WILLOW CREEK HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION 

December 2020 NEWSLETTER 

2021 EXECUTIVE BOARD:

Joan A. Allen, President                         

612-412-3184                                 

allenjoan959@gmail.com                         

Luann Schaefer, Vice President

320-493-4637

schaeferlady54@gmail.com 

Mary Schill, Secretary

320-309-2353                                                                                                                                       

Mary Schwinghammer, Secretary               

320-251-1403  

                              

Judy Braegelmann, Treasurer

320-333-0692 

jabraegelmann@gmail.com

Jean Lauerman, Phase 1 Rep

320-248-1036

Patrick & Joan Thyen                       

Phase 2 (218-260-8882)

pthyen@charter.net                                                       

Diane Schmitz, Phase 3 Rep                                       

320-253-8535  

2021 Board Meeting Schedule

@ American Legion, Waite Park

3 P.m.

                                                       🎄🎄🎄🎄January 11………….President (host)

                                           🎄🎄🎄🎄March 8..…………..Phase 3 Rep (host)

                                           🎄🎄🎄🎄May 10.. …………..Phase 1 Rep (host)

                                           🎄🎄🎄🎄July 12……………..Secretary (host)

                                           🎄🎄🎄🎄 Sept 13…………….Treasurer (host)

                                           🎄🎄🎄🎄Oct 28…….………..Annual Meeting

                                           🎄🎄🎄🎄Nov 8……………….Phase 2 Rep (host)

Notes from the President:

BOARD MEETING SCHEDULES:  

The WCHA Board Meetings will be held at 3 p.m. on the second Monday of the month, starting in January. Because Co-Vid 19 remains as an issue, we’ll be holding our meetings at the American Legion in Waite Park. We’ll continue to meet there until the Legion closes or the pandemic ends. Hopefully, that will happen some time in 2021. We’ll keep you posted on meeting location changes.

Welcome!  We have new neighbors!  We said farewell to Harold Bisel, former member of the WCHA Board, and welcome Renee Tamm to 982 Willow Grove Circle in Phase 1. Jerry Zabinski moved into 42 Willow Creek Drive in Phase 3. Welcome! 

Welcome New Board Member(s)! We hate to see Virginia VanderWeyst leave as our Phase 2 Representative. She ends her term on December 31st after doing an outstanding job for the board and for the people she served in Phase 2. But she left us in very capable hands. Patrick and Joan Thyen will begin their tenure as Phase 2 Rep(s) in January of 2021. We welcome them into the fold. 

Sad Farewells: Long-time resident Flo (Florianna) Theisen past away September 24, 2020. She lived at 967 Willow Grove Circle in Phase I. We send our condolences to her extended family who will greatly miss her presence in their lives. We also wish to extend our deepest sympathy to Donna and the family of Gerald (Jerry) Sales who lived at 955 Willow View Circle. It’s especially difficult to say good-bye during this season of the year. 

Planning to Add On?  If you anticipate making any modifications to your property such as adding a screened or 3-season porch or changing the design of your patio, please contact our groundskeeper (Luann Schaefer 320-493-4637) or your phase representative (see list above). We’re hoping to stream-line the approval process. Having a sketch or drawing of your plan would be extremely helpful. 

Visit our Blog for the Latest! If you’d like to catch up on the latest news, see past agendas and newsletters, be sure to visit the Willow Creek Homeowners blog at https://willowcreekhomeowners.blogspot.com. The blog is free so it doesn’t have a lot of the bells and whistles of expensive online sites, but it’s ours only, so take a peek. Remember to refresh the page if you visit it more than once. That way, you’ll get the latest updates!  

Notes from Lu, our Groundskeeper! It looks like winter is finally here. Our 70° days are over. Just a reminder about the rules for plowing our driveways and sidewalks under “normal winter conditions.” Ehlinger workers will start plowing driveways within 12 hours after the snow ends. Your sidewalks and the area in front of your garages will be done within 24 hours after snowing stops. The city sidewalks, mailboxes and fire hydrants will be cleared within 48 hours after snow ceases. 

But, remember this is Minnesota and not everything gets done on time during winter storms.  Equipment can break and at some point workers must go home and sleep. If snow removal doesn't get done within these allotted times, please feel free to call your phase representative and let them know. 

Which reminds me, I’m concerned when I see people trying to get garbage cans out on Wednesday when their slippery driveways haven’t been plowed. Remember our garbage man usually comes after 12:00 pm, so you’ve ample time to get it out there! If not, it can stay in the garage for a week to be put out the following Wednesday. I’d hate to see  someone fall and break something ending up in the hospital because of garbage.  

Thank you for your time and please be safe out there. Remember to do the penguin shuffle in winter when you walk. I hope you all have a wonderful winter.

