MINUTES OF MEETING
NORTH SPRINGS IMPROVEMENT
DISTRICT
The regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of the North Springs
Improvement District was held on
Present and constituting a quorum were:
Matt Lauritzen
President
Salvatore J. Mendolia
Secretary
Steve Mendelson
Supervisor
Also present were:
George Keller
Manager
Dennis
Lyles
Attorney
John McKune
Engineer
Dan Daly
Staff
Doug Hyche
Staff
Jean M. Rugg
Jane Early
CH2M Hill
Tara-Lynn Patton
WCI
Michael Udine
Marsha Moore
Resident
Kay Grace
Resident
Bill Grace
Resident
Michael Hollander
Resident
Valerie Verger
Resident
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS
Roll Call
Mr. Lauritzen called the meeting to order and called the
roll.
SECOND ORDER OF BUSINESS
Approval of the Minutes of the June 9, 2005
Meeting
Mr. Lauritzen stated each Board member received a copy of the minutes of
the
There not being any,
On MOTION by Mr. Mendolia seconded by Mr.
Mendelson with all in favor the minutes of the
THIRD ORDER OF BUSINESS
Public Hearing to Co
Mr. Keller stated some questions were raised about the legal notice
requirements for today’s public hearing.
It is our recommendation we re-notice and hold the public hearing for the
adoption of both the general fund as well as the water and sewer budget at the
same meeting.
FOURTH ORDER OF BUSINESS
Distribution of Proposed Budget for the Water and Sewer
Mr. Keller stated here is a copy of the proposed water and sewer
budget. This is your first chance
to look at it. We can take it up at
next month’s meeting. I will be
happy to meet individually with the Board members if you have any
questions.
FIFTH ORDER OF BUSINESS
Co
A.
Ms. Early stated
this is the
Mr. Lauritzen asked why would they bid without a bid bond?
Ms. Early responded they bid on a private bid with WCI at the same
time. They provided a bid bond for
that job, but they did not have bonding capacity for both projects. They thought if they did not get the job
with WCI they would be able to provide a bid bond.
We have not done work with Mancon, Inc., but I did some research and I
heard good things about them. They
have not worked on any District jobs in the past ten years since I have been
here.
Mr. Mendolia asked did you say Mancon, Inc. was the second lowest bidder?
Ms. Early responded yes.
Conquest Engineering was $2,198.000, Mancon Inc. was $2,204,000 and
Florida Sewer and Water was $2,672,000.
We recommend the award to Mancon, Inc.
Mr. Mendolia asked have they worked for us?
Ms. Early responded I have not worked with them in a long time. I did some reference checking. They did some work on
On MOTION by Mr. Mendeloson seconded by
Mr. Mendolia with all in favor the Heron Bay Commercial Residential Development
Parcel Contract was awarded to Mancon, Inc.
B. Portable
Generator
Mr. Moore stated
we have some portable generators we use at our lift stations in case of any
power outages. We used it
extensively during the last hurricane season. We have one in NSID and one in
CSID. We hope to have three at each
site; therefore, we are putting one in each budget for each year. We took bids for two generators and the
lowest bidder was National Generators.
I recommend you purchase one more generator for the price of $2,693.
Mr. Mendolia asked what is the approximate delivery date?
Mr. Moore responded it will be approximately 10
weeks.
Mr. Mendolia stated the freight will probably cost a great deal because
they are heavy.
Mr. Moore stated they are approximately three quarters of the size of a
pick up truck.
Mr. Mendolia asked is it included in the price?
Mr. Moore responded that is correct.
On MOTION by Mr. Mendelson seconded by
Mr. Mendolia with all in favor the Portable Generator contract was awarded to
National Generators.
C. Ditch
Mower
Mr. Moore stated
we only had one bid to replace the worn out ditch mower we have for cutting
swales and some areas we own. The
bid is for $7,693. I recommend we
go to the supplier of the brand that goes with our
tractor.
Mr. Mendolia asked why did we only receive one bid?
Mr. Moore responded it is hard to find someone to do something this
small.
On MOTION by Mr. Mendolia seconded by Mr.
Mendelson with all in favor the purchase of the new ditch mower from All Coast
Tractor in the amount of $7,693 was approved.
