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Fountain Trace Homeowners Association Directors

Spring 2025 Newsletter

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​The Fountain Trace Board of Directors for 2025 hopes that everyone is doing well.  After some important announcements this newsletter will provide an update to anyone who missed the annual meeting on our direction for the year.

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Announcements

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Please drive slowly and carefully

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With the return of warmer weather numerous neighbors are enjoying walks and exercise. Please keep your speed below 25 mph, adhere to driving laws (always going to the right around the roundabouts) and slow down passing pedestrians.

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Neighborhood Meet and Greet

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The Welcome Committee held a “meet and greet” hosted at the Carrs' house on the morning of March 21st. It was a success with approximately 15-20 neighbors stopping by. It provided the opportunity to share contact information of various contractors that homeowners recommend and other valuable information. Thank you to the Welcome Committee for your work and we hope to see more homeowners at future events.

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Front Entrance Landscaping Renovation

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The Board has contracted Hillvue Nursery to renovate the front entrance landscaping as approved at the annual meeting. The work was to begin in March, but it was discovered that electricity entering the subdivision is underneath the area, so more details are being sought from WRECC to ensure the proper plants are placed in the area. Hopefully, the renovation will be completed in April if the weather cooperates.

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Sinkholes

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The sinkhole that opened on Lakemere Avenue is being addressed by the county for repair. We were informed over 30 sinkholes opened across the county and they are being repaired. It may take a few months for our repair as all homes have access for emergency vehicles and other sinkholes have higher repair priority.

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Pond Fountain

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The pond fountain has been reinstalled and is working well.

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Homeowner Lot Maintenance

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Please maintain your lots in accordance with the covenants. This means grass should be cut, landscaping should not become overgrown or saturated with weeds, and trash should not be piled on your lot. We do receive complaints from neighbors, and we address these instances. We prefer everyone to keep the lots maintained without the Board having to send out notices, assessments, or contractors to correct the issues. Any costs incurred to correct these issues will be assessed to the Homeowner and will become a lien on their property.

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Annual Fountain Trace Homeowners Association Meeting

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The annual meeting of Fountain Trace Homeowners Association, Inc. was held on February 4, 2025 at 7:00 pm at Crosspoint Church. An informal meet and greet began at 6:30 pm.  Notice of the meeting was given on December 26, 2024.

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A quorum was present with a total of 41 members in attendance in person and 12 via proxy for a total of 53 members represented.  Quorum is 25%.  The HOA has 125 lots.  93 lots were in good standing. 32 lots had not paid the annual assessment therefore were not in good standing for voting. For 93 lots the quorum requirement to conduct business is at least 24 lots which was met.

1. The meeting was called to order by Steve Grilli, President.

2. President Grilli provided a review of the plans for widening Cemetery Road, especially with respect to the entrance of Fountain Trace which will have a turn lane.

3. President Grilli provided a review of the repairs made upon the pond sinkholes, the costs, and an overview of the Pond Committee deliberations. The Pond Committee met twice and discussed various costs and how to offset or plan for future sinkholes. The lots around the pond would not agree to pay more for upkeep or repairs and insurance will not cover the pond for sinkholes. It was determined that if sinkholes continue to appear, one option to amend the pond to a retention basin would cost approximately $130,000. The other option was to utilize reserves for repairs and eventually charge an assessment to all lots to cover repair costs. The final option was to increase annual assessments to build up a reserve fund just to cover sinkhole costs. The Directors discussed and determined that since the final sinkhole repair which included a drain to hopefully reduce the possibility of continued sinkholes, a reserve fund just for the pond was not good stewardship of Association funds. The money would essentially be built up to just sit unusable with the exception of pond repairs. The Directors decided to propose to maintain annual assessments at the current rate, maintain enough reserves to cover safety repairs of sinkholes and to hold an Association special meeting that would deal with specifics if a future sinkhole develops.

4. Homeowners were informed that for 2024 the Architectural Review Committee received six architectural submissions with five approvals and one awaiting more information.

5. It was noted that the Board published four newsletters in 2024. Typically two or three seem to be appropriate but the additional ones were due to information provided about the two sinkholes.

