As I write this blog, I wonder what the property owners of Timberwood Park as a whole think about our current neighborhood business state-of-affairs. What happened to the business of our neighborhood?
Do you see maintenance and upkeep being done on a regular basis to maintain our current assets in and around the park? Do you see any effort being done to refurnish the clubhouse for any property owner who might want to rent it for an event? Do you see any effort to repair and maintain the existing clubhouse given the loan failure the board faced being unable to secure financing for the “I want” new clubhouse? The existing clubhouse is continuing to deteriorate as NO maintenance is being performed. No money being spent for upkeep or to maintain it. It just continues to deteriorate under the lack of current care it is receiving.
The clubhouse which was slated to be demolished in January still stands due to the board’s inability to seek suitable financing choices and inability to secure a loan for a new clubhouse build which was never a need but a “want”. Whether it’s said that the financing institution chosen decided to change the terms or it’s said we were turned down for financing given our financial capabilities or lack thereof, We do not have the resources to handle this type of debt currently!!!
It’s been said publicly in other forums that two board members were removed or asked to step down from office due to the number of lawsuits that have occurred under their watch. Should these individuals still be serving in other capacities?
Take a look at https://search.bexar.org/Case/CaseSummary to see pages of lawsuits against our current HOA and its board. Some of the cases listed are potentially about HOA matters like filings against property owners who are in arrears on assessments. Of the cases listed there at least 14 which have been filed for matters OTHER than arrears assessments or delinquent taxes.
Because of the number of lawsuits filed against the current HOA and our board, our liability insurance and D&O insurance premiums have skyrocketed. If the other forums are correct and this is the case, why would it be acceptable for any board member who stepped down or was potentially removed to still sit on any committees sanctioned by the board?
Property owners, it’s time to make it clear to the board that continued waste of our resources for a “proposed clubhouse build” is a waste of our resources! It’s estimated that approximately $75,000.00 has been spent on wasted permitting fees, loan fees, appraisals, and other costs to get us a nothing in return for the proposed new build.
Why can’t we start working on a remodel, or at least maintain what is currently falling into a state of disrepair? Is the goal of this board to ensure with the continued deterioration that we need a “new” clubhouse? Let’s hear from the property owners what they feel is the best plan forward given the failures thus far of this board. What do you think should happen at this point?
Wouldn’t it be good business practice to remodel the existing clubhouse and move on rather than continue to waste our assessment dollars and saddle us with a huge debt for the next 10-20 years? WE DO NOT HAVE THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO PAY THE DEBT SERVICE ON A $1.5 MILLION DOLLAR LOAN!
Please send your thoughts and comments back to this blog and let the board hear you! We have a meeting coming up on June 18 – in our unmaintained clubhouse! Come to the meeting! Share your thoughts about the management done on your behalf by this board. It’s your money! Would you operate a business this way?
Our board has a legal responsibility to follow all applicable laws and by-laws of the Timberwood Park HOA. Failure to do so and to continue to misappropriate HOA fees collected from the homeowners, will likely result in more lawsuits. I for one will not sit idly by and watch them waste my hard earned money. I worked too hard for 30 plus years in the Criminal Justice system to let this happen.
I agree with all you have said. I want the current clubhouse remodeled, especially the gym and the sauna and the equipment. I voted NO on the new clubhouse. I don’t think we need it nor can we afford it. I don’t want my dues going up.
I would like to see current clubhouse remodeled. I would like to see a snack bar added to pool area. I would like to see music added to pool area. We pay $200.00 For our pool membership. When will we see the pool area benefit?
I agree whole heartedly about what you stated. I have been to many clubhouse meetings only to see members of the board shut down questions or residents themselves try to answer other Resident s questions (which for me they should kindly shit up). In my opinion those of us that have issues with the current state of affairs should meet outside of the normal meeting and get on the same sheet of music. Elect one person to speak for the group and take it from there. I have seen many disagree with HOA board actions but no action taken. Are we to continue posting our discontent or are we going to mobilize our efforts and take this on outside of a neighborhood blog?
In wholehearted agreement with all that was stated here. The ex- board member should not be in a position to influence and should step aside from the committee. The existing clubhouse would benefit from a complete professional cleaning interior and exterior. It could do with an interior remodel but it is structurally sound so why demolish it? And an HOA should not be taking out loans of such magnitude for a vanity project.
I have always been against a new club house. Timber Wood does have the funds or the need for a new one. We need to maintain and improve what we have. I have lived in Timber Wood since 1982, as one of the first I am tired of those people that have to elected to gamble away our funds, and think some close of the misuse is deplorable. Those people need to step down and away from involvement.
I wrote a response but it never posted hmmmm
Mr. Cruz, appreciate your candor and your comments. If you are interested in leading this group you propose, please message me back.
Yes you were, Mr. Cruz, just couldn’t approve during business hours when I am employed elsewhere. Thanks again for your comments and thoughts.
