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Village of Oak Creek Homeowner Revolt Brewing

Sedona Arizona golf course

A rebellion is brewing in the Village of Oak Creek as growing numbers of homeowners discover that VOCA (Village of Oak Creek homeowners Association) is quietly transforming itself into a glitzy golfers country club—at our expense, and without our approval. And they want to raise our assessments to pay for it.

At a time of  rampant job loss, bankruptcies and foreclosures, plus a fifty percent drop in our investments and home equities—with many restaurants going broke—the VOCA Board of Directors is recklessly pouring over $606,000 of homeowner reserve funds into lavishly remodeling a long-subsidized, notoriously money-losing golf clubhouse restaurant, turning it into not one but two fancy bistros. Through clever budgeting, they’re doing it without our permission, but they want to raise our dues to pay for it.

The $606,000—more than a year’s income!—has cunningly been budgeted  into two different years, to prevent the members from getting to vote on this rash expenditure—at a time of dangerous economic uncertainty and high investment risk! They tell us they don’t need our permission for this risky self-serving extravagance—which they are putting on the backs of the whole village, not just on the golfers, who are the main beneficiaries! They ignore the fact that our precious reserve fund is for necessities and emergencies, especially in tough times, not for fancy remodels.

In the last 4 years we owners have subsidized this loser VOCA restaurant to the tune of over $216,000, but now we’re told that it will suddenly become so profitable that it will pay back that giant $606,000 investment in only 4-7 years! That would be laughable if it were not for our hard-earned money—and if they didn’t want to raise our assessments to pay for it!

This notorious loser must face stiff competition from many fine local restaurants in a tiny market in a crippled economy. Where will an avalanche of needed new business come from? They don’t say. Many Villagers are struggling financially, not eating out. The VOCA Board refuses to reveal its Business Plan, if there is one, that supports this ludicrous accounting.

All the VOCA Board seems to care about is heedlessly building themselves a palatial country club for golfers and insiders to luxuriously eat and lounge in.  Never mind the high cost or the crippled economy or who pays for this risky extravagance. And they’re off to a bad, high-overhead start by hiring a large salaried staff to run the place.

Just last spring, after VOCA forced its previous restaurant manager out and took over, we were assured it would cost only $75,000 to make needed upgrades and repairs and quickly re-open. But in the summer their true intentions leaked out, and they reluctantly unveiled their long-standing secret plan—with heavy self-serving spin, of course. The $75,000 suddenly became $606,000 and one restaurant turned into two. This fall they promised not to open the second one until the first had proved itself, but now, after only a few inconclusive weeks open, they’re rushing to open the second one this quarter.

An HOA only exists to serve ALL its members equally, but the big-spending VOCA Board has increasingly favored building a golfers country club—on the backs of the whole village, without their approval. And they want to raise our assessments to pay for it, although they admit they have sufficient present income (almost half a million bucks annually) to last them until at least 2020.

The VOCA board has actually threatened me and my friends and neighbors with its (our?) attorneys, denied us data and refused to publish or respond to our legitimate protests. It’s time that fellow VOCA homeowners understand what’s happening behind the scenes at the HOA they’re locked into paying for, before the recklessly-spending board tries—again—to increase the whole Village’s assessments to pay for their latest unneeded extravagance.

As a former writer for the SEDONA TIMES on a wide variety of essays, reviews, exposes and articles, many of them on the front page, my wife Deanne and I have been VOC residents for 18 years; I’m also a former TIME, Inc. staff Correspondent and author of a dozen books.

 
Robert S. Wood 
Village of Oak Creek (VOC)
Sedona Arizona
 

Follow the Eye in 2012

21 Comments

  1. Josh Violette says:

    Your last paragraph lists your qualifications. I’m familiar with your work. You have zero credibility with me after your hatchet job on Sedona Fire District. I do not like what the board has done, but you do not have my support in any of your efforts.

  2. Eddie S. Maddock says:

    Wow, as a former patron of Mulligan’s I was saddened by the news when it closed. However, there are no words to express my concern and disappointment in reading Mr. Wood’s related article which I’ve no reason to doubt his credibility.

