The Minutes
SLE HOA BOARD MEETING
Date: Sept. 10, 2025
Location: Cup of Grace
Members in Attendance: David Petersen (President), Gus Ferguson (Vice Pres.), Brendan Mills (Treasurer), Bryan Pettit + James Stover, (Members at Large, James by phone), Tisha Dore (Secretary, by phone)
Call to Order:
Minutes from the last meeting: Accepted (Motioned by: Gus Ferguson, Seconded by: James Stover)
Treasurer’s Report
Current in checking account: $ 14,031.82
Current in savings account: $ 21,759.79
Current in petty cash account: $ 201.00
Total in bank accounts: $ 35,992.61
9 PROPERTY OWNERS ARE DELINQUENT ON THEIR DUES (TOTALING OVER $3,000).
That’s $3,206.66 to be exact that we have outstanding.
2 lots owe on multiple years – demand letters sent certified mail on 5/10/2024, liens placed June 2024. It used to be four. However, after notice posted about small claims court as next step last month (Aug 2025), two paid in full, a third started payments, and will need to make another payment without skipping or full payment will be immediately required. The fourth never responded, small claims court is the next step.
Seven lot owners owe dues for this year. Four are making monthly payments. If they miss a payment, the full amount will immediately become due or a lien will be placed. The other three that have not responded or setup an *approved* payment plan had liens placed on their properties on 8/20/25.
***** PLEASE WORK WITH US TO PAY YOUR DUES NOW, IN FULL OR ON APPROVED PLAN *****
WE DO NOT WANT TO PLACE LIENS OR PURSUE ACTION IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT. WE ALL AGREED TO PAY DUES WHEN PURCHASING HERE, SO ALL MUST PAY OR FACE LEGAL ACTION.
Behind on your dues? Send payment ASAP or contact Brendan Mills, at treasurer@spiritlakeeast.org. For more info on payments + donations (mailing address + PayPal): www.spiritlakeeast.org/payordonate
Motion to accept Treasurer Report by: Gus Ferguson
Motion Seconded by: James Stover
Roads Report
Jon Dore (Road Chair), said it’s still too dry to grade right now. There is some rain coming. Let’s hope it’s enough to achieve the sustained moisture needed for impactful work. Operators are ready when it’s time.
- SIDE-BY-SIDES & DIRT BIKES: We continue to receive complaints about mostly side-by-sides tearing through SLE in the day, and early morning, 3-5am. Our rural community is not a dirt track. TAKE IT TO PAPER LAND OR NATIONAL FOREST. We are surrounded by it. Talk to your kids. We understand some homeowners have been disturbed in the middle of the night by side-by-sides posted up on the roads right outside their homes. Feel free to call the Kootenai County Sheriff about late night disturbances, etc. We are pursuing leads and have given last warnings to others.
- SPEEDING ON ROADS: Vehicles continue to be traveling at a high rate of speed in SLE as well. This is a danger to safety, property, and our roads, and threatens our budget for road maintenance. We are a rural community with unpaved roads. SPEED LIMIT = 15MPH. PLEASE SLOW DOWN. We see the same vehicles speeding over and over. Repeat offenders will get a bill for repairs.
- TESTING WITH CAMERAS: As noted previously, cameras have been placed on private property in key areas of concern. We’re continuing to monitor + analyze the footage. We also invite residents to submit their own to the below email address. For now, video we’ve collected so far confirms the sheer volume of traffic in our community is even heavier than previously known. While it’s mostly residents, there’s heavy use, and not just vehicles but daily towing of trailers, boats, lumber, work trucks (just something we need to take into consideration for budget planning).
- MAILBOXES, HAYDEN & LIBERTY: We’ve established an approved plan with our mail person, and now we’ll be contacting folks who have mailboxes in that cluster to ask if they’d like to pitch in. Friend of the Road Crew, John Bartholomew, is heading this up, and coordinating with me directly. I have met with him to go over the approved plan and will soon meet him to purchase materials using any funds raised ($50 so far from a proactive neighbor). THANKS! This first cluster is a test.
- IF YOU WANT TO PITCH IN FOR MATERIALS FOR THE MAILBOX CLUSTER RENOVATION PROJECT: Please send donations to Spirit Lake East HOA, P.O. Box 217, Spirit Lake, ID 83869. THANK YOU!
When it cools down, Jon and Gus will be getting together with a few Friends of the Road Crew who have skills to go through, maintain and/or repair plow trucks and other equipment in prep for winter road work.
