The use of the office for the delivery of packages will end on December 31st. This temporary measure was implemented to address numerous thefts and to help members and their families have the secure delivery of packages for Christmas. We believed at the time that this was a reasonable solution. Unfortunately, there have been a few owners who complained that this prevented them from accessing their packages at a convenient time. This is also not a viable long term solution as it takes security away from the gate. On December 31st, these deliveries will resume at the mailhouse. We will be working with the County Sheriff to investigate any package thefts that are reported. We are also exploring other options for package delivery that do not place the Association at risk. In the meantime, members are encouraged to not have valuable items shipped to the mailhouse.

If you need to pick up a package, the last pickup on Christmas Eve will be at 8:00 pm.

Craig Allen
Security

As a follow-up to the previous post we will have a person at the office for a few minutes on the half hour from 5:00 pm until 10:00 pm Monday through Friday so you can retrieve your packages. We re-emphasize that this is only temporary and we are just trying to accommodate owners who already have Christmas packages on the way. We will post additional information about receiving packages once the dust (or snow) settles. In the meantime, please keep in mind that the Association does not and cannot guarantee the satisfactory delivery of your packages. Please contact me if you have concerns or comments.

Craig Allen
Security

Due to recent theft of packages from the Timber Lakes mailhouse, we are making the office available temporarily for package deliveries for the upcoming Christmas season. All UPS and Fedex packages are now being delivered to the office. They can be retrieved during normal office hours (9 am – 1 pm M-F). Photo identification will be required to pick up. Security will also be setting up a schedule to open the office periodically during the evening. This schedule will be posted at the mailhouse. We strongly suggest that if you are shipping anything of high value, send it signature required, and delivered to the UPS store in Heber City. The UPS store charges $3.00 per package. Please contact them at 435.654.9292 for the details.

Craig Allen
Security

We discovered on Saturday, March 21, that someone broke through the emergency exit crash gate at Legacy Lake (at the top of Timber Lakes Drive) and tried to drive into the Heber Valley Camp. This type of reckless behavior cannot be tolerated in Timber Lakes. It jeopardizes our relationship with the Camp, which may put our snowmobile access at risk. The crash gates are there only for use during an emergency, such as a forest fire, that prevents us from leaving Timber Lakes through the main gate. In addition, this was trespassing on private property. If you can provide us with any information about this incident, please contact me.

Craig Allen security@timberlakesutah.com

We remind all owners that short-term rentals are illegal in Timber Lakes. In accordance with Wasatch County Code Section 11.08, “Property may be considered for use as a short-term rental only if (1) short-term rentals are specifically allowed in any CC&R’s which apply to the property, and (2) the property is located either in a zone in which short-term rentals are a permitted use or a conditional use or in a development for which a Development Agreement that has been lawfully approved by the County specifically authorizes short-term rentals.” Timber Lakes does not meet any of these requirements.

The Association will not knowingly aid owners in breaking this law, makes no warranties, and assumes no liability in conjunction with an individual owner’s illegal rental activity. Our attorney has advised us that short-term renters have no rights to access any of the common area, including roads. Effective immediately, short term-renters will not be granted access to Timber Lakes. In the event of a renter being observed on TLPOA common area property, owners should immediately contact the Wasatch County Sheriff and TLPOA Security. The property owner will be cited each day that the renter remains on the property by the Wasatch County Sheriff. Any damages committed or incurred by a renter in conjunction with illegal rental activity are the sole responsibility of the renter and the individual property owner.

Any owner who has questions regarding this issue can contact any board member or the Wasatch County Attorney’s Office directly. Please consult the entire text of the ordinance, as rentals other than short-term are permitted.

The summer has been relatively quiet. There are no trespass violations reported as yet this quarter, and no cabin break-ins. There have been numerous reports of dog leash violations and incidents involving pellet guns. Please remember that in order for the Heber Valley Animal Control or the Sheriff’s department to respond to this type of incident, there must be a complaining witness who will actually sign the complaint. Asking our security employee to call and provide a second hand account of the incident to law enforcement is not sufficient. If you witness an illegal act, please  call the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Dispatch directly.

We are still looking for applicants to fill full and part time positions at the Timber Lakes gate. If you are interested, please contact the office for an application. If you have any questions about what the position entails, please call Craig Allen directly. We would prefer to hire from within the community before we start hiring from outside Timber Lakes. We are also working on a service response guide for Timber Lakes Security. As soon as this is complete and we are fully staffed again, we will communicate to all owners though our website.

We have had some complaints about speeders. Please do your part by obeying the speed limit. If you witness someone speeding in Timber Lakes, get their license plate number and contact Craig Allen.

We spoke briefly during the annual meeting about short-term rentals. We have discussed this with the County Attorney and have had initial discussions with the Sheriff’s Office. The County will enforce the law, and we are working with the Sheriff to determine what type of evidence will be required in order to prosecute a successful case. While we are waiting to hear from the County on the next steps, residents can help by identifying rental properties. If you are aware of a short term (less than 30 day duration) rental, please call or email that lot number to any board member. We are currently aware of only 25 or so properties that fall in this category.

Thanks for helping us keep things safe in Timber Lakes.

We have closed the snowmobile gate at the top of the Mountain for the season. Unfortunately, we have had ATVs in there, tearing up the private property we are allowed to access only by snowmobile. In order to preserve our relationship with our neighbors and to protect the winter access we have been graciously given, we will actively assist in the enforcement of this boundary. Next season, no snowmobiles will be allowed to use the Timber Lakes gate to access the National Forest without complying with the agreement we have with the Heber Valley Camp.  We intend to stop non-authorized users at the main gate.