You don’t have to be an organic chemist to understand the process of one bad apple producing ethylene starting the decay process for the rest. The broken windows theory states that visible signs of disorder and misbehavior in an environment encourage further disorder and misbehavior.
In our neighborhood about 90% of our homes are kept to a high standard of care. These owners demonstrate pride and care deeply for our community. A few are singled-out by the prestigious “yard of the month” as voted by the Memorial Northwest Ladybugs Garden Club. Congratulations to these individuals for setting the high standards we should all strive to achieve.
On the other hand, ten percent (10%) of the homes fall well below the standard of care we expect from our neighbors. It is one thing to find one bad house and then counting to ten to find the next bad house, yet it is intersesting to see how often bad houses are bunched.
As we transition to a new Management Company in September, if there is pine straw on the roof, gutters filled breeding mosquitoes, mold and mildew on siding, dead grass or weeds, the old fence falling apart, etc. expect the letter asking nicely to address the issue at hand. All we ask is to take a moment to care by DIY or seek a professional to get the house in order. About six percent (6%) eventually comply after recieving several more letters and the required reimbursement of expenses.
Unfortunately for the four percent (4%) of the neglected properties after receiving many request by letter, we are anticipating a court ordered judgement to compel the owner to exercise the ordinary care expected of all owners. You may read about these properties in the public record Harris County District Clerk website at https://www.hcdistrictclerk.com.
If you don’t see a property you were expecting, perhaps you may help by attending a Board meeting to participate. It may be your property being devalued by the home next door.
We all care about each other, yet we are challenged to care for those who don’t care for others.
Today was a great day for the Marlin’s organization at our community center pool. The annual ritual of time trials to see if a child has the right stuff to swim like a Marlin.
It is easy to become lost in the moment and miss what is really going on at this event.
“Developing spirituality”, Ursula King writes, can be described as “creating an oasis for the soul”. It is about making a place for nurturing the deepest wellsprings of our human being. So it is as much a process of creating an internal space for learning, maturing and growing the spiritual self, as about finding spiritual places and activities in the material world. Reference
The wisdom of our community was to invest in a space where people gather providing an oasis for our children to explore. I am not talking about the building the pool as I am talking about providing a safe place for children to explore their “gift” (a natural ability or talent).
I watched a child no taller than my hip swim a little, grab the rope, swim some more and repeat until several minutes later reaching the end. I am so proud I got to witness encouragement, support and this little one overcoming the vast 25 meters of fear to the other side. Then there was the celebration and applause of congratulations or perhaps a little thank goodness he is out of the pool for the next group.
Either way, the process of growing a family is understanding each child must explore as many experiences as possible to find their gifts prior to being an adult. As a child, failing and trying again is the journey to finding one’s gift. The Marlin’s provide a place for our children to explore discipline, self-confidence, accomplishment, teamwork, social wellbeing, and most of all FUN.
Thanks to the many volunteers who help remind me of purpose.
We are off to a good start receiving 1,604 (82%) assessment payments towards our budget for 2023. I want to thank each of you who have paid on time to help ensure the quality of life we together strive to achieve in our community. We are projecting this to be a great summer for our children with a much-needed break from the stressful past few years. Getting back to a new normal is paramount. What is the “new normal,” well, that is totally up to each of us to achieve together.
If you are able to work from home a few days a week, we may have more time to get out into our community and make a difference. Have you thought about 30 minutes at the fitness center during lunch time or if your schedule permits, put the comunity center on your daytime calendar between meetings? Let’s plan to get out more in 2023 and meet our neighbors.
The Board is committed to ensuring we preserve our property values and enhance the quality of life of all residents. This may only be achieved through cooperation with each other, especially in maintaining our property and providing the required funding to preserve our way of life. For those who may have forgotten to make your assessment payment, you may log into the portal to make payment online or simply drop off your payment by check at the community center. Don’t forget to get a receipt. Please include the required late fee of $50 and the 6% annual simple interest applied each month. For example, if you pay on April 1, the payment is $760 plus $50 late fee plus $3.80 each month; thus $817.60.
To assure the vast majority (82%) of us who contribute faithfully, we will continue to aggressively seek court judgements against the properties being neglected and seek foreclosure when necessary. We are committed to protecting what we have worked hard to achieve and to maintaining the high-quality standard of living we expect from each other. The Board is committed to serving each owner, achieving the mission of the Association.
On Tuesday, November 1, 2022, at 7:30 PM the Board of Directors will determine the 2023 Assessment for Memorial Northwest. Last month the Board of Directors reviewed the 2023 proposed budget to best serve our community. Everyone in our community should be aware of the current economic conditions facing our nation and the world. The mid-term elections are happening now so get out and vote.
For our community, we see an increase in costs of wages, insurance, and services due to inflation and other uncontrollable circumstances. Based on the proposed 2023 budget, an increase of 10% does not provide any increased funding towards reserves for future asset replacement.
The Board has taken extraordinary steps this past summer to dramatically change directions to better aligned quality services for our community. We now have another property management company (FirstService Residential) dedicated and aligned to our community needs. The strategy is simple, provide easy access and accountable service within our subdivision.
We have a new Property Manager and Lifestyle Coordinator that offices at our Community Center and are dedicated to our needs. Please feel free to stop by and say hello.
I hope to see you at our Board meeting on Tuesday.
HOA transparency sometimes feels like an oxymoronic term. The truth of the matter there are opposing laws and regulations. On one hand “privacy” and on the other “transparency.” Those who volunteer to govern the membership interest must consider the consequences (jeopardy) of both.
Board members may not discuss any specific enforcement action or pending litigation seeking compliance from a neighbor. All property owners desire compliance from other property owners who neglect responsibility. This is the very essence of a Property Owners Association (an HOA). The final authority is a court order (from a judge) to enforce a deed restriction or an order of foreclosure to recover assessments. The Association attempts to resolve all issues through a no or low cost means for example letters, assistance from an area director or 209 hearing before the Board, etc. Owners who desire to contest an enforcement action must take personal action to resolve the issue. Ignoring a notice always ends poorly for the party neglecting to resolve an issue reasonably. No one desires unreasonableness.
Everyone should invest their money and time in their property and not fund the legal system to resolve an issue. The Association only recourse by law is to use the legal system for all enforcement actions unresolved.
Owners who desire to contest legal action pay their attorney and the Association’s attorney legal fees (Texas Property Code § 209.008). Eventually the Association recovers assessments and expenses either through foreclosure or a lean on property when sold. Seldom does an owner prevail even though we all read the absurd behaviors of other HOA’s. A judge considers the interest of all members in a community and the facts at hand. The primary goal of the HOA is to use resources wisely preserving property values and to enhance the quality of life for all members.
Your Board of Directors are working ethically and diligently to enforce the covenant made be each owner’s signature on the deed. We do focus on the number one reason communities fail to thrive, neglect. The Board will not discuss any litigation matter, but you may read about it for yourself through Public Information sources such as the Harris County District Clerk. You may create an account and search any public matter of the past or current. A simple search term is “Memorial Northwest.” Like any search, after a while you learn how to narrow down what you may be looking for.
If you are interested in searching public other public filings, you may create an account and search Harris County Clerk Records. Here you may find marriage, DBA, property records and HOA filings like restrictions, policies, etc.
If you want a great neighborhood, you must neighborly. If you desire a thriving community, you must participate. The only thing that is free is a volunteer.
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