By Adam Smith

The North Jefferson News



A housing developer addressed complaints this week from homeowners in a Gardendale garden home development.

A recent “Six On Your Side” segment on Fox 6 dealt with homeowners taking issue over the fact that they’re paying monthly pool fees for a development that does not currently have a pool.

Lexington Park Developer Duane Jeffreys said a pool was scheduled to be part of the development, but he said he encountered “unforeseeable events” that dealt with the location and construction of the pool.

However, residents have been paying monthly fees for such items as pool supplies and pool furniture without the benefit of a pool.

A copy of a letter sent to homeowners and provided to The North Jefferson News by a resident reveals that annual expenditures for pool supplies and furniture to be $4,600.

Residents pay a portion of this expense monthly, along with other items like administrative costs, utilities, community expenses and property taxes.

A May income and expense statement provided to The North Jefferson News by Jeffreys shows no money has been budgeted or spent on pool supplies, pool furniture and pool maintenance.

Resident Curt Sanford said, aside from the lack of a pool, he was happy living in Lexington Park.

He and his wife, Joyce Sanford, moved into the 400-unit community, located on Shady Grove Road in southern Gardendale, in September.

Sanford said the pool issue could have been addressed through better communication from the management company, McKay Management Corporation.

“If I could speak for the community, what would it hurt to send out a letter?” he asked. “It’s just got a lot of folks ill. I think it’s a public relations problem more than anything.”

However, Jeffreys said he was unaware that residents were upset until he was contacted by “Six On Your Side” reporter Rhonda Robinson.

“I talked to the McKay Management people and said ‘I’m unaware of any correspondence related to this,’” he said.

Jeffreys said it would be in his best interest to have the pool in, because it would make the homes more attractive to potential buyers.

A representative with McKay Management, who did not want to be identified, said all money collected for the pool fund is being held and will be used toward the pool when it is completed. The representative also said that homeowners could possibly see a decrease in what they pay for pool services next year if there is a significant overage in the pool fund.

Jeffreys said bids have been taken on the 60-by-30-foot pool and for a pavilion on the pool site.

“We expect work to begin in a couple of months and have the pool ready for next swim season,” he said.

Sanford said he hopes the developer and management company will make a greater effort to reach out to the residents in the future.

“There’s always a possibility of fraud when there’s not enough information,” he said. “There just needs to be better communication. All I’m asking is for them to do what’s right.”