"Larry Bud" wrote in message
oups.com...
Got a letter today from the VP of the Management for our site condos
today. Almost every year we have to patch about 1/2 mile or so of road
from pot holes. The roads are not heavily travelled, and only used by
our sub, and while the pot holes were a nuisance, the road is only 15
mph.

The letter states that the board had conferred with several asphalt
contrators who have concluded that the road was "originally installed
an an incorrect pitch with much of the base comprised of grey wet
clay". The board had decided to tear out a good portion of the road,
and the estimated cost was $225,000. Our dues are to go up from
$75/month to almost $300 from jan to apr, then back down to $80 after
that.

What can be done to stop this? I find it ridiculous that even if there
is an underlying problem, the cost to repair the road this year was
$5500. At that rate, we could repair the road for 41 years for the
cost of replacement. This even assumes that the new road wouldn't even
have to have repairs in that time, which is probably impossible.

It may be that all of the properties in your association are devalued by the
constant problem with potholes. That kind of thing runs off prospective
buyers.

It may be that they would like to deal with the problem this one time and be
done with it.

Anyway, I'd suggest talking with the management association and figuring out
exactly why they want to spend this much of your money. Maybe you'll agree
with their logic - those people are *usually* not out to screw the tenants.
If you don't agree with their logic, maybe you can reason with them. Beyond
that, maybe you have legal recourse. In my old association, you could vote
the board out of office and the bylaws didn't allow a big increase such as
you describe without a passing vote from a quorum of the association.

Good luck getting the right solution.