Do we have gate guards or gate openers????

[neilbcox]

Issue: do we have gate openers or gate security at Pinellas Place and Morris?

Observation: On Tuesday evening I came through this gate on the residents side of the gate behind 2 other residents. In the guest side by the gate openers shack, the gate keeper let a 1990 Buick, no hub caps, smoke coming out from the underside of the car which had 4 different color finders and doors. This car had four teenagers in that car! No questions asked, no car information taken down and they was passed through in front of residents.

Is this policy?

As a lifelong member of VHA I have major concern living in a gated community with zero gate security!

Recommendation: have owners present vehicle registration certificates to receive a non-removable resident sticker that is placed on the window shield. This way our gate security can see if you belong here or just a passer by. Passer by cars have to stop and asked what specific address they are going and their tag number taken down. Local service companies can provide copies vehicle tags and copy of drivers licenses of their techs to obtain a service vehicle sticker.

We are letting far to many unchecked cars, trucks and strangers in to our communities which can cause us danger and fears.

[billethkid]

Please recognize TV IS NOT a gated community.

Secondly the streets are public streets and no one can be denied access.

Next?

[mickey100]

The Developer turned over the roads to the county north of 466A, so there can be no restricted access. I assume the same will happen south of 466A when construction is complete. The answer to your question is = we have NO security. This is not a standard gated community.

[NoMoSno]

Issue: do we have gate openers or gate security at Pinellas Place and Morris?

They are gate greeters.

[janmcn]

The districts that govern The Villages (as in Community Development Districts or CDD's) have no policing powers, therefore TV has to rely on the Sumter County sheriff's office for traffic control and enforcement.

[redwitch]

Think of TV as a community with gates, not as a gated community. The gates' main purpose is to slow vehicles down.

If this was a gated community, we would be responsible for all street maintenance. I'd hate to imagine what the amenity fee would be like.

[The20Percent]

I thought most of the gates have cameras and assumed that when the "greeter" puts up his stop sign for your car to stop, the intention is to get a clear shot of the car's license plate? Am I correct in this assumption? I would feel better knowing there is a video recording of every car entering our particular village in case ours, or a neighbor's house, is burglarized.

[CatskillBill]

Please recognize TV IS NOT a gated community.

Secondly the streets are public streets and no one can be denied access.

Next?

I understand that the streets were given back to the county to cut the cost of maintenance for TV. A great deal for Morse. But, how did the county allow gates and gatekeepers holding up stop signs on so called "public" roads?

Also, why in the world would Sumter and Marion Counties agree take the roads over only to have to spend taxpayer's money to fix them?

If I think vehicles are goin too fast down my street, I guess I can get my own handheld stop sign and make drivers stop on a public road too?

[Bonanza]

I thought most of the gates have cameras and assumed that when the "greeter" puts up his stop sign for your car to stop, the intention is to get a clear shot of the car's license plate? Am I correct in this assumption? I would feel better knowing there is a video recording of every car entering our particular village in case ours, or a neighbor's house, is burglarized.

When a "greeter" puts up his stop sign,
it's because another car is going through the "resident" side at pretty much, the same time.

Supposedly, all the gates have cameras, but I question if this is really true.
Can you imagine if every car's license had their picture taken???
What a joke!

[Bonanza]

Think of TV as a community with gates, not as a gated community. The gates' main purpose is to slow vehicles down.

If this was a gated community, we would be responsible for all street maintenance. I'd hate to imagine what the amenity fee would be like.

You are so correct on all points!

Even as a non-gated community,
we're paying over a million dollars a year for our "keystone cops" to man the gates,
in addition to the gates' maintenance, the electricity, etc.

I can think of better ways to spend a million bucks!

[mickey100]

I thought most of the gates have cameras and assumed that when the "greeter" puts up his stop sign for your car to stop, the intention is to get a clear shot of the car's license plate? Am I correct in this assumption? I would feel better knowing there is a video recording of every car entering our particular village in case ours, or a neighbor's house, is burglarized.

I think the gate cameras are in place to catch the people who run into the gates, so they can nab them for repair costs.

[thelegges]

I look as the gates are just a speed bump

[Loudoll]

Didn't realize this. I thought we were special and protected. From now on I shall use the visitor's gate and not wear out my window motor.