    Having remained envious of the wisdom of the folks who opted out of being included within the boundaries of Sedona when it incorporated back in 1988, learning of this back-door manipulation, in my opinion, sends a message that we are all probably floating “up the river” in the same boat. Very sad.

    E. Maddock
    Resident, Incorporated Sedona

  3. beautiful irony says:

    Robert,

    As always well written and clearly stated.

    The VOC thugs who want to rule this tiny kingdom are in it only for themselves and they are not above intimidation to get what they want. The irony is you threw your name in with them in railing against the fire district because you believed their lies about SFD.

    Your one sided articles only quoted the lies they wanted you to believe. How can the public trust you on this issue, since the last one you commented on was so poorly researched?

    Seems the”friends” of yours who turned you on to the lies about SFD have shown you their true colors. What now?

  4. Eddie S. Maddock says:

    Having not followed Mr. Wood’s input relating to the SFD my comment related directly to his report about the new VOC restaurant.

    As a resident of incorporated Sedona, I will be interested to hear from those who made the decision to spend over $600,000 for the restaurant improvements and why, if what Mr. Wood writes is accurate, wasn’t the entire membership of VOCA in on the plan and allowed to participate in the decision?

    E. Maddock

  5. No credibility says:

    Your recent history of poorly written hysterics about the Sedona fire Dept. has earned you a lack of credibility. It’s time to knock off the “chicken little” approach and think and invest positively in the future. The new restaurant is a good addition to the Village.

  6. ridiculous says:

    Your rant is just that. I am a member of VOCA (and not a golfer) and LOVE the new addition. I have gone to the board meetings, as well as the annual budget meeting, and know what was spent…Your figures are false and are just accusations. They have spoken openly during Board meetings, held special presentations, as well as weekly open meeting during construction. Did you go to any? Did you do your due diligence? I support the current board and excited that we have a facility we can be proud of!

  7. robertswoodwho says:

    Whata jerk!! Eat at Redstone, then rant (if you must). Great food. Reasonable prices. 2 eggs, potatoes, toast, $3.99!!!! Getouttahere,Robert!,!!

  8. woody says:

    Robert, you’re just ignorant. Weekly meetings open to anyone, beaucoup $$ already budgeted for kitchen renovation. You have no idea what you are talking about.

  9. Woody says:

    What increase in dues? If ignorance is bliss, you must be one very happy man.

  10. Warren and Cynthia Marshall says:

    We live on the 2nd hole of this course. (right next to the green)

    Close by–an empty lot for sale–the “for sales sign” laying in the dirt—

    someone is not doing their job—Why?

  11. Rebel says:

    Any way to drop out of VOCA? I asked how they justify the $180 dollars. I was told that was so my neighbor could not raise chickens. Heck, it would be nice to get some fresh eggs rather than shop for them. I am not a golfer and it seems the whole setup is to cater to golfers. VOCA does not enforce their rules unless you to bring it to their attention. No drive around to look at the motor homes parked on the street, or weed filled lots. Folks in Pine Valley seem to do just fine without needing to pay any dues.
    The time for a minor revolution is at hand in the Village.

  12. Glenn Shannon says:

    I owned a lot in the village back in 1977 and could see the writing on the wall then. I sold the lot and bought across the street and thank my blessing ever since. VOCA is like any other group in power they do as they damn please. As far as the fire department they were way out of control and anyone who says not has their head in the sand. When the fire department had free run their budget was twice the school budget. Their wages were higher than in Phx. fire department in an area where most jobs pay minimum wage. Everyone was drawing overtime pay even being on regular hours. The last fire chief that departed was blamed on the cuts in the budget but just the opposite was true. He was run out because he stated all the waste and said he could understand why the people were unset.

  13. Alarmed says:

    Glenn…are you actually Robert Wood writing under a pseudonym? Your attack on the fire district picks up where his left off. You’ve hitched your tail to his kite and have lost all credibility.

