For .89¢ a day, I get to fish the lakes with our sons and grandson, walk the trails on association property, and attend all the functions, both the traditional and additional ones Valencia has added to the mix. I have applauded developer Larry Branch for creating this oasis of tranquility we call Country Place, but I have also scratched my head over his hare-brained idea of making only half the residents responsible for paying dues. This in a community with four lakes, two entries, over a mile of walking trails, and a private road. A lot of Phase I residents choose to join the association and pay dues, but a lot don’t. Consider this: there are a number of residents who live on Lakeshore, drive it every day, but never pay a penny to help maintain it. Go drive around Great Oak Circle, then drive Lakeshore. CPCA is spending more to keep up our mile of private road than Smith County spends to maintain all the public roads in Country Place. At this late date, there may not be a way to correct this inequity and that’s a shame.
