Heritage Pines CDD elects officers, adopts amended budget and approves cleanup work

The Board of Supervisors of the Heritage Pines Community Development District met Dec. 10, 2024, at the Heritage Pines Country Club Meeting Room in Hudson and unanimously approved a slate of officers, a budget amendment to account for a new lawnmower and contingency increases, and a proposal for additional cleanup at an area identified as "33."

District Manager Chuck Adams administered the Oath of Office to newly elected Supervisors Arthur Rhodes (Seat 1), Stephen Putman (Seat 2) and Michael Walsh (Seat 3) and reviewed required ethics training, Form 1 filing and Sunshine Law restrictions on out-of-meeting communications. "The Sunshine Law ... prohibits Board Members from discussing or communicating about any current or potential CDD business outside of a noticed public meeting," Adams said during the administration and training overview.

On Resolution 2025-01, Michael Walsh nominated the officer slate with Kathleen Lonergan as Chair and Arthur Rhodes as Vice Chair; the board voted to adopt the resolution by motion of Walsh, seconded by Carol Vaughan, with the action recorded as "with all in favor." The resolution removed Janice Benedetti from the Assistant Secretary role while leaving prior appointments — including Craig Wrathell as Secretary and Treasurer and Chuck Adams in an assistant secretary capacity — unchanged.

The board then adopted Resolution 2025-02 to amend the Fiscal Year 2023/2024 budget. Adams said the amendment was necessary to reflect a major expenditure for a new lawnmower, to add columns showing "Actual" versus "Adopted Budget" and a "Proposed Increase/(Decrease)," and to increase the "Operations and maintenance - Contingencies" line item by $20,000 to cover potential journal entries; unused contingency funds will remain in the Surplus Fund Balance. Ms. Lonergan noted the district will receive a $1,298 refund from the Tax Collector's Office that reflects the difference between actual and amended budget figures.

The board approved a proposal for additional cleanup at area "33," which the record describes as including perimeter cleanup, removal of dead trees and mulching; the optional scope included weed-whacker work on dry retention slopes. Mr. Kurt Heath, the district engineer, cautioned that a natural wetland occupies the center of the area and the western side contains a separate excavated retention area, and he noted some south-side slopes are difficult to mow with equipment. The motion to approve the proposal — moved by Michael Walsh and seconded by Stephen Putman — passed "with all in favor." Mr. Adams said, "The invoice will be paid upon completion."

The board accepted unaudited financial statements as of Oct. 31, 2024. Adams said the District established a BankUnited Insured Cash Sweep (ICS) account; the initial 4.75% interest rate has dropped to about 4.25%. He also reported that the new pond-treatment contract with Premier Lakes began Dec. 1, 2024, and ponds will be treated three times annually with the next treatments scheduled in March and July 2025.

Other administrative actions included approval, as amended, of the Oct. 15, 2024 regular meeting minutes and updates to the To Do action items list. During audience comments on non‑agenda items a resident asked whether the CDD would support infrastructure or financing for a new building Heritage Pines is planning. Adams said the matter has not come before the board and "there is the potential for CDD support," but he urged caution to protect the front gate because of the CDD's use of tax‑exempt financing; Chair Kathleen Lonergan suggested the topic could be discussed at a planned workshop.

The board scheduled its next regular meeting for Feb. 18, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. and agreed to hold a CDD overview workshop the same day at 1:00 p.m. to orient newly elected Supervisor Putman and other interested parties. The meeting adjourned at 2:34 p.m.