Towne Lake Garden Association

The green newsletter of the Towne Lake Garden Association seemed innocuous as I collected it from my mailbox. Greetings fellow homeowners and neighbors it said in a warm salutation. I read it.

One theme seems to be: costs are going up, we need to save money. I think everyone can agree with that. Property values have increased, maybe inordinately for some. Our nation is undergoing a difficult time and costs are rising on all fronts. I suspect that many homeowners would not want to see an increase in dues, I know I don't. But then, I notice there is another theme in the newsletter.

The second theme seems to be monitoring, tire deflating, park expenditures, and hiring security. All of these are expenses that seemed to run contradictory to the first theme. The monitoring expense seems to have already happened. I don't understand the thinking that would entertain additional expenses at a time when financial liabilities are threatening. Honestly, it does not seem fiscally responsible. If expenses are going to rise for water and taxes, why compound the problem by spending more money?

The save money/spend money contradiction is not the only one that I noticed in the newsletter that seems more ominous as I peruse it. On the first page, the board of directors is adamant about a variety of rules concerning the lake including "no fishing." However, on page 3 a lakeside homeowner is concerned that he/she cannot fish from their backyard. (It would be arguable that they had a responsibility to read the restrictive covenants that run with the land prior to purchase, but anyway...) The BOD Answers, "...The board is not against you fishing from your backyard...." So now we have a double standard-lax rules and increased lake access for lake front homeowners and separate, more restrictive and less access for others. Which would beg the question, why should other homeowners pay the same rate of dues for less?

Anyway, the newsletter said that all cost saving ideas will be reviewed. Here are mine:

This community was not originally gated. Get rid of the gate and its associated maintenance and electrical costs and throw that money toward tax and water.

Implement a two-tier dues system for lake-front and non-lake-front property.

Consider a recall vote for board members that spend money while at the same time telling homeowners that dues might have to go up during a time when everyone else in this neighborhood, and across the nation, is collectively tightening our belt and worrying about how to pay for our current obligations.

Wow, written by someone who is clueless about how bad society has gotten. I am sure as soon as his car is broken into, or his house is ransacked he or she will be on here crying how the board let them down again by not securing the neighborhood...

Keeping residents and property safe are a number one priority for me and other residents I have spoken too.

Andrew

I cant agree with the original post. I think we need to possibly double dues to catch up with today's operating costs. My understanding is that our dues are one of the lowest in San Antonio, in comparison. With that said, I do think we, (the homeowners), need to be made aware of, and vote on, expenditures before they happen.

I think the gate needs to remain but we desperately need a company to keep the gate in working order all the time, not just when they have the time. The monitoring of the gate will help keep costs down on fixing the gate and deter the entrance of the unwelcomed.

As far as the "two-tier due system", that would mean that the lake front property owners would be the only people to enjoy the viewing of the lake, since that is all we can do, and park areas. If lake front owners pay more dues, they should be able to disallow others the use of the lake or parks. That is not right. I think most enjoy the lake and the parks. To make the lake better, we need to have all three fountains or aerators in uniform working order.

Our Declaration of Covenants, Condictions, and Restrictions states that all lot owners will pay the same assessment.  Even the pay-for-11-months-get-the-twelfth-free is probably not sustainable if any owner objected through the legal system.

I agree that assessments (not dues) need to be raised, but I want to see accountability by both the BOD and the management company.   Yearly audits are required by our Declaration and by the Texas Property Code.   A previous BOD voted to suspend the yearly audit and apparently subsequent BODs have continued this procedure.  Short breakdowns of the status of our funds used to appear in the Newletter.  With modern bookkeeping, the management company should be able to prepare this is 5 minutes. 

We have a number of owners who do not pay assessments.  Section 4.7 outlines procedures for collection.  Public records at the Bexar County Civil Court show that Towne Lake filed 4 suits in 2003, 3 in 2007 (1 pending), and 1 in 2008 (pending).  These public records are accessible at www.co.bexar.tx.us/.  

Fishing is forbidden by the Declaration of CC&R.  Potential buyers have access to this document on the web and/or a real estate agent can request one from the management company.