Disagreements between a Loveland couple and their neighborhood homeowners association have escalated while a sign attacking the association remains displayed in the couple’s yard.

Earlier this month, Rich and Colleen Stephens erected a large sign in the front yard of their home at 1110 Crabapple Drive in the Alford Meadows neighborhood in northwest Loveland that claims they have been unfairly targeted by the Alford Meadows Community Association.

The 4-foot by 8-foot sign reads, “If you are considering purchasing a home in Alford Meadows, you may want to reconsider. You may be the next target of the HOA!”

Members of the association reportedly told the couple their yard decorations, including a wooden replica of an American flag and metal flower pots, were in violation of the association’s covenants.

Rich Stephens disagreed, though, and refused to remove the decorations, constructing the sign after the association’s board declined to allow him to record audio of a meeting in which the parties were to try to reach a resolution.

He claimed the allegations from the HOA were made due to his political beliefs. Stephens supported Donald Trump during last year’s election cycle, placing dozens of campaign signs in his yard at one point.

A letter discussing the matter signed by Mike Krueger, an attorney the association has hired to consult on the ongoing dispute between its board and the Stephens, was shared with the Reporter-Herald by Colleen Stephens.

“The Alford Meadows Community Association and its board of directors recently have come under attack from Colleen and Richard Stephens,” Krueger’s letter states. “Neither the board nor any individual member has pursued any action of any kind against any owner on the basis of personal, political or improper considerations or in furtherance of any hidden agenda or personal dispute.”

Colleen Stephens said a meeting scheduled last week between she, her husband and the association’s board was canceled at the last minute. The Stephenses have acknowledged the placement of the sign is a clear violation of the association’s guidelines, but they say they feel the need to stand up for themselves.

Colleen Stephens reportedly mailed a letter to an agent of the association last week demanding that the board apologize for making its original allegations that the yard decorations were in violation of the association’s covenant.

“Be advised we have received a tremendous amount of support from within the Alford Meadows community and beyond,” the Stephens’ letter states. “Out of respect for our neighbors, we are advising of what can be done to resolve this dilemma. Regarding the sign, we want nothing more than to remove this from our lovely property, however constant bullying from the HOA has forced us to resort to posting this sign.”

Krueger’s letter made no mention of why the couple felt targeted in the first place, excluding that the couple was reportedly told its yard decorations needed to be removed.

“The Board of Alford Meadows is dedicated to improving the neighborhood in which they all live and to building a strong, cohesive, respectful neighborhood community in which the many competing interests are balanced with one another within the limits of the governing documents,” Krueger wrote. “Those documents are not perfect, and the Board is already considering changes that, hopefully, will reduce future disagreements.”

Sam Lounsberry: 970-635-3630, lounsberrys@reporter-herald.com and twitter.com/samlounz.