January 13, 2025

 

Victoria Village Atrium Association Board of Directors’ Meeting Monday June 12, 2023

Board members present: Sarah Wise, president; Larry Sagstetter, vice president; Margie St. Jacques, treasurer; Hank French, secretary.

Also present: Mike Severson, building manager.
Board members absent: Jane Johnson, member at large.

1. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 6:32 p.m.

2. Secretary’s Report: Minutes for the May 2023 board meeting were approved as

   written.

3. Treasurer’s Report: For May 2023, the opening balance was $395,297.84 and the

   closing balance was $401,051.16. This represents an increase from the opening balance of $5,753.32. As of the end of May, we had $53,402.71 in our operating checking account, and $347,648.45 in reserve accounts. (Note: The reserve accounts are two operating CDs with North American Bank, a money market account with Premier Bank, a Premier CD, an NAB CD, and a CD with Great Southern Bank.) Moved, seconded, and voted to approve the Treasurer’s Report.

4. Committee Reports:

   1. Welcoming Committee: No new residents since the last Board meeting. The Board

      noted that Denise Thompson has joined Sarah Wise and Jane Sorenson on the Welcoming Committee. The Board appreciates the willingness of the committee to serve on behalf of the Atrium community.

   2. Recreation Committee: Nothing to report.

   3. Management Report:

      1. Nardini Fire Equipment has scheduled an inspection of our fire protection equipment for June 15th.

      2. Our contract with Lyndale Plant Services for the rental and care of our common area plants expires in August at which time we expect to renew the contract.

      3. Other items in the Management Report will be found in the Old Business and New Business sections of these minutes.

5. Old Business:

   1. Callbox follow-up: There are three homeowner phone numbers that still have to be

      connected to the callbox. Mike Severson is working with EEI to get the connections

      made.

   2. Spring Inspection: Items from the spring inspection that require the services of a

      vendor for repair or replacement have been submitted to contractors for cost estimates.

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c. Hot Water heater updates/aquastats: New aquastats (thermostats) for the two older water heaters have been installed. All four of the water heaters are now burning efficiently and the venting system on water heater #4 (one of the older heaters) has an adequate chimney draft.

4. North end garage vent: We are still waiting for a proposal and cost estimate from Harvey Mechanical to reduce noise pollution from the vent and, if possible, to reduce the size of the vent.

5. Dryer Vents Cleaning: Over half of the dryer vents were cleaned last month before the vendor, Cleansweep, had to halt their work due to wasp activity in the remaining vents. Plunkett’s Pest Control Services was retained to spray vents with wasp nests. Cleansweep is now scheduling a follow-up visit to complete the dryer duct cleaning.

6. Rain Garden Update: It was reported that we are awaiting a proposal from Xylem Designs Landscaping for maintenance of the rain garden. Following the meeting, we received the following proposal: Weeding ($400.00); mulch near the bridge ($190.00) – Total = $590.00. The Board voted by email to accept the proposal.

7. HOA Fees for Multiple Residents in a unit: Mike Severson consulted a lawyer about the legality of a homeowner suggestion that we raise the HOA fees for any unit that has more than 3 occupants. He was advised that, unless we were able to meter all utilities that the HOA pays for (we are not able to do this), charging HOA fees for units with four or more occupants at a higher rate than units with three or less occupants would be considered arbitrary and discriminatory, and thus illegal. We will comply with this advice and continue the practice of all units paying the same HOA fee regardless of the number of occupants.

8. Chuck Linn: The Board, noting that we have several handyman projects that need tending to over the summer, agreed to contract with former resident Chuck Linn as a part-time handyman over the summer. Mike will contact Chuck about an hourly rate for his services.

9. Garage Floor Sweeping: Beginning on Sunday, June 25th from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., the garage floor will be swept. On June 25th the West wing (to the left when standing at the recycling bins and facing the garage door) will be swept and residents with parking stalls in that wing are asked to park their cars in the parking lot. On Sunday, July 2nd, the east wing will be swept and residents in that wing should park their cars in the parking lot. On Sunday, July 9th, the center wing will be swept and, again, residents are asked to park their cars in the lot between 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Reminder notices will be placed by the doors of those effected each week. The Board expresses its thanks to Larry Sagstetter for doing the sweeping.

VI. New Business:
a. Reserve Investments: The Board approved the transfer of $120,000 of reserve

funds currently in a money market account earning 0.6% interest to a CD at Spire Credit Union earning 5.2%. The value of a CD at Great Southern Bank, which had an opening value of $33,724 this month and which matured last week will also be added to the new CD at Spire. The Board authorized Michael Severson of Keller Properties, Inc. to open the CD at Spire Credit Union.

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b. Mailroom Security/Buy Nothing Project (BNP): A homeowner currently participates in the Buy Nothing Project in Shoreview which necessitates occasionally leaving a well-wrapped and identified package in the mailroom for pickup at a specified time by other participants in the Project. Given that some security concerns have been raised, the Board had a discussion about the Buy Nothing Project. Board members recognized the values of the Project and could see the social relevance of those values. Potential building security issues were discussed as well. Given that building security is important to all homeowners in a condominium community, it was decided to invite the homeowner who participates in the Buy Nothing Project to the July 10th meeting, which is a homeowners invited meeting, to explain the BNP to those who come, and address any security issues that are raised. This will give the Board members an opportunity to both “read the room” and express their own thinking on the issue. Given that there are currently no HOA rules against leaving packages for pick up in the mailroom, the practice may continue until the next Board meeting when security issues will be discussed with homeowners. In the interim, we ask that Atrium residents not remove packages from the mailroom that have been left for pick up.

7. Homeowner comments: There were no Suggestion Box notes since the last meeting.

8. The meeting was adjourned at 7:51 p.m.

9. The next meeting will be on July 10 at 6:30 p.m. in the Activity Room. Homeowners are

invited to attend.

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Respectfully Submitted Hank French, Board Secretary