Pinehurst residents press River Ridge CDD over repeated flooding; board approves $173,368 ditch cleaning and amends loan

Residents of the Pinehurst neighborhood told the River Ridge Community Development District Board of Supervisors on June 25 that recurring flooding has reached a crisis point after rainfall associated with a June 12–14 tropical storm.

"Short of a quick absolute commitment from River Ridge that Pinehurst flooding is now a #1 or co-#1 priority, regardless of cost, we will be forced to explore legal options," said resident Mike Dugan, reading a prepared statement that also said some neighbors were prepared to pay for temporary sandbagging when storms are forecast.

Another Pinehurst resident, Ed Nowak, said the neighborhood is repeatedly left with standing water after storms and urged a full redesign and expedited resources. "The bottom line is the current redesigned system as far as we can see is flawed and unacceptable," Nowak said.

District Manager Chuck Adams requested a drainage update after the public comments. Charlie Krebs, the district engineer, said he inspected Pinehurst after the storm and found debris at grates and blockages in pipes that impeded outflow. "The problem is the blockage and perhaps some of the drains along Pinehurst have blockages above 25% that need to be cleaned," Krebs said, and he reported that MRI cleaned visible debris during follow-up inspection.

Following the engineer's report, Chair Bob Schultz asked Krebs to prepare a written plan and estimated timeline describing how the situation will be resolved and to provide that plan to the board, PSGRC General Manager Eric Long and the Pinehurst neighborhood representative.

On procedural and funding matters, the board adopted Resolution 2024-05, authorizing an amendment to the use of proceeds from the District's Improvement Revenue Note, Series 2024, and authorizing the district to enter into a First Amendment to the Loan Agreement with Synovus Bank. The motion to adopt the resolution passed unanimously.

Immediately after adopting the resolution, the board approved an MRI Construction, Inc. estimate in the amount of $173,367.78 to perform dry retention flow-way ditch cleaning adjacent to River Course holes #6–#8. The motion to approve the contract passed on a voice vote with all supervisors recorded as in favor.

The board also discussed a separate revised McCullers Construction estimate of $277,550 to install a new well for irrigation but took no action on that item, citing South Florida Water Management District water-use restrictions and the need for further consideration.

Separately, the board accepted unaudited financial statements as of May 31, 2024; approved amended minutes of the May 28 meeting; and voted to recommend that the Fining Committee review and take action against homeowners who removed littoral plantings from Lake E4-C.

The meeting adjourned at 2:43 p.m.; the board scheduled its next meeting for July 23, 2024 at 1:00 p.m.