Home owners association responsibilities

The recent arrest of Spencer County man for growing pot and possession of other drugs shocked the other residents of the subdivision. Many of the subdivision residents were alarmed, appalled, and nearly apoplectic.  They never realized they had been apathetic.

Those residents had a certain mind set. These things happen in the big cities not the rural areas. We are solid middle class folks. We have moral standards. Criminal behavior is unacceptable. What I call righteous indignation.

Their reaction is something must be done. They want to crank up the home owners association (HOA) to prevent this type of thing. They get busy stirring up interest using their righteous indignation talking points.

A HOA has only two functions: enforce deed restrictions and maintenance of common areas. The primary purpose of a HOA is to preserve property values. Anything beyond those is merely community socializing. Annual picnics and newsletters are frequently done through a HOA. Some may even build and maintain a club house and or swimming pool.  But none ever have police powers.

I cannot think of any resolution or by-law amendment a HOA could pass that would stop the criminal activity that initiated the righteous indignation. Without police powers how could the criminal activity be discovered?

All the agitation may begin to get neighbors to know one another better, which is a good thing. Of course if you know your neighbors wouldn't you realize something odd (criminal activity) was occurring?

But wait. Wasn't the guy arrested? Didn't the current system work? Why does the HOA need to take action?

The call for action from righteous indignation is a typical liberal ploy to gain more power and control over the lives of others. Never willingly release any of your rights because of righteous indignation.