Did you know the new mowing contract that was put through by our park manager and the HOA board of directors on June 26, 2023, is costing LaCasa shareholders $400,000 to $600,000 MORE than it should have? 

Over the past couple of months, I have been gathering information on how and why the mowing costs for LaCasa went from $22,440 per month to over $40,000 per month.  Over the next couple of days, I will post all the information that led to this happening. 

Brightview and LaCasa signed a contract in December 2020 for mowing services at a rate of $22,000 per month.  Either Brightview or LaCasa could terminate this agreement, without cause, upon a 30-day written notice to the other party.  Sometime between December 2020 and June 2023, the contract increased by 2% to $22,440 per month.

In a letter dated June 19, 2023, Brightview gave notice to LaCasa that they were opting out of the contract.  Their letter stated they could continue service past July 31st if the monthly rate would go to $38,000. 

An email came in from Sarasota Lawn & Landscaping at 9:04AM on the same day, stating they did not “have room for this contract”.  At 11:04AM on June 19th, an email came in from Artistree Landscaping stating they did not have the “necessary resources to help you at this time.”  Note that these are not bids for a new mowing contract.

Also on June 20, 2023, Brightview submitted a contract proposal to LaCasa.  This bid was in the amount of $456,000 per year ($38,000 per month), and either party could terminate the bid, without cause, with a 60-day notice to the other party.

On June 23, 2023, US Lawns submitted a bid for $489,000 a year (an average of $40,750 per month).  This was a 3-year contract, and it could not be terminated unless there was cause.

No other bids were sought or entertained for a new mowing contract. 

Note: I was told that not getting the required 4 bids was due to the “emergency” of the situation.  The same reason was given not to run the bids/contracts by the contract review committee.

On June 26, 2023, the LaCasa HOA Board of Directors voted 6-3 to approve the US Lawns bid of $489,000 with a cost-of-living adjustment of 2% per year over the length of the 3-year contract.  An email from a board member to the park manager stated, “Rationale:  The current mowing company canceled their mowing contract.  The company has a history of complaints about missing homes and areas of the 40 acres.  US Lawns is a reputable mowing company with good references and is the preferred bidder”.

(Note: At this time both Brightview and US Lawns were owned by the same NYSE company Brightview Holdings.  US Lawns has since been sold).

On July 17, 2023, the park manager attended the Finance Committee regular meeting, and the minutes show his comments as, “Brightview exercised an out clause in their contract, and provided LaCasa with an increased bid to continue mowing.  A new contractor will pick up the mowing as they provided the bid that provides the best value.  Mowing costs are considerably higher now.  New contractor is essentially on a 30-day contract.  Mowing options continue to be looked into”.

Over the past couple of weeks, I asked our neighboring parks who did their lawn mowing.  I was given their names and phone numbers.  These companies were called asked if they could give me an “estimate” of what they would charge to do the mowing in LaCasa. 

NOTE:  I consulted with an attorney and was told I could do this as long as I told them that I was only a resident of LaCasa and not an employee or on the board of directors.

Two companies came into LaCasa.  They were given the same R.F.P. information that would be given to prospective bidders, i.e. number of mows, size of park, etc. 

One company estimated they would charge $23,775 per month ($285,300 per year).  The second company estimate was for $27,759 per month ($333,108).

Note that the HOA board of directors signed a contract for $489,000 per year.

Questions

1.       What was the emergency where the park manager and board of directors had to rush through this process in 7 days when they at least a month to act in the best interests of its shareholders?

2.      Why didn’t our park manager call our neighboring communities to see who they contract with for mowing services?  The whole process of getting this information and getting estimates took me less than 2 weeks. 3.      Why did the park manager tell the finance committee the new mowing contractor was the “best value” when they were the highest bid?  Why did he tell them it was a 30-day contract when in fact it was a 3-year contract?  Why did he say he was continuing to look into other mowing options when the contract was for 3 years, and there was no way to get out of it unless there was cause?

4.      When I questioned this large contract in November, the previous board president stated she would form a committee to look into other mowing options?  Why would that be done when LaCasa was locked into a contract for another 2 years and 8 months?

5.      How can we trust our park manager after this - getting only 2 bids, rushing it through in 7 days, bypassing the contract review committee, misleading the finance committee and costing the shareholders hundreds of thousands of dollars?

6.      Why did the HOA board of directors allow this to happen?

I have all the documents for all the information I have stated.  I will be scanning them, and if anyone would like a copy, please email me at piecuchrick@gmail.com.  I will keep all emails private.  Please give me a few days to scan everything and get the information to you.  Thanks!