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River Ridge CDD elects officers, approves contractor changes, traffic-radar signs and irrigation repairs
Summary
At its Nov. 19 meeting the River Ridge Community Development District elected officers, approved a $105,000 traffic-radar sign contract, authorized a $15,000 irrigation change order and replaced its landscape contractor with GulfScapes; one equipment relocation was deferred in favor of a $3,098 "zombie box" (vote 3–2).
The River Ridge Community Development District board elected district officers and approved several operations and capital items at a Nov. 19 regular meeting in Estero.
Mrs. Adams 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 as nominated, confirming Bob Schultz as chair and Terry Mountford as vice chair and retaining Kurt Blumenthal, Robert Twombly and Keith Merrill as assistant secretaries.
The board approved multiple operational and capital measures, including: a $105,000 package with AV-Tech LLC to wire and install three permanent and one mobile 15" solar-powered digital speed radar signs with cameras and messaging and cloud-device service; an Irrigation Concepts change order to repair wiring and raise seven to eight irrigation heads, not to exceed $15,000; and the termination of Laz’s Lawn Service and immediate engagement of GulfScapes Landscape Maintenance Services. The board also voted to install a temporary "zombie box" at an existing aeration location in Lake E1-C for $3,098 and defer a $10,755 proposal to relocate the aeration equipment.
Why this matters: the actions affect ongoing maintenance, public-safety tools and the district’s operating budget and near-term capital planning. The traffic-sign package is intended to expand automated speed monitoring and messaging across community entry points; irrigation repairs and the landscaping vendor change address ongoing grounds maintenance concerns.
On the traffic contract, PSGRC General Manager Eric Long noted the existing unit "clocked 800 varied speeding violations over a three week period," supporting the proposal to add and re-locate signage and cameras. The board approved AV-Tech estimates 24150 and 24151 unanimously.
On the aeration equipment, Operations Manager Shane Willis presented Premier Lakes’ work-order and a Bentley Electric proposal to add approximately 125 feet of electrical work. Citing budget concerns, board members instead approved installing a zombie box at the existing location; the motion passed 3–2 (Schultz, Twombly and Merrill in favor; Mountford and Blumenthal opposed).
Regarding grounds maintenance, Mrs. Adams said she recommended terminating Laz’s Lawn Service "due to poor performance." The board approved engaging GulfScapes, whose proposal was $58,500 (noted as roughly $13,000 above the $45,000 line-item budget). The board discussed using withheld payments to Laz’s Lawn to offset plant-replacement costs.
The board accepted 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 an Oct. 1 annual insurance payment did not appear in the check register; Mrs. Adams said she would investigate and report back.
Other business included a District Counsel update on the study of ownership and maintenance responsibilities for portions of Corkscrew Road and a report that Johnson Engineering will inspect streets and walkways for repairs. The district also confirmed participation in Pelican Sound’s Community Safeguard Panel; Mr. Merrill and Mr. Twombly were named the district representatives for specified objectives.
Votes at a glance: - Resolution 2025-02 (electing officers): adopted (unanimous). - Install "zombie box" for Lake E1-C aeration: approved $3,098 (3 yes — Schultz, Twombly, Merrill; 2 no — Mountford, Blumenthal). - AV-Tech estimates 24150/24151 (traffic signs and cloud service): approved $105,000 (unanimous). - Irrigation Concepts change order (repair wiring, raise ~7–8 heads): approved, NTE $15,000 (unanimous). - Terminate Laz’s Lawn Service and engage GulfScapes: approved (unanimous). - Approval of Oct. 22, 2024 meeting minutes as amended: approved (unanimous).
Next steps: staff will investigate the missing insurance payment entry; Mr. Krebs will finalize gatehouse and monument agreements after reviewing billing rates; sidewalk inspection reports and repair estimates will be presented in January; follow-up reports on the Pelican Sound Safeguard Panel will be provided after the panel’s first meeting in December. The meeting adjourned by unanimous motion (transcript records two different adjournment times).
