The Minutes
SLE HOA BOARD MEETING
Date: Sept 9, 2026
Location: Cup of Grace
Board Members in Attendance: David Petersen (President), Brendan Mills (Treasurer), and James Stover + Bryan Pettit (Members at Large), Tisha Dore (Secretary, by phone)
Quorum: YES
Call to Order: 6:30pm
Minutes from the last meeting: Accepted (Motioned by: James Stover, Seconded by: Brendan Mills)
Treasurer’s Report:
Current in checking account: $ 11,798.00
Current in savings account: $ 32,274.44
Current in petty cash account: $ 201.00
Total in bank accounts: $ 44,273.44
We've collected most of the 2026 dues. Total owed by the community is: $ 8,135.80
Dues are to be paid by Jan 1st. We’re now nine months into 2026 and 30+ owners still owe (in-full or part). When purchasing a home here in Spirit Lake East, we all agreed to pay annual HOA dues for time-sensitive road/equipment maintenance + insurance costs, among other expenses to run our small, rural HOA. These costs remain low thanks to generously-donated time by an all-volunteer board and committee members.
******************** The 2026 DUES = $273.17 (22.76/mo) + INTEREST ********************
Still owe dues? Please contact us as soon as possible to get your total with interest to settle your dues bill.
The credit card payment option is turned off to save on costs. The 30+ homeowners still owing dues may pay by check or money order. If you don’t have checks, you can transfer the money from your account to the HOA’s at First Interstate Bank in Spirit Lake. Walmart in CDA processes money orders for just $1.
Please send payments to:
SLE HOA, P.O. Box 217, Spirit Lake, ID 83869
The collections process is now underway and maximum interest will only continue to accrue if left unpaid. Emails followed by calls have gone out to all those with working contact info on file. This is to give everyone ample opportunity to settle their debt to our community while helping us to avoid fronting the added expense of mailers where possible, which will be charged to delinquent owners on top of interest.
If you’re still owing last year’s dues when next year’s dues are to be paid by Jan 1st, a lien will be placed on your property. If you already have a lien, collections will be pursued through court next. If you only owe on interest from last year, it’ll be added to next year’s invoice, which must be paid in full by Jan 1st.
Also, we often hear from owners requesting receipts after they’ve paid their dues on-time (THANK YOU!). Individual requests take a lot of time especially later in the year when the focus should be on collections. We will email receipts to all who pay their dues within Q1, and send a dues reminder to others then too.
Behind on your dues? Please work with us to catch up. Send payment ASAP or contact Brendan Mills at treasurer@spiritlakeeast.org. We would be happy to coordinate with you on an approved payment plan to avoid next steps. For more info on payments + donations, visit: www.spiritlakeeast.org/payordonate
Motion to accept Treasurer Report by: Bryan Pettit
Motion Seconded by: James Stover
Roads Report:
Talks with the Hwy 54 contractor continue in prep for a fall asphalt project. I’m working to negotiate the best price for materials, especially given the increased price of fuel, which cannot be negotiated. While trucking is more now due to fuel costs, we are (as usual) getting free grading with this job to offset fuel.
From my planning with our lead operator, we’re in agreement that the best locations for distribution of most (if not all) asphalt grindings will be on Liberty, St. Joe, Hayden (partial, depends on time/budget) plus parts of CDA, mostly the back. If we can stretch funds with donations we’ll see about other areas. All will benefit from high-traffic areas getting material and it’ll make grading easier. Some targeted stretches are so bare that there’s nothing left to grade, so all of these factors come into our decision-making.
We’ve had some requests to purchase grindings for roads alongside donor’s homes. I’m in talks with our lead operator about this too and will email those interested with more details shortly. If you’re interested, please reach out ASAP using the below email address, and we’ll coordinate with you from there.
REMINDER: Fundraising continues to cover hours/materials needed for our long-term improvement projects including rebuilding the crown in our roads + distributing/rolling more asphalt grindings. We're also looking for a new-to-us roller. None of those items are covered by our annual HOA budget.
