KTRV Fox 12 Homeowner Asked to Remove Support Our Troops Sign
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Kuna, Idaho -- The wife of a Boise-based soldier is upset with her homeowner's association, who Friday morning, demanded that she take down a sign showing support for our troops.
According to HOA rules, the only signs allowed in a homeowner's yard are those advertising for sale or for rent. But after hearing how upset the woman was, the association has made an exception, informing her that the sign can stay.
Leanne Hamlin's home in the Greens at Palomar subdivision in Kuna shows a lot of patriotism -- from the American flag hung in front of the door to the yellow ribbons both on the home and vehicle in the driveway, but it's a sign in her front yard that's causing controversy.
"I've had this sign for three years," said Hamlin.
Hamlin's husband serves with the 321st engineer battalion based at Gowen Field. He's currently in Iraq. His second tour of duty.
"I put it up the first time he got deployed and I've never had any letters complaining about my sign," said Hamlin.
Until Friday. When Hamlin returned home from PFC Raymond Werner's funeral, she was greeted with a letter from Advantage Idaho, the property management company who enforces the homeowners association's rules. It said Hamlin must remove the sign from view -- a violation of the subdivision's covenants, conditions and restrictions, which state the only signs that can be displayed in a yard are ones advertising the property is for sale or rent.
"That's ridiculous. Everybody should be able to show their support for our soldiers, especially in a time of need like now. We need to have more support now than ever," said Hamlin.
After hearing about the situation from Advantage Idaho, the association's president decided to make an exception.
"It's not something that's detrimental to the community, not something that's creating any visibility issues or anything like that. I told them to call her back, which they have done and told her that she could leave the sign up," said Mark Hellekson, homeowner's president of Palomar Heights.
But Hamlin wants more. She wants the covenants to include signs like hers along with for sale and for rent notices. But to do that, a majority of the homeowners would have to show up to a homeowners association meeting and vote on the change -- something both Hamlin and the board president don't think is likely to happen.
In the same subdivision, there's a Ten Commandments sign in another resident's yard. He too received a letter, but the association's president has made an exception for that as well.
To make it official, all board members must vote on the president's decision.
