[njbchbum]

graciegirl - you asked how i feel about this...well...lemme tell ya!

as a villages snowbird for but 5 yrs, i do not know the history that goes with what seems to be an ancient topic - about which nothing has been done, nor apparently resolved. but i do know that it is a shame to watch the birds, ducks, and white pelicans try to frolic, get a drink or take a bath in a mud puddle when there is no water level to speak of.

and i do know that the failure of the acc, the developer, lady lake, lake county, the water mgmt authority, and any other party/parties that could do something about the water level [or lack of water] is a serious disappointment to me. the excerpt from the minutes of the 3/13/13 acc budget committee meeting below is just one published article re the various attitudes toward adressing the issue. everything is personal opinion and an unwillingness to even consider steps to obtain a professional opinion, much less a professional review and report.

and lndlocked's post is yet another! to lndlocked i reply that i pay my amenities fees like every other resident; and those dollars go to support MANY villages facilities and activities in which i do not take part - golf, pools and rec centers come to mind real quickly. i may not agree with how my amenity fees are spent - but i appreciate the things they support because they will be there when and if i choose to use what the money has been spent on. and to lndlocked - you make me feel that you believe the residents in the historic do not deserve more than personal opinion...opinion is free and a review/report would cost money; a lot of money!

statements made by the acc comm members and the post by ldnlocked contribute to the feelings that are sometimes felt which make me think that the historic district is the wicked stepchild of the villages that has been written off by residents to our south and supervisors who think that they and their districts are better than we and our neighborhoods are!

but ya know what - i wouldn't live in any other villages neighborhood!

from the 3/13/13 acc budget comm mtg:

“EIGHTH ORDER OF BUSINESS: Paradise Lake
Chairman Wilcox advised the Committee that he requested this item be placed on the agenda following requests to address the water level within Paradise Lake and the maintenance condition from some residents. Chairman Wilcox stated this Committee addressed these same issues pertaining to Paradise Lake approximately one year ago but requested Staff provide an overview of the issue. Ms. Tutt stated the Committee previously addressed this topic of excavating and lining Paradise Lake and
chose not to proceed due to the proposed cost which Staff anticipates could increase substantially due to the unknown issues that could occur; such as permitting. The lack of water is not an issue only at Paradise Lake as many preserves and Water Retention Areas (WRA) within The Villages are greatly lacking in water. Ms. Tutt stated she appreciates the suggestions to excavate only a few feet of Paradise Lake but stated a few feet could have unintentional consequences. Staff is not recommending proceeding with any changes to Paradise Lake.

“Chairman Wilcox inquired if this Committee would like to re-address the topic of Paradise Lake.

“Mr. Bell stated an offer was made by the Developer many years ago to dredge Paradise Lake, at no cost to the residents, which was refused by the residents. At this time Mr. Bell stated he does not believe the thoughts of the majority of the residents in the area have changed and would be opposed to proceeding with any excavation/lining of Paradise Lake.

“Mr. Lambrecht stated he has reviewed a study a resident wanted to present to the Committee which basically addressed evaporation of water level; however, the study did not occur in this portion of the State and was conducted many years prior. Mr. Lambrecht stated he is totally against proceeding with any type of excavation and/or lining of Paradise Lake and stated there is no viable solution to address the level of Paradise Lake until regular rainfall is received.

“Ms. Forrester stated she is concerned that the Committee is making a decision about Paradise Lake at a Workshop where it was previously stated audience comments were not to be permitted and believes the Committee should defer a decision until the next meeting. Mr. Bell and Mr. Lambrecht both referred to several occasions when the Committee received public comment pertaining to this topic many times previously.
Following further discussion the Committee reached a consensus not to proceed with excavation and/or lining of Paradise Lake.”

ps - does mr bell not think that in the amount of time between today and ‘…many years ago...’ that ‘...the thoughts of the majority of the residents in the area have changed…’? sheesh! Who the he** do messrs bell and lambrecht think they are?