Garden Patio Villas
7708 Margate Blvd, Margate, FL 33063
Board of Directors Special Meeting
January 14, 2021 7:00 PM Location: Clubhouse
Agenda: : Backflow Preventers and Sprinkler Problems
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: President, Melodie Savoca, Vice President, Lou Grunes, Treasurer, Gelly Dossman, Secretary, Barbara Reul, Member at Large, Jeff Mandell
Melodie called the meeting to order and the floor was turned over to our Vice President, Lou. After his meeting with Joe, Lou explained the following:
1. BACKFLOW PREVENTERS:
As discussed previously, the City is requiring our Association to install 11 backflow preventers at each cluster in our community. We have investigated all aspects of this request thoroughly and have spoken to every City Commissioner, the irrigation department, and the City Manager. Unfortunately, we do not have a choice but to put them in and according to their last correspondence, we have 60 days to comply otherwise we will be in violation and be fined per day until we install them.
According to the City and County code, backflow preventers are required for multi-family dwellings that have pipes coming from the city meters more than 1”. Our pipe coming from the meter to the manifold is 1 ½” then from the manifold to each unit is 1”.
Joe offered several different options, some of which were presented in our January Board Meeting. The City is concerned with contamination to the water for 62,000 residents of Margate and will not budge off this requirement. However, Joe was able to get us more time to complete the requirements. The City has agreed to work with us since they understand the financial burden placed on our Owners and gave us a few more months.
Joe then discussed the scope of this project.
Taking all of the above into consideration we need approximately $24,000. for this project which is mandatory for us to do or we will be fined. Joe further added that all of these systems have to be inspected yearly at the rate of $178. per system, times that by 11. We need to allocate an additional $1,958. to our budget every year.
The Board further discussed the situation. We decided to offer the same incentives that we used when we painted the villas. The cost will be divided up between all of our villas.
Each villa will be assessed $300. with the following payment schedule:
The Board voted unanimously to do the assessment and go forward with the project since there isn’t any other option. We don’t want to get fined!!
Barbara will be sending out the notification letters and vouchers next week. We have to start this project very soon because we are on a deadline to have this completed.
2. SPRINKLER ISSUES:
The sprinklers have been a continuing problem for our community. Lou stated that after hurricane season the South Florida Water Management back flows water in the (Z14) canal. This year they didn’t do it for reasons unknown. The part of the canal that surrounds part of our community where our pump is located is not even a canal, it is a drainage ditch.
When the canal is low like it is now, or has been for most of last year, our pump is jeopardized because all of the muck and algae gets sucked up into the hose and the water cannot pump for the sprinklers. Joe added that this has been an ongoing problem and that is why our lawns look so bad. Our lawn service has cleaned out the hoses several times at no charge and according to the Lawn Owner, this is going to be a continuous issue and may even put our new pump in harm’s way. We don’t want that to happen!!
These were some options that were put on the table:
1. Running a pipe to the other side of the bridge on 76th so we can put the intake pipe in deep water. We will also need permission from the neighboring community to go on their property. We have one estimate of $11,000. to run the pipe. We intend to get 2 more estimates
2. Installing a well. This will cost approximately between $8000. – $10,000. In addition, we would have to maintain it monthly with chemicals so we don’t get rust on our cars or homes that will cost between $300.-$400. per month. This will totally end our sprinkler problems.
3. Moving the pump house to the other end near the bridge. Joe said this would be extremely costly because all of the plumbing and pipes would need to be moved. No estimates yet.
4. Trying to install a pipe to the cross-way because it is a little deeper there then where it currently is located. More investigation on that is needed.
5. Joe also suggested cleaning out the catch basins because they are filled with leaves and this may stop the rainwater from going into the canal.
The Board requests that all Owners need to understand that we are all well aware of the problems with our lawns. They are dry and some even look dead. Everyone is unhappy! However, we as a Board along with Joe and lawn company are doing everything possible to find a reasonable answer to this problem.
Most sprinklers have been fixed. All cluster pipes to the sprinklers are presently working! This is the first time in many years that all work. We have made some progress. There may be a few sprinklers that still need to be fixed or just adjusted, but they are going to be taken care of. The main problem is the canal water level. Presently, sprinklers are fixed to go on 2 times per week and will run all day and night in each zone. There are 17 zones and they run for at least 1 hour or more and there are 24 hours in one day. That is how it works. If one of the heads needs a small adjustment because it is pouring onto the driveway instead of the grass, you can gently turn the sprinkler head to point the other way. Let’s all try to be patient and work together.
Meeting adjourned at 8:20PM
