September 18, 2025
Call to order – Vince Cook
Introductions & Board Roles
Board member:
- HOA President – Vince Cook
- Vice President – Blake Stacy – Vice President
- Treasurer – Laura Smith
- Asst Treasure – Lance Scardino
- Secretary – OPEN
- ARB – Don Thurston
Meeting Notes:
Nominations Board Member: Vince and Laura discussed the need to officially nominate board members for the upcoming year. Vince was re-elected as president, and the current board members were nominated to serve again next year.
Neighborhood Updates
Neighborhood appearance and maintenance of yards and streets in good condition, supporting rising home values. There is only one house currently for sale (2552 Magnolia Place)
Speeding and parking overnight – As a neighborhood we all can help communicate the Cars, motorcycles and delivery trucks have been seen speeding. If you are speeding SLOW DOWN. The posted speed limit is 20.
New residents welcomed and added to contact list.
Mason and Lizzie VanSword, 4552 Magnolia Drive
Taun & Haley Nguyen, 2492 Magnolia Place
Printed and digital neighborhood contact lists is available for corrections.
Hospitality – Libby Thurston and Kristen Glover – Thank you for providing Welcome Baskets to tour new neighbors.
Taun & Haley Nguyen – 2492 Magnolia Place
Mason and Lizzie VanSword – 4552 Magnolia Drive
Financial Overview: Laura Cook presented year-to-date budget, including 2024 actuals, and 2025 estimates. All association dues collected; expenses include landscaping, pressure washing, maintenance, website, and gift baskets. Noted $700 spent on entrance pressure washing, $500 placeholder for new signs, and consistent water/power bills. HOA ended year with $5,885; total cash on hand is $31,171 across checking, money market, and CD (from Doc Ramsey’s bequest). No major financial concerns: all dues paid on time, no late fees.
HOA Dues: Vince recommended keeping the HOA dues at $210 for the next year, as there are no major expenses anticipated. The suggestion was seconded and agreed upon by the attendees. Payment options include mailing checks, bank bill pay, and exploring electronic payments (e.g., Zelle).
Architectural Updates: Don Thurston provided updates on the architectural state of the neighborhood, mentioning deteriorating windowsills, trim that needs painting, and dead shrubs that need replacement. He also addressed the issue of parking on the street, which is prohibited by the covenants. Any architectural changes (tree removal, patios, decks) must be approved by ARB board per covenants. Carports are not allowed; deck replacements permitted if footprint unchanged.
Signage and Safety: Vince and Don discussed the need to replace dingy signs, including stop signs and children at play signs. They also considered adding more signs due to the increase in children playing in the neighborhood. A vote was taken to approve the expense for additional signs.
Neighborhood Lighting: A resident raised concerns about the lack of street lighting in certain areas, making it difficult to see at night. Vince agreed to check the lights and consider adding more for safety.
Trash Pickup Issues: Vince addressed the ongoing issues with waste management and trash pickup. He encouraged residents to use the Sweet Magnolias communication platform to report missed pickups and share service recommendations.
HOA Website: Home – The Magnolias (themagnoliashoa.com) Vince mentioned that the HOA website is up and running, with documents and covenants available. He suggested adding multiple years of meeting minutes to the website for better transparency.
GROUPME – our neighborhood has an account on the app Groupme. You can download it and join using this link –https://groupme.com/join_group/61700492/J6qIETYt. Please use this to notify neighbors or a stranger, a lost pet or to ask a neighborly question such as a referral for a handy man. Once you join, the admin will let you in and you may participate. You can turn off notifications as you like. We hope this is an easy way to communicate with each other. It is private, Magnolias only membership.
Fall Break Party: Vince proposed hosting a fall break party in late October, similar to the previous year. The idea was well-received, and a date of October 19th was approved. Volunteers were sought to help organize the event.
Meeting adjourned.
Follow up:
- 12/22/25 – Ticket submitted to trim shrubs outside entrance for visibility. Shelby County Highway Department – 205-669-3880
- 10/22/25 – Second request made to Alabama Power to check and replace Street Light that is out within the Magnolia Neighborhood.