There’s something oddly reassuring about consistency. For example, no matter how simple a question may seem, you can always count on at least one SHPOA Board member to confidently provide an answer that is… let’s say, creatively interpreted.
Case in point: a recent Facebook discussion about installing a culvert.
A homeowner asked a straightforward question. What they got in response was a firm declaration that they’d need to go through architectural review and submit the ever-mystical “green sheet” to the association.
Sounds official. Sounds authoritative. There’s just one small problem: it’s not actually correct.
Here’s the part that keeps getting lost—if your property sits on a city-owned road, SHPOA does not have jurisdiction over that right-of-way. Not a little bit. Not “sometimes.” Not “depending on who answers the Facebook post.” Just… no.
In reality, the process is refreshingly simple:
- Call DOT
- Purchase the culvert
- DOT installs it (often at no cost)
No architectural committee. No forms. No ceremonial paperwork shuffle.
It raises an interesting question: how does something this straightforward keep getting misrepresented? Is it confusion? Habit? Or just the irresistible urge to weigh in on everything, whether it falls under the association’s authority or not?
To be fair, HOAs can be complicated. Boundaries of authority aren’t always intuitive. But when you’re in a position of leadership, accuracy isn’t optional—it’s the whole job and the board should verify the information before opening their mouths.
Homeowners deserve clear, correct information, especially when it affects their time, money, and property decisions. And maybe—just maybe—it’s okay to say “I’m not sure” instead of filling in the blanks with something that sounds official but isn’t.