PLEASE SLOW DOWN. It protects the roads and preserves your investment in them. THANKS! Questions? Email: roads@spiritlakeeast.org. For the roads form (to report issues): www.spiritlakeeast.org/roads
Motion to Accept the Roads Report: Brendan Mills
Motion Seconded by: Gus Ferguson
Architecture Report
With a busy volunteer schedule this Summer continuing through Fall, John O’Neil has resigned as Architecture Chair, and the Board has voted into the position fellow Member at Large, James Stover. As an electrician and business owner, James is familiar with construction, and been ramped-up by the team. He already reviewed and is approving his first shop build. Welcome to the role of Arc Chair, James! Also, Board Secretary, Tisha Dore, has replaced the old Building Application with a Google form (link below). We hope this helps to make the process easier for all. You’ll still need to email your basic drawings and site plans once the Google form has been submitted (email below), which is noted in the Google form. Have building plans (or Q’s to prep)? Contact James at arc@spiritlakeeast.org. For more info on building in SLE and to access the form (for review/approvals): www.spiritlakeeast.org/building-info.
Motion to accept ARC Report by: Bryan Pettit
Motion Seconded by: Tisha Dore
Timber Report
Reminder, while homeowners can clear dead, diseased and/or less desirable trees (such as lodgepole) FOR NON-COMMERCIAL PERSONAL USE like firewood as long as they are abiding county restrictions during fire season, which advise on when/if chainsaws can be used (see link here): https://www.idl.idaho.gov/fire-management/fire-restrictions-finder). HOWEVER, commercial logging (selling your timber to a mill) MUST BE FIRST APPLIED-FOR + APPROVED. Use the link below to apply. The Board spoke about how else—beyond the updated application—processes could be improved to streamline approvals + collaboration with homeowners. Possible need for legal counsel was also discussed (for when homeowners and/or loggers don’t comply with CC&Rs on application + cutting restrictions). Logging + Timber Exemption Forms: www.spiritlakeeast.org/timber. Email: timber@spiritlakeeast.org.
Motion to accept Timber Report by: Tisha Dore
Motion Seconded by: Brendan Mills
Welcome Report
No updates. Just please keep updating your info so we can reach you. Newbies who have yet to register for HOA billing/mailings (or existing residents who have new email/phone #’s) please fill-out the new resident form (even if you’re a long-timer to update contact info): www.spiritlakeeast.org/new-residents.
Motion to Accept Welcome Report: Gus Ferguson
Motion Seconded by: James Stover
Old Business
We have in our shop old Bus Stop signs. An owner asked if they could be installed leading up to Bus Stops. Work must wait until after ITD’s Highway 54 project is done as it may impact where signs will be installed.
Fall Newsletter – Issue is in the works. Topics: ITD 54 Project Update, Timber Update, Roads Update, Winter Prep, Nov Semi-Annual Meeting Invite. Members can send entries for consideration: newsletter@spiritlakeeast.org. Newsletter & Ad Info: www.spiritlakeeast.org/newsletters
Motion to Accept Old Business: Brendan Mills
Motion Seconded by: Bryan Pettit
New Business
Fire in SLE – Old slash pile ignited on Sun, August 24th, possibly spontaneous combustion, was put out. There was a reignition on September 8th, but was quickly extinguished again. To all homeowners, please continue to be vigilant, and look out for each other, and report if you see anything of concern. For those who may be interested in getting their own “water wagon” there are bundles at North 40. For example, a 200-gallon water tank + trailer + 150ft of 1.5” + 300ft of 1” hoses + pump runs about $2K.
No Soliciting Signs – The main signs already say No Soliciting, but we’ve had a lot of solicitors in here lately, so we’re pricing options for an individual sign that cannot be missed by salespeople.
Intermax [fiber] Internet – They're still trenching at no charge. Our driveways are LONG. This offer will eventually leave the table. Given the cost of trenching and value-add to your property and quality of the service, we highly recommend you take advantage of this opportunity while it’s still available to us here. Tiered services: $80, $100 and $130/month. Call 208-676-0471 or visit intermaxnetworks.com/fiber.
Motion to Accept New Business: James Stover
Motion Seconded by: Brendan Mills
- Motion to adjourn at 6:34pm by: Gus Ferguson
Motion Seconded by: Tisha Dore
- Meeting was adjourned at: 6:34pm
