The Minutes
SLE HOA BOARD MEETING
Date: Aug 13, 2025
Location: Cup of Grace
Board Members in Attendance: David Petersen (President), Gus Ferguson (Vice President), James Stover, (Member at Large), Tisha Dore (Secretary)
Call to Order:
Minutes from the last meeting: Accepted (Motioned by: Gus Ferguson, Seconded by: James Stover)
Treasurer’s Report
Current in checking account: $ 13,582.65
Current in savings account: $ 21,720.96
Current in petty cash account: $ 201.00
Total in bank accounts: $ 35,504.61
10 PROPERTY OWNERS ARE DELINQUENT ON THEIR DUES (TOTALING NEARLY $4,000).
That’s $3,714.78 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, 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.
Eight lot owners owe dues for this year. Three have reportedly submitted payments. One missed their payment, so their complete balance is now immediately due or a lien will be placed.
5 OWNERS HAVE NOT YET RESPONDED to our emails, hardcopy reminders (bills + newsletters) or social media to either pay in-full or setup an *approved* payment plan. If payment in full or payment on approved plan is not received THIS WEEK by August 15th, liens will be filed next week.
***** PLEASE WORK WITH US TO CATCH UP ON YOUR DUES NOW *****
WE DO NOT WANT TO PLACE LIENS, LET ALONE FILE AN 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: Tisha Dore
Motion Seconded by: Gus Ferguson
Roads Report
Jon Dore (Road Chair), said it’s still too dry to grade right now. There was some rain this weekend but not enough to do any grading as sustained moisture is needed for meaningful work. Let’s hope for more rain.
- SIDE-BY-SIDES & DIRT BIKES: We’ve had multiple complaints of dirt bikes and side-by-sides speeding through the community, ripping up our roads, and doing donuts in the intersections in the back of the community. We have photos of damage out of specific properties and video of some repeat offenders who will be hearing from us. We were even contacted by the superintendent of the Highway 54 project who had a side-by-side doing donuts right next to the highway where heavy machinery + operators were working to lay asphalt, then tore into SLE. The superintendent followed the side-by-side back to a property on Priest River Dr. It took a couple weeks for us to hear about this but that homeowner will be contacted about the complaint, and how the state + ITD could become involved in such a complaint. HOMEOWNERS: Our community is not for off-roading. If you want to go to national forest or paper land, you are expected to operate dirt bikes + side-by-sides in our community just as you would a car. Drive with caution and consideration for the investment we all make in these roads at 15MPH. TALK TO YOUR KIDS. You may be billed for repairs to our roads if we find you’re responsible for causing damage.
- SPEEDING ON ROADS: We’re experiencing the same problem with regular vehicles on our roads. While not all cars/trucks belong to homeowners, most do, and we’ve had many near misses, and it’s causing damage to our roads that costs US ALL in materials/repairs. What’s it going to take? We are a rural community with unpaved roads. SPEED LIMIT = 15MPH. Given community outcry, dangers of the speeds we’re seeing, risk to our roads + nearby properties and insurance rates, we’ve posted cameras on private property in key areas, which will change as needed to identify repeat offenders. We also invite neighbors to send footage. Complaints will be managed on a case-by-case basis (first with warnings + bill for road repairs, then reporting with footage to Kootenai County Sheriff). Please talk to your kids. Homeowners will be held liable for damages.
- LOGGERS USING ROADS: Most know about the tree feller/buncher using our roads and getting hung up on the lines at Newman and Tahoe. This issue has been resolved and the logger has paid for the repairs to the poles and overhead telco lines (I believe Ziply) to be repaired.
- ASPHALT vs. OILING: If you’re interested in investing in laying asphalt grindings on the roads for dust abatement + helping to build up the roads around your property, that’s still happening. As long as material is available, I can help to coordinate. Just email me (address below).
- MAILBOXES, HAYDEN & LIBERTY: Working on a plan with our mail person, then we’ll be contacting folks who have mailboxes in that cluster to ask if they’d like to pitch in for repairs. I’ll go over the final board-approved plan with Friend of the Road Crew, John Bartholomew, and meet him to purchase materials using any funds raised ($50 so far from a proactive neighbor). THANKS!
*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 (address below).
- 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!
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.
