Man says his HOA keeps fining him $100 for handing out free water in extreme heat

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (KPHO/Gray News) – A homeowner in Arizona said he has been receiving fines from his homeowners’ association for handing out free water to people in the extreme heat.

David Martin, who lives in Goodyear near Phoenix, said he’s tired of being cited and fined for passing out free cold water in front of his house.

“It’s for the kids, the delivery drivers, the couple holding hands walking down the street,” Martin said. “It’s for the little kid who has to walk his dog in the heat.”

The goodwill gesture was not supposed to be controversial, but that’s exactly what happened after the Canyon Trails HOA and its management company, FirstService Residential, started sending Martin a bunch of citations last year for having a cooler in his driveway.

Following a number of news stories from KPHO, Martin claims the citations stopped, so he thought the HOA decided to leave him alone.

Then, a couple of months ago, the violation letters and $100 fines started up again.

“Here we are in July, the hottest day of the year, and we are still talking about a water cooler with free cold water,” Martin said. “It’s ridiculous that they are adding violations to a total that’s not going to get paid, because I’m giving out free water.”

His neighbors are equally confused.

“I have no idea why they are coming down on him,” said neighbor Rich Koustas. “I don’t know. It doesn’t make any sense.”

Martin is now taking the dispute with his HOA a step further. He started a petition and collected more than 100 signatures to have three HOA board members removed.

A special HOA meeting to vote on removing the three board members will be held Thursday night.

“I am hoping with three new board members that get elected, they’ll see that wasting time and money on a water cooler that’s helping the community is just that: a waste,” Martin said.

KPHO reached out to FirstService Residential but has not yet heard back.

Last year, an attorney representing the HOA sent this statement:

“The Association does not object to a resident providing water bottles within the community; however, the community’s rules do not allow a resident to advertise water bottle distribution from a portable ice chest, located next to their garage that is visible from neighboring property.”