The Minutes
SLE HOA BOARD MEETING
Date: June 11, 2025
Location: Cup of Grace
Board Members in Attendance: David Petersen (Pres.), Gus Ferguson (VP), Brendan Mills (Treasurer), James Stover (phone) & Bryan Pettit (Members at Large), Tisha Dore (Secretary) + John O’Neil (By Proxy)
Call to Order: 5:58pm
Minutes from the last meeting: Accepted (Motioned by: Brendan Mills, Seconded by: Gus Ferguson)
HOA PRESIDENT, DAVID PETERSEN – We have a resident in attendance, welcome. All meetings are open to homeowners in our community, but they are not interactive. Only semi-annual meetings have Q&A’s. So, if you have questions from a regular meeting such as this one, please hold them until we’re adjourned, and one or more of us will stay behind to answer questions, only for a brief, reasonable amount of time. [Clarification: Minutes for regular meetings are not verbatim, but a summary. Transcripts are only provided for semi-annual meetings as the process takes far too long, even with the use of software.]
Roles: After an election, it’s customary to vote on who will serve in each role. But, it’s easier to ask if those who served previously are willing to continue in the same roles or if anyone wants to make a change now.
All agreed to remain in the roles we’re already in, and with John O’Neil’s proxy, the vote was unanimous.
Motion To Continue As-Is: Tisha Dore
Motion Seconded: Brendan Mills
Bank Signer Update: Gus Ferguson, David Petersen + Bryan Pettit are to be added as bank signers. With a busy summer schedule, John O’Neil is coming off. Brendan Mills + Tisha Dore will remain signers too.
Treasurer’s Report
Current in checking account: $ 6,957.54
Current in savings account: $ 21,678.12
Current in petty cash account: $ 201.00
Total in bank accounts: $ 28,836.66
Spring clean-up of our roads is over and all bills for this and light admin + accounting costs have been paid. The only work left for this summer is some grading to tie into the new entrances that IDT will be improving.
Because roads management is the #1 priority of the SLE HOA Board, and we cannot let our roads suffer due to delinquencies (homeowners who have still not yet paid their bills, due six months ago in Jan 2025), our checking account is currently low. So, if you are not up-to-date on your dues, please pay them ASAP.
While some members previously reported a delay in making payments due to receiving their bills via email (a money-saving effort due to skyrocketing postage costs), those accounts have long been reconciled. We agree with feedback that hardcopy bills should be mailed each Jan, so we are reinstituting this. That said:
31 PROPERTY OWNERS ARE DELINQUENT ON THEIR DUES (TOTALING NEARLY $12,000).
That’s $11,745.07 to be exact that we have outstanding.
4 lots owe on multiple years – demand letters sent certified mail on 5/10/2024, liens placed in June 2024.
27 lot owners owe dues for this year. One is deceased and that will be handled when the family sells. Another two owners are in communication with us and paying on-time on an *approved* payment plan.
However, 24 OWNERS HAVE NOT YET RESPONDED to our emails, hardcopy reminders (bills + newsletters) or social media updates to either pay in-full or setup an *approved* payment plan. Next steps:
As announced in May, interest is no longer being waived, and we are taking next steps with collection.
Per the CC&R’s, the HOA can charge an interest rate on late payments that is the maximum allowed by the state of Idaho. That rate is currently 5%. While we can simply implement this as it’s in our rules, we want to first make it official while giving SLE homeowners every chance to pay before a change happens.
David wants to do more research on implementing 5% vs. 1% a month that adds up to 12% by year-end. Some discussion was had about the pro’s and con’s of both and the research that’s been done so far and how we can find a way to implement changes now for 2025 and then fully roll-out our plan to all for 2026.
Tisha regarding liens: The good faith grace period of holding on liens until a second year is owed is resulting in many putting off payment until a year after their bill is due. Then they only pay for the previous year.
While we did tentatively vote on David’s motion to implement the maximum percentage once we firmed up final research and voted to implement liens earlier on Tisha’s separate motion—both earning unanimous support with John O’Neil’s proxy—the following terms were finalized post-meeting and then unanimously voted-in on June 13th, so this is what will be immediately implemented moving forward:
2025 Delinquent Accounts
1. If delinquent payments are not paid by end of June, a certified letter lien notice will be mailed to those still in arrears in early July, demanding payment within 30 days.
2. If payment is not made within the 30 days, a lien against those properties will be filed in early August.
3. In addition to the June minutes, this and the following info for 2026 will be shared in the Summer Newsletter as well as on social media and in the November semi-annual meeting invites.
4. HOA President, David Petersen, is planning to call everyone who is currently delinquent to be sure every effort is made to help those homeowners to avoid going into a 30-day lien notice or lien being filed against their property, which would only result in them incurring additional fees to file, mail, etc.
2026 Dues Policy
1. Dues invoices go out in December. The statement says "due now" which means it's payable at time of receipt, which is before Jan 1st. In that statement will be a clear explanation of our new policy.
2. January is a "freebie" with no interest or fees.
3. On Feb 1, a 5% late fee is assessed, AND the 1% per month interest rate kicks in.
4. Interest continues to accrue at the rate of 1% per month.
5. On April 1st, we send out a certified letter with a lien notice/demand for payment.
6. On May 1st, we go ahead and file the lien.
7. In the event of a short pay, i.e. interest, PayPal fees, etc., those will not be waived.
8. We will not be forgiving interest or covering the 3% PayPal fees unpaid by some (all must pay their full dues amount and that includes the 3% fee PayPal deducts from payments that are made by PayPal).
***** PLEASE WORK WITH US TO CATCH UP ON YOUR DUES NOW *****
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 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: Tisha Dore
Roads Report
As mentioned previously, Spring cleanup of our roads is now complete, and we’ll only be doing some grading to tie-in to the entrances that are to be upgraded by IDT, now scheduled for July.
