Community Watch - Are you serious.....

[kcrazorbackfan]

.....in putting non-trained elderly people out at a couple of the gates to direct traffic?

1st place - at the Hillsborough entrance; there was a very ELDERLY gentleman this afternoon waving his stop sign like a fan; he did not know what he was doing and did not belong out there; there was an accident waiting to happen. Community Watch was contacted and they were going to dispatch a supervisor to the scene.

The 2nd place was at the eastbound entrance to Pinellas Place. Again, someone was out there that appeared to had never directed traffic in his life; another call to Community Watch.

Community Watch - you're going to get someone hurt putting non-trained personnel out at these gates. These are not school crossings.

[golfing eagles]

.....in putting non-trained elderly people out at a couple of the gates to direct traffic?

1st place - at the Hillsborough entrance; there was a very ELDERLY gentleman this afternoon waving his stop sign like a fan; he did not know what he was doing and did not belong out there; there was an accident waiting to happen. Community Watch was contacted and they were going to dispatch a supervisor to the scene.

The 2nd place was at the eastbound entrance to Pinellas Place. Again, someone was out there that appeared to had never directed traffic in his life; another call to Community Watch.

Community Watch - you're going to get someone hurt putting non-trained personnel out at these gates. These are not school crossings.

I passed that earlier. It was pretty pathetic, if not outright dangerous

[Happinow]

I passed through there about 11:30 and he seem overwhelmed. I felt bad for him. I came back through again about 12:15 and it appeared he was giving up or was dismissed. The traffic was very heavy, both carts and cars, and he was walking towards his truck. The radio was buzzing with chatter! I hope everything went ok.

[Cathy H]

and they let suspicious looking people come thru the exit gate!

[RickeyD]

.....of our neighbors. We can comment on how the work is being done but, insults sound rather ignorant............


No reflection on this poor guy. Untrained or poorly trained falls upon the lap of poor management. My comment was intended to highlight a management issue.

[debow]

No reflecti. on on this poor guy. Untrained or poorly trained falls upon the lap of poor management. My comment was intended to highlight a management issue.

New to the area about 10 months, wondered what their responsibility was . I just have a key sensor or push the red button to my area so always wonder their their job/responsibilities were.

[Barefoot]

and they let suspicious looking people come thru the exit gate!

Cathy, the streets are not owned by The Villages. This is not a gated community. The streets are public streets.
"Suspicious looking people" are entitled to use public streets.

[ronsroni]

Your comments are, indeed, rude and uncalled for. Who are you to call folks "elderly"? Define your terms and be mindful. Are you 14?
This is not nor nor ever has been called a gated community. Civilized people appreciate having someone to ask questions of and to give access quickly in urgent situations. Had you stopped and asked what the job entails, I bet you would get a detailed answer.
They don't need guns or weaponry. Every single vehicle plate is captured on camera. These folks have a job and do it well. Been here four years and I regard these folks with the same respect I would give you.
There were gentler tones available. You come off sounding mean. There is always the option of not living or visiting here. Generally speaking, TV is a friendly place to be. The Gate staff is part of that friendliness.
Because drivers can be idiots and impatient, allowing flow into the developments needs fluidity. The Gate staff perpetuate safety and congeniality. I thank them for their service.
So, should you break down or need help and approach the gate area, you may sing a different tune. One can hope.

[57ChevyFI]

WOW, sounds horrible, were you able to get an exact number of accidents they caused today? Sounds like there was probably a bunch. Knowing that information I would have been in full defensive driving mode, like usual in The Villages.

[jojo]

Community Watch manned the Colony intersection for several months before they installed the golf cart traffic light there. Fortunately, they seemed to be well trained for the position.

[57ChevyFI]

No reflection on this poor guy. Untrained or poorly trained falls upon the lap of poor management. My comment was intended to highlight a management issue.

