The West Lake neighborhood's property owners' assocation has faced some negative feedback regarding using an app to allow visitors into the Columbia County community. [ERIKA WELLS/THE AUGUSTA CHRONICLE] ▲

Legal action is being taken against a property owners' association after it changed how guests access a private neighborhood in Columbia County.



West Lake resident George Snelling has filed an injunction in Columbia County Superior Court after he said the POA made it mandatory that residents use an app rather than phone calls to security to allow guests to enter the gated community in Martinez.



Snelling said the technology has made it difficult for residents who do not have or care to use smartphones, tablets or computers – in particular older residents.



"That's not in the POA's documents in any place," Snelling said. "You can't have a guest admitted unless you adhere to their computer stuff. Probably way over half the people are way over 60 and many of them still have flip phones."



Snelling, who is in his 60s, has campaigned to go back to having the gate security call to notify residents when they have visitors in addition to using the app. He plans to push for residents to be able to vote on the issue.



"I'm not on it; my phone won't take it and I'm not getting on it," he said "We'll be in court until hell freezes over.



"You bought a house there 25 years ago and you could always call the gate to admit your son to come. Now, the gate doesn't answer the telephone. I just don't understand it. If they want to have the app, if they want to have computer access, that's fine as an auxiliary to what was already there."



Kevin Netherton, the association's president , said this has been an issue for only a few residents while the majority favor the upgrade. There are about 1,100 homes in the neighborhood, which is still growing, and only three people have complained about the app, Netherton said.



"To say that there's an outcry is not accurate," he said. "If you as a business owner can please 97 percent of your customers, you're doing pretty darn good. Granted, we still want to help 100 percent. We're trying to do what we can to make sure 100 percent are happy and served. I don't think we're doing terrible."



Netherton said he hoped that the situation could have been handled without litigation and outside of the public eye.



He also said the residents may still contact the property manager ahead of guests' arrival, and the POA's attorney sent residents a letter explaining this option.



"The system that was in place before wasn't effective so (non-residents) were able to get in pretty easily, and we have since tightened security," he said. "People have to be authorized to come into the neighborhood ... People are paying to be in a secured community and we're trying to give them what they're paying for."



Traffic may be an issue as people adjust to using the app, he said, but taking calls at the gate further congests the entrance.



Guards are still at the gate in addition to the app use. Residents were notified of the implementation in the winter and the app became available June 1, Netherton said.



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