There were three primary items of focus at the last two West
Villages Improvement District [WVID] meetings: the selection of a new or
renewal of the firm used for district engineer duties, sod replacement and
landscaping issues along the 41 corridor (as is often mentioned), and water
supply and utilization. The last meeting held this past Tuesday also included
the initial discussion of an additional development unit creation, the
preliminary proposed budget for next fiscal year, and supervisor turnover of
one of the seats on the board. Here are some brief summaries of each of those
highlights.
1. District Engineer
- At the April meeting, three prospective firms made presentations as to why
they should be selected as the district engineer. The firm filling those
responsibilities in past, Kimley-Horn, was one of the presenters. The other two
were Stantec and Dewberry. Stantec was ultimately selected for the position, and
accepted the role as of the May meeting. Kimley-Horn is to remain as as a
potential consulting and/or auditing firm.
2. Sod replacement
and landscaping issues along 41 - Missing lighting and two palms along the
corridor were approved to be replaced at the last meeting. Some dysfunctional
lighting has been fixed. The sod replacement discussions and proposals have
been tabled once again, though, due to concerns of possible loss of investment
due to the shortage of irrigation water supply.
3. Irrigation water
supply - This is a concern for most everyone involved, so let me explain in
broad strokes what is going on here. Many in the district may notice that ponds
are getting low. Rains have not been sufficient to fill them at this time. A
particular source lake is used for irrigation purposes of the district grounds,
common areas, and individual residences on the system.
There is an agreement with Englewood Water District in place
that they are to provide 600,000 gallons of irrigation quality water per day
(at like $0.37/1000 gallons) to the district. Well, Englewood has not been providing
nearly that amount, and they say that they do not have it to provide. A while
ago, after district representative intervention, the amount being received from
Englewood was increased, but it still a considerable shortfall from the agreed
upon amount.
Unfortunately, there is no leverage or recourse to force Englewood
to honor the terms of the agreement as they are written, and the other
alternatives being investigated may take some time.
Now, there is a predicament with all of the various water
needs because of the water shortfall that Englewood was supposed to supply.
WVID is supplementing where they can with additional "potable" water
(drinkable - much higher quality than irrigation quality water), but that comes
at a cost of over $4.00/1000 gallons. Understandably, this is not a long term
solution. With whom the balance of obligations lie and cost-sharing strategies
between them are being sussed-out at this time, and some additional information
and action was to be taken at the end of this past week. As it stood at the end
of the meeting on Tuesday, conservation and supplementation with potable were
the only immediate alternatives.
4. New development
unit brought up - It has previously been discussed that Mattamy Homes
purchased land for development in the district. Well, we are likely to see this
next Fall. Funding infrastructure is accomplished through the sale of bonds
that are paid back by the residents of that area. Currently, the district has
Unit 1 which is common to everyone within WVID (think along the 41 corridor),
Unit 2 which is IslandWalk-Gran Paradiso-Town Centre, and Unit 3 which is
solely Gran Paradiso. The new development infrastructure would be funded
through the establishment of a new unit, most likely called Unit 4.
5. Supervisor seat
turnover - Ed Suchora will be stepping down from his position on the WVID
Supervisory Board. There is a candidate that has submitted an intent to run.
6. Proposed budget
for next fiscal year - A general proposed budget was put forth and approved
for publication. Notice will be given for public review and input on it. I will
post a link when it is published. It was also specifically pointed out that the
budget proposal at this time is the maximum amounts. From here forward, the
amounts budgeted can only go down.
As proposed, the annual assessments would increase by
$35-$40 over last year. Items affecting change include: a new district
engineer, additional development planned, operations manager added, sod
replacement to occur, and remaining balance from prior year is not carried
forward at this time. This budget is the untrimmed proposal and the Board
authorized to move forward with public notice for adoption of the proposal. Finalization
of this budget is to occur at the August 25th meeting.
If you are considering
purchasing a home in this district, please let me assist you. My services and
extensive resources are of no cost to you, and in most instances, I am able to
save home buyers some money. I
do not work for any of the wonderful builders in the West Villages Improvement
District, or any others for that matter. My services and information (including
the resources provided on all of my websites) are
wholly independent of these developers. No other independent professional is
more knowledgeable about this community, and enlisting me to assist with your
transaction serves also to fund these resources to keep them available for you
and others on an ongoing basis.
Look forward to hearing
from you!
Ali
Aileen “Ali” Johnston,
MHA
(currently working on
an MBA in Real Estate)
Realtor®, Hoover Realty
LLC
Mobile: 941-539-5771
