Highlights from the 2025 annual meeting

Just a quick post to fill everyone in on the items which were discussed at the annual meeting.

Our Treasurer, Veronica Jennings was re-elected to serve her ninth term as Director/Treasurer of our association.  Her dedicated service to this community is greatly appreciated.  Make sure you say thanks when you see her.

All three Board members were nominated and re-elected to serve another one year term.  The President thanked the Board members for their service and graciously agreeing to peform the many added responsibilities which were mandated by the State Legislature.  

We had many accomplishments in 2024-2025 which include creating and adopting a set of Bylaws for our Association.

Several of the items addressed in the Bylaws were initiated by the previous Board. The President acknowledged them for their work on setting those items in motion.  Specifically:

• To procure and maintain liability insurance to protect association members and Board members from financial risk.  

Buying liability insurance for an HOA and its board members is a critical risk management tool. It ensures that:

• • • The community’s finances are protected

    • Board members aren’t exposed personally for doing their volunteer jobs

    • The HOA can continue functioning even if legal issues arise

• Created a collection policy to encourage timely payments of dues and assessments, including suspension of voting rights.
• Created a policy to allow for enforcement of the Declaration and the ability to create a fining and grievance committee if needed.

Numerous other items needed to be included in policy due to the new legislation which addressed bad/criminal behavior of some community associations in Florida.  Including:

• We now have a records retention policy.
• We must provide copies of, or provide electronic access to governing documents.
• We must provide members with notifications of certain things that are now required by law.
• We must obtain written consent from members in order to provide email/fax notifications.
• Board members must take a certification class and complete continuing education to serve on the Board.
• The Association must have a hurricane protection standard policy.
• The Association must execute an affidavit swearing that required notices were transmitted within the time required by law.
• The Association must have a policy for the proper noticing of meetings.
• The Association must have a policy that describes how expenses are shared.
• Assessments must be set in a properly noticed budget meeting.
• The Association members must vote whether or not to purchase a fidelity bond to cover Board Officers that handle the funds.
• The Association must discuss filing a "Notice of Preservation" within 30 years (2037) to preserve the rights of the Association under the Marketable Record Title Act (MRTA).
• The Association complied with the CTA (Federal) Corporate Transparancy Act.   

The Treasurer presented the financial documents which were detailed and complete.  The Association is in good financial condition and it was recomended that the annual assessment remain unchanged from last year.  A budget was presented and approved by the membership.

The Secretary presented minutes from the last two meetings and they were accepted as read.  Stephanie also expressed that she was very busy with other endeavors and may not be able to continue serving the community on the Board.  The President thanked her for her service and for hosting the last two meetings at her residence.  In sincere appreciation to both Stephanie and Veronica, the President pledges to do whatever necessary to accomodate both of their extremely busy schedules in hopes to keep them on board.

We discussed maintenance of the retention pond and according to past precident, it is due for a five year clean up.  We will find a licensed and insured contractor to address this for us.  If anyone has recommendations on reliable people to consider, please let us know.  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

There was a discussion about of the front of the property which abuts Old Government Road.  To make a long story short, most of it belongs to the County.  After Veronica spoke with them about the mess left behind by Helene and Milton, they came out, cleaned up the stumps and filled in the holes.  They even put sod over the areas where the stumps once stood.  I might add, at no cost to the Association!  

More information on maintenance of the "common areas" will be forthcoming.

Thanks again to all those who were able to make the annual meeting.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Published: 04 June 2025