The January Master Board meeting centered on a general discussion of 2025 plans and projects. In February we should have the 2024 financials for discussion.
A new Florida law requires the elected directors of the Neighborhood and Master Boards to complete a four-hour computer-based training seminar about the responsibilities and duties of a Director of a Condo or Homeowners Association. The law also requires that each organization have a website and populate it with the important documents such as the Declaration and By Laws. It must be updated regularly with meeting minutes and financial statements. Individual neighborhood documents may be accessed on the Master Board Association’s website http://www.grandezzamaster.com. I am pleased to report that nearly all the elected directors of the Neighborhood and Master boards have completed the seminars and that our Master website “guru” (Peter Dersley) has the neighborhood websites up and working!
Now for other items for your winter reading…
The Grandezza United Way committee has published its planned activities for the 2025 campaign to support the $215K goal for 2025. The campaign committee chaired by Pat and Bill Motzer has a schedule of interesting events planned through February. Over the last 15 years the Grandezza community contributions total over $1.7 million and have grown from $20K/year to $225K last year. Congratulations to the committee and our community!
It appears from our busy roads and long lines that our northern guests are enjoying SWFL again this winter! We are recovering from the January chilly temps so let us concentrate on the coming warmer and pleasant weather. Historically, January lows average 58 degrees and the highs average 73. These averages increase about three to four degrees each month through the winter. It is probably the reason we are down here in SW Florida and not up North!
As you are driving in Florida, do you ever wonder who owns those many acres of vacant rural land on the east side of I-75 and throughout the state? Obviously the local, state and federal government are the largest landowners. The residents of the southern part of the state have established governmental trust funds to purchase vacant land to maintain open spaces within our heavily developed areas. Once you leave the coastline, land often becomes vacant and swampy. Florida Trend magazine developed a list of the largest landholders which I found very interesting.
The largest private landowner is the Mormon Church which owns 626K acres (640 acres is one square mile) of ranch and timber land principally in the north central section of Florida. Second largest is Four Rivers Land & Timber (550K acres) owned by “dot com” billionaire, Thomas Peterfly. The principal part of this land is about half of Taylor County. Two timber companies Rayonier (397K acres) and Weyerhaeuser (272K acres) are on the list with land around Daytona and Jacksonville being developed into residential uses. Other large landholders include: Mosaic (368K acres of phosphate mining land); the Lykes family (340K acres); Florida Power (FP & L) (250K acres) for its power purposes; U.S. Sugar (233K acres); the Baker family; and the Fanjul family (160K of land) in Palm Beach County used for sugar (Domino brand) and other agricultural purposes.
This completes my February letter. As they used to say on the radio…we hope you stay tuned for further monthly letters and drive safely!
