April 2024 Towne South Meeting Minutes
TOWNE SOUTH HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION
Open Meeting Minutes – April 16, 2024
Board Present – Ryan Storie, Jackie Tebbe, Greg Hertlein, and Dave Carr in person. Hugh and Mary Ann McWilliams via Zoom. In addition to the Board members, attendees in person included lot owners: Lucille Hines, Evelyn Bevans, and Betty Willett. Attendees via Zoom included: Anna Lang.
Chair Ryan Storie called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm and welcomed and thanked all for attending. Board members were introduced.
1. Approval of Minutes from March 19, 2024. – Ryan asked if there were any changes to the minutes from last month’s meeting. There being none, the minutes of the March 19, 2024, TSHA Open Meeting were approved as presented. Jackie noted that these minutes will be posted on our website.
2. Financial Update – Jackie provided printouts of our YTD P&L and March P&L statements. March income totaled $37,829.35 and expenses totaled $12,603.69 for a net profit of $25,225.66. Annual assessment fees and now the late fees have made up for most all of this figure. Evelyn Bevans asked where our attorney fees are shown. Jackie responded that we do have any attorney fees yet in 2024. Evelyn questioned where they were shown in the 2023 budget. Again, Jackie and Ryan both responded that there were no attorney fees in 2023 either.
A question was then asked where the fees go to place and release liens.
Jackie stated that those fees are not legal fees. Those are simply recording fees charged by St. Louis County and are so noted in our budget. We expect to have some minimal legal fees over the next few months as the attorney that handles HOA issues will be documenting and recording each of the amendments that passed.
Total assets as of March 31, 2024 from both our checking account ($31,198.61) and our money market account ($26,609.70) come to $57,808.31. The number in our checking account looks really good, however, we have just begun our most expensive months between now and mid-fall.
3. Proposed amendments to Indentures – All amendments and additions passed with 83% being the least percentage of approval. Document is at attorney’s office now to be ratified and filed with St. Louis County. We received over 370 returned ballots, which is a little over half the homeowners. We have turned all the documentation over to our attorney to proceed. It was asked if the addition of an amendment capping the number of rentals passed. Yes, it did. How many homes can be rentals? Sixty. Ryan noted that this is somewhat difficult to track, but within our communications with the title companies when a home is sold, asks if this property will be an investment/rental or will the buyers be the residents. This helps with our records. It was asked what happens when a property is slated to be a rental and there are already 60 on the books? We will inform the title company that the property cannot be used as rental and will have to go on a “wait list”. It was questioned if increasing the assessment fee passed. Yes – all of the proposed amendments passed easily. The annual fee of $75.00 does not go into effect until January 2025. Each year the homeowners will be presented with our proposed budget and the assessment fee the Board proposes to support that budget. Homeowners will have a vote each year on the assessment fee.
4. Liens & Releases – No liens and one release being filed with St. Louis County this week.
5. Requests for approval – One fence request approved.
6. Landscaping
a. Mowing – New Contract – mowing has begun, and new company seems to be doing a good job. After their first cut we found a few little things and brought it to their attention for correction. They are having a problem mowing around all the downed branches. They will be charging us a small fee to gather all the branches and limbs into a pile for us to pick up.
b. Evelyn asked about the tree that was taken down behind her neighbor’s house. Is it our intention to just leave it where it was downed by the tree company? Greg stated that the tree in question was cut as requested and left on the HOA property as discussed with Ms. Bevans and our tree company prior to the tree company cutting it down. The board received and reviewed various cost options with the tree company before deciding on how to proceed with the tree maintenance.
Since this is HOA property, creek and ravine are right there, and there is no passing of the general public along this area, the tree was cut into a few large pieces and left on the HOA property. The cost to haul out the whole tree would have been prohibitive. Evelyn requested that she receive a list of each time a tree is cut down within our HOA. She feels that some residents are getting treated better than others in regard to removal of trees. She requested this information since it is her money that pays for this. The Board responded that each tree issue is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Evelyn commented that the downed tree poses a safety hazard to people walking back along that common ground. Ryan stated that space is not really accessible to people to use. It’s a very narrow path and runs along the drop off to the ravine. In addition, it is land locked by fenced back yards and not along a commonly traversed area. The tree is far enough away that even if someone decided to walk down there, the tree is not blocking the path and there is a sufficient amount of space between the tree trunk and Evelyn’s neighbor’s fence. The Board will take her request into consideration, but does not think that is required by law to either remove the tree or provide specific details on the specific location, cost, timing, and decision of each tree cut or removed within HOA property.
By County ordinance, the common ground is owned by the HOA and the Board is assigned with making decisions of this nature. The vote for decisions within the Board is by majority vote.
c. Trees – nothing too significant. Lots of branches during heavy winds and rain lately.
d. Creeks – no issues to report – same overgrown issues
7. Complaints – Nothing new.
8. Zone Captains – no report
New Business - None
Old Business
Ryan reported that a mailing went out on April 9th to about 53 residents who still owe for 2024 fees. As of today we still have about 44 unpaid. If you don’t pay, there will be a lien filed against your property. Mary Ann will be attempting to reach out to these people via phone or in person. We don’t want to file a lien, but we will if necessary.
a) Establish a Beautification Group to help with spring clean up – We need some volunteers to help establish a Beautification Committee. The entrance signs need repair and new mulch. Please call us if you can help.
Open for Floor Discussions
Question was asked if we have any information about the status of an issue pertaining to a lot on Overview. Mary Ann reported that the Board has been in contact with County’s Problem Properties Division regarding violations.
Ryan asked if anyone had anything to bring to the Board at this time. There being none, the Towne South Homeowners Association Open Monthly Meeting was adjourned at 7:20 pm. The next meeting will be on May 21, 2024, 7:00 pm at Prince of Peace UCC.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Ann McWilliams
Administrative Assistant