SIXTH ORDER OF BUSINESS
Co
Ms. Early stated
items A, B and C are Heron Bay North Plat three. They are on a 50’, 65’ and 75’ pod for
water distribution and wastewater collection. There is an engineering funding
agreement for WCI to fund the project.
D. WA #146
Ms. Early stated associated with items A through C are the drainageways.
We have a design for work authorization for them.
Ms. Early stated
this is the lift station to provide the three pods.
F. WA
Ms. Early stated
this is the
G. WA #149 Heron Bay North Plat #3 Spine
Road W/S and LS TPC #14 and Funding Agreement #412 for Engineering
Services
Ms. Early stated
this is
H. Funding Agreement #413
for
Ms. Early stated there should be a work authorization for engineering
services and construction for the
Ms. Rugg stated it was not brought to the Board last
month.
Ms. Early stated it is an engineering service for the parcel we just
awarded.
On MOTION by Mr. Mendolia seconded by Mr.
Mendelson with all in favor work authorizations #141, #143, #144, #145, #146,
#147, #148, #149 and Funding Agreements #407, #408, #409, #410, #411, #412,
#413, #414 were approved.
SEVENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS
Co
A.
Ms. Early stated these are surface water management permits. We have one for Pod 16 in Parkland Golf
and Country Club. We also have one
from the Turnpike Authority for the Sawgrass Expressway widening from
On MOTION by Mr. Mendolia seconded by Mr.
Mendelson with all in favor the permit request for the Parkland Golf and Country
Club POD 16 drainage outfall into canal S2-4 was
approved.
B.
Sawgrass Expressway Widening from
Ms. Early stated this is the same type of permit.
Mr. Lauritzen stated a sound proof wall is going to be
built.
Mr. Udine stated the Sawgrass Expressway is paid for by toll money.
Mr. Lauritzen asked how long is it going to take?
Mr. Udine responded it is a big project. They widen from the
i
On MOTION by Mr. Mendelson seconded by
Mr. Mendolia with all in favor the permit request for widening of the Sawgrass
Expressway from
EIGHTH ORDER OF BUSINESS
Staff Reports
A.
Attorney
Mr. Lyles stated
I am proud to distribute the codification, which is the new Florida Statute
conforming our various bills and amendments into one document cited as Chapter
2005-341 Laws of Florida. It was
signed by the Governor on
B.
Engineer
The engineer’s report was discussed under the manager’s
report.
C.
Manager
i.
Large User Agreement/Rate Information
Mr. Moore stated we have no sewage plant in NSID. Our sewage goes to the county through a
large user agreement they had from approximately 1986. There has been no utility fee increase
to our customers over the past five years.
We experience a 5% to 6% increase every year. I made a
tabulation and since the inception we had a 50% charge from the
county. This is the first year they
did not raise it. You may need to
look at passing it on in your fee structure.
ii. Mitigation Consultants Invoice
and Payment
Mr. Moore stated NSID has about 23 to 30 acres of mitigation. You will be discussing the cost of the
mitigation at next month’s budget meeting.
Mr. Lauritzen asked can you define mitigation?
Mr. Moore responded when a developer or a District develops raw land,
there are sometimes sensitive lands needing to be accounted for or
replaced. This is called
mitigation. If you have wetlands
and you destroy a half of an acre, the county may allow you to put three
quarters of an acre somewhere else to accommodate the wetlands. In some cases they may not let you
destroy it at all.
Over the past 10 to 15 years we dedicated by our plats approximately 18
acres and ultimately 23-25 acres of mitigation. They will be coming to the Board for us
to own and maintain forever. You
need to have specialists to watch out for your interest. A firm named Miller Legg was hired about
three years ago by NSID. They are
currently managed by CH2M Hill to do certain tasks on our behalf. They had a lump sum contract and they
had additional services. Because
the mitigation contractor was not doing a good job at the time, they were
requested to come out on numerous occasions in addition to the contract and they
were paid for those times. One time
they came out and the management in the past decided not to pay the bill. I do not feel it is fair for this bill
to be pending. I told the
consultant I would come to the Board.
There is a letter from our consultant recommending we pay this bill. I think they deserve to be paid for
their services.
