It just keeps getting better - more violations...

Steven, what is "deed restricted"? Do you have declarations and bylaws, as well as Rules and Regulations?

Sounds like it is time to reach out to your neighbors and see what they want to do. There is nothing worse then paying a monthly/quarterly fee to live in a controlled development only to see it is not controlled as written in the decs/bylaws and R&R's.

Also sounds like your BOD needs to poll the community to find out what they want done as far as common area additions.

They work for the community and not self interest.

Any Board members have these Boats or Dune buggies?

the last community meeting garnered a mere 12 of 86 residents, the residents just plain don't care! Houses are not selling as quick in this area...some have been on the market for almost a year..I wonder why? It's not a bad location nor are the homes dirt cheap. Could it be because they see boats, commercial vehicles, and old broken down dune buggies in driveways and don't want to buy into a neighborhood that allows them? I sure didn't.

Yes the VP has a boat and the boat photo that I linked to is sitting next door to him and the dune buggy is across the street...although it was in a field behind the neighborhood for a few weeks. Surprised the land owner, city, or police department didn't do something about it.

I think Steve's been pretty clear the steps his HOA board intends to take: none.

They've already stated that they will not enforce those restrictions because they consider the neighborhood a "working class" neighborhood, and that's just the kind of things "working class" people do with their homes.

He has tried to obtain homeowner involvement one-on-one (if I remember his previous posts), and failed. No one wants to get involved.

I'm sorry to say, since the board WON'T enforce and Steve does not have the funds to sue each violator himself to try to enforce, and his state has no agency that will punish or force the HOA to enforce the docs, then he is now living in a community that he did NOT agree to live in when he moved in and agreed to the CC&Rs.

I agree that sadly, the only alternative that will ensure that his blood pressure remain in the safe zone is to concede and move.

I feel for you, Steve.

Steven,
I am sorry, but, it is no big news that you conclude the residents don't care. That is the appearance of nearly all associations, or a large majority.
But that is not your problem. Your problem is to get enough to care to make a difference. Don't be swayed by a desire to please the majority. As you say, a lot don't care. But look at your documents, look at your present situation. You have a small group running your place under your covenants, albeit they may ignore them. So all you need is a larger group to influence your small group. You say you had 12 out of 86 I think attend a meeting. How do you reach quorum? Proxies I imagine. Well someone has to sign those proxies (is that caring?). Of course it is, so get these people to change their mind and assign their proxie to your group. Nothing I have said indicates this is easy or quick, but you don't want easy or quick. You want to build over time a core of people that care enough and are willing to know their documents. A web site is a good way to start this, e-mail "blasts" are good. Also know that in most states, if your association has an e-mail list they have to release this information to any owner requesting it. Make a formal request to the Board you want this information. Keep pushing until you get it. The law of averages dictate all associations contain an average population. Of course there are exceptions and if you want to bet your association is a an exception, then move, you probably would be wrong.
Having said all that, let me confess, I am a poor leader, I am not a good old boy, I don't do well at meetings, etc., and I can't convince peoploe because I don't lead. But there are things I can do and one of them is recognise a leader and support him or her, and I know my documents pretty well, so people ask me questions about them. I make sure my answers are right and they are jus what my leaders are trying to do. So, I end up helping a little and over 19 years, I can walk this property and see my fingerprints all over this place. And, it is still not run right, but it is getting closer and closer.

Steven,
I think I understand a little about Home Owners Association here in SC. May I suggest you look at this site http://oklegal.onenet.net/oklegal-cgi/get_statute?98/Title.60/60-501.html

Compare what this says to your operation and if they are not foloowing this , ask them why not. Then I would call the Attorney General of Ok and ask his office what to do if they are not following the law.

Robert,

Do you know for a fact that the AG of OK will handle HOA disputes? I know that is NOT an option we have here in AZ.

MaryA1,
No I don't know for a fact. I do that that most AG will get involved for criminal procecution. I do know from a glance at the OK web site that the AG appears to have jurisdiction over HOA, as far as the statute allows. The SC AG says to settle this stuff yourself, which I really don't have a problem with. My problem on this thread is to try and find out how much has been done and what resources Steven has used to get to where he is at this present time. It become a shotgun assault when you are guessing how knowledgeable the poster is. Steven certainly is not a babe in the woods as I supposed from reading his first post. I still feel he needs to really study his covenants and get some support. But, I could be wrong about that. At this point I would like to know specifically what he is trying to do. Overthrow the Board, sue someone, or the association or try and convince the Board about something. I just finsihed a session with a condo lawyer the other day, in fact two of them, and they both informed me I need to define in writing what I want to do. I thought I was prepared to spend my money and it comes down to the points I have problems with and how I want them addressed. This is just small political stuff I am trying to do, but it becomes complicated. I think Steven's issues will probably turn out complicated also. Get prepared.

If you take action, I would start with a BOD member. Once they are forces into compliance they will be more likely to enforce it on others.

TamaraW,
Personally, I see nothing wrong with these kinds of actions.....done for the right reason, and not just to be different. Kirk suggests isolating a Board member and work on him/her, I don't object to that either. The extremes seem to be with a developer, get him some press, honest reporting of a bad situation. The extreme with a BOD is to speak louder than they do.....have more guns and shoot till they pay attention. The apathy you find common in (a bunch....I say a bunch because I can't really be sure) of HOA's is much more difficult. This requires a solid effort to educate and communicate (may be one and the same). No short term solutions here and it amounts to hard work. But, after reading a lot of these kinds of posts on this site, I wonder if anyone has noticed that if the Associations start out right, for some reason the continue that way for the most part. I also suggest if the associations get managed for what ever reason and results in the kind of nonsense this thread is about, it takes a act of God to get them turned around. I know our condo operates in part of how it was done before. I don't agree, certainly if you don't enforce the covenants because they weren't enforced before, you just continue bad practices.

StevenW3, I think it's time to run for a position on the board.

I know this is a suggestion that strikes the faint of heart with fear and trepidation. But if you really want to change your community you need to get involved.

You'd be surprised with the difference you can make if your intent is to get your other neighbors involved.

It's a little disingenuous to simply complain about the actions of others who aren't getting paid while you and your family reap the benefits of others work and time.

Robert - Thanks for the laugh! Let me just say this..........Women can wear boxers if they want to prove a point. At 38 years of age, I am sure I looked a bit more ridiculous then him, but my point was if you can do it, then OK for me to do it.

Reverse psychology works sometimes. My tactics were much more successful then taking the verbal repetitive stress ride.

small victory...the dune buggy has been removed by the city...non-operable vehicles cannot be kept in a driveway nor the street where he had moved it to. Now he has taken it to a piece of commercial property and placed a for sale sign on it..the property management company is NOT a happy camper about it and will be taking action today. ooops...