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Estates at Turtle Run HOA Board Faces Backlash Over Delayed Annual Election

Turtle Run entrance sign {Skip Carney}

By Bryan Boggiano

Turtle Run residents are demanding accountability and fresh leadership, alleging a pervasive culture of unprofessionalism and cronyism.

Chris Kapish, Turtle Run Foundation president and Estates Homeowners Association (HOA) president is at the center. He did not respond to multiple calls and emails.

The foundation is the master association overseeing all HOAs, condominiums, apartments, and local businesses in Turtle Run. Each contributes part of their homeowners’ dues and fees.

These accusations come alongside delays in the annual HOA meeting and implementing the “Florida Homeowners’ Associations Bill of Rights.”

Kapish also initiated multiple ethics violation claims against Carney in local courts and with the Florida Commission on Ethics. Both cleared Carney of wrongdoing.

Clarence Lohmann, foundation treasurer, discovered a pattern of alleged mismanagement when he took office in September 2022.

Lohmann said Kapish relegated the treasurer’s role to a ceremonial position, he had no involvement in expenditure transactions, he had no influence over financial decisions, he had no access to the foundation’s bank account, and he could not propose budgets.

“That’s a recipe for disaster,” Lohmann said.

Kapish was accused of unauthorized vegetation removal outside the Forest Glen Middle School and within an easement controlled by the Turtle Run Community Development District (CDD). Broward County Public Schools had no work order for this project.

The TRCDD actions occurred without the knowledge of other HOA members, leading to warnings from the CDD.

The actions raised concerns among homeowners, including Lloyd List, Zaida Karnegis, and Rob Shipe, who fear lawsuits and financial liability.

“The whole thing to me is bad government,” List said.

Kapish was accused of unilaterally entering into multiple contracts. These contracts, totaling roughly $180,000, though legally defensible because of their architectural focus, occurred after the HOA tabled the project in October 2022.

Shipe voiced his concerns about the spending to the city commission at their Nov. 1 meeting.

Kapish is also alleged to have used foundation funds to disseminate disparaging and false information about political rivals through the foundation’s official newsletter in May, June, and August 2023.

These included now-disproven accusations of Sunshine Law violations and now-cleared HOA violations on Carney’s property through aerial photographs.

According to records, the foundation spent $379.85 and $729.23 of homeowner money for production and distribution.

“It is irresponsible to target homeowners and produce and send content that includes inaccurate and unprofessional remarks,” Karnegis said.

Invoices revealed that the foundation may also be using homeowner funds to pay companies owned by Kapish’s family. The company, P Schumacher, LLC, owned by his in-laws, and LCM Services, owned by Lance Morgan, raised concerns since neither has proof of insurance.

A representative could not be reached for comment.

Morgan denied any ethical issues and stated LCM is insured, but he did not provide evidence as of press time.

The services these companies supply overlap with those Allied Security and a TRCDD-paid porter provide, causing redundancy and potential conflicts of interest.

The former company patrols, removes signs and unauthorized banners, returns shopping carts, and reports homeless encampments and abandoned vehicles. It was an active LLC from 2014 to 2017 before dissolving.

It stayed inactive through 2022, but it received payments of $800.00 per month, according to records. It was reactivated in Dec. 2022 as P Schumacher, LLC, and is paid $1,000.00 monthly.

“Mr. Chris Kapish, heading up all three boards for over 20 years, would have known of the duplication of services,” Carney said.

Kapish’s behavior, Carney alleges, was so bad that residents moved away.

“Those days have got to come to an end,” Carney said.

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