History of the POA
 

Just found this and found it interesting. Gives you insight into the beginnings of The Villages and the POA. Our History | POA of The Villages

Thank you for sharing TVs history.

Interesting article. The POA has championed the residents interests on many issues.

What a lovely article. Thank you for posting it. The history tells me what my uncle and aunt in the 80’s and later my father and mother faced in The Villages. We have progressed so much since then, I can hardly believe all this took place in my lifetime. And we are not finished yet!

Of course the article was written from the POA’s perspective. It sure makes them look good. Maybe when they first started they were a check against the Developer. Today, they are a political organization, pure and simple. Look at how many of your CDD, AAC, PWAC representatives are members or officers (present or past) of the POA. Look how at least three of the Sumter County Commissioners are beholding to the POA. They are slowly taking over The Villages. Before long the most powerful persons in our community will be the board of directors of the POA. This is when I put the “For Sale” sign in the yard.

I think you may be confusing the POA with the HOA.

Regarding the history page - it was a little hard to read as uploaded. No spaces between paragraphs, typos and spelling mistakes creating sentences that made no sense at all - I mean - PLEAD Bank? Seriously? They need a copy editor. I might volunteer. It isn't the first time I've looked at one of their publications and wondered "whose auto-fill picked THAT word?" (correct word is BLOOD - it's a blood bank, not a plead bank).

A better-organized timeline probably would've been more suitable, rather than the wall of text.

I made it about halfway down before I had to just close the page and do something else with my eyes. Much of the history I already knew, as I'd done tons of reading about the Villages, both official Villages documents and unofficial accountings of its history, and read their entire website prior.

Those POA commissioners were overwhelming elected by the residents a few months ago as a check on the developers puppet commissioners who raised our taxes 25% so the developer wouldn't have to pay for his roads in the area South of 44.

But they were all selected and promoted by the POA. If not for their backing no one would have known who they were. Go back and review the POA Bulletins. All three will just be mouth pieces for the POA.

The POA are all residents of the Villages. There are thousands of members, and every single one of them is a resident. ANY resident can be a member, and the dues I believe are just $10/year. If you don't like what they're doing, you can sit on the sidelines and complain, or you can join the POA and let your opinion be heard - and cast your vote.

Why wait?

I am not a fan of the POA. When we first moved here it had two long standing leaders who I think wrote the bulletin. It was often misspelled and it seemed to me to be anti-developer.

I still am not a fan.

Both the VHA and POA have their place in representing groups of Villagers. As a member of the VHA that claims to be independent of any Developer influence, I feel uncomfortable that only the VHA has mail pickup boxes at all postal locations in the Villages, past presidents of the VHA seem to be appointed to new government positions by the Developer and the VHA is given special treatment for tickets to the once a year Developer night program. As the VHA does many good things for the Village community, I retain my membership, participate in their activities, and try to look the other way to the things I mentioned that I believe are in conflict with the stated VHA position of total independence from the developer.

I believe that all groups should work together thru networking. And they should view the Developer as the most powerful entity in the community to then always keep communications open with them.

They may be cleaning it up right now. I tried to follow the link and it is down. 9:30 am Sunday 12/27/20

The POA represents the residents interests. Using your terminology, the POA is the "mouthpiece" for the residents eg. repealing the 25% property tax increase.
Of all the issues The POA has been involved in which ones did not represents the residents interests?

The VHA represents the developer and is his "mouthpiece".

It would be a good idea to belong to both while keeping perspective. The POA is for the people. The developers are for themselves. Complicated, huh?

I consider myself pretty pro developer, but I happen to believe in checks and balances, so am a member of the POA. Neither politicians nor corporations should be allowed carte blanc to do anything they want, or serves their interests. BTW the document I shared was written in 1999-2000 covering the first ten years of the POA, while part two was written in 2010.

If you think the tax increase is going to be repealed, I have a bridge across Lake Sumter I will sell you real cheap! It will not happen. If the tax increased is rolled back, and the impact fees are increased on The Villages Development, growth in the southern areas will stop!

