Thirsty pigeons create messy problems

Q: I wonder if you can give me some advice. Three years ago, I fell behind in my homeowners association fees. I missed six months' payments and owed $1,506. Since then I have paid the collection firm $2,400, and the board rescinded some of my late payments.

They still say I owe more than $800. No matter how many times I have asked for a detail of these charges they just send me a printout of all activity since the complex went condo.

They just sent me seven identical letters about the debt they claim I owe. Some were posted regular mail, and some came certified. I would appreciate any advice you can give me.

A: You may want to visit the management company and ask for a printout of your financial history.

They need to know it is a Nevada Revised Statutes 116. 3118 violation not to provide that information to you.

If necessary, you can contact the state's Office of the Ombudsman and ask it to give the management company a "little push" to assist you.

Q: I look forward to reading your column every Saturday in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. It is quite informative to this recent North Las Vegas homeowner.

For the last two months, I have had this pigeon problem. They have been crapping on my tile roof and vehicles. The irrigation timer in the adjacent common area comes on at 6 p.m. several times a week, which draws four to eight pigeons. My exterminator tells me we need to "break" their drinking habits.

I have politely emailed my HOA manager several times these last two months, requesting her to change the timer settings to something like 3 or 4 a.m. This would probably break the pigeons' drinking habits, since no pigeons would be searching for water at that hour.

She has pacified me several times by telling me the landscapers have been notified. The timer still remains at 6 p.m.

I am not asking for the world. I am just asking for the timer to be changed to an early morning hour to hopefully relieve my pigeon problem.

Her recent email states the timer cannot be changed, because the grass needs to "get back in shape."

The area in question has no grass. It is all stone-filled, a fact I conveyed to her.

Meanwhile, the pigeons start to congregate around 5:45 p.m., awaiting for the water works to start. Why do I feel I am getting stonewalled here? What to do?

A: Changing the timer may not be feasible. There are time constraints in which the water can be running per the Southern Nevada Water Authority regulations.

I don't know your irrigation system's structure, how that timer relates to other irrigation areas within the community or how it would impact the water pressure for early risers. You said there is no grass in the area. In that case, it does not make sense to water that area at all. I would ask what other landscape sections the timer controls.

Yes, breaking their habits is one way of trying to decrease pigeon problem. But there are other ways to combat pigeons. Your association should be discussing this matter with its exterminating company.

Pigeons do cause damage to the roofs. It is not inexpensive and even exterminating companies must be careful about what methods they choose to help eliminate the pigeon problem.

As for the stonewalling problem, contact the Southern Nevada Health District and see if it can help you capture the attention of the management company and provide you with other remedies.

Note: The state Office of the Ombudsman has scheduled free HOA classes in September. Some that are being held in the area are: An Overview of HOA Living, 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 8, Desert View Community Center, 10360 Sun City Blvd., at Thomas Ryan and Sun City boulevards in Summerlin; HOA Financial Statements, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sept. 18, Bradley Building, 2501 E. Sahara Ave.; and Reserve Studies, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sept. 19, Bradley Building, 2501 E. Sahara Ave.

Barbara Holland, certified property manager, broker and supervisory certified association manager, is president and owner of H&L Realty and Management Co. Questions may be sent to Association Q&A, P.O. Box 7440, Las Vegas, NV 89125. Her fax number is 385-3759, or she can be reached by email at support@hlrealty.com. Holland is also available to speak at your organization or company.