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:
Salvatore J. Mendolia
President
Steve Mendelson
Secretary
David L. Gray
Supervisor
Also present were:
Ed Goscicki
Interim Manager -
Pamela Rower
Dana Kaas
Bob Koncar
Dennis Lyles
Attorney
Jane Early
Engineer
Nick Schooley
Field Superintendent
FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS
Roll Call
Mr. Goscicki
called the meeting to order and called the roll.
SECOND ORDER OF BUSINESS
Approval of the Minutes of the June 19, 2007
Meeting
Mr. Goscicki stated each Board member received a copy of the minutes of
the
There not being any,
On MOTION by Mr. Mendelson seconded by
Mr. Mendolia with all in favor the minutes of the
THIRD ORDER OF BUSINESS
Public Hearing to Consider Adoption of the General Fund, Heron Bay
Mitigation, Parkland Isles, Debt Service and Special Assessment Fund Budgets for
Fiscal Year 2008
Mr. Goscicki stated this item will be discussed after Mr. Gray receives
the Oath of Office.
FOURTH ORDER OF BUSINESS
Consideration of Resolution 2007-6 Rescheduling the Public Hearing to
Adopt the Heron Bay Commons Budget for Fiscal Year
2008
Mr. Goscicki stated this item will be discussed after Mr. Gray receives
the Oath of Office.
FIFTH ORDER OF BUSINESS
Staff Reports
A.
Manager’s Report
i.
Consideration of Cost Share Agreement for Development and
Implementation of BMP Program & Amendment No.
1
Mr. Goscicki
stated this is Amendment 1 to an existing agreement the District has with the
South Florida Water Management District.
This agreement was put into place to implement the best management
practices for stormwater management.
It extends the time frame by one year in order to get these best
management practices evaluated and reported.
On MOTION by Mr. Mendolia seconded by Mr.
Mendelson with all in favor the Cost Share Agreement for Development and
Implementation of BMP Program & Amendment No. 1 with the South Florida Water
Management District was approved.
ii. Ratification of
Authorization for Emergency Repairs to Pump Station No.
2
Mr. Goscicki stated shortly after the last meeting, I was contacted by
Mr. Nick Schooley regarding problems with Pump Station No. 2. Apparently he picked up excessive
vibrations in the pump shaft and was concerned about pump failure. We brought in a pump repair company to
give us some diagnostics. Without
repairs being made, the concern was about the pump seizing up. This happened before the July
4th weekend. As you
know, we are in the middle of our rainy season and we already had significant
rainfall. We were concerned about
waiting until the next Board meeting to bring this before the Board and dealt
with this as an emergency and authorized the repair. We have the plans showing what had to be
done. Mr. Schooley can explain this
in more detail.
Mr. Mendolia asked do we have any documentation to review and
sign?
Mr. Goscicki responded yes.
Mr. Schooley stated these are lifetime pumps, which pump 50,000 gallons
per minute. We have three pumps at
Station 2. We trained one of our
staff to watch the pumps and he noticed the shaft wobbling a great deal when we
started the engine. When I arrived
at the station, they already had them shut down and there was oil in the
water. I called our pump
maintenance company who determined the seals were bad in two pumps. They felt we could get through the
summer but I did not want to take a chance, knowing there was a problem. I spoke to Mr. Goscicki and we decided
to complete the repair work by Tuesday or Wednesday, pull the other one out and
complete both repairs two weeks from today. These pumps are 14 years old and were
never serviced. We talked about
servicing them every 10 years as in the past; we only repaired them when there
was a problem. We never had a major
problem. The repairs cost $8,000
for each pump for a total of $16,000, unless we run into some major problems
internally. There are two major
bearings and if one is bad, the cost will be $200 and $400 for the other
bearing. They will not know how bad
the bearings are until they dismantle the pumps. If they are not bad, they will
re-install them. I told them I
wanted new ones. They told me they
can tell if they are good or not when they put them back in by pulling the other
out next Tuesday or Wednesday. He
guaranteed me a $500 discount because it saves them from using the crane.
Mr. Goscicki asked what is the total cost?
Mr. Schooley responded $16,000 for both pumps. We made indentations in the prop, which
has to be welded in for balance.
There was a great deal of damage incurred to these pumps. The pump company told me these metals
were not normal metals for pumps.
We just pulled one in February and it was in better condition than
these. He said these are a
different type of metal, which corrodes more and causes
problems.
Mr. Mendolia asked do we have a periodic maintenance program for once a
year maintenance?
