Cole looked at the tank.
“What equipment?”
“Fuel system.”
“Yours?”
“Yes.”
“On your property?”
“Yes.”
Cynthia interrupted.
“Which doesn't make it compliant.”
Cole turned toward her.
“Ma'am, I'll talk to both of you.”
“I am explaining the violation.”
“I understand.”
Cynthia extended the notice.
“This is the governing document.”
Daniel looked at her.
It was not.
Not even close.
Cole took the sheet.
He read.
His expression did not change.
“HOA rule?”
“Yes.”
“Civil covenant?”
“Binding association restriction.”
Cole nodded.
“Okay.”
Cynthia pointed toward Daniel.
“He needs to stop operation immediately.”
Cole looked at her.
“That's not necessarily something police enforce.”
“It is unlawful equipment.”
“County unlawful?”
“HOA unlawful.”
Cole paused.
“Those aren't the same.”
Cynthia blinked.
Daniel looked away to hide a smile.
She recovered.
“The association has enforcement authority.”
“Probably.”
Cole handed the notice back.
“But HOA enforcement is generally civil.”
“He is creating a safety hazard.”
That changed Cole's attention.
“What safety hazard?”
“Fuel storage.”
Daniel opened the permit folder.
Cole looked toward him.
Daniel held out the documents.
“Professionally installed.”
Cole accepted them.
“County permit?”
“Yes.”
“Fire inspection?”
“Yes.”
“Current?”
“Yes.”
Cynthia stepped closer.
“Again, irrelevant.”
Cole held the papers slightly away from her.
“Ma'am.”
She stopped.
“These are relevant if you're telling me there's an immediate safety issue.”
“The HOA adopted stricter standards.”
Cole nodded.
“Then we need to separate the two questions.”
Daniel liked him immediately.
Cynthia did not.
She pointed to the notice.
“The amendment became effective today.”
Cole looked between them.
“Was there a dispute about whether it passed?”
Daniel answered:
“Yes.”
Cynthia answered simultaneously:
“No.”
Cole stared.
Cynthia turned toward Daniel.
“There is no dispute.”
Daniel folded his arms.
“You and I currently disagree about whether it exists.”
“That does not create legitimate dispute.”
“Still a dispute.”
Cole exhaled slowly.
He took out his notebook.
“When was the vote?”
“Last night,” Daniel said.
Cynthia said:
“The board completed final review this morning.”
Daniel turned.
“That’s new.”
“You were not present.”
“There was no scheduled meeting this morning.”
“Administrative review does not require open session.”
Daniel's expression changed.
“Depends what you did.”
Cynthia glared.
Cole lifted one hand.
“One at a time.”