The Minutes, January 2025
Happy Friday, SLE. Below are the HOA board meeting minutes for Jan 2025. As always, minutes from all meetings (including printable versions at the bottom of each) can be found on the website using the below link or you can go to the site, click HOA, then click on Meeting Minutes. Best wishes to you all in 2025!
www.spiritlakeeast.org/the-minutes
SLE HOA BOARD MEETING
Date: January 2025
Location: Cup of Grace
Board Members Attending: David Petersen, Gus Ferguson (via phone), Rebecca Morales, Brendan Mills, James Stover (via phone), and Tisha Dore
Quorum: YES
Call to Order: 6:05pm
Minutes from the last meeting: Accepted (Motioned by: Tisha Dore, Seconded by: Rebecca Morales)
Treasurer’s Report:
Current in checking account: $ 11,032.28
Current in savings account: $ 21,439.20
Current in petty cash account: $ 201.00
Total in bank accounts: $ 32,672.48
Annual dues statements went out on Jan 1st via email and in print to those without email including request for email address to save on paper + postage. Treasurer, Rebecca Morales, has been logging payments daily and wishes to thank the community for the quick turn-around on 2025 dues. Rebecca also reported that she is ready for the audit. She just needs the final number on equipment depreciation for taxes.
4 PROPERTY OWNERS ARE DELINQUENT ON THEIR DUES (TOTALING OVER $3K):
3 lots owe on multiple years – Liens against their property have been recorded with Kootenai County.
1 lot owes on 2023 and 2024 – Lien against their property has been recorded with Kootenai County.
*** WE DEPEND ON YOUR DUES. PLEASE WORK WITH US TO CATCH UP OR SETUP A PAYMENT PLAN***
Behind on your dues? Send payment ASAP or contact Rebecca Morales, at treasurer@spiritlakeeast.org. For more info on payments + donations (mailing address + PayPal): www.spiritlakeeast.org/payordonate
Motion to accept Treasurer Report by: Tisha Dore
Motion Seconded by: Gus Ferguson
Roads Report: Winter is finally here. Sand was distributed on Thurs (1/2) and the roads were plowed for the first time this season on Sat (1/4). Roads were plowed again to clean-up after the melt on Sun (1/5). *The Road Crew then sanded again on Thurs (1/9) after this meeting but before the minutes went out.
In regard to repairs and maintenance, the Road Crew prepped the sander in advance of the temp drop. They had to override a switch and this is working-out fine. Also, after our first plow, one of our trucks needed minor repairs to a hydraulic hose. The hose was repaired the same-day after plowing.
About communication: Road Chair, Jon Dore, said, I’m doing my best to provide regular updates along with details to explain the why behind the what, so the community can learn how the Road Crew operates. Jon thanks residents for their patience and understanding when things take time regardless of planning. Jon: Questions + feedback give us an opportunity to explain all the moving parts. We appreciate your help.
Re: Abandoned vehicles in SLE: We usually call the non-emergency line, provide plate and description, and they track down the owner. But sometimes contact info isn’t current or owner is unwilling to remove it. Also, there are new laws now making it more difficult to tow—even from a private community—without the owner or law enforcement involved. Sheriff / ISP won’t typically tag even if a hazard or non-resident.
About the car on Liberty near Priest River Dr., the Kootenai County Sheriff was called, and discussions held with a deputy, and this is a unique situation where it’s not stolen and owner could not be tracked down. Jon agreed with the deputy’s recommendation to contract with a towing company to place minimal signs, so that we have the legal ability to tow in the event law enforcement can’t reach an owner or they’re uncooperative in removing their vehicle from our roadways. Jon researched + provided info on contracting with Reliable Towing. The Board voted to approve an expense of $250 or less (final cost $192.39 w/ tax).
The fee is for the absolute minimum amount of signs to be placed in our community so we can legally tow. We worked to narrow it to 11 signs to be placed at the entrances as well as major intersections + roads. *Signs have since been placed at 10am on Fri. (1/10), and in 24 hours, we can tow the car on Sat (1/11).
