The leaves have begun to turn, football season is well under way, and there’s that familiar Michigan ‘Crisp’ to the morning air.
Halloween
Maplewood Farms’ layout makes it a perfect Trick-or-Treat location. Remember to leave a light on if you’re anticipating little ghouls, goblins, Sonic, or Bluey at your front door. The Trick-or-Treat times for Saline, Saturday October 31st, are 6pm-8pm.
Annual Meeting Recap
Thank you to everyone who was able to attend the Annual Meeting, whether in person or online, and to those who submitted proxy forms. For the first time in quite a while, we were able to reach quorum at the Annual Meeting. The meeting minutes and slides can be found on the Archives page.
We appreciated the engagement and participation from our neighbors. When the 2026 Board was formed on October 29, 2025 , the HOA had not held an Annual Meeting since before the COVID-19 pandemic and had transitioned in January 2025 from one management company to another. As a result, this past year has involved rebuilding the HOA’s organizational foundation, reviewing governing documents, clarifying responsibilities, and establishing processes for moving forward.
One topic discussed during the Annual Meeting involved a concern that a homeowner was “threatened” with a fine in connection with a violation. Following the meeting, the Board reviewed the original communication sent to the homeowner. The communication addressed the violation, requested a timeline for resolution, and asked whether there were any circumstances the Board should be aware of. It did not threaten or mention any fines.
The Board followed the notification process outlined in the bylaws by providing a written notice. Board members are not required to personally knock on a homeowner’s door. In-person visits can also create unnecessary concerns regarding privacy, personal safety, confrontation, and inconsistent treatment of homeowners. Written notice provides a clear, documented, and consistent method of communication while allowing homeowners to respond at their convenience. For these reasons, the Board will continue to use the notification methods provided for in the bylaws.
The Board recognizes that circumstances may arise that warrant consideration when addressing violations. In this situation, the Board considered the circumstances presented and approached the matter with compassion. The Board will continue to take extenuating circumstances into consideration while applying the governing documents consistently and fairly.
We are pleased with the progress made over the past year and recognize that there is continued work ahead. We look forward to continuing to improve communication, transparency, and the overall operation of the HOA while working together with our neighbors to support our community.
Neighborhood Traffic & Awareness
Another concern raised during the Annual Meeting was the speed at which some vehicles are traveling through the neighborhood. The Board would like to remind residents that the speed limit on residential roads is 25 mph, or a speed that is reasonable and prudent for the conditions, including road surface, weather, visibility, and the presence of pedestrians. Please help keep our neighborhood safe by slowing down and remaining alert, particularly around driveways and areas where children may be present. For families with new drivers, we also encourage parents to reinforce the importance of driving cautiously through the neighborhood.
We have also noticed more children and families enjoying e-scooters and other forms of outdoor recreation throughout the neighborhood, which is always wonderful to see. With more activity on our roads and sidewalks, we encourage everyone to remain aware of their surroundings. These forms of recreational transportation can be quiet and travel quickly, so drivers should take an extra moment to look carefully when entering or backing out of driveways. Even when an area appears clear, a scooter or bicycle can approach quickly and may not be easily heard.
As always, we encourage drivers and riders alike to be mindful of one another and share our neighborhood safely.
Leaf Pickup
City leaf collection starts October 20th and runs until November 30th. According to the City, “Loose Leaf Collection” offers residents the ease of raking leaves into piles onto their extension without bagging. The Department of Public Works (DPW) will utilize equipment to collect the loose leaf piles and deliver to nearby fields for composting.
During leaf collection, DPW will collect leaves in a cyclical fashion through the different zones. Residents are not guaranteed that their leaves will be picked up each week. Occasionally other work demands will prevent DPW from clearing the entire City in a given week.
The City additionally asks that while out collecting leaves:
- Move vehicles from the street on collection days.
- Do not rake leaves over catch basin grates.
- Do not put tree brush, limbs, bushes, plants, flowers, etc. into leaf piles. Leaves will not be collected if any of these items are placed in a leaf pile.
- Do not park over leaf piles.
- Do not bag leaves for loose leaf collection.
Interested in Helping Out?
If anyone is interested in low commitment ways to help the neighborhood we are looking for people who would be interested in mailbox restoration/repainting, common area clean ups, and anyone who wants to put on a community event. If you are interested you can fill out the contact form below.