Good post!!! I'm sure these people are probably making 25 to 30 dollars an hour. No way they make just over minimum wage. I would much rather them hire police officers at their OT rate probably 28 dollars an hour. Having my amenities doubled seems very reasonable to have more qualified traffic control specialist, even though I can say in the past 7 years I've only seen a couple accidents at the gates and no evidence even those could have been caused by the gate attendant instead of impatient residents.

[bagboy]

$25 to $30 per hour??? Noone really believes that...do they???

[Bogie Shooter]

Point missed!

[Fredster]

$25 to $30 per hour??? Noone really believes that...do they???

No, not very believable, and that is why I take a lot of things posted on TOV with a grain of salt!

[Bogie Shooter]

Point missed again!

[RickeyD]

Mean!!!

Scab labor, not scab laborer. No excuse for management putting this man into a position he obviously could not handle.

[600th Photo Sq]

Cathy, the streets are not owned by The Villages. This is not a gated community. The streets are public streets.
"Suspicious looking people" are entitled to use public streets.

Actually you are 90% correct with one minor detail. The Courtyard Villas are owned and maintained by the Villages but.... They are under the same classification and rules as the roads and streets even though they do not comply with the county codes. That is why the Villages owns and has to maintain them.

Now how do they get around this... simply by classifying the Courtyard Villa streets as having " Public Access " very cute and also misleading.

You are right on the other points though very good, actually anyone can park for however long they he or she wants to as long as Emergency Vehicles can get through and a neighbors driveway is not blocked.

The roads are Not Private...The Community Standards are powerless along with the Police...Period.

Most residents think that there is a time limit, restrictions, etc.etc. there is some minor restrictions on Rv's and Campers but totally impossible to monitor, or inforce

[Topspinmo]

Actually you are 90% correct with one minor detail. The Courtyard Villas are owned and maintained by the Villages but.... They are under the same classification and rules as the roads and streets even though they do not comply with the county codes. That is why the Villages owns and has to maintain them.

Now how do they get around this... simply by classifying the Courtyard Villa streets as having " Public Access " very cute and also misleading.

You are right on the other points though very good, actually anyone can park for however long they he or she wants to as long as Emergency Vehicles can get through and a neighbors driveway is not blocked.

The roads are Not Private...The Community Standards are powerless along with the Police...Period.

Most residents think that there is a time limit, restrictions, etc.etc. there is some minor restrictions on Rv's and Campers but totally impossible to monitor, or inforce

There was water leak in my CYV street. It was fixed but just filled in with sand. Couples days later the city of ladylake city employee's came out and fixed the sandy patch. Matter of fact they done excellent job, not ripple or bump could be seen or felt. Maybe it's the newer areas you are talking about?

[Carl in Tampa]

$25 to $30 per hour??? Noone really believes that...do they???

No, not very believable, and that is why I take a lot of things posted on TOV with a grain of salt!

Sarcasm apparently is too subtle for some...........

:shocked:

[bagboy]

Sarcasm apparently is too subtle for some...........

:shocked:

Maybe some of us can download the app for some of you to interpret posts for us.

[Carl in Tampa]

Maybe some of us can download the app for some of you to interpret posts for us.

No offense intended.

[Miles42]

Well I think the whole thing was poorly planned. It is not like they didn't know this was coming.

[rubicon]

As I just mentioned on another thread if this place gets much larger they are going to need traffic cops at all the gates and along certain areas on MMP where traffic backs up badly. Lake Sumter at Buena Vista and Old Mill road is one area...

And yes as one poster said it is poorly planned because the founders knew they were going to develop every square inch they owned and more than that. Who the heck develops a community that places pedestrians, bicycles and motorized golf carts on the same path?

[BobnBev]

Sarcasm apparently is too subtle for some...........

:shocked:


Hey Carl, welcome back.
:a040:

[outlaw]

As I just mentioned on another thread if this place gets much larger they are going to need traffic cops at all the gates and along certain areas on MMP where traffic backs up badly. Lake Sumter at Buena Vista and Old Mill road is one area...

