County approves initial resolution for Water’s Edge Phase 2 culvert project; homeowners protest cost and notice

The Board of County Commissioners voted 4–0 (Commissioner Adams absent) to adopt an initial assessment resolution under the county’s assessment ordinance for the Water’s Edge Phase 2 culvert replacement project, setting a final public hearing for Sept. 10. County staff said combining the private culvert replacements with an adjacent county culvert replacement reduced mobilization costs; the staff estimate provided at the meeting apportioned about $537,974.50 to Water’s Edge homeowners and about $828,764 to the county.

The action: the board approved an initial resolution to establish a special assessment district for the Water’s Edge Phase 2 culvert work and to proceed toward a formal assessment hearing. The resolution repealed earlier standalone resolutions and re‑established the assessment under the county’s new uniform assessment ordinance, staff said.

Homeowner objections: Allison Giordano, president of the Water’s Edge homeowners association, told commissioners, “We have never agreed on anything.” She and other residents said they received little direct notice, that the HOA did not sign a binding agreement accepting the assessment amount, and that they felt the assessment had been pushed forward without sufficient homeowner involvement. Several residents called the homeowner share too large for individual households and asked the county to spread costs more broadly or to identify alternative funding.

County staff explanation: Chris Hicks (project representative) and other staff described the project history. The culverts at the two entry crossovers into the Water’s Edge subdivision are located in the Indian River Farms Water Control District canal system and historically were a private/HOA responsibility; a separate county culvert on First Street Southwest lay nearby. County staff said combining the county and HOA work saved mobilization costs and resulted in a single competitively bid contract. Staff told the board they had met with the HOA’s earlier counsel (emails in the record show interaction with an attorney, including an Oct. 9, 2023 email referenced by staff) and had held a preconstruction meeting with HOA representatives.

Numbers and financing: county staff reported that the county’s portion is about $828,764 and the Water’s Edge HOA portion is about $537,974.50; staff said the HOA portion would be placed on affected properties as a special assessment and could be spread over a multi‑year schedule (staff described a 15‑year payment term under the proposed assessment mechanics). Staff also said the county would waive interest on this particular project (the county ordinarily charges interest under the new master ordinance) to keep homeowner bills closer to earlier estimates.

Board action and next steps: the board passed the initial resolution and set the formal assessment hearing for Sept. 10. Staff said they will provide homeowners with an itemized accounting and a formal notice showing the maximum assessment amount and payment options; homeowners asked for that accounting and additional outreach. The county also said the contractor expects to complete construction by the end of the month and that there is a maintenance/warranty period remaining under the contract.

Ending: commissioners approved the initial resolution 4–0 with Commissioner Adams absent. Several Water’s Edge residents said they would continue to pursue concerns through the HOA’s counsel and asked the county to re‑examine the distribution of benefit and notice procedures.