Mr. Lauritzen asked were these services done?
Mr. Moore responded yes.
Ms. Early stated when the mitigation was newly planted and we hired a new
firm to take care of it, they were having a great deal of problems. They were destroying some of it. We had many new homeowners calling Mr.
Schooley who typically sprayed the lakes; however, we had this special company
doing it in
Mr. Lauritzen asked was this an oversight?
Ms. Early responded I do not believe anyone realized the magnitude of the
problem.
Mr. Moore stated they were authorized to do the work by our
consultants. It may have been a
personality problem three years ago.
Mr. Lauritzen asked how much money are you talking about?
Mr. Moore responded $8,664.02.
Mr. Keller asked was the fee reduced?
Mr. Moore responded I asked them if they would deduct $5,000 one time and
they verbally agreed. They are
presently doing work for the mitigation.
They will look out for our interest in the future because they are a good
firm. I want to keep the
relationship between them and the District open.
Ms. Early stated WCI is currently paying them because we have to replace
some mitigation areas. WCI is
paying for the replacement because of the lack of maintenance and the confusion
as to who was spraying.
Mr. Lauritzen stated if we are liable to make a payment I do not want a
discount.
Mr. Lyles stated based on staff recommendation the work was
done.
On MOTION by Mr. Mendelson seconded by
Mr. Lauritzen with all in favor payment in the amount of $8,664.02 to Miller
Legg for services rendered was approved.
iii.
Mr. Moore stated
approximately a year and a half ago we bid a three year maintenance contract for
the Parkland Isles maintenance berm.
Mr. Baldis and the HOA are not happy with the service they have been
getting with the contractor. Mr.
Lyles looked at the contract and it seems our only option is to rebid the
contract. We can award the contract
to a new contractor and go through the terms as well as the conditions of the
contract to give proper notice of termination to the existing contractor.
Mr. Lauritzen asked have you seen sufficient evidence to validate these
complaints?
Mr. Moore responded not personally.
Mr. Baldis is our landscape person.
I had both a landscape contractor and Mr. Baldis tell me it is
unsatisfactory. I am relying on my
staff.
Mr. Lyles stated if you want to implement Mr. Moore’s recommendation, the
motion is to authorize staff to give notice of termination to the current
landscape contractor as well as further authorization to rebid the
contract.
On MOTION by Mr. Mendolia seconded by Mr.
Mendelson with all in favor staff was authorized to give the current landscape
contractor notice of termination and to rebid the landscape
contract.
Mr. Moore stated I am leaving the District next month. I have been with Gary Moyer for 16 years
and served six years with NSID.
This is my last meeting. I
am giving out a general map and an area map. Also the steps and procedures we do at
the water plant when we have a hurricane.
I want to give this to you as a token of my appreciation. I thank you for letting me serve
you.
Mr. Keller stated we need to discuss a security issue. CSID chose to eliminate armed security
at this location no later than
Mr. Lauritzen stated I am an advocate for high tech
securities.
Mr. Moore stated we presently have a few cameras on the site. We are going to adhere a Sunpass type of situation at the gate with monitored
cameras. The device will be issued
to all employees and Board members.
We have one gate at NSID and in a future phase some of the berming will
be removed. We are planning on
eliminating some of the guard services at CSID within 30 days after we get the
operation of our security system, which includes cameras, the gate, the license
plates as well as three different buzz-in operations.
Mr. Keller stated we can bring some options for your
co
In regard to the Heron Bay Commons property we have not received the
financial audit. I was told it will
be done very soon. It should be
available before the next meeting.
A report for the operational audit is being prepared and it will be
submitted to the Vice President of Severn Trent Services. Once it is available, the determination
on how the information will be used or available will be
decided.
Staff met with Mr. Hollander this past month to review public
records. Mr. Hollander found some
of the information he was looking for.
There are other records he is still looking for. We will make additional attempts to
provide the public records being requested.
NINTH ORDER OF BUSINESS
Supervisor’s Request and Audience Comments
Mr. Udine stated I want to thank Mr. Keller for taking care of the issues
I raised last month about the lifeguard situation at the
Mr. Keller stated WCI responded immediately and handled the
situation.
