Delq HOA dues and prop maintenance

Morning all,
I'm new to this board as well as HOAs. I live in a common interest community, it includes approx 28 homes and the association location is along waterfront on a lake in Illinois. The HOA was created 30 years ago, and dues are 25.00 per year, not much, right? I suspect that half of the association members have not paid dues in years. In most cases, the non paying members live on the other side of the street who do not have waterfront property themselves. This association has never chased the past due members for unpaid dues, and as far as late fees, and/or placing liens, it's not ever going to happen. The bylaws don't mention either, and also do not mention "getting current". The bylaws do indicate a member in good standing equals having paid their dues, in a brief sort of way. So, bring this forward to now..
I'm under the impression these delinquents can not run for an office position, nor, do they have any voting rights.
I'm looking for some advice as to anyone's back paid dues. Can we make any past due members pay the past umpteen years they've not paid in order to allow them office positions as well as voting rights? I know if I bring up their not being allowed either, I will be getting a response back that they paid their 25.00 this year.

2nd question. In between the street and entry to the association property is "a road" owned by the state. There's another road entering the same assoc 5 houses down. I live directly next door to the road, that's been maintained by us for free. I.e., cutting the grass, planting annuals, leaf removal, etc. since we moved in, no one from the assoc has cared about cutting the grass, removing the leaves, etc either on the association, or on the road leading to the property. Living next door to both the road and the association, we have to look at it, and just maintain it. The previous owner did the same. At this years annual (and only) meeting held, we hardly got a thanks, and we suggested they hire a landscaper and pay them to do this. They agreed and are now indicating they will only pay a landscaper to maintain the lawn that's part of the association. Isn't the assoc also responsible for maintaining the "road" as it's the entryway to get to the association property? Not to mention, the state would never maintain their vacant road.

Thanks in advance for input.

Thanks John for the response.

#1, this would also be true for voting on any matters, correct?

#2, since the road is needed to get to the assoc property, isn't it the associations responsibility to maintain it? Also, for years, one of 2 families have taken care of maintaining the road, getting from the assoc gas monies, or, mower repairs, etc. Is it not a reasonable and fair request for the assoc to provide us with the same? We're not looking to make money off of this, just asking them to repay our out of pocket expenses.

A HOA is ONLY funded by it's members for it's members... It's not like the money for the landscaping or the payback for it isn't going to come out of your pockets... The difference is... Is it at the "Group rate or the Individual rate". Meaning do you make ALL your neighbors pay or do you pay out your own pocket? That's what it comes down to in the end.

Hi Michelle,

The reason I know folks are past due is #1 the former treasurer mentioned that some members haven't paid dues for 8 yrs plus at our meeting last week. He also passed along a list of current association members names, addresses, and email addresses for all to have. This same list indicted who had paid their 2015, and (now due) 2016's dues, and who hasn't.
I promise you the town will not be cutting the grass, that's never happened. So, for the beautification for all of our nighbors, we will continue to make the road property mowed, and leaves picked up, etc, at our expense.
As far as doing the same for the actual association, we will no longer be maintaining that. It was at the last board meeting another member suggested a lawn service for the association. I.e., a neighborhood kid, or a retired guy up the road for 25$ a week, rather than pay us $5 for the gas we use.

Thank you all for your feedback, having this place for people to receive HOA knowledge is a great resource. 👍