Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT IS THE ASSOCIATION?
The Association is a corporate entity that is organized under state law. There may be some instances of an association not being organized as a legal corporate entity, but this is the exception. As a corporate entity, the Association corporate entity is governed by its By-Laws.
WHO CONTROLS THE ASSOCIATION?
Initially, new developments were controlled by the developer. The development has been sold to homeowners, the control of the association was transferred to a board of directors comprised of homeowners.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE ASSOCIATION?
The purpose of the Association is to protect and enhance property values through:
Maintenance and improvement of the common areas
Enforcement of deed restrictions and community rules
WHO ARE THE ASSOCIATION MEMBERS?
Property owners in the development are subject to mandatory membership in the Association. There are some associations that are “voluntary”, but most associations require mandatory membership. In other words, once you purchase a property you are an association member.
BI-ANNUAL MEETINGS
Property owners are sent written notice of the bi-annual meetings in May and November. The Board of Directors are elected at the annual meeting in May by the Association members. The Board members serve the Association without pay.
BOARD MEETINGS
After the annual meeting, the Board of Directors convenes its first meeting at which the officers (President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Director) are elected. Throughout the year, the Board of Directors holds monthly meetings which property owners may attend.
WHAT DO ASSESSMENTS PAY FOR?
The periodic assessment pays for the various service contracts, insurance coverage, property taxes, and other administrative costs of operating the association.
WHAT IF I DON’T PAY THE ASSESSMENT?
The responsibility to pay the periodic assessment lies with the property owner. You should receive a bill or a coupon book to remind you to pay your assessment, but the ultimate responsibility to pay the assessment falls with the property owner. Property owners that don’t pay are subject to enforcement action which includes the filing of a lien and, ultimately, the member account being sent to collections.
CAN I PAY MY HOA DUES ONLINE?
YES, you can pay your Spirit Lake East HOA dues online! The HOA PayPal account is under slehoabilling@gmail.com. Simply click the Buy Now button to pay your dues. PayPal charges the HOA 2.9% + .30 for each transaction. You can increase your payment by $9.00 to cover these costs. Any overage will be credited to your next HOA statement. If your payment amount does not fully cover the HOA dues plus the PayPal charges, then any shortage will be added to your next billing statement.
CAN I MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO MY PROPERTY?
Property improvements must first receive approval as set forth in the governing documents. The association has an architectural control committee that reviews such requests. In the absence of such a committee, the Board of Directors may be the reviewer. All requests must be made prior to any modifications to the exterior of the property through the Architecture Committee.
ANY PROPERTY APPEARANCE REQUIREMENTS?
An important element to preserving and enhancing the values of the properties in the development is the appearance of each individual property. If you live in a neighborhood, your property should be maintained with periodic painting and fence maintenance. The yard area should be free of rubbish or debris. No clear-cutting, but instead maintaining the forested land is required.