The Minutes, March 2025
SLE HOA BOARD MEETING
Date: March 12, 2025
Location: Cup of Grace
Board Members Attending: David Petersen, Gus Ferguson (via phone), Rebecca Morales, John O’Neil (via phone), Brendan Mills, James Stover
Quorum: YES
Call to Order: 6:00pm
Minutes from the last meeting: Accepted (Motioned by: Gus Ferguson, Seconded by: Rebecca Morales)
Treasurer’s Report:
Current in checking account: $ 26,700.46
Current in savings account: $ 21,517.25
Current in petty cash account: $ 201.00
Total in bank accounts: $ 48,418.71
Ninety-seven homeowners haven’t yet paid 2025 dues. Your invoice can be found in your email inbox (sent on Jan 1st) if you’ve provided an email address. Reminder email (sent Mar 7th) or you can run a search using keywords (SLE, HOA or dues) in your inbox to find those emails. If there’s no email on file, a hardcopy was sent in the mail. For questions, contact Treasurer, Rebecca Morales, at treasurer@spiritlakeeast.org.
4 PROPERTY OWNERS have liens on their properties, don’t become another!
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***
The 2024 audit is underway, led by community member, Trudy Shrigley. Thank you, Trudy!
Behind on your dues? Send payment ASAP or contact Rebecca at treasurer@spiritlakeeast.org. For more info on payments + donations (mailing address + PayPal): www.spiritlakeeast.org/payordonate
Motion to accept Treasurer Report by: Brendan Mills Motion Seconded by: James Stover
Roads Report: Road Chair, Jon Dore, reported that spring clean-up is now underway. It is a slow, methodical process, happens every year. If we attempt to grade in spots still frozen, we would expose the frost, and turn everything into mud. He thanks residents for their ongoing patience and understanding.
On March 4th, the entrance to CDA was graded as well as possible. As explained to the community on social media, it was just a first pass, and the very beginning of our work due to the road still being frozen just a couple of inches below the surface.
Completed on March 6th was our first phase project of the season. Two trucks ran all day distributing 18 loads of the higher-quality granite base in the areas most in need (CDA, St. Joe, Liberty). Those roads were then graded. Some spots on St. Joe that didn’t need more rock, had enough already, were also graded.
Some homeowners have asked about why we need more rock. There are many areas in our community that do not have enough rock, which makes grading ineffective. So rock is not simply distributed to have more rock on the road, but to allow for grading, and the filling and compaction of potholes.
Discussed next phase: Hayden, Kelso, Spirit. We need more rock in these areas + others (as with last phase) that can be graded without additional rock. Brendan asked about reclaiming rock, board agreed not worth the fuel and grading hours, especially as it’s the wrong rock + big boulders, piles separate good from bad.
Jon would like to have first phase invoices (based on previous estimates/approvals, approx. $8k) paid first. We’ll only grade for now, wait on trucking-in additional base until more 2025 dues are collected.
Phase three will likely be the back of CDA to create a smoother ride through Treeport in prep for the IDT entrance project that will see our main entrances closed for a short while. Yes, we’ll work with IDT to tie the entrances they own (80ft in, from the middle of Hwy 54, so approx. 65ft into our entrances).
Communication remains a priority to be sure the community (especially new residents) understand the necessarily slow process of spring cleanup. It’s going to take weeks for the ground to completely thaw and all roads graded in our community as conditions allow. We’ll keep everyone posted.
Also, Jon and our Lead Operator, Joe, are already coordinating on the upcoming IDT Highway 54 project. Joe has a contact there and Jon will be calling him and our contact to coordinate tie-in with Road Crew.
We continue to invite donations for above-and-beyond items like a roller (or at least the rental of one until we find the right opportunity to buy). We want to use one for spring clean-up, especially now that we’re investing in higher-quality granite on our roads. WE COULD USE YOUR HELP. As you’re sending in 2025 dues, please consider making a donation: P.O. Box 217, Spirit Lake, ID 83869 *Memo: 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: Rebecca Morales Motion Seconded by: James Stover
ARC Report: Committee members fielded questions around county regulations for a shop build. Have building plans? Contact arc@spiritlakeeast.org. Form for approvals: www.spiritlakeeast.org/building-info
Motion to accept ARC Report by: Brendan Mills Motion Seconded by: Rebecca Morales
Newsletter Report:
- Spring issue highlighting road clean-up, logging, elections + ad opportunities discussed.
- Lois sent a gardening event to be posted, and offered to send others, as appropriate.
- 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!
- 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: Brendan Mills Motion Seconded by: John O’Neil
Timber Report: New logging application. With spring thaw property cleanup is a priority, especially near the roads, and other areas in prep for fire season this summer. Contact VP, Gus Ferguson, with questions: timber@spiritlakeeast.org. Links to Logging + Timber Exemption Forms: www.spiritlakeeast.org/timber
Motion to accept Timber Report by: James Stover
Motion Seconded by: Rebecca Morales
Welcome Committee: More welcome packs going out now that the weather is with us again. Also, spoke with a title company re: the Liberty property in escrow, and updated contact info after closing on Tahoe. If you have yet to register for HOA billing/mailings, use this link: www.spiritlakeeast.org/new-residents. Are you new and have questions? Email Tisha Dore at welcome@spiritlakeeast.org.
Motion to Accept Welcome Report: Rebecca Morales Motion Seconded by: Brendan Mills
OLD BUSINESS
- Street Signs
o Signs were ordered including missing Liberty & CDA sign – arrived, Brendan to install.
o Removal of the old bus signs within the community is also on the list for spring.
o The theft issue and additional brush removal will also be addressed.
Motion to Accept Old Business: James Stover Motion Seconded by: Rebecca Morales
NEW BUSINESS
- Gem State Water
o We’ve been receiving a lot of questions and comments re: the price increase notice.
o Unfortunately, we have no say in this matter. Call ID Public Utilities: 208-334-0300.
- KEC Project
o Crew has transferred the power underground and is removing last of the old poles.
o Please watch out and be careful around their trucks. We want to keep everyone safe!
- Intermax Project
o Roll-out continues at no charge for trenching no matter how long your driveway.
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
- IDT To Upgrade Entrances
o IDT’s Hwy 54 project starts on March 17th, will take time to get to our SLE entrances.
o Poles now being removed + pink flags line Hwy 54 where surveying has been done.
o Per Road Report, Jon Dore prepping w/ Joe for entrance tie-in, will call IDT this week.
Motion to Accept New Business: John O’Neil Motion Seconded by: Gus Ferguson
- Motion to adjourn by: David Petersen Motion Seconded by: Rebecca Morales
- Meeting was adjourned at: 6:30pm
