New property manager

The new property manager, Joe Jakab of Jakab Management Services, was introduced. A letter to residents dated Jan. 24 explained that Mr. Jakab and his staff will be handling property management as well as financial matters for Islesworth. "This is no reflection on our current financil service," Board president Dennis Rohan wrote, "but we would like to have our management and accounting services with one company.

His contact information is on the Contacts page.

Board Elections

The primary business of the meeting Jan. 31 was to elect new board members. Each year, the five board positions are up for election. This year, there were only five nominees, so these five people will make up the board for 2005:

Re-elected were Dennis Rohan, Jen Jeransky, Phil Jacobus and Robert Graves. Scott Duckson returns to the board after a year hiatus.

Tom Craft was given a hearty thanks and round of applause for his service on the board for the past two years.

Islesworth updates

Board president Dennis Rohan proceeded to give an update on various construction projects going on around Islesworth.

• Berry drainage: The drainage work on Berry Avenue is a result of a settlement reached by the Kingsleys, who own property bordering Islesworth, and Pulte, the builder of Islesworth. Pulte agreed to install drainage along Berry Avenue. The benefit to Islesworth is that water from Berry will no longer drain into Islesworth. Pulte is to re-sod the area and put the irrigation system back in.
• Wiring: While the roadway was torn up at the Berry Road entrance to Islesworth, Dennis had the workers lay 50 feet of conduit in case Islesworth ever wants to install low-voltage lighting near that entrance. This action eliminates the cost of digging up the road to install the wiring if it is ever needed.
• Palm Isles drainage: The problem with Palm Isles water draining into Islesworth should be resolved by the end of March with illegal cut-ins to our drainage system being repaired.
• Fencing: Repair of the fencing around Islesworth awaits word on the Small Business Administration loan that Islesworth has applied for (through FEMA). The loan application has not yet been considered, but once it is, it should be settled very quickly. See the Nov. 11, 2004, meeting report for background on seeking the loan.

Traffic safety

Traffic safety concerns were also discussed:

• Traffic light: During discussion about the nearby Stuart Fine Foods, a resident stated that the county has not yet decided whether there will be a traffic signal at the intersection of Berry and Martin Highway (CR 714).
• School waiting line: Residents discussed the safety concerns with the lineup of cars and SUVs that wait inside and outside of Islesworth when Hidden Oaks Middle School is letting out in the afternoon. The vehicles make it difficult to see out of the entryway to safely turn onto Martin Highway. A related safety issue stems from the vehicles using Islesworth as a cut-through. Many of them run the stop signs and speed through the neighborhood.
• Writing to Sheriff: The board is going to write another letter to the Martin County Sheriff's Office about these traffic safety problems. Others in attendance at the meeting suggested a letter-writing campaign by Islesworth residents to ask for better traffic control in and around Islesworth, especially for the time when school is going in and out of session for the day. 
  A request was made to post the e-mail address of Sheriff Robert Crowder on the Web site. Click here for contact information for the Sheriff's Office. 
• Auto decals: A price quote has been requested to see how much it would cost to provide Islesworth residents with an identifying sticker for their vehicles.