Mr. Udine stated thank you to the people at WCI. As I look at the map and see how the
District has grown into
Mr. Mendolia stated I want to thank NSID for helping the Colony section
of
Mr. Lauritzen stated I want to thank Mr. Moore. He has been a great service to the
District. I propose management look
into something to place Mr. Moore’s name on to remind us of how he served the
District.
Ms. Grace stated I am the Chair to the Falls HOA in
Mr. Keller responded we are waiting for the financial audit report and
the operational audit report to make determinations as well as recommendations
to the Board on how to proceed.
Ms. Grace asked who is paying for the audit?
Mr. Keller responded the District is paying for the financial audit and
the operational audit is being paid for by Severn Trent
Services.
Mr. Grace asked do we have a time as to when we will have the information?
Mr. Keller responded we anticipated having the financial audit completed
by now. It should be ready prior to
the next meeting. The operational
audit should be done shortly as well.
Ms. Grace asked will you then have a total of how much money did not come
in for the various rentals?
Mr. Keller responded we are not going to characterize it. We will get all of the information at
that time.
Ms. Grace asked will the Board make a decision about what happens to the
commons?
Mr. Keller stated we will provide the information to the Board with our
recommendations and they will have some policies to make.
Mr. Lauritzen stated we are aware of your concerns, but we cannot do
anything until these reports are finalized.
Mr. Hollander stated in December I gave Mr. Lyles a letter for
documents. I still do not have
them. I was very specific as to the
documents I wanted. It has been
seven months and I do not have them.
Mr. Lyles stated the letter you handed to me at a meeting was immediately
handed to the District Manager to respond.
You and I had several conversations. District Staff has tried their best to
obtain every document meeting the description in your request and provide it to
you. The documents they produced
after searching their files are not complete.
Mr. Keller stated we will search all of our files, our archives and
anywhere else we can think of. We
will identify the records which were found and delivered, those which have not
been found and those with any questions as to whether they exist.
Mr. Hollander asked what is the required time period by law?
Mr. Lyles responded there is no specific time period. They have expended a
co
Mr. Hollander asked how are they auditing if
they do not know what should be there?
Mr. Lyles responded the operational audit you are referring to is
something undertaken by Severn Trent Services. If the direction is insufficient, then
the auditor will tell them what they need to have in the way of direction or
guidelines for the audit.
Mr. Hollander asked has this Board asked WCI for the documents?
Mr. Keller responded we had correspondence requesting the
documents.
Mr. Hollander asked may I have a copy of the letters?
Mr. Keller responded yes.
Mr. Hollander stated WCI offered approximately $60,000 that was paid into
somewhere. Was the money deposited
by NSID?
Mr. Keller asked what was the money for?
Mr. Hollander responded reimbursement for room
rental.
Mr. Keller stated our recommendation months ago
was not to act upon it until the entirety of the issue was
addressed.
Mr. Hollander asked do you not have the money?
Mr. Keller responded no.
That was our recommendation at the time.
Mr. Hollander asked how much longer am I going to wait before they
determine there are no records? What am I going to get back from
you?
Mr. Lyles responded the District Manager’s office is the custodian of the
records. You are going to get a
response either with a record or with a statement that no such document exists
or it is not in our possession. You
can expect to have it within a month.
TENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS
Approval of Invoices, Requisitions and Financial
Statements
There being no
questions or comments,
On MOTION by Mr. Mendolia seconded by Mr.
Mendelson with all in favor the invoices, requisitions and financial statements
were approved.
Mr. Moore stated
I want to introduce Mr. Doug Hyche.
He has been helping me for the past year and he is in charge of the North
Springs Water Plant.
Mr. Keller stated in reference to our discussion at the beginning of the
meeting about the notice and legal process in terms of the budget, we recommend
reading into the record a resolution approving the proposed budget and stating
public hearings will be held at the
On MOTION by Mr. Mendolia seconded by Mr.
Mendelson with all in favor Resolution 2005-6 approving the proposed budgets and
setting a public hearing for
ELEVENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS
Adjournment
There being no further business,
On MOTION by Mr. Mendolia seconded by Mr.
Mendelson with all in favor the meeting was adjourned at
Salvatore J. Mendolia
Matt
Lauritzen
Secretary
Chairman