FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Dues & Finances
Q: When are HOA dues due, and how do I pay them?
A: Dues are $229.00 annually (subject to change annually) and are due on March 1st, and late as of April 1st. You can pay online via the Sugar Valley & Hidden Valley website at Payments & Registration or mail a check made out to Sugar Valley Lakes Homes Assoc., Inc. to PO Box 247, Mound City, Kansas 66056.
Q: What exactly do my dues cover?
A: Your assessments directly fund the lake dams, maintenance, insurance, and operation of our shared community assets. This includes amenities: clubhouse, golf course, lake, pool, common areas, and road maintenance as well as contributing to our future reserve fund for long-term capital repairs.
Q: What is a "Reserve Fund" and why do we need it?
A: Think of the reserve fund as the neighborhood’s savings account for big-ticket, long-term projects (like repaving roads or replacing a clubhouse roof). Maintaining a healthy reserve fund ensures the community can handle major repairs without needing to issue emergency "special assessments" (unexpected extra fees) to homeowners.
Property Changes & Rules (ARC)
Q: I want to build a home, dock, or add on to my existing home, put up a fence, or add a shed. Do I need permission?
A: Yes. Any external modifications to your home or property must be reviewed and approved by the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) before work begins. This ensures changes align with our community guidelines and protects neighborhood property values.
Q: How do I submit an architectural request, and how long does it take?
A: Download the Building Permit from the website Payments and Registration page, fill it out with your project details (including paint chips, materials, or plot maps), and submit it via email tracy@sugarvalleylake.com or return it filled out to SVL, 53 Fairway Drive, Mound City, Kansas 66056. The committee has up to 30 days to review submissions, though we always aim to process them much faster!
Q: What are the restrictions on the size of dock I have on the lake?
A: Docks cannot extend outward from the lake more than 40 feet in length from the normal shoreline. The Association notes that exceptions can be made to be more or less restrictive depending on safety and practical considerations for that specific location on the lake. Additionally, docks cannot be wider than the owner's property or impede on a neighbor's space or common ground.
Q: What are the rules regarding campers, motor homes, and RVs?
A: Only campers, motor homes and RVs of rigid-sided construction, in good condition, showing no damage or rust, and given written approval by the Association will be permitted on a building lot for the summer months from April 1 through October 31 with a valid permit. This includes pop-up campers, when closed and secured when not in use. Campers may remain on a building lot with a Winter Camper Storage Permit. Yearly Winter Camper Storage permits can be obtained for a fee of $50 under Payments & Registration on the website.
Daily Living & Maintenance
Q: Who is responsible for fixing a pothole/a downed tree in a common area?
A: The HOA maintains all common areas, shared green spaces, and community roads. If you spot a maintenance issue, please submit a maintenance request form through the website under the About Us tab and then the Member Requests section so our team can address it.
Q: What are the neighborhood rules regarding trash?
A: Trash and litter may not be disposed of or thrown away on association Common Properties. All trash and litter must be disposed of at trash bins or trash compactor located at HVL by the maintenance building and next to the Sugar Valley campground. Only trash and litter generated while at Sugar Valley & Hidden Valley Lakes may be disposed of at the approved dumpsites. Only items listed on signs at the dumpsite may be disposed of at Association disposal sites. Dumping of prohibited items and misuse opens up the opportunity for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to shut down and remove the compactor.
All other items must be taken to State Approved disposal sites located outside the development. Mound City Landfill across from the Fair Grounds entrance. Linn County Landfill 4183 Vernon Rd. Prescott, KS 66767 (913) 471-4631
Q: What is the community pet policy?
A: We love pets! All dogs must be leashed and in total control by the members and guests when on Sugar Valley Lakes "Common Properties". Common properties include, but are not limited to, the Golf Course, Clubhouse, Swimming Pool, Swimming Beach, Parks, Roads, Dams, Easements, Association Docks, and Boat Ramps.
Animals outside of household pets. Sugar Valley Lake properties are officially zoned as R-LC (Residential Lake Community) or R1 (Single Family Residential). They are explicitly not zoned as an Agricultural District (District A). Because of this specific zoning designation and Hidden Valley and Sugar Valley community's strict covenants, you cannot keep horses, cattle, pigs, or other livestock on your property.
Governance & Communication
Q: What is the speed limit within Hidden Valley and Sugar Valley Lakes?
A: All motorized vehicles are subject to the posted 20 mph speed limit within the Association.
Q: Do I need a permit for my ATV, Go Cart, Golf Cart, or UTV?
A: Any motorized vehicle without a current license plate must obtain a permit from the Association office to operate on Association roads. All motorized vehicles must be insured. Permits for said vehicles may not be issued or may be suspended, at the discretion of the Manager or Board of Directors, depending on the violation or the record of past violations.
Q: How can I report a rule violation or file a complaint about a neighbor?
A: We always encourage neighbors to talk to each other politely first to resolve minor issues. If that doesn't work, you can submit a formal, confidential violation report through the website portal through the About Us tab, click on Member Services, and fill out the code violation form. Please include a photo and specific details.
Q: Does the association require watercraft to be registered with the Association?
A: Yes, all motorized watercraft must be registered at the Clubhouse and the annual fee paid before placing watercraft on any Association body of water. All lot fees must be paid before permits will be issued. Proof of ownership and insurance is required. Yearly watercraft permits must be displayed on the right, rear side of the watercraft.
Q: What is the size limit for boats allowed on the lake?
A: The maximum length for motorboats is 22 feet, and 28 feet for pontoon-type boats.
Q: Where can I find the official Covenants & Restrictions, Bylaws, and Board Meeting minutes?
A: All governing documents and past meeting minutes are securely stored and available 24/7 for residents in the password-protected sections of the https://www.sugarvalleyhiddenvalleylakes.com website.
Q: When are Board Meetings, and can I attend?
A: Yes, homeowners are always welcome! The Board of Directors meets on the fourth Saturday of February, June, and October at the Sugar Valley clubhouse and April, August, and December at the Hidden Valley clubhouse at 9:00 am. The meeting can also be streamed live at [Location / Zoom link]. The annual meeting is on the fourth Saturday of January, located at Bunker Hill, 508 Elm Street, Mound City, Kansas 66056.
Q: How do I report a sewage leak at Hidden Valley or Sugar Valley Lake.
A: You should immediately contact the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) to log a spill or the Bourbon or Linn County Planning & Zoning/Environmental Health to initiate a local health code enforcement.
Bourbon County Key Contacts to Report the Leak
Bourbon County Environmental Health: Call 620-223-3800. This is the primary county number for sanitation concerns and code enforcement.
Kansas Spill and Hazard Reporting Hotline: For after-hours emergencies or if the spill enters state waterways, call the state hotline at 785-291-3333 to notify the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE Spill Reporting)
Linn County Key Contacts to Report the Leak:
KDHE Spill and Hazard Hotline: Call 785-291-3333 to file an environmental pollution or spill report. (KDHE Spill Reporting)
Linn County Planning & Zoning / Environmental Health: Call 913-795-2422 to report unsanitary conditions or sanitation violations. You can download and submit the Linn County Nuisance / Sanitation Complaint Form to their office at 306 Main St., Box 350, Mound City, KS 66056.
https://www.linncountyks.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Nuisance-abatement-Complaint-Form.pdf