River Ridge CDD approves speed radar signs, new landscape contractor and several maintenance orders

River Ridge Community Development District supervisors met Nov. 19 and approved several measures aimed at traffic safety, grounds maintenance and short-term infrastructure repairs.

Shane Willis, operations manager, presented two AV-Tech proposals and a mobile-unit option to complete the district’s long-term traffic-calming plan. Eric Long, PSGRC general manager, said one radar unit "clocked 800 varied speeding violations over a three week period," arguing for broader deployment. On a motion by Chair Bob Schultz and seconded by Assistant Secretary Kurt Blumenthal, the Board unanimously approved My AV-Tech LLC Estimates 24150 and 24151 to wire and install three permanent 15-inch solar-powered digital speed radar signs and one mobile unit, including cameras, messaging and cloud-device subscriptions, for a combined total of $105,000.

The Board also addressed a proposal to relocate an aeration system in Lake E1-C. Willis presented a revised Bentley Electric estimate that would add about 125 feet of electrical work and a roughly $10,755 relocation proposal. After discussion about budget timing, the Board approved installing a temporary "zombie box" at the existing location as an interim measure. The motion, made by Chair Bob Schultz and seconded by Robert Twombly, passed 3-2 with Schultz, Twombly and Keith Merrill voting yes and Terry Mountford and Kurt Blumenthal dissenting. The approved amount for the zombie box is $3,098.

Charlie Krebs, district engineer, presented a revised Seaside & Master Drainage Project scope and flagged ancillary irrigation repairs. The Board approved an Irrigation Concepts change order to repair damaged wiring ($4,002.50) and to raise roughly seven to eight irrigation heads (estimated $1,300 each), with the total change order capped at $15,000 (motion by Kurt Blumenthal, seconded by Bob Schultz; all in favor).

On grounds maintenance, Mrs. Adams told the Board she recommended terminating Laz's Lawn Service, Inc. for poor performance and engaging GulfScapes Landscape Maintenance Services. The GulfScapes proposal is $58,500, which is $13,000 above the $45,000 budget; the Board agreed to use withheld payments from Laz's Lawn and unassigned funds to cover the difference. On motion by Kurt Blumenthal, seconded by Bob Schultz, the Board authorized termination of the Laz's Lawn agreement and immediate engagement of GulfScapes (all in favor).

Administratively, Mrs. Adams administered the oath of office to newly elected supervisors Kurt Blumenthal (Seat 3), Terry Mountford (Seat 4) and Robert Twombly (Seat 5). The Board also adopted Resolution 2025-02, electing Bob Schultz as Chair and Terry Mountford as Vice Chair, and maintained prior appointments for secretary and treasurer roles. The Board accepted unaudited financial statements as of Oct. 31, 2024 and directed that funds be applied to prepay Series 2022A bond debt; Mrs. Adams said she will research why an Oct. 1 annual insurance payment did not appear in the check register and report back to the Board.

The Board set next meeting for Dec. 10, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. and adjourned the session. The Board instructed staff to advance the drainage project design and to report sidewalk inspection findings and repair estimates at the January meeting.

Votes at a glance: On Resolution 2025-02 (elect officers) the motion was made by Terry Mountford, seconded by Kurt Blumenthal and adopted unanimously. The aerator "zombie box" motion (install $3,098) passed 3-2 (Schultz, Twombly, Merrill yes; Mountford, Blumenthal no). The AV-Tech signage package ($105,000) was approved unanimously (motion by Bob Schultz; second by Kurt Blumenthal). The Irrigation Concepts change order (not to exceed $15,000) and the GulfScapes landscape contract ($58,500) were each approved unanimously.