HENRY COUNTY, GA. – A massive bill from a homeowners association has led to a bitter neighborhood feud in Henry County.

Tuesday night, the Lake Dow Estates HOA was knocked down by residents furious at having to pay up to $30,000 each to repair a dam.

“It’s horrible,” said Lake Dow Estates resident Charlotte Burton. “It’s just terrible.”

Many residents are outraged by the massive bill and fear they won’t be able to come up with the money.

“We’ve always had a wonderful neighborhood, we’ve loved being here, and it’s completely changed,” Burton told FOX 5. “It’s like there’s no longer two groups of… two different groups of people. “

One group believes that sooner or later the Lake Dow Estates community will have to come up with the money.

The dam sits on the lake, which is on the property of the homeowners association. A few years ago, Georgian authorities reclassified the dam and required them to lower the water level or make serious improvements.

The cost of these improvements now stands at $8.9 million.

“People are not happy about this,” said resident Blake Turner.

Turner was against ousting the board and for improving the dam. He says everyone agreed to the rules when they moved in.

“Our commitments are very clear that everyone pays equally, whether you’re on the lake or off the lake, whether you use the lake or not,” he said.

But other residents say they fear losing their homes if they can’t pay their share of the multimillion-dollar price tag, or $29,000 an acre.

Those who don’t live near the lake don’t see why repairs are their responsibility.

“I think the board members were very emotional,” said Demetria Bolar, former HOA board member. She was one of the board members who stepped down as they were voted out and replaced at this week’s meeting.

She says the falling water level has left a muddy mess and lowered property values ​​nearby.

“People just have an empty mud hole with trees and what that does to the value of our homes,” she said. “It’s sad you can’t go out and enjoy your garden.”

Perhaps what’s sadder is a community that can’t get along.

“We can’t even be friendly in this community anymore because now it’s the lake owners and the non-lake owners,” Bolar said.

At this point, it’s up to the newly elected board to decide what they want to do: whether they want to continue pursuing this project or find an alternative.