River Ridge CDD elects officers, approves speed-radar signs and several maintenance contracts

Bob Schultz was re-elected chair and the River Ridge Community Development District Board of Supervisors approved several maintenance and capital actions at its Nov. 19, 2024 meeting in Estero.

The board adopted Resolution 2025-02 to elect officers after Terry Mountford nominated the slate that retained Bob Schultz as chair and Terry Mountford as vice chair; Kurt Blumenthal, Robert Twombly and Keith Merrill were named assistant secretaries. The resolution, which preserved prior administrative appointments including Chesley “Chuck” Adams as secretary, passed unanimously on a motion by Mountford and a second by Blumenthal.

The board approved a traffic-calming package from AV-Tech LLC to install three permanent and one mobile 15-inch solar-powered digital speed radar signs with camera capability and cloud services at a combined cost of $105,000. Shane Willis, the district’s operations manager, presented the proposals and said poles will be purchased for about $1,200 each; Eric Long, listed as PSGRC general manager in the minutes, recommended relocating an existing mobile unit to a different site. Bob Schultz moved to approve the AV-Tech estimates; Kurt Blumenthal seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

On a contentious infrastructure item, the board voted 3–2 to install a temporary power enclosure (described in the minutes as a “zombie box”) for an aeration system in Lake E1‑C for $3,098 rather than proceed immediately with a full relocation that included an added 125 feet of electrical work and an estimated $10,755 in relocation costs. The motion to install the zombie box was made by Bob Schultz and seconded by Robert Twombly; Schultz, Twombly and Keith Merrill voted in favor, while Terry Mountford and Kurt Blumenthal dissented. The minutes note the relocation proposal will be revisited during FY2026 budget discussions.

The board also approved an Irrigation Concepts change order to repair damaged wiring and raise seven to eight irrigation heads in a not-to-exceed amount of $15,000 (motion by Kurt Blumenthal; second by Bob Schultz; unanimous).

Cleo Adams, identified in the minutes as District Manager, presented the unaudited financial statements as of Oct. 31, 2024 and said the Series 2022A note will be closed and funds applied to prepay bond debt. Board member Kurt Blumenthal asked why the Oct. 1 annual insurance payment was not listed in the check register; Adams said she would investigate and report back.

The board approved terminating the landscape service agreement with Laz’s Lawn Service, citing poor performance, and authorized engaging GulfScapes Landscape Maintenance Services. GulfScapes’ proposed annual fee was $58,500, about $13,000 above the budgeted $45,000; the board discussed offsetting the difference with unassigned funds and withheld payments to Laz’s Lawn. The motion to engage GulfScapes and terminate Laz’s Lawn was made by Kurt Blumenthal and seconded by Bob Schultz and passed unanimously.

Other business: Charlie Krebs, the district engineer, presented a revised scope for the Seaside & Master Drainage Project with work expected to begin within two to three weeks; Krebs also said he will finalize gatehouse and monument agreements after reviewing billing rates. Board members agreed the district will participate in the Pelican Sound Community Safeguard Panel: Keith Merrill will represent the district on Objective 2 (natural-disaster safeguarding) and Robert Twombly will represent Objective 4 (street safety). Eric Long said he circulated an Action Plan of seven objectives and will report on the panel’s first meeting in December; Krebs said a sidewalk inspection report and repair estimates will be presented in January.

The minutes contain an internal discrepancy about adjournment time: one line records the meeting adjourned at 3:07 p.m., while the motion to adjourn notes the meeting ended at 2:51 p.m.; the minutes do not resolve which time is correct.

Votes at a glance • Resolution 2025-02 (elect officers): mover Terry Mountford; second Kurt Blumenthal; outcome: adopted unanimously (SEG 033–048). • Install zombie box for Lake E1‑C (install temporary power enclosure, $3,098): mover Bob Schultz; second Robert Twombly; tally: Schultz, Twombly, Merrill yes; Mountford, Blumenthal no; outcome: approved 3–2 (SEG 049–061). • AV-Tech installation (three permanent + one mobile 15" speed-radar signs; cloud services): mover Bob Schultz; second Kurt Blumenthal; outcome: approved unanimously; combined total $105,000 (SEG 063–077). • Irrigation Concepts change order (repair wiring, raise 7–8 heads; NTE $15,000): mover Kurt Blumenthal; second Bob Schultz; outcome: approved unanimously (SEG 125–132). • Landscape contract change (terminate Laz’s Lawn; engage GulfScapes, $58,500): mover Kurt Blumenthal; second Bob Schultz; outcome: approved unanimously (SEG 133–144).

What happens next The board listed the next meeting for Dec. 10, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. Staff will report back on the Oct. 1 insurance payment discrepancy, finalize gatehouse/monument agreements after billing-rate review, and present the sidewalk inspection report and repair estimates in January. The Pelican Sound Safeguard Panel is scheduled to meet and the district will report on that meeting in December.