  14. Ralph says:

    ——-The $606,000—more than a year’s income!—has cunningly been budgeted into two different years, to prevent the members from getting to vote on this rash expenditure——

    How can this be true?
    Do other HOA members know about this? Who is responsible?

  15. Woody says:

    Why not eat at Redstone and then say if the $ was worth it? Please check with Pro Shop and ask if more groups are booking because of the restaurant’s existence. If the restaurant brings in more golfers (and profit !!), can assessments be kept at today’s level? If the restaurant is profitable, can we reduce the assessment? I can’t believe this is all a negative. Support VOCA!!!!!!

  16. Dave says:

    Have you got more arguments?

  17. Fred says:

    Slinging mud is easy for people around here. Facts escape and opinions stick in Sedona. There is no shame to be heard from the VOCA governing board and other homeowner associations or the SFD board. Have you heard the latest about funding a community or convention center? Good lord where is the collective brain? What makes VOCA think they have a mandate to spend even one nickel? Governance means asset management and not grandiose “theme” spending. Rent vacant Outlet space if we must. Buy a foreclosed house and use it. Rent vacant Tequa space. Rebel, a batch of chickens good for the neighborhood? That’s the best response you could come up with to Woods entire story? Have no fear, Rebel, there are plenty of fresh eggs laid in VOCA. With cluckers like you electing boards, it’s no wonder.

  18. Bill, VOCA says:

    damn funny line there Fred about the eggs and cluckers and you are even more to it about the facts not being as well received as gossipy words, a right shameful thing these days out of the mouths of old timers that should be setting a right better example for kids than we do. God needs to be forgiving a lot of us old folks in our self righteousness.

  19. Karen says:

    I agree it is time for the dues paying citizens of VOCA to rebel; however, knowing that most people are lemmings and will go along to get along, I seriously doubt much will be done.

    What those of us who have had enough of the VOCA board and its costly decisions need to do is formally organize and bring legal action (there must be a lawyer in the village that is willing to represent a citizen’s group pro bono) against the board to force them to sell that golf club and return to a traditional HOA status. VOCA has no business being in the restaurant/golf business. I, for one, am tired of paying dues, which amount to taxation, that do nothing for me.

    I agree with Mr. Wood’s rallying cry to complain, but it is not enough. The board will not take the community seriously until it is faced with strong action from the members. Mr. Woods, I suggest you organize a community meeting to discuss and create action items that address what can be done to deal with our out of control board and the issues you cite in your article. And if you know an attorney that wants to be involved, all the better.

    I’m on board.

  20. N. Baer says:

    Having lived in the village within VOCA my first seven years in Sedona, I can attest to many ridiculous policies; such as not having any dirt show on the exterior of your property and many other stupid things which affected my choice of properties when buying a house.

    The time has come for complete transparency by all of our institutions if they expect to continue in existence.

  21. VOCA Call to Action. Follow up.

    On October 9, 2014, there was a special meeting of the VOCA board of directors. At that meeting, the board was presented with a petition signed by 150 association members. The petition demanded that the board allow VOCA members to vote about the decision to change the management from VOCA employees to HOAMCO employees.

    Putting the petition aside and in spite of much opposition, “the board voted to move forward and formalize an agreement with HOAMCO.”

    On October 10, 2014, one board member resigned stating the petition issue and other ethical differences as some reasons she resigned.

    After the meeting on October 9, the board admitted they were required to respond to the petition. As a response, the board mailed a letter and ballot to the membership. The letter states, “…this vote of the membership is an advisory vote only and the result is not binding on the board.” The ballot states, “Your Board recommends
    a yes vote.”

    No opposing opinions were included with the ballot and letter.

    The ballots are due by 10 am on October 29, 2014. The special meeting that the board is required to hold is set for 3:30 pm on October 29. Members can’t even hear opposing opinions by attending the meeting. The ballots are due prior to the meeting. Again, no opposing opinions were included with the letter and ballot.

    Judge for yourself if this is manipulation.

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