NEWS DETAILS

October 2019, Volume 4, Issue 3

October 1, 2019

Message From the Executive Director/CEO

It’s newsletter time again and I would like to take the opportunity to thank the residents of Spring Brook and Spring Valley for their cooperation and understanding during the recent U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) physical inspection. We are pleased to inform you that our collective efforts paid off and the inspection was successful, and we truly appreciate your cooperation and efforts in working with us to ensure a successful outcome for the inspections. Preparation for the REAC inspection can be tedious and time-consuming, not to mention inconvenient. You will be pleased to know that the next REAC inspection is at least 2 years away.

It is our strategic goal to be REAC ready all the time and not just when the inspections are scheduled. Therefore, we are asking for your continuous support and cooperation by bringing the following to our attention immediately.

• Broken or inoperable window locks
• Broken door handles and/or locks, including courtesy chains
• Stove burners not working
• Leaking or dripping faucets, and toilets not working properly
• Cracked or missing electrical outlets and outlet covers
• Insect pests
• Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors not up and working.

As we all know, prevention is always better than repair. So, we encourage every resident to help in the REAC Readiness Campaign. Together we can achieve our goal to make our home, whether at Spring Brook, Spring Valley, or Hillside Heights a place we can all be proud of.

My door is always open, and I appreciate your thoughts and opinions on issues that matter most to you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at 309-277-0283 or email me at jfa@molinehousing.com or stop by at any time to see me. However, if your concerns are particular to your tenancy, please first discuss the issue with the respective department and/or manager. If, after that you are still not satisfied, then by all means come see me.

I also want to take this opportunity to remind you that the Moline Housing Authority is an equal opportunity housing provider and therefore does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexuality, creed, age, color, or religion. Therefore, if you reason to believe that you are being treated differently, or have been treated differently by the housing authority due to any of the above, please do not hesitate to bring the matter to my attention immediately. We will not tolerate discrimination and prejudice in any form and will do our best to correct the problem.

Thank you for your support and cooperation, and thank you for choosing the Moline Housing Authority as your housing provider. We are here to serve you and to provide housing and opportunities. Wishing everyone a great autumn, and be a good neighbor!

Tips from Housing—New Parking Policy

In response to many complaints from residents about the abuse of parking privileges by visitors and others, the Moline Housing Authority revised its parking policy, effective October 1, 2019. A full copy of the revised parking policy is available for review in the Spring Brook Management Office and online at the MHA website at www.molinehousing.com.

The most notable change is that a tow will now be authorized after ONE (1) warning, regardless if it is a resident or visitor vehicle. Also, unattended vehicles blocking alleys and dumpster areas will be immediately towed without warning. Therefore, anyone receiving an orange warning sticker on their window should immediately 1) move the vehicle to a proper location, and 2) visit the Spring Brook office and resolve the problem. The new parking rules will be enforced 24/7 and are not limited to MHA business hours. Parking checks will be made at any time of the day and on weekends and holidays. Remember, there is no free parking on MHA properties. All residents and visitors must have a valid permit or temporary pass and must park in authorized parking areas. Visitor passes are not allowed in regular resident parking areas.

Maintenance Corner—Preparing for the Cold

Summer is officially over, the leaves are falling, and we are gearing up for the inevitable cold season. By now, all apartments should have heat available. Now is also the time to remove your air conditioner or properly insulated it to prevent cold drafts that could freeze your baseboard heat. If you are unable to suitably insulate around your air conditioner, or if you cannot properly and completely close your window, please contact the Management Office as soon as possible so that our Maintenance Department can help. There is no charge for a Maintenance consultation about your air conditioner insulation.

During cold weather, all windows must be closed. Failure to do so can result in an emergency entry by Management to close the window(s) and will lead to a lease violation for you. As many of you know, Maintenance uses snow blowers and plows. It is impossible for them to see what is lying under the snow when using these machines, so please remove rugs, mats, and any other obstructions from your sidewalks before the snow hits. Speaking of snow removal, Maintenance does its best to clear snow from the parking lot and around vehicles, but they cannot completely clear a spot if it is occupied by a vehicle. If you move your car during a snow, try to return it to a parking spot that is completely cleared rather than a partially cleared spot that happens to be more convenient for you. Over the course of the winter season, this will provide increased, safer parking for all. During snowstorms, the snow clearing priority is as follows: handicapped-designated apartments, followed by sidewalks, streets, parking lots, and lastly, parking spaces. Please keep these priorities in mind before calling the office seeking help to get out of your parking space.

Important Dates