In my neighborhodd we have to pay to have our trash picked up..so yours floats the 20% that dont pay?? Cool can I move in?? Foolish and short sighted. Maybe your board should heed your message and break the trash contract out, and constable charges - so you can pay that and not carry the deadbeats...good luck!!

and as a side note, since I have been watching (and Sale commenting)..some really good documents on the website. Please go read all the updates and letters titled "The ACIA perspective Golf Course Information" (there are 3 I think)

www.atascocitacia.org

They all seem pretty level headed to me, while the blog thing mentioned before on here is really one sided and not based in much fact? No real information on there either, just a lot of noise. And a really really really really (get the idea) long rant...JMO

Although there are a lot of homeowners that have not paid their maintenance fee yet, I would not consider them deadbeats. I would dare say that in all associations, people will tend to wait as long as they can before paying that fee. The interest is not very much and why not keep the $475 in your wallet instead of the associations until you have to give it to them. When demand letters start to go out, people tend to pay up quick because they start getting charged more than just interest. The deadbeats are those homeowners that never pay up. Then we have to end up taking them to court to try to get payment. We have discussed taking the trash pick-up out of the maintenance fee. I don't know how you could take the constable fee out of it. I think other communities pay their trash pick-up in their water bills. I always liked that idea cause they could just turn off their water if they didn't pay.

The bill was due Jan. 31st. If you are two months past due knowing the community counts on that money you are a deadbeat in my mind. On the bill they offer to make a payment plan if you have a problem so their is no excuse not to have paid at least some of it at this point.

At my old house we paid for trash completely separate from anything else. If you didn't pay they didn't pick up.

"stop complaining.....the fees here in Eagle Springs are $850" says Mordecai

I've driven through Eagle Springs and I thought that it looks very nice. I went to their web page at http://www.insideeaglesprings.com/default.asp?id=461
and was very impressed. Take a look at ours www.atascocitacia.com
How many pools you guys have? Wow, your pool houses look like a resorts. Look how nice and big some of your pools are. You have a sports field? You have those really nice brick signs at all your separate sections. You got fancy brick bridges and iron fences. Your houses are all new and shiny. You have lots of community events. Oh, and did I say "I love your web page"? Are you really going to compare us to Eagle Springs. I have to say when I see all your amenities, you are only paying $830 a year? Go talk to a few people in Atascocita Pines who are in our ACIA who pay $475 a year. Ask them what we get in the ACIA for that. If Eagle Springs existed when we moved to Houston I would have bought there. If we do something fantastic to the golf course will it make us comparable to Eagle Springs? Not unless we bulldoze all the old looking homes and make our area look new and modern. Our Section 8 looks new and modern, but when you get into the older neighborhoods with the old contemporary style that has not been popular for years, and streets where people have let their yards get run down your eyes wonder back over to the new and shiny subdivisions. We just can't compete with new and shiny and all those amenities. So we should build on what we can. Maintain your house and yard. Don't let 10 people live in one house. Keep the common grounds nice looking. Keep the park and pools nice and clean. Work on making the few activities you have a year successful. Watch after your neighbors next to you like they are family. That way crime won't get a foothold in your area. There are others but you get the idea.

email I received...
BE PART OF THE SOLUTION!
ACIA PROPERTY PURCHASE FACT SHEET

THE FACTS:
 Atascocita Golf Course and undeveloped acreage within our Pinehurst subdivision was sold to private investors without prior knowledge of homeowners in our community
 Pinehurst Trails, LLC intends to sell remaining 27 holes of golf course, clubhouse + 20 undeveloped acres and has offered ACIA the right of first refusal on purchase of property
 Misinformation is rampant regarding the proposal to purchase this property causing confusion and conflict; this does not help our community resolve this serious issue

THE OPPORTUNITY:
 ACIA, with the approval of a majority vote of community homeowners, has the opportunity to purchase these properties from the seller, Pinehurst Trails, LLC to protect the neighborhood from unregulated development and subsequent loss in property values.

