March 11, 2025
Call to Order / Roll call:
Present:
- Jim Remis, President
- Karen Woodson, Vice President
- Kathryn Klar, Treasurer
- Christy Hennessey, Secretary
- Frank Cassise
- Tim Horvatich
- Carmen Moch
- Katie Moses
- Miranda Murphy
- Mitch Bellock
Absent:
- Tina Tyler, VP Donor Development and advisory
- John Nash
- Jason Dolle
Guest: Janet Cassise
Approval of January 14, 2025, board meeting minutes:
- Motion to approve: Tim
- Seconded: Frank
- Discussion: None
- Motion approved
Park Managers Report
Park Update: Katie: The new ranger is Savannah. Katie is still interviewing. Katie currently has 11-13 full-time and part-time rangers. Beach restroom is now operating. Will build a permanent restroom, which is almost finished being designed. Mid-beach bridge is under construction with pilings done this week. Will open by the end of summer. Ranger station is “supposed” to start building by July but Katie is skeptical. The Gift shop will start as well, but the ranger station will be first. Still waiting on Tallahassee to sign approval to start repairs from Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Window tinting – Update: Katie is still waiting to hear.
Park Equipment Collaborative Approach – Update: Still need to purchase a box trailer and Jim encouraged Katie to do it now. The truck in the park system will be moving Lovers Key equipment to higher ground when there is a threat of hurricanes.
- Motion to Approve the purchase of a box trailer not to exceed $8,000: Christy
- Seconded: Karen
- Discussion: none
- Motion approved.
Other: Katie played us some of the phone messages from Waves of Appreciation.
Discussion of Operational Items
Landscaping Project Completion Update – Christy: Completed, but still need to find homes for the potted Oleander bushes.
Waves Debrief – Karen: Huge success for those attending and Black Salt did a wonderful job. People were mingling. Very broad mix of people attending. 117 replied yes and about 1/3 did not show up, which was disappointing. A problem with having an event people don’t pay to attend. We will start the Gala planning in August. A maximum of 180 guests and all will be $500 VIP.
Solar Phase One – Approval of Contact – Jim and Miranda: $31,000 plus, and will save $200-$300 a month. Phase I of doing solar throughout the park. We have approval from the state and just need the asbestos testing. A grant is being written by Carmen to apply to the Florida State Park Foundation. These grants are independent of needing state approval.
- Motion to approve Asbestos testing not to exceen $1,500: Tim
- Seconded: Karen
- Discussion: Location of equipment panel will be elevated above flood, Panels can be removed for hurricanes. Will also be able to charge phones in addition to golf carts and ATVs. When the park loses electricity, there will be plenty of power.
- Motion approved.
Pole barn Update – Miranda: One quote for the large enclosed with wide door is $50,000. Would need two of the open sided pole barns to hold everything $30,000 and salt air more caustic.
Internet Implementation Park – Katie: A special copper line is needed, so the $80,000 is not an option. State may provide Starlink with an $800 a month charge. Still waiting on the state to decide.
Internet Implementation FOLK – Jim: Working GREAT! There are separate portals for Guest, Rangers, FOLK. The Guest portal is public.
Strategic planning process and Advisory Committee Update – Tina was absent but we discussed keeping the actual plan and make sure every leader reports. Please use John’s program when comfortable doing so. Likely have Jan update it for those who send her the information.
5 K – Christy: Jason wrote up a report that was data and results driven. Christy’s report is more “step by step” instructions and who to contact. Guidelines are all set for next year and the date reserved for April 18, 2026. Very successful and a net profit of $2,058.05. Excited about our plans for next year.
Summer Camps – Katie: Moving forward with scheduling and almost ready to publich it. Begins June 9th with a total of 5 weeks. Ages 6-9, 9-12, high school.
Speaker Series – Carmen: March 20, Carmen will be out of the state. She will need a board member to be there for introductions and bio of the speaker. Louise will be there as well. Expressed plans for 2026 and emphasized they are to not be political. She would like to expand the speaker series.
Financial Report – Kat: Moving to money markets we gained $4,000 in interest. Insurance and bank have been sending information that is not getting to us. Jim stated we need to hire an executive director. Only donor so far this year has been $50. We need to be able to sustain financially.
Other – all: Christy gutted the shed of old random items in FOLK bins that should have been thrown out a long time ago and gathered office equipment and materials together in labeled bins on the shelving.
Other Activities Requiring Attentions
Donor Board: Must get this done. Donors have been asking about it and having it blank is almost as bad as not having the amounts correct. Kat is going to help Tim and Katie said she knows how to operate the board as well
FOLK Website: Needs to be updated of out-of-date items and brought current. Discussion of needing a new website. The funding isn’t currently available.
QR Codes: Get John involved in how we can do that, QR codes in the park to go to the website with information.
Planning for the Pavilion: Need this building for events completed. Suggested we put the parameters out to the public as to how to build this. Dream big. Have to stat somewhere. Discussed options for weddings and so forth. No Gazebo for sure as it is in the VE zone.
Ceiling Fans: Need 72” fans. Kat is getting the information on options. We need four.
Membership Update: Christy and Jan have been working together on getting out to the public with Katie and distributing information and updates on social media. Jan’s letters reach out to renewals. Christy and Kat are going to be manning a table at the Library Grand opening on March 16th. Jan issued the month’s membership report to Christy and there is upward momentum, but slowly because so many people have not moved back and a lot of day trippers.
Other: Kat inquired about Trails for Tails program. Currently not active but we will be looking into it.
Other activities in process
Other Old Business: The sea turtle at the taxidermist was accidently thrown out of the freezer in their shop. We had paid for it so need a refund.
New Business: Fran Manila is going to come have an introduction for her friends in the WDC.
2025 Board Meeting Schedule: Meetings here forward will be hybrid with on site and Zoom
Member Discussion Time: Social time to follow the meeting with wine and snacks
Adjournment: 1:53
Next Meetings
• Executive Committee
- April 1, 12:00 – WDC
Board Meetings 2025
- May 13 – 12:00 – WDC and Zoom
- August 12 – 12:00 – WDC and Zoom
- October 14 – 12:00 – WDC and Zoom
- December 9 – 12:00 – WDC and Zoom