We are asking for your help. Please consider donating for above-and-beyond work + materials and roller rentals that aren’t part of our existing budget for usual maintenance + repairs. Donations—big or small—are welcome. THANKS! Mail checks to: SLE HOA – P.O. Box 217, Spirit Lake, ID 83869 *Memo: Road Fund
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: Brendan Mills
Architecture Report
Heard from a homeowner who has seen through approvals with the county their new build here in SLE. They submitted our online form and I’ve approved it. Another owner reached out to ask if they need approval on a new roof. I said they’re good to go as long as it’s the same color, works in the neighborhood. Have building plans or Q’s about building? Email the ARC Chair, James Stover, at arc@spiritlakeeast.org. For more information + Architectural Form for approvals, visit: www.spiritlakeeast.org/building-info
Motion to accept ARC Report by: Brendan Mills
Motion Seconded by: Bryan Pettit
Timber Report
Fire season is slowing, and even with more rain, we’re not out of the woods just yet. Have a burn pile? Burning remains restricted until Oct 20th, but please see the link below for the latest. While you can apply for a burn permit during the restriction, it’s always best to wait until it’s been lifted. Once it is safe to burn, having a permit on file marking the area on your lot where you have your pile or alerting the fire dept on the day you plan to burn (in case they get any calls) is always a good idea: https://burnpermits.idaho.gov
Email timber/logging questions to VP, Gus Ferguson, at 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: James Stover
Welcome Report:
If you’re new to Spirit Lake East, Welcome! If you haven’t yet registered as a new owner here or been living here for years but your contact info has changed, please register (or re-register!) with us online. Questions? Contact Tisha Dore at welcome@spiritlakeeast.org. Newbies who’ve yet to register for HOA billing/mailings (or if you have a new email), fill-out the form here: www.spiritlakeeast.org/new-residents.
Motion to Accept Welcome Report: Bryan Pettit
Motion Seconded by: Brendan Mills
Old Business:
Entrance Signs – James asked when can they go back up? Jon: When Hwy 54 / entrance work is complete.
Street Signs – Install of new signs in need of repair/replacement will happen shortly. Remaining updates at entrances (consolidating + no soliciting signs) on hold until after Hwy 54 work is done. No new updates.
Intermax – Take advantage of the grant while it lasts. FREE TRENCHING up your very long driveway will add value to your home. Services: $80, $100, $130/mo (208-676-0471 or intermaxnetworks.com/fiber).
Fall Newsletter: Latest edition in the works (Events, Burn Season, Road Report, Hwy 54 Update + more). If you have a submission for consideration, email: newsletters@spiritlakeeast.org Newsletters & Ad Info: www.spiritlakeeast.org/newsletters
Motion to Accept Old Business: James Stover
Motion Seconded by: Bryan Pettit
New Business:
HOA Phone (David): Recently, I’ve been making calls to homeowners still in arrears to cut costs on mailings and avoid passing those costs onto those who already owe a balance, which I don’t want to grow higher. I was using my personal phone for initial outreach. However, now that I’m following up, I’m switching to the HOA phone in hopes that hard-to-reach folks recognize the number, may be more likely to respond.
In doing so, I’m reminded of just how limited this old phone is, and all the ways we could be more efficient with our volunteer time, if it were to be replaced. For example, the current phone—generously donated by another board member years ago—does not allow us to easily check/save messages (we have to listen to all saved messages to get to the new ones) or efficiently delegate calls and/or texts by forwarding or sharing contacts with other team members who can better handle certain questions or requests.
While I work on collections follow-up, I’d like to start making some inquiries about switching providers, and what phones come with those services, see if we can find some cost-effective options to vote on. Another option is to see what other low-cost plans may be available to us with a newer donated phone, although I believe carriers make it easier (and cheaper) for a new customer when a new phone is included.
With the blessing of the board, I can look into both. While it’s not necessary to vote on research, this is an HOA resource, so out of courtesy for the board and community, can I get a vote on looking into options? Members in attendance voted unanimously to move forward with researching phone/service options.
Motion to Accept New Business: Brendan Mills
Motion Seconded by: James Stover
- Motion to adjourn by: Bryan Pettit
Motion Seconded by: Tisha Dore
- Meeting was adjourned at: 6:50pm
