A RETIRED military veteran has shared his frustration after his HOA threatened to put a lien on his house over a flagpole in his yard.
Mikell Edge spoke out about the problems he faced with his HOA after he was fined for proudly displaying the American flag in his front yard.
Military veteran Mikell Edge said his problems with his HOA began in 2018 when he decided to put up a flagpole
Edge, who lived in the South Carolina suburb of Glenlake, feared he’d lose his home after refusing to take the flagpole downCredit: WSPA
“I was ticked because I couldn’t understand what’s so offensive about flying the American flag,” Edge told local CBS affiliate WSPA.
“I lost 22 of my brothers in Afghanistan, I don’t understand how my country can ask me to go to a foreign country and ask me to help people live the dream of freedom, then I come here and seven members of the homeowners association take away my freedom.”
The drama unfolded in 2018 in the South Carolina suburb of Glenlake.
Edge told WSPA after refusing to take down the flagpole or pay the ever-increasing fine, the HOA threatened to put a lien on his home.
He ended up removing the offending flagpole as a result.
In 2022, the angry vet later put the flagpole back up after discovering the Freedom to Display the American Flag Act.
The act, which was passed in 2006, states that “a condominium association, cooperative association, or residential real estate management association may not adopt or enforce any policy, or enter into any agreement, that would restrict or prevent an association member from displaying the US flag.”
According to Edge, however, shortly after rebuilding the display, it was mysteriously torn down.
Infuriated by this, Edge filed a report with his sheriff’s office but no one was ever charged.
Despite the outrage over the situation, the Glenlake HOA Board didn’t back down when it came to rules about the lawn ornament.
President Ed McDuffie said Edge failed to meet the pre-approved guidelines for flagpoles in a statement to WSPA.
“The homeowner of 536 Shoreline Blvd was invited to bring his non-conforming flagpole into compliance with the guidelines,” the HOA wrote.
“On two separate occasions, Mr. Edge was invited to sit down and discuss the issue with the board of directors at mutually agreed upon dates and times.”
McDuffie, also a veteran, said Edge failed to appear at any of those meetings. He canceled the first time and never turned up for the second.
The HOA president said, “There were no apparent efforts to modify the flagpole and it was eventually removed from the property by the homeowner.”
“No homeowner or resident has been prohibited from flying the United States flag,” the statement concluded.
“This issue was never about the flag or someone’s right to fly it, it was always about our duty to uphold the Glenlake of the Upstate governing documents.”
But how much power does an HOA have? Can they forbid you from flying a flag?
“No, they can’t forbid you from flying it,” Attorney James Stone Craven told WSPA.
“It’s just the way you fly it that they are taking issue with.”
According to Craven, if Edge had taken the matter to court, he might have won his case as federal law would have trumped local bylaws.
Since clashing with the HOA, Edge has left the community and proudly displays his flag without worrying about consequences.
“They wanted me to ask their permission to fly the American flag,” he said simply.
“And so, I’m not going to do that.”
‘I couldn’t understand what’s so offensive about flying the American Flag,’ Edge told local CBS affiliate WSPACredit: WSPA
A photo shows the flagpole that was in Edge’s yard when the ordeal with HOA unfoldedCredit: WSPA
According to an attorney, if Edge had taken the matter to court, he might have won his case as Federal law would have trumped the local bylawsCredit: WSPA
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