THE END OF THE DECADE—2012
Throughout the years, the Master Board responsibilities have grown, and additional community volunteers have come forth to serve on various committees to assist the Board. In 2010 Country Creek was a $4 million dollar business. Budgets had to be approved and streamlined. Local homeowners associations, 13 in number, had to deal with issues that affected them individually, and Architectural Review Board (ARB) had to oversee and enforce standards as they applied to the exterior of all buildings and dwelling units, and a Common Ground Committee had to oversee and make recommendations on the upkeep and improvement for all common ground property. The Finance Committee, along with the treasurer and key employees, developed and recommended a budget for the Board to adopt. The Community Golf Course Committee reviewed existing procedures and made recommendations as to how the golf course should operate. The Social Activities Committee (SAC) planned special events at the clubhouse. The Nominations and Elections group had to oversee and conduct the election of members to the Board. The Communications Committee was responsible for the Villager newspaper, CCTV, VCC Web site and the Directory. There were also committees responsible for reviewing community needs—Policies and Planning, Volunteers, Inc., CC Charities, Inc., and a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)—all of which reported to the Master Board. A Recreation Committee was to be formed in 2010 to oversee tennis, bocce, and the fitness room.
Since the Villages at Country Creek became an independent community, the following people have served as Master Board Presidents: 2000 – Bob Selby; 2001 – Bob Spurlock; 2002 – Bill Martin; 2003 – Neil Gedderberg; 2004 – Bob Hoffman; 2005-2008 – Bob Nelson; 2009 – Ron Reichert; 2010 and 2011 – Jerry Desmond; and 2012 – Alice Rintamaa.
In February 2010 Daniel Thron was named the new general manager. In March Lynn Danko became the in-house concierge. August 15 David Shall was hired as the new chef. Country Creek Community Charities, Inc. raised $9,800 from the Garage Sale and a total of $16,500 for the year that was distributed to eleven local charities. Ravis Prueitt was Citizen of the Year at the Elks induction where he was named Exalted Ruler. The Country Creek Men’s Golf Association (CCMGA) awarded the Fred McBride award to Ron Reichert for outstanding contributions to CCMGA.
The Men’s Golf Association Champion for 2010 was Carl Sandquist. Eight of Country Creek’s women’s tennis teams were successful and won in every flight in the Naples Grande Ladies Double Open Tournament. Men’s Tennis 3.0 team had nine wins and two losses ranking in the top two in the league. Bocce grew to 325 players and thirteen teams. The Rollin B.S. Forgers won the 2010 title and in last place were the Bocce Boomers, retaining their status in the league. The Estero Civic Association was revived as the Estero Community Association.
In the greater community, Lee County reduced its 2010 property tax extension for general operations by 22.3%, the largest reduction of any of the 67 counties in Florida. In Estero, housing permits showed a slight gain over 2008 and 2009 but were a small fraction of the 2000-2006 boom years. The 2010 building value was the lowest of the decade. In addition, the permitted commercial building values of Estero hit a new low for the past ten years, down 4% from the previous low in 2009.
“We got through the whole financial crisis of the early 2000s much better than most communities,” said John Fuzi, a 14-year realtor in Florida. “Foreclosures and short sales totaled only 16 since December 2005. That adds up to only one-and-a-half percent of our total units. These numbers are far lower than communities that didn’t fare as well.”
After the real estate market plummeted throughout the country starting in 2008, the Villages at Country Creek felt the sale of homes also drop to all-time lows.
From April 2010 to March 2011 twenty homes sold at an average price of $205,540. During the same period from April 2011 to March 2012 eighteen homes sold at an average price of $211,594.
In 2010, keeping a positive attitude regarding the present and future, Estero’s all volunteer community organizations, the Estero Council of Community Leaders (ECCL), the Estero Community Planning Panel (ECPP), and the Estero Design Review Committee (EDRC) created a new, updated presentation for Estero residential community and service organizations entitled “Village with a Vision/2011.” The program focused on the Community Plan and its effect on the Estero community’s growth and development.
