Posted
on Mon, Dec. 27, 2004
Animosity lingers after Euless flag dispute
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
EULESS - American flags fly freely now in the Heritage Place
subdivision, but Euless resident Linda Martin, who championed the cause,
continues to struggle for neighborhood harmony.
Martin raised
the flag issue after the July Fourth holiday, when she was told to remove her
American flag because of a deed restriction. After an onslaught of criticism,
the Heritage Place board of directors in August lifted the restriction,
reportedly enacted as precaution against people who don't maintain their flags.
All homeowners
association board members resigned after residents circulated a petition
requesting their removal. A new five-member board is in place and plans to
present general policies at a meeting in January.
Tim Young,
board president, said the meeting will be "a very open process"
covering basic rules such as mowing guidelines and paint colors. Flying
American or Texas flags will be protected under the association's policies,
Young said.
Neighborhood
animosity still exists, Martin said. Animal control officers and Euless police
have visited her home about 20 times since June because of complaints about
barking, she said. Other residents don't have nearly that many complaints
against them, police said.
Martin has two
beagles, Toby and Tara, but she says the complaints are not valid because the
dogs often attend doggy day care.
"I feel
like a drug dealer, the police are at my home so much," said Martin,
adding that an obscenity was scratched on her car this summer.
Martin said
Euless police told her residents can file complaints anonymously, so little can
be done to stop what she labels harassment.
Martin
displays her American flag a few days before and after most holidays. She said
she doesn't put it out more because she does not want to annoy her neighbors.
"It
should have never been a battle to fight," said Martin, who at one point
retained an attorney.
"What we
have done is let people know that HOAs [homeowners associations] are not
supposed to be run like a prison."
John Ross of
Ross Property Management, which manages the subdivision off Texas 10, said,
"It was an interesting procedure, one I don't want to go through again.
"Certain
owners have learned they simply cannot force an issue that is not popular
within a community."
Ellena F. Morrison, (817) 685-3888 emorrison@star-telegram.com