I just am really ticked off that I have to pay a Home Owners Association Fee when I get nothing out of it.

I just found out that the board used the money from our dues to adopt homeless people (allegedly) and buy them food and clothes and other things.

That's all really nice except this neighborhood is struggling and I don' t have any money left at the end of the month to get things done I need like dental care.  So I really resent INVOLUNTARILY having these funds MIS-USED, not to enhance the neighborhood but to adopt some alleged kids whose names we don't know.  Considering all the fraud out there it wouldn't surprise me if there were no kids and they just put it in their pocket.

Charity is a good thing.  Stealing someone else's money to maybe donate to charity is wrong.  Wanna give to charity - use your own money otherwise its not chairty its theft and fraud.

My house is not worth what I owe and when I consier that everywhere houses are being broken into on a regular basis.  I'd like to have a security system in my house but I can't afford it.  I'm doing without to give anonymous/theoretical people charity when to be honest I could use some charity myself not that i ever expect to get it.  I make about $50 too much to qualify for anything but just enough to be expected to pay out.

I'd like to find out what to do with these thieves who stole our funds from the HOA.  They ought to be arrested but I know that will never happen.  Crooks always seem to come out on top.

I was concerned by the previous article on this website.  I felt that it provided biased and unjust accusiations regarding the homeowners association that I am a member of and wanted to set the record straight. 

The "homeless people" mentioned above were actually homeless students who attend our elementary school.  The student's size information was provided by the school for this project, but we were not given the children's names for privacy reasons.  These students were adopted by the individual board members of the homes association using personal donations of money and new clothing items.  No homeowners dues were used for this project. 

The children received new shoes and personal items.  It would have been unconscionable to provide the names of these students, even if we had known them.  However, if any of our homeowners want additional information about the project, they are welcome to contact the office of the association.  We will be happy to answer questions. 

Ruskin Hills Homes Association dues are $36 per YEAR.  Many homeowner associations have dues much higher than ours.  None of the dues have been used inappropriately by the current board of directors and all monthly meetings are open to all residents and are advertised by signs in the neighborhood and notices in the local newspaper which is delivered to every homeowner who has paid their dues.  If any of our homeowners have an issue with how their dues are used, we encourage them to attend and make their voices heard.

Our purpose is to provide our homeowners assistance in maintaining their properties and in doing so, helping to improve the entire neighborhood.  We currently have a Home of the Month and Yard of the Month program which encourages residences to nominate their neighbor for the honor.  This program is to provide recognition to those homeowners who are making the effort to improve their homes and yards.
In addition, we have brought back a program which has been very successful in the past.  The free plant give away on Mother's Day weekend will provide free vegetable and flower plants to our residents.  This program offers our neighbors a way to beautify their home and provide home grown vegetables for their family.

We also have other free programs in the works for our residents and hope that the article above from this unhappy resident will not color your opinion of this organization.

Repeating this entry as it left it unclear what my response was to the HOA'S accusations against me.  

They said they hoped that the words of me, an UNHAPPY RESIDENT, didn't color any readers' view of the Ruskin Hills Home Owners Association.

If anything should color your view of them it should be my revelation that not only did the misappropriate funds they are accusing me of lying when all I did was reveal/offer proof of the truth.   And also that they care nothing about me as a resident, they just care about whether or not their lies and misuse of funds gets exposed.

MY RESPONSE DIRECTLY TO RUSKIN HILLS HOMES ASSOCIATION IN WHICH THEY DENY MISUSING FUNDS.

I am offended at your dishonesty and attempts to malign my name by suggesting that I am being biased and unfair.   You might want to look in the mirror to see the real person guilty of what you say that I am.

I can prove you are wrong and that I'm not lying quite easily.  There is a record of the truth that exists in the Jackson County Advocate the first of this year.    Let me quote for you two of the most salient quotes.   It's an article from Ruskin Hills Homes Association.

The first verbatim quote is an explanation of the purpose of the article:

"Many of our residents wonder where their dues money goes and how it is used.  After administrative costs, all funds are spent to improve the homes and to better the lives of the residents of our neighborhood."

