Frequently Asked Questions |
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Here is a directory of items we are frequently asked.
Assessments: Assessments for the Monument Falls Property Owners Association (MFPOA) are established at the Annual Meeting for the following calendar year. The purpose of assessments is to maintain roads and common property, promote the welfare of the community, and contribute to the Operating Budget. Except for emergencies, assessments are established once a year at the Annual Meeting. The Treasurer sends out invoices after January 1st of the calendar year following the Annual Meeting.
Bears see Wildlife below.
Board Meetings Board meetings are held approximately quarterly, and all owners are welcome to attend. Check the calendar for scheduled meetings. If you have an issue that you would like to present for the discussion, please contact the MFPOA Board Secretary in advance of the meeting to place it on the agenda.
Board Members The 5-member Board of Directors is elected at the Annual Meeting of the POA.
Burning Open burning in Georgia is prohibited with the exception of 13 types of legal burn activities. There is a Summer Open Burning Ban in effect May 1 - Sept 30. Please see the Georgia EPD for rules and restrictions related to burning
Construction While MFPOA does not have a formal Architectural Review Board. Our covenants include requirements regarding structure size, setbacks, exterior materials, colors, and tree removal. Please submit a Notification of Planned Construction 4 weeks in advance via the owner portal. Contractors must comply with the MFPOA Contractor Code of Conduct. Some projects may be subject to an impact fee; for additional information, contact the Board.
Covenants All property owners in Monument Falls are legally bound by the Property Owners Association rules, which are specified in the Declaration of Covenants. As of 2020, there are two sets of covenants in effect for our property owners. The majority of our property owners are subject only to the Original Covenants, while a small group (32) of owners is also subject to the more restrictive Supplemental Revised Covenants. Review your Deed to determine which covenants apply to your property. If you do not have a copy of your deed, you can obtain one at the Pickens County offices. Copies of the Bylaws and Covenants are available in the Documents section.
Crime/Law Enforcement In case of an imminent threat, call 911! Otherwise, call the Pickens County Sheriff at (706) 253-8901. Please also notify the Board.
Electricity Amicalola EMC is the service provider for our community. For service, contact (706) 253-5200. To report an outage, call (706) 253-0359.
Fire – Call 911! We have a dedicated team of volunteer First Responders who operate out of Station 10, located on Monument Road. They are dispatched by the 911 operators in the event of a fire or other emergency type within a 5-mile radius of Monument Road in conjunction with Dawson and Pickens county emergency services as required.
Firearms Discharge, Illegal Hunting Discharge of firearms is not allowed in Monument Falls. In the event of a violation or evidence of illegal hunting, first, notify the Georgia Department of Natural Resources at (800) 241-4113 or the Local office (706) 295-6041. Please also notify the Board in the event of a violation.
Garbage Disposal: Property owners are responsible for their own trash disposal. There are two county facilities located at 390 Appalachian Ct, Jasper, GA 30143 (706-253-8871) and 9720 Cove Rd, Marble Hill Ga, 30148 (770-893-2644). For information on county services, hours, and fees, go to Pickens County Waste Management. Some private contractors provide trash pickup in the subdivision.
Ginseng Hunting Ginseng hunting is subject to strict federal and state regulations during the harvest season from September 1 – December 31. While ginseng hunting is allowed on private property during the designated season, hunters must have the property owner's written permission. To report violations, contact. For more information, go to the Georgia Ginseng Regulations.
Internet service providers. There are a variety of internet service providers via coax and satellite. There is no fiber optics to the home in this area. Providers include: Windstream Kinetic, Viasat, HughesNet, Starlink, TMobile, and ETC in some places.
See Broadband Now.
Mail: The US Postal Service delivers mail to the majority of MFPOA properties at locked mailboxes located in the kiosks at the entrances to Monument Falls 1 and Monument Falls 2. (A few properties receive mail at free-standing mailboxes at the intersection of Monument Road and Shiloh Road.) New property owners need to contact the Postmaster at the Jasper Post Office (706) 253-4300 to initiate mail delivery.
