DUQUETTE PINES HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION
ANNUAL MEETING
Boise Basin Senior Center, Idaho City
June 19, 2015

 

Board Attendees: Art Burget, Diane Cowles, Scott Jackson, Lynn Murdoch

 

Introductions:  Doug and Carol Ebling, Clayne Barron, Jon and Diane Long, Roy and Pauline Doan, Lisa Kindelberger, Jim White, Ray and Marilyn Eklund, Richard Pfeiffer, David Murdoch, Steve and Sandy Newman, Sall and Jill Manzo, Aaron Herring, John Gawrys, Steve Cowles, Tim and Debbi Zaspel, Bob and Debbie Herring, Donna Lee Bates, Barb Nash

 

Budget:  Lynn presented a new format with more complete information.  A suggetion was made to include checking and savings account balances.  The board agreed this will be included in a final posting of the budget. 

 

There were questions regarding charging of interest on late payment of association dues and the process was explained:  Bill on July 1 is for fees related to prior year, and so the full amount is due at the end of July.  As a neighborly gesture, the board allows property owners to pay this off throughout the year without interest, as long as payments are kept up (1/4 paid by end of Sept, ½ paid by end of Dec, etc.)  After 6 months of delinquency, liens are maintained on properties until  the full amount is recovered.  If multiple years of late payments accrue, judgements are obtained through small claims court and then a determination is made on how to recover the funds.

 

 Dust abatement will not be applied this year as funds are needed to pay for the interim fire protection contract (see Fire Protection topic).

 

Fire Protection:  Scott thanked the Fire Protection Committee led by Roy Doan.  Members included Lisa Burt, Doug Ebling, Jill Manzo, Debbi Zaspel, as well as board members Art Burget and Scott Jackson.  Scott explained that Idaho City now controls the Volunteer Fire Department, which was not the case in the past.  The comprehensive plan for Idaho City has recently been updated and states that fire protection will only be provided to the city and the Impact Area.  Since Duquette Pines is not in the Impact Area we could lose our fire protection.  The committee investigated several options and finally recommended Duquette Pines property owners vote for inclusion in the Impact Area.  The Idaho City Mayor and City Council assured the Fire Committee there will be no cost to Duquette Pines property owners for fire protection once included in the Impact Area.  Ballots were mailed to all property owners and are due today.  Initial results indicated there were more than 50% of property owners in favor of the recommendation.  (Subsequent final results tallied with 76% of property owners participating in the vote, 74% of property owners were in favor of the proposal.)

 

Duquette Pines will petition Boise County to be included in the Impact Area after we present the results of our vote at the city council next week.  The board will try to keep everyone informed regarding any related Planning and Zoning or County Commissioner hearings so we can attend and give input.  We understand this process could take 3-6 months.  In the mean time, the board is working with the city to finalize a contract to pay them to cover us for fire protection until we are in the Impact Area.  By law, the rates charged for fire protection cannot exceed a level set by the State Fire Marshall.  The city agreed to keep our current fire protection in place as we work through the Impact Area process and negotiate the contract.

 

Idaho City wants Duquette Pines included in the Impact Area to increase the probability of obtaining grant money for things such as road improvement.  Our existing police protection is not at risk since the County Sherrif and Idaho City Police Department have a cooperating relationship, thus we are covered through our county taxes.

 

Board of Director Elections:  Brent Adamson and Lynn Murdoch have completed their terms.  Nominations for the two vacant positions are open beginning tonight.  The closing date for nominations will be June 28, 2015. Nominations (volunteers welcome) must be in writing and signed, or made via email to DPHOA-board. A short paragraph from all candidates is encouraged as a way of introduction to fellow property owners.

 

 Ballots will be mailed out July 1 and must be returned prior to the July 18th Board Meeting, at which time the ballots will be opened and counted.  Observers are welcome at the meeting, as always.  New Board members will start their terms at the August 1 meeting.  At that time, the new board may choose to elect their officers and agree on subsequent meeting dates and times.

 

Mailbox Investigation: Based on feedback obtained at the 2014 Annual Meeting, Lynn continued an investigation into the ability to have mailboxes directly outside the Duquette Pines gate.  Discussions this year indicate our postmistress is willing to work with us to try and make mailboxes feasible.  Brent is now talking to the Forest Service as the mailboxes would need to be on their property.  The Post Office does not deliver inside a gated community, and there is no Duquette Pines property outside the gate.  Scott has done some preliminary estimating on costs for a shelter and the boxes, but this would depend on number of homeowners interested in obtaining (and paying for) mailboxes.  The board assured meeting attendees that nothing will be decided without more discussion with homeowners and potentially a vote.

 

Community Well Water:  Art reported that compliance with required parameters is fine.  The Board will be looking to increase capacity in the future as the subdivision builds out.

 

Roads:  Art reported that we continue to improve our roads.  There was a discussion on what to do about people abusing the roads, especially on ATVs.  Some would like the community completely gated and others do not want to put gates at all access points.  Art explained the Board got backlash last year for adding the gate at the end of Lantern Way.

 

Q&A:  There was a discussion regarding the list of phone numbers at the gate.  Currently we assume everyone wants to be listed, but recently it came to light that some do not want their phone numbers at the gate for anyone to look at.  A show of hands at the meeting indicated a preference to assume no one wants their phone number listed unless specifically requested.  The Board will discuss making this change at their next meeting. 

 

The practice of leaving the gate open at some times was questioned.  Jon Long, Duquette Pines Property Manager, explained that when people have parties or other events at their homes and make a prior request, or when heavy equipment is coming in and out of the subdivision, the gates are left open. 

 

A homeowner expressed concerns that our CC&Rs prohibit shooting within the subdivision.  The homeowner wants to be able to shoot if someone breaks and enters his home with a gun and was under the impression the Board would prosecute anyone doing so.  It was explained that while Division 1, 2 and 3 CC&Rs prohibit shooting, Divison 4 CC&Rs do not. It would not be a Duquette Pines process to prosecute in any instance of this nature.

 

 

Nominations for Board of Directors:

 

The following nominees were declared at the meeting:

 

Roy Doan – Roy led the Fire Committee and stated he would like better communication and to get consensus on decisions.  He would like to see better use of subdivision money, get to know neighbors, have a pot luck, and become a friendly community

 

Doug Ebling – Doug stated he was on the Fire Committee.  He has been a truck driver and a barber.  He believes we live in a beautiful place and would like make it more so.

 

Donna Bates – Donna stated she has experience on a HOA board in Coeur d’Alene.

 

Jill Manzo – Jill stated it was great being on the Fire Committee.  The group worked well together and communicated well.  She would like to broaden that experience.