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River Ridge CDD elects officers, approves traffic radar purchase and changes landscape contractor
Summary
At its Nov. 19 meeting the River Ridge Community Development District elected officers, approved a $105,000 AV-Tech purchase for solar speed-radar signs, approved irrigation repairs and terminated its landscape contractor in favor of GulfScapes; the board also approved a $3,098 ‘zombie box’ to avoid relocating a lake aerator.
The River Ridge Community Development District Board of Supervisors at a Nov. 19, 2024 regular meeting elected its officers and approved several maintenance, traffic‑calming and contract changes affecting the Estero community.
The board unanimously adopted Resolution 2025-02 to elect Bob Schultz as chair and Terry Mountford as vice chair; Kurt Blumenthal, Robert Twombly and Keith Merrill were named assistant secretaries. Mrs. Adams presented the resolution and Mr. Mountford moved its adoption, seconded by Mr. Blumenthal.
The votes that followed addressed neighborhood infrastructure and operations. Mr. Willis presented proposals to relocate an aeration system in Lake E1-C and additional electrical work from Bentley Electric. After budget discussion, the board approved a lower‑cost interim measure: on a 3–2 vote (Schultz, Twombly and Merrill in favor; Mountford and Blumenthal opposed) the board authorized installing a so‑called “zombie box” at the current aerator location for $3,098 rather than immediately relocating the aeration box under the larger $10,755 proposal.
The board approved a package of traffic‑calming equipment from My AV-Tech LLC. Mr. Willis described proposals that included three permanent 15‑inch solar‑powered digital speed signs, a mobile unit option and recurring cloud fees. Mr. Long noted an existing device had recorded about 800 varied speeding violations over three weeks and recommended moving a unit; Mr. Willis said poles would cost about $1,200 each. On motion by Mr. Schultz and seconded by Mr. Blumenthal, the board approved AV‑Tech Estimates 24150 and 24151—three permanent and one mobile 15" solar speed signs with cameras and messaging—plus $1,500 per cloud device per year, for a combined approved amount of $105,000.
On infrastructure maintenance, District Engineer Charlie Krebs presented the revised Seaside & Master Drainage Project scope and said work is expected to begin within two to three weeks. He also presented ancillary irrigation repairs: $4,002.50 to repair damaged wiring and approximately $1,300 each to raise seven to eight irrigation heads. On motion by Mr. Blumenthal and seconded by Mr. Schultz, the board approved an Irrigation Concepts change order to address wiring and raise the irrigation heads in a not‑to‑exceed amount of $15,000.
The board voted to terminate the Landscape Service Agreement with Laz’s Lawn Service, Inc., citing poor performance, and to engage GulfScapes Landscape Maintenance Services. Mrs. Adams said GulfScapes’ proposal is $58,500—about $13,000 above the $45,000 budgeted amount—and that the board could offset some plant‑replacement costs using payments withheld from Laz’s Lawn. On motion by Mr. Blumenthal and seconded by Mr. Schultz, the board approved terminating Laz’s and engaging GulfScapes, effective immediately.
Mrs. Adams presented unaudited financial statements as of Oct. 31, 2024 and noted the Series 2022A note will be closed and funds applied to prepay bond debt. Mr. Blumenthal asked why the Oct. 1 annual insurance payment did not appear in the check register; Mrs. Adams said she would investigate and report back.
Administrative items included approval of amended minutes from the Oct. 22, 2024 meeting and an update on active action items, including streetlight replacement work led by a staff member identified as Mr. Nedelchev and a request to engage Paramount Asphalt for certain repairs. The board also confirmed River Ridge participation in the Pelican Sound Safeguard Panel: Mr. Merrill will represent the CDD on Objective 2 (community mitigation for natural disasters) and Mr. Twombly will represent the CDD on Objective 4 (street safety). Mr. Long said he will provide an update after the panel’s first meeting in December and Mr. Krebs indicated sidewalk inspection reports and repair estimates will be presented at the January meeting.
The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn; the board recorded the adjournment and reiterated that the next regular meeting is scheduled for Dec. 10, 2024 at 1:00 p.m.
Votes at a glance: - Resolution 2025-02 (elect officers): adopted (unanimous, 5–0). - Install zombie box for Lake E1‑C aeration: approved (3–2; Schultz, Twombly, Merrill yes; Mountford, Blumenthal no). - AV‑Tech Estimates 24150/24151 (speed signs and mobile unit plus cloud fees): approved (unanimous, 5–0); combined total approved $105,000. - Irrigation Concepts change order (repair wiring; raise 7–8 heads): approved (unanimous, 5–0); not‑to‑exceed $15,000. - Terminate Laz’s Lawn Service and engage GulfScapes ($58,500): approved (unanimous, 5–0). - Approval of Oct. 22, 2024 minutes as amended: approved (unanimous, 5–0).
The board did not take formal action on the Lee County NPDES update, which had been presented previously, and deferred certain budgetary choices (including a possible later relocation of the aeration system) to FY2026 budget discussions.
