FFBCC Board of Directors “NEWS”

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Delinquency Consequences

The purchase of Community Club property in Fairfield Bay includes a contractual obligation to become a member of the Club and support it through dues. Owners of improved properties (a house built on site) also are required to pay garbage collection and, if connected to the sewer system, sewer utility fees. This is no different than the obligation to pay property taxes to the county. Owners don’t have a legal right to decide that they no longer wish to pay dues, fees & taxes.  The State of Arkansas’ response is to place a tax lien and after the appropriate notices and time, sell your property at a county tax sale.  The Community Club’s action is to report all delinquencies to the various credit reporting agencies. The delinquency may affect the ability to acquire loans and other benefits of creditworthiness. After appropriate notices and time, some properties may also be foreclosed and sold.

There are 50 owners of improved properties (of which 9 are full time residents) that have chosen delinquency over payment and who face more severe consequences. Garbage collection is part of the money collected with dues, and this service is easily discontinued.  A delinquent property with a house attached to the sewer system can have the service disconnected by a physical process of digging up the connection and capping the flow from the house which results in a charge of approximately $500 for the disconnect.  When disconnected and capped, house sewer lines can back up and damage any grinder pump that may be part of the system, with costs of $300 for a simple repair to around $3,000 for a replacement. Sewer backup will also damage the home interior, and because it is not accidental, the damage will not be covered by homeowner’s insurance. Reconnecting later, after fees are paid, will cost an additional $500 for again digging up the cap and tying back on. Then they must also pay legal costs associated with collection attempts.

Delinquent owners are not “members in good standing” and are not entitled to vote in elections or use the amenities of the Club, including the golf course, tennis courts, swimming pools or the Country Club. It’s hard to imagine the embarrassment of going to any of these facilities with friends and being refused admittance because of delinquency. If you are not current with your dues, please contact Owner Services to make arrangements to become current and avoid these problems. The Board does not wish to cause hardships arising out of delinquency, but it is obligated to take actions as required by the Covenants and Restrictions.

The FFB Community Club Board of Directors

by Robert McBride

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