Starting a HOA

Hi - I’m a former mayor who moved to a new community. I was approached by my neighbors seeking help to influence the Plan Commission in order to get better zoning laws to regulate Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). We organized, and to date, we are the only county in Indiana with zoning codes to successfully detour CAFOs from locating near rural residential areas. Indiana is a farming state, and it was a tuff sell to officials.

Many of these neighbors have approached me about starting a countywide homeowners association. Indiana re-wrote their property tax laws and local governments are in a financial mess. People are upset over high property tax reassessments and cutbacks in services.

Starting a HOA seems to be a worthwhile cause. We can't rewrite the tax codes, but we could help residents get accurate information on surviving 25% to 400% tax increases and influence elected officials to be more proactive rather than passing the buck by blaming higher authorities for the situation

A countywide HOA will be a mammoth undertaking. I'm doing the research, and found that most HOAs involve smaller political subdivisions. Any input or direction would be appreciated.

Thanks,
EdS4
M.P.A.

Ed, it sounds to me you want a Political action committee, not an HOA. HOAs are really only to manage property that is owned for the common good of the homeowners who utilize that land. I would suggest a lot of types of organizational structures that might better accomplish your goals. My first thought would be to form a county wide HOA association. There is one in our area and it has some high power HOA people as members. Its primary purpose is to influence state legislation. I am sure I can get you the name of one of the people if you go that way. In fact, one of the primary law firms representing HOAs in the area has their owners as high officials of this group.

As Roger said, trying to get one big HOA is not a feasible objective. Even if you got a covenant created (which I don't think there is a prayer you can), that doesn't mean any of the homeowners will help in the cause you state.

I wish you luck.