of the lakes, pool and landscaping to licensed professional vendors. The board also took a look at the current work order system to determine how the current groundsmen are spending their time and to evaluate the need to have two full time workers. With the structure of the new management company’s maintenance program, it was determined that Autumn Lakes would move to a part-time worker on property three times a week, with many work orders being handled by the SMG Maintenance/Repair team. The Board will continue to re-evaluate work orders to determine if more or less onsite assistance is needed.
The website for SMG is smithmgmt.com. Once you setup your account you can see your account, work orders and find forms.
The phone number for SMG is 314-394-4200. Their office hours are 8 am - 5 pm Monday through Friday.
Beginning on January 1, 2022, the management of Autumn Lakes will move from Association Management Company (AMC) to Smith Management Group (SMG). A letter from the Board was sent out in November to highlight why the change is being made and how this new approach will best serve Autumn Lakes. Residents will soon receive a letter from SMG introducing some of the changes in communication as well as where to send Association fees for 2022.
Some of the changes this brings include online tracking of work orders for all residents, moving the maintenance of the lakes, pool and landscaping to licensed professional vendors. The board also took a look at the current work order system to determine how the current groundsmen are spending their time and to evaluate the need to have two full time workers. With the structure of the new management company’s maintenance program, it was determined that Autumn Lakes would move to a part-time worker on property three times a week, with many work orders being handled by the SMG Maintenance/Repair team. The Board will continue to re-evaluate work orders to determine if more or less onsite assistance is needed.
The website for SMG is smithmgmt.com. Once you setup your account you can see your account, work orders and find forms.
The phone number for SMG is 314-394-4200. Their office hours are 8 am - 5 pm Monday through Friday.
Autumn Lakes Master Policy Changes
The insurance coverage for Autumn Lakes Master Policy renewed in November.
The premium has gone up about $24,000 for the year. This has nothing to do with the change in property management company.
We will re-visit insurance coverage in early 2022 to see if we can improve the situation.
There is a change that will affect all condominium owners is the deductible for activating the Master Policy coverage.
Effective immediately the deductible is now $15,000, this is an increase from the previous $10,000 amount.
You will need to contact your insurance company to increase your Loss Assessment coverage to $15,000.
You should also provide these two documents to you insurance company in case your other coverage needs to be updated.
Many thanks to Jay Black
At the September Association meeting Shah announced that Jay Black has resigned from the Board.
He is the longest term resident in our neighborhood. Back in 1981 he helped form the
AL Homeowners Association with the builders (Musterman & Hayden).
We simply cannot thank Jay enough for his contribution to the safety and beauty of this place we all call home.
His time and dedication to our community is appreciated more than we can ever express.
Thank You, Jay!
At the September Association meeting Shah announced that Jay Black has resigned from the Board.
He is the longest term resident in our neighborhood. Back in 1981 he helped form the
AL Homeowners Association with the builders (Musterman & Hayden).
We simply cannot thank Jay enough for his contribution to the safety and beauty of this place we all call home.
His time and dedication to our community is appreciated more than we can ever express.
Thank You, Jay!
SOCIAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS NEEDED!
At the July Association meeting Shah announced that Christine Melton has stepped down as the Social Committee Chair.
We’d like to extend our thanks to Christine for all her hard work, talent and dedication
in leading a fantastic committee and helping Autumn Lakes be a fun place to live.
If you or anyone you know would like to help make some events happen and/or assist with the Chair position,
please contact Shah Smith or Laura Farkas.
Autumn Lakes Clubhouse Rentals
The Club House is open for rental reservations again. The new A/C unit has been installed.
There will be a small sanitizing fee that will be added to the contract.
Renters will still need to be responsible for cleaning up the space when they are completed.
Club house capacity is 70 people.
Renters will be responsible for maintaining a list of attendees and contacting attendees
if there is a COVID-19 exposure event.
The clubhouse will only be rented to Autumn Lakes owners who must be
present for the pre- and post- inspections and for the entire event.
See the Rules and Regulations page for the current rules and reservation form.
The Club House is open for rental reservations again. The new A/C unit has been installed.
There will be a small sanitizing fee that will be added to the contract.
Renters will still need to be responsible for cleaning up the space when they are completed.
Club house capacity is 70 people.
Renters will be responsible for maintaining a list of attendees and contacting attendees
if there is a COVID-19 exposure event.
The clubhouse will only be rented to Autumn Lakes owners who must be
present for the pre- and post- inspections and for the entire event.
See the Rules and Regulations page for the current rules and reservation form.