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: James Stover
Motion Seconded by: Gus Ferguson
Architecture Report
We’ve had many questions from potential buyers + new homeowners re: building plans, what’s allowed. Per the CC&Rs, there can be ONLY A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME per lot. No granny flats, guest houses or apartments are allowed. If you see shops or garages “appear” occupied, please note, many of those spaces have offices, hobby + craft rooms, man caves, teen hangouts and mezzanines in shops or garages, and all are fine, but only ONE LIVING QUARTERS per lot. You may, upon approvals, build an addition to your existing home, as long as it meets county standards, including setbacks. Please submit to us basic drawings and site plans for review + approval by the ARC Committee. If you have building plans (or Q’s to prep), contact them at arc@spiritlakeeast.org. Find more information on building in SLE and to access the Architectural Form (for review/approvals) you can find it here: www.spiritlakeeast.org/building-info.
Motion to accept ARC Report by: Tisha Dore
Motion Seconded by: Gus Ferguson
Timber Report
Lately, we’ve had some challenges with commercial logging including unapproved operations, loggers using equipment on our roads, logging without plans or marked trees, clear-cutting, etc. So, it’s important to reaffirm the CC&Rs, and what all homeowners agreed to when purchasing a property here in SLE. Here is a direct quote from the CC&Rs: Article IV, Section 2, paragraph C. 3 has been amended to read:
“C. The following activities shall be prohibited:
(3) Commercial cutting of timber. Nothing in this sub paragraph shall prohibit the removal of trees and timber, and their subsequent commercial sale, upon approval of the Architectural Review Committee, providing that such removal and sale is for the following purposes:
a. residential construction
b. landscaping
c. disease and insect control
d. public health and safety
e. reasonable firewood gathering for a members personal household consumption.
f. timber removal under the terms of an approved Timber Management Plan for selective cutting.
Timber removal as provided herein is subject to the terms, conditions, regulations and restrictions of the Architectural Review Committee as they shall from time to time require, for the protection of public health, welfare, safety and the preservation of rural atmosphere and charm which is compatible with the natural environment of the property.”
IN OTHER WORDS, COMMERCIAL CUTTING OF TIMBER IS PROHIBITED UNLESS APPROVED, including being in accordance with the above-listed purposes (a-f), and it is SELECTIVE CUTTING ONLY.
While homeowners are allowed to 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), the practice of commercial logging (selling your timber to a mill) in SLE is a different process and must be approved.
Homeowners must follow state + county laws/regulations, which can be accomplished by first working with a forester to develop a plan in accordance with our CC&Rs, which again, allows Selective Cutting only. Then, homeowners must apply for review/approval of logging plan + application with the SLE HOA.
If you do not apply, and we discover a logging operation is taking place on your property without approvals (neighbors can sue, so that application is for your protection most of all) your operation will need to stop until you complete the application, and it’s approved. If you change items on your application, such as loggers, foresters, plan, etc., you must contact us with an update, so we can review it, provide approvals. If you merely submit an application or send an email update, you’re not approved until you hear from us. We will no longer be providing approvals over the phone. All approvals will be emailed.
See the updated Timber page of our website + Commercial Logging application and email with questions. Cutting styles and images from Idaho Dept of Lands (IDL) have also been posted to establish an agreed-upon language, so we’re no longer hearing from loggers that there’s a wide interpretation. No, there isn’t, styles are clearly visually defined by IDL, so those images and terms have been posted. We voted/agreed to have signs for yards of owners with approved logging operations, so community members know which are approved and may necessitate a phone call to inquire with the HOA. Send timber/logging Q’s to: timber@spiritlakeeast.org. Find Logging + Timber Exemption Forms here: www.spiritlakeeast.org/timber.
Motion to accept Timber Report by: James Stover
Motion Seconded by: Tisha Dore
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: Gus Ferguson
Motion Seconded by: Tisha Dore
New Business
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.
**Gem State Water – COMMUNITY PETITION DUE TODAY August 18, 2025, IF YOU WANT TO SIGN IT.**
While we ALL agree the rate increases are high, and we’re not happy with them, nothing can be done on the HOA level, and we need to focus our limited time + resources on HOA business. However, there’s a community-organized petition circulating that we’d like to share here before removing this issue from our agendas/mins. If you review the petition and would like to add your name, please email Mark Mecord at mark.mecord@gmail.com.
LINK HERE: https://tinyurl.com/GemStateWaterPetition
Motion to Accept New Business: James Stover
Motion Seconded by: Gus Ferguson
- Motion to adjourn at by: David Petersen Motion Seconded by: Tisha Dore
- Meeting was adjourned at: 7:32pm
