Journal 109: What Your Pinehaven Dues Make Possible

For nearly forty years, Pinehaven’s annual dues have quietly turned individual contributions into shared services, safer cabins, stronger community ties, and a better place for everyone. Those contributions have funded everything from trash service and road signs to wildfire mitigation, community gatherings, and support for organizations throughout the surrounding area.

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The History of Dues

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When the association was organized in 1987, annual dues were set at $10 per homeowner. They increased to $15 in 1989 as the association’s budget and responsibilities grew, then rose to $25 by 2000, $35 in 2001, $50 in 2003, $75 in 2008, $100 in 2015, and $150 in 2021.(1)

From 1987 through 2021, annual dues increased by an average of about $4.12 per year. That does not mean dues rose every year. Instead, they generally remained unchanged for several years and were adjusted periodically as operating costs increased and the association took on additional services.

Dues may not be the most exciting part of cabin ownership, but neither are overflowing dumpsters, missing road signs, or unpaid bills.

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What Your Dues Support

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As of July 1, 2026, Pinehaven’s annual dues help fund the following services, programs, and community responsibilities:

1. Year-round household trash service and dumpster rental for residents
2. Installation and maintenance of road signs and cabin owner directional signs
3. The annual picnic and membership meeting
4. Correspondence and communication with members throughout the year
5. Contributions to nonprofit organizations that serve the community and benefit Pinehaven
6. Forest mitigation projects and twice-yearly forest debris pickup
7. Fire safety efforts and Firewise program expenses
8. Administrative expenses, necessary maintenance, and other improvements approved by the Association

In some years, trash service and forest debris haul off alone have cost the Association approximately $10,000, illustrating how quickly one essential service can consume a substantial portion of the annual budget.(2)

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Dues That Strengthened a Community

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A review of the surviving membership and Board minutes from July 15, 1988, through 2026 documents more than $14,000 in contributions to organizations serving the surrounding community. Recipients have included the La Veta–Cuchara Quick Response Team, Cuchara Valley Recreation Association, La Veta Fire Protection District, La Veta Fire Auxiliary, La Veta Fire Response Team, La Veta Public Library, and others.

These donations reveal an important part of Pinehaven’s history. The Owners Association recognized that the community’s well-being depended partly on strong emergency, fire protection, recreational, and public service organizations throughout the surrounding area. Through their dues, Pinehaven owners helped strengthen many of the organizations that served them and their neighbors.

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Why Paying Your Dues on Time Matters

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Annual Pinehaven dues are $150, and a reminder is sent by email each January. Paying dues on time ensures that the Association has the funds needed to maintain essential services, meet its obligations, support community organizations, and plan responsibly for the coming year. When every property owner stays current, the cost of caring for Pinehaven is shared fairly and the entire community benefits.

Because the Association’s fiscal year closes on July 1, owners with unpaid dues are encouraged to submit payment promptly so the year’s accounts can be completed accurately, and future expenses can be planned responsibly. Payments should be mailed to:

Pinehaven HOA
c/o Maxine Barber
223 N. Pine Grove St.
Wichita, KS 67212

What began as a $10 annual contribution in 1987 has become one of the practical ways Pinehaven owners continue to care for their cabins, support their neighbors, and strengthen the mountain community they share.(3)