By Roger Ball
Twitter: @RogerBallNews

The Recreation Centers of Sun City West CC&R Committee finds itself divided.

The group designated to oversee the community’s covenants, conditions and restrictions can’t decide whether or not it should serve as a buffer between residents cited for violations and appeals to the governing board.

Jim Young, governing board member and committee chairman, raised the issue at the committee’s Dec. 4 meeting.

Two committee members, Barbara Justis and Barbara Sloan, thought it would be a good idea to be a buffer and suggested the proposal be sent to the governing board to be made official. Two other board members, Anna Morrison and Roberta Davidson, were opposed to the idea.

James Riley, CC&R enforcement director, reported that the staff is dealing with a large number of complaints that are coming from a few residents who take it upon themselves to drive around the community and then present a list of perceived violations to the staff.

Sun City West CC&Rs are only investigated after a complaint is received. Staff members do not patrol or seek out violations.

Barry Hoke, committee member, expressed displeasure that staff members could drive by a clear violation but not do anything about it.

“That is just wrong,” Mr. Hoke said.

Anna Morrison, committee member, inquired about the complaints regarding under-age residents, especially wondering if any involved children in foster care with grandparents. Mr. Riley said some involve foster children, but most involve when a grandchild is living in the house to take care of their grandparent, but then remain living in the house when the grandparent dies or moves elsewhere.

Mr. Young asked staff members how they determine some definitions, such as cleanliness. Mr. Riley replied it is often determined by the condition of other properties in the area.  

Barbara Sloan, committee member, inquired if the reports could be broken down into further categories.

“I see on the report 64 percent of the calls are for landscaping, but if that includes weeds, debris and bushes that are too tall can we break it down by specifics?” she asked.

Karen Justis, board member, said she thought such a breakdown of information that is shared with the public would be very educational.

Kimberly Salters, RCSCW CC&R lead, said when a citation letter is sent there are photographs and a specific listing of what different violations are cited.

Mr. Riley said lately there have been an increase in complaints filed with the staff that some residents are flying flags on their flagpoles below an American flag that promote certain politicians and sports teams. He indicated there is nothing specific in the CC&Rs about that, but there are some federal regulations about what can be on the pole below the American flag.

By consensus, the board members believed the RCSCW staff should not be involved in that issue and complainers should be referred to federal authorities.

Larry Smith, a Sun City West resident, said he hopes the committee or staff will develop a way to deal with the new phenomenon of overly bright solar-powered LED lights that shine on his property and into his home. Current rules address where lights can be shone, but do not address the brightness that was part of Mr. Smith’s complaint.

Mr. Young reminded Mr. Smith the committee does not deal with specific CC&R complaints but offered to meet with him after the meeting to discuss the general problem.

At the end of the meeting Ms. Morrison said she would be resigning from the committee as she was going on a sailboat cruise in the Caribbean for more than five months.

Visit suncitywest.com/sun-city-west-ccr.

Reporter Roger Ball can be contacted at rball@newszap.com and 623-876-2523.