Circle C Neighbors

Ken Rigsbee, Secretary/Treasurer CCHoA

Feb 27, 2004

Feb 8, 2004
Dear Circle C Neighbors:

On the advice of our attorneys I have constantly been advised to not enter the ?“fight?” with some of our newcomer detractors. I have honored that directive, but when the virtual continuance of this community, and of its governance is at stake, I have chosen to disregard our attorneys?’ advice and, like always before, try to communicate directly with you.

We have, as you no doubt have observed, a significant challenge waged by several who would run off the dedicated volunteer servants of our CCHoA (all of whom agreed to take on the task when there was NO opposition, and when nobody else wanted it) in order to do their best to act in such a manner as to protect and preserve our home investment values. Our detractors fail, amidst all of their unfounded allegations, to acknowledge that your volunteer board has ultimately ?“won?” virtually every external challenge put before this neighborhood (with the help of many of our neighbors) in order to protect the image of and our investments in our community.

My theory is that there are those who want to interrupt the current activities of the directors of our Association in order to destroy all of the contracts and agreements that all of us have worked for over the years, so that they may ultimately create sufficient chaos to stop development in Circle C Ranch. Neighbors, I resent that, especially from people whom from my perspective, have NEVER ever made any positive contribution whatsoever to our neighborhood.

We have, among our attackers, Bill Gammon, a lawyer who sued us for a restraining order against our electing a director in the Spring 2003 CCHoA meeting, who is a convicted felon, pardoned by then governor Bill Clements, who has systematically raised motion after motion, all of which must be defended at your cost (which is significant, by the way), regardless of their frivolousness. I don?’t trust Mr. Gammon, and
his actions have demonstrated ample reason to not
trust what he has done. We have, among our attackers, Salvatore Costello, who set up his own little complaint ?“chat room?” and who has decided that he is the most gifted challenger to virtually everything that the board has ever done, and who, upon learning half of the information, typically publishes half-truths and challenges and criticizes the directors, out of context. He has demonstrated that his desire to attack and challenge the integrity of those in positions of responsibility is greater than his obligation to set the record straight when he ultimately learns the facts. I have chosen to ignore any and all comments from Mr. Costello. I will not comment on the rumor that Mr. Costello is a Mafia ?“trust baby?” who was moved to Austin in order to avoid the potential dangers of other major metropolitan areas.

You have doubtless seen the product of a number of uninformed idiots who are either ignorant, or who want to destroy the Association, on their proposed changes to the Bylaws of the CCHoA. You have also likely seen many objections by other homeowners to that distribution as being illogical and potentially detrimental to the preservation of your home investment values, which, after all, is the only reason for a homeowners association.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am a volunteer who has served this neighborhood for 15+ years because I love it. I am a guy who has throughout my career tried to do what is best for those around me (please check my overall record). I personally resent the attacks by these new self-appointed ?“saviors?” of Circle C, for no basis. I personally resent being accused of being somehow ?“on the take?”, of benefiting somehow from my volunteer service (please explain that to my wife, who reminds me frequently of the actual costs of my volunteer service to our community), of being ?“senile?” and an ?“angry old man?”, and of lying to the Austin City Council when I actually hand-delivered the documentation I promised to. I have been criticized by those who have never ever held any job for anyone as best I can determine for being a ?‘retired oil company lobbyist?’ (as if that is a bad tag, despite the fact that I was employed primarily as an engineer for 36 years with a major oil company, who honored my request to return to Austin, my hometown, to be close to my parents in their declining years since I am an only child ?– turned out to be 9 years before they died). I resent these kinds of attacks and challenges from people who haven?’t done anything whatsoever in my opinion to establish any credibility in this community.

My term as one of your now-three directors is up upon our Spring 2004 meeting. I agreed to do this
(unopposed) for the protection and betterment of our neighborhood, and in the interests of my neighbors?’ home investments, to the best of my ability. With what we have been through during the past eight months, and as one who ?“doesn?’t need a job or assignment?”, I?’m wondering why anybody in their right mind would agree to put up with the kind of asinine challenges on a volunteer task when he or she is attempting to do what?’s right for our community. If you have a strong desire to serve our community, or if you know someone, please encourage them to allow their
nomination to our board. And then, please hover over them and make darn sure that their actions are totally consistent with what you think they should be, in your interest.

In retrospect, perhaps one of the allegations against
me, of being an ?“angry old man?” is valid. I am ANGRY about what has happened to our community, I am ANGRY at being accused of doing unethical deals for personal benefit, I am ANGRY that some little newcomers can mass several score of dissidents who will believe their mistruths and make subsequent stupid decisions.
That, Ladies and Gentlemen, does make me ANGRY. And, there is no question that, having observed the sixth decade of my existence on this old Earth, I am ?“old?”.

Neighbors, I apologize for having to put into writing my observations and conclusions about the efforts of a small minority for their own purposes. As earlier observed, I honestly believe that they are misguided and ill-informed, and are requesting changes that are totally inappropriate to the betterment of our Association and of our community.

Thank you for your patience and consideration.

Personally and Respectfully,
Ken Rigsbee, Secretary/Treasurer CCHoA