TO: Board of County Commissioners
THROUGH: John A. Titkanich, Jr., County Administrator
Nancy A. Bunt, Assistant County Administrator
Addie Javed, P.E., Public Works Director
David Schryver, PSM, Assistant Public Works Director (Technical)
FROM: Justin Berner, Senior Engineer
DATE: July 1, 2025
SUBJECT: Rain Tree Corners Special Assessment Request
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BACKGROUND
Rain Tree Corners is a 16-home subdivision located at the intersection of 12th Street and 54th Avenue. The culvert situated at the entrance of 54th Ave has experienced significant structural degradation. During a major rain event several months ago, the culvert failed, resulting in the loss of vehicular access. In response, IRC Road & Bridge implemented a temporary fix by adding fill material and installing a large steel plate to restore access. However, this fix is not a long-term solution and will not prevent further degradation of the structure.
ANALYSIS
In an effort to address the issue, the homeowners have engaged contractors and engineers and have coordinated with both the Indian River Farms Water Control District (IRFWCD) and Indian River County Engineering. As part of the permitting process, IRFWCD has required the existing 60-inch culvert to be upsized to an 84-inch reinforced concrete pipe (RCP), significantly increasing the project's cost.
The total estimated cost for the culvert replacement is $300,000 or more. Due to the high cost, most homeowners are unable to contribute the full amount upfront. Consequently, they have petitioned the Public Works Department to assist by establishing a special assessment for their subdivision. Since this will be added to the resident's tax bill, the Property Appraiser and the Tax Collector will require a fee of 2% of the assessment levied to cover their expenses. The Budget Office also has to add a 5% fee for non-collectibles (per Florida Statute to cover non-payment ...
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