Ranch CDDs debate gator policy this week

Lakewood Ranch Community Development Districts will review everything from gator policies to dog waste station locations at their Dec. 18 meetings Thursday at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall.

Lakewood Ranch Community Development District 6, which held an agenda review meeting this morning at Town Hall, will discuss a potential gator policy for Lakewood Ranch and possible pet waste station locations. CDDs 2 and 5, which are also a part of the Lakewood Ranch Golf and County Club, are also discussing the gator issue this week.

CDD 2, 5 and 6 attorney Andy Cohen, however, isn’t recommending the CDDs put in place a policy before residents are allowed to call Florida Fish & Wildlife to report a gator residents cite as a possible threat to the community.

Cohen cites a liability problem as an issue for his recommendation, noting that if residents don’t report a gator and it ends up hurting a resident, the district could be liable for its role in the policy.

Some residents have questioned whether a policy should be in place to inform residents about gator threat problems. Currently, if Ranch resident call FWC, wildlife officials send a trapper out to remove a gator from the area’s habitat, regardless if it’s a threat to the area or not.

CDDs 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6, along with the Inter-District Authority Board, meet beginning 8 a.m. Thursday at Town Hall to approve agenda items that are being discussed this week.

For more information, check www.yourobserver.com for updates and pick up a copy of the Dec. 25 issue of the East County Observer.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].