The first item on the agenda was Resolution 2026-08: General Elections. District Manager Heather Dilley informed the board that Seat 1 (Chris Barrett) and Seat 2 (Greg Chesney) are up for re-election in November. (Note: Chesney is resigning effective May 5, 2026, so his successor will be up for re-election.) Dilley stated that the qualifying period for candidates will be from noon June 8 to noon June 12. Candidates must be 18 years or older, a U.S. citizen, a registered voter in Hillsborough County and a resident of the district. Dilley added that supervisors are paid $200 per meeting up to $4800 annually. The board unanimously approved Resolution 2026-08 (Note: Chris Barrett had not yet arrived.)
In his report, Field Manager David Sylvanowicz informed the board that repairs to the gazebo in the Village Green had been completed in the amount of $3,200. He added that the CDD storage room needs a new commercial door ($3,000) and the maintenance garage needs repairs due to squirrel damage ($500).
Sylvanowicz said the Keswick Forest walking bridge is rotting in place and he received a quote for $4,380 to demo and rebuild with pressure-treated wood, which will need to be painted and maintained, and a bid to rebuild with Owens Corning composite decking for $6,360. Sylvanowicz said the bridge was created years ago as a pass-through and asked if it was necessary. Chairman Matt Lewis said he lives near that community and people use it all the time. Lewis made a motion to rebuild with composite decking for $6,500 (to allow wiggle room). The motion passed unanimously and the board asked Sylvanowicz to work with the Keswick Forest Voting Member on the color choice.
Sylvanowicz then informed the board that TECO is putting in a new crushed gravel service road behind the open field in Glencliff park where the CDD installed new drainage pipes last year. The service road will connect to the road at the southernmost part of Applecross in the Greens. Sylvanowicz said he spoke with TECO and let them know about the new pipes and they will most likely install reinforced concrete pipes to avoid damage. District Engineer Robert Dvorak explained that TECO had a problem getting to their lines after Milton due to flooding and they want to elevate the road. Dvorak added that he wants to see what they are planning to install to ensure the district maintains the same capacity that we have now, or better. Lewis asked Sylvanowicz to remain in communication with TECO.
Lewis asked how the work would be communicated to residents. Sylvanowicz said a resident he spoke with had received a notice from TECO. Supervisor Chris Barrett asked him to reach out to the Greens VM to ensure there has been communication to the residents who back up to the easement.
Sylvanowicz briefly brought up the next phase of sidewalk repair and the board agreed to move the discussion to the April workshop.
Turning to the Village Greens greenspace, Sylvanowicz said a resident asked when the CDD was going to address the appearance of the grass. He told the board the grass is currently a mix of Bermuda in the center and St. Augustine on the perimeter, and he is working with Red Tree on a solution. The cost to resod just the middle with new Bermuda would be $18,000. Lewis said they should revisit in a few months after they see what Mother Nature does. Barrett asked him to at least fill in the existing dirt patches.
Sylvanowicz said the sump project behind the Sturbridge berm is in progress and should be complete by the end of March. Dvorak turned to the long-range plan for Pond 125 and said he went through SWFTMD and there were no major stumbling blocks. He also set a pre-application meeting with the county for April 7 (the next available date). Lewis said he talked to Kim Byer with the county and asked if she could bump that meeting up. She is looking into it.
District Counsel Erin McCormick offered an update on Pond 120 (encroachment) and said she received a response from one of the homeowners who said he was looking forward to meeting with Dvorak, Sylvanowicz and McCormick. Supervisor Jim Wimsatt also agreed to attend. There had been no response from the second homeowner.
McCormick said that Vertex was also requesting approval to transfer the cell tower lease to Vertical Bridge. She will share more info to the April meeting.
Association Manager Heather Dilley said that resident Ashley Wait-Woodcock was the only one to date who had expressed interest in being appointed to Chesney’s seat. She said she had also received the long-range landscaping proposal from Ivy Clinton. Resident Jani Stone asked if those plans could be put on the CDD website and Dilley said she would have to ensure they were ADA-compliant.
Stone asked about the board’s position on Pond 120 (where homeowner property is encroaching on CDD property). Wimsatt stated that the stance is that the board will be working with the homeowners to get that pond and surrounding wetlands in compliance with the district’s obligations with SWFTMD and the county. “It’s nothing personal…we have obligations to SWFTMD and the county,” he added.
In supervisor requests, Reggie Gillis offered a brief follow-up to the golf course discussions during the Feb. 17 workshop, reiterating the impact a golf course has on property values. He added that Golf Course Consultant Greg Christovich, who presented at the workshop, felt that the discussions showed that the board and the residents understand the problem. Gillis asked to have a placeholder at the upcoming workshops to continue golf course discussions.