August 2020 Board Minutes

Note: Washington State’s Stay Home-Stay Healthy directive places limits on all but very small gatherings. Sunland North’s normal meeting place, The Gathering Place, can only accommodate a fraction of the normal attendance at our Board meetings and still meet social distancing guidelines. SLOA, which operates The Gathering Place, has elected to keep the facility closed at this time.

The Sunland North August 12 meeting was held virtually, via Zoom.

Sunland Division 17 Owners Association

August 12, 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

In accord with the Washington State Stay Home-Stay Healthy initiative, this meeting was held virtually via Zoom. The web link for the meeting was sent via email on August 10.

Call to Order

President Gary Fortmann called the meeting to order at 2:30 p.m. Gary announced an executive meeting would follow the regular Board meeting.

Verification of Quorum

Board member at large Mike Johnson could not attend the meeting.

Review and approval of minutes

The July 8, 2020 meeting minutes were amended to note that post-paid envelopes were included in packets. Approved as amended.

Old Business

Newspaper tubes on mailbox posts

Secretary Lawrence Charters said he has still not printed flyers to place in the newspaper tubes, stating they would be removed unless the Board was contacted with a request to keep them in place.

Committee vacancies

Insurance Committee: JoAnne Estes has agreed to be the new chair of the Insurance Committee.

Natural Habitat Committee: Sarah Miller has agreed to be the new chair of the Natural Habitat Committee. Gary thanked Tom Hamman for his past work as committee chair.

Exterior Maintenance Committee: Gerry Busch reminded the Board that he will vacate the chair in September, and there is a critical need to fill the vacancy.

Election inspectors: Eileen Farley is substituting as an election inspector for Ellen Valway.

2021 Operating Budget

The budget was amended to insert a statement about reserve fund allocations per unit.

New Business

Plat line between Mt. Baker plots 61-62.

There are some discrepancies between the plat lines for these two units. Gary suggested we examine all the necessary documentation and, if necessary, bring in a surveyor.

2019 Financial Review

The delivery of the financial review was delayed by COVID-related issues. The financial review found our financial practices were sound. The review has been posted on the website.

Officer, Committee and Coordinator Reports

President Update — Gary Fortmann

No report.

Secretary Update — Lawrence Charters

Annual Membership Meeting packets were mailed on Monday, August 10.

Treasurer Update — Susan Hamman

Monthly Expense Report: The preliminary July monthly expense report shows our total operating expenses for the month were $18,126 which brings our total year to date expenses to $200,330.

Financial Review: The 2019 financial review report was received on August 6, 2020. Based on Olympic Tax & Business Consulting LLC’s accountant, they were not aware of any material modifications to be made to the way that Division 17 has been handling its finances.

Proposed 2021 Budget: The proposed 2021 budget was submitted to and approved by the Board at the July board meeting. It will be included in the annual meeting packet for membership approval.

Sound Bank CD: The expiring CD (August 11, 2020) at Sound Bank is being converted to the existing money market account until interest rates start to rise again.

Welcome Letters: Three welcome letters were sent to new Division 17 homeowners.

Vice President — John Lewis

No report.

Board Member at Large — Mike Johnson

No report.

Architectural Control Committee — Richard Helmensteine

No report.

Insurance Committee — Donna Carson

No report, other than the announcement of JoAnne Estes as the new insurance chair.

Developed Landscape — Gerry Hatler / Eric Mahnerd

Lawn mowing is currently in progress. The automatic watering schedule was adjusted, due to the dry weather. The landscaper is performing pruning and spraying as needed. There are some problems with a lack of water in two units; it is unclear where the problem might be. The irrigation contractor needs to investigate.

Exterior Maintenance and Inspection — Gerry Busch

Moss treatment has started, but the contractor ran out of treatment solution. Supply chain issues are delaying completion; apparently there is a nation-wide shortage of the moss treatment chemicals. The units selected for painting are now in progress. Two units with gutter failures have been addressed, as well as some minor gutter issues elsewhere. One skylight was repaired, one mailbox post repaired.

Natural Habitat — Tom Hamman

Mowing of natural habitat may take place in two or three weeks. It was suggested that birdhouses be placed on the posts that formerly supported the real estate billboard on Sequim-Dungeness Highway. The posts are substantial, and removal would be expensive. The Board thought birdhouses would be a splendid idea.

Communications and Outreach — Kay Hatler

This year’s Holiday Party is canceled. Leah Prince is dropping off welcome packets at homes of new owners, but not scheduling in-person visits.

Sunland Water District Update — Al Frank

The Sunland Water District office continues to operate using COVID-19 restrictions which require all visiting customers to wear a mask and limiting the number of customers in the office at a time to one.

Also, the Governor issued an extension to the moratorium on charging late fees and water shutoffs. The new extension expires on October 15

Homeowner Comment Period

There were no homeowner comments.

Adjournment

Gary adjourned the meeting at 2:58 p.m. The virtual Board Meeting was terminated.

Executive session

The executive meeting was called to order at 3 p.m. to discuss legal issues. The meeting was adjourned at 3:35 p.m.