Regular Board Meeting February 10, 2025 – Unofficial Minutes
THREE TAKEAWAYS:
- Any change to the exterior of your home needs to be approved by the ACC.
- Please do not include your fence payment in your dues payment check. Each payment goes to a different bank. The Business Office needs two checks.
- If you have not yet returned the Homeowner Contact Form please do so ASAP. The form can be found in the Homestead Herald or on the website under the Stay Connected tab “Notice to all HOA Members.
CALL TO ORDER: President, James Keating called the meeting to order at 6:33pm. Present were Vice President, Michael Garnsey; Treasurer, Steve Bell; Member at Large, Robb Origer; Business Manager, Katie Kidwell; Landscape Manager, Nancy Bauer; Tennis Manager, Jill Ellsworth; Pool Managers Shannon Ricca and Eli Schalgel, and Swim Team Parent Representative, Nevienne Manning. Secretary, Ginny Karlberg and ACC Manager, Emily Maxfield attended the meeting via Zoom.
The Minutes of the January 13, 2025 regular meeting were approved as read.
RATIFICATION OF BOARD ACTIONS: James moved to ratify the payment plan approval for account 123. Steve seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
SWIM TEAM: Parent Representative, Nevienne Manning reported the summer coaches had been hired and the Parent Reps were currently interviewing for H20 positions. The Parent info meeting will be via Zoom this year. The Board confirmed that children living in the surrounding townhome communities or apartments are eligible to participate in Swim Team provided the family purchases an Associate Membership for $663. The membership allows all family members to use the pool and tennis courts. The Swim Team has postponed replacing the sound system until the North Pool concrete replacement occurs to allow underground wiring. The Board suggested the Swim Team use this season to choose a system, determine its specifications and prepare a map for electrical outlets etc. so that next year they could be included when the deck is replaced. The Board announced they would be donating $3000 to the Homestead Hurricane program for 2025.
SOCIAL COMMITTEE: There was no report from Social Committee
MANAGER REPORTS:
POOL: Front Range Recreation manager Shannon Ricca confirmed the pool opening dates and coordinated pre-season cleaning of the restrooms for Tennis when drills start in April. Manager Eli Schalgel and the Board discussed how the unheated pool restrooms could be opened early for the tennis player use. Historically the restrooms have not been opened prior to summer because of the potential for frozen pipes. Katie mentioned she had received requests for graduation pool parties on opening weekend. Front Range confirmed they did not have the necessary personnel to guard parties on opening weekend or July 4. The Board and Front Range discussed replacement of the South Pool underwater pool lights and the West Pool coping stones in conjunction with the concrete deck replacement at both pools.
ACC: Manager Emily Maxfield and the Board discussed the Covenant Review Task Force and the status of the Fair Housing accommodation sought by one homeowner.
TENNIS: Manager Jill Ellsworth reported holding a tennis captain meeting the first week of February. Homestead hosts 14 USTA teams comprised of 150 players and three daytime teams comprised of 30 players. Three teams will have to play at South Suburban courts due to lack of space on the Homestead Courts. Adult drills begin the first week in April and the Board agreed to purchase multiple space heaters to keep the pipes warm at the North Pool facility to allow the restrooms to be opened by April 1.
LANDSCAPE: Manager Nancy Bauer reported that the timber retaining wall at the toddler playground had been replaced and pine needles around the North Pool steps and parking lot had been cleaned up. Nancy had met with the Pool concrete decking contractor to confirm repair of the landscape after the project was completed. Nancy suggested not replacing the sod on the west side of the Business Office when the West Pool deck is complete. The area is very shaded and grass has trouble surviving. Nancy would like to place weed barrier and rock in that section and the Board agreed. Nancy plans to meet with a tree company soon to solicit an estimate for 2025 tree work.
BUSINESS: Katie reported on 2025 Dues collection and the collection progress of two delinquent accounts. Two accounts had failed to make their fence payment and James moved and Steve seconded a motion to turn accounts 872 and 879 over to the HOA attorney for collection. The motion carried. The property and liability insurance renewal came in at a 100% increase over 2024. There are few companies who have experience covering Homeowner Associations. In an effort to reduce the cost of the insurance the Board agreed to self-insure all property under $100,000 and solicit a new bid from Philadelphia that covers only the pools, tennis courts, buildings and perimeter fence. Damage to property valued at under $100,000 will be paid for from the Reserve Fund.
FINANCIAL REPORT: Treasurer, Steve Bell, reported on the balance in the reserve fund, status of pending project payments. He remarked that the January books were closed. January operating expenses totaled $21,180 and were comprised of $15,062 in Administrative costs, $3,977 in Land Maintenance, $1,325 in Tennis and $816 in utility expenses.
HOMEOWNER COMMENTS: A homeowner submitted a written request that all Homestead pools remain open during the month of September for residents use at their own risk. The Board discussed the cost to keep the pools heated, clean and chemically maintained. Katie will solicit an estimate from Front Range Recreation.
OLD BUSINESS: Renewal of the Trash Contract: the Board chose to renew the contract with Waste Connections. President James Keating negotiated a $34,000 savings for the Association while keeping the same services residents currently enjoy.
Flock Safety Cameras: Member at Large Robb Origer reported that site surveys were proceeding and Flock may begin installation as soon as February 19.
NEW BUSINESS: The Board approved three requests for graduation parties on the South Pool Lawn.
ADJOURNMENT AND CALENDARING: The meeting adjourned at 8:55pm. The next regular Board Meeting will be on Monday, April 14 at 6:30pm at the Business Office. The Annual Meeting for all Members will be held on Monday, March 10 at 7pm at the Homestead Elementary School Gym.
BOARD ACTIONS SUBSEQUENT TO MEETING:
- On February 19, James moved and Robb seconded a motion to grant a payment plan to account 634.The motion passed unanimously.
- On February 23, Robb moved and Michael seconded a motion to approve a payment plan for account 813.The motion passed unanimously.
- On February 24, James moved and Michael seconded a motion to grant a payment plan to account 492.The motion passed unanimously.
- On February 24, the board agreed to contract with In-N-Out Burger for the Celebrating our Roots event to be held September 13.