Introduction

This meeting was the first to be held at the new location, Palm City Christian Fellowship, 7346 SW 39th St.

Signs and gates

The board approved a resolution to request a four-way stop sign and crosswalks at the intersection of Estella Terrace and Berry Avenue. The property management company will send the notice to the proper authorities to make this safety request.

The board discussed putting a sign or bulletin board at the rear entrance. A bulletin board near the lake at the front entrance to Islesworth gives notice about upcoming meetings, and a similar one was proposed for the rear entrance. Islesworth board members are going to look into posting a sign rather than a bulletin board so that residents would be able to see information as they drive by. The sign would post reminders such as the next meeting or when fees are due.

A security gate for the rear entrance has been deemed too expensive. A special assessment would be required to cover the cost, which would be at least $4,600 plus the cost of remote controls or a keypad, maintenance, and repair. A resident suggested that the cost of a gate be considered in the next annual budget (January 2004) to see how the numbers would work out and whether an increase in fees would offset the need for a special assessment.

Roadways 

The board voted to appoint the immediate past president of the Islesworth board, Dennis Rohan, as the chairman of the Roadway Committee. 

As president of the board, Dennis had many dealings with Pulte Home Corp., trying to get the company to repave the roads in Islesworth to bring them up to state standards. Dennis will continue to be of help to Islesworth in ongoing legal proceedings with Pulte. 

Islesworth representatives are hopeful that a resolution to the civil case can be reached by the end of this year. From Islesworth's point of view, a successful resolution would be for Pulte to pay to have the roads re-paved. Furthermore, the company would be hired by Islesworth and supervised by an independent inspector.

Trees and landscaping 

The property manager reported that the Brazilian pepper trees have been removed from Islesworth property. 

In regard to irrigation, problems with a pump were more extensive than expected, and work was to continue on that repair.

Residents from Captiva Court noted that some trees overhanging their property pose a hazard and requested that they be cut down.

Another Islesworth resident defended his work on some property in the back of his home that is actually part of the common ground. The resident explained that the HOA had left it to the residents around that area to maintain (water, mow, etc.) the common ground buffer in back of their homes. The work in question was the resident's recent action to fill in a sunken portion with sand and re-sod the area. The Islesworth board decided to do further examination of the impact on drainage in the area.

Bobcat goes free! 

The recent bobcat sightings in Islesworth were discussed, but it was deemed too costly and perhaps impossible to try to trap and remove the animal. Because the bobcat is wild, animal control authorities will not handle it. A private trapper would have to be hired at an initial cost of $150, plus about $25 a day for setting, stocking and checking the traps. Bobcats cover a wide range, so it may be quite a while before it would come back around.

For further information about bobcats, see the Beware of Bobcat page.