Follow Up Questions/Comments for 6/1/21 Meeting

I know things have been challenging recently with the road improvements and that’s why we’ve had to have extra road meetings, however, having these extra meetings makes it difficult to attend each one. I understand that the meetings have had to go via Zoom due to COVID and it’s quite convenient but it needs to be paid attention when someone has their hand up. I had my hand up for over 15 minutes at last nights meeting and no one noticed, this has also happened in past meetings. The subject was changed and I had to go so I was never allowed to ask the questions I had. Perhaps a detailed letter can go out about the matter of the special meetings for those who aren’t able to attend or put the links of the recorded meetings on the website for those who aren’t able to attend. Just a couple ideas.

I had questions and comments on the subject that was discussed if someone did not pay or could not afford to pay for the otta seal. First, how can one board member say “that if an old lady can’t afford to pay, she will not be foreclosed on but if someone refuses to pay, they will be foreclosed upon”? Then another board member says, “it’s like a car loan, if you don’t pay there’s repercussions”, and then followed by it would be up to the trustee. One, where is the money going to come from for the “old lady” who can’t afford to pay? We have been told at several meetings that the funds would have to come from homeowners/neighbors, there is no reserve fund set up for that. Second, how do you know if someone is actually refusing to pay or just isn’t able to afford it? Who would be the judge? Just because someone has a nice house doesn’t mean they can afford it or just because someone has an old shack for a house doesn’t mean they can’t afford it. Third, it’s up to the trustee, so why are we getting these contradicting answers?

Another concern of mine is that it keeps being said that the votes were done correctly and by law, but I don’t see how that’s the case. One reason is, how can the board choose to extend the deadline for the ballots? Do we have clear laws/statutes/guidelines on voting practices? Also, if you look at the Deschutes County Special Road District Guidebook there’s only one mention on voting for road improvements and that’s for LID’s. In that case the improvement would have to pass by at least 60 percent of the votes in favor. So, my question is, would that be the way the votes are supposed to go with such a major road improvement as this one or is that just for LID’s? The guidebook is not very clear and neither are the Oregon Revised Statutes.

I feel that questions aren’t being answered by the board and I know I’m not the only one that feels that way. In fact, I replied to an email that the board had sent out with two questions and never got a reply. I’ve asked other questions via email and the forum and never receive a reply. I know there are a lot of unknowns but with a project like this, questions need to be answered. I know the board is thinking, we’re volunteers. However, you took on the volunteer position and you took on the road project so you need to be responsible for answering the questions we have on the project even if it’s saying you don’t know the answer to that right now and getting back to us.

Finally, I do appreciate the board even if it doesn’t seem that way by my questions/comments but they are concerns I have and other homeowners have. A situation like this isn’t easy because our community is split on the outcome of the road project. We do need to be respectful to each other, we are a community no matter if the roads get paved or not. Thank you Nyle, Annie and Jim for all of your hard work.