WHAT IS A PROPERTY OWNER'S ASSOCIATION AND WHAT CAN IT DO FOR
YOU?
By Hildamae Voght
Let's begin with what it is not. It is not a Chamber of Commerce
that acts to promote business in the area. It is not a Home
Owners Association that tells its members what color they may
paint their house and where they can park their cars and trucks.
It is not a benevolent organization such as the Rotary, Lions or
Kiwanis Club that work nationwide for various causes. It is not
some non-profit organization.
A Property Owners Association is organized by the citizens of a
community to give them the combined numbers to protect their
investment in their home sites and their vacant lands. There are
approximately 4,000 property owners here in Newberry Springs.
When united voices speak, those who believe there are only
cactus, jack rabbits and sidewinders in the desert have to
listen.
A good example: Many of us remember about thirty years ago when
the San Bernardino Supervisors seriously considered contracting
with Los Angeles to allow them to truck and ship their wet sludge
here and spread it on Troy Dry Lake. This would bring flies,
other vectors, blowing trash, spread disease, and pollute our
water table. The Newberry Springs Water Association spoke for the
community at that time. The Supervisors listened to the busloads
of us who attended their meetings. They gave up the idea when
faced with the numbers.
However, water was the only subject the association could work
for and soon there were many other concerns that threatened our
investments. That is when it disbanded and the Property Owners
Association took its place.
Later the County Supervisors decided that this would be an ideal
location for 40 Chino dairies. Each alfalfa field could have a
dairy on one corner. That it might be next to your home didn't
matter to them. This Organization recommended that they stay in a
group, as at Chino, and locate in the far northeastern part of
the valley, down wind and down stream to protect the water table.
They declined this idea, but it took the combined voices of the
community to prevent the scattered dairies.
Over the years this Property Owners Association has addressed and
solved issues that concern the welfare of this community. For
example, the Trash Transfer Station and the roads are on going
projects, as well as monitoring the Mojave Water Agency.
Presently there is a threat that we should be aware of. The
County Officials continue to put the lure of money ahead of
the needs of the people of the High Desert. Recently you no doubt
read the articles telling that the Rail Cycle deal has fallen
through. Did you also read where the county was studying
and seriously considering taking over that project? It would be a
sweet deal for the county but bad for us. Think of the truck and
railway traffic that would be added here. The trash deposit was
to be 10 stories high and have 21,000 tons of trash deposit per
day by the fifth year of operations. Currently, the acquisition
cost has stopped the county, not concern for those of us living
in close proximity.
Support the Newberry Springs Harvard Property Owners Association,
so they will be here when you need them. You are fortunate to
have an active Association. Safeguard your property investment,
and property rights. By being a member you help support a strong
voice that can and will be heard. As a responsible property owner
don't you think you should be a member?
The above article from the NSHRPOA Newsletter Jan. 1999 does not
nessessairly reflect the opinions of the Newberry Press nor that
of L & P Publishing Newberry Springs Bulletin. It is printed here
because it illistrates the Need and Purpose of the Property
Owners Association.
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