6. President Grilli commended Kari Carr for her work on the Welcoming Committee for the past year and Mrs. Carr provided an overview of the 5 welcome baskets (cost of approximately $60 each) presented and future plans for the committee. The committee has plans to organize an Association wide meet and greet coffee sometime in March 2025 or after. President Grilli also informed the Homeowners that the directors plan to allocate approximately $300 annually to cover costs for the Welcoming Committee.

7. A review of research the Board accomplished concerning renovating the front entrance landscaping was provided. Three quotes were obtained with the Board planning on using Hillview Landscaping due to their design and competitive costs. The plan is to remove and replace the old plants and to repair or improve the lighting. The Board would also like to begin renovating the roundabouts by removing the dead plants if funds are available. A homeowner raised a question about possibly getting new front entrance signage. The Board had previously researched this, but the cost at approximately $10,000 was prohibitive. Discussion was held to possible clean and renovate the existing signage. One homeowner volunteered to request a replacement quote from an associate. President Grilli encouraged any help to find reasonable cost improvements.

8. A question was raised concerning the Cemetery Road widening and if it would affect any landscaping improvements. President Grill stated that the current County plans has all Cemetery Road amendments/construction occurring on the side opposite of the front entrance. Another question was raised about using funds to add trees around the pond to possibly inhibit future sinkholes. President Grilli reiterated that the Board had requested and discussed every possible way to prevent future sinkholes with several experts during the repairs. Never was adding trees or plants near or around the pond provided as a possibility. Another homeowner mentioned that although the trees would help hold dirt, they would still not inhibit erosion at their root system and could affect the actual pond itself especially the liner.

9. The Treasurer Kirk Tisdale provided a review of the 2024 expenditures and then presented the Board’s requested budget for 2025. The Association had $62,604 at the end of 2023. Due to sinkhole repair costs, the Association had $49,110 at the end of 2024. Approximately $25,000 of unplanned expenditures were due to the sinkholes. Savings from other budget areas were used to reduce the amount pulled from reserves. Due to this, approximately $13,000 of the $25,000 were used from the reserves. A motion to approve the proposed 2025 budget of $49,000 was made and the budget was approved unanimously.

10. President Steve Grilli provided a review of the rates of Covenants non-compliance and late annual assessments. Since the $150 non-compliant assessment and the $25 per month late fee for annual assessments, covenant violations and late annual assessments have been significantly reduced. Therefore, the non-compliance assessment will remain at $150, annual assessments will remain $375, and late annual assessment fees will remain $25 per month.  No homeowners objected to the continuation of these amounts and the motions were approved unanimously.

11. President Grilli provided background for a ByLaw amendment proposal to limit Director unbudgeted expenditures to $10,000. The reason was due to concerns that future Boards could bankrupt the Association without approval from Homeowners. The ByLaw would make it necessary to hold a special meeting of Homeowners for approval of any unbudgeted expense greater than $10,000 including sinkhole repairs. The motion was approved unanimously.

12. President Grilli next opened the floor for volunteers or nominations to serve on the Board for 2025.  The Board, per the by-laws, shall be 3 – 6 members elected annually.  One of the current directors expressed a desire to step down from Board consideration. Four current Directors agreed to serve for 2025 if elected.  Two other homeowners volunteered to serve as a director if elected.  Six homeowners were presented to serve on the Board of Directors for approval to serve for 2025.

The following Directors were unanimously approved:

Steve Grilli

Kirk Tisdale

Chip Rice

Joe Macrino

Todd McNeilage

Lee Warren

13. President Grilli next discussed the Architectural Review Committee.  It was noted that the by-laws do not specify the number required for the Committee.  Typically, the Committee has 3 members with at least 1 member also on the Board of Directors, but this is not required. Volunteers and nominations were requested.  One other volunteer was received, and four homeowners were presented for approval.

The following members of the Architectural Review committee were unanimously approved:

Ed Whitehead

Dave Upright

Kirk Tisdale

Bob Harder

          The Architectural Review Committee will meet to determine their chairman.

14.  President Grilli adjourned the Annual Meeting.