I support this neighborhood!

You two sound like very bitter pepole with a lot of time on your hands who like to create trouble. Until I see evidence to the contrary-I will continue to support the Board and their exceptional handling of the nighborhoods affairs-homeowners dues continue to remain the same, we were approved for city funding to beautify and improve our neighborhood, we continue to budget well for improvements that need to be made and have money in reserve for the unforeseeable. If you have a concern-point it out in a positive manner. Nothing is gained by criticizing the people who keep this neighborhood running well. If you are a genuinely concerned homeowner you would be helping out by volunteering-not harrassing. It's easy to point the finger and find fault until you have walked in the other persons shoes. If you think it can be done better somewhere else-move. You keep pointing out ''When I was Treasurer'' Mr. Bruggemean - this seems to be the theme of every email you post - if you were so good then why are you no longer treasurer? It sounds like you two need to get a hobby.

Dear Supporter

At one time, I felt as you do that the neighborhood is well run. I was happy, but I was uninformed. Then I became treasurer and what I found in the records and what I saw of operations changed my mind. I am sure if you knew what I know and the import thereof, you would share my feelings. I resigned the treasurer position because my principles, ethics and approaches are too incompatible with those of two board members. I was not asked to resign. I found several instances where Ridge Pointe was not abiding by federal law, state law and/or its own bylaws. I recommended changes to help Ridge Pointe and to keep it out of trouble. I hope you appreciate that.
If you wish to discuss this matter further, please give me a call and I would be happy to meet with you and show you the ?“evidence to the contrary?” that you say you have not seen. I think you will not find me to be the villain you say I am.
You suggest that I consider volunteering. A few weeks ago, I volunteered to monitor utility costs (the subject of this discussion) and have not heard back from the board as to whether or not it wants my help. I assume is does not want my help, even though the board knows I could be of great help. It just shows that the board does not think that prudently spending money on utilities is important.
Just because I have a problem with the huge unexplained increases in utility costs (2006 over 2005) does not justify your comments. I raised this matter with the board, but it did have the decency to explain these increases. The board simply told me it adequately monitored utility costs and was too busy to find the answers to my questions. If it had adequately monitored these costs, then it would already have the answers to my questions. Evidently, the board could care less about these costs and is embarrassed by the answers. That is why its reply to me was unresponsive. Instead of responsively replying to my inquiry, the board provides a meritless claim about drought and fire danger in its April newsletter as to why utility costs increased. And you consider this to be ?“exceptional handling of the neighborhood?’s affairs?”? I beg to differ.
Regarding your claim of my not walking in others shoes, I have walked in those shoes regarding utility costs ?– the subject of this discussion. When I had the responsibility to co-sign the Ridge Pointe checks for payment of utility costs, I carefully monitored those costs for accuracy and reasonableness. It did not take much effort. For example, when I noticed the watering per square foot in Ridge Pointe common areas was much higher than the watering per square foot for my own lawn, I pointed this out to the board. It was my responsibility to do so. I did not want the homeowners to pay for wasted water. The same holds true for other homeowner association costs.




By Jim Bruggeman

Criticism

Your criticism of the neighborhood board seems very hostile. These people are volunteers who take little or no pay. They probably could do better here or there since they're fitting those jobs around other priorities, but do you really think they are intentionally doing the wrong thing? What vital need is going unmet because of the horrible incompetencies you describe?

I don't know about the dire consequences of rainfall compared to the water bill, but I do know that accounting rules are very much open to interpretation. If you have evidence of breaking laws or by-laws, raise them to the proper authorities. Otherwise you are coming across as someone with too much time on his hands and an axe to grind.

This sniping doesn't make the neighborhood look good either, or at least a certain address anyway.

Answer to Criticism


I think you know the answers to the two questions in your first paragraph. The answer to the first question is ?“yes?”. The answer to the second question is that there are vital things that have gone unmet. If you want to know more, call me and I?’ll be happy to explain.

I was not addressing accounting rules when I mentioned violations of the law. Instead of reporting violations of the law to authorities, I pointed out these violations to the board in hopes they would cease the violations. I mentioned these violations in response to the anonymous reply (dated May 15, 2007) to this discussion item in order to address questions raised in that reply.

According to you, it is okay to violate the law because of other priorities. I disagree. Ridge Pointe should do what it takes to comply with the law.

I see what you are trying to do with your comments. You are trying to shift blame from the board to me. This is very disingenuous. The fact that I have taken the time to try to help the neighborhood is taken by you to mean I have too much time on my hands ?– thanks a lot.

I asked the board the reasons for the huge increases in utility costs. The board owes me a responsive reply. I am still waiting for it.

Let me ask you a question. Do you think the board should give me the reasons for these increases in utility costs? If not, why not.




By Jim Bruggeman