Flowood Police arrested former Laurelwood HOA President Emary Walker for embezzlement and possession of a controlled substances. The police report states a “local attorney” notified the police of possible embezzlement of Laurelwood HOA funds. The report accuses Walker of using HOA funds to purchase personal items from Amazon. Read the article……………………………..
Developers agree to strict HOA covenants (MS)
Developers of a planned subdivision off Yandell Road submitted proposed covenants to county supervisors that would make renting property incredibly difficult to ease the concerns of nearby residents. Read the article……………………………
The Grove subdivision in Tupelo apply for neighborhood association status (MS)
Debbie Pantaleo moved to the Grove Subdivision in west Tupelo in 2020 during the first peak of the coronavirus pandemic, when efforts to prevent spread of the disease meant many, if not most, of her neighbors didn’t converse much. That changed last year, when residents of the neighborhood held a get-together. Then another. Those meetings […]
Jackson neighborhood residents find their own solution to trash collection problem (MS)
The Woodhaven Homeowners’ Association partnered with a landscaping company to haul away the neighborhood trash. Monday morning, the crew was out picking up trash. Richard’s Disposal’s contract expired last week, and the mayor and city council failed to come to an agreement on a new company. Read the article………………………..
Governor signs bill allowing Country Club to come off Jackson water (MS)
A North Jackson neighborhood now has the state’s permission to come off of Jackson’s water system. On Wednesday, Gov. Tate Reeves signed S.B. 2433, which allows the Country Club of Jackson Homeowners Association to switch back to the well system it used prior to the neighborhood’s annexation in the 1970s. Read the article………………………..
One Jackson neighborhood asking lawmakers for option to come off city water (MS)
The Senate recently approved a bill that would give the Country Club of Jackson the ability to transition back to the well system installed when the neighborhood was constructed in the 1960s. Read the article………………………..
Fontaine Place homeowners taking steps to establish protective covenants (MS)
Twenty homeowners in the Fontaine Place neighborhood have signed the necessary documents to establish protective covenants and more are expected to follow their lead. Read the article………………………..
Meadow Lake, 1st Step Sober Living lawsuits continue (MS)
Over two years after a group of residents from the Meadow Lake neighborhood filed a lawsuit against the establishment of 1st Step Sober Living, the litigation continues. Read the article………………………..
Ex-property manager sentenced to 4.5 years after pleading guilty to embezzling HOA money (MS)
A Mississippi property manager has been sentenced to 51 months in prison, about a year after he pleaded guilty to embezzlement charges. Prosecutors say David Luke Lane, 78, used his position to defraud homeowners’ associations and the Community Bank of Mississippi. Read the article………………………..
Water main break flowing for several hours blamed for condo flooding (MS)
Some north Jackson residents are still reeling from a water main break in the early hours last Wednesday. Days later, the clean-up continues for condo owners who say their homes received extensive flooding because of slow city response. Read the article………………………..
Year Later: Sentencing date set for Lane in defrauding associations (MS)
Sentencing for David Luke Lane, who used his position as a property manager to defraud numerous homeowners’ associations in the metro area of more than $2 million, is set for Dec.14 at 1:30 p.m. in U.S. District Court in Jackson. Read the article………………………..
Making List: Tax commission begins looking at neighborhood streets (MS)
After seeking input from neighborhood associations about residential streets in Jackson that need improvements, a working group of the One Percent Sales Tax Commission plans to sort out what to do next. Read the article………………………..
OPD gains access to Grand Oaks (HOA) security camera data (MS)
The Board of Aldermen voted to approve an agreement between Oxford Police Department, and Flock Safety to share video footage captured in the Grand Oaks subdivision. Read the article………………………..
Neighborhoods fight to protect property values (MS)
The president of the Sheffield Homeowners Association along with the organization of homeowners’ associations known as JXN United plan to continue opposing additional vape shops, tattoo studios and liquor stores in the city of Jackson. Read the entire article……………………………….
