Our Colorado HOA is like a drunken father drinking up the grocery money and beating the children when they are hungry

September 08, 2009

By Marilyn Sanders (View author info)

Re:
Pennsylvania Representative Siptroth attempt to find out what would happen if state money were used to fix infrastructure -- roads, sewer, water -- in private communities.

How can we get Colorado to take the same steps to reform homeowner associations as Pennsylvania has done?

This is a problem in Colorado, too. Dirt roads turn to mud after rain.

Homeowner Association doesn't want to pave roads. Two major washouts occurred 3 weeks apart and we have not had phone service for 3 weeks, as a result of HOA bulldozers tearing up our phone line, which is buried in the road.

After years of scraping, the mountain shows giant scars. They called utilities for buried cable markers not before but after both cuts.

A culvert they installed redirected the rain runoff to cause a big tunnel to the road 30' below (see picture).

They cut into trees, killing them and making erosion worse. Our road has been noted one of two of the worst in the 24 miles of roads in the HOA, but we do not have the political pull to get it fixed properly. #1 got 5 culverts because a past president lives there. $9K given by the treasurer for our road was used for other projects in the park. Is this legal?

2002 road report called for a storm sewer to prevent flooding of adjacent properties, but there are no plans to put one in.

A small group of members seized road funds, we had $80,000 . for a fire shelter voted down by the members. Board of Directors is laden with firemen. They got EMT training, and want us to pay for a full time fire chief so they can be our designated fire crew and life savers. They have no integrity and I do not want them doing CPR on me.

If I have to call 911, will I have to let them into my home?

Park Manager suggested beating up one old gentleman who said he should not be road building. Also, that he "might" tear up paved roads while snow clearing. Is afraid he will be fired.

Board liasson said he "cannot be fired", like they can't afford for him to talk. Chair of the road committee suggested I would not be allowed to stay on committee because I am not familiar with the other roads in the HOA.

Invited me to voice my opinion supporting old gent by "dancing on the table until the Board "shoots you down." Is that a sexist remark - I am the only woman on the committee?

Yet I have raised concern about another disastrous road, and he refused to discuss it. Board President locked up the clubhouse and would not give us a passcode for 6 months, yet, we pay the same monthly fee they do.

How can we get Colorado to take the same steps Pennsylvania has done?

Our homeowner association is like a drunken father drinking up the grocery money and beating the children when they are hungry.