River Trails Homeowners Association

I am not sure what $$ amount of LORT dues goes towards the pond expenses but I do think it is misfortunate that RT residents do not have the right to use the pond or soon to be jogging trails.  When purchasing a home here,  we did not know other associations would build around us and make their HA mandatory and therefore separate us when we are right in the middle.  Same schools,  same roads,  same park,  same neighborhood.  It is piss-poor planning by the developers and yet we have to pay the price and be  excluded.  I asked about a year ago what the insurance cost would be to also cover the RTHA community and no one responded.  I would think we would all work together as one community since we are co-existing in the same neighborhood.  I know RTHA has invited LORT to many functions.  I do not believe LORT has ever included RTHA.  And I dont understand why. Does anyone think it would be beneficial to have a meeting with LORT to discuss these issues?     

I think it would be helpful, hell, I'm ok with mandatory dues (as long as they're not too high), at least the HOA would have some money in the bank then, and we wouldn't be begging for memberships to pay to mow the darned grass, and we could chip in for the insurance & some of the maintenance on the trails & lake.  Hey Don/gang, what are your thoughts?

I hate to be the pessimist here, but it's my understanding that we would need 70% of all households to vote in favor of making the association mandatory... I don't see that happening since we barely have 5% of the households willing to pay the $25/year for voluntary membership.

Perhaps if we raised the fee and worked out a deal to use the lake.  People around here need some incentive.  I'm basically to the point with the newsletter only once a year now (I liked getting them 4+ times a year), what's the point of even bothering to pay the dues anymore???