Property Manager Pleads Guilty in Homeowner Association Fraud Case (MS)
According to court documents, David Luke Lane used his position as a property manager to defraud several Homeowners Associations (HOAs) and Community Bank of Mississippi. Lane entered into contracts with the various HOAs to manage their properties and money in return for a fee. Lane’s duties included keeping the funds of each HOA in designated […]
Group sues Diamondhead POA for trying to collect dues where covenants have expired (MS)
A group of Diamondhead property owners on Monday filed a lawsuit against the Diamondhead Property Owners Association, seeking to end the organization’s practice of trying to collect dues from owners whose covenants have expired. The non-profit group, End Diamondhead Uncertainty (EDU) filed the suit Monday in Hancock County Chancery Court. The principal members of the […]
Condo property manager says her association has overpaid water bills by more than $330K (MS)
One woman says her condominium unit has been overcharged on its water bills for years, and now it’s time for that extra charge to be brought to a halt. Jean Comley, property manager and resident of Chateau Royal, a condominium complex in Northeast Jackson, spoke to the Jackson City Council Tuesday. Read the entire article……………………………….
Quick Response to Damaged Dam Saved Homes, Pipe to be Replaced (MS)
Quick response from homeowners in Tara Estates and local first responders helped to keep the damaged levee in Lake Tara from failing and flooding the area, according to William McKercher, chief of the Dam Safety Division of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. Read the entire article……………………………….
Flood threat forces evacuation in Lafayette County, Miss. community
The lake and dam are owned by the Tara Estates Homeowners Association. State investigators said when neighbors saw the water flowing, the county was notified immediately. Fire crews quickly started pumping the water out of the lake to lower the level and stop a breach of the dam. Read the entire article……………………………….
Horn Lake to help drain Kings View Lake for MDEQ (MS)
Latimer asked Campbell if the city does take over the job for MDEQ whether they will be obligated in any way to repair the dam. “No sir,” Campbell said. “That has been made clear that it is the homeowner’s association’s responsibility by us and MDEQ.” Read the entire article……………………………….
Ordinance would spell out procedures for allowing community improvement districts (MS:
A new ordinance could help spell out how the city of Jackson implements community improvement districts (CIDs)……CIDs are special taxing districts. Property owners within them pay special assessments along with their annual property taxes, which are then set aside to fund public improvements within them. Read the article………………………………
Multimillion-dollar embezzlement scandal: Where the Ridgway Lane lawsuit stands a year later (MS)
In the last year, attorneys for 12 metro Jackson homeowners associations have gained traction on recouping millions in missing funds from Ridgway Lane & Associates. So far, the court has ruled to liquidate the assets of the company’s former president, David L. Lane, including his home, properties across the state and what’s left of his […]
Homeowners rebuke transitional facility (MS)
Several neighborhood associations are complaining about a transitional facility that is about to open. The Mississippi Offenders Re-entry Experience, or the M.O.R.E facility is on Floral Drive off of West County Line Road and will be used to house formerly incarcerated men. The once-incarcerated men will live there as they transition to life after […]
One dead after fire at Gulfport condominium (MS)
One person has died after being pulled from a burning condo Wednesday morning in Gulfport, said Fire Chief Mike Beyerstedt. The fire happened around 6 a.m. at the Racquet Club Condominiums on Courthouse Road Read the article……………………….
Hundreds of dams lack emergency plans in rain-soaked South (MS)
When recent heavy rains swelled a private Mississippi lake and began eroding its earthen dam, Yazoo County Emergency Management Director Jack Willingham was scrambling for a plan. He had no contact information for any of the homeowners who might need to evacuate, so he drove to the scene and began knocking on doors. Read the […]
Son blames father in Ridgway Lane’s alleged multimillion-dollar fraud of HOAs (MS)
The former vice president of Ridgway Lane & Associates is claiming in court that he had no role in an alleged multimillion-dollar fraud to embezzle multiple metro Jackson homeowner association funds. Instead, he is pointing the finger at his father, David L. Lane, the former president of the company. Read the article………………………….
