I have come to expect costs rising because folks seem to enjoy voting for higher taxes here in San Antonio. But the homeowners fees increasing with out prior annoucement of the proposal to raise the fees is not good. why are we paying to cut grass that we do not own e.g. the drainage ditches are county property and we already pay them to cut these how much less would the landscaping fees be if this was eliminated. But by far the biggest rip off is the so called security patrol $8,100/year we already pay for the sheriff it is called taxes and has any one ever seen these so called security patrols did you know they can not issue tickets they can not arrest any one. I know this is an awful thing to say but can't we lower costs and eliminate things we are paying twice for. I know the president lives on the ditch so that won't change. And the response to any one who dares to bring up a subject is immediatly responded to why don't you come to the meetings. if a certain two folks would relinquish power other people would become involved but they won't. I also thought the convenent rules say that 2/3rds of the households are needed to change the covenent i.e. raise dues i never received a voting card or a notice of a vote. The budget stuff how can the budget be forcast to increas 29% for FY 2007 from FY 2006 actuals sounds alittle contrieved.

By Concerned

crestridge community

I wholeheartedly agree with you. It seems to me they do what ever they want to do in this community without any input from the community. Yes they say come to the meetings. People have lives and other things to do, many work two jobs to pay the taxes and fees incurred. We have two announcment boards as you enter the community and the only announcement I've seen is clean up after your dog. Give me a break. What a total waste of money and they don't even light up at night. Now I live in an area that was affected by the mail boxes being knowcked down by some idiot driving like a maniac thru here and the assn has not done anything to contact me to tell me how to go about getting my mail. It's been three weeks. Our local post office is open 9-5 and they are real friendly (not) I was basically told by the post office to go you know what myself. What makes me mad is if I let my lawn go even a little they are at my door with a flyer or somehow they figure out how to contact me and tell me to cut it or else. Communists. And you are right we already have a police dept that is supposed to respond to our needs and the city is responsible for the ditches etc. Well I could go on but I will spare you.

HOA is not your friend

I too am not a friend of any nieborhood assosiation. I find them to to be nothing more than a carbon copy of city services. They are a mini goverment imbedded within our community with no real purpose other than to collect dues for services already provided to us by Baxer county. We have all sen how they have responded to the mail boxes being distroyed by some fool driving up on the side walk. No flyers have gone out the homes affected by the disruption of there mail service as to what is being done or how long will we be without service. I feel no safer because of them and will never again buy a property or home that has in its contract a homeoners assosiation. That is a no sale item. All they have ever provided me for my money have been restrictions, and a patronizing news letter full of rambling verbage.

By Bill Burgos

dissatisfied

Actually, the HOA, of which you are a part of, is your friend. Is it perfect ? No. Are there things I would like to change ? Yes. But without it there is no telling what people would do. Park cars on their lawns, never mow their lawns, let their homes fall into disrepair, etc.

The reason the sign at the entrance is constantly reminding people about their dogs is because there are so many irresponible dog owners in the neighborhood that need to be constantly reminded as to their responsibilities. They are simply reacting to the complaints given to them. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

As far as association dues, the dues here are a bargain. I've paid monthly dues as high as $200/mo at a condominium I owned in another state.

As far as the 'crestridge patrol' goes I agree it's a waste of money. I would like to see the money spent for attorney's fees used to sue homeowners that let their property run down, driving down the value of the responsible home owners property.

We have a few here that need to be taken to task, as they are ruining the neighborhood and ultimately, costing the rest of us money. Generally, these are renters who could care less how their property looks, but that is not always the case.

I view people who do not care for their property as stealing from me. Simple as that.