Medical Emergency: Call 911! Emergency services in our community are provided by Dawson and Pickens Counties, as determined by the 911 dispatcher. The Volunteer Fire Department at Station 10, located on Monument Road, provides trained volunteer First Responders to the communities within a 5-mile radius of Monument Road. Piedmont Mountainside Hospital in Jasper is the nearest hospital with an emergency room.
Newspaper: Pickens County Progress is the local weekly paper.
Pets: Pickens County regulations require all dogs to be on a leash. We encourage owners to work out issues among themselves. Property owners may submit complaints through the member portal.
Propane Fuel: There are several propane suppliers in our community. If you own your own propane tank, you may request a quote from any supplier. If your tank is leased, you may only purchase fuel from the owner of the tank. Prices are lowest in the summer and highest in the winter. Members, see vendor listing in the portal.
Real Estate Sales: Listings for properties outside of the community are not allowed and will be removed. Real Estate signs are only allowed on the property. All signs posted at neighborhood entrances will be removed.
Real Estate Closing Documents Contact the Treasurer.
Roads: Downed Trees See Trees, below.
Road Maintenance - Roads in the Monument Falls community are private roads. Upkeep and maintenance are provided by the Monument Falls POA, including mowing shoulders, maintaining drainage ditches and culverts, and removing downed trees on the roads. The POA maintains a Capital Reserve Fund to repave our roads when they reach the end of their life cycle. If there are road conditions that require attention, please submit a road issue form through the owner portal.
Roads- Snow and Ice The Monument Falls POA does not provide snow removal. However, we have a group of volunteer Road Champions; these are volunteer homeowners who will salt and plow roads when and if conditions are safe. The best place to stay on top of current road conditions during inclement weather is the Monument Road Facebook Group or announcements in the owner portal.
Service Providers A list of service providers recommended by community members is maintained and posted inside the owner portal. We recommend that you check with community members via the Monument Road Facebook Group for current recommendations and feedback.
Security: The Monument Falls POA does not provide security services. Each owner must protect their person and property. We recommend using security services or security cameras, especially for residences that are only used on a part-time basis. We strongly encourage you to meet your immediate neighbors and exchange contact information.
Social Media Social Media pages of interest include Monument Road Facebook Group, Sassafrass Mountain Estates POA, Know Pickens, Pickens County Sheriff Facebook Page, and Pickens Progress.
Trees
Fallen Trees Inside the Subdivision: If trees are blocking one of the roads inside Monument Falls, or if you see trees that are at risk of falling onto our roads, please submit a Road Issue Form on the owner portal.
Fallen Trees on 136 and Monument Road: For emergency issues, call 911.
Who is responsible for damage caused by falling trees? “Georgia law does not hold that a landowner is automatically liable for any damages to an adjoining property owner that his or her tree causes. Rather, a landowner is liable for injuries or damages caused by a falling branch or tree only if the landowner knew or reasonably should have known that the tree was diseased, decayed, or otherwise constituted a dangerous condition. Also, the law does not require that a landowner inspect the tree for non-visible problems that may weaken the tree; generally, the landowner will only be held liable for damage caused to the property of another if the disease, decay, or other problem with the tree is visible, apparent and patent.” Source: NowackHoward.com.
Cutting Trees: Monument Falls POA covenants restrict the removal of trees with a diameter of 8 inches or more on some properties without the POA approval. For specifics, review the covenants applicable to your property or submit a Request Form through the owner portal.
Trespassing Our community is surrounded by beautiful undeveloped land with spectacular creeks, waterfalls, and beautiful vistas. The *only* property accessible to the public is at the end of Monument Road at Tobacco's Pouch and Eagle's Rest. All other property, whether developed or not, is privately owned. Please be respectful of private property rights and do not not enter private property without the owner’s explicit permission. If there are trespassers on your property, contact 911 or call the Pickens County Sheriff at (706) 253-8901.
