Around 70 cable TV channels are included in your HOA fees. Sandy Ridge HOA has a contract with Comcast for this service that was signed by DR Horton the builder in 2004. It is possible for you to expand the number of channels, however you will need to contact Comcast direct on 1-800-COMCAST (1-800-266-2278) to obtain information on the package upgrades available to you and costs. Further information about Comcast is provided elsewhere on this site

No. Sandy Ridge has not been connected to a recycled water supply

The Board in conjunction with our landscapers have agreed a suitable screen to hide unsightly trash containers. Any owner wishing to install such a screen to conform with Sandy Ridge Deeds and Restrictions may use the draft as the basis for an ARC application. The draft can be viewed and printed from the Members area downloads page on this site. The ARC must be submitted and approved in accordance with normal procedures though approval should be more or less automatic

Please note that following recent notice from Polk County ARC applications should still be submitted and will be processed although installation will not be approved finally until we have more details for bin size from Polk

Yes, but you must obtain ARC approval first. Please submit an ARC request, contact Xiomara Raba for the form or submit an ARC form, and the ARC committee will review your application. Click to Request ARC form

Yes it does. Until now cable service has been analogue and you have simply connected your TV's and so on to the wall connectors. Once they have cut over completely connecting in this way you will only receive around 16 channels

To receive the full channel set under our contract you will need to connect your TVs through a digibox or adaptor supplied by Comcast. You are entitled to one digibox which additionally offers on demand service and up to two adaptors for straightforward TV service

Additional adaptors are available from Comcast at a small monthly charge per unit if you contact them directly

Please see the Cable TV page of this site for Comcast information

There are several ways to pay for your HOA fees. You can send in a cheque before the due date, you can contact Xiomara Raba at Sentry Management (001 407 846 6323 ext 725) to set up a Autopay (direct debit/direct draft). Click to download the Autopay form. The AutoPay section on the form should be completed and returned to Sentry Management via mail with a voided check. Or returned via email by scanning both the form and the voided check and attaching them to the e-mail. Or you can pay directly on-line through the Sentry website CLICK HERE

To keep the HOA running smoothly and prevent a missed payment which may lead to a lien on your property and cable cut off we always recommend that you use the Autopay form to pay your fees. If you would like any more help with this please contact Xiomara Raba of Sentry Management

Remember, it's the Homeowners responsibility to ensure that the payments are received on time. Late or non-receipt of payment coupons is not a reason for not making the due payments and late fees are automatically added if payment has not been receive

Links to access the entrance webcams can be found on the owners area menu

Yes. Remember that if you are going to change any external aspect you are required to submit an ARC form to the Architectural review committee for approval before work starts Request ARC form

Yes. Remember that if you are going to repaint the external walls of your villa you will also have to submit an ARC form to the Architectural review committee for approval before work starts. You must use an original colour and state this on your ARC application. We managed to obtain some of the colour codes used in Phase 1 as shown here, but you can either specify Sherwin Williams or use a paint chip from your home to get another supplier to colour match. For phase 2 homes it is likely that you will need to get a colour match unless you have manufacturer specification from D R Horton when you purchased. Xiomara Raba at Sentry Management may be able to assist in establishing your house colour Request ARC form

Yes, pest control for the grassed areas as part of lawn fertilization covering ants and so on rather than cover spraying for general bugs is in the contract with our Landscaper and it is included in your fees. However please note that this is carried out on an as required basis only for the grass area around your villa and covers routine pests

Where the grass has suffered badly and resistance is weakened, perhaps from inadequate irrigation, or extreme weather, etc. it may be affected by more serious problems and in this case you will need to take some additional action yourself. Davey Tree will be best to advise on any areas of concern

You will need to make your own arrangements for your villa and its internals

If you are unsure contact Xiomara Raba of Sentry Management

Yes it is, however it is very important that pet owners respect others and their property. Our Covenants state that pets must be kept on a leash at all times when outside your home

Inconsiderate and or lazy pet owners who allow their animals to roam off leash or on other peoples properties may be subject to fines. We have provided pet stations around the community and ask all pet owners to make use of these rather than let their pets foul the grass or walkways

The mailboxes belong to each owner and it is therefore your responsibility to replace it as soon as possible if it is damaged. We have to use a standard mailbox and these can be purchased from:

Beautiful Mailbox Company
2360 West 76 St
Hialeah
FL 33016

Telephone 305.403.4820
Email www.beautifulmailbox.com

Common areas are the larger open spaces to be found around the community including the play area and surrounding retention ponds

All grassed areas immediately surrounding homes are private property and crossing these is trespass

If you trespass on someone elses property you may be liable to arrest so please ensure that anyone using your home is made aware of this

For safety reasons our security team have been asked to keep a careful watch for trespassers and will call the police if necessary

If you have lost your payment coupons then you can contact Xiomara Raba at Sentry Management (001 407 846 6323 ext 725)

If you suspect there is a problem, perhaps your bills are unusually high (or low), or your grass is looking damaged more than others in the community, you should first contact Xiomara Raba at Sentry Management (001 407 846 6323 ext 725) or notify the HOA so that we can arrange for the Landscaper to come out and have a look. If they find any damage that can be rectified there and then such as a broken sprinkler head, etc. this will be done

If they are unable to find any problem or they feel it is something more significant and or outside the scope of their contract they will let us know so we can decide on what course of action to take. This may be to advise you, the owner, that the fault is part of your ownership responsibilities to resolve

If no fault is found and you still consider that a problem exists, then first of all you will need to obtain a detailed usage report available to every utility account holder from Polk Utilities. You should send this to us along with as much information as possible about the matter including the occupation of your home and so on. We will then endeavour to assist you in working out where the problem is and advise on remedial actions

