Agenda + Meeting Notes

• Review of the 2024 Expenses and 2025 Budget. If you were not at the meeting and would like a copy, please email the FCOA.
• The FCOA $800 Dues are due by April 11^{th. There is a late fee if payment isn’t received buy April 11th .}

• FCOA Annual Dues: $800
• Due Date: 4/11/2025
• Pay to the order: Fox Creek Owners Association
• Residents can mail their check to:
• FCOA
• 6750 Westown Pkwy  Ste 200 #305  West Des Moines, IA 50266

• FCOA Dues Increase in 2026

• Mailed to FCOA Residents on March 1^st: This letter serves as notification that the Fox Creek Owners Association (FCOA) Board of Directors has voted to increase the current annual Homeowners Association dues from $800 to $1,000 starting with the 2026 dues. This, will be the initial increase as the board evaluates if and when future increases will be necessary. The most recent increase in dues date back to 2021.
  • Dues must be adjusted to meet a community’s evolving needs, for us that is maintaining our roads, future replacement of the culvert and repairing the retaining wall to the west of the culvert. The repairs will need to be much more extensive than simple patch work and the entirety of the additional revenue will be allocated to these future needs.
  • Failing to take action not only gradually decreases property values but also sets homeowners up for potentially costly emergency expenditures, known as special assessments, to cover future expenses. Not raising dues in response to changing times doesn't solve the problem; it merely postpones the inevitable. It is our intention that this extensive notice should help homeowners budget and plan for this added increase in dues in 2026.

• Easements with the City of West Des Moines for Fox Creek Dr.

• A Temporary Easement of Fox Creek Drive (which stops right before the Culvert) was signed. The FCOA has decided to not sign the Permanent Easement that was also requested by West Des Moines. Copies of this Temporary Easement were available for review at the Annual FCOA Meeting.
• The City’s motivation for the Easements is that they need the temporary easement to tie Fox Creek Drive into the reconstructed Mills Civic Parkway. This ensures that there is a proper grade and the transition is smooth. Without the easement the tie in point is much closer to Mills and the grade/transition would not be ideal. The end goal for the Permanent Access Easement to simply provide access to the sewer for future maintenance.
• The HOA would not have to pay the City for any damages caused by the future replacement of the culvert. Fox Creek still owns the road and would simply repair the road as they would with or without the access easement in place. If the road is in need of repair because of the City of West Des Moines’ use, West Des Moines will pay for this repair.

In paragraph 2 the City has included language prohibiting vehicle parking within the street. That is a matter within the province of the homeowners association and should not be included in this easement. The language has been altered to remove the language prohibiting parking and changed to state that the area is to be kept free from obstruction.

• Update on Ongoing Road Overlay Plans

• We asked Central Asphalt to come and look at all of the Fox Creek roads remaining to be overlaid and they gave us quotes on what is left. We have decided to complete the overlays of Hickory Ridge and Cheri Lane this Summer 2025. That will total $31,850. We will complete the other roads in the following years. (we have $106,987 total, left in road overlays)
• Paterson Circle $54,905
  
  2. Hickory Ridge $14,463
  
  3. Cheri Lane $17,387
  
  4. Brian Ct $11,466

           5. Walnut Pl $8,766

• Voting in a New Board Member
• Nick Throckmorton is a new resident, bought a house on Walnut Pl, and he is a web designer. Dan Bergeland offered to step down as website manager for the Board, and we thank Dan for his multiple years of service and creating our new website last year! Nick was voted in as the newest FCOA Board Member and Website manager.  

• Homeowner Q&A 

 The Annual Water Board Meeting is scheduled for April 14th at 6:00pm, at the Fox Creek Center.

 Cracks are being seen on Fox Creek DR. Central Asphalt will review and see if there are any patches that are needed, this Summer. Unfortunately, cracks are inevitable due to it being an overlay.

 During the discussion on snow plowing, one resident suggested that snowplows should only operate when there is at least 2 inches of snow on the ground. However, other residents pointed out that garbage trucks and mail trucks often cannot navigate certain roads due to snow accumulation and ice, necessitating plowing at 1 inch and salting the roads when icy conditions arise. RJ Lawn uses sand whenever possible and most of the time. They also seek prior approval from the President of the FCOA before using salt, which occurred approximately three times last year.