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River Ridge supervisors approve $105,000 traffic‑calming package, install lower‑cost aerator solution and change landscape contractor
Summary
At its Nov. 19 meeting the River Ridge Community Development District elected officers, administered oaths to newly elected supervisors, approved $105,000 for three permanent and one mobile solar speed signs with cloud services, authorized up to $15,000 in irrigation repairs, and replaced its landscape contractor, among other actions.
Bob Schultz, chair of the River Ridge Community Development District, presided over a Nov. 19 meeting at the River Club Conference Center in Estero where the board approved several maintenance and safety measures and completed routine governance actions.
Cleo Adams, 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 elect officers, confirming Schultz as chair and Mountford as vice chair and retaining three assistant secretaries.
In one of the meeting’s largest expenditures, the board approved AV‑Tech LLC estimates to wire and install three permanent 15‑inch solar‑powered digital speed radar signs, add one mobile unit and subscribe to cloud traffic devices. Operations Manager Shane Willis presented the estimates; PSGRC General Manager Eric Long told the board the existing unit had recorded about 800 varied speeding violations over a three‑week period, prompting the recommendation to reposition equipment and add signage. On motion by Mr. Schultz, seconded by Mr. Blumenthal, the board approved the combined package for $105,000 (unanimous).
On a separate agenda item concerning Lake E1‑C, Mr. Willis reviewed Premier Lakes’ work order and a revised Bentley Electric proposal that would add about 125 feet of electrical work to relocate an aeration system. After discussing budget impacts, the board chose a lower‑cost alternative: installing a "zombie box" at the current location for $3,098 and deferring the $10,755 relocation proposal for possible inclusion in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget. The motion to install the zombie box passed 3–2, with Schultz, Twombly and Merrill voting in favor and Mountford and Blumenthal dissenting.
District Engineer Charlie Krebs updated the board on the Seaside & Master Drainage Project and presented additional irrigation work from Irrigation Concepts: $4,002.50 to repair damaged wiring and roughly $1,300 each to raise seven to eight irrigation heads. The board approved the change order in a not‑to‑exceed amount of $15,000 (motion by Mr. Blumenthal, seconded by Mr. Schultz; unanimous). Krebs said the drainage contractor (MRI) expects work to begin in two to three weeks.
The board also voted to terminate the landscape service agreement with Laz’s Lawn Service, Inc., citing performance issues, and to engage GulfScapes Landscape Maintenance Services. GulfScapes’ proposal is $58,500, about $13,000 above the $45,000 budgeted amount. The board authorized staff to use unassigned funds and withhold payments from the prior contractor as available to offset the higher cost and approved the contract change on a unanimous vote (motion by Mr. Blumenthal, seconded by Mr. Schultz).
Cleo Adams presented unaudited financial statements as of Oct. 31, 2024, and reported the Series 2022A note will be closed and funds applied to prepay bond debt. Supervisor Blumenthal asked why the Oct. 1 annual insurance payment did not appear in the check register; Adams said she will investigate and report back.
District Counsel Tony Pires reported his opinion on ownership of Corkscrew Road (west of U.S. 41) remains unchanged; the Village of Estero engaged Johnson Engineering to inspect streets and walkways, and PSGRC President Neil Collins updated the board on town‑hall discussions focused on the U.S. 41 intersection and east side of Corkscrew Road. Chair Schultz said the CDD will participate in the Pelican Sound Community Safeguard Panel; Mr. Merrill will represent Objective 2 (community natural‑disaster safeguarding) and Mr. Twombly Objective 4 (street safety). Krebs said finalized sidewalk inspection reports and repair estimates will be presented at the January meeting.
The minutes include an internal discrepancy about the adjournment time: one line records adjournment at 3:07 p.m., while the motion to adjourn records 2:51 p.m. The board minutes as presented do not reconcile those two times; staff indicated signatures appear on the following page and the board should clarify the official adjournment time.
The board scheduled its next meeting for Dec. 10, 2024, at 1:00 p.m., subject to quorum.
