Rey earns bonus, extended contract

LAKEWOOD RANCH — June 12 was a good day for Lakewood Ranch Town Hall Executive Director Eva Rey.

She received unanimous support and positive recommendations from every Lakewood Ranch Inter-District Authority and Community Development District board member, a 5% raise that brings her annual salary from $130,000 to $136,500 and a $5,000 bonus.

The Lakewood Ranch Inter-District Authority unanimously approved a new three-year contract and her new salary, which becomes effective Aug. 1.

IDA Chairman Tom Green said all the Lakewood Ranch Community Development District boards “are 100% behind this new contract.”

Green cited Rey’s ability to improve customer service and communication at Town Hall and among residents as “just outstanding.”

To improve communication, Rey has set up a comment card system through which she can receive direct feedback from residents. The process has resulted in improvements — after a resident complained of hard-to-find bicycle racks, Town Hall installed a new one in front of the building.

She has also immersed herself in the community, even agreeing to be a hamburger judge at Woodland Community Church’s annual festival.

“We’re looking forward to three more great years,” Green said.

CDD 6 Assistant Secretary Robert Burstein called Rey “an inspiration, an anchor and a rock” for Town Hall.

Rey told the East County Observer she’s proud of her work the past three years.

Specifically, Rey, 46, pointed to improved customer service and communication and the new Lakewood Ranch government website as her biggest accomplishments. She’s even the webmaster of Town Hall’s site, and she can do basic HTML coding.

The biggest project to date under her watch — Town Hall’s new maintenance building — finished on time and under budget.

CDD meetings also operate smoothly under her watch and rarely go past budgeted time.

The first phase of an irrigation plan also proved successful. Town Hall rolled out a rebate program two years ago to promote the use of soil-moisture sensors, in a move to save water.

“When I look at the organization now and what it was when I walked in these doors, it’s really not the same anymore,” Rey said. “I looked at our processes and saw my fingerprints in so many places. I’m proud of what I’ve been able to accomplish so far, and I’m ready to focus on the next three years.”

Making the Grade
Lakewood Ranch Town Hall Executive Director Eva Rey received positive recommendations and unanimous support from Lakewood Ranch Inter-District Authority Chairman Tom Green and his fellow board members in the following categories:

• Customer service
• Improved communication
• Revamped website
• Established solid relationships with Schroeder-Manatee Ranch and the media
• Became involved with the community and attended events
• Upgraded the Information Technology Department
• Led a process to approve evaluations for outside vendors
• Improved the purchasing process
• Oversaw a modern maintenance building on time and under budget
• Drafted a plan to improve irrigation issues

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected]