Annual Meeting

Ocean Grove Association
Annual Meeting
November 19, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.
at Jefferson County Library and on Zoom

Meeting opened: 2:03 p.m.
Present in person: Nancy Craig, president; Jake Ellis, vice-president; Shellie Mueller, secretary; Laura Souza, treasurer; Beth MacBarron, director; Mary Eggert, director; Candace Mangold, manager. Also community members Christopher Mangold, Chrissy Scannell, Amy Siedenstrang, Mary Siedenstrang, Rod Taylor, Jim Wright.
Present via Zoom: Andy Emerson, Mark Magill, Danie Hulett, Jon Santangelo, Joan Zimmerman, Tom Lemmons and Jill Beaumont, Noreen Parks.

Introduction of board members and others.
Election results:
63.5 voted YES on the 2024 budget
4.5 voted NO
2 abstained
80 voted YES on all three board candidates Rod Taylor, Jim Wright, and Laura Souza – a unanimous vote.

Nancy Craig gave her farewell address:

Thank you to the board and to committee members
Enumerated some of this year’s changes:
Fiscal year moved to calendar year
Annual meetings in November
Kayak rack installed at Adelma Beach
Thanks to the two new OG managers
Insurance review in progress; we hope to lower costs
Updated storage lot agreements
New attorney: John Burleigh, Burleigh Law PLLC, Gig Harbor
OG board terms changed from 3 years to 2 years
Bylaws have been revised; draft is with our attorney
Open board positions will be filled by elections, not appointments.
Future OG Covenant changes will be voted on by entire community.

Laura Souza discussed our new budget:

Budget document set up by Laura and Danie Hulett
It’s a state law that we have a General Reserve
New dues $85/lot;
We now have ‘contractors’ rather than ‘employees’ to save $$
When our $25,000 CD comes due, the finance committee will
recommend our next move.

Jake Ellis discussed our Emergency preparedness:

Thanks to members of the committee and their work so far.
Jake has gone to meetings and trainings to learn about Jeff Co.
Jake is doing fire prevention walk-throughs for anyone who wants one; just let him know you’re interested
Addressing our fire hydrant deficiencies: types and locations.
Lowering our fire insurance costs.
Joining the national FireWise Communities designation.
Reducing the fuel supply on our vacant lots – goats?!
Will put a list of fire-wise plants on our OG website.
If an emergency happens, Pat and Shellie’s dog park will be our community gathering place for information and assistance.

The next board meeting will occur on Tuesday, January 30th at 2 p.m. at Jake Ellis’ home.

Meeting ended with a thanks and gift package presented to Nancy Craig for all her efforts on our behalf.

Meeting adjourned at 2:40 p.m.

Ocean Grove Association
Annual meeting minutes
April 2, 2023

Board members present:  Nancy Craig, President; Laura Souza, Treasurer; Mary Eggert, Eric Lucas, Beth MacBarron, and manager Liz Barnes.  ZOOM:  Shellie Mueller, Secretary & Jake Ellis.

The Ocean Grove Association (OGA) meeting was held by ZOOM and board members present were in attendance at Liz Barnes, manager’s home.

The meeting was recorded by ZOOM. [Available upon request.]

Meeting started at 2:00 p.m.

Highlights of the open discussion:

• May 20 – a community garage sale, more information forthcoming.
• Fire insurance – much discussion of how to lessen the homeowner’s fire insurance due to the Cape George fire hall not in use due to lack of volunteers and equipment.

o   A suggestion to pay someone from our community to be part of a fire fighting team.  The payment would come from association members and this would save on homeowner’s house insurance.

• Much discussion of the deficit and increase of association dues for a clearer understanding.

o   Prime point of this discussion is the selling of (OGA) assets to catch up on the deficit and pay bills.  The assets left for possible sales is the RV storage and Adelma Beach entrance.

o   RCW for Home Owner Associations (HOA) state OGA is to have a reserve fund, and the budget was formulated to start the reserve fund from association dues as per the covenant and pay bills.

• All information and meeting minutes are now on the Ocean Grove website.
• Association members are encouraged to contact manager Liz Barnes for any questions.
• Committees will be formed this year:

o   Finance

o   Social

o   Emergency Preparedness – Jake is taking the lead

o   Building – Eric will contact Don Kruger about remaining in the committee

The results of the proxy voting:

Budget:               90 Ayes               11.5 Nays           9 Abstain

Board directors:  Jake Ellis and Beth MacBarron were approved for board positions.

After the annual association meeting the highlights of the discussion:

• Past budgets did not reflect there were problems with income/expenses.
• The sale of Kruse Street property was not approved by the association, and that Eric stated that he believes the Board had been given permission to sell.
• More questions about investments.
• Agreed to seek and hire an attorney familiar with (HOA’s). The language of state RCW and our covenant can be interpreted in a variety of ways.
• More discussion about our fire zone 9.
• Activities report income/expense – talked too fast for note taking.
• Encourage more Q & A’s from the community.

Meeting concluded at 2:30 p.m.

Next Board Meeting April 8th 2pm at Liz Barnes home.

Respectfully submitted:
Laura Souza
Treasurer

Agenda for Annual Ocean Grove Association Membership Meeting

April 2, 2023, 2:00 pm

Board members only in attendance at the manager’s home with the membership attending via Zoom.

President’s greeting   

Membership proxy votes on 2023 Budget

The budget was included in the newsletter and on the proxy ballot

Membership proxy votes on two director positions

Three nominees: Beth MacBarron, Jake Ellis, Joan Zimmerman

Adjourn

The Board will hold its annual reorganizational meeting on April 8th at 10 AM at the manager’s home. Members are welcome to attend via Zoom. Annual investments report to be provided to the community following the April 8th meeting.

Member’s comments or questions that are sent to the board members or the manager will be placed on the agenda.

Liz Barnes
Manager
(360)821-2625
Liz.OceanGrove@gmail.com

Ocean Grove Association

Reports for Annual Membership Meeting April, 2022

Later today you will receive the Proxy Ballot for our Annual Meeting agenda.  This is a compilation of the usual reports that are distributed at the meeting.

Association Finances: (The attachment displays the numbers that are discussed below.)

Our financial investments have survived the recent downturn in a strong position.  Besides our current (as of March 25, 2022) cash reserve of $10,940 (Edward Jones Money Market: $8,463; First Federal Checking: $2,447) we have three bonds with a Call Value of $160,00.  They pay average annual dividends of 3.6% ($5,755) and their current market value exceeds their call value by 0.77%.

The Association has $256,135 in Franklin Templeton mutual funds.  FT Income Fund (class A) pays monthly dividends of 4.28% (annual rate) on $186,287 and the FT Managed Income Fund (class C) pays dividends of 2.82%.  Together they provide a projected annual income of $9,729.  They also provide equity growth so our 12-month annualized return on the Income fund is 15.3% and the Managed Income fund is 8.4%.

FT Income fund shares are priced at $2.52 (The 12-month range is $2.40-$2.56). The Managed Income fund is $13.21 (12-month range is $12.78-$13.79). The board authorized closing a third fund, FT CA High Yield Muni, because of its low performance.  Those funds ($4,000) were moved to the Income Fund.  A premium was paid for the transfer but the equity growth and the class A dividend rate will recoup that premium in short time.  We sold when the price was $11.59.  It is now at a 12-month low of $10.63.

This investment income provides over $15,000 to our annual budget—the equivalent of $74 per lot—allowing the Association Fees to remain at $40 per lot.

Property Sales

The last year has been rather startling in terms of the rapid escalation of home values.  The assessor values all land and improvements in Ocean Grove at nearly $41 million.  I should note that because of the increase in valuations the tax rate dropped this year. The assessor’s valuation increased by 10% but my tax bill went up 3%.

Currently there are 81 owner-occupied residences in Ocean Grove; 5 rentals, 1 vacant, and 4 under construction.  There are 14 undeveloped building sites so our community is 87 % built out.

There are no homes and no properties currently listed (MLS or Zillow) for sale in Ocean Grove.

Sales over the past 12 months:

Homes Sold                                                                      

115 Kruse Street                                   $635,000          11/19/21

5562 Cape Geroge Road                    $641,750           11/9/21

5042 Cape George Road                    $710,000           5/19/21

364 Beckett Point Road                     $820;000          10/11/21

Undeveloped Property Sold           

(1 lot) Combs                   $  55,000          2 BR drainfield    3/29/21

              Resold                 $  82,500                                            8/12/21

(2 lots) Cape Geo Rd      $  98,000          2 BR drainfield     4/1/21

(2 lots) 151 Combs        $  80,000           Needs gravity system   4/2/21

(2 lots)  Combs                $140,000         2 BR drainfield          7/7/21

(1 lot) Cape George Road   $75,000     2 BR drainfield         12/13/21

Community Garden

The Ocean Grove Board recently agreed to review the community garden structure and recruit greater active participation by owners who would like to work in the garden.  Board treasurer Laura Souza has agreed to take on the role of coordinator and promoter.  She would like to start by requesting that any owner who has an interest in the work of planting, stewarding, harvesting, and distributing garden produce to contact her so that she can ascertain the level of interest and cooperatively create a plan.  Email Laura at lauras51@hotmail.com tolet her know of your interest.