Just some history from someone who's been here for 13 years.
Regarding "hassling" people going through the gate, I can honestly say that the only people we've hassled were hunters. In fact, we called the game warden who came up and also "hassled" them. The game warden called Calvin Howell to see if he wanted to press charges against them for trespassing. Howell told the game warden that he would not, but it was their only warning, and he would press charges the next time. That particular group of hunters has not been back up Half High.
The only contractor that I can recall is the one hired by Hollernet to even out the road past the gate. When he was at the gate in a bulldozer, Ron opened the gate for him after getting permission from Ron Cooley (RC Chairman). No representative from Hollernet was up at the time. Cooley also stated that he had told this contractor to drive the bulldozer up the unpaved portion of Half High so as not to damage the paved portion of Half High with the metal cleats.
The contractor did not follow the directive given by Cooley and came up the paved portion of Half High. We were also told by the Road Committee prior to that incident to NOT give out the combination to non-residents. The gate was installed prior to the placement of Hollernet's equipment on Howell's property. Hollernet agreed to the board's stipulation at that time that the gate would be kept locked, and the combination would not be given out.
If we are home and a resident comes to the door to get through the gate, we have informed them that after the first 6-9 EMPOA lots past the gate, they would be trespassing on non-EMPOA property. This is not the same as people traveling on your road (Wilhite Creek Road) which is all within the EMPOA subdivision.
If we happen to see someone messing with the gate/lock, we have asked them who they are. I believe that happened with Trey? the first time he came up because we had never seen him before. I don't consider that hassling someone--more of a neighborhood watch.
The caravans that we have seen come up Half High are NOT residents of this mountain. Once they come off Alpine, they are trespassing on private EMPOA roads. The "No Trespassing" signs were put up before the gates as a first attempt to discourage trespassers. The non-residents ignore the signs. The gates were installed as the next attempt to reduce traffic from non-residents and hunters. The gate on Pawnee approved to be effective after some further modifications.
The 4 residents/lot owners on Half High pitched in $7200 that EMPOA could not cover to pave the road last year. The owners also pitched in the last time Half High was partially paved after the 2012 fire when there was significant damage from a forestry bulldozer that was going up and down the paved road for about a week. This bulldozer went past the area where the gate would have been all the way to the top. The owners of Half High have a personal investment in Half High that was protected by the gate. We should have some say in how to protect the road we have an investment in. We really don't care that the hunters and non-resident ATV'ers have another way to get to the top. We have always told them there is another way to get up there rather than using a private EMPOA road. How much do you currently have invested in Wilhite Creek Road for paving repairs, or does your landlord cover that?
You are well aware of the hassling (and that is putting it mildly) that a resident on Hickory Street has given unannounced travelers on HIS road. The previous EMPOA president reported at an annual meeting on the experience that he and his wife were subjected to while traveling on Hickory. They endured verbal abuse with cursing and swearing. He also wrote the past president a letter regarding their use of Hickory that contained the same foul/abusive language, which the president refrained from reading aloud to the members. Unfortunately, this was not an isolated incident. An elderly couple that lives on the mountain informed me that they were also subjected to this person's abusive language when they went to look at some lots on Hickory. He informed them that it was "their" road because their residents paid for ALL the repairs/gravel on Hickory. Not true. Ron Cooley confirmed that the EMPOA had paid for gravel in the past and a major repair ($5000) when the road washed out due to excessive rains. At that time, the EMPOA paid for an excavator to come up and build up the road with a bulldozer. Cooley related that the owners of that road had promised to help pay for the wash out repair. That never happened as the residents reneged on their promise to the EMPOA.
I totally understand Mac's concern. However, the chance of a wildfire above us in freezing temperatures (when the lock might be frozen) is nil in my opinion. We have been told by the TN Dept of Forestry that the greatest chance of a wildfire on our mountain is in the spring and fall when we have high winds. Ron told Mac that it takes a minute to undo the lock and showed him how to put in the correct combination. We were told my Cooley that the combination is actually programmed into the fire department's system so that it comes up when they have a call in our area. During the 2012 fire, the local fire departments were assigned to protect the homes in danger on the mountain and the TN Dept. of Forestry was responsible for taking the bulldozer up the uninhabited/rough road to the top (past where the gate would have been).
What surprises me is how simple it was to come up with a solution to keeping the lock from freezing in the winter months to alleviate Hollernet's problem/complaint. We found a plastic circuit? box without holes that could be attached to the pole and placed completely over the lock and housing. This cover could be lifted off and allowed to hang while opening the lock. Water would not be able to get into the lock and freeze.
And finally, regarding your statement of giving us texts when Hollernet was coming up after dark (night or early morning)---yes we appreciated that. And I would also hope that Hollernet appreciated Ron keeping the area mowed around the gate and using his chainsaw to remove trees PAST the gate that had fallen in your path. He wasn't required to do that either--it wasn't part of our property. Ron had no problem doing that, he was just being a thoughtful neighbor.
Again, I apologize for the length of this post, but thought it was important for all residents to know the history.
Respectfully submitted
