12-05-1983 Public Hearing (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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Minutes Public Hearin La Porte Cit Counc~ g, y December 5, 1983, Page. 7 that. We were told we would be paying an additional amount of • money, and this is the question the homeowners are asking the committee. We're going to pay a higher rate for sewer and water to be able to pay for street lighting, which in fact we already pay a maintenance tax for. Ginger Thompson.: As far as the BCIA--I'm president. Right now there is not enough money to pay street lights, to operate the pool, to maintain the park, to mow the deal. The BCIA was going to have to go before the voters this year to get that increased, if we are not annexed; because there are not enough funds. That's why the parks are closed this year; it's one of the reasons. The street lights we have been told by Houston Lighting and Power, that they will be doubled within-.the next five years, which will more than take the $60 a year you're paying. Then you have no swimming pool, no park, no way to mow-the facilities. So I realize that we have to pay this $60, but that is something that like Fairmont still pays because they want a community facility that will be nice and can be enjoyed. And the street lights will not prevent that. Mr. Tarver: Then I have this question, and .it's not necessarily addressed to them. If they take over the street lights, is that going to provide funds to maintain the pool, etc.? Mrs. Thompson: Yes, sir. The BCIA will go out in January running in the black, not in the red. Next year's maintenance fees will be clear and free to operate the pool, the park, this sort of stuff. And if we can't do that on $20,000, we need to close it up and call it quits. Councilperson Matuszak: May I make a comment here? I've been a president and about every .other function of the homeowners association out in Fairmont Park. One of the things that people lose contact start with the homeowners is the main purpose. And I think-that purpose is probably to provide public services like street lights and what have you. The real, basic need for a homeowners assocation is the enhancement of property values. That's the whole reason for. the association--the enforcement of the deed restrictions that most people want in the community and want to have enforced. What this does is keep your. property values high. If you lose track of those deed restrictions and you don't have the funds to fight people who violate these deed restrictions, everything goes down hill. If you've got $60 or $80 thousand invested in a home, that $5 a month is an awful important item to make sure that the guy next to you, on either side of you, across the street from. you or behind you, complies with the deed restrictions that you probably came in here and bought with full knowledge what you have, because it just takes one or two to let that down and all of a sudden your $60 or $80 thousand investment goes down every year instead of appreciating. C