Great Idea - Terrible Location Choice

[sralph99]

What a traffic nightmare earlier today in Lake Sumter. Disposal of hazardous waste was scheduled for the south parking lot behind Starbucks. Standing traffic on all roads in the Lake Sumter area. After sitting in our car for 30 minutes we decided to make a U-turn and parked near Cody's. We then carried our electronic stuff and lots of paint cans all the way to the parking lot but we were turned away. Walkers weren't allowed! If it was up to me I would have left it in the parking lot but my wife wouldn't let me. While carrying all the stuff back to our car, a nice lady in a golf cart offered to take our stuff. She said she had been waiting more then 60 minutes. The Polo Fields would have been the perfect location - easy access and departure.

[Polar Bear]

Couldn't agree more. Some really terrible planning.

[RickeyD]

Why weren't walkers allowed ? That makes no sense.

[golfing eagles]

Why weren't walkers allowed ? That makes no sense.

So they didn't get run over by the cars that were standing still????:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[kansasr]

It didn't help that there was an idiot from the sheriff's department directing traffic who obviously knew nothing about traffic flow and control!

[Walt.]

Seven years in the Villages and this was easily the biggest mess I've ever seen.
We moved one car length in 40 minutes on Old Mill Road. They had some old guy (with a Community Services shirt) "directing" traffic. He kept letting cars from the side street turn in and NEVER let the Old Mill Road cars go. When I finally went out and asked him if we were ever going he insisted that he was letting all routes go evenly.
It wouldn't surprise me if during the year the Recreation Centers personnel find old, broken, and useless electronics at their front doors when they arrive in the morning.
If you were here on a life-style visit... what would you think?

[VApeople]

If it was up to me I would have left it in the parking lot but my wife wouldn't let me.

It was up to you, since you were the one carrying it.

If you had left it in the parking lot, someone would have picked it up eventually.

[Carla B]

What a mess today! Some years ago they held it at Wildwood High School - it was one way in and one way out and went very smoothly there. Can't imagine why they thought Sumter Landing would be a good location.

[Topspinmo]

That's why the make it nightmare. So you will get discouraged and pack it back home.:D

[Bryant]

This was the most poorly planned event I have ever seen in my 12-1/2 years in the Villages. When you reached the corner of Old Camp Rd. and Canal Street there were 2 Sheriff's officers. One waving you down Canal St. and the other waving you down Old Camp Rd. I had to stop and ask which way to the hazardous waste site. There was a lighted sign stating Hazardous Waste Disposal 8 - 2 pm. Would have been nice to have a sign with an arrow. There were 2 lanes going into the area. I was in the left lane. I noticed the right lane moved much quicker than mine. As I got closer to the drop off site, I saw why. The right lane was split into 2 lanes creating 3 lanes as we were nearer to the drop off spot. Terrible planning.

[Maiercab]

i left my house in Caroline around 10, waited in line, dropped my paint off and was on my way to my next stop by 10:30.... No complaints here.

[Maiercab]

While walk in drop off would be nice - I can understand where it might cause chaos if people in cars .... In line .... Decide to get out if car and 'walk in'...... Would they think they could leave.....while in the middle of the pack?

Possible solution - have drop off 3 times per year. (North, Central, and South)

[Barefoot]

We then carried our electronic stuff and lots of paint cans all the way to the parking lot but we were turned away. Walkers weren't allowed! If it was up to me I would have left it in the parking lot but my wife wouldn't let me.
It sounds like a poorly planned event.
But good for your wife to not leave the stuff in the parking lot!!

[virgind]

Forest said it well. Stupid is as stupid does.

[KathieI]

It was the same madness about 1 year ago when they had it at the library in Pinellas. The line was so long it took me 1 1/2 hours just to reach the front where I could drop off my paints, etc. I guess the answer is, go early??? Never again.

[Madelaine Amee]

It was the same madness about 1 year ago when they had it at the library in Pinellas. The line was so long it took me 1 1/2 hours just to reach the front where I could drop off my paints, etc. I guess the answer is, go early??? Never again.

Yes ........... my other half left the house before 8am and was back almost immediately, no lines, no problems.

[skip0358]

Went about 9 by golf cart waited about 1/2 an hour to drop it off no big deal. Police directing on Old Camp did a fine job.

[rubicon]

It is appreciated that people are given an opportunity for disposing of hazardous material at a center. However I keep wondering why Sumter county does not have a permanent facility like that of Lake County ? It is opened twice a week year round drive in find designated location deposit drive off

The same sort of nightmare occurred with paper shredding day

This area is getting much too large

[Arctic Fox]

Possible solution - have drop off 3 times per year. (North, Central, and South)

There is enough demand for holding this sort of event several times per year, now that TV is so large, and spreading them around would certainly reduce the numbers trying to get to each one. Maybe at regional rec centers, rather than town centers?

[Nucky]

The man ahead of us in a beautiful Golf Cart in Florida on a beautiful day in The Villages was percolating for about a half hour until he lost it when an officer made him stop and let people from the other direction enter the site. It was free entertainment. I wonder what is going thru everyone's mind? Don't they budget enough time for this task? Does everyone expect to be first? I think it was a great event and that the amount of humanity that attended was more than expected. The people processing the cars were great even though they were in the sun since 7.30 am. The real beef here is the business's that were virtually shut down because of the traffic. The Polo Grounds sounds great but Hazardous waste and $$ Expensive $$ Horses don't mix.