Diamondhead mayor files lawsuit to get POA privileges restored (MS)
Diamondhead Mayor Tommy Schafer is fighting to get back into the country club, and he’s doing it with a lawsuit against the Diamondhead Property Owners Association. Schafer was suspended from using all POA amenities for six-months following an argument with the POA president that turned physical. Read the article……………………………
UPDATE: 11th HOA lawsuit against Ridgway Lane pushes alleged missing funds to over $2.1M (MS)
The number of homeowner associations in the metro Jackson area that are suing Ridgway Lane and its president and vice president now stands at 11……..On Monday, the Timbers Homeowners Association filed suit in Rankin court alleging more than $90,000 in missing funds. Read the article………………………..
New HOA lawsuit against Ridgway Lane claims over $500K in damages (MS)
A 10th homeowners association filed a lawsuit against Ridgway Lane. Eastbrooke Condominium Association fined against Ridgway, David W. Lane and David L. Lane on Friday. Eastbrooke claims more than $500,000 went missing from its accounts due to the actions of the Lanes. Read the article……………………………
Ninth HOA files lawsuit against Ridgeway Lane over missing funds (MS)
For the ninth time, a homeowners association has filed a lawsuit against Ridgeway Lane.Oakhurst HOA in Clinton filed their suit on November 26, claiming they’re missing $168,000. Read the article………………………
Massive pothole on Kirkley Drive raises concerns for neighbors (MS)
A steep crater-like pothole is difficult to avoid for people living along Kirkley Drive in Jackson. Billy Gooch, President of the Norwood Homeowners Association, said after notifying the City of Jackson about the issue they have yet to repair it. Read the article………………………….
Ridgway Lane father, son put homes up for sale amid HOA embezzlement investigations (MS)
A father and son, accused in multiple homeowner association embezzlement lawsuits, transferred the deed of a home to a spouse and put two homes up for sale amid an escalating investigation into their finances. The attorneys for four homeowners associations on Friday said David L. Lane and his son, David W. Lane, violated a court […]
Two more lawsuits filed against Ridgway Lane over missing money (MS)
Two more housing groups are filing lawsuits against Ridgway Lane. The Palisades Homeowner Association in Brandon and the Diplomat Condominium in Jackson are the latest to join a long list of HOA’s accusing the property management company of missing funds. Read the article…………………………
Another HOA files suit against Ridgway over missing money (MS)
Yet another homeowners association has filed a lawsuit against Ridgway Lane, claiming the company embezzled nearly $200,000 from them. Bruenburg HOA in Clinton said they are missing $180,000 from their accounts. Read the article…………………………
Ridgway Lane accused of embezzling over $1M from area homeowners associations: What we know now (MS)
Homeowner associations throughout metro Jackson are taking a hard look at their finances, especially those who had written agreements with property management company Ridgway Lane & Associates. Some are even taking matters to court. So far there are claims of more than a million dollars in missing funds from multiple homeowners associations all managed by […]
Ridgway Lane president leaving over ‘health issues’ days after company is sued by Ridgeland HOA (MS)
We are uncovering more information in our investigation into claims of funds missing from the Bridgewater Homeowners Association’s bank accounts. The Bridgewater Homeowners Association has filed two lawsuits against their management company Ridgway Lane, claiming almost $850,000 is missing or unaccounted for in their bank accounts. Read the article………………………..
Madison couple facing jail time for keeping RV in driveway (MS)
A Madison couple is facing jail time for keeping an RV on their property. It isn’t just a recreational vehicle, it’s the couple’s home while they fight with their insurer over a fire that destroyed their home. Read the article…………………………
Homeowners association in Ridgeland subdivision suing property managers over possible fraud (MS)
The homeowners association in a prominent Madison County subdivision is suing its property managers. The Bridgewater Homeowners Association files suit against Ridgway Lane, which has managed their properties since its inception. Read the article…………………………..