[Birdie Dreamer]

Didn't realize this. I thought we were special and protected. From now on I shall use the visitor's gate and not wear out my window motor.

You will still need to put down the window, push the red button and wait for the voice to say " Welcome to The Villages".

[maybe]

Although the official reason for the gates is "traffic control", I think the main reason is to give the impression of a gated community. It helps higher house sale prices and volume. If TV ever is built out, I wonder if enough people will see that the gates are not worth keeping. I suspect equal "security" could be maintained by low maintainance speed bumps and cameras.

[Walter123]

Although the official reason for the gates is "traffic control", I think the main reason is to give the impression of a gated community. It helps higher house sale prices and volume. If TV ever is built out, I wonder if enough people will see that the gates are not worth keeping. I suspect equal "security" could be maintained by low maintainance speed bumps and cameras.

Just imagine how dangerous it would be and what the traffic would be like without the gates. Anyone that buys here and didn't know that this was not a gated community didn't do their homework or was misled by a realtor.

[Walter123]

Didn't realize this. I thought we were special and protected. From now on I shall use the visitor's gate and not wear out my window motor.

It's fine to use the visitor gate especially when it rains. I don't think you will wear out your window motor though.

[John_W]

Issue: do we have gate openers or gate security at Pinellas Place and Morris?...


The road is called 'Morse', just like the developer's name.

[Uberschaf]

The gates are for golf cart safety.They use the gates because no one stops at a stop sign.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

They are gate greeters.

I i think that officially they are called gate attendants. But they are not there to stop anyone from entering.

There are cameras on many gates that photograph the license plate of every car that enters.

The gate attendants perform the same same function as the greeters at Wal-Mart. Some people believe that they are there to make you feel welcome. The truth is that they are part of their passive security system. Research has shown that if a potential thief knows that someone has seen him enter the store he is less likely to steal.

[Indydealmaker]

You are so correct on all points!

Even as a non-gated community,
we're paying over a million dollars a year for our "keystone cops" to man the gates,
in addition to the gates' maintenance, the electricity, etc.

I can think of better ways to spend a million bucks!

I know that $17 per year is breaking me!:1rotfl:

[BobnBev]

:popcorn::popcorn:

You better have your flame suit on.
Some people here just LOVE Community Watch.

[Indydealmaker]

:popcorn::popcorn:

You better have your flame suit on.
Some people here just LOVE Community Watch.

Community Watch notified me the other night when they noticed that I had left one of my car windows partly open. They DO have some value and are a part of the character of The Villages.

The Community Watch Naysayers apparently were unconcerned at the time they moved here.

[graciegirl]

Oh STOP. I am tired of the Morse Bashers. TIRED of it.

This gated stuff comes up every three months like it is some conspiracy that was not on some piece of paper that realtors are always talking about..

NO ONE FORCED anyone to buy here.

We all KNOW that the gates slow down traffic so golf carts can cross. AND I would hate to be a greeter at our gates forced to decide who was "worthy" to enter these public roads.

[Villageswimmer]

You are so correct on all points!

Even as a non-gated community,
we're paying over a million dollars a year for our "keystone cops" to man the gates,
in addition to the gates' maintenance, the electricity, etc.

I can think of better ways to spend a million bucks!


IMO, whether or not one agrees with the system, these folks are our neighbors just doing their jobs. No room for disrespect or condescending name calling.

[The20Percent]

I would bet these greeters look out for potential "suspicious" looking occupants of cars and make a special note of it, just in case a crime is committed on that particular day in that particular village.

So really to sum up this gate issue the facts of the matter are: The person at the gate provides an added piece of mind for residents by potentially deterring crime while the cameras record the automobile license plate numbers, they slow down traffic so the golf cars can cross safely, they create a look of exclusivity for our community which I feel adds to the value of our homes, they create jobs for resident villagers and in addition I think its always nice to see a smiling face with a wave welcoming me home. Why would anyone bash the gates and their greeters, be thankful we have them.

[iluvmopars]

graciegirl once again you are sooooooo right!

[Walter123]

Oh STOP. I am tired of the Morse Bashers. TIRED of it.

This gated stuff comes up every three months like it is some conspiracy that was not on some piece of paper that realtors are always talking about..