The POA does not publish membership numbers, but I doubt that they represent all of the residents or even a majority.

Lastly, the VHA has taken more of the roll of a service organization.

When is the last time the POA has held an event to raise money for charity, collected and distributed durable medical equipment for residents, or held golf cart safety classes? In my seven years here the answer is never. All they have done is oppose development and expansion of The Villages.

Yeah. The POA people say all that a lot.

I see all the things that are repaired, fixed, painted, washed, done, prepared, made nice, and I say...I like how this place is run.

I see how this place doesn't spend money foolishly. I see how this place appeals to people who have worked hard all of their lives. This is a good thing here.

Interestingly, I see both of you as being spot on.

POA at Work
 

When the Developer was expanding on the South end of the Villages he was expanding faster than At&T could cover the growth. The POA collected over 500 complaints regarding this problem and the POA met with the Florida VP of AT&T to see what could be
done. As a result the VP agreed to sell the boosters for cell phone in some cases at half
price and in some cases they donated them until cell towers could be built and the residents who purchase or secured boosters could keep them. This was not advertised but done by the POA to help the residents. This is the kind of quiet support the POA
provides to the residents. To build a Cell Tower first you have to get the land, then get
the government permission to construct and use. It takes about a year and a half from start to finish to get a new Cell Tower. :popcorn:

The residents spoke decisively in the last county election and overwhelmingly rejected your point of view that change is not needed.

A lot of people don't understand that the Developer should not only be paying for roads necessitated by his massive expansion of The Villages. He should be paying for ALL county infrastructure necessitated by that expansion, e.g., fire stations, police stations, equipment like fire engines and police cars, libraries, government buildings. In Florida counties where he doesn't control the County Commissions, impact fees are set high enough to cover those costs.

Here the Developer has had a sweetheart deal for years, at the expense of residents, thanks to his packing the Commission with his puppets. Every time you write a check for your county taxes, you are writing a check to the Developer for more than 25% of that amount.

The POA is the only protection that the residents have against Developer abuse.

An example of that abuse is his packing the County Commission with his puppets so that he could: (a) get rubber-stamp approval of his expansion plans; and (b) offload on to residents (through a 25% county tax increase) county infrastructure costs that he should be paying for (through impact fees). Other examples can be found on the POA website, the most egregious being the deterioration of amenity facilities requiring a class-action lawsuit which resulted in a $40 million settlement. I would much rather have public officials beholding to my volunteer neighbors in the POA than have those officials in the pocket of the Developer.

I am astounded that you would feel differently unless you are somehow affiliated with the Developer or simply do not understand the reality of what has transpired.

I am astounded too. I once went to a party and a person who I had never met said something similar to me. Fortunately a good many people know me personally. I believe that anyone with common sense can see that this place is very well run and that the decisions made by the developer are good for The Villages and good for the residents. I have seen not one drop of evidence that The Developer is acting in any way but conducting a successful business that not only is run well and ethically but supports the economy of the entire three counties it is part of. It is a huge part of Sumter County which was at one time a place with low employment and low income. A rising tide lifts all ships.

I hope someday that I can shake the hand of Jennifer, Mark or Tracy Morse. I would like very much to meet any of them.

They have a half brother who lives in my Village and we have met him once briefly at a party. He is not involved in the business but was once involved in the golf courses I believe.

I wish there was a group that was independent and helpful. I do not like the POA. I think there are other things going on and I don't like to think about them. I hope all the political action folks calm down soon and see that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Perhaps it's good to have the ying and the yang. Have memories forgot when the POA came to the rescue at the tune of 40 million dollars. Residents familiar with Paradise Rec Center, Paradise Park, and the narrow concrete bumpy MMP paths remember. Let me refresh some memories - the Developer did not volunteer the $40 million the POA had to sue and won the lawsuit. I personally think the developer does a good job but that doesn't mean 100% of the time they act in our best interest. Fast forward to more recent times. Who is stepping up to pay for the Sumter bridge infrastructure damage ? Like many of you say The Developers are in the business to make a profit. Sometimes their interests and ours won't always coincide.

