Ranch CDD 2 swears in new board supervisor

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Soon after he moved to Lakewood Ranch in 2008, Jerry Twiggs threw himself into the governance of his condominium community, Watercrest.

Six years later — seconds after being sworn in as the newest Lakewood Ranch Community Development District 2 supervisor — Twiggs sat at a dais and studied a thick three-ring binder and a 2015 budget-planning book.

Twiggs, 62, the chief operating officer of Peace River Electric Cooperative and, also, a lawyer, will fill the CDD 2 seat vacated by Kathleen Grant, who resigned in March.

“I love Lakewood Ranch,” said Twiggs, who interviewed with the CDD 2 board before being selected. “I always want to be involved in my community, and this is a chance to get more involved.”

That chance came when Grant, his friend, resigned. She served with Twiggs on the Watercrest Condo Association Board and recommended he apply for the open seat with the CDD.

Since Twiggs began his work as CDD supervisor April 17, he has been learning more about his community.

At his first CDD meeting that day, his Southern drawl sounded distinct among his fellow board members when Twiggs — an Alabama native — requested a map of CDD 2-owned property.

“I am in collection of information mode,” Twiggs said.

Twiggs is also in life-change mode.

To avoid a conflict of interest, Twiggs resigned from his post as president of the Watercrest Condo Association, a position he has held since 2009.

Twiggs also said he will retire from full-time work next year so he can focus on serving CDD 2.
His priorities as a board member will develop over time.

“Right now, I’m concerned about traffic issues,” Twiggs said. “I have no personal interest in this. All of us have a common interest to work together and make sure taxpayers get the most money for their buck.”

Although his CDD 2 seat expires in November, Twiggs wants to run for an additional four-year term.

“I wouldn’t have accepted this job if I didn’t think it was something that would be long term,” Twiggs said.

CDD WRAPUP
CDD 1:
• Supervisor Phyllis Troy announced she will not run for re-election in November.

“You have been our faithful liaison with the county in working with them on various issues,” CDD 1 Chairwoman June Stroup told Troy.

• After the death of Lakewood Ranch resident Donald Mader, supervisors directed staff to study each of the intersections along Lakewood Ranch Boulevard for appropriate line of sight.

Mader, 83, died April 5, at Blake Medical Center, after being struck by a vehicle while riding his bicycle at the intersection of Parkside Place and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.

“The community lost a wonderful person,” Stroup said of Mader.

CDD 2:
• District Engineer Mike Kennedy conducted a drive-through of CDD 2 roads and determined “most of the pavement is in really good condition.”

• Staff is looking into installing an Applications by Design, Inc. (ABDI) security system at the Edgewater gate.

CDD 5:
• A trial date for a lawsuit regarding installation of now-sunken storm drain inlets is set for Aug. 21.

“I want residents be aware there is ongoing discussions by all parties,” Supervisor Thomas Bishop said. “This board will continue to have several closed sessions in an effort to minimize resident impact. We have spent lot of money, not only on litigation, but on repairs.”

• The board awarded a $101,380 contract for phase 5 inlet restoration work.
Repairs will begin in May.

CDD 6:
• The board appointed Supervisor Richard Williams as its chairman. Supervisor Bob Burstein resigned as chairman in March; he still serves on the board.

All:
• The boards initiated a request for qualifications for a new engineer. In March, Kennedy announced his resignation from his position effective at the end of the fiscal year.

• Town Hall’s landscape manager, Eddie Tanguay, who began his job in August 2013, resigned.

• The qualifying period to run for CDD seats in the November election is June 16 to June 20.

IDA:
• A study of Town Hall’s employee health insurance plan revealed the benefits package is lacking in some areas. The IDA will try to look for alternative health plans. Employees saw a 17% increase in their health insurance premiums for Blue Cross Blue Shield in 2014.

Contact Josh Siegel at [email protected].