Homeowners lack of being responsible

I am sure that every HOA has issues with people not respecting common areas. However, I need some advice and opinions. We have a pool, that is gated, and the homeowners and residents have purposely yanked on the gate so hard that now the latch and security system is broken...possibly to the tune of $2000. We have some of these people on the security camera and have fined them but without a card scan we can't prove who they are and if they are pulling the gate open there isn't one. Yesterday we recieved a notice from the county health department that we had to have soap in the showers so our maintenance person purchased a soap dispenser for each shower. They were installed less than 8 hrs when someone had vandalized them. Almost every night when the pool guy goes to clean the pool and check chemicals someone has emptied the soap dispensers by the sink on the floor. We now put the cheapest TP we can find in the bathrooms because people were stealing it. It goes on and on. Anyway, I want to write something for our newsletter that may wake people up...something ubrupt but not rude. Any ideas? Thanks for your help.

You could send out a letter saying that "The Board wishes to inform the Membership that a special assessment of $100 - $1,000 per household may be required to repair the damage to the pool area. This special assessment would be in addition to your regular monthly assessments. The Board also asks that homeowners report incidents where they witness others damaging the pool area. If the violators can be identified, they can be arrested and forced to pay for repairs. This will help prevent future special assessments."

If the homeowners realize that they will be directly paying the costs for somebody else to damage the pool, they might consider it a good idea to report damage and be witnesses against people who cause damage. Note: The letter just threatens special assessments; it doesn't actually say that there will be one.

Mary not all States or CC&R's require membership approval for a SA.

Glen,

I understand that and that's why I said it "might" be meaningless, but should have said "if" the members must vote.

I just wanted to thank all of you that responded to my question. The board was all in agreement on this and I have written an article for our newsletter using the proposed assessment for repairs idea. If I get negative response from anyone I will let them know we could just close the area. You guys are great! Thanks so much....