River Ridge CDD elects officers, approves new traffic radar signs and landscape contractor; "zombie box" relocation narrowly approved

The Board of Supervisors of the River Ridge Community Development District elected officers and approved several operational contracts and work orders at its Nov. 19 regular meeting in Estero and by Zoom.

Cleo Adams, the District Manager, administered the oath of office to newly elected Supervisors Kurt Blumenthal (Seat 3), Terry Mountford (Seat 4) and Robert Twombly (Seat 5). The board then adopted Resolution 2025-02 to formalize officer appointments: Bob Schultz as chair and Terry Mountford as vice chair, with Kurt Blumenthal, Robert Twombly and Keith Merrill named assistant secretaries. The resolution was adopted on a motion by Mountford, seconded by Blumenthal, with the vote recorded as unanimous.

The board voted on several operational items that will affect neighborhood maintenance and public safety. Operations Manager Shane Willis presented proposals to relocate an aeration system in Lake E1-C and to add electrical work; board discussion weighed the cost of relocation now versus revisiting the matter in the FY2026 budget. Rather than approve the higher relocation estimate, the board approved installing a so-called "zombie box" at the existing aeration location for $3,098. The motion, made by Chair Bob Schultz and seconded by Robert Twombly, passed 3–2 with Schultz, Twombly and Keith Merrill in favor and Terry Mountford and Kurt Blumenthal dissenting.

On traffic-calming equipment, Willis reviewed AV-Tech LLC estimates for three remaining 15-inch solar-powered digital speed radar signs, a proposed mobile unit and recurring cloud-device fees. Eric Long, PSGRC general manager, said one existing unit recorded about 800 speeding violations over a three-week period and suggested moving that unit 20 to 30 yards to improve detection; poles will be purchased from Paramount Asphalt at about $1,200 each. The board approved My AV-Tech LLC Estimates 24150 and 24151 to wire and install three permanent and one mobile radar sign, including cameras and messaging, and annual cloud services at $1,500 per device, for a combined total of $105,000. The motion was made by Chair Schultz, seconded by Kurt Blumenthal, and passed unanimously.

The board accepted the unaudited financial statements as of Oct. 31, 2024; Mrs. Adams said the Series 2022A note will be closed and funds applied to prepay bond debt. Supervisor Kurt Blumenthal asked why the Oct. 1 annual insurance payment did not appear in the check register; Mrs. Adams said she will investigate and report back.

Charlie Krebs, the district engineer from Hole Montes Inc., presented a revised scope for the Seaside & Master Drainage Project and noted MRI expects work to start within two to three weeks. Krebs also presented ancillary irrigation costs from Irrigation Concepts — $4,002.50 to repair damaged wiring and roughly $1,300 each to raise seven to eight irrigation heads — and the board approved a change order not to exceed $15,000 to address the repairs and head adjustments (motion by Kurt Blumenthal, seconded by Bob Schultz; unanimous).

On landscape services, Mrs. Adams recommended terminating Laz’s Lawn Service, Inc. for poor performance and engaging GulfScapes Landscape Maintenance Services. GulfScapes’ proposal was $58,500, about $13,000 above the $45,000 budgeted amount; the board discussed using withheld payments from Laz’s Lawn and unassigned funds to offset the increase. The board authorized the termination and engagement of GulfScapes effective immediately on a motion by Mr. Blumenthal, seconded by Mr. Schultz; the motion passed unanimously.

The board approved amended minutes from its Oct. 22, 2024 meeting with multiple name and term corrections (motion by Mr. Blumenthal, seconded by Mr. Mountford; unanimous). The meeting adjourned following a motion by Mr. Blumenthal and seconded by Mr. Schultz; the minutes record the adjournment vote as unanimous and list meeting end times of both 2:51 p.m. (signature line) and 3:07 p.m. (body). The district’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Dec. 10, 2024 at 1:00 p.m.

Votes at a glance: Resolution 2025-02 (officer elections) — adopted (unanimous); "zombie box" installation — approved 3–2 (Schultz, Twombly, Merrill yes; Mountford, Blumenthal no); AV-Tech radar-signs purchase and cloud services ($105,000) — approved (unanimous); Irrigation Concepts change order (not to exceed $15,000) — approved (unanimous); Termination of Laz’s Lawn and engagement of GulfScapes ($58,500) — approved (unanimous); Approval of Oct. 22 minutes — approved (unanimous).

The board also discussed ongoing Corkscrew Road ownership and maintenance questions; District Counsel Tony Pires and District Engineer Charlie Krebs summarized differing Village and county positions and noted Village-engaged Johnson Engineering will inspect streets and walkways as part of an ownership/maintenance study. PSGRC President Neil Collins updated the board on Town Hall discussions focused on the intersection of U.S. 41 and Corkscrew Road. Mr. Long advised that sidewalk inspection results and repair estimates will be presented at the Jan. meeting.

Financial and contract details cited at the meeting include: a Bentley Electric proposal that added 125 feet of electrical work to an aerator relocation estimate (total relocation estimate not specified in the minutes); a $3,098 zombie-box installation approved instead; AV-Tech combined purchase and installation total of $105,000; cloud-device recurring fee of $1,500 per device per year; pole purchase estimate of about $1,200 per pole from Paramount Asphalt; Irrigation Concepts line items of $4,002.50 for wiring and roughly $1,300 per head to raise seven to eight heads with a $15,000 not-to-exceed change order; GulfScapes proposal of $58,500 (budgeted amount was $45,000); and Series 2022A note funds to prepay bond debt.

All direct quotes and attributions in this article come from statements recorded in the meeting minutes and are attributed to the named speakers above.