How Your Assessment Fees and Volunteers Benefit You
(A positive look at the Royal Oaks Property Owner’s Association)
Many owners ask: “What do I get for my assessment?” We can list several services that owner’s receive for their money, however, a lot of them would not happen without the indispensable volunteers (your neighbors), who manage the association or support it in various ways. Therefore, the answer includes two lists:
I. The main Fee-based Services you receive are:
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Operations Services:
– Street maintenance and repair
– Grinder Pump maintenance and replacement (285 homes)
– Sewer and Drainage maintenance, repair (and occasional replacement)
– Landscaping and Mowing of Common Areas (over 35 acres)
– Snow Removal on streets; pre-treatment to prevent ice
– Street Lights; Fence work; Fountain maintenance and repair; Pond care
– Advice to the Board; Equipment and tool maintenance;
– Paid Staff to perform the above (includes knowledge of plumbing, heavy equipment, electrical, water/sewer, landscaping, carpentry, etc.)
Treasurer Services:
Collections and postings, record-keeping and online reports, late fee reminders, salary accounting and payments, management of association funds, payment of utilities, submitting federal and state paperwork, advice to the Board, and assessment information for Realtors and potential buyers
Amenities:
– Swimming Pool facility, supplies & equipment, monitoring & cleaning (partially offset by user fees)
– Community Room & kitchen, including regular cleaning (partially offset by user fees)
(Also see the Volunteer involvement below)
Other:
Legal costs to protect, and to advise the Board and Association
II. What You get for Free from our Volunteers:
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Board of Directors:
– Seven elected residents, usually serving for three years, who manage the association’s business, which includes:
– Meeting frequently and discussing Royal Oaks affairs
– Informing the community of key decisions via quarterly meetings, minutes, emails, etc.
– Liaison's for all (volunteer) Committees
– Keeping informed of issues and communicating with: city & county officials, and others
– Handling resident & others major complaints (Administrator & Board representatives)
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Architectural Review:
– Construction oversight of home builders/developers and homeowner projects
– Advice to potential developers, homeowners, and the Board
– In-depth knowledge of carpentry, plumbing, electrical, engineering requirements, covenants & more
– Building Requirements handbook; and builder and homeowner forms
Swimming Pool:
– Pool setup, opening & closing, management of payments & applications, minor maintenance
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Social Events:
– Regular fun events for different age groups
– Special holiday events
– Community Room use management; use and access information for residents & guests
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Communications:
– Frequently emailed Community Updates
– Bi-monthly emailed Newsletter
– Royal Oaks Website & online Room Calendars & various Forms
– Prompt Posting of official Documents for three HOA’s
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Other:
– Financial Investment Committee – Advice on improving our association’s investments
– Welcome Person – provides new owners with official documents & community information
– Monitoring of new homes & home sales
– Beautification Committee – Help with main entrance landscaping & other projects
– Holiday Decorations Committee
– Other Ad Hoc (temporary) teams, such as the Traffic Committee and the Elections Committee
If you are willing to give the community some of your time
Contact a ROPOA Board member or Committee Chairperson.
This list was created by Bill Benson, and last updated June 2024.