Board Meeting Minutes October 2024

HOMESTEAD IN THE WILLOWS HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION

Regular Board Meeting October 14, 2024 – Unofficial Minutes

THREE TAKEAWAYS:

  1. Colorado HB24-1233 requires the HOA to have an email address and cellular phone number on file for every property. Look for the form in the November Herald and submit your information – even if you think the HOA already has it!
  2. Homestead’s 50 anniversary celebration will be held on September 15.  Follow the Herald for information and updates.
  3. The Board of Directors needs one new Member in 2025. Your home may be your largest asset. Be a part of the governing body who influences your home’s value!

CALL TO ORDER: President, James Keating called the meeting to order at 5:35pm. Present were Vice President, Michael Garnsey; Secretary, Ginny Karlberg, Treasurer, Steve Bell, Business Manager, Katie Kidwell; ACC Manager, Emily Maxfield; Landscape Manager, Nancy Bauer; Tennis Manager, Jill Ellsworth; Social Committee Co-Chair, Kelly Kane; and Swim Team Parent Rep, Nevienne Manning.  Member at Large, Robb Origer attended the meeting via Zoom.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

SWIM TEAM: Nevienne reported that Swim Team was currently looking for coaches for the 2025 season and would post an article in the November Homestead Herald. The Hurricanes plan to upgrade the sound system. Robb suggested a wireless system and Nevienne will find out if the system needs to be wired or if a wireless system could work. Homestead will host the 7–8-year-old prelims next summer for RMSL during the week of July 7.

SOCIAL COMMITTEE: The Social Committee submitted their proposed budget to the Board and announced plans to host a 50th Birthday Celebration for Homestead tentatively scheduled for September 13, 2025. The Event will include a variety of activities including tennis, swimming, memorabilia, live music, and food. Homeowners should watch the Homestead Herald for information. The committee co-chairs are still seeking replacements when they step down in December after six years of service. If you love the social events the Homestead community enjoys, please consider volunteering to chair this valuable committee.

MANAGER REPORTS: 

POOL: Front Range Recreation submitted a written report and their proposed 2025 budget.

LANDSCAPE: Manager Nancy Bauer reviewed her 2025 operating budget and suggested items to be funded from the Reserve Fund with the Board. The grounds maintenance and irrigation contract are both up for renewal and Nancy presented the new contracts as well.

TENNIS: Manger Jill Ellsworth presented her proposed 2025 Budget noting that the tennis community in Homestead has grown to the extent that two teams must now play out of South Suburban because Homestead does not have enough courts to accommodate all the teams who want to play.

ACC: Manger Emily Maxfield and the Board discussed a recent home improvement that the board agreed was unacceptable and what the Board wanted the ACC to require. Emily is waiting for clarification from the HOA attorney about the new Xeriscape Policy

BUSINESS: Katie reported on collections, fence payments, and the impact of recent legislation affecting HOA’s. Board members must now register their information under the Corporate Transparency Act and the Board’s collection policy was updated to comply with HB24-1233 and 1337. Because of new notification requirements in HB24-1233 the HOA is required to have on file an email address and a mobile phone number for every property. A notice will be placed in the Herald directing Homeowners to supply this information the Business Office. Some Homestead Herald advertisers would like to pay their advertising invoices online. The Board and Katie discussed adding advertisers to the PayHOA platform so that owners could pay there. The Board also agreed it was time to raise advertising rates, which had not been increased since 2022. Katie reviewed her budget and Reserve fund requests with the Board noting the increased number of administrative hours required to provide the service homeowners expect, monitor the social media and billing platforms.  She also noted the cement decking at the pools need replacement and reviewed the proposals she had received with the Board. The Waste Connections trash contract expires in March 2025 and Katie has requested a new contract from Waste Connections for the Board to review.

FINANCIAL REPORT: Treasurer, Steve Bell, will review the submitted budgets and report back to the Board members. The Board also discussed the cost of the accountants hired to help with the fence accounting when the previous bookkeeper retired.

HOMEOWNER COMMENTS: There were no homeowner comments.

OLD BUSINESS: The Xeriscape Policy is still being discussed.

NEW BUSINESS: Katie reminded the Board that one new member was needed by March 1, 2025.

ADJOURNMENT AND CALENDARING: The meeting adjourned at 8:15pm. The next regular Board Meeting will be on Monday, November 11 at 6:30pm at the Business Office.