A “YES” VOTE FOR PURCHASE OFFERS OUR COMMUNITY:
• The opportunity to purchase the properties for $2.5M and gives control of development to the ACIA, (that’s us, the homeowners); redevelopment of properties will be determined by the entire community
• Allows for sale of the 7 acres along 1960 and 20 undeveloped acres to produce revenue for capital improvements & future development throughout the neighborhood and to reduce debt
• Allows a Community Board to study Redevelopment Options and, with entire community input, plan redevelopment of green space and reinvestment of funds into community properties (i.e., parks, upgraded marina and lake development, soccer, baseball fields, bike & hiking trails, 18-hole golf course)
• Assures new area home buyers their properties values are secure
• Cost: A 2010 HOA fee increase of $360 to help fund the purchase.

A “NO” VOTE:
• Gives Pinehurst Trails, LLC full right to sell properties by parcel with no community input into future developments
• Enables encroachment/abutment against established properties throughout neighborhood
• Probable decrease in property values
• Increases probability of extended, expensive property litigation
• Increases difficulty selling existing homes due to unknown “future” developments
• No maintenance of land (golf-course properties=an island w/in the community) + low chance of attracting buyers for redevelopment of green space/golf course
• Cost: Dues remain at current rate; probable decrease in property values

So I received a letter from ACIA Homeowners stating to vote NO. It infers that you should let them have a copy of your vote in case the board chooses to cheat on the counting. What a crock!!!
It also ends with "An agreeable solution for everyone can be found but first we must stop the Board's illegitimate actions with this vote!"
I have yet to hear any solution from the anti group on how to solve the vacant land issue. All it seems that matters is that you do not have to pay and someone else will fix the problem.
I think it is funny the letter was signed ACIA Homeowners. I am an ACIA Homeowner and am COMPLETELY for the golf course.

Blankman is partially correct when he states that ACIA ownership will allow residents to control the future of the golf course. This also means residents will have to PAY for this control FOREVER. A fee of $500/year for 2500 lots is $1,250,000. per year. Of course we can't be certain the cap of ONLY $500/year will remain in effect. The board could always hold another vote to increase this amount.

The ACIA board president has been quoted in the local newspapers saying the golf course purchase has "serious investors" involved. Recently, another board member communicated to me that there are NO "serious investors". These investors never materialized.

More lies and deceit. How can we believe anything this board says?

It would not be a permanently high fee if the agreement is to just mow the land and not keep it in golf course condition.
You are only telling one viewpoint

Supergolfer you are uninformed. The discussion has always been about purchasing the golf course and keeping it a golf course and developing some of the undeveloped areas into hiking/biking trails, nature areas, and/or something else that a select committee would devise. Its never been about Just mowing.

The vote is to purchase and then decide what to do with it!!!!

(corrected)
I AGREE ... take the trash fee out of HOA fee's as a start to this situation.
That is absurd that 500+ people are getting trash service without paying! The argument says the trash will pile up.. but
most other HOAs do not include trash. Their neighborhoods are NOT PILED in garbage. Isn't that what HOA is for to pursue the deed restrictions .. on those offenders?
We keep comparing our fee's to other neighborhoods but that is like apples and oranges as the saying goes.
At least with the trash out it is a bit more comparable ie., security, common area maintenance etc. I AM NOT stating an opinion on the effectiveness of the using the fees.
As for the neighborhood letter, I believe it should have been signed by the "group or originator" because it too is misleading stating ACIA Homeowner .. as has been said I am an ACIA Homeowner .. I DID NOT WRITE or participate in this letter.
I too have been reading all the material on web etc and the alternate plans I read are:
1. leave land to go to forest .. it is sand and weeds .. some form of replanting is required to "go back to forest".. where will this money come from?
2. let the golf course lot owners buy it .. as I see that would be a all or nothing deal. I'm sure there are many, that don't WANT more property that is why they have the smaller lot to begin with and what about those, fixed imcomes and hard times that can't afford it? They are not all on "non golf course lots".