Secretary Notes: The Board will be updating our Homeowners Binders this  year. Our goal is to present an updated Binder at the 2021 Fall Annual meeting for approval by the membership. If you have any recommendations or suggestions, please contact your Phase Rep who’ll forward them to the Board. An update will be coming. The Board plans to begin the process at our January meeting.

If you wish to check your binder now, it should contain these items in this order: (1) The directory with names and maps; (2) Synopsis (3) 2008 Declaration and Summary (4) 2014 Revision By-Laws & (5) 2008 Revision Rules and Regulations.  

Happy Holidays 2020

 AGENDA November 10, 2020

EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING

November 10, 2020

Waite Park American Legion 

17 2nd Ave N. 

Waite Park MN

3 pm

Call to Order.

Roll Call of Members.

Agenda Approval.

Introduction of Guests. (Comments from guests limited to 3 minutes).

Secretary’s Report

a. Approval of Minutes of the October 22, 2020 meeting.

b. Update on committee membership for policy rewrites.

Treasurer’s Report:  

a. Approve Treasurer’s Report. 

Groundskeeper’s Report: 

a. Approve Groundskeeper’s Report.

New Business:

a. Presentation by Michael Fisher to add 3-season porch and heat pump to his property. 

b. Proposal for more timely approval of property enhancements - to allow VP and respective Phase Rep to meet with homeowner and approve or disapprove their proposed modification. Their recommendation would be presented to the board at the next scheduled meeting for inclusion in the minutes.

c. Topics for the December Newsletter.

d. Board Stipends (requested topic by Diane S.)

e. Meeting venue for 2021.

Meeting adjournment

Next Board Meeting:

January 11, 2021

3 p.m.

Moose Lodge

 
City of Waite Park News:

1. Your dog or your cat needs to be licensed by the City of Waite Park. The cost is $10 and you can obtain your license at the Waite Park City Office. You must be able to show your pet has been vaccinated for rabies. 

2. NO PARKING is allowed between the hours of 2 am and 7 am on any city street from November 1st until April 1st.

3. Property owners are required to clear sidewalks of snow and ice by noon each day. Do not blow snow into the street.

4. Christmas tree pickup will be the week of January 11-15 in 2021. Please remove all hook, ornaments, lights and tinsel before placing your tree on the curb on Monday.

5. Veterans Day, November 11th, Thanksgiving, November 26th, Christmas Eve Day, December 24th, Christmas Day, December 25th and New Years Day, January 1st are the observed holidays when City offices will be closed.

6. The Waite Park Police Department has a drop box available for unwanted medications. There is no need to remove pills from the container or remove labels. They will be disposed of properly without endangering the environment. 

                              Willow Creek Homeowners Association

Agenda

Annual Fall Meeting

October 22, 2020  6:00 p.m.

 American Legion Meeting Room 

 17 2nd Avenue North, Waite Park

Welcome

Agenda Approval.

Treasurer’s Report: Judy Braegelmann

(1) Proof of Insurance Coverage, (2) Budget vs Expenses, (3) Reserve Fund        Balance

Secretary’s Report: Mary Schill, Mary Schwinghammer

Approval of Minutes of the September 8, 2020 meeting.

President’s Report: Joan A. Allen

(1) Capital Expenditures

Vice President/Groundskeeper Report: Luann Schaefer

(1) Ehlinger Lawn Service Representative

New Business: (Nominations from the floor) 

Two-Year Terms:

Election of President 

Election of Secretary 

Election of Phase 2 Representative

Closing Comments

Meeting adjournment.

Next Board Meeting: November 10, 2020

3 p.m. American Legion, Waite Park

 

 WILLOW CREEK HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION 

SEPTEMBER 2020 NEWSLETTER 

EXECUTIVE BOARD:

Joan A. Allen, President Luann Schaefer, Vice President

612-412-3184         320-253-4550

allenjoan959@gmail.com

       Judy Braegelmann, Treasurer

Mary Schill, Secretary        320-333-0692

320-309-2353        jabraegelmann@gmail.com

Mary Schwinghammer, Secretary  

320-251-1403       Jean Lauerman, Phase 1 Rep

      320-248-1036

Virginia VanderWeyst

Phase 2 Rep      Diane Schmitz, Phase 3 Rep

320-267-0160      320-253-8535

 

2020 Board Meeting Schedule

March 10 ………….Phase 1 Rep’s Home

May 12……………..Secretary’s Home

July 14……………..Treasurer’s Home

Sept 8………………Phase 2 Rep’s Home

Oct 22………………Annual Meeting

Nov 10…….………..VP’s Home

Notes from the President:

ANNUAL BOARD MEETING:  The WCHA Annual Board Meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 22nd at the American Legion Meeting Room (17 2nd Ave. N) in Waite Park. Because of the continuing problem with COVID-19, the Board has decided that our successful Kentucky Fried Chicken Dinner Meeting at the Waite Park Community Pavilion last year wouldn’t be appropriate this year. We were too crowded and too close to repeat that scenario during the current pandemic. 

