Our "City Within a City"

This year, I've begun to openly use this term for our HOA, in an attempt to convey the full breadth and scope of this community. I also use the term to give the reader an understanding of the unusual nature of this 40 acre micro city with its 40 buildings, streams, rolling landscape, ponds, hundreds of trees and of course, the wildlife that accompanies, and to provide some indication of the level of complexity inherent in the HOA.

Our community is well manicured, but is not "pristine". Our trees bear and drop fruit, the ducks quack all summer long as they paddle from pond to pond via the flowing streams and there are the occasional pet and goose droppings. We have abundant wildlife which passes through each day, including the ever present squirrels, many birds including woodpeckers, owls, red tail hawks, chickadees, brown creepers, nuthatches, sparrows, blue jays, morning doves, cardinals, wrens and even the occasional titmouse. In summer there are of course, the robins, blue birds, warblers, indigo buntings, creepers and grackles. We see an occasional fox wandering the property early in the morning and now the coyotes who are attracted by the abundant food.

Our unit owners and our board sometimes forget the true nature of this community, which is considerably more elaborate than the typical HOA. We spend more on trees and landscaping in a year than many HOA's spend for their entire budget in that same year, and yet we have no reserve fund for this asset. I understand the property encompasses assets of about 100 million dollars, depending upon how you run the numbers. We also have about 336 families, who have a diverse set of opinions and positions on any issue. Considering the characteristics of the "bell shaped curve", we have unit owners who traverse the extreme positions of "I love it here and want my ashes spread" on their passing, and we also have a few who "can't wait to get out."

We own our streets, we pay for everything and that includes even the street lighting, and our board is responsible for all of the decisions required to maintain this elaborate enterprise.  Those decisions are aired and voted during a monthly 2 hour meeting in view of a handful of unit owners who choose to attend. A few here think it's easy. Just snap your fingers, call management, etc. and it all gets done. We have a large pot of cash and so we are "sitting flush". All it takes to run this place is a couple of hours a month sitting on the board, a little common sense, and the ability to sign a check book. We can hire and use any management company, and even my "brother in law" could do a better job plowing the streets with his '90 Silverado pickup. Rules are meant to oppress or confine. Etc, etc.

Overall, things have been sufficiently smooth that half of our owners don't even bother to vote. So, obviously, things have been darn good here. Fees, which seem to be a problem for a few, again are sufficiently reasonable that half of the unit owners neither complain nor vote. They simply mail in their monthly check and go about enjoying the ambiance.

A few "activists", for lack of a better term, are dissatisfied. Some promote divisiveness, spread rumors and promote the position that we don't need the help of our professionals. Anyone can do it, so "we can do it ourselves and we can do it better." In fact, a few handymen could do it all. The position of the prudent, that we must be cautious, pinch our pennies, consider long term financial issues and planning, and avoid situations which could lead to legal entanglements, etc. are frequently viewed as those of the delusional. Facts seem to be a problem for a few unit owners, such as the quote attributed to attorney Mark Pearlstein, a noted association attorney and author of the "Condo Adviser" in the Chicago Tribune, who stated that "60% of all condo boards and homeowners associations in Illinois are involved in some kind of legal suit." Such statements are countered with the argument that "it would never happen here."

Well, some of us are ever watchful in this city!