IDA approves funding proposal

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Planning for the construction of a new maintenance facility has been under way for months, and now Lakewood Ranch is one step closer to seeing its vision come to fruition.

Lakewood Ranch Inter-District Authority voted 3-1 July 19, in favor of pursuing a 12-year funding proposal for the construction of the 6,675-square-foot facility. CDD 1 Supervisor Jean Stewart dissented on behalf of her district.

The 12-year, bank-qualified loan would require the community to pay about $251,000 annually for an estimated total cost of $3 million. Homeowners would see an annual increase of $37 on their assessments. The new assessments for the maintenance facility won’t go into effect until 2014.

Supervisors for Lakewood Ranch Community Development Districts 2, 4, and 5 agreed to move forward with a 10- or 12-year loan, while the majority of CDD 1 Supervisors favored a 30-year loan.

“I just haven’t formulated a hardcore decision,” CDD 1 Supervisor Alan Roth said. “Personally, I would say 30 years because I believe that’s what half of the district would want.”

CDD 1 Supervisor Gary Berns agreed.

“I believe in paying for what you’re using,” Berns said. “Under that theory, the 30-year (proposal) makes sense to me. Half of the people (probably) won’t be here in 12 years, and I (feel) that’s a gift from me that, quite honestly, I don’t want to give.”

In addition, the board also approved expanding the design of $2.2 million facility by 2,500 square feet to include an extra bay and storage area, additional security features and a covered parking area for maintenance equipment. The additional features will cost the IDA about $200,000.

“We feel this will certainly benefit operations and the overall effect of operations,” Town Hall Executive Director Eva Rey said.

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].

IN OTHER CDD NEWS:
• CDD 4 Supervisors agreed not to apply for financial assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the damage caused by Tropical Storm Debby. Lakewood Ranch maintenance staff had to remove nearly $20,000 worth of turf and padding from a playground in Adventure Park and replace it with playground-certified mulch.

• Lakewood Ranch Operations Manager Ryan Heise informed the boards the community will place Protect Our Ponds signage along Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, Legacy Boulevard and Greenbrook Boulevard in reference to Manatee County’s fertilizer ordinance. The three types of signs will remain up through Sept. 30 to encourage residents to reduce the amount of nitrates and phosphates used in fertilizer throughout the summer.

• CDD 2 and 5 Supervisors asked district engineer Mike Kennedy to move forward with plans to generate bids for the paving of both the east and west sections of The Masters Boulevard and Legacy Boulevard in the Lakewood Ranch Country Club.

• Lakewood Ranch Chief Financial Officer Steve Zielinski presented Debbie Gross with a five-year service award for her contributions to the finance department.

• CDD 5 Supervisors approved the replacement of 12 Washingtonian palms with eight silver Bismarck palms at the intersection of The Masters Boulevard and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard to help alleviate future maintenance.