March 2025 Towne South Homeowners Assoc Minutes

TOWNE SOUTH HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION
Minutes - Open Meeting – March 18, 2025

Board present – Ryan Storie, Hugh McWilliams, Jackie Tebbe, Katie Mizera, Greg Hertlein via Zoom, and Mary Ann McWilliams Administrative Assistant.  In addition to the Board members, attendees in person included lot owners:  Lucille Hines, Evelyn Bevans, and Erik Cain.  Attendees via Zoom:  Anna and Aaron Lang.

Chair Ryan Storie opened the meeting at 7:02 pm thanking all for attending and asked the Board members to introduce themselves.   

1.      Approval of Minutes from January 21 and February 22, 2025.   The Board has approved the minutes from both the January 21, 2025 Regular Monthly Meeting and the February 22, 2025 Annual Meeting.  These will be posted on the website within a week or so.

2.      Financial Update –

a.      February – Jackie reported that revenue for February looked really good totaling $26,359.88, of which $25,900.30 was from Assessment Fees.  Expenses totaled $2,895.25 of which the two highest amounts were our D&O insurance at $2,257.00 and Utilities at $544.94.  Our net profit for February 2025 was $23,464.63.  This is the time of year when our finances look awesome.    

b.     YTD – January 1 through March 18, 2025 report shows income at $46,335.20, again $45,550.30 being Assessment Fees.  Trustee Verification Income is $600.00.  Expenses for this same period are $5,259.65.  The biggest ticket line items were D&O at $2,257.00; General Liability Insurance at $717.00, Postage at $900.00, and Utilities at $816.14.  This leaves us with a net profit of $41,075.55.  Jackie noted that as of this date we have a total of $74,798.41 in total assets between checking accounts and our Money Market account.  She didn’t run a comparison of 2025 against 2024, but assumes it is much better based on the fact that our assessment fees increased.

c.      Change of bank status – Jackie reported that we are in the process of changing banks but should be finalized soon.  Question was asked why we have decided to change banks after all this time with PNC.  Ryan reported that we have been having trouble with PNC’s service, particularly in their inability to offer us notary service.  It was suggested that we might try the credit union at the corner of Mattis and Ambs.  Jackie stated that the trouble with many credit unions is that they charge fees for business accounts which is what we would qualify for.  We have already make the change to Regions – just in the process of moving all the funds, and they are not charging us any fees.   

3.      Recap of Annual Meeting – The general consensus of those in attendance, as well as the Board, is that the meeting went very well.  We received several comments that they really liked the speaker, Mike Archer, our representative from St. Louis County Council’s 6th District.  Overall, we had 39 attendees, which was down a little over last year, however, we think the weather might have had something to do with that.  

4.      Indenture amendments 2025 – Ryan reported that all three of our proposed changes to our Indentures passed and will be delivered and verified with our attorney who will get them filed with the St. Louis County Recorder of Deeds.   

a.      Trash Cans

b.     Fence Verbiage

c.      RV Parking

5.      Liens & Releases – No liens and no releases since last meeting  

6.      Violations Resolved and Unresolved – Ryan noted that we currently have 6 violations - 2 resolved and 4 unresolved.

7.      Common Ground Issues

a.      Mowing – Greg reported that we have contracted with the same mowers as last year as they were still the cheapest even though they went up a little.  They will be getting started on the mowing in the first week of April. 

b.     Piles of branches – Greg noted that we need to start clearing some of these piles of dead branches lying around so that our mowers have access to the area to mow.  We may post on our FaceBook page or on NextDoor asking for volunteers to help. 

c.      Motorcycles – We are making some progress with the motorbikes.  Police caught one group and cited them.  Police have been getting many phone calls and are starting to crack down on these kids.  Greg asked if you see these motorbikes riding around and causing havoc, to please call the police immediately. 

d.     Signs – Greg reported that there is a group of volunteers who will be working on all our entrance signs, repairing and cleaning them up, as well as cleaning up the brush and weeds and putting new mulch down.  

e.      Dog Poop Issues – Ryan asked that if anyone sees who is continuing to pitch their dog poop bags into the common ground, creeks, and up into the trees, to please let us know.   

8.      Homeowners may not mow grass, trim trees, plant, provide maintenance, etc., on common property without the written consent of the majority of the Board of Governors on an annual basis. The Board of Governors reserves the right to revoke such consent.

9.      Trees – prioritize – Ryan is pleased to report that our trees escaped serious damage during all the recent storms. The question was asked about taking down the trees along Towne Centre as they all have the gall infestation and are dying.  Greg reported that since those trees are so close to the street it would be St. Louis County’s responsibility to take them down and they will not take a tree down until it is 90% dead.  So we just wait.    

10. Creeks

a.      MSD Update – MSD has been out and marked the culvert on Towne Centre between Waringford and Crownover.  They told Greg is was 14 feet to the west of where it should be.  It is eroding the backyard of the homeowner.  This could be a multi-million-dollar project for MSD.  We were told we will be getting a letter soon asking our permission for MSD to use our common ground.  The easement is only five feet wide and they can’t get all their equipment in without using our common ground.  Regarding the other major issue on the creek at Towne Centre and Brunston – that creek won’t be done for a couple of years yet.   

11. Requests for Approvals – none since last meeting

12. Beautification Committee – Greg reported that we do have several volunteers to help us out and we look forward to getting some work done in the next few months.  

13. Zone Captains Update – Hugh stated that he is planning on having a meeting with the Zone Captains early this spring to get their input on how they think they can be of assistance to their neighbors.  We want to create an avenue of communication.  Lucille said that when she is going around, one of her biggest problems is that people do not have their addresses anywhere on their mailbox or on their house.  Maybe we can send out an email letting people know how important it is to have your address visible from the street so that emergency responders can locate your house quickly.    

New Business - none

Old Business

a)     There are currently 47 rental homes within our HOA.  In an effort to keep everyone updated, we will report on the number of rentals at each monthly meeting.   

Open Floor Questions/Comments –

Erik Cain said he was at the meeting to talk about having paver blocks alongside his house to store his work trailer.  Ryan asked Erik to wait until after the meeting was adjourned and then the Board would look at his request.    

Ryan asked if there was any further business to be brought to this Board.  Hearing none the meeting was adjourned at 7:22 pm.  The next regular Open Monthly Meeting is Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at 7:00 pm at Prince of Peace UCC.   

Submitted by,

Mary Ann McWilliams
Administrative Assistant 

After the meeting Erik presented the Board with his idea of using paver blocks along the side of his house to put his trailer on.  The Board asked him to submit his request in writing and to show all his property lines in the drawing of where he wants to install the blocks.