Here is the second quote.  It finally, after much sidestepping (giving examples of things done or provided by the Association all of which were no-cost items) got around to giving the information residents have been asking for:

"We closed the year by providing each of the students at Symington a small sack of goodies when they were dismissed for winter vacation.  In addition we adopted 7 homeless students, providing clothing, shoes and toys to each."

I don't provide the entire article because I have to type it in myself and frankly since I'm not the liar here why should I spend my time doing that?

If what I am saying is untrue then provide the article so that we can see that it says the purpose of the disclosure is to reveal what board members PERSONALLY contributed to charities.   I know what the article says but for anyone (including you) who wants to know and/or be reminded its public record.    

Let's use some logic here.   For the most part private individuals who make charitable contributions, if they are sincere, keep their contributions to themselves, otherwise their motivations might appear more aimed for receiving recognition and notariety than to actually be charitable.   So logic dictates the purpose of the article I reference was to provide an answer to a question rightfully asked by residents.  It casts doubt on  your claims that the funds you wrote to residents about were in reference to charitable contributions made by others and not with association dues.

You claim you came here to "correct" the opinion of any readers mislead by my earlier posts here.   If so, you have failed unless your purpose was to reveal to anyone reading this that not only is what I said the truth, that funds were misused, but also that you self-servingly present false allegations against me in order to clean up your own image.  The truth is you have further destroyed your credibility because I have presented verifiable facts.  You on the other hand obviously have no problem making me appear the bad guy.

To address another of your statements, I agree it is true that many HOA's charge more dues than does Ruskin Hills.   However they also do a lot more as well.    

I have retrieved a copy of the original papers filed with the State of Missouri setting up the association.    Here are just a few of the things listed that the Association will take care of:

provide suitable recepticles for trash and rubbish;

impose traffic regulations and safety signs and include a watchman if necessary;

to provide for plowing and removal of snow from SIDEWALKS and STREETS;

to care for, spray, trim and protect and replant trees on all public places where trees had once been planted

plant shrubbery, resew grass in the parks

to mow, care for and maintain vacant property and remove weeds.

Those things are no longer done.   Most likely they are the kinds of services provided by the associations with higher fees.   So if you are going to point to the lost cost of the fees then its only fair to point out the deficiencies as well.

You reference a flower giveaway - "first come first serve".  When they are gone that's it, don't get there early enough - you lose.   Obviously you know there will not be enough for everyone otherwise there would be no need to say "come early".

The benefits the residents protested against losing several years ago are the ones we really want, those being an extra trash pickup per week and/or free trashbags.  Why not provide the benefits we said we really wanted?

I see other homes associations having neighborhood picnics once a year or providing additional yard waste pickups.   I really like that last idea because it is easier to keep up appearances in the neighborhood if we can get rid of branches, etc. which are always coming down during storms as well as other yardwaste.    That does something which conforms to the purpose of the HOA. 

Now let me say its interesting you never once comment on the problems I commented on, i.e home breakins for example.   Not only do you not mention any of the complaints that might make me an "unhappy resident" you obviously could care less about me, one of the residents. 

While charity is all well and good, it does not make sense to in essence neglect my own needs while seeing to the needs of others.  I'm sorry I'm just not that careless with the limited funds I have.  And, as someone else earlier pointed out, it isn't charity if you are taking someone else's funds to give away.  I will say that I am a very caring person in actuality and not at all the ogre you would like to paint me to be.

One of my neighbors never mows or cleans their yard at all unless I call the city to complain.   You aren't helping me in any way to preserve my property values or provide for my safety and security.   You don't even care about those things.

All you are doing is trying to make me look like a liar when you are the person guilty of lying.  You should be ashamed of yourself but I doubt you have the character to do so.  No doubt you will continue to blame be and never acknowledge the truth.

Some people are like that.  When they get into postitions of trust they tend to take advantage,  as you've demonstrated.

In closing, I urge anyone wanting to know truth to contact the advocate for the text of the article and the answer will be clear.