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Lake lot lease rate increases denied |
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Written by Amanda Moreno
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Wednesday, 10 March 2010 |
The voice of the people was heard.
Numerous residents from Lake Sweetwater and Oak Creek Lake were given the chance to voice their concerns before the city commissioners voted on the lake lease agreement changes and lake lot lease increases.
Many of the concerns involved the residents not having a say in the lease agreement and feeling that they had no representation.
"I want to talk to someone that cares," Allen Morris, Oak Creek Lake resident said. " I have numerous improvements to my property. I'm just wanting to be able to talk to someone that actually cares."
According to the residents, the City of Sweetwater provides no assistance to those residing out at the two lakes. Even though the City of Sweetwater is referred to as the landlord, the residents are the ones that carry the responsibility of upkeep and everything else regarding their properties.
"We are policing ourselves," an Oak Creek Lake resident said. "The City of Sweetwater doesn't do anything for us."
The new lease agreement is said to have a clearer definition of landlord, tenants and responsibilities. According to commissioners, the only change from the previous lease, which was drafted in 1990, is that the residents aren't allowed to use the water from the lake at Oak Creek.
The deciding factor of fair market value was another concern for many of the residents. The big question that they wanted answered was how the value was determined.
"I have put everything I have into my house," a Lake Sweetwater resident said. "Many of the residents out there have put every cent that they have into their houses."
Numerous residents said that they are living on a fixed income and the raising of their lease payments is putting them into a hardship.
"Having only a six day notice that our payment is going up is not enough time," a Lake Sweetwater resident said. "I have to put money aside every month for my bills and six days isn't enough time to adjust for that."
Other concerns voiced included the uncertainty of their boundary lines and things that they are allowed to do and not do. One resident from Oak Creek Lake raised the question of catching rain water. According to residents, there are more restrictions than there are explanations.
Amongst the numerous concerns, a few residents hinted at some acceptable adjustments. They asked that they be given more notice of the raising of rates and be included in the drafting of a new lease agreement.
"The guidelines aren't the problem," a Lake Sweetwater resident said. " We need guidelines, but we need them to be spelled out for us and not just demanded of us."
The area once started out as three cabins and has since grown to numerous dwellings, which includes some high priced houses. According to commissioners, the rates were last raised in 2008, from $400 to $600 and before that they were raised in 1998, from $300 to $400.
"When is it going to stop," an Oak Creek resident said.
After hearing from all interested parties at the meeting, commissioners decided to table the lease agreement changes and denied the lake lease increase. The lake lease payment will remain at $600 and not be raised to $800. Next month, after speaking with residents and carefully reviewing the lease agreement, the commissioners will revisit the issue. |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 11 March 2010 )
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