Posted on 08/12/2015 6:06:19 AM PDT by JoeProBono
LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo., - A Missouri family said their homeowners association is threatening them with jail time after they refused to take down their purple playground equipment.
Marla Stout of Lee's Summit said her family put up a playset for their young daughters about two years ago and she painted the equipment purple to comply with requirements of the Raintree Lake Neighborhood Homeowner's Association.
"There's nothing in the rules about color," Stout told WDAF-TV. "What it says is it has to be harmonious with the community and with nature and there is nothing that dictates the color of the swing set."
Stout said she considered the purple color to be "harmonious" because it matches the color of the trees in the fall, but the homeowner's association disagreed.
Stout said she received a notice from the HOA last year saying they were being fined for not having the playground equipment and its color pre-approved, but they successfully appealed and had the fine thrown out.
However, the HOA sent further letters demanding the purple playground's removal.
"[The letters said] that if we didn't remove the swing set from the subdivision in a couple of weeks, we go to jail," Stout told KMBC-TV.
Another letter pledged the HOA's lawsuit would cost the family "greater than any principal you are trying to prove."
She said the HOA ignored a petition signed by more than a dozen neighbors saying they were not bothered by the equipment.
Stout said her family has hired an attorney and will continue to fight.
Local governments and HOAs are determined to keep the spirit of East Germany alive.
I suspect there is more to it than just a playground painted purple.
It is beautiful! Stupid people!
Another reason I would rather live in a dumpster than subject myself to the tin-horn tyranny of a HOA.
Funny - our city has lots of little ‘pocket parks’, and all the equipment such as slides and swings happens to be purple.
Members of the HOA need to be swinging from some of those tall trees.
No way would I live in a community that has a homeowner’s association……...
Sigh
I miss editors. Whether employed by UPI or the HOA, they are required.
I suspect that if you have ever lived in a HOA at all you were part of the jack booted problem.
In fact, I will assert it outright.
Because I lived in one and this is mild.
Oh, I doubt it. My mom got herself elected to her condo board just to combat stupid stuff like this. I think the original thing had to do with Christmas lights or something equally insipid.
They finally had her impeached or whatever it was. The board kept filing lawsuits on people for stupid stuff.
The real kicker was one of their by-laws that stated that only two of the 80 units could be rentals.
That was a fine idea when the economy was booming, but when it crashed, in Michigan, the value of the units went from over $100K to about $30K. Many of the older people died and their heirs couldn’t sell, or wouldn’t sell at a loss and certainly weren’t moving into a $30,000 condo. And they couldn’t rent.
An unoccupied dwelling deteriorates pretty quickly.
My mom ended up getting sued by these idiots because she remarried and rented out her place “illegally.”
What a fiasco by a bunch of commie wannabees.
Raintree Lake Property Owners Association
825 SW Raintree Drive
Lee's Summit, MO 64082
office@rlpoa.com
816-537-7576 (w)
816-537-5621 (F)
Somebody’s kid wasn’t invited to somebody else’s birthday party, then you get parents on HOA’s that do stuff like this. Pity Full.
Now that's a piece of documentation I would take to court. Hopefully it is signed by someone. That's a flat out threat and counter suits would be a comin'.
And whose money is the HOA board using to pursue this?
People forget that ALL of the owners are members of the HOA. Take the petition to the next level and have the homeowner members of the association attend the next association board meeting and demand that the board cease this action or they will individually be voted out in the next election.
The owners need to take back control of their association board.
-PJ
bet they felt right snobby and aloof when they moved into their little exclusive neighborhood....are they still better than us plebes?
For better or worse, in many cities most reasonably recently built houses have an HOA. Their original intent was to protect property values by puttting the brakes on some people’s worst excesses and neglect of upkeep.
Unfortunately, the contol freak gene that convinces people to love speed limits, DUI checkpoints, public schools, eminent domain, and Democrat politicians often kicks in for HOA boards, especially retirees who have nothing but empty hours for meddling.
And it isn't purple. It is more of a bold magenta.
Chances are, this is being driven by one Gladys-Kravitz-type harpy on the HOA board who loves to get her way.
The HOA I live in would not even allow something like that at all. We can’t even have a shed. I can’t have a clothes line which is unfortunate because in the Summer it is nice to have fresh outdoor sheets but alas not allowed. The other rule we have is that we have to get permission and approval on painting the house. However, with these rules you get a ton of positives like a very nice looking neighborhood. We don’t have the usual house with cars sitting on cement blocks or anything overgrown lawns or even a lawn with weeds. Funny but I haven’t seen a dandelion since I moved here. lol.
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