So as I am not FOR a "ACIA buy plan" ... but I AM trying to understand what community positive and feasable solutions might be recommended. I don't have one either .. as I don't have the "knowledge in real estate law or development". I really hoping someone out here does and can help us all understand our options.

I agree, the point is to purchase it then decide as a group what to do with it. I hope they sell all the land that backs up to Kings River since they are just hoping to piggy back off of our fees.

Does any reasonably intelligent person actually purchase property and THEN decide how to use/develop it? I've never heard of such. What lending institution would finance that type of purchase? NONE

from the ACIA website...about the ACIA Homeowners letter. Why wouldnt anyone sign their name to a letter they mail to everyone? Maybe someone doesnt want to be recognized..my gut is Mishelle Curtis, the fool behind the website on the bottom of the page...anyone that lets her collect and change your vote is as foolish as her opinions.....here the post:

The ACIA perspective Golf Course Information 3/18
As we near our vote on March 29th, I feel it is necessary once again to take the time to update everyone. We have recently seen a letter mailed out to all residents entitled “Dear Fellow Homeowner”. This letter is, much like the previous one, full of errors that should be addressed. There are some scare tactics to paint the ACIA in a poor light. If you receive this or any flyers, please call or email the board yourself to determine if it is factual information.
• The fee increase information is correct. It is a $360 increase if the vote is passed. What the flyer neglects to say is the fee may be less as well. If some of the acreage can be sold, the fee may go down. We wanted the fee to be sufficient to explore all options, so a “community steering committee” is not limited in their choices. The volunteer “steering committee” will decide the usage of this land. The other side is minimum maintenance may not need the whole amount. The scare tactic of $1000 by 2011 is just that, it will be up to everyone to decide. This could be the community’s land and choice, we urge everyone to make a wise informed decision.
• Your options are for the assessment or against. The assessment will be used for the specific purpose of purchasing the former ACC. The fees will be used for the development and maintenance of the land. If a purchase cannot be made, no fee. Please do not buy into scare tactics.
• We did change the time and venue of the March 22nd meeting. We placed signs throughout the neighborhood to let everyone know. We needed a larger venue to make sure everyone is heard. As posted on the website 2/23/2010 “We are planning on a large public meeting for the March ACIA meeting. This meeting is tentatively scheduled for 3/22/2010. There will be signs distributed through the neighborhood specifying time and location. We plan to offer suggested courses of action during the March meeting and at that time will look to the community for their input.” Again this was posted on 2/23 and we have done exactly as promised. Some of the courses of action are on the webpage. The proxy was mailed to allow for the 3/22 meeting and an informed vote a week later. Please take the time to make an informed vote.
• Caminata continues to be mentioned. The proposal from Caminata is one of three golf management companies we investigated, and the least attractive. It will be presented as an option to the steering committee, one we hope no one endorses. The steering committee will have access to all information we have gathered, and you can please ask at the meeting on 3/22 at Pine Forest.
• The board does have the legal right to increase fees for this purpose. The information will be presented to anyone who thinks we do not at the meeting on 3/22. It is lengthy but copies should be available.
• For additional information please go to www.ATASCOCITACIA.ORG the information from any other source is an opinion. It is someone’s personal view point of this situation, and should be regarded as such. The same for the message boards, they are opinions not fact.

Again, I urge anyone with questions to email or call any board member. We are trying our best to offer a solution to this situation. We have had suggestions, and will continue to explore them. Our position on the possible harm to our community is well documented on our website. Please take the time to read the documents posted, and make an informed decision. Remember there will be a “steering committee” elected to determine the usage of this land. We are offering options, but the options are severely limited without ownership of the land. It is outside of our deed restrictions and we cannot enforce or limit activity of the owners. An agreeable solution can be found but we must do so before Pinehurst Trail Holdings begins dismantling the land.