Diamondhead mayor answers questions about the future of POA amenities at ‘Coffee Call’ event (MS)
Diamondhead residents learned more Friday about what it may cost to keep the amenities they’ve enjoyed for years with the Property Owners Association. Some of the Property Owners Association dues that fund things like the pools, playgrounds, and golf courses will no longer be collected next year when the POA covenants start expiring. Read the […]
AG Hood releases investigation report on frontage road to Tate Reeves’ neighborhood (MS)
Attorney General Jim Hood on Wednesday released an investigative report about his opponent for governor — Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves — and whether Reeves influenced plans for a now-scuttled state road from his gated neighborhood in Flowood to a nearby shopping area. The 43-page report said investigators found a possible violation of a section of […]
Fed-up Mississippi neighbors plant banana tree in oversized pothole (MS)
People in one north Mississippi neighborhood are tired of a pothole in their road, so they took extreme measures to draw attention to the problem. Read the article………………………..
Diamondhead POA president files assault charge against mayor (MS)
The president of Diamondhead’s Property Owners Association on Monday filed a simple assault charge against the city’s mayor, Tommy Schafer. It comes almost a week after a confrontation between the two following an official city/POA meeting known as the Community Collaborative. That meeting happened September 4 at the Diamondhead County Club. Read the article………………………
Children learning early value of Community Commitment through Junior Homeowners Association (MS)
Residents and officials in the city of Madison talk a lot about having “hometown spirit.” One resident started a group to foster that spirit in her neighborhood with the hope of its members carrying it out into other facets of the community. Elizabeth Cobb, president of the Trace Vineyard Homeowner’s Association (HOA), started a junior […]
Preparing for the worst: What Lauderdale County residents can do (MS)
In light of the flooding across the country, including the Mississippi Delta, Williamson advocated for Lauderdale County residents to create their own emergency evacuation plans. Read the article…………………“It’s the same as any other threat we face,” Williamson said. “If you live in the vicinity of a high-hazard dam, then you need to have a plan […]
Neighborhoods could vote to make own improvements. But they would come at a cost (MS)
Want better security in your neighborhood or maybe even a park? Neighborhoods across Jackson will soon be able to tax themselves to pay for such items following the Mississippi Legislature’s passage of a community improvement district bill to become law July 1. The CID law would allow neighborhoods to band together and pay for projects, […]
Supervisors “condemn” actions of Gibson (MS)
The Pearl River County Board of Supervisors voted Monday to “condemn” property owner Mark Gibson for placing what were referred to as “two old raggedy trailers” on property at the entrance to Lake Hillsdale. Board Vice President Hudson Holliday called it “an intentional act to diminish property values.” Holliday further called the placement of the […]
Trying Again (Community Improvement Districts) (MS)
N’siders want ability to pay for neighborhood improvements Northsiders are again asking the state for the ability to tax themselves to improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods. And again, they’re gearing up for a battle with the lieutenant governor, who for years has refused to let them do it. Read the article……………..
St. Andrews homeowners fed up over potential plans to build on golf course (MS)
St. Andrews homeowners said they are fed up over potential plans to build on their community golf course. Now, they are preparing to take legal action to stop development in their neighborhood. Read the article…………………
‘I’m afraid to let my grandkids play in the yard.’ More access gates approved in Jackson (MS)
The Jackson City Council approved the installation of two public access gates Tuesday night, capping off a multiyear push from some residents to make their neighborhoods more secure. The council voted 5 to 1 to allow the installation of gates in the Northpointe and Rollingwood neighborhoods, both adjacent to Old Canton Road in north Jackson. […]
Reeves Responds to CID Criticism (MS)
Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves blames fixed incomes and high taxes in Jackson for not supporting SB 3045, also known as the community improvement district legislation. SB?3045 died today after it failed to be brought up for a vote in the Senate Finance Committee. Read the article………………