Hello, neighbors.
Get in on the subdivision yard sale scheduled for April 5. For information, check Tiffany Cowie’s posts on the Stonewater Facebook pages.
Update
With closing within weeks on the final three homes in Section 3, it’s nearing time for Stonewater’s first election of officers. According to the Stonewater covenants, the first homeowners association meeting will be no later than 60 days after closing of the final lot and home. The final home is expected to be listed by the end of March.
Please note this amendment to Article III, Section 3:
Resident trustees will announce the date, time and location for the meeting with help from business manager Ernst Management. At that meeting, an election of officers will be held. Article IV of the covenant specified there will be a president, secretary and treasurer. The 2024 covenant amendments spell out the officers’ duties and responsibilities.
All owners of homes built since November 2011 or that have joined the Stonewater Homeowners Association since that time are eligible to vote. Note: That does not include owners of homes built before that time who have not become members. Neither are those homeowners eligible for election as HOA officers.
The officers, managers and trustees are not the HOA. Owners are the HOA, and by covenants signed at the time they closed on Stonewater homes they agreed to follow the covenants.
Streets and Herculaneum
For three years, trustees contracted with a private company to repair or replace broken sections of Stonewater streets. At least $30,000 was spent on repairs in each of those three years.
No repairs were made in 2024 because dozens of residents failed to pay their dues as obligated. As of the end of March, more than 100 homeowners had yet to pay dues for 2025. Among those are many of the same homeowners who failed to pay dues for 2024 and 2023.
Trustees have been in contact with the City of Herculaneum for several years about how to dedicate Stonewater streets to the city. The answer has been the same: Bring the streets to city standards before dedication is possible.
According to the latest available financial report, the HOA had $27,000 in hand.
A rough estimate of work needed to bring streets up standard? About $50,000.
Without sufficient money there can be no repairs, no dedication to the city.
According to the latest available financial report, homeowners who have not paid dues and fines owed $67,000, including this year.
Dues for 2025 must be received before April 1 to avoid additional fines.
If residents want the streets fixed so they can be dedicated to Herculaneum, homeowners must pay dues.
The current balance of $27,000 is sufficient to cover expenses for about six months. In January and February, HOA bills averaged $4,600. There were two weather events that required plowing and salting of Stonewater streets. Starting in April, monthly costs will include mowing of common areas as required by the covenants. So that $27,000 won’t last past August.
If homeowners want common areas maintained, homeowners must pay dues.
For information on making payments, contact Ernst Management: 314-221-4380.
Yard signs
This month’s hailstorm left nearly all Stonewater homes damaged. As part of their agreement with homeowners, contractors place yard signs to solicit business. While Stonewater covenants prohibit advertising signs, trustees agreed to allow one sign for each residence where a contractor is doing repairs. Those signs can be no bigger than a standard real estate sign.
Signs placed on common ground will be removed. The only exceptions are for real estate signs and community events, including the April 5 yard sale.
Final word
Trustees are in contact with Herculaneum, Jefferson County and Festus Special Road District officials about the ongoing problem of tractor-trailer trucks getting stuck on the Union Pacific tracks. While this is not a direct concern for Herky, it does create problems for resident access to Hwy, Z and for emergency services to reach Stonewater.
The fountain is back in the pond along Rolling Stone. Maintenance is done monthly to the pond to prevent mosquitoes and keep algae under control. Fishing is allowed for Stonewater residents, and use of catch and release is suggested. Stocking is OK, but do not put aquarium fish, carp and invasive species in the pond. Unfortunately, the number of resident turtles has diminished. If you snag one, please release it.
All residents are free to use the pond and the lake on the south side of Stonewater. However, residents are responsible for removing trash from the banks.
Herculaneum and the road district will resume mowing along Festus-Horine Road. Please do not litter the rights-of-way and post no signs along the road.
Planning an exterior project? Check to see if a permit is needed before work begins.
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