Fire Prevention suggestion
Posted By: Tom MacCallum
After the HOA meeting earlier this month, I hope the board understands that the “Naysayers”, as those us opposed to parts of the proposed CC&Rs are being labled are more than willing to give money and support for fire break maintenance and a Firewise program in Summit Park.
The vast majority of the speakers at the meeting who spoke in opposition to the CC&Rs said that they supported wildfire prevention would contribute funds. Pam and I have said in the past and I say it again that we’re willing to contribute $50 from us and also contribute $50 for the two vacant lots next to us if the out of town owners fail to contribute. So, I hope we can dispense with the accusation that the “naysayers” don’t want spend $50. We just don’t want to contribute $50 to the HOA for CC&Rs that could effect us in a negative way.
At the meet, it was suggested by one homeowner to decouple the CC&Rs from the Firewise program. We’re told that that’s not possible. Based on conversations I’ve had with neighbors, I think the attempt to change the CC&Rs could be a drawn out process. If we want to get rolling on firebreak maintenance and planning for the expansion north towards I-80, let’s do just that. Set up a separate account with separate accounting and start raising some funds. If the HOA sent out a letter and recruited a couple of folks in each plat to talk to their neighbors, I’m sure a decent amount of money could be raised. I’m willing to go door to door in our plat to help bring attention to the fund raising effort.
I would like to see some sort of proposed budget, both near term and future. That might be something to include in a fund raising letter.
And then, there’s always the possibility of a bake sale. 😉
I’d be interested in hearing everyone’s thoughts on this.
2 Comments
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What was the outcome of the meeting on the proposed CC&R’S? I have looked on this site but there are no minutes of the meeting or any outcome posted.
Could someone provide an update please. I was not able to attend the meeting, but asked to have my comments read. We are of the same opinion of others who do not support the CC&R’S but would contribute to the cause and feel it is important to move forward.
Are there no other options but moving forward with the CC&R’S? Do we need to form a team outside of the HOA to address this?
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My husband and I are also “naysayers” when it comes to CC&Rs and HOA. But like you, Tom, we are more than willing to have a firewise program and contribute to that, be it money or time. It would benefit the entire community to pitch in and do what we can to prevent fires.
After the meeting, I spoke with Ken Ludwig from the DNR about establishing a special service district (similar to the sewer and water districts that we have now) in regard to fighting fires. (I had suggested this when I spoke at the meeting. My reason for suggesting something as formal as a special service district is that, similar to water and sewer, everyone would be required to pay their fair share.) Here is his response, which he emailed me:
“I am sorry I am so slow at getting back to you but I needed to make some contacts to be able to answer your question. The county is unwilling to propose a special service district for doing fuel reduction projects. This would need to be a grass roots project and need to come from the community with support and a petition from the people to present to the County Council to be able to accomplish a special service district.”
My interpretation of his comments is that we can have a firewise program as a separate entity from the HOA. So it seems to me that, rather than fighting over CC&Rs, our focus should be on getting together the petition Ken suggests.