Mr. Schooley responded they only need to be maintained once every ten
years. I had pumps in for 15 years
without any problems. Of course we
can install a new pump and have problems tomorrow. If you want to move in this direction,
we will write a maintenance program for maintenance of the pumps every ten
years. I suggest having a
maintenance program for pump one in year seven, pump two in year eight, pump
three in year nine and pump four in year ten. This way all four pumps are
maintained.
Mr. Mendolia stated ten years sounds like a long
time.
Mr. Gray asked is there a manufacturers recommended period for
maintenance?
Mr. Schooley responded I think they recommend maintenance every seven to
ten years. I do not think it is a
stated recommendation.
Mr. Gray asked are they only doing repairs to what was damaged or are we
doing long-term maintenance? Is
there something they should be doing while they have the pumps
out?
Mr. Schooley responded no.
With the oil in the water and wobbling of the shaft, they are replacing
the seals as they hold the oil in the pump. If the seals are bad, the oil is going
to leak in the water. It was not a
bad leak but there was a sheen on the water. What you have is a shaft, propeller, two
or three bearings and two or three seals.
When you maintain the bearings and seals every ten years, you are going
to have a new pump.
Mr. Mendolia asked how many pumps do we have with the wrong type of
metal?
Mr. Schooley responded three at this pump station. I assume they are all the same. We can do this every seven to ten years
at our discretion in the off season when there are no hurricanes. I will coordinate a program with Mr.
Goscicki. No matter who is in
charge here, we will go this route.
Mr. Mendelson stated you are saying, within this ten year period, each
pump will be serviced.
Mr. Schooley stated correct.
Mr. Mendelson asked what is the total lifespan of those
pumps?
Mr. Schooley responded I had pumps in the Sunshine WCD that were 30 years
old. Today’s standards are not what
they used to be as far as metal and workmanship and they are not going to last
like they used to.
Mr. Mendolia asked do you have any documentation we can
review?
Mr. Goscicki responded I will have to obtain the documentation. At this time, we are asking you to
approve the work authorization in an amount not to exceed $16,000 for emergency
repairs.
Mr. Lyles asked is the not to exceed amount going to be sufficient? This is typically how the Board
authorizes something when they do not have the contract in front of
them.
Mr. Goscicki responded the price of the proposal was in the not to exceed
amount of $16,000.
Mr. Schooley stated the cost is $8,000 per pump for the seals,
re-conditioning, dismantling, painting, cleaning and sandblasting. This is standard work if the bearings
are bad. They cannot give you a
price because they do not know what is needed until they dismantle the
pumps. I never exceed what the
Board verbally agrees to.
Mr. Lyles stated the question was whether $16,000 was
enough.
Mr. Schooley stated $16,000 may not be enough because there was damage to
the pump and we may have to do some welding.
Mr. Goscicki stated a not to exceed amount of $20,000 may be more
adequate.
On MOTION by Mr. Mendelson seconded by
Mr. Mendolia with all in favor staff was authorized to prepare a work
authorization for the emergency repairs to Pump Station No. 2 in an amount not
to exceed $20,000.
Mr. Gray stated I worked for a manufacturer who produced pumps like this
for 18 years. I am a Mechanical
Engineer and understand a significant amount to explain the issue.
Mr. Mendolia stated we do not need you to go into
detail.
Mr. Gray asked if they say the bearings are not bad and there is a life
expectancy for them and it will only cost $500 more to replace, is it worth
replacing the bearings if they are beyond their life
expectancy?
Mr. Schooley responded this is my thought but the pump company told me
they can visually tell if it does not help to put a new bearing in instead of
spending $500. I do not want to
spend $500. If it does not look
new, I do not want it. However, if
it looks new, let’s do it.
Mr. Gray stated most products have some life expectancy.
Mr. Schooley stated if they tell me a new one is no better than this one,
I certainly am not spending another $500 to $600.
Organizational
Matters
●
Oath of Office for David L. Gray
Ms. Robin Dvorshak being a Notary of the State of
A.
Manager’s Report (Continued)
Mr. Goscicki stated I want to introduce Mr. Bob Koncar and Mr. Dana Kaas
from Severn Trent Services. Mr.
Kaas oversees all of our operations in
THIRD ORDER OF BUSINESS
Public Hearing to Consider Adoption of the General Fund, Heron Bay
Mitigation, Parkland Isles, Debt Service and Special Assessment Fund Budgets for
Fiscal Year 2008
Mr. Goscicki stated we provided to you under separate cover the proposed
budgets, which were reviewed with the Board at the last meeting. The only change was to the budget for
Heron Bay Commons. At the last
meeting, the Board directed us to develop multiple budgets and look at how to
fund the tennis court improvements.
