Ranch IDA adopts budget

Despite a nearly $50,000 increase in expected costs for property for a new maintenance facility, the Lakewood Ranch Inter-District Authority Board last week unanimously adopted a 2012 Fiscal Year budget that is 2.5% lower than last year.

Interim Town Hall Executive Director Steve Zielinski attributed the decrease to a reduction in personnel costs, non-recurring HVAC improvements, the transition of Lakewood Ranch Community Activities Corp. to independency and the use of a surplus from last year’s Town Hall budget, among other items.

“Steve and his staff did a great job,” IDA Chairman Tom Green said. “We are running the community as efficiently as possible.”

The new $3.4 million budget also includes increased costs for adding an in-house landscape contract management and no salary and wage adjustments for IDA staff members, Zielinski said.

The IDA originally had set aside about $40,000 for property for a new maintenance facility but now plans to purchase five acres at about $25,000 per acre. An additional $50,000 for the item was added to the budget without resulting in an overall budget increase.

Revenues for the IDA budget are collected primarily through Lakewood Ranch Community Development District contributions. CDDs 1, 2, 4 and 5 will adopt their 2012 Fiscal Year budgets next month.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].

Eva Rey preps to take helm
Weeks after selecting Eva Rey as the new executive director of Lakewood Ranch Town Hall, members of the Inter-District Authority Board formally approved her contract for the post during their meeting July 21.

Rey, who moved to Lakewood Ranch July 15, in preparation for her new role, will start Aug. 1.

“It’s an amazing feeling,” Rey said after the vote. “The fact they’ve chosen me … is quite a vote of confidence. I’m eager to get started.”

IN OTHER BUSINESS
CDD 1
• Supervisors agreed to contract with Aquatic Systems for lake maintenance services starting Oct. 1 for an annual cost of about $58,000.
• Supervisors adopted a common-area trimming policy that clarifies that homeowners can trim or cut back district vegetation infringing on their private lots.
• Operations Director Ryan Heise advised supervisors that Verizon had agreed to replant shrubbery outside its facility at the corner of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard and River Club Boulevard by the end of August.

CDD 2
• Supervisors agreed to contract with Aquatic Systems for lake maintenance services at a cost of about $86,000 annually. The contractor would start Oct. 1.
• Supervisors adopted a common-area trimming policy that clarifies that homeowners can trim or cut back district vegetation infringing on their private lots.
• A representative of the Country Club/Edgewater Village Association advised the board it had formed two ad hoc committees and hoped to report on irrigation and communication issues by Thanksgiving.

CDD 4
• Supervisors agreed to renew a contract with Aquatic Systems for lake maintenance services at an annual cost of about $95,000 annually.
• Supervisor Keith Davey reported the district’s security contractor will be adding a light to the top of its patrol vehicle.
• Supervisors adopted a common-area trimming policy that clarifies that homeowners can trim or cut back district vegetation infringing on their private lots.

CDD 5
• Supervisors denied a request from Neal Communities to allow construction traffic access through the gate at Players Avenue because of concerns over noise and safety, among others.
• Supervisors agreed to contract with Aquatic Systems for lake maintenance services for a cost of $99,636 annually.
• The district will remove information boxes from cluster mailboxes as the repairs and cleaning of boxes continues.
• Supervisors adopted a common-area trimming policy that clarifies that homeowners can trim or cut back district vegetation infringing on their private lots.

IDA
• Supervisors extended the IDA’s contract with Andy Avalar for services through Oct. 1 at a cost of up to $26,000.
• Supervisors approved an agreement with Severn Trent Environmental Services for records administration and special assessment services.