A HOMEOWNER is facing HOA fines that increase in value for a flag he has flown outside of his property for years.
Ken Bauman from Redmond, Oregon, lives in The Eagle Crest Area in one of its seven HOAs.
In April, Bauman’s HOA, The Ridge at Crest Owners Association, enforced a ban on displaying any flags other than the US flag outside of properties under its management.
Bauman has flown a “peace flag” outside of his home for seven years and he took to social media to discuss the new ban, per KTVZ News.
He claimed that the “arbitrary” ban was decided by the HOA’s Architectural Review Committee which features three members who do not live at Eagle Crest.
After the ban, homeowners who fail to follow the new rule will be fined.
Bauman received a notice from the HOA giving him until May 14 to take down his tie-dyed flag or be fined $25.
However, if it’s not removed by June 30, he faces a $100 fine.
Bauman is not only upset about the impact on his flag, but also on veterans in the area who proudly display their flags that are now banned.
“What’s upsetting to me, because flags are, you know, they’re a form of personality and they make people happy to wave their favorite flag,” he told KTVZ.
“A lot of them are, you know, seasonal flags, college flags, mine’s a peace flag.
“Some people fly military flags because they’re proud of their service in the military and I do not like a blanket no on just every flag.”
“What’s negative about a peace flag?” He added.
“You know, it makes people happy, makes people smile when they see it.”
Fellow Eagle Crest resident and former Eagle Crest HOA President Robert Sharp has joined Bauman in criticizing the new rules.
The pair took it upon themselves to survey over 75 homeowners in the neighborhood to see who supports the ban.
“All of the neighbors I’ve spoken to in the last few weeks have felt really bad about the decision to ban flags in the neighborhood,” Sharp told the outlet.
Both residents have urged the HOA to introduce a system for members to have a say on the ban and to perhaps work out a compromise.
“It would be really possible for them to say, ‘Okay, every home can fly a single flag,’ place a maximum size on it – just place sensible restrictions,” Sharp said.
“I’d like the ability to wave a flag, and for that committee to come up with a solution that’s going to make us all happy,” Bauman added.
In a bid to dodge the fines, Bauman approached the board to get his flag approved but the request was denied.
“You need to have approval, so I asked for approval to fly my flag,” he told Central Oregon Daily.
“I was denied. I asked for it to fly my college flag. It was denied.”
The U.S. Sun has reached out to The Ridge at Eagle Crest HOA for comment.
Meanwhile, HOA residents in one state can expect to see major changes in management and rules within weeks.