Volunteers: There are many ways to volunteer in the community, including volunteer first responder, hosting social events, helping with roads during inclement weather, building nearby hiking trails, serving as a Board member, or assisting with special projects. For more information, contact the Board through the owner portal.
Water: Water in our mountaintop communities is supplied exclusively through wells or cisterns. During periods of extreme drought, water shortages are known to occur. As underground water supplies are a resource shared by the entire community, we strongly encourage practicing water conservation measures year-round.
Website Registration - New property owners can request a user ID and temporary password by contacting the board Secretary.
Wildfire Prevention: Fire is a major risk since we are surrounded by forest and only have one road to evacuate. Monument Falls POA supports Wildcat Community, Inc., a consortium of seven communities spanning Dawson and Pickens Counties. As part of the national Firewise Community program, they provide education and support in all aspects of fire prevention and emergency support. We encourage all homeowners to request a free fire safety evaluation of their property. For information, see our FIREWISE.ORG folder, or go to https://wildcatcommunityga.org/.
Wildlife: Monument Falls is home to an abundance of wildlife, including deer, bear, turkeys, bobcats, coyotes. Feeding wildlife is strongly discouraged as the animals lose their fear of humans and become “problem animals,” requiring them to be destroyed.
Assessments: Assessments for the Monument Falls Property Owners Association (MFPOA) are established at the Annual Meeting for the following calendar year. The purpose of assessments is to maintain roads and common property, promote the welfare of the community, and contribute to the Operating Budget. Except for emergencies, assessments are established once a year at the Annual Meeting. The Treasurer sends out invoices after January 1st of the calendar year following the Annual Meeting.
Bears see Wildlife below.
Board Meetings Board meetings are held approximately quarterly, and all owners are welcome to attend. Check the calendar for scheduled meetings. If you have an issue that you would like to present for the discussion, please contact the MFPOA Board Secretary in advance of the meeting to place it on the agenda.
Board Members The 5-member Board of Directors is elected at the Annual Meeting of the POA.
Burning Open burning in Georgia is prohibited with the exception of 13 types of legal burn activities. There is a Summer Open Burning Ban in effect May 1 - Sept 30. Please see the Georgia EPD for rules and restrictions related to burning
Construction While MFPOA does not have a formal Architectural Review Board. Our covenants include requirements regarding structure size, setbacks, exterior materials, colors, and tree removal. Please submit a Notification of Planned Construction 4 weeks in advance via the owner portal. Contractors must comply with the MFPOA Contractor Code of Conduct. Some projects may be subject to an impact fee; for additional information, contact the Board.
Covenants All property owners in Monument Falls are legally bound by the Property Owners Association rules, which are specified in the Declaration of Covenants. As of 2020, there are two sets of covenants in effect for our property owners. The majority of our property owners are subject only to the Original Covenants, while a small group (32) of owners is also subject to the more restrictive Supplemental Revised Covenants. Review your Deed to determine which covenants apply to your property. If you do not have a copy of your deed, you can obtain one at the Pickens County offices. Copies of the Bylaws and Covenants are available in the Documents section.
Crime/Law Enforcement In case of an imminent threat, call 911! Otherwise, call the Pickens County Sheriff at (706) 253-8901. Please also notify the Board.
Electricity Amicalola EMC is the service provider for our community. For service, contact (706) 253-5200. To report an outage, call (706) 253-0359.
Fire – Call 911! We have a dedicated team of volunteer First Responders who operate out of Station 10, located on Monument Road. They are dispatched by the 911 operators in the event of a fire or other emergency type within a 5-mile radius of Monument Road in conjunction with Dawson and Pickens county emergency services as required.
Firearms Discharge, Illegal Hunting Discharge of firearms is not allowed in Monument Falls. In the event of a violation or evidence of illegal hunting, first, notify the Georgia Department of Natural Resources at (800) 241-4113 or the Local office (706) 295-6041. Please also notify the Board in the event of a violation.
