BOARD MEETING MINUTES

  Palm Island Estates Homeowners Association
Board Meeting

December Meeting held on December 6, 2010

Station #10 Firehouse

5:00 PM 

Present:  Cathy Crowe, Pat Bieneman, Robin Madden, Suzy Kett, Rose Malone,  Ken Conner, Gay Carrozo, Don Milroy, Kim Peacock 

 Absent:  Kevin Mackin, Jeff Minett, Kevin Stevens, Pat Gordon 

Guests:  Fire Chief DiDio, Hector Flores, Deputy Chief Fair, Michael Poff-Coastal Engineering

 The meeting was called to order at 5:00 PM by President, Don Milroy

 A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes from the November meeting, held on October 29, 2010.

 

A motion was made and approved to accept the Treasurer’s Report. 

  

OLD BUSINESS: 

Committee reports are as follows:

             Membership Directory vs. Paid Memberships: (no report)

            WHPP (no report)

            Friends of P.I.E. (no report)

Art in the Palms:  Don Milroy thanked everyone for their efforts with this event.  All categories exceeded all previous records. 

---Don Milroy handed out the attached information regarding the cost of fire protection and EMS service, then introduced Fire Chief DiDio.  Chief DiDio began by discussing the history of Station 10.  It was started 25 years ago when a volunteer fire station was created with old military trucks used at that time.  Volunteers came then to the county for funding and as of today all trucks are paid off.  He gave kudos to all those who have served over the years.   

A letter was sent to him May 24, 2010 advising that it was becoming difficult to maintain  Station coverage due to the lack of volunteers and asking the county for assistance.  There are now 3-4 volunteers.  Currently the money is in an MSBU (taxes just from us for fire protection).  On the mainland there are two separate budgets.  In ad valorem everyone pays for EMS with a fee for transport, which supplements the budget.  Average is $58.00 per house for EMS.  We have a reserve account now with $200,000 which is only for fire protection for us.  They are currently working on several scenarios for the future plan.  They will then bring to the Board of County Commissioners.  It will be necessary to provide history to them to help them make a decision. 

We will be needed to visit the chamber to voice our opinions.  The question is: can the fire department absorb costs?  In October 2011 they can expire the MSBU.  The maximum our rate can increase to is $180.00.  Mainland has a cap as well.  They will keep the rates flat for the next 4 years.  If we go to the same fees as the mainland it would secure $126,000, which will not cover the costs.  That means the county would have to absorb $300,000 plus.  Eventually fees would need to be raised on the mainland to help cover us.  

However, they have some ideas and are working the numbers to see which plan will work.  If left as is in the MSBU and the county takes over, our rates would be $500.00 per house.      

The Chief will meet with the Board of County Commissioners next week to inform them of the situation.  He will then let us know the outcome.

 The reserves would be eaten up if the county starts manning the station on March 1, 2011 till the MSBU is eliminated in October. 

Hector advised they could disband the MSBU in January, then move to revise the territory.  The public would be notified and the Board would make a decision with public input noted.

 ---Don Milroy introduced Michael Poff of Coastal Engineering who discussed the  dredging project at Stump Pass.  The project is being funded by the State and FEMA due to Hurricane Faye. The county will fund the balance from an MSTU assessment.  Three miles of beach will benefit.  FEMA funds paid for the first renourishment in 2006 with  with one maintenance every 5 years. In 2008, we became eligible again for $2.5 million of the $4 million price tag. There are no state funds now available.  State money came from doc stamps monies collected. 

The sand will be placed on Manasota Key up to about 6 single family homes and on the shorebird habitat.  The south end of the resort beach is wider than it was in 2006 due to accretion. Sand will also be taken to Colony Don Pedro.

There were several questions about jetties.  Mr. Poff advised jetties won’t help with the sand/beach and we will not get state funds.  The County has requested funds to study installing stabilizing structures in Stump Pass.  The Division of State Lands is now changing their position on how to best keep the pass open. 

The plan is to mobilize this weekend starting with Manasota Key.  Dredging should begin the middle of January and be south of the Resort by Mid March.   Completion is scheduled for the end of March.

 At the conclusion of the speakers’ presentations, the P.I.E Board meeting resumed.  Don presented a letter from Bob Pierce (see attachment) which again is requesting assistance from the P.I.E. Board with regard to safety issues and vegetation on N. Gulf Boulevard.  The Board again unanimously agreed that this is an issue between the Resort and the property owners with vegetations issues and that our Board will not be involved in this process. 

Don advised that the annual letter needs to be mailed shortly and he appointed a nominating committee of Cathy Crowe, Suzy Kett and Robin Madden to determine if anyone other than our current board members would like to run.  He will also put together the list of whose terms are up on the Board.   Suzy Kett and Cathy Crowe advised they would handle the mailing. 

NEW BUSINESS:

 None. 

 The next meeting, along with the Annual Meeting, will be held on January 30, 2011 at 1:00pm.  

Meeting was adjourned at 6:30 PM.  Minutes submitted by Robin Madden, Secretary.

Attachments



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