And yes as one poster said it is poorly planned because the founders knew they were going to develop every square inch they owned and more than that. Who the heck develops a community that places pedestrians, bicycles and motorized golf carts on the same path?
Incomingggggggg!

[looneycat]

Good post!!! I'm sure these people are probably making 25 to 30 dollars an hour. No way they make just over minimum wage. I would much rather them hire police officers at their OT rate probably 28 dollars an hour. Having my amenities doubled seems very reasonable to have more qualified traffic control specialist, even though I can say in the past 7 years I've only seen a couple accidents at the gates and no evidence even those could have been caused by the gate attendant instead of impatient residents.

$8.05/hr should still get a person who can hold a stop sign. sarcasm noted

[Taltarzac725]

.....in putting non-trained elderly people out at a couple of the gates to direct traffic?

1st place - at the Hillsborough entrance; there was a very ELDERLY gentleman this afternoon waving his stop sign like a fan; he did not know what he was doing and did not belong out there; there was an accident waiting to happen. Community Watch was contacted and they were going to dispatch a supervisor to the scene.

The 2nd place was at the eastbound entrance to Pinellas Place. Again, someone was out there that appeared to had never directed traffic in his life; another call to Community Watch.

Community Watch - you're going to get someone hurt putting non-trained personnel out at these gates. These are not school crossings.

Glad people are seeing things that do not seem right and trying to do something about them.

[billethkid]

Well I think the whole thing was poorly planned. It is not like they didn't know this was coming.

Perhaps you are giving far too much credence to the underlying cause as "planned" in any way shape or form.

[graciegirl]

Cathy, the streets are not owned by The Villages. This is not a gated community. The streets are public streets.
"Suspicious looking people" are entitled to use public streets.



And elderly people are entitled to be employed at the gates. The OP could have posted his observance without the word elderly. Punk kid. Says he is only 62. Not even entitled to Medicare. Still wet behind the ears. sheesh.

[outlaw]

And elderly people are entitled to be employed at the gates. The OP could have posted his observance without the word elderly. Punk kid. Says he is only 62. Not even entitled to Medicare. Still wet behind the ears. sheesh.

Did you just use the "E" word?!:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[BK001]

And elderly people are entitled to be employed at the gates. The OP could have posted his observance without the word elderly. Punk kid. Says he is only 62. Not even entitled to Medicare. Still wet behind the ears. sheesh.

LOL - you've made my day. Thank you. :mademyday:

[manaboutown]

According to the Merriam-Webster on line dictionary "elderly" was first used in 1611 so the term has been in the English language over 400 years.

My father described himself and his peers as elderly after he reached about age 70. Elderly seems to be an acceptable descriptor to me. Refer to the folks at the gates as elderly but please do not describe them as senescent. That would bother me.

[NYGUY]

You can call me elderly if you want, but, please never call me "Sir"!!.:cus:

[Madelaine Amee]

Good post!!! I'm sure these people are probably making 25 to 30 dollars an hour. No way they make just over minimum wage. I would much rather them hire police officers at their OT rate probably 28 dollars an hour. Having my amenities doubled seems very reasonable to have more qualified traffic control specialist, even though I can say in the past 7 years I've only seen a couple accidents at the gates and no evidence even those could have been caused by the gate attendant instead of impatient residents.

When they offered me a job (couple of years ago) the pay scale was $6.00 per hr with no benefits! Believe me at $25 or more I would have jumped at it.

[Allegiance]

It's good to have live people watching the gates. It's good to give villagers jobs. It's a bargain win/win situation. I love giving our gate man the exaggerated villages wave!

[rubicon]

According to the Merriam-Webster on line dictionary "elderly" was first used in 1611 so the term has been in the English language over 400 years.

My father described himself and his peers as elderly after he reached about age 70. Elderly seems to be an acceptable descriptor to me. Refer to the folks at the gates as elderly but please do not describe them as senescent. That would bother me.

