October 2024 Towne South Homeowners Assoc. Meeting Minutes

TOWNE SOUTH HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION
Open Meeting Minutes – October 15, 2024

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

Ryan Storie, Chair, opened the meeting at 7:03 pm and thanked all for coming.  The Board members introduced themselves.    

1.      Approval of Minutes from September 17, 2024  - Ryan reported that these minutes were reviewed and approved by the Board and will be posted to our website soon.

2.      Financial Update – Due to a family emergency Jackie Tebbe, our Treasurer, was unable to be here tonight and thus the financial updates for September and YTD are not available.  She will get them on the website as soon as possible and report on the numbers next month.   

3.      Liens & Releases – Mary Ann reported that one lien and no releases were filed since our last meeting.

4.      Requests for approval – The Board approved one request to expand a driveway to accommodate an extra parking spot.      

5.      Motorized vehicles in common ground areas and within subdivision – We continue to have problems with these motorbikes tearing up our paths.  We did receive the “no motorized vehicles” signs and Greg screwed one sign to the tree at the entrance to one of our paths being used by the motorbikes.  It was removed within 24 hours.  He is working on a more permanent option which will hopefully make it harder to remove and gain entrance to the paths.  

6.      Landscaping - 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.

a.      Mowing – Greg reported that they will be mowing tomorrow and then we have one more mow at the end of November to mulch up all the leaves.     

b.     Trees –  Greg was excited that there is nothing new to report since our last meeting.  

c.      Creeks – no issues to report.

7.      Violations – There have been 3 issues resolved and we are still working on 5 other issues. We have St. Louis County involved in 2 of these 5 issues.  If you have any issues, please bring them to the Board for review.    

8.      Zone Captains – Still need a captain for Zone 1.  Please!  Near Langtree and Mattis. Eveyln asked what is expected of Zone Captains.  Hugh responded that they are basically the interface between the residents and the Board.  They help distribute flyers and obtain contact information from residents within their zone.  They are never asked or expected to get in the middle of an issue between a homeowner and the Board. They are basically information carriers.   

9.      Fall Party – Ryan reminded everyone the party is this Saturday from 2 to 5, in the parking lot of the Prince of Peace church.  Lots of food and water.  The police and fire departments will be there.  He invited anyone who wants to come help set up to meet us in the parking lot at 12 noon.  The weather forecast is looking great.  

a.      Sponsorships – To date we have $275 in sponsorships

b.     Raffle Baskets – There will be 8 great raffle baskets.

c.      Signs will be up thanking our sponsors.

d.     Attendees – As reported we are at about 100 now.

e.      Food/Drinks – We will have hot dogs, chips and bottled water.  Bring a side dish and/or a crock pot of chili.  There will be voting on the best chili and a prize to the winner.

10. Set Up/Tear Down – We could use more help. Be there at 12 to set up.

11. Beautification Group – Greg reported that he will have bags of mulch available to use around our three main entrance signs.  Call Greg to obtain.   Dave Carr will be taking care of spreading the mulch. 

New Business – none.

Old Business  -

a)     There are currently 48 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 for Floor Discussions –

It was asked how we know when a house becomes a rental.  Ryan explained that every time a house sells, the Title Company has to send a form to the HOA to confirm there are no liens on that property.  When we complete their form, called a Trustee Verification, we add to the form a section asking if the house is being used for investment property or will the buyer(s) reside on the property. 

Lucille reported that there is a home in her zone that she thinks is vacant and is not being very well maintained.  Is there anything the HOA can do about this.  Ryan responded that only if the grass is not cut or if things like their fence is falling down and stuff like exterior maintenance.  We can’t do anything beyond dealing with the exterior appearance.   

Evelyn asked if there has even been any consideration of waiving a homeowner’s annual fees in exchange for their maintaining the grass and trees within the cul de sac on their street or on the common ground near them.  Ryan stated that the Board has never exchanged waiving fees for common ground maintenance.  If we did that there are so many homeowners that have common ground abutting their property or cul de sacs on their streets that our income could be so negatively impacted that  we wouldn’t be able to meet our expenses. 

Ryan asked if anyone had any other questions or anything more to bring to the Board at this time.  There being none, the Towne South Homeowners Association Open Monthly Meeting was adjourned at 7:24 pm.  The next TSHA Monthly Open Meeting is Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at 7:00 pm at Prince of Peace UCC. 

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Ann McWilliams
Administrative Assistant