NO ONE FORCED anyone to buy here.

We all KNOW that the gates slow down traffic so golf carts can cross. AND I would hate to be a greeter at our gates forced to decide who was "worthy" to enter these public roads.

I may have missed it but I don't see where someone bashed the Morse family in this thread and even if they did, is that not their right?

[perrjojo]

I would bet these greeters look out for potential "suspicious" looking occupants of cars and make a special note of it, just in case a crime is committed on that particular day in that particular village.

So really to sum up this gate issue the facts of the matter are: The person at the gate provides an added piece of mind for residents by potentially deterring crime while the cameras record the automobile license plate numbers, they slow down traffic so the golf cars can cross safely, they create a look of exclusivity for our community which I feel adds to the value of our homes, they create jobs for resident villagers and in addition I think its always nice to see a smiling face with a wave welcoming me home. Why would anyone bash the gates and their greeters, be thankful we have them.

Amen!

[Indydealmaker]

I may have missed it but I don't see where someone bashed the Morse family in this thread and even if they did, is that not their right?

Yes, you are right that they have every right to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in a community without performing their due diligence.

They then have every right to complain about those rules and budget requirements with which they agreed to comply with when they signed all of those documents at their closings.

However, you would think that, after exercising all of these rights, they would then also exercise their rights to shield their lack of foresight from the general public.

[Bonny]

Oh STOP. I am tired of the Morse Bashers. TIRED of it.

This gated stuff comes up every three months like it is some conspiracy that was not on some piece of paper that realtors are always talking about..

NO ONE FORCED anyone to buy here.

We all KNOW that the gates slow down traffic so golf carts can cross. AND I would hate to be a greeter at our gates forced to decide who was "worthy" to enter these public roads.
:agree: This topic has been rehashed way too many times.

[bimmertl]

Gee, I live in Springdale. No gate attendant at entrance off Buena Vista or near Mulberry. Same for Piedmont and plenty of other gate in The Villages. So I guess nobody is on the "look out" for potential suspicious looking occupants and taking notes. No friendly greeting, no wave, no added piece of mind, really? I just press the button or use my card and drive in and don't miss the friendly face and wave, and the gate works fine to slow traffic.

I can't bash any greeters since I almost never encounter one, and there isn't any reason to bash them. However, thousands of us who live without them seem to get along just fine. So if a lot of us can get along without them, why can't everyone?

[slipcovers]

[quote=bimmertl;933179]Gee, I live in Springdale. No gate attendant at entrance off Buena Vista or near Mulberry. Same for Piedmont and plenty of other gate in The Villages. So I guess nobody is on the "look out" for potential suspicious looking occupants and taking notes. No friendly greeting, no wave, no added piece of mind, really? I just press the button or use my card and drive in and don't miss the friendly face and wave, and the gate works fine to slow traffic.

I can't bash any greeters since I almost never encounter one, and there isn't any reason to bash them. However, thousands of us who live without them seem to get along just fine. So if a lot of us can get along without them, why can't

[CFrance]

I understand that the streets were given back to the county to cut the cost of maintenance for TV. A great deal for Morse. But, how did the county allow gates and gatekeepers holding up stop signs on so called "public" roads?

Also, why in the world would Sumter and Marion Counties agree take the roads over only to have to spend taxpayer's money to fix them?

If I think vehicles are goin too fast down my street, I guess I can get my own handheld stop sign and make drivers stop on a public road too?
You are one of the taxpayers whose money is used to fix them.

[CFrance]

Yes, you are right that they have every right to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in a community without performing their due diligence.

They then have every right to complain about those rules and budget requirements with which they agreed to comply with when they signed all of those documents at their closings.

However, you would think that, after exercising all of these rights, they would then also exercise their rights to shield their lack of foresight from the general public.
OMG, that is just funny!:wave:

[janmcn]

Yes, you are right that they have every right to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in a community without performing their due diligence.

They then have every right to complain about those rules and budget requirements with which they agreed to comply with when they signed all of those documents at their closings.

However, you would think that, after exercising all of these rights, they would then also exercise their rights to shield their lack of foresight from the general public.


WOW - new residents need never ask questions on this forum ever again and developer bashing is not allowed, even when it doesn't exist.