Board Meeting Minutes: June 2024

Homestead in the Willows Homeowners Association

Regular Board Meeting June 10, 2024 – Unofficial Minutes

THREE TAKEAWAYS: 

1.  July 4 Pool Hours will be from 10am to 6 pm at all three pools.

2.  The July 4 parade and activities will take place at the South Pool – details available on the Association social media platforms, the Homestead Herald and in the June Herald.

3.  Join the bike decorating party at the North Pool parking lot on July 3 at 5:00pm

CALL TO ORDER: President, James Keating called the meeting to order at 6:22pm. Present were Secretary, Ginny Karlberg; Member at Large, Robb Origer; and Business Manager, Katie Kidwell. Treasurer, Steve Bell; ACC Manager, Emily Maxfield; and Social Committee Co-chair, Olivia Phillips attended the meeting via Zoom

MINUTES: The minutes of the May 13 regular meeting were approved as read. 

RATIFICATION OF BOARD ACTIONS: James moved to ratify the Board Action of May 20, 2024.  Ginny seconded the motion which passed unanimously. 

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

SOCIAL COMMITTEE: Social Committee co-chair Olivia Phillips announced that plans for the July 4 celebration were proceeding smoothly. The festivities will be hosted at the South Pool on July 4 and residents should consult the June Homestead Herald for the new parade route, schedule of events and other information about the day’s events.

SWIM TEAM: Swim Team reported that the new Ting internet service had greatly improved their wifi connectivity and the running time of the swim meet.

MANAGER REPORTS

POOL: Front Range Recreation submitted a written report. The season is off to a busy start. There were complaints about rough spots in the pool plaster at the West Pool and high chlorine levels at the South Pool. FRR buffed the plaster at the West Pool to eliminate the rough spots. Chemicals are monitored three times daily and dispensed through an automatic feeder. Chlorine and PH levels were checked at all pools and found to be within acceptable ranges, but FRR will continue to monitor them. Many compliments have been received about the new furniture at the South Pool.

The pool hours will be modified for July 4.  All three pools will open at 10:00am and close at 6:00pm. The July 4 party will be held at the South Pool from 10:30 to 2:00pm. The staff time saved by closing the pool one hour early will offset the increased expense of the extra lifeguards that will be needed at the South Pool for the July 4 events.

LANDSCAPE: Manager Nancy Bauer provided a written report. Comcast has audited all the utility boxes and cable lines to be buried and expects repairs to be completed by the end of June. Cleanup of excess dirt, removal of old concrete footers from the old fence and the addition of new rock and mulch is complete around the Perimeter Fence. Trees have been pruned throughout the community, new sod was installed on the north hill at the South Pool, entry beds have been refreshed and pots of annuals are installed at all pools.

TENNIS: No report.

ACC: Manager Emily Maxfield and the Board discussed the ACC style boards and choices for exterior changes to houses within the Traditional Aesthetic the ACC uses to guide their decisions. The Board agreed they do not want to limit homeowner choices to only those specified on the style boards, but commented that when homeowners request a novel element, they need to allow the ACC time to discuss it as a committee. Choices from the style boards can be approved more quickly. The Board agreed the ACC is the final arbiter of what constitutes the Traditional Aesthetic and what elements are acceptable within that aesthetic.

BUSINESS: Katie reported that two homeowners received final dues notices and one homeowner had made arrangements for a payment plan through the HOA attorney. Sixteen homeowners had failed to make a fence payment by April 30 and received late fees and second notices.  Payment plans have been created for all owners who chose to make fence payments rather than pay the balance in full. Those homeowners will receive emailed notices one month prior to each payment being due. The specially designed posts for the fence along the west side of S. Homestead Parkway had come in and Split Rail Fence Company was installing the last section of the Perimeter Fence. Katie is gathering the necessary documents required for the 2023 audit and the office has been very busy handling requests for pool access. The Alta Open system was down for a week site wide requiring each entry to be reset. Katie and the Board discussed the cost of user licenses and the necessity of seasonally deleting caregivers and owners who move from the neighborhood. Katie alerted the Board that the volume of email requests, comments and complaints has increased as well as foot traffic in the office requiring extra support staff and work on her days off to continue to provide the level of service the community expects.

FINANCIAL REPORT: Treasurer, Steve Bell presented the May financial report to the Board. The Board and Steve discussed the Perimeter Fence funding, the general reserve fund and the HOA’s cash position. The HOA is under budget overall.

OLD BUSINESS: Former Board President Chris Evans had reviewed the proposed contract with the ACES Swim Club which Katie will have ready for signatures at the July meeting.

NEW BUSINESS: There was no new business.

ADJOURNMENT AND CALENDARING: The meeting adjourned at 7:40pm. The next regular Board Meeting will be on Monday, July 8, at 6:30 pm at the Business Office.