Article Courtesy of First Coast News
By Kenneth Amaro
Published August 2, 2018
The Fountain Gate Condominium community was built in the 1980s and now some
of the buildings are in need of repair. The wood siding is rotting.
Many of the property owners are aware of the need, but
there is growing outrage over a special assessment fee to meet that need.
"They feel like we're being railroaded in this because most of the
homeowners are on a limited budget," said Jody Kilgore, "they're retired."
Kilgore owns a unit, she is also a director on the Homeowners Association
Board. But Kilgore is against the current proposal to impose a fee on the
owners for repair.
"I think we need to listen to the people's vote," she said.
She acknowledged the need for the repairs but believes the unit owners are
being left out of the decision-making process.
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"Whenever there's a material change, the community should
provide 75% of the vote to say 'yes' or 'no,' but the board voted and not
the community," said Kilgore.
The HOA is securing a loan for the $1.5 million project. To pay back the
loan, it is imposing a special assessment, approximately $20 thousand per
unit, to be paid monthly over seven years.
"It is still a seven-year contract for unit owners that are in their 70s and
80s on a fixed income," she said.
A recall of the current HOA board was filed with the Florida Department of
Business and Professional Regulation. Kilgore supports the recall. If it is
successful, it would mean replacing the current board and the property
management company.
"Then we can start over," she said.
Kilgore said right now she has more questions than answers, and there are
other property owners who feel the same way.
"Everybody in this community is stressed over what's going on because we
don't know where this is going," said Kilgore.
Attorney Chris Cobb represents the HOA and the condo management company.
"The unit owns voted down the materials and, in the absence of that the
vote, is allowed at the board level," he said.
He said the board has a fiduciary responsibility to maintain the property. |