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River Ridge CDD adopts loan amendment and approves $173,368 ditch‑cleaning after Pinehurst residents press for flood fixes
Summary
After public comments from Pinehurst residents about repeated, safety‑threatening flooding, the River Ridge Community Development District board on June 25 adopted Resolution 2024‑05 to amend a Series 2024 loan and approved a $173,367.78 contract with MRI Construction to clean retention flow‑way ditches near River Course holes #6–#8; the district engineer will provide a written plan and timeline.
The River Ridge Community Development District Board of Supervisors met June 25, 2024, in Estero and by Zoom and moved to expedite drainage work after two Pinehurst residents urged immediate action on repeated flooding.
Resident Mike Dugan read a prepared statement saying Pinehurst residents are "galvanized in one voice" and demanding that Pinehurst flooding be made a top priority "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." Resident Ed Nowak told the board the community’s redesigned storm system appears to have shifted problems from the Masters to Pinehurst and said, "The bottom line is the current redesigned system as far as we can see is flawed and unacceptable," pressing for a final redesign and faster work given hurricane season.
District Engineer Charlie Krebs said he inspected Pinehurst after videos were provided, identified three control structures on the outfall path, and found debris and blockages that were reducing flow in some drains. Krebs said MRI inspected and cleaned grates and pipes the day after the storm and that some inlets may still have more than 25% blockage; he said MRI will perform additional inlet cleaning. Chair Bob Schultz asked Krebs to prepare a written plan and estimated timeline to provide to the Board, district staff and the Pinehurst neighborhood representative group.
The board then addressed funding and contracting to fix drainage problems. Chuck Adams presented Resolution 2024‑05 to amend the use of proceeds of the District’s Improvement Revenue Note, Series 2024, and to authorize a first amendment to the loan agreement with Synovus Bank. On a motion by Supervisor Kurt Blumenthal, seconded by Supervisor Terry Mountford, the board adopted Resolution 2024‑05 "with all in favor." Immediately afterward, on a motion by Blumenthal and seconded by Robert Twombly, the board approved MRI Construction, Inc.'s estimate for dry retention flow‑way ditch cleaning adjacent to River Course holes #6–#8 in the amount of $173,367.78; the motion passed "with all in favor." Minutes record that loan proceeds will cover the drainage projects and that staff had included the irrigation project with a 10% contingency.
Other business: staff discussed a McCullers Construction estimate of $277,550 to install a new well and noted South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) water restrictions and long‑term water‑use considerations; the board took no action on the well estimate. The Board accepted unaudited financial statements as of May 31, 2024, approved amended minutes from May 28, and recommended that the Fining Committee review homeowners who removed littorals from a lake bank.
Next steps: Krebs will deliver a written remediation plan and timeline to the Board, staff and Pinehurst representatives; MRI is scheduled to perform additional inlet cleaning. The Lake & Dry Retention Audit Report will be on the July agenda and the board’s next meeting is July 23, 2024, at 1:00 p.m.
