After months of debate, the Amenity Authority finally voted Wednesday on the hot topic of freezing amenity rates.
There were plenty of freeze supporters donned in blue in the audience at Savannah Center.
AAC member Don Deakin had asked that the amenity rate discussion be moved to the beginning of the meeting, rather than keeping the audience waiting through a lengthy agenda. However, AAC Chair Donna Kempa refused Deakin’s request, indicating that she thought it might be advantageous for the residents to see the types of issues that the AAC typically addresses in its meetings.
About three hours later, many of the blue-shirted residents had departed the meeting in favor of doctors’ appointments and other commitments.
Kevin Stone, the AAC’s legal counsel, restated his opinion that the AAC, which oversees amenities north of County Road 466, could not make a decision about a cap or freeze on amenity rates without doing so in unison with the Project Wide Advisory Committee, which oversees amenities south of County Road 466.
Deakin, the longest-serving member of the AAC, challenged Stone’s assertion.
Deakin pointed out the contrast between the AAC’s hefty reserves and PWAC’s heavy debt load.
Brian Goodman, a resident of Community Development District 1, said that in financial terms, AAC and PWAC are worlds apart..
“We are not joined at the hip. We are on two different planets,” Goodman said.
He fears the AAC’s burgeoning bank account could become a tempting target.
“Someone’s going to figure out a way to get at that money and use it down south,” he warned.
Chair Kempa sided with legal counsel and suggested that breaking rank with PWAC would be akin to civil war.
“We would have to secede from the union,” she said. “We are one community.”
Deakin made a motion for a one year freeze/$140 per month cap on amenities for residents in the north.
The vote came up short.
Deakin and Bill Williamson, who represents the Lady Lake/Lake County portion of the AAC, voted for the freeze.
Kempa was joined by AAC members Rich Cole and Richard Benson in voting against Deakin’s proposal.
AAC member Jim Vaccaro was absent from the meeting.