New company assumes maintenance

EAST COUNTY — With about two weeks to prepare, Josh McGary, sales manager for Aquatic Systems, and his team soon will make a splash at water systems within the Heritage Harbour community.

At their Dec. 19 meeting, supervisors on the Heritage Harbour South Community Development District agreed to hire Aquatic Systems for wetland and stormwater pond maintenance starting Jan. 1. Aquatic Systems’ contract is for $55,900 annually.

Although the team will have to mobilize quickly, and may start working as early as Jan. 2, McGary promises a smooth transition for residents. The statewide company is accustomed to abrupt changes, he said.

Supervisors said the clean, precise presentation by McGary and Aquatic Systems Senior Consultant Doug Agnew caught their attention.

“They had pictures and specifics,” said Joyce Sandy, CDD chairwoman. “They told us what they would do and how they would do it.”

Residents will see representatives of the company around the community a minimum of six times per month.

Supervisor Richard Lane questioned the team’s ability to come to the community more than six times, if necessary.

“You’ll be seeing my face a lot around here,” McGary said, assuring that the company is available whenever needed.

McGary visited Heritage Harbour three times in December to get an idea of which areas needed the most work. He found two types of invasive greens — floating water lettuce and torpedo grass — that he and staff members will face head-on in the new year.

The lettuce and grass have the potential to spread and block out sunlight and overtake the bodies of water completely.

In January, the trio will treat the problem areas, comb the premises for other issues that need attention and assess the condition of the palms and wetlands at that point.

In addition, McGary and his team will report progress and keep communication open to residents and supervisors between CDD meetings.

“We want to be as clear as possible with letting the board and community know what we’re doing,” McGary said.

McGary invites Heritage Harbour residents to stop by and say hello when they see company representatives in the community.

NEW FORMAT
Supervisors of the Heritage Harbour South Community Development District voted 4-1 at their meeting Dec. 19 to adopt rules of procedure and meeting procedures.

“Most organizations have rules,” Supervisor Richard Lane said. “It will help us maintain order and handle business more professionally.”

Meeting-format discussions began almost one year ago.

Contact Amanda Sebastiano at [email protected].