Bottled Anger in Arizona
In a surprising turn of events, homeowners in Arizona have found themselves facing fines for distributing free cold water bottles to neighbors. This situation has led to a dramatic confrontation with their homeowners’ association (HOA).
David Martin, who has been sharing chilled water with passersby in Goodyear, Arizona, for the past five years, has found himself at odds with the Canyon Trail community’s HOA. His kind gesture, which started during the sweltering summer months of 2020, aimed to foster a sense of community during tough times. “It’s really for the kids, delivery drivers, and couples taking a stroll,” Martin mentioned in an interview.
When the COVID-19 pandemic had much of the world on lockdown, Martin and his wife felt the importance of connecting with their neighbors. “I thought, what better way to contribute to the community than by offering free cold water?” he said recently.
Tensions rose last year when the HOA, along with FS Residential, fined Martin for keeping items they deemed non-compliant in his driveway.
Despite refusing to pay the $100 fine, Martin received penalties for three consecutive months. “It’s just a cooler with free water, and it’s July, the hottest time of year,” he expressed frustration. “It’s absurd that they keep adding violations because I’m giving away something for free.”
The HOA clarified that there wasn’t an issue with providing the water itself; they just prohibited promotional displays in areas visible from the street. “Residents can offer water bottles within the community, but promoting it from ice chests near garages isn’t allowed,” the board stated.
Feeling determined to change the narrative, Martin devised a plan to challenge the HOA’s authority by collecting signatures to unseat three board members.
“I don’t think it makes sense to waste resources on fining someone for community support while keeping these board members in place,” he remarked.
On July 10, Martin carried out his plan, gathering support from neighbors at a special meeting where about 190 out of 210 votes favored removing the targeted board members.
The day after the vote, however, the board questioned its legality, arguing that Martin had not met the signature requirement and that proper notification wasn’t provided for the meeting.
They even held an emergency meeting to invalidate the vote, citing the need for a quorum in a community with over 1,000 homes.
Martin is now preparing for a potential legal fight, fully committed to his cause. “This isn’t just about the water; it’s about what our community stands for,” he stated.
