River Ridge board ratifies audit, reviews unaudited finances and approves storm cleanup services

The district ratified Resolution 2024-05A accepting the audited financial report for the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2023 and accepted unaudited financial statements as of Sept. 30, 2024, while flagging several apparent mispostings and budget variances.

Mrs. Cleo Adams presented the unaudited statements and identified items requiring correction: General Fund “Engineering” appeared at 209% of budget and may include expenses that belong in a Special Revenue Fund; “Contingencies” showed 421% because $4,209 should be classified under Other Contractual as a landscaping expense; the NPDES reporting filing appeared as $19,805 (152% of budget); and a 2022 note debt-service line was 205% of budget. Staff asked corporate to provide paid invoices so the ledger can be corrected and said adjustments will appear in the next financials.

The board also approved an emergency Precision Cleaning, Inc. street-sweeping proposal to clean storm debris in a one-time amount of $1,475 and authorized staff to add additional week-to-week cleanings for the next month if necessary. Staff reported eight loads of debris and eight passes through the CDD during cleanup operations.

Separately, Mark Zordan reported that the Lee County NPDES Permit FLS000035-004 Cycle 4 Year 7 Annual Report was filed with Lee County and will be submitted to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in advance of the Nov. 1, 2024 deadline. The board discussed that sampling requirements could change under a future permit and were advised to continue into Year 8 pending issuance of a new permit.

Other operational items addressed included correcting sign text (Southern Hills Drive vs. Southern Hills Court) and inspection/repair of rusted lake and wetland signs.