Garbage Disposal: Property owners are responsible for their own trash disposal. There are two county facilities located at 390 Appalachian Ct, Jasper, GA 30143 (706-253-8871) and 9720 Cove Rd, Marble Hill Ga, 30148 (770-893-2644). For information on county services, hours, and fees, go to Pickens County Waste Management. Some private contractors provide trash pickup in the subdivision.
Ginseng Hunting Ginseng hunting is subject to strict federal and state regulations during the harvest season from September 1 – December 31. While ginseng hunting is allowed on private property during the designated season, hunters must have the property owner's written permission. To report violations, contact. For more information, go to the Georgia Ginseng Regulations.
Internet service providers. There are a variety of internet service providers via coax and satellite. There is no fiber optics to the home in this area. Providers include: Windstream Kinetic, Viasat, HughesNet, Starlink, TMobile, and ETC in some places.
See Broadband Now.
Mail: The US Postal Service delivers mail to the majority of MFPOA properties at locked mailboxes located in the kiosks at the entrances to Monument Falls 1 and Monument Falls 2. (A few properties receive mail at free-standing mailboxes at the intersection of Monument Road and Shiloh Road.) New property owners need to contact the Postmaster at the Jasper Post Office (706) 253-4300 to initiate mail delivery.
Medical Emergency: Call 911! Emergency services in our community are provided by Dawson and Pickens Counties, as determined by the 911 dispatcher. The Volunteer Fire Department at Station 10, located on Monument Road, provides trained volunteer First Responders to the communities within a 5-mile radius of Monument Road. Piedmont Mountainside Hospital in Jasper is the nearest hospital with an emergency room.
Newspaper: Pickens County Progress is the local weekly paper.
Pets: Pickens County regulations require all dogs to be on a leash. We encourage owners to work out issues among themselves. Property owners may submit complaints through the member portal.
Propane Fuel: There are several propane suppliers in our community. If you own your own propane tank, you may request a quote from any supplier. If your tank is leased, you may only purchase fuel from the owner of the tank. Prices are lowest in the summer and highest in the winter. Members, see vendor listing in the portal.
Real Estate Sales: Listings for properties outside of the community are not allowed and will be removed. Real Estate signs are only allowed on the property. All signs posted at neighborhood entrances will be removed.
Real Estate Closing Documents Contact the Treasurer.
Roads: Downed Trees See Trees, below.
Road Maintenance - Roads in the Monument Falls community are private roads. Upkeep and maintenance are provided by the Monument Falls POA, including mowing shoulders, maintaining drainage ditches and culverts, and removing downed trees on the roads. The POA maintains a Capital Reserve Fund to repave our roads when they reach the end of their life cycle. If there are road conditions that require attention, please submit a road issue form through the owner portal.
Roads- Snow and Ice The Monument Falls POA does not provide snow removal. However, we have a group of volunteer Road Champions; these are volunteer homeowners who will salt and plow roads when and if conditions are safe. The best place to stay on top of current road conditions during inclement weather is the Monument Road Facebook Group or announcements in the owner portal.
Service Providers A list of service providers recommended by community members is maintained and posted inside the owner portal. We recommend that you check with community members via the Monument Road Facebook Group for current recommendations and feedback.
Security: The Monument Falls POA does not provide security services. Each owner must protect their person and property. We recommend using security services or security cameras, especially for residences that are only used on a part-time basis. We strongly encourage you to meet your immediate neighbors and exchange contact information.
Social Media Social Media pages of interest include Monument Road Facebook Group, Sassafrass Mountain Estates POA, Know Pickens, Pickens County Sheriff Facebook Page, and Pickens Progress.
Trees
Fallen Trees Inside the Subdivision: If trees are blocking one of the roads inside Monument Falls, or if you see trees that are at risk of falling onto our roads, please submit a Road Issue Form on the owner portal.