I would have loved to incorporate some additional asphalt into that tie-in. But, with dues delinquencies where they are, I won’t be asking for additional funds.
Also, we’ve had a few people ask if we’ll be checking with IDT to see if we can get some free asphalt for our roads from the Highway 54 project now underway. We’ve asked and they’ll be using it themselves.
On that note, the asphalt experiment in Spirit Lake East is working out great.
It’s helping to keep our roads together and reduce dust. We tested the use of two products: the chunkier free material and the more refined product through Basin. Both are holding up well.
So, following a successful test that we needed to do before we lost the moisture in our roads and just as the weather was heating up, we now have a plan to incorporate both products next spring where it makes most sense while maximizing budget.
Reminder: we got free grading whenever Joe was available, and he donated over 20 hours for this test.
Wondering why asphalt has not been used before? It’s hard to get + doesn’t come cheap when purchased. Joe came into some and the weather conditions were right for us to try it out. That led us to test another paid product when he didn’t have any left. So, we’ll continue to incorporate asphalt when/where we can.
From our test of asphalt on our roads, we heard from some community members asking can they get asphalt through us to distribute it along the roads near their homes as an alternative to treating the roads. We did one trial with an owner on St. Joe when Joe got more material. They were happy with the results.
[Clarification: The work done on St. Joe was great until a homeowner used their tractor to alter the work that had just been done seemingly to create speedbumps after they had paid for asphalt to be put down and roads were nicely graded. So, reminder, no DIY grading of our roads. This is a perfect example of why we can’t allow neighbors to do road work on their own even if they think they are helping or slowing people down. That was an unsafe situation for drivers and we ALL are liable. Thankfully, we were able to address it quick at no charge to the community. But if more grading needs to be done by our crew, that homeowner will be getting the bill for it, which is our policy. Any work + materials needed to fix damage caused to the roads—even by well-meaning homeowners—will be charged to them. That said, there are select, highly-skilled neighbors who help us from time to time because they know what they are doing. However, if you have not been designated to assist the Road Crew, please leave the roads alone. Thanks].
If you’re interested in investing in our roads with asphalt rather than spraying, we can help you to arrange it at a good cost, as long as asphalt is available. Contact the Road Chair (email below).
Jon then said, let’s nail down a shop day where we can invite those with skills to help with maintenance of plow trucks + chains in prep for next winter. Gus agreed to find a day for this soon. Jon will coordinate a group of skilled volunteers to help while we have good weather.
David wanted to go on record in the minutes to say, were it not for Joe, Jon and Gus who keep our fleet going, and doing all the volunteer work, and Gus “pulling rabbits out of his hat,” SLE would not function.
Again, please slow down. It protects the roads and preserves your investment in them. Thanks.
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: James Stover
Architecture Report
There are no updates, per John O’Neil, who couldn’t attend. David did note that there are work + gravel trucks in our community, asked if anyone knew who they work for or if they’re using SLE as a pass-through.
If you have building plans (or questions to prep), contact ARC Chair, John O’Neil, at arc@spiritlakeeast.org. Find more information on building in SLE and access the Architectural Form (for ARC approvals) here: www.spiritlakeeast.org/building-info
Motion to accept ARC Report by: Gus Ferguson
Motion Seconded by: Bryan Pettit
Timber Report
No updates. Send timber/logging questions to: timber@spiritlakeeast.org. For links to the Commercial Logging + Timber Exemption Forms, visit: www.spiritlakeeast.org/timber
Motion to accept Timber Report by: Tisha Dore
Motion Seconded by: Bryan Pettit
Welcome Report
No updates. Just please keep updating your info if you’re new or been living here a long time. Simply visit: www.spiritlakeeast.org and click on Newbies. And then you can enter your info if new or like you're new.
Questions? Contact me at welcome@spiritlakeeast.org. Newbies who have yet to register for HOA billing/mailings, please fill-out the new resident form: www.spiritlakeeast.org/new-residents.
Motion to Accept Welcome Report: Gus Ferguson
Motion Seconded by: Brendan Mills
Old Business
From the May semi-annual meeting, Brendan said we do have bus stop signs he can put up this summer while the kids are out of school. But he noted that this would need to wait until after IDT’s work on the entrances is done as it may impact where he would put the signs and he doesn’t want them to interfere.
Summer Newsletter – Working on issue including fire season, roads + IDT entrance update, delinquent dues and changes to collections, interest, liens. Community members can send entries for consideration: newsletter@spiritlakeeast.org. Newsletter & Ad Info: www.spiritlakeeast.org/newsletters
Motion to Accept Old Business: Gus Ferguson
Motion Seconded by: Brendan Mills
NEW BUSINESS
Gem State Water – This isn’t SLE business but we’ve addressed a few times given the response and questions we’ve received. We’ll provide one last update on the meeting that took place, then move on.
Bryan Pettit offered up some additional info on the Gem State Water meeting about the rate changes and provided some info to post on the Spirit Lake East website. Tisha agreed to post.
Kootenai Electric – No updates here. Some light work continues to remove poles now that the electrical is fully transferred underground. Just watch out for their trucks.
Intermax, [fiber] Internet, they're still doing it at no charge for trenching. Get a hold of them. They have reasonable rates [tiered service, $80, $100 and $130/mo…208-676-0471 intermaxnetworks.com/fiber].
Motion to Accept New Business: Tisha Dore
Motion Seconded by: Gus Ferguson
- Motion to adjourn at 6:57pm by: David Petersen Motion Seconded by: Tisha Dore
- Meeting was adjourned at: 6:57pm
