GROVE COMMUNITY DISTRICT

OKEECHOBEE COUNTY REGULAR BOARD MEETING MAY 6, 2025
2:00 P.M.

Special District Services, Inc.
The Oaks Center 2501A Burns Road
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
561.630.4922 Telephone 877.SDS.4922 Toll Free 561.630.4923 Facsimile

AGENDA
GROVE COMMUNITY DISTRICT
Eagle Bay Conference Room
South Florida Water Management District 316 NW 5th Street
Okeechobee, Florida 34972 REGULAR BOARD MEETING May 6, 2025
2:00 p.m.

Call to Order
Proof of Publication…	Page 1
Establish Quorum
Additions or Deletions to Agenda
Comments from the Public for Items Not on the Agenda
Approval of Minutes
November 5, 2024 Regular Board Meeting…	Page 2
Old Business
Update on Water Farming Project and the Longer-Term Grove Land Reservoir, Stormwater Treatment Area Project and Dispersed Water Project with SFWMD
New Business
Consider Resolution No. 2025-01 – Adopting a Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Proposed Budget…	Page 5
Administrative Matters
Legal Report
Board Member Comments
Adjourn

STATE OF FLORIDA:
COUNTY OF OKEECHOBEE:
Before the undersigned authority personally appeared Katrina Elsken Muros, who on oath says that she is Editor in Chief of the Lake Okeechobee News, a weekly newspaper published in Okeechobee County, Florida; that the attached copy of advertisement, being a Public Notice in the matter of
Public Notice
in the 19th Judicial District of the Circuit Court of Okeechobee County, Florida, was published in said newspaper in the issues of or by publication on the newspaper’s website, if authorized, on
Lake Okeechobee News: 1/22/2025 LakeONews.com: 1/22/2025, 1/23/2025, 1/24/2025, 1/25/2025, 1/26/2025, 1/27/2025, 1/28/2025
Affiant further says that the newspaper complies with all legal requirements for publication in Chapter 50, Florida Statutes.

Sworn to and subscribed before me by means of Physical Presence	X Online Notarization
physical presence or online notarization, this 1/28/2025

Name	Grove Community District
Order Number 15311 Ordered By	Laura Archer Order Date	1/14/2025
Description	2024/2025 Regular Meeting Schedule Number Issues 8
Pub Count	2
First Issue	1/22/2025
Last Issue	1/28/2025
Order Cost	$110.16
Publications	Lake Okeechobee News, LakeONews.com Pub Dates	Lake Okeechobee News: 1/22/2025
LakeONews.com: 1/22/2025, 1/23/2025, 1/24/2025, 1/25/2025, 1/26/2025,

Proof of Publication
1/28/2025

GROVE COMMUNITY DISTRICT REGULAR BOARD MEETING NOVEMBER 5, 2024

CALL TO ORDER

District Manager Michael McElligott called the November 5, 2024, Regular Board Meeting of the Grove Community District to order at 2:06 p.m. at the South Florida Water Management District Service Center, 316 NW 5th Street, Okeechobee, FL 34972.

PROOF OF PUBLICATION

Mr. McElligott presented proof of publication that the Regular Board Meeting was published in The Okeechobee News on October 9, 2024 & October 16, 2024, as legally required.

SEAT NEW BOARD MEMBERS
It was announced Curt McDowell, Tyler Pugh, and Susanne Clemons were elected Board Supervisors.

ADMINISTER OATH OF OFFICE & REVIEW BOARD MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES
Michael McElligott administered the Oath of Office, and reviewed Board Member responsibilities.
ESTABLISH QUORUM
Mr. McElligott determined that the attendance of Supervisors Tyler Pugh, Susanne Clemons, and Curt McDowell, constituted a quorum, and it was in order to proceed with the meeting.
Also in attendance were District Manager Michael McElligott of Special District Services, Inc. and General Counsel Ken van Assenderp via phone.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
The following slate of officers was selected on a motion made by Mr. Pugh, seconded by Mrs. Clemons. The motion carried unanimously.

Chairman	H.M. Ridgely III	
Vice Chairman	Curt McDowell	
Secretary/Treasury	Michael McElligott	
Assistant Secretaries	Craig Linton, Jr. Tyler Pugh, and Susanne Clemons	

GROVE COMMUNITY DISTRICT REGULAR BOARD MEETING NOVEMBER 5, 2024

ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA

There were no additions or deletions.

COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA

There were no comments from the public.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

September 3, 2024, Regular Board Meeting

The minutes of the September 3, 2024, Regular Board Meeting, as presented, were approved on a motion made by Mr. Pugh, seconded by Mr. McDowell and unanimously passed.

OLD BUSINESS
Update on the Water Farming Project and the Long-Term Grove Land Reservoir and Stormwater Treatment Area Project and Dispersed Water Project with SFWMD
There was no update today, and there was no action for the Board to take at this time.
NEW BUSINESS
There was no new business.

ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
Legal Report
Mr. Van Assenderp updated the Board on his research related to dissolving the Grove CD as part of the sale to the Water Management District. He stated that if and when the Water Management District owns the land, there is nothing that would require the Grove CD to be dissolved, a government entity can own all the land. If the Grove CD were to move forward with dissolving, it would have to be done by the legislature and it is unlikely that could be done in the current legislative session, so the earliest would be the next legislative session. Mr. Van Assenderp also stated that he has reviewed the Grove CD act and believes the Board would be able to operate the water farm project through the CD with no amendments to the act. He also went over the possibility of the landowner, the CD and the Water Management District entering into management agreements for operations of the water farm. Mr. Van Assenderp said he would produce a memo memorializing this information to present when we have a full Board.

GROVE COMMUNITY DISTRICT REGULAR BOARD MEETING NOVEMBER 5, 2024

BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS
There were no additional Board Member’s comments.

ADJOURN
There being no further business to come before the Board, the Regular Board Meeting was adjourned at 2:24 p.m.

Chair/Vice-Chair	Secretary/Assistant Secretary

RESOLUTION NO. 2025-01

A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE GROVE COMMUNITY DISTRICT APPROVING A PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025/2026; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors (“Board”) of the Grove Community District (“District”) is required by Chapter 190.008, Florida Statutes, to approve a Proposed Budget for each fiscal year; and,

WHEREAS, the Proposed Budget including the Assessments for Fiscal Year 2025/2026 has been prepared and considered by the Board.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE GROVE COMMUNITY DISTRICT THAT:

Section 1.  The Proposed Budget including the Assessments for Fiscal Year 2025/2026 attached hereto as Exhibit “A” is approved.

Section 2.	A Public Hearing is hereby scheduled for September 2, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. in the Eagle Bay Conference Room of the South Florida Water Management District located at 316 NW 5th Street, Okeechobee, Florida 34972, for the purpose of receiving public comments on the Proposed Fiscal Year 2025/2026 Budget.

PASSED, ADOPTED and EFFECTIVE this 6th day of May, 2025.

ATTEST:	GROVE COMMUNITY DISTRICT

By:			By:		 Secretary/Assistant Secretary			Chairman/Vice Chairman

Grove Community District

Proposed Budget For Fiscal Year 2025/2026
October 1, 2025 - September 30, 2026

CONTENTS

PROPOSED BUDGET

DETAILED PROPOSED BUDGET

FINAL BUDGET
GROVE COMMUNITY DISTRICT FISCAL YEAR 2025/2026
OCTOBER 1, 2025 - SEPTEMBER 30, 2026

REVENUES	
FISCAL YEAR 2025/2026
BUDGET	
O&M Assessments	0	
Developer Contribution	9,825	
Debt Assessments	0	
Interest Income	0	
		
TOTAL REVENUES	$	9,825	
		
EXPENDITURES		
Supervisor Fees	0	
Engineering/Inspections	0	
Management	6,000	
Legal	2,000	
Assessment Roll	0	
Audit Fees	0	
Insurance	0	
Legal Advertisements	550	
Miscellaneous	550	
Dues & Subscriptions	175	
Arbitrage Rebate Fee	0	
Trustee Fee	0	
Continuing Disclosure Fee	0	
Website Management	550	
		
TOTAL EXPENDITURES	$	9,825	
		
REVENUES LESS EXPENDITURES	$	-	
		
Bond Payments	0	
		
BALANCE	$	-	
		
County Appraiser & Tax Collector Fee	0	
Discounts For Early Payments	0	
		
EXCESS/ (SHORTFALL)	$	-	

DETAILED FINAL BUDGET
GROVE COMMUNITY DISTRICT FISCAL YEAR 2025/2026
OCTOBER 1, 2025 - SEPTEMBER 30, 2026

REVENUES	
FISCAL YEAR 2023/2024 ACTUAL	
FISCAL YEAR 2024/2025 BUDGET	
FISCAL YEAR 2025/2026 BUDGET	

COMMENTS	
O&M Assessments	0	0	0		
Developer Contribution	7,482	9,850	9,825	Developer Contribution	
Debt Assessments	0	0	0		
Interest Income	48	0	0		
					
TOTAL REVENUES	$	7,530	$	9,850	$	9,825		
					
EXPENDITURES					
Supervisor Fees	0	0	0		
Engineering/Inspections	0	0	0		
Management	6,000	6,000	6,000	No Change From 2024/2025 Budget	
Legal	150	2,000	2,000	No Change From 2024/2025 Budget	
Assessment Roll	0	0	0		
Audit Fees	0	0	0		
Insurance	0	0	0		
Legal Advertisements	294	575	550	$25 Decrease From 2024/2025 Budget	
Miscellaneous	313	550	550	No Change From 2024/2025 Budget	
Dues & Subscriptions	175	175	175	No Change From 2024/2025 Budget	
Arbitrage Rebate Fee	0	0	0		
Trustee Fee	0	0	0		
Continuing Disclosure Fee	0	0	0		
Website Management	550	550	550	No Change From 2024/2025 Budget	
					
TOTAL EXPENDITURES	$	7,482	$	9,850	$	9,825		
					
REVENUES LESS EXPENDITURES	$	48	$	-	$	-		
					
Bond Payments	0	0	0		
					
BALANCE	$	48	$	-	$	-		
					
County Appraiser & Tax Collector Fee	0	0	0		
Discounts For Early Payments	0	0	0		
					
EXCESS/ (SHORTFALL)	$	48	$	-	$	-