You have been given ample evidence of the developers misdeeds but choose to ignore it. Ignore the facts if you will, but fortunately, the overwhelming majority of residents in this last election rejected your point of view.

Here. Read this thread from a few years back;

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...laine+Dreidame

Another interesting thread from TOTV on this subject from the past:

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...23/index2.html

I read it. It's from a poster who is relying on the Daily Sun which the developer owns. Do you really believe its objective? Why would there be a lawsuit needed if the developer was doing his job? Did you read the POA newsletter to get another side?

Most of the time, as you say correctly, The Villages is well maintained. But that comes out of the amenity fees we pay not out of the goodness of the developers heart.

The Villages is what it is today, a desirable retirement community, because of the foresight of the original developers. This generation of Morses is trying to change that vision. And ironically , that past vision you cherish so much, you yourself are destroying with uncritical support for them.

That is because you have chosen not to look. Should you choose otherwise in the future, you might catch a glimpse or two of what most other people notice (whether they support what they notice or are against it are two different things).

A huge part of Sumter County was farmland, and wild hogs. Low employment because most people worked on their family's farm and were therefore not considered employees. Low income, because - family farm - no pay. The Villages bought out the farms, displaced the families, and razed all that farmland to develop homes for seniors - most of whom don't get a paycheck either because they're retired.

Yes, and I like chocolate ice cream, which I know for a fact that at least one member of the Morse Family also likes. It has nothing to do with the topic but hey - if it's good for you, it's good for me.

Yes, because in your world (as seen in the first paragraph of your post) - if you don't see it or think about it, it can't possibly exist.

I get that you don't like unpleasant things Gracie. I get that. I appreciate it. But not liking unpleasant things doesn't mean unpleasant things can't possibly exist if you choose to not pay attention to them.

Get back to me after living here for fifteen years and carefully observing. I have been here for a long time and still have the same screen name and I do still think it was the best choice to decide to move here. The people I have met and the safety of this place are only two reasons I love it here. People take good care of their stuff and most of them are rule followers. I never would have believed that something called a CDD could be really better run than a city with a mayor and councilmen.

Read this again. Take notes.

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...laine+Dreidame

The topic is the history of the POA. Please discuss the topic and not each other or the thread will be closed.

Moderator

POA should change the acronym to C&B, for checks and balances.

Thank God for the POA and the dedicated people who started and continue it to right wrongs. It attempts to assure the Developer keeps its obligations to maintain what it built even years ago and not focus primarily on new areas where it is building and selling new homes.

The Developer is not responsible for maintaining what it built years ago (I am assuming you were referring to the various amenities). The CDDs own the amenities, with the exception of those south of 44 that have not yet been turned over to the CDDs, and are responsible for maintaining them. The Developer does own the Championship Courses and the commercial property. I do agree that the POA does good work. I view them as responsible media.

I believe that the amenities (recreational facilities) have to be purchased by the CDDs from the Developer. The system/procedure that is used to determine that value could be called into question. Is it fair to everyone?

I think that the list of the POA’s accomplishments is very misleading. Why, because the list does not include what could very well have happened if the POA did not exist.

Yes, the amenities are sold to the CDDs. A big chunk of your amenities fee goes to serving the debt from buying the amenities. Why do you think the "system/procedure that is used to determine the value could be called into question"? Do you have some reason to suspect something was not done equitably? I really done care for such speculations without some specific reason.

Twoplanekid asked a reasonable question, there is no reason to attack anyone for wanting to understand the truth. Do you have any concrete facts to bring to the table to add clarity?

If I am even half-correct in my observations it seems that the current low rate environment would lend itself to more creative financing for even some of the infrastructure projects which may have already been funded in the newly developed sections of the Community . As well as for those which will be required in the near future .

If the projects which drove the increase were properly financed in a more sophisticated construct it just might be possible to roll back much of the increase which has so many justifiably upset .