Announcements of Local Events

A new hyperlink button has been added to the left margin ( Local Shows & Events ) to take you to a page that announces local shows and events that may be of interest to our residents.  Please email the webmaster with information of your club or organization events that you would like to have posted on the web site.  Our first event to be announced in this format is an ice show fund raiser for Breast Cancer Awareness.

New Security Patrol Chairman

David Lemonde has passed the Security Patrol job over to Mike Beyne at 1913 Neptune Dr.  We appreciate Mike's willingness to help the Association in this capacity and we encourage members to support him in setting up the patrol schedules.  We give special thanks to David for his many years of dedication to that position.

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New Fertilizer Code

Sarasota County is approaching its first officially restricted season for fertilizer application.  Click here for their fertilizer ordinance web site.  A copy of their brochure summarizing the new requirements are on our Fertilizer Code page.

Illegal Mangrove Cutting
The Board received a letter from the State charging the Association with illegal cutting of a 50 ft. swath of Mangroves at the water's edge on Lot 12.  And the cuttings were left at the water's edge.  This is the lot on the NE corner of Forked Creek Dr. next to the SR 776 bridge over the creek.   Two Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) representatives from Tampa surveyed the damage to the Mangroves on May 13 in the presence of Bob O'Brien. 

East side of damaged area from the top	West side of damaged area from the top
East side from the water	West side from the water
View of smoothly cut stumps left at the water line

The State representatives were told that we have no idea who performed this unauthorized work, and that we did not even know that it had been done.  They contended that, since the Association owns the property, we are responsible for this damage.  According to State records, it was done sometime before Jan. '08.   To leave debris in the watershed is also a violation of State law and we have been given 30 days to remove the cuttings.  The case in now being reviewed by the State.  Bob was told that the Association may receive a fine of up to $1000, and may have to pay for planting and three years maintenance of replacement trees.  This could cost an additional several hundred dollars.

This is a flagrant violation of both the trespass and Mangrove laws, but we feel that it is unjust to fine the Association for the damage.  The lot is designated by the County as a Community Park and is open to the public for recreational use.  We can not monitor activities of people on the property 24/7 to assure that laws aren't being broken.   The Board is considering the restriction of fishing and other water activities at this lot, and perhaps the other waterfront communal properties as well.

Any information that you may have regarding the identity of the person(s) responsible for this damage would be greatly appreciated.  Please contact Bob O'Brien at 474-2256 if you have knowledge of anything relative to this.

Volunteers have completed the clean up.  See Maintenance below.

Feb. '08 Business Meeting
The Overbrook Gardens annual members only business meeting was held on Feb. 15, 2008 at the New Hope Baptist Church meeting room.  The Association directors and committee chairmen gave their reports and questions were answered.  New directors were elected by the attendees.  The new Board then elected the officers for this year as listed on the Board page.  The 2008 budget for $14,925 was presented and approved by the members in attendance.   To date there are only 234 paid memberships.  More members are needed to cover the budget.  Click here for minutes.