maintenance

Started by BB7 • 9 replies • 1266 views

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BB7 (Missouri)
Posts: 23

Posted:

What qualifies as "maintenance" ? Officers/board just spent thousands on a water system that was in perfect working order (yes I do know I used to operate the water system) there was no vote no explaination.

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

What kind of work did they do? Need more details. What may be considered good to you may not be to all. My HOA after I left did a repair to the pool I felt unneccessary in how they did it. They wanted to resurface the bottom due to some sharp places. However, I priced it out and did the research. It should have cost 2K but they wanted 8K. Took a special assessment to pay for. Turns out they adjusted the assessment costs to do other projects as well. Which if you do a special assessment should be revealed.

So I can understand how you feel on this. However, would need more details to determine the true issue here.

Former HOA President

BB7 (Missouri)
Posts: 23

Posted:

We have no swimming pool drinking water system only, pretty much regulated by DNR there were no violations nothing to indicate repairs were needed or monitoring was not in compliance (about $5000.00 was spent) testing is no longer in compliance wouldn't complain except the water was found to have e-coli contamination this was hidden from potential buyers also homeowners. The system was checked once a year (after 4 gallons of bleach were dumped into well) as I said everything was in working order and had been for a long time what allows a couple of people (Pres /Sec. Treas.)who knew absolutely nothing about operating the system and never expressed an interest in it to spend dues money on un-needed work.

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

There is something called "Cryptosporidium" which is just as bad or worse than ecoli. Most water systems do not block this. It can stay alive for days and does not die in treated water like ecoli. It is very dangerous and people have died due to it being found in public water supplies. So bleach or chlorine does not kill it necessarily. It is spread through feces.

I know this as I got it in a public swimming pool a few years back. Believe me, it was one of the time I considered calling a ambulance on myself. It was non stop for 4 or 5 days. Could not even sit up.

So do not assume your water supply is good by dropping bleach in it. Your HOA may not want to scare anyone by announcing why they did what they did. No one would be comfortable knowing they could be putting their health at risk. They most likely handled this not to create a panic.

Former HOA President

BB7 (Missouri)
Posts: 23

Posted:

We do have a chlorination system it was in proper working order (water is tested monthly / every few months / yearly)depending on what test is being run or results of test that was run.

FredS7 (Arizona)
Posts: 927

Posted:

> what allows a couple of people (Pres /Sec. Treas.)who knew absolutely nothing about operating the system

They were elected (I assume) to run your system. Were decisions made on the basis of a review by an outside contractor?

Officers are expected to use "good business judgment." This does not mean that they have to have made the best decision (especially considered in hindsight).

Good business judgment would be to get an opinion from a more expert person. If that person is a contractor it would be advisable to get more than one opinion before spending much money.

SteveM9 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 3,699

Posted:

It's possible your pool is in good working order because it is maintained.

The only person who can answer your question as to what was done was the person who spent it or the company that did the work. We can't even start to speculate what you guys spent money on. LOL.

SteveM9 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 3,699

Posted:

And lets say ......... you have a pool maintenance budget of $10,000. The officers can spend up to $10,000 without voting or notifying you. You already approved the budget to maintain the pool.

BruceF1 (Connecticut)
Posts: 2,535

Posted:

There is such a thing known as "preventative maintenance." It's maintenance you do, usually on a regular basis, to insure something remains in working order and to prolong its useful life. Changing the oil in your car regularly is an example of preventative maintenance. I'm not saying that is the case here, but before rushing to judgement, check.

CarolR11 (Colorado)
Posts: 2,563

Posted:

If your governing documents and/or your state's law permit it, why not ask to review the contractor's bill?

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