The Minutes
SLE HOA BOARD MEETING
Date: July 9, 2025
Location: Cup of Grace
Board Members in Attendance: David Petersen (Pres.), Gus Ferguson (VP), Brendan Mills (Treasurer), Bryan Pettit & John O’Neil (Members at Large), Tisha Dore (Secretary, by phone)
Call to Order: 6:01pm
Minutes from the last meeting: Accepted (Motioned by: Gus Ferguson, Seconded by: Bryan Pettit)
Treasurer’s Report
Current in checking account: $ 8,734.25
Current in savings account: $ 21,679.53
Current in petty cash account: $ 201.00
Total in bank accounts: $ 30,614.78
21 PROPERTY OWNERS ARE DELINQUENT ON THEIR DUES (TOTALING OVER $9,000).
That’s $9,092.61 to be exact that we have outstanding.
4 lots owe on multiple years – demand letters sent certified mail on 5/10/2024, liens placed June 2024.
21 lot owners owe dues for this year. Two have reportedly submitted payments. Another three owners are in communication with the Treasurer and paying on-time on an *approved* payment plan.
However, 16 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 noted previously (see June Minutes), we’ve taken the next steps with collections including increasing interest to the maximum allowable by Idaho Law + FINAL NOTICE demand letters with 30-day lien notices sent via certified-mail to all delinquent homeowners on (and as of) July 1, 2025, at their expense. Three came back so we’ll be sending another way to secure their signature upon receipt (again at their expense).
WHAT THIS MEANS: If delinquent owners do not pay dues IN FULL (including any associated fees such as the additional interest on their latest statements in the 30-day notices or adding to that amount the 3% if they pay by PayPal as they must cover those fees as well), then liens will be FILED against their properties.
FOR THOSE WHO ALREADY HAVE LIENS: President, David Petersen, wants to establish policy and direction on small claims court to formalize eventual order of execution and asset seizure, which is within the HOA’s right as a final measure for those who do not pay dues or respond to liens as highlighted in the CC&Rs.
It costs $75 to establish process and have someone (Kootenai County Sheriff) physically serve the party.
So, if the four property owners with liens do not pay IN-FULL by end of the 30-day notice sent on July 1st, steps will be taken in early August to bring them into court to secure ALL dues, interest, mailing, legal fees or face court-orderedforeclosure (see footnotes at the end of mins re: rights of HOA to lien + foreclose).
Once the HOA gets a small claims judgement, we will then get an Order of Execution, and turn this over to Kootenai County Sheriff's Office. Deputies will then collect money from bank accounts, seize assets, sell property, or do whatever is necessary to collect from the debtor the dues including all associated fees.
David said we have a lien process + deadline, now we need a small claims deadline. Tisha said, per the June 2025 minutes, starting in 2026, April 1st is when a final 30-day notice will be mailed on delinquent invoices from the previous Jan, then May 1st is when a lien will be filed (if no response). So, we should follow the same protocol in serving for small claims court those who have liens from the previous May.
For the sake of this year, final 30-day notices were sent on July 1, 2025, so early August will be when liens are filed, and or those four with liens that were placed in June 2024, they too received a final 30-day notice on July 1st, so they’ll be served for small-claims court and potential foreclosure in early August 2025.
***** PLEASE WORK WITH US TO CATCH UP ON YOUR DUES NOW *****
WE DO NOT WANT TO PLACE LIENS, LET ALONE CALL INTO COURT OR SEIZE PROPERTY OF OWNERS. THIS IS A LAST RESORT IF YOU GIVE OUR COMMUNITY NO CHOICE & WE’VE EXHAUSTED ALL OPTIONS. 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: John O’Neil Motion Seconded by: Gus Ferguson
Roads Report
Jon Dore (Road Chair), said it’s too dry to do any more grading this season, unless there’s a sustained increase in moisture, which, he doesn’t anticipate. So, here’s what’s happening right now:
- MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS: Young man driving a WHITE DODGE TRUCK, LICENSE PLATE: KBH794. Speeding and driving recklessly in SLE on several occasions including nearly hit one homeowner. We do NOT want to contact Kootenai Sheriff to report this driver if it can be avoided. If you are the homeowner where this young man lives (minor or not), we need to hear from you that this will not be happening anymore or we will have no choice but to file a complaint with authorities.
- ASPHALT INSTEAD OF OILING: Another homeowner is investing in laying asphalt grindings on the roads along their property for dust abatement. We know this is a great alternative, and one that is comparable in price to a discounted source that has material similar to the free asphalt distributed on roads as an initial test this spring (check out Fernan as an example). So, as long as material is available (the biggest challenge), I can help coordinate. Just email me (address below).
- VANDALISM OF ROADS: Speeding, doing donuts, and attempting to drift through roundabouts not only creates dangerous conditions for all of us (not to mention a total disregard for dust, neighbors, etc.) but it obviously causes damage to our roads that costs this community good money that we’d rather spend on improvements than repairs. SLOW DOWN, TALK TO YOUR KIDS.
- NO ALTERING OF ROADS: If you’ve NOT been previously approved by the Roads Chair to assist the Road Crew, you’re liable (legally + financially) for any damage that may be caused to our roads. We’ve had two incidents in the last month where owners went out on equipment, did damage. Reminder: any use of unauthorized equipment + altering of our roads will result in a bill, at least.
