by Collene Cordova, IHCA Owner Services Coordinator – Compliance
From November 2016 Connections News
November is typically thought of as the month to give thanks. It’s a time when families gather around the table, reflect on the year and express thanks for all that they have. In a world that appears to be more and more cynical, maybe giving thanks is something that we should do more often, for all acts, whether big or small, direct or indirect.
My job as the Owners Services Coordinator – Compliance for the Issaquah Highlands Community Association (IHCA) can be a very challenging job. I am the one you see driving throughout the community, taking pictures and sending out violation notices. It’s my name on the bottom of those letters. I don’t issue violations to aggravate residents or to “catch people”. My only goal is to do everything that I can to ensure that neighborhoods remain clean, well-maintained, and aesthetically pleasing to residents while enhancing property values. Those words are taken directly from the Community Wide Standards. That being said, I am thankful for the residents that receive my letters, understand that I am only doing my job in helping to maintain our community and then follow through to rectify the violation.
Driving through the community to do what I call my “checkup” is one of my favorite things to do. I love seeing the pride of ownership throughout the neighborhoods. Homeowners that once struggled with their landscaping have found solutions that work for them, whether that be an alternative type of landscaping or installing sod where their grass just would not grow. I am very thankful for their efforts and quite often their sense of humor while undertaking those tasks.
One in particular comes to mind. This past spring a homeowner received a notice to repair his lawn. The owner called me immediately upon receiving the notice and said that he had the worst lawn on the street. Within days, he had one of the best looking lawns on the street. Not everyone is able to work as quickly as this homeowner, but I was thankful for his humor. Sometimes the phone calls or emails aren’t very positive but we work through them to make the best of the situation. In most cases it’s a win-win for everybody.
In a community of this size I cannot do this alone, but rely on residents to contact me when they see something that is not right. I am so very thankful for those residents that call or email their concerns so that I can help fix the situation, as opposed to posting their frustrations on Facebook or other social media sites. I have received calls for a number of situations; neighbors not picking up after their dog which is doing its business right in front of their home, boats, campers, oversized vehicles and abandoned vehicles parked on the street, littering, and these are just to name a few. No call is trivial. If it bothers you, call and we will find a solution.
Everyone in this community plays an important role of which I am very thankful to be a part of. I promise to do my best to make sure that the Issaquah Highlands continues to be a sought after community to call home. My email address is collene.c@ihcommunity.org and my direct number is 425-507-1134. If you have any concerns, I do want to hear from you.
