An Arizona man has been saddled with hundreds of dollars in fines from his homeowners association due to his initiative of providing free water bottles to neighbors during the intense desert heat.

David Martin, residing in Goodyear, initiated a free water bottle station outside his home in the Canyon Trails community at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. This considerate act, which he and his wife hoped would promote unity and provide relief during the blistering summer heat, was first reported by KPHO News.

‘It’s really for the drivers, for the families, it’s for the kids,’ he told 12 News. ‘It’s to do something positive in a world that needs it.’

However, over the past five years, Martin’s gesture, which has won the hearts of many neighbors, has also resulted in him amassing several $100 fines from his homeowners association (HOA) for ‘advertising’ the complimentary refreshments right in his own driveway.

After petitions, board meetings and community votes, Martin is now preparing for a legal battle – one that he has all intentions to win.

‘I stand firm on the fact that I’m not paying the fines. The cooler is not going anywhere, and I’ll fight it,’ Martin told 12 News.

‘It’s not just about water, it’s about the community as a whole.’

In 2020, neighbors strolling past often paused at Martin’s driveway, drawn to a cooler brimming with ice-cold water bottles – a welcome oasis against the relentless heat which regularly tops over 100 degrees in summer.

David Martin (pictured), of Goodyear, Arizona, is facing hundreds of dollars in fines from his HOA after offering free water bottles to neighbors during the scorching desert heat

Martin set up a free water bottle station outside his home in the Canyon Trails community at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic – a gesture he and his wife hoped would inspire unity and offer relief during the blistering summer months (pictured)

Over the next several years, Martin stocked up on 30 to 40 flats of water annually, covering most of the cost out of his own pocket. Soon, members of the community began pitching in wherever they could (pictured)

‘I figured, what better way to be an asset to community than cold water,’ Martin told KPHO News in 2024. 

When the guidelines lifted and people could safely gather again, Martin chose to keep the free community water station running, as it had become a beloved fixture in the neighborhood. 

‘I think it’s fantastic,’ neighbor Larry Marks told KPHO. 

Over the next several years, Martin stocked up on 30 to 40 flats of water annually, covering most of the cost out of his own pocket. Soon, members of the community began pitching in wherever they could. 

‘Water sometimes appears at the front door, and there are two flats. I don’t know who dropped them off,’ Martin said. ‘It’s just a surprise, it’s fun.’  

But Martin’s kind gesture took a controversial turn in May 2024, when FS Residential – the management company for the Canyon Trails Homeowners Association – sent him a formal notice. 

In the document, the association cited Martin for storing items in plain sight and slapped him with a $50 fine for the bizarre ‘disturbance.’

‘It’s absolutely asinine – I don’t understand,’ Martin told KPHO months after receiving the violation notice. 

In the five years since Martin (pictured) began the gesture that endeared him to neighbors, he’s also racked up several $100 fines from his homeowners association (HOA) – all for ‘advertising’ the free refreshments in his own driveway

While the association says it has no problem with Martin handing out water, it takes issue with how he’s ‘advertising’ it – specifically, that the small cooler is visible from neighboring properties (pictured: citation)

Despite the rule, Martin persists – handing out water bottles in front of his home, accompanied by a handwritten sign that boldly reads: ‘Please grab a free water! Even you, HOA’

‘I’m sorry. I don’t care that it’s blue and gray, and my house is tan and brown – it’s a water cooler with cold water for the community,’ he added.

‘I don’t feel like I am doing anything wrong. I think I am doing what we’re supposed to do, which is taking care of the people around us.’ 

The citations paused briefly, but a few months ago the violation letters resumed, this time with fines doubled to $100 a month for continued non-compliance, the outlet reported. 

While the association says it has no problem with Martin handing out water, it takes issue with how he’s ‘advertising’ it – specifically, that the small cooler is visible from neighboring properties. 

The citation to Martin read: ‘The Association does not object to a resident providing free water bottles to 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.’ 

Despite the rule, Martin persists – handing out water bottles in front of his home, accompanied by a handwritten sign that boldly reads: ‘Please grab a free water! Even you, HOA.’ 

‘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 Thursday, KPHO reported.

‘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,’ he added.

Neighbors and social media users alike are baffled, flooding the internet with comments criticizing the HOA’s seemingly petty actions.

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

Now, Martin is fighting back against the HOA – starting with a petition to remove three board members, which quickly gathered over 100 signatures. 

‘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.

On Thursday night, a special HOA meeting was held, bringing residents together to vote on whether to remove the board members named in the petition. 

Two board members not listed in the petition were present, along with Martin and roughly 24 attendees. 

Out of 210 ballots cast, an overwhelming 190 favored the board members’ removal – a supermajority the HOA board ultimately acknowledged, as reported by 12 News.

Although the three board members were set to be removed the very next day, they pushed back – questioning the legality of the meeting and claiming Martin hadn’t secured enough valid signatures to justify their ousting. 

Martin is fighting back against the HOA – starting with a petition to remove three board members, which quickly gathered over 100 signatures (pictured: board meeting with HOA members)

After petitions, board meetings and community votes, Martin is now preparing for a legal battle – one that he has all intentions to win, claiming the cooler that unifies the community is not going anywhere (pictured: Martin’s home encouraging neighbors to sign)

Neighbors and social media users alike are baffled at the citations, flooding the internet with comments criticizing the HOA’s seemingly petty actions

An ’emergency meeting’ was quickly called, during which the board nullified the vote- arguing it was invalid because 210 signatures fell short in a community of over 1,000 homes. 

Martin provided a notice from FirstService Residential and its attorneys, affirming that the voting process complied with Arizona state law, according to the outlet. 

Now, all that remains is Martin’s unwavering determination as he braces for the legal battle he believes is just around the corner. 

Daily Mail has contacted FirstService Residential for comment.