At least now we have recourse for removal with owner responsible for most removals, if need be. However, there are exceptions, such as RVs, boats and vehicles with extensive damage or tires missing. In these cases, the HOA must pay for removal, but stipulations for junk tows were negotiated so that the majority will still fall with the owner, and we will deal with any other issues on a case-by-case basis.
Jon: If you break down, leave a note. If there’s a delay, leave a note with contact info or email us (below). We are not going to immediately tow vehicles unless it’s a hazard and emergency services can’t get through, in which case, we will need to tow more quickly. But we’ll tow after 24 HOURS if there’s no note or way to track down an owner. However, most of the time, these vehicles do not belong to a resident.
Also, Jon brought up the need for a roller in spring. He’s discussed with Joe, Gus + other resident experts, and they’re all on the same page about the need to invest in a roller. A few possible options were discussed and contacts shared among Jon and Gus including resident (CAT rep) who can also keep an eye out for us. The goal is to find a used roller on budget. The backup plan is to try to use the old roller in the yard at the shop that would require extensive repairs + fabrication, so it was agreed that is a last-resort.
We continue to invite donations for above-and-beyond items like the grader chain package w/ ice cleats ($5,600 w/ tax) and the big picture project of crowning our roads. As you’re sending in your 2025 dues (THANK YOU!), please consider making a donation: P.O. Box 217, Spirit Lake, ID 83869 *Memo: Road Fund
FUNDS RAISED & PUT TOWARDS NEW GRADER + ROAD FUND SO FAR:
$35,999 from sale of the old grader + dump truck
$ 5,500 from unused shop equipment sale
$12,440 ($1,200/mo for July 2023 – April 2024 KEC shop rent + $440 for June 2023 partial rent)
$ 9,020.03 from community + Intermax donation + advertising (THANK YOU, SLE + INTERMAX!)
$ 62,959.03 TOTAL (PLEASE KEEP CONTRIBUTIONS COMING TO SUPPORT OUR ROAD FUND!)
Email Q’s to roads@spiritlakeeast.org. For roads form for reporting issues: www.spiritlakeeast.org/roads
Motion to Accept the Roads Report: Brendan Mills
Motion Seconded by: Gus Ferguson
ARC Report: Questions were fielded re: a shop build. Also, additional communication took place re: the pole barn build, for approvals which started in Nov. Have building plans or questions? Email ARC Chair, John O’Neil, at arc@spiritlakeeast.org. Arc Form for approvals here: www.spiritlakeeast.org/building-info
Motion to accept ARC Report by: Brendan Mills
Motion Seconded by: Rebecca Morales
Newsletter Report:
- Winter issue is near complete and is in the editing/approval process with our Board members.
- Newsletters + SLE business ad Info can be found at: www.spiritlakeeast.org/newsletters
- Proceeds from advertising in the newsletter + Facebook Group go to our Road Fund!
- Advertising is NOW OPEN to businesses beyond SLE. Pricing is different, has been posted.
- Also, if you’ve provided an email address, you can always find the quarterly newsletter in your email inbox (or junk). If you haven’t given an email address, you’ll get it in the mail.
- Homeowners: To cut costs + save time, please send us an email address so that we can reduce the amount of folks who need a hardcopy mailed to them: secretary@spiritlakeeast.org.
