The Minutes
Date: April 30, 2024
Location: Tisha Dore’s Home
Board Members in Attendance: John O’Neil (President), Gus Ferguson (VP), Rebecca Morales (Treasurer), Lois Tarnowski (Member at Large), and Tisha Dore (Secretary)
Quorum: YES
Call to Order: 6:05pm
Minutes from the last meeting: Accepted (Motioned by: Tisha Dore Seconded by: Gus Ferguson)
BIG NEWS: The search for a new-to-us grader is COMPLETE and the EMERGENCY PURCHASE IS DONE.
After 15 months, we found a perfect opportunity with the greatest savings + closest location for delivery. Spirit Lake East now owns a 2006 14H CAT grader, which is exactly the model we wanted, and on the high end of the date range we were looking for (before more computers were added starting in 2010 that vastly increase the cost of maintenance + repairs). This is a clean, meticulously maintained machine.
This replaces our 50-YEAR-OLD GRADER—built in 1974—that cost us thousands a year in extensive repairs after every time we took it out. We know this has been a bone of contention for years. The old rig wasted a ton of money + time as we had to move at a snail’s pace when weather was good for grading, which resulted in a lot of frustration as we were unable to accomplish more on those days.
The new grader was listed at $120K and negotiated to the construction company’s bottom line of $105K. What’s more, the grader was located in Montana with no sales tax, just hours away for delivery. Thanks to Roads Chair, Joe Sandbank, who coordinated delivery + permits in both states for the low price of $900.
The $40K+ raised SO FAR was combined with savings to purchase the grader. We’ve also continued collecting from ILB shop rent (including in April) as work goes on to bury our powerlines. We’re now negotiating a transfer of that agreement to the new contractor to help close the gap + replenish savings. The purchase will be further off-set by savings on repairs + maintenance (no more hard-to-find parts!) and reduced work hours now that we’ll be using efficient equipment. We’ll be sure to report on this savings.
Selling The Old Grader: We also plan to put the old grader up for sale. She needs some love including a knuckle repair that requires heat-treatment but could still serve a farm or homestead. We discussed sale options and pricing. We invite leads from our community as well.
BUT WE ALSO ASK FOR YOUR DONATIONS!
Now that she’s here, and you know your investment will go to directly benefit SLE TODAY, we hope you’ll contribute to not only be a part of covering the cost of this historic purchase, but also to keep the road base coming so that we can start IMPROVING our roads rather than just patching them up. We will have a lockbox and donation envelopes at the Semi-Annual Meeting on May 14th or you can mail them to:
SLE HOA
P.O. Box 217
Spirit Lake, ID 83869
*Memo: Road Fund
RUNNING TALLY OF FUNDS RAISED (PUT TOWARDS GRADER, ADDITIONAL WILL GO TO ROAD FUND):
$23,000 from sale of dump truck
$ 5,500 from unused shop equipment sale
$12,440 ($1,200/mo for July-April KEC shop rent + $440 for June partial rent)
$ 2,270.03 from donations (including $200 donation from a single homeowner, THANK YOU!)
$ 43,210.03 TOTAL (PLEASE KEEP DONATIONS COMING TO SUPPORT OUR ROAD FUND!)
Treasurer’s Report:
Current in checking account: $ 2,007.88
Current in savings account: $ 20,850.94
Current in petty cash account: $ 201.00
Total in bank accounts: $ 23,059.82
31 PROPERTY OWNERS ARE DELINQUENT ON THEIR DUES
(TOTALING OVER $12,000):
3 lots owe on multiple years – demand letters go out on June 1st and liens will be placed on June 30th
6 lots owe on this and last year – demand letters go out on June 1st and liens will be placed on June 30th
25 lot owners owe dues for this year and monthly finance charges will continue to accumulate.
**THIS IS A LOT OF DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS FOR A PRIVATE COMMUNITY.**
PLEASE WORK WITH US TO CATCH UP ON YOUR DUES NOW OR SETUP A PAYMENT PLAN ASAP.
WE DO NOT WANT TO HAVE TO PLACE LIENS, IT’S COSTLY, SO WE’LL HAVE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BILL.
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: Lois Tarnowski
Motion Seconded by: Tisha Dore
Roads Report: Most roads have been graded including the areas hit hardest by our wild winter including Hayden Drive. This was done with our 50-year-old grader on its last leg, which cost us a lot more than it would have if we’d owned an efficient grader (in hourly wages + road base + repairs), which is why an emergency purchase was so critically-needed. Now that we’re done with most seasonal repairs before the old grader died (including more than $61K in road base alone) and moving into the next phase of rebuilding the crown in our roads, the new grader is here, just in time. Please donate to be a part of this historic purchase and to keep the road base coming. Donate a truck load and tell us where you want it!
