CDDs OK lake, country club upgrades

LAKEWOOD RANCH — A little more than a year ago, the Lakewood Ranch Community Development District 2 Board of Supervisors approved repairs of an eroded section of the bank of Lake Uihlein, deemed a safety hazard.

With the site fully repaired, the CDD 2 board thought the issue had been resolved.

But last month, district engineer Michael Kennedy approached the board once again and indicated that another section of the bank, about 200 yards southeast of the site of last year’s repairs, was in need of improvements.

During its monthly meeting July 16, the CDD 2 board approved a motion to enter into a contract with Sarasota Land Services in the amount of $57,411.25 with an additional $5,000 contingency allotment.

The new site was identified last year, but at the time, the erosion didn’t present a concern. However, in the past year, the area around the bank continued to erode, and it could become a safety hazard in the near future.

The designated section of Lake Uihlein now will undergo repair work in which rip-rap, or small- to medium-sized rocks, will be placed along the lake bank. The rip-rap is designed to prevent the lake bank from eroding further. Kennedy estimated that the repair work shouldn’t take more than 60 days to complete.

CDD 2 also is planning to improve landscaping throughout several sections of the Country Club, including Glen Eagles, Oakmont, Eagles Watch Way and Miramar. The board approved a motion for landscape enhancement improvements in the amount not to exceed $27,000.

“We’re spending budgeted dollars, so it seems to be an appropriate project,” CDD 2 Supervisor Pete Bokach said.

CDD 5 made a similar motion in the amount not to exceed $23,000 for the improvement of landscaping throughout its portion of the Country Club, including along Players Drive and Arnold Palmer Green, among other sections.

Additionally, operations director Ryan Heise informed both the CDD 2 and CDD 5 boards of supervisors that the improvement project to the Legacy Boulevard entrance is on schedule and expected to be completed the second week of August. Repairs to the gatehouse windows are underway and stonework, lighting and landscaping all should be completed within three weeks.

Improvements also will be made to the Country Club’s signage through a $10,000 contribution from Schroeder-Manatee Ranch.

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].

IN OTHER CDD NEWS
• CDD 4 Chairwoman Ann Fischer resigned from her position on the board, citing personal reasons. Supervisor Michael Griffin was elected as the new chairman, while supervisors Nancy Johnson and Gordon Norquay retained their current positions. Supervisor Michael Spring was elected as CDD 4’s new secretary, while Norquay was named the board’s new Inter-District Authority representative.

• Each of the CDD boards continued their meetings until 9 a.m., Aug. 10, at which time the boards will hold a strategic planning meeting to discuss hiring an irrigation consultant.

• District Attorney Andy Cohen noted that a request for proposal for security services has been published and the deadline for submissions is July 30.