- FRIENDS OF THE ROAD CREW: I’ve mentioned before that the Road Crew works with a few skilled, trusted homeowners who donate their time to reliably assist us on road projects that we either approach them with or they contact us about. REST ASSURED, THE ROAD CHAIR WORKS WITH OUR TRUSTED VOLUNTEERS TO ESTABLISH PROJECT PLANS & APPROVE ALL WORK IN ADVANCE.
- That said, long-time homeowner, John Bartholomew, is one of our Friends of the Road Crew, who has been and will continue to be helping us on approved projects over the next few weeks.
- The first project John B. has already completed in service to our community was some spot work on the roads near Hayden + Liberty that was pre-approved and he donated his time to complete.
- The second project is a renovation of the line of mailboxes on Liberty near Hayden. These mailboxes are not properly recessed for our mail person to safely deliver or residents to pick-up without causing continued damage to their vehicles and/or the various buckets of cement and posts that are too close to vehicles when they pull-up.
- NEXT STEPS: I WILL BE ESTABLISHING AN APPROVED PLAN WITH OUR MAIL PERSON FIRST: Then we’ll be contacting those folks who have mailboxes in that cluster to ask if they’d like to pitch in to help make these repairs. Lastly, I’ll go over the final board-approved plan with John B. and meet him to purchase materials using any funds raised to help him do the work he’s volunteered to do.
- If this test works as well as we believe it will, we’ll see about implementing the same plan in other mailbox clusters + inviting those owners to pitch in as well. Questions? Email me at below address.
- IF YOU WANT TO PITCH IN FOR MATERIALS FOR THE MAILBOX CLUSTER RENOVATION PROJECT: Please send donations (they’ll be earmarked specifically for this project) along with your address and mailbox location to Spirit Lake East HOA, P.O. Box 217, Spirit Lake, ID 83869. THANK YOU!
- So, if you see John B. working on that mailbox section, this work has been approved. If we can’t reach you about the project, and your mailbox is involved, please note that he’ll take care with it.
- Again, if you have NOT been approved to help us on the roads with your own equipment, please do NOT get out there, you could be billed for damage. If you believe you may be highly-skilled and capable of assisting our efforts on APPROVED projects only, email me (address below). THANKS!
REMINDER: 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).
Also, Jon asked Gus about his availability for a shop day to help with maintenance of plow trucks + chains in prep for next winter. Gus will let Jon know and they agreed to plan for a weekend when it’s cooler.
Lastly, 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: Tisha Dore Motion Seconded by: Gus Ferguson
Architecture Report
Nothing to report but David had some questions about the process of securing approvals including what constitutes a plan to be submitted. Clarification was provided that detailed plans don’t need to be provided to ARC. Basic drawings + site plans are fine. 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: Brendan Mills 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: John O’Neil 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: 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 – Issue will be completed next week. Topics: fire season, roads + IDT entrance update, delinquent dues, changes to collections, interest, liens, foreclosures, etc. 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: John O’Neil
New Business
Kootenai Electric – THEY ARE DONE! Potelco has finally finished all their needed tasks and KEC is now completely finished with line removal project here in Spirit Lake East. As the final step at a few locations, fresh hydro seed was distributed in the yards around transformers, as needed. KEC wants to thank the HOA for ongoing communication + coordination of this project they’re happy to report is now complete.
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.
Gem State Water – While we ALL agree the rate increases are high, and we’re not happy with them either, nothing can be done on the HOA level, and we need to focus our limited time + resources on HOA business. So, we’ll no longer include this line item in our agendas. It’s simply not an HOA issue or one we can pursue in any meaningful way. If you have any additional questions or feedback, please send to Gem State Water.
We understand some community members are talking about the possibility of establishing a water co-op. THE HOA WILL NOT ENTERTAIN ANY PROPOSAL ON IT. It’s a financial and legal IMPOSSIBILITY for SLE. We’ve also declined requests to release the names, addresses and other contact info of homeowners in this community for outreach about this. We truly appreciate the intention, but we will continue to protect your privacy as it’s always our policy to decline any such requests for the SLE mailing /contact list.
Also, last reminder: if you want to establish a well as a “backup plan” that’s not legally possible either. You only get one water right here in our community. You either get a well or access to Gem State Water. You don’t get both. Also, wells are costly. Your investment will pay for itself in 80+ years.
Motion to Accept New Business: Gus Ferguson Motion Seconded by: Brendan Mills
- Motion to adjourn at by: John O’Neil
Motion Seconded by: Brendan Mills
- Meeting was adjourned at: 7:00pm
*FOOTNOTE, NON-PAYMENT OF ASSESSMENTS – Bylaws Article II, Section 4, Part E: “Remedies of the Association. Assessments not paid in thirty (30) days shall bear interest from the due date at the maximum rate allowable by law. The Association may bring an action at law against the Owner personally obligated to pay the same, or foreclose the lien against the property.”
*FOOTNOTE, SUBORDINATION OF THE LIEN TO MORTGAGES – Bylaws, Article II, Section 4, Part F: “The lien of the assessments provided herein shall be subordinated to any lien of a first mortgage, deed of trust or security contract for construction purposes, for purchase of the property. Sale or transfer of any tract shall not affect the assessment lien. However, the sale or transfer of any tract, pursuant to mortgage foreclosure or any proceeding in lieu thereof, shall extinguish the lien of such assessments as to payments which become due prior to such sale or transfer. No sale or transfer shall relieve such tract from liability for any assessments thereafter becoming due or from the lien thereof.”