Fallen Trees on 136 and Monument Road: For emergency issues, call 911.
- Pickens County is responsible for Monument Road and the west (Jasper) side of 136. For non-emergency matters, call the Pickens County Road Department (706) 253-8873.
- For non-emergency road issues on the east (Dawsonville) side of Highway 136, contact the Dawson County Department of Public Works (706) 344-3500 ext 42232.
Who is responsible for damage caused by falling trees? “Georgia law does not hold that a landowner is automatically liable for any damages to an adjoining property owner that his or her tree causes. Rather, a landowner is liable for injuries or damages caused by a falling branch or tree only if the landowner knew or reasonably should have known that the tree was diseased, decayed, or otherwise constituted a dangerous condition. Also, the law does not require that a landowner inspect the tree for non-visible problems that may weaken the tree; generally, the landowner will only be held liable for damage caused to the property of another if the disease, decay, or other problem with the tree is visible, apparent and patent.” Source: NowackHoward.com.
Cutting Trees: Monument Falls POA covenants restrict the removal of trees with a diameter of 8 inches or more on some properties without the POA approval. For specifics, review the covenants applicable to your property or submit a Request Form through the owner portal.
Trespassing Our community is surrounded by beautiful undeveloped land with spectacular creeks, waterfalls, and beautiful vistas. The *only* property accessible to the public is at the end of Monument Road at Tobacco's Pouch and Eagle's Rest. All other property, whether developed or not, is privately owned. Please be respectful of private property rights and do not not enter private property without the owner’s explicit permission. If there are trespassers on your property, contact 911 or call the Pickens County Sheriff at (706) 253-8901.
Volunteers: There are many ways to volunteer in the community, including volunteer first responder, hosting social events, helping with roads during inclement weather, building nearby hiking trails, serving as a Board member, or assisting with special projects. For more information, contact the Board through the owner portal.
Water: Water in our mountaintop communities is supplied exclusively through wells or cisterns. During periods of extreme drought, water shortages are known to occur. As underground water supplies are a resource shared by the entire community, we strongly encourage practicing water conservation measures year-round.
Website Registration - New property owners can request a user ID and temporary password by contacting the board Secretary.
Wildfire Prevention: Fire is a major risk since we are surrounded by forest and only have one road to evacuate. Monument Falls POA supports Wildcat Community, Inc., a consortium of seven communities spanning Dawson and Pickens Counties. As part of the national Firewise Community program, they provide education and support in all aspects of fire prevention and emergency support. We encourage all homeowners to request a free fire safety evaluation of their property. For information, see our FIREWISE.ORG folder, or go to https://wildcatcommunityga.org/.
Wildlife: Monument Falls is home to an abundance of wildlife, including deer, bear, turkeys, bobcats, coyotes. Feeding wildlife is strongly discouraged as the animals lose their fear of humans and become “problem animals,” requiring them to be destroyed.
- Bears “A fed bear is a dead bear.” Pet food, bird feeders, and household garbage need to be secured and out of the bears' reach to avoid problems. Georgia DNR has an excellent Bear Fact Sheet.
- Feral hogs are highly destructive, dangerous, and invasive non-native species with no natural predators other than humans. They reproduce at an alarming rate - females are reproductive as early as 6 months, with 2 or more litters a year of 10-12 piglets. Traveling in large packs of up to 50 individuals called sounders, they destroy the food chain and damage native species' habitat. They are dangerous to humans and destroy residential property, including septic drain fields, lawns, gardens, and woodlands. If you spot feral hogs, do not confront them, and contact the Board.
- Feral cats can be problem in our area, and their population can increase exponentially. We encourage trapping and neutering of feral cats before releasing them back to the wild. Feeding un-neutered feral cats have the unintended consequence of increasing their reproduction rate, further compounding the problem.
- Snakes Learn to identify the 6 species of poisonous snakes in Georgia and give them plenty of space. Click here for the Georgia DNR brochure: Venomous Snakes of Georgia Identification.