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River Ridge CDD approves traffic‑calming purchases, landscape contractor change and several maintenance contracts; officers elected
Summary
At its Nov. 19 meeting the River Ridge CDD elected officers and approved multiple operations expenditures, including $105,000 for AV‑Tech traffic‑calming equipment, a $15,000 irrigation change order, replacement of its landscape contractor and an interim $3,098 'zombie box' for a lake aeration unit (3–2 vote).
The River Ridge Community Development District Board of Supervisors met Nov. 19, 2024, in Estero and approved several operational expenditures, elected officers and authorized contract changes affecting landscape maintenance, irrigation repairs and traffic‑calming infrastructure.
The board unanimously adopted Resolution 2025‑02 electing Bob Schultz as chair, Terry Mountford as vice chair and reappointing Kurt Blumenthal, Robert Twombly and Keith Merrill as assistant secretaries.
Financial and contract actions The board approved a package of purchases and installations from AV‑Tech LLC for three permanent 15‑inch solar‑powered speed radar signs, one mobile unit, camera and messaging equipment, and cloud‑device subscriptions for a combined total of $105,000. The district noted an existing unit recorded about 800 varied speeding violations over three weeks; Eric Long recommended moving that unit 20–30 yards to improve enforcement geometry. The motion carried unanimously.
The board approved an Irrigation Concepts change order to repair damaged wiring and raise roughly seven to eight irrigation heads, authorizing a not‑to‑exceed amount of $15,000 for those ancillary repairs. The motion passed unanimously.
The board voted to terminate the Landscape Service Agreement with Laz’s Lawn Service, Inc., citing poor performance, and engaged GulfScapes Landscape Maintenance Services. GulfScapes’ proposal is $58,500, approximately $13,000 above the board’s budgeted amount; the board discussed offsetting the overage with withheld payments from Laz’s and unassigned funds. The motion carried unanimously.
Lake aeration interim measure (3–2 vote) Facing higher relocation estimates for an aeration unit in Lake E1‑C, the board approved installing a temporary "zombie box" at the existing location for $3,098 rather than immediately relocating the aeration electrical equipment. The motion was made by Chair Bob Schultz and seconded by Mr. Twombly; Schultz, Twombly and Merrill voted in favor, while Mountford and Blumenthal dissented (3–2). Staff said the relocation proposals (including an added 125 feet of electrical work from Bentley Electric) will be reconsidered during FY2026 budget planning.
Governance and finance Mrs. Adams presented unaudited financial statements as of Oct. 31, 2024. The board noted that the Series 2022A note will be closed and the funds applied to prepay bond debt. Mr. Blumenthal asked why an Oct. 1 insurance payment did not appear in the check register; Mrs. Adams said she will investigate and report back.
Other business and next steps The board approved amended minutes from Oct. 22, 2024, after several clerical corrections. District counsel reported that his view of ownership for portions of Corkscrew Road (west of U.S. 41) has not changed; the Village of Estero’s engineers will inspect streets, including the west side of Corkscrew Road. Board members also agreed to participate in two Pelican Sound Safeguard Panel objectives—natural‑disaster mitigation (represented by Mr. Merrill) and street safety (represented by Mr. Twombly). Staff said the panel’s first meeting is scheduled and that a sidewalk inspection report with repair estimates will be presented in January.
Votes at a glance • Resolution 2025‑02 (elect officers): Mover Mr. Mountford; seconder Mr. Blumenthal; outcome: approved, unanimous. • Install zombie box for Lake E1‑C (amount $3,098): Mover Mr. Schultz; seconder Mr. Twombly; outcome: approved, 3–2 (Schultz, Twombly, Merrill yes; Mountford, Blumenthal no). • AV‑Tech LLC equipment and installation (combined $105,000): Mover Mr. Schultz; seconder Mr. Blumenthal; outcome: approved, unanimous. • Irrigation Concepts change order (NTE $15,000): Mover Mr. Blumenthal; seconder Mr. Schultz; outcome: approved, unanimous. • Terminate Laz’s Lawn Service and engage GulfScapes ($58,500): Mover Mr. Blumenthal; seconder Mr. Schultz; outcome: approved, unanimous. • Approve amended Oct. 22, 2024 minutes: Mover Mr. Blumenthal; seconder Mr. Mountford; outcome: approved, unanimous.
The board adjourned following the meeting. The draft minutes include two different adjournment times (2:51 p.m. and 3:07 p.m.); staff said it will reconcile the official adjournment time in the finalized minutes.
