In keeping with guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Loch Alpine Board of Directors is not scheduling a neighborhood trick-or treat nor sponsoring any Halloween activities, and recommends against trick or treating from door to door this year, which is among the activities the CDC considers as “high risk.” Also included in the high-risk category are “attending crowded, indoor costume parties, visiting indoor haunted houses or going on hayrides or tractor rides with strangers.”

 

This doesn’t mean, however, that children (and big kids alike) can’t celebrate Halloween at all. Among activities the CDC identifies as low-risk activities are carving pumpkins and decorating one’s home, outdoor scavenger hunts, virtual costume contests and hosting a movie night with household [or pod] members. The CDC also describes moderately risky activities, with more information online: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html#halloween.

 

Another important piece of CDC guidance is not to use a costume mask as a substitute for a cloth mask unless it meets the same standards, and also not to wear a costume mask over a cloth mask, which can make it hard to breathe.  The LAIA Board asks everyone to make the health and well-being of our community a priority in making decisions about Halloween and other upcoming holidays. Together, we can protect ourselves and each other during this challenging time.

 

Loch Alpine Sanitary Authority (LASA) has contracted with PMI to install new water meters in every home served by LASA. The new meters will provide more accurate readings of water usage, and they will be read remotely from outside. You will be receiving a flyer in the mail from PMI , asking you to call them and set up an appointment date and time for the new meter installation. You must be home to let the contractor in the house. The time required in the house is 15 to 20 minutes. Another 15 minutes outside the house to set up the antenna (in the same location as the current outdoor transmitter). Please make sure you respond to the flyer and call PMI to set up the installation appointment.  Please refer to the Water/Sewer section on this website. Click on the FAQ for more information.

 

The LAIA Board of Directors is looking for a few people to revitalize the Safety & Security Committee. The members of this group serve as a contact for residents to report concerns about traffic safety in Loch Alpine, the use of our parks and grounds by non-residents, and any other matters related to safety and security. This includes activities that occur on Ann Arbor Country Club property. Committee members keep the community informed about safety and security topics, and they call law enforcement to ask for assistance and information. Residents are encouraged to call 911 directly to report suspicious activity in Loch Alpine.  To volunteer or learn more, write to safety@lochalpine.org.    

 

The LAIA website is full of useful and important information about our community. Some of the website pages are password protected, accessible only to Members who have registered accounts on the website.  

 

To create a new Member account on the LAIA website, a resident should click on the Register link at the top right corner of the main page, and then fill out the registration page and click Continue to complete the registration process. Once you complete your submission you will see a page that states: Your Registration is Complete. Your login details will be emailed to the email address you provided, once your account is approved by the [website] administrator.

 

For members who have forgotten their account or password, they can go to the Login page and click on the Forgot Password or Forgot Username links.

Due to the Labor Day holiday, GFL trash collection next week will be one day later than the usual collection day.  Trash, recycling and yard waste will be picked up on Wednesday, September 9. Trash and recycling containers and yard waste should be put out at the street no sooner than Tuesday next week.  

 

Over the past few months, there has been an increase in the number of non-residents using the parks and lakes of Loch Alpine without the company of residents. They are taking fish from our lakes and visiting our parks, sometimes after dark. On a couple of occasions, late-night disturbances in the parks have awakened residents, who called the Sheriff’s Office to investigate the disturbances.

 

Sometimes, when a car without an LA windshield sticker is parked next to our lakes or parks, a volunteer may place a notice on the windshield with this message. Sometimes, the Sheriff’s Office will respond to calls about non-residents at the lakes or parks. We ask of all residents:

• Put an LA windshield sticker on each of your cars, including your at-home children’s cars. This will help others to identify your cars as “resident” to Loch Alpine. If you need stickers, they can be obtained from Select Community Management by email or phone.
• If you are aware of individuals disturbing the peace at our parks or lakes, particularly after dark, call 911 and ask the Sheriff’s Office to investigate. 

We certainly welcome guests of our neighbors. But interlopers who are not guests should not be using our lakes and parks which are maintained by your assessment dollars. 

 

When purchasing a home in Loch Alpine, homeowners must sign a copy of the Restriction Agreement (RA), which addresses 21 aspects of living here. Whether or not we have read this document (or read it carefully), we have all agreed to abide by its contents.

 

Every month, LAIA’s management company assists the Board in identifying and informing residents when they are in violation of some part of this agreement. The most common of these violations is the posting of signs that aren’t allowed by the RA.  There are only two types of signs Loch Alpine residents may post on their properties for public viewing: (1) Signs may be posted to advertise a property as for sale or for rent (size limitations apply), and (2) For any home under construction, the contractor may post a sign -- but only during construction. No other signs are allowed, including signs of a personal, political, or business nature.

 

The Board of Directors respectfully asks members of the community to honor this restriction. Limiting signs to only what’s allowed puts us on firm ground legally (especially important in view of the current lawsuit about the former country club property) and also adds to neighborhood aesthetics and helps promote good relationships.