Attorneys specialize in Elder Care,states have Elder Care Departments, Elder trees are name so because there old...i made that last one up.

[rubicon]

Incomingggggggg!

Well I didn't say anything about elderly people using these MMP's and gates:icon_wink:

[RickeyD]

All the elders have spoken.

[dbussone]

All the elders have spoken.

There's that word again!

[Barefoot]

No offense intended.
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/attachments/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/57897d1456281864t-community-watch-you-serious-offended-reduced-jpg

:laugh: Carl, glad to see you posting!

[graciegirl]

You can call me elderly if you want, but, please never call me "Sir"!!.:cus:





I don't mind being referred to as elderly, if...IF, the referrer has got along great with his parents, aunts and uncles and they were funny and sweet and smart. Then I know the referrer has a good feeling for old-er folks. There are those who post here, and thinly veiled they post as if they look down on older people. no matter what they type. That isn't nice or right and ....Karma is waiting in the wings...along with MY guardian angel.....who DRINKS.

[RickeyD]

Elder and elderly conjure up perceptively different meanings.

[manaboutown]

I wonder if misusing the words elder or elderly would be considered elder abuse under the law?

[villagetinker]

Back on topic....
I have notice at various times that the people manning the gates do not appear to think about the TIMING of the traffic flow, and occasionally let visitors though BEFORE the resident has opened and cleared their gate. The result is that the VISITOR is approaching the necked down area AT THE SAME TIME AS THE RESIDENT. I have gotten used to looking to my left, and have probably avoided 2 or 3 close calls by doing this.
I have no idea what level of training is provided for these posts, but it appears that MAYBE this could be increased.
Please try not to shoot the messenger.

[600th Photo Sq]

There was water leak in my CYV street. It was fixed but just filled in with sand. Couples days later the city of ladylake city employee's came out and fixed the sandy patch. Matter of fact they done excellent job, not ripple or bump could be seen or felt. Maybe it's the newer areas you are talking about?

The water leak repair by the City of Lady Lake and subsequent repair of the street has nothing at all to with the Villages responsibility of maintaining the street.
The ongoing maintenance of All Courtyard Villa streets are the sole responsibility of The Villages for the reason that I stated.
As you know the Courtyard Villas are unique in their design and layout, however the streets are narrow compared to the streets that are maintained by various counties.
The Courtyard Villa streets Do Not Comply with the Codes of any of those Counties.
That is why The Villages are forced into maintaining All Courtyard Villa Streets. ALL....is the Key Word.

Lastly because the Villas have a classification of " Public Access " they come under the same " Restrictions " as the various county roads and streets.

[graciegirl]

It doesn't matter who is at the gate or how well they are doing. It is wise to watch out for ourselves.




Generalizing in a demeaning way isn't nice. So if I were directing traffic at the gate, I wouldn't like it if someone said ......"Some blonde babe" was causing a traffic mess.


Or if KCRazorback were directing traffic saying "Some punk kid" isn't nice either.


Now that is my sermon for the day.


It is a beautiful kinda chilly day in The Villages. But Sweetie is playing golf anyway. Somebody has to do it.

[outlaw]

In the real news site, some time back, a poster indicated that the northwest area of TV (Chatham?) pays for their own road maintenance; that the roadways were never turned over to the county. It was addressing the issue of restricting access, I think. Something about originally the gates did restrict access, but were opened up to accommodate emergency vehicles. Interesting.

[graciegirl]

In the real news site, some time back, a poster indicated that the northwest area of TV (Chatham?) pays for their own road maintenance; that the roadways were never turned over to the county. It was addressing the issue of restricting access, I think. Something about originally the gates did restrict access, but were opened up to accommodate emergency vehicles. Interesting.



I am really skeptical about this information. I think it doesn't sound right at all. Certainly this would have been discussed and discussed and discussed again on this forum and people would have been warned not to buy there because of an additional expense. I don't recall hearing or reading this.


Could you link us to this info, Outlaw? Certainly it is out there somewhere.