Well honestly I think it all needs more work then most want to actually take time to look.
The rules are not followed by all, the hoa board previous and current don’t treat all residence the same.
The “onsite” park managers that is paid and given living is not available during business hours , the pool is just as outdated . The playgrounds are always a mess the bathrooms are always dirty if and when they are working.
My point is instead of complaining about the board and suing look at the reasons our park clubhouse playgrounds look the way they do! THE MEMBERS THE RESIDENTS !
I have sent repeated emails to the Board requesting updates but my emails have all been ignored. None of us should be interested in second chance financing. It is just not acceptable to push forward just so a “my kids want that clubhouse” at all costs insanity of certain Board members can be realized.
Another big concern is that those 2 removed Board members were the biggest pushers for a new clubhouse. Where are they now? What did they do wrong? This community deserves better. We didn’t work hard in life to pay consequences of those making very poor decisions. There are lessons the must be learned.
I also believe that the $40,000 for a new septic system should be included above that $75,000 because it was intended to be used for their bigger clubhouse project.
#1 Any board members who participated in rigging recent and prior elections should step down and resign from the board immediately. #2 I think many of us have a question as to what happend to everything that was removed from the clubhouse? Is there an accounting as to the whereabouts of every item that has already been removed? #3 Who specifically authorized and proceeded with the gutting of the existing clubhouse prior to obtaining any approval for a loan to build a new one in it’s place. That is an unconscionable act against the people of TWP who own that facility.
So we have self serving board members who were removed only to serve on other committees?
Lawsuits? It is very sad and annoying. Disclosure: I’ve been a Timberwood resident since 1993 & Have seen amazing growth with beautiful homes. The clubhouse was suitable for what was then, I believe there was renovation done in the early 2000,s. Still the clubhouse does need to be updated. It will be nice if we can move forward with the grand plan but….When we have a client who is unable to qualify for a loan, we ask that they take a step back, look at the circumstances and maybe regroup in a couple of years when their finances are in a more suitable place, or renovate their current house to meet their needs.
2nd chance financing is what got us Into the last recession. Mainly from new home builders who would give anyone a loan. Thank goodness that was taken off the books after the recession. I have not been to a board meeting in so long. There is NO OTHER subdivision in and around Timberwood that has a $217/yr maintenance fee with facilities that we have. Do not know if the Rec area is owned outright by the residents, no mortgage.
I hope the $75,000 was spent towards a professionally done study. 2different contractors (of no relation to ANYONE on the board) for renovating and 2 different contractors (No relation. To anyone on the board) for tearing down and building new.
The board should then go over each proposal and present the summary with artistic renditions, to the residents for a vote.
I am sure that was how it was done.Right? I Hope so.
Actually the board should have also appointed a committee for this purpose – no relations to the contractors should have also been the rule here.
I appreciate all the above comments about not building a new clubhouse. If I never visited the park and never participated in park activities or events, I too would not want to build a new clubhouse. But the fact remains, the current clubhouse is too small to safely host most meetings or events. We have been violating fire safety codes for building occupancy for every of the past several board meetings and for most events. A new, bigger clubhouse would solve that safety issue. A remodeled one could if done properly, but making the main room bigger would mean enlarging the slab and totally redoing the roof which would mean an almost complete gut job. For those that want to do nothing, I hear you. But from a safety and legal point of view, we need to do something.
Thanks Mr. Young for your comments and perspective. I believe those who do not want the new clubhouse are more concerned about the debt load we will be carrying which could easily topple our neighborhood if our expenses are not kept in check. Not wanting to incur excessive debt and building beyond our means does not equate to not visiting the park or the clubhouse. We cannot afford what is being proposed. Take a look at the financials and tell me if you see the ability to fund $15,000-$20,000 a month in debt service beyond our current expenses? If you see that as feasible, please advise. Thanks again and your comments are appreciated!
I agree we need to be able to fund whatever debt we take on to avoid “toppling” the neighborhood. But if we continue to exceed occupancy limits in our inadequately sized clubhouse and if a tragedy happens due in part to the crowd size, who will be held liable and do we have adequate insurance to cover our growing community. Just another angle to think about to avoid “toppling” the neighborhood.
Response to Chip Young: That’s the thing about our neighborhood. Timberwood Park is a static sized neighborhood of about 3200 properties with about 2700 of those built on, some owned as multiple ownership by one owner so they won’t have another home built on them, and a small number which haven’t yet been built on. If just our neighborhood is using our private park for events and activities and personal enjoyment, there isn’t an overcrowding situation. By allowing the surrounding neighborhoods that are growing up around us to access our private park, we not only lose the private park that the property owners of Timberwood Park pay for and maintain, but we open ourselves up to a larger liability for potential accidents, injuries and so on from those who have no vested interest in the park or the neighborhood but love to use the facilities if the gate is open or the event is advertised well enough to have anyone attend. We are covered adequately for what is our neighborhood, just not for everything at large.