Motion to accept Newsletter Report by: James Stover
Motion Seconded by: Gus Ferguson
Timber Report: VP, Gus Ferguson, says no new logging applications. After initial snow, please remove any trees that may be compromised by snow load, which may be impeding our plow trucks. Reminder if you are planning any commercial logging in the spring, there is an application process, and timing of haul-out needs to be approved as well. Send timber/logging Q’s to: timber@spiritlakeeast.org. For links to the Commercial Logging + Timber Exemption Forms, visit: www.spiritlakeeast.org/timber
Motion to accept Timber Report by: Rebecca Morales
Motion Seconded by: Tisha Dore
Welcome Committee: Webpage got a few updates. Have Q’s? Email welcome@spiritlakeeast.org. If you have yet to register for HOA billing/mailings, use below link, but first, here’s an explanation of why. As properties change hands, it is important that we establish records for the current homeowner, and we don’t always get them from your title company. It also helps us to more easily verify that you’re indeed the new homeowner + approve your HOA Facebook group join requests because we field a lot of fakes. So, having your info ASAP protects you too. Fill-out the form: www.spiritlakeeast.org/new-residents
Motion to Accept Welcome Report: Rebecca Morales
Motion Seconded by: Gus Ferguson
OLD BUSINESS
- Street Signs
o Stop sign at Priest & CDA down on 1/4, temp-fixed same day, more perm. fix in spring.
o Based on Road Chair rec’s, we won’t be moving the SLE sign at the entrance of CDA.
o Liberty & CDA sign is missing, new one is now on order, costs for all signs and other materials (posts + hardware) for ones that must be replaced: $500-600. Voted, passed.
o Rebecca asked about removing the old bus signs within the community, which aren’t needed as buses no longer enter SLE, and the board agreed those should come down.
o Still working on options to address sign theft problem, brush removal on hold ‘til spring.
Motion to Accept Old Business: James Stover
Motion Seconded by: Gus Ferguson
NEW BUSINESS
- KEC Project
o Crew energized all of the main line 3 phase wire that’s been installed (all worked well).
o They have now started transferring the load from overhead lines to the underground.
o Priest River + St. Joe complete, Spirit will be done this week, half of Kelso done now too.
o Removal of old poles/wire not expected until spring but they’re removing as they go.
o They’ve installed 136,679 feet—which is approximately 25.88 miles— of cable in SLE.
o Please watch out and be careful around their trucks. We want to keep everyone safe!
- Intermax Project
o Intermax is now installing fiber in as many homes as possible, working through winter.
o They’re now setting up temp lines if additional trenching can’t happen until spring.
o NO CHARGE FOR TRENCHING, NO MATTER HOW LONG YOUR DRIVEWAY IS, BUT ONLY WHILE THE GRANT IS IN PLACE, SO DO NOT WAIT, IT’LL ADD VALUE TO YOUR HOME.
o There are tiered service offerings starting at just over $80, $100 and $130 per month.
o Call 208-676-0471 or visit intermaxnetworks.com/fiber to get in the queue!
- Board Elections
o HOA board elections in May 2025, nominations for the 3 spots now thru March 31st.
o Nominations may now be submitted online: www.spiritlakeeast.org/nominations
o Voting at May 2025 meeting or online (TBD), secured 3 election committee members.
- IDT To Upgrade Entrances
o No updates: IDT’s 54 project (TBD 2025), will include repairing the SLE entrances.
- THE RECEIPTS
o All 2024 receipts have been added to the site along with updated equipment timesheet.
o Here’s the direct link: www.spiritlakeeast.org/the-receipts
- HOA Phone
o Tisha checked on possible new free phone with Verizon service and that is a no go on our ultra-discounted plan but we wanted to make sure before handing phone over to David.
o At the last meeting, the Board discussed the possibility of deleting the private HOA facebook group— despite the majority using it respectfully + abiding the rules posted— in response to trolling, harassment and defamation of Board Members on FB + ND. In Dec, it was agreed the group wouldn’t be removed while additional assessment could be done. David remains firm on keeping it and has the support of the Board given how valuable a resource it is to connect the community. A public one-way FB page was launched in Dec for anyone removed from the FB page (or those who want the simplified version) while further assessment could take place among the Board. We’ve decided to keep them both: https://www.spiritlakeeast.org/blog and https://www.facebook.com/SLEHOANews
Motion to Accept New Business: Brendan Mills
Motion Seconded by: James Stover
- Motion to adjourn by: Tisha Dore
Motion Seconded by: Rebecca Morales
- Meeting was adjourned at: 6:53pm