[CFrance]

Back on topic....
I have notice at various times that the people manning the gates do not appear to think about the TIMING of the traffic flow, and occasionally let visitors though BEFORE the resident has opened and cleared their gate. The result is that the VISITOR is approaching the necked down area AT THE SAME TIME AS THE RESIDENT. I have gotten used to looking to my left, and have probably avoided 2 or 3 close calls by doing this.
I have no idea what level of training is provided for these posts, but it appears that MAYBE this could be increased.
Please try not to shoot the messenger.
And in that case, it appears the visitor lane has the right of way, because the resident's lane is the one that disappears and must merge into the left lane.

[Walter123]

You know, there is no rule that says residents must use the resident gate. I go to the visitors gate all the time if it's raining hard or if the resident lane is backed up.

[villagetinker]

You know, there is no rule that says residents must use the resident gate. I go to the visitors gate all the time if it's raining hard or if the resident lane is backed up.

I agree completely, and I use the visitor gate whenever I am going in a around about and exiting from the left lane, I do not want to cutoff someone in the right lane.

[Fredster]

And in that case, it appears the visitor lane has the right of way, because the resident's lane is the one that disappears and must merge into the left lane.

My thought is whoever gets to the merge point first has the right of way!
But both drivers must be aware of what's going on around them.
And a parting thought is what's the rush!

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

As I just mentioned on another thread if this place gets much larger they are going to need traffic cops at all the gates and along certain areas on MMP where traffic backs up badly. Lake Sumter at Buena Vista and Old Mill road is one area...

And yes as one poster said it is poorly planned because the founders knew they were going to develop every square inch they owned and more than that. Who the heck develops a community that places pedestrians, bicycles and motorized golf carts on the same path?

The population density of The Villages is 1,629 people per square mile. It is nowhere near as crowded as other communities of 100,000 people in the United States.

For example, Orlando has a population density of 2327, Tampa comes in at 2960, and Miami at 11,135. These are not among the top 100 cities with the highest population density.

I don't know how anyone can say that The Villages is too crowded.

[buzzy]

The population density of The Villages is 1,629 people per square mile. It is nowhere near as crowded as other communities of 100,000 people in the United States.

For example, Orlando has a population density of 2327, Tampa comes in at 2960, and Miami at 11,135. These are not among the top 100 cities with the highest population density.

I don't know how anyone can say that The Villages is too crowded.

I have not seen the multi-modal paths throughout Orlando or Tampa, have you?

[theruizs]

I agree completely, and I use the visitor gate whenever I am going in a around about and exiting from the left lane, I do not want to cutoff someone in the right lane.

Exiting from the left lane on the third exit, right? This time of year I see too many drivers taking the first exit from the left lane. I am suprised there are not more accidents at these rounds during this time than there are. Or maybe we just don't hear about them. I also get honked at by drivers in the right lane going around passing the second exit when I am in the left lane taking the second exit (going straight). I've even started just using the right lane unless I need the third exit. Oh well, I guess living here still makes it worth the small hassles.

[bagboy]

Exiting from the left lane on the third exit, right? This time of year I see too many drivers taking the first exit from the left lane. I am suprised there are not more accidents at these rounds during this time than there are. Or maybe we just don't hear about them. I also get honked at by drivers in the right lane going around passing the second exit when I am in the left lane taking the second exit (going straight). I've even started just using the right lane unless I need the third exit. Oh well, I guess living here still makes it worth the small hassles.

Yep, it's worth it 😊

[CFrance]

Exiting from the left lane on the third exit, right? This time of year I see too many drivers taking the first exit from the left lane. I am suprised there are not more accidents at these rounds during this time than there are. Or maybe we just don't hear about them. I also get honked at by drivers in the right lane going around passing the second exit when I am in the left lane taking the second exit (going straight). I've even started just using the right lane unless I need the third exit. Oh well, I guess living here still makes it worth the small hassles.
I think that's the best idea, esp. during the high-traffic season.