NEW ONLINE OWNER INFORMATION FORM
The 2021 Owner Information form has been added to this site under the More.... tab.
You'll be able to update your information online and it will be emailed to the AMC management office.
It will still take a couple of business days for AMC to process the form.
The 2021 Owner Information form has been added to this site under the More.... tab.
You'll be able to update your information online and it will be emailed to the AMC management office.
It will still take a couple of business days for AMC to process the form.
Trustee Elections
There were two Trustee positions decided in May 2021. Here are the new officers for the Association:
Shah Smith -- President
Laura Farkas -- Vice President
Jennifer Morgan -- Secretary
Richard Ornberg -- Trustee
There were two Trustee positions decided in May 2021. Here are the new officers for the Association:
Shah Smith -- President
Laura Farkas -- Vice President
Jennifer Morgan -- Secretary
Richard Ornberg -- Trustee
Maryland Heights City Planner Letter About Deck Repairs/Replacements
The attached letter is from Michael Zeek, Director of Community Development/City Planner concerning the recent confusion
for some residents about letters coming from Maryland Heights requiring deck replacements.
The attached letter is from Michael Zeek, Director of Community Development/City Planner concerning the recent confusion
for some residents about letters coming from Maryland Heights requiring deck replacements.
| autumn_lakes_decks_mh_04-23-2021.pdf |
Looking for a Bookshelf
Does anyone have a 6 ft tall, 3-4 ft wide bookcase they would like to contribute to Autumn Lakes?
We are thinking we'll use it for a free library to be located in the clubhouse. More info to come.
Contact Laura at lfarkas@sbcglobal.net if you have a bookcase for us.
Does anyone have a 6 ft tall, 3-4 ft wide bookcase they would like to contribute to Autumn Lakes?
We are thinking we'll use it for a free library to be located in the clubhouse. More info to come.
Contact Laura at lfarkas@sbcglobal.net if you have a bookcase for us.
Permits – Heads Up
Maryland Heights requires a permit for many home projects (basements, bathrooms, kitchens, decks, HVACs, hot water heaters). During the sale of a house/condo or if an inspector sees a con-tractor truck in your drive, they are sometimes checking with Maryland Heights or St. Louis County permit departments to see if a permit was requested and the work was properly inspected. This can result in a fine and in some cases demolition of the job if there was no permit. Warning: It does not matter with an occupancy inspection whether a violation was missed on a previous sale, you can still be fined.
For general information about Maryland Heights permits go to: www.marylandheights.com/residents/index.php To be safe -- contact Maryland Heights Code Enforcement prior to planning or starting any work or appliance replacement.
The Maryland Heights’ Guide to Home Improvements booklet can be found on the Maryland Heights’ web-site at https://www.marylandheights.com/Document_Center/Department/Community%20Development/Building%20and%20Code/HomeimprovementguideFINALc.pdf
Maryland Heights requires a permit for many home projects (basements, bathrooms, kitchens, decks, HVACs, hot water heaters). During the sale of a house/condo or if an inspector sees a con-tractor truck in your drive, they are sometimes checking with Maryland Heights or St. Louis County permit departments to see if a permit was requested and the work was properly inspected. This can result in a fine and in some cases demolition of the job if there was no permit. Warning: It does not matter with an occupancy inspection whether a violation was missed on a previous sale, you can still be fined.
For general information about Maryland Heights permits go to: www.marylandheights.com/residents/index.php To be safe -- contact Maryland Heights Code Enforcement prior to planning or starting any work or appliance replacement.
The Maryland Heights’ Guide to Home Improvements booklet can be found on the Maryland Heights’ web-site at https://www.marylandheights.com/Document_Center/Department/Community%20Development/Building%20and%20Code/HomeimprovementguideFINALc.pdf
Condo Association/Owner Responsibilities
We have added a new document on the Rules and Regulations page - Condo Association/Owner Responsibilities.
This document lists many of the items around the condos that may need repairs or that owners may want to change.
The list identifies who is responsible for maintaining each item, when approval is needed to make changes, and whether permits are required.
If you have specific or detailed questions you should contact the AMC office at 314-291-1450
to find out which trustee could best answer your questions.
We have added a new document on the Rules and Regulations page - Condo Association/Owner Responsibilities.
This document lists many of the items around the condos that may need repairs or that owners may want to change.
The list identifies who is responsible for maintaining each item, when approval is needed to make changes, and whether permits are required.
If you have specific or detailed questions you should contact the AMC office at 314-291-1450
to find out which trustee could best answer your questions.