Joe reminds to SLOW DOWN. It damages the roads + costs us money. It’s also DUSTY this time of year. Slow down and mind your dust. Speeding is also dangerous. Respect our roads, neighbors + speed limits.
Email Q’s to roads@spiritlakeeast.org. For roads form for reporting issues: www.spiritlakeeast.org/roads
Motion to Accept the Roads Report: Gus Ferguson
Motion Seconded by: Rebecca Morales
ARC Report: There are no new builds to report. If you have building plans for Spring (or questions to prep), contact ARC Chair, Jon Dore, at arc@spiritlakeeast.org. Learn more about building in SLE + find the Architectural Form for approvals here: www.spiritlakeeast.org/building-info
Motion to accept ARC Report by: Lois Tarnowski Motion Seconded by: Rebecca Morales
Timber Report: VP, Gus Ferguson, went over clear-cutting. He also reminds that any commercial logging in SLE must be board-approved. Send timber/logging questions to: timber@spiritlakeeast.org. For links to the commercial logging form as well as the Timber Exemption form, visit: www.spiritlakeeast.org/timber
Motion to accept Timber Report by: Tisha Dore
Motion Seconded by: Lois Tarnowski
Welcome Committee: Tisha Dore to roll-out the new welcome program after the semi-annual meeting. Contact her with questions at welcome@spiritlakeeast.org. Newbies who have yet to register for HOA billing/mailings, please fill-out the form: www.spiritlakeeast.org/new-residents
Motion to Accept Welcome Report: Rebecca Morales
Motion Seconded by: Gus Ferguson
OLD BUSINESS
- Newsletter
o Editor & Member at Large, Lois Tarnowski, says Summer content is due by July 10th.
o Newsletters + SLE business ad Info can be found at: www.spiritlakeeast.org/newsletters
o Proceeds from advertising in the newsletter + Facebook Group go to our Road Fund!
o 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.
o Homeowners: To cut costs + save time, please send us an email address so that we can reduce the amount of people who need a hardcopy newsletter mailed to them. To provide your email for this (or update your email address) contact: secretary@spiritlakeeast.org.
- Street Signs
o The missing Kelso & Liberty and stop signs were picked up and installed earlier this month.
o We have some extra stop signs now on reserve. Total cost: $427.00
- HOA Phone
o We decided to stay with the same service and just updated the payment method.
Motion to Accept Old Business: Gus Ferguson
Motion Seconded by: Rebecca Morales
NEW BUSINESS
- Annual Report
o Each year, the State of Idaho requires that the HOA submit an annual report online
o This includes org status + updates to the four main board members + agent (secretary)
o It’s due by end of April and was submitted + approved on April 22nd
- Contacted by IDT regarding our entrances
o They have an upcoming project on the 54 so they will redo the entrances and get them up to code and then permit them (at no cost).
- Board Elections
o Reminder: Four board seats are coming available in May 2024
o Voting may be done at the May 2024 Semi-Annual Meeting on May 14th.
o Online voting is OPEN NOW at www.spiritlakeeast.org/vote
o Ask for your proxy ballot via email (then email back to): elections@spiritlakeeast.org.
o We’ll print out all votes sent via email and online, and deliver/count at the May Meeting.
o Deadline to ask for proxy ballots by mail is closed, so now mailing only to folks w/o email.
o Firmed up Election Volunteers who will be onsite to check names, count ballots, etc.
o Have questions about the election? Contact elections@spiritlakeeast.org.
- Donations Onsite
o We are accepting donations for the Road Fund at the May Meeting and by mail.
o If you plan to attend the Semi-Annual Meeting, drop by our donation table to submit a check or cash there or take a stamped envelope home with you to send a check after.
o Join us in being a part of this historic purchase of our new grader that will serve our community for many years to come! THANKS TO EARLY DONORS FOR BLAZING THE TRAIL!
o We also need help to keep the road base coming as we move into the next phase of rebuilding the crown in our roads using our new grader!
o If you want to make a big impact, donate $500 for a truck load of base, and designate on the envelope where you want your road base donation to be distributed.
o THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP! NO DONATION IS TOO SMALL.
SEE YOU AT THE SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING AT TIMBERLAKE H.S. ON TUESDAY, MAY 14TH, 6-7:30PM
AND….don’t forget to vote for the four board seats available in May: www.spiritlakeeast.org/vote
Motion to Accept New Business: Tisha Dore
Motion Seconded by: Gus Ferguson
- Motion to adjourn at 7:07pm by: Lois Tarnowski
Motion Seconded by: Rebecca Morales
- Meeting was adjourned at: 7:07pm