A significant amount of work is completed on your behalf to keep Sandy Ridge looking neat and tidy as well as and operating smoothly

Information about landscaper duties are shown elsewhere on this site

The Local Sheriff's number is 863-533-0344 and this number should be used for normal, non-urgent enquiries or reports. For emergencies please use 911

If you suspect that Landscapers have damaged your screen while they were working around your villa, DO NOT repair the screen yourself contact Xiomara Raba of Sentry Management (001 407 846 6323 ext 725) immediately so that she can arrange for the Landscapers to come out and have a look. They will then inform you of the next stages. Please inform your management companies of this so that you do not miss the deadline. If the landscapers are not able to inspect the damage they may not be able to assess the situation and therefore will not repair

If you suspect that the Landscaper has damaged your sprinkler heads while they were working around your villa, do not repair them yourself contact Xiomara Raba at Sentry Management (001 407 846 6323 ext 725) immediately so that she can arrange for the Landscaper to come out and have a look. They will then inform you of the next stages. Please inform your management companies of this so that you do not miss the deadline

Please view our Covenants to understand the HOA collection policy

Fees are due on the 1st of every quarter - January, April, July and October each year. You will receive your payment slips from Sentry Management in November each year

The due dates are when assessments must be received cleared funds, not just a cheque in the post. Remember it is your responsibility to make sure that the fees are paid on time and no one else

Please take a few minutes to view the policy

If fees are late then after 30 days from the due date your cable TV will be cut-off. From this point you will incur late fees, interest, intent to lien fee and cable cut-off fee ($50). Continued non-payment will incur additional fees and potentially legal costs and may also result in foreclosure action being taken on your home

The date and time of the next Board or Members meeting is included at the end of each set of minutes. Minutes are posted in the owners area documents page. The agenda for the next meeting is also posted there just prior to each meeting

Also a sign will normally be placed at both entrances prior to a meeting

In order to keep our community looking great and to prevent the local wildlife causing a trash problem the HOA are very strict with their bin policy

With effect from October 1st 2010 Polk County have revised collections to once per week on Thursdays only. The bins should go out on Wednesday night at the bottom of your drive next to the kerb. With the new method of collection it is important that your bin is placed correctly so Polk's truck can pick it up. The bins are marked on the lid with arrows showing which side should face the road. Anything not in the correct bin will not be collected and just stay there. The bins then have to be put away again on your property by Thursday Night. Polk will collect additional trash on up to four occasions each year if you have additional requirements from time to time, please see details provided on our 'News' page and/or the Polk County web site

If your bins have not been put away our spot checks will start the violation process. You will receive a notice from community management informing you that your bins have been in violation of the covenants and if you fail to abide by the covenants again then a fine will be imposed

Please ensure that all your guests and management companies are aware of the covenants and they do not cause you to receive a fine. It is in all our interests to keep the community looking as neat, tidy and as attractive as possible

The short answer is, the homeowner, their management company, if you have one and Davey Tree the HOA Landscaper

Most owners will be aware that our landscaper duties include regular checks on the irrigation systems installed at all our homes on Sandy Ridge. Davey Tree have begun a program to advise the HOA on homes with damaged grass

Sadly, it appears that some owners are deliberately either turning off the water supply to their homes or interfering with the irrigation timer controls to stop the systems operating as they should. We constantly receive reports from Davey Tree that the plastic ties they use to secure timer boxes when they have been set correctly have been removed. Also, it is clear to see there are a few homes where irrigation should be working, but the condition of the grass compared to neighbouring properties shows that something is amiss

Maintenance of our properties is defined as a requirement in the Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions and as such is something we have all agreed to do. Additionally and outside the legalities of ownership, of major importance to those of us who rent our homes to vacationers, the appearance of Sandy Ridge as a whole is extremely important in presenting a good impression and hopefully winning return business and referrals

Except where it has been agreed with individual owners in writing, Davey Tree accepted responsibility for maintaining irrigation systems and the timers to meet Polk County regulations as may be changed from time to time, and for repairing damaged grass where the systems are operated correctly. Therefore, if they find or suspect that the controls or water supply have been tampered with they will advise the Board and the owner will automatically become directly responsible should there be any problem regarding contravention of Polk regulations or the acceptable condition of their property

Obviously there are many homes currently in foreclosure and for these the utilities may have been cut off for some time. It is easy to see from these properties what can happen if proper irrigation is neglected so please leave the controls to the experts and just enjoy your homes in the sun

With regards to foreclosed homes that have been purchased, it is the responsibility of the new owner to bring their lawns up to specification and replace any damaged areas of grass, after which the HOA will maintain them as long as the electricity, water and the irrigation timers are not tampered with

If you have any concerns you should contact Xiomara Raba at Sentry Management (001 407 846 6323 ext 725 ext 725

Your Comcast cable TV signal may have been disconnected. You should contact Xiomara Raba at Sentry Management (001 407 846 6323 ext 725) as soon as possible to arrange re connection

The seal is there for your protection

Polk County has strict guidelines governing when you can water and when you cannot. It is an offense under Polk County legislation to exceed the designated times and infringements will incur fines by them. Please note that this is Polk County legislation and not under the control of the HOA

The periods may be changed occasionally and other accidental or natural factors such as lightning strikes can 'knock out' a timer causing your system not to work at the right time

As Sandy Ridge is largely a rental community, most owners are not present to check or amend timer settings when necessary so our Landscapers go round once a month to inspect the boxes, check that the timers are working correctly and are set for the right times. Using this process the Landscapers accept responsibility for the accuracy of the timers and therefore ensure that we as owners do not break the rules

If the seal on your control box is broken by you or anyone other than the Landscaper then they will not accept responsibility for the correct setting of your timer and in addition should your grass die or deteriorate through lack of irrigation the grass will not be repaired by the HOA