OK - I am very disappointed to hear this news. The HOA needs to bring copies of that insurance policy to the next meeting. Also, it was posted that the lake belongs to Mr. Newell and that he has an agreement for the residents to use it. Is this fact? If so, then that insurance policy has nothing to do with that lake. Can we please get some facts here. I am so tired of hearing false information. Come one....you HOA's better get together and do some adult talking and work out this issue for the good of BOTH NEIGHBORHOODS!
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1. The pond and the surrounding grounds at the southeast corner of River Trails is private and we (RT residents) are not allowed on the grounds?
2. If it's private, did my tax dollars get used in the creation and maintenance of the sidewalks, fencing, drainage, upkeep,...?
3. Why are there not gates on the sidewalks to keeps us out?
I'm really trying to be careful about my tresspassing, it is such a HOT issue.
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* We are talking about the pond at the southeast corner of Lakes of River Trails South. River Trails boundaries are actually Trinity to the North, Precinct Line to the East, Saranac to the South, and Salado to the West.
* When I took office I had been told of an informal agreement - it was not confirmed and I apologize for posting it in the first place. Sometimes a question is asked that means we need to research the answer and sometimes that answer is questioned and we have to research some more...that is why you may see posts with different information and that is why it may take some time to see a responding answer. I will be careful in future to explain when we have learned new information and what source it came from.
* We have tried to respond to "hot" topics that come up here. I repeat, "Because of the repeated question on this chat board, we met with some of the members of the Lakes of River Trails board." We wanted to be able to give an "official answer". Mr Newell is the original developer of the lake. He now sits on the HOA board for Lakes of River Trails. He did not attend our meeting but via email asked other board members to meet with us. The lake was developed (and is insured) using monies from mandatory dues that go with owning a home in Lakes of River Trails. We are working to build a relationship with Lakes of River Trails and met for that purpose. We had some good 'adult' conversations and had this insurance issue not come up, may have been able to work out a situation where we could use the lake. I do not know if they will pursue gates at the entrances.
* Our "HOA" is really a neighborhood association. Our dues and consequently membership are voluntary and go toward helping keep Trinity and our green spaces mowed and the variety of activities that happen throughout the year. Our section of the neighborhood was developed at a different time than Lakes of River Trails. It is confusing and sometimes frustrating to have neighborhoods that border each other without clearly marked boundaries that have separate associations. It is further complicated because one is mandatory and the other is voluntary.
* We do not have access to the insurance policy requested. We can only distribute the response we were given by the Lakes of River Trails board. I would like to also restate the last part of their response - "We will still bring this subject up at the next meeting to get an idea on how everyone feels on this request. But unless we get the insurance people to change the policy at no additional charge and approval by two thirds of the HOA, our hands are tied. The exact date has not been set, but we think that it will be sometime in August or September." My experience talking to presidents of HOA's and NA's tells me that they have a stricter set of bylaws because they are mandatory.
I hope that we can work something out in the future with Lakes of River Trails. To that end, I will continue to try to be a respectful and cooperative neighbor to them.
Connie Rensink - RTHA - A Neighborhood Association