For those of you interested in eating at the American Legion before the meeting, the Legion has offered a burger basket for $8. It would include burger & fries with the fixings (lettuce, tomato, pickles & onions). The meal would be available at 5 p.m. If you’re interested, you should let your Phase Representative know by October 15th. Those phone numbers are listed above. The Legion will need a sufficient number in order to accommodate us. Because of that, we won’t be collecting money ahead of time. FYI - The Legion will also be hosting BINGO that night, so it’ll be busy.

Please Wear Face Masks at the meeting and try to practice social distancing as best possible.  We will offer coffee and cookies at the meeting.

Election of Board Members: The following offices are up for election at the meeting on October 22nd: President, Secretary and Phase 2 Representative. The current officers are Joan A. Allen, President, Mary Schill and Mary Schwinghammer, Secretary and Virginia VanderWeyst, Phase 2 Representative. If you are interested in serving on the board, please let your Phase Representative know. The election will take place during the Annual Meeting as part of the formal agenda.

Welcome!  We have new neighbors in Phase 2!  Ronald & Carol Lyback moved into 954 Willow View Circle. We welcome them to our community!

Notes from the Groundskeeper!  Sadly, summer is almost over. Looking to the  future, the Board has signed a 3-year contract with Ehlinger Lawn Services, Inc. to provide lawn care and snow removal. Ehlinger will also be offering the service currently provided by Valley Green to spray rocked areas around homes preventing weeds from growing. While Valley Green charged $52.50 per application, Ehlinger will charge $42.50. The contract will be for 2 applications with the ability to add a 3rd if you wish. This will begin next year. Mr. Ehlinger will be on hand to answer questions at the Annual Meeting. 

Notes from the Secretary:  We’ve recently had people question the accuracy of our current By-Laws, Declaration & Summary, and Rules & Regulations. The Board has decided that we need to clarify and perhaps simplify our official documents so that everyone can understand our governing documents. Starting after the 1st of the year, we will form a committee to work on this project. Mary Schill, Secretary, will be in charge. If you’re interested in working on the committee, please contact her. The Board will approve the final draft once the committee has completed their work. We hope to be able to provide an online version which members may print out after updates are made or if they happen to lose their print copy.

        😊August Notes:

AGENDA

EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING

September 8, 2020

Waite Park American Legion 

17 2nd Ave N. 

Waite Park MN

3 pm

Call to Order.

Roll Call of Members.

Agenda Approval.

Introduction of Guests. (Comments from guests limited to 3 minutes).

Secretary’s Report

a. Approval of Minutes of the July 14, 2020 meeting.

b. Update on Registration Forms.

Treasurer’s Report:  

a. Approve Treasurer’s Report. 

Groundskeeper’s Report: 

a. Approve Groundskeeper’s Report.

Old Business:

a. Discussion of upcoming board officer elections including President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Phase 2 Representative.

b. Approval of the time and the site for the Annual Board Meeting on October 22nd, 2020.

New Business:

a. Topics for inclusion in the September Newsletter.

b. Board participation in the upcoming policy rewrites—which members should serve on the committee?

Meeting adjournment

Next Board Meeting:

October 22, 2020

W.P. American Legion 

 

AGENDA

EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING

July 14, 202

American Legion 

17 2nd Ave N. 

Waite Park MN

3 pm

Call to Order.

Roll Call of Members.

Agenda Approval.

Introduction of Guests. (Comments from guests limited to 3 minutes).

Secretary’s Report

a. Approval of Minutes of the May 12, 2020 meeting.

b. Procedures for notification of new residents/departure of former residents. 

c. Update on Registration Forms.

Treasurer’s Report:  

a. Approve Treasurer’s Report. 

Groundskeeper’s Report: 

a. Approve Groundskeeper’s Report.

Phase Reps Reports: 

a. Rain Barrels.

b. Phase Reps duties. 

Old Business:

a. Preventative Maintenance Update.

New Business:

a. Presentation for Lawn Care and Snow Removal for 2020-2021. 

b. Carol Gruba Questions concerning conflicts in language between “Declarations” and “By-Laws.” 

c. Board Officers elections for 2021.

d. Changes for upcoming Annual Board Meeting.

e. Definition - What changes in property need to be approved by the board?

Meeting adjournment.