New Grass is Coming

At Tuesday's Board of Supervisors meeting we were notified that all permits had been obtained and a notice to proceed had been given to Valley Crest to begin the re-sodding along US 41 between the west monuments and the entrance to "The Ranch" to the east. Both sides of the road from roads edge to the sidewalks, and the median will be done using St. Augustine grass sod. The planting beds along the sides of the roads will also be reduced by about 50 percent to improve the view.

Work should start any day now and is expected to be completed before year's end. Cost.....about $640,000. Your WVID tax dollars at work.

11/19/15 update. It has been argued that this expenditure for re-sodding US 41 isn't really "tax dollars". The district has a pot of money from the original bond issues (2005/6/and 7) in the amount of around $25 million. These funds are to provide infrastructure to the district at large, and it is from this fund that the re-sodding project is being paid for. So this project doesn't represent any new assessment or taxing of residents and property owners.

What is this $25 million pot of money for? From the original plan of improvements, the district is still obligated to purchase and donate additional park lands to the City of North Port. Also the cost of land, building design and construction, and equipment (fire truck(s), police car(s), and ambulance) necessary for a Police, Fire, and First Aid station(s) in the district is still required under the original plan of development.