However, since those multiple budgets resulted in an assessment increase,
we have to do a public notice by first class mail to all residents. This notice did not go out in time,
which we apologize for. Hence,
there are no members of the public here to discuss the budget. Obviously the public hearing notice was
published in the newspaper but the individual notifications did not go out. All of the other budgets are exactly the
same as the ones we reviewed with the Board last month and reflect no increases
in assessments from the previous year.
At this time, we want the Board to open the public hearing to take
comments from the audience or the Board.
If there are no comments, we can close the public hearing to consider
approval of those budgets. At our
next meeting on August 9th, we will consider the Heron Bay Commons
Budget as a separate item. With the
Board’s concurrence, the public hearing is now open. Are there any comments from the
public?
Mr. Lyles responded for the record, there should be a quick review on the
budget numbers and the purpose of the increases, if any.
Mr. Goscicki stated there are five budgets; General Fund Budget, Heron
Bay Mitigation Budget, Parkland Isles Budget, Debt Service and Special
Assessment Fund Budgets. The
current assessment of the General Fund Budget is $74.50 per unit. We propose keeping this amount the
same. The budget provides the
general administration of the District and field operations associated with
canal maintenance. The total amount
of this budget is $1,131,339 for revenues and expenditures with no increase in
assessments per the Board’s direction.
We moved some dollars around and are comfortable with the level of
funding in this budget as you have sufficient reserve funds moving forward into
next year. We are comfortable this
is a workable budget.
The second budget is the Heron Bay Mitigation Budget, which is for the
single purpose of funding the mitigation operations within
The Parkland Isles Budget deals with landscape maintenance operations and
irrigation plant replacement within Parkland Isles. There is also a small administration
fee. The total amount of this
budget is $292,162. The assessment
per unit is significant because there are a small number of units. The current assessment is $499 per unit
with no increase in 2008.
The Debt Service Fund Budget deals with the debt service for the
District. The assessment per unit
remains the same as the debt remains the same. The amortization schedule is attached to
the budget. The first series will
be paid down in 2010 and the second series will be paid down in 2024.
The Special Assessment Fund Budget consists of the Series 1997
Mr. Mendolia asked is this resolution for all of the
budgets?
Mr. Lyles responded the resolution covers all of the budgets the manager
just outlined. They are listed in
the title and in the body of the resolution. This resolution is being adopted
pursuant to the public notice and public hearing held today, unless there are
any questions from the Board or the public.
On MOTION by Mr. Mendelson seconded by
Mr. Gray with all in favor Resolution 2007-5 Adopting the General Fund, Heron
Bay Mitigation, Parkland Isles, Debt Service and Special Assessment Fund Budgets
for Fiscal Year 2008 was adopted.
FOURTH ORDER OF BUSINESS
Consideration of Resolution 2007-6 Rescheduling the Public Hearing to
Adopt the Heron Bay Commons Budget for Fiscal Year
2008
Mr. Goscicki stated we request the Board’s approval of Resolution 2007-6,
rescheduling the public hearing to adopt the Heron Bay Commons Budget for fiscal
year 2008 to
On MOTION by Mr. Mendolia seconded by Mr.
Mendelson with all in favor Resolution 2007-6 Rescheduling the Public Hearing to
Adopt the Heron Bay Commons Budget for Fiscal Year 2008 for
FIFTH ORDER OF BUSINESS
Staff Reports (Continued)
B.
Attorney’s Report
Mr. Lyles stated as I reported to you at the last meeting, our
legislation filed with
You may be aware of a dispute regarding median maintenance and
responsibility with the City of
Mr. Mendolia stated I hope so because you know my feelings on this
matter.
Mr. Lyles stated we received our direction from the
Board.
Mr. Goscicki stated we will continue working with WCI and use their
leverage to get the adjacent HOA’s to take over the median maintenance in those
areas.
Mr. Mendolia stated I said all I have to say on this matter.
C.
Engineer’s Report
There not being any, the next item followed.
SEVENTH ORDER OF BUSINESS
Supervisor’s Requests and Audience Comments
There not being any, the next item followed.
SIXTH ORDER OF BUSINESS
Approval of Requisitions and Invoices
There being no questions or comments,
On MOTION by Mr. Mendelson seconded by
Mr. Mendolia with all in favor the requisitions and check registers for the
month of June for the General Fund in the amount of $124,029.84, Heron Bay in
the amount of $120,103.98, Parkland Isles in the amount of $336.67, Heron Bay
Mitigation in the amount of $21,273.85 and the Water & Sewer Fund in the
amount of $1,090,308.94 were approved.
EIGHTH ORDER OF BUSINESS
Adjournment
There being no further business,
On MOTION by Mr. Mendelson seconded by
Mr. Mendolia with all in favor the meeting was
adjourned.
Steve Mendelson
Salvatore J. Mendolia
Secretary
President