Heritage Harbour CDD OKs contracts

HERITAGE HARBOUR — The Heritage Harbour South Community Development District officially will assume responsibility for lake and wetland maintenance within the district starting Jan. 1.

The board of supervisors on Dec. 2 approved contractors for both projects, which were previously handled by the Heritage Harbour Master Association.

Supervisors approved a contract for lake/pond aquatic maintenance with American Ecosystems for a total cost of $32,176. The bid came in at $24,164 less than the next lowest bid. A separate $61,535 contract for wetland maintenance with Eco Consultants also was approved. That bid came in at $44,119 less than the next lowest bidder.

Matt Morris, principal for Morris-Riley Development Management, the firm hired by the CDD to oversee the projects, confirmed he had checked with references for both companies and was confident they would do a good job.

“Eco Consultants did a lot of the initial permitting on the (Heritage Harbour) project,” Morris said. “They are familiar (with it). American Ecosystems has other CDD clients in the area.”

Although bids awarded seemed low compared to counter offers, Morris said numbers were comparable to those paid to contractors hired by the Heritage Harbour Master Association for similar services. In total, costs for both wetland and lake maintenance came in at about $2,300 less than the budgeted amount.

The Master HOA will continue maintaining two lakes within the district, and Morris said he was working with the HOA to see if they will use the same contractor as the CDD for those bodies of water. Aquaterra owns and maintains three lakes, as well.

After approving the contracts, Supervisor Joseph Jaudon suggested the board direct the Heritage Harbour Master Association about its expectations for the maintenance of the lakes and wetlands that remain under association care but belong to the district. He also suggested getting periodic condition reports about those bodies of water.

“We cannot expect another will manage our properties if we don’t give them guidelines,” said Jaudon, who has experience in property management and real estate. “It’s just a good idea, I think, if a property owner sets out his expectations. You wouldn’t give over your home to a real estate company downtown without (knowing what’s going on at the property). It’s just good business sense.”

Morris said the new contractors should begin work the first week of January. Both companies will be tasked with an initial cleanup of lakes and wetland areas and then weekly site visits and ongoing maintenance.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].

IN OTHER BUSINESS
CDD District Manager Jim Ward said he expects to have an agreement with Aquaterra, Heritage Harbour’s developer-controlled irrigation utility company, to present to the board at its January meeting.