Rental Reminder
Autumn Lakes Condos is an owner occupied complex. This allows us to meet lending criteria when selling, and it keeps up our property values.
This means that unless you were grandfathered in (ownership prior to September 2009) you cannot rent your unit.
There is an exception if you are “renting” to your parents or your children, or if you are renting to a roommate while you are still living in the unit.
Just as all owners require an occupancy permit from Maryland Heights,
you are required to get a new occupancy permit each time the occupants change.
A copy of the lease (which can be open ended for family) needs to be on file in the AMC office as well.
Owners who do have rentals are responsible for the actions of their renters, and any fines levied go to the homeowner.
Just a reminder if you are renting - a legal bedroom requires access to the outside (walk out or egress window), a closet and a private door.
Non-walkout basements can not use the lower level as an extra bedroom.
Maryland Heights and Autumn Lakes do not allow Air BnB or VRBO type short term rentals.
2020 Social Events
We look forward to seeing you at the social events this year.
The events planned for 2020 include:
Ladies' Luncheon - Sunday 4/26 - POSTPONED
Wine Tasting - to be scheduled
Picnic at the Pool - Sunday 6/28 - POSTPONED
Autumn Fest - Sunday 10/4 - POSTPONED
We are considering a men's event to let the men in the neighborhood meet more men,
but we need some men who can help decide what kind of event we should do and help organize the event.
If you are interested call Christine Melton at (314) 560-5705.
We have been presented with lots of ideas for more events. AND, it takes a village to put these events on.
We could use your hands to make the load on the Social committee lighter; and,
at the same time create more opportunities for people to meet/greet.
Call Christine Melton at (314) 560-5705.
We look forward to seeing you at the social events this year.
The events planned for 2020 include:
Ladies' Luncheon - Sunday 4/26 - POSTPONED
Wine Tasting - to be scheduled
Picnic at the Pool - Sunday 6/28 - POSTPONED
Autumn Fest - Sunday 10/4 - POSTPONED
We are considering a men's event to let the men in the neighborhood meet more men,
but we need some men who can help decide what kind of event we should do and help organize the event.
If you are interested call Christine Melton at (314) 560-5705.
We have been presented with lots of ideas for more events. AND, it takes a village to put these events on.
We could use your hands to make the load on the Social committee lighter; and,
at the same time create more opportunities for people to meet/greet.
Call Christine Melton at (314) 560-5705.
Autumn Lakes Common Ground Suggestions
The Autumn Lakes trustees would like to know if any of the residents have suggestions to improve the use of the common grounds. We are always going to take into consideration what will serve or maybe just appeal to the most people. Once we have a list, the board will review it. If there are a lot of good ideas, we'll ask which ideas the residents might be most excited about. Of course, we can't do everything for reasons of cost, practicality, or even city laws. There may be some simple things we can do right away and some things we may want to consider in the future. All ideas are welcome, but try to make them as specific as possible. Including your name and address would also be helpful if we have further questions.
If you have an idea or more than one, please use the Contact Us page on this website to let us know about them.
The Autumn Lakes trustees would like to know if any of the residents have suggestions to improve the use of the common grounds. We are always going to take into consideration what will serve or maybe just appeal to the most people. Once we have a list, the board will review it. If there are a lot of good ideas, we'll ask which ideas the residents might be most excited about. Of course, we can't do everything for reasons of cost, practicality, or even city laws. There may be some simple things we can do right away and some things we may want to consider in the future. All ideas are welcome, but try to make them as specific as possible. Including your name and address would also be helpful if we have further questions.
If you have an idea or more than one, please use the Contact Us page on this website to let us know about them.
Smoke Detector Reminder
Firemen from the Maryland Heights Fire Protection District visited with residents at the Maryland Heights' Nite Out. The officers encourage changing smoke detector batteries, including backup batteries, annually when we change our clocks. They also recommend replacing the entire detector every 10 years. If any resident needs help changing smoke detector batteries please call 314-298-4400 and the fire department will coordinate getting them replaced. If you need help installing new smoke detectors the firemen will also help with that. Their recommendation also applies to carbon monoxide detectors - replace them every 10 years.
Firemen from the Maryland Heights Fire Protection District visited with residents at the Maryland Heights' Nite Out. The officers encourage changing smoke detector batteries, including backup batteries, annually when we change our clocks. They also recommend replacing the entire detector every 10 years. If any resident needs help changing smoke detector batteries please call 314-298-4400 and the fire department will coordinate getting them replaced. If you need help installing new smoke detectors the firemen will also help with that. Their recommendation also applies to carbon monoxide detectors - replace them every 10 years.