Done with the POA!
 

Now that the election is over, I have to say that I am done supporting or being a member of the POA with its current leadership. I am done with them endorsing candidates with only one platform – “Blame the developer”. I am done with them accusing people of being “paid off” by the developer. The POA has become a political organization that is taking an adversarial role with the developer. They are in a war with the developer! Really not sure what else they do at this point! I do not agree with this approach. I believe that the POA should be working in conjunction and together with ANY organization regarding improvements wanted by the majority of the residents. They are not my voice anymore! I have found conversations gets results. I have found willingness to compromise and agreeing to smaller steps will open doors to continued discussions. This is how you help both parties feel good about change and get to mutual agreement. I also have found that demanding never works. It slams the door shut and nothing constructive ever gets accomplished!

!!!!!

Agree completely.

The developer has a proven track record. This place didn't become the #1 retirement destination city on the planet by accident. I much prefer to go with the tried and true, as opposed to a bunch of disgruntled geezers of unknown backgrounds who may not have even the ghost of a clue as to how things run around here.

I am reminded of a line from the movie The Patriot, when Benjamin Martin asked the question "what is the difference between being ruled by one tyrant 3,000 miles away, or 3,000 tyrants one mile away"? In this case the answer is obvious, at least to me. I moved here with one "tyrant" in charge. That "tyrant" has created something unique in the world and it is growing by leaps and bounds. The "tyrant" as far as I am concerned has fulfilled his end of the bargain with me. I am happy with the status quo and have no desire at all for that to be changed even a little by a bunch of petty little tyrants who, according to some of the posts here and idle conversations here and there, seem to come up as pretty clueless.

I agree! I’m done supporting and following their advice!

///

Agreement here with special thanks to all the employees and contractors who make it happen. Everyone I've delt with knows their aspect of the business and has been professional.

You have completely misstated the position of the POA endorsed candidates and I suspect you never accurately read their opinions. Those candidates are not anti-developer in any sense. What they are is pro-resident. In almost all situations what the developer wants and what is good for Villagers is not in any conflict.

But there are situations where the developer has made proposals or moved forward with plans which many do not see as in our best interests. There are many situations where he has refused to help with failures of infrastructure of his team's design. Several examples would include the defective Morse bridge, numerous sinkholes, failing sewer lines, building apartments, taxing by the roof not the square footage which save him millions, the windmill...

Did you ever hear of anyone get a response from the developer when they complain about children living next door, a violation of our covenants which only the Developer has the power to enforce? Contrary to your post, he does not negotiate, he does not enter into discussion to reach mutual understanding. His business model is secrecy and complete control. There are no "conversations that get results"

If there is no organization to represent us when these problems and others happen then we have a monarchy. Note that real local governments have said no to the Developer, Lady Lake and Wildwood included. We do not have any local elected government to say no other than the Sumter county commissioners. When the Developer has oversized influence in who runs and who wins those few positions, we then have no checks or balances.

The POA has taken a position that having commissioners who are not owned by the Developer is a good thing. They are not seeking anti-developer candidates, just looking for people who are not likely to be Morse puppets [see Brett Hage as an example of what the Morse dollars can buy]

Very well said. :agree:
The residents of Sumter county have sent a message, twice now.

///

And what exactly was that message? Panos lost, Wiley won. Looks to me like the majority saw through the POA's attempt to influence. And what is this story that one of their picks actually does not live in the district he was elected to represent??

Take out a breath of fresh air and enjoy your retirement. There are problems here. We do live in a very well maintained area with very low maintenance costs compared to others. Communiites in S. Florida have same amenities and pay 2-4X more for same services.

Life is too short to get involved in the politics regarding developer vs POA's.

People are what they are. REALITY, for too many on too many issues.
It is far easier to complain then to investigate and suggest better solutions.

Imagine if the inmates were running this place. What plants to put in on common grounds. Could we get all to agree? Of course not. Who should pay for it? Anyone but me.

Semantics? Looks like anti-developer position to me.

I don't recall reading anything in the POA newsletter disparaging Wiley. I do remember he was given space for his candidacy position and background, and his few inches of column space were expressed well. Wiley is also not a puppet of the Developer so no idea why you think that's an effective "gotcha" against the POA, if your position is that the POA is anti-Developer.

:agree:Very well stated, and exactly my sentiments!

Your whole post is anti-developer, not one positive item mentioned,
and that is the problem a lot of us see with the POA.
To me it is polarizing and not very constructive!

Totally disagree. The POA provides another perspective. It doesn’t mean you agree with all their positions. How refreshing to hear another point of view.

I’ll continue to support this outstanding publication.

How many water towers need to fall down and be paid for by residents?

Even the Great and powerful " OZ" can be wrong sometimes, and that's why you need a POA . The total lack lack of NON senior housing has caused the Great concern for getting reasonable employees who want to work around here. How many employees want to travel 1 hour for work for minimum wage jobs?

Silly question
 

I keep hearing about the people who agree or disagree with the “developer”, but you never know who this developer is by name. Is it just one company or many companies combined together?

The big Question: Will the POA even Listen?????
 

So much potential, so little time.

Are you listening Cliff?

I’m still laughing. “Anyone but me”

Very well said! I think we are extremely lucky we have the POA and its members who take the time to identify issues, do diligent research, and help resolve these issues that arise for the residents. As you said, without their oversight, we would be living under monarchy rule with no checks and balances. To my way of thinking, that would be really stupid. I would never buy a piece of property in a community where I didn't have a least some means of voicing concerns, and having those concerns listened to. The POA does a good job, represents us all, and there is power in numbers. To sit back and expect that the Developer is looking after our best interests, is just plain foolishness. After all, he is a capitalist - its all about making money, and I have no problem with that, but the POA gives us at least some protection.

For some of the newer residents, a quick reminder about the work the POA did years ago, when they filed the class action lawsuit against the Developer which benefitted the residents to the tune of about $40 million. Google it.

What you say is very true for a great deal of communities like the villages.

The upcoming target of the POA is likely to be the proposed Villages Independent Fire District. The head of the POA was the speaker at last Friday’s Philosophy Club meeting and he had nothing positive to say about the Independent Fire District while complaining that the Developer doesn’t negotiate with him. At least one of the POA endorsed Sumter Co. Commissioners, Jeff Bogue opposes the Independent Fire District. I have read that his son works in Sumter County’s EMT department so there is the appearance of a conflict of interest.

I made a point of listening to every candidate for commissioner. I learned quite a bit about what is happening in the county that we do not hear in the paper or Village News…or from anyone on NextDoor.

It was a good thing, because I almost didn’t support the District 2 candidate because of the POA recommendation. He was the one that had to move because he was re-districted after he filed. But the other POA candidates were not good choices. It was the POA that gave us Search and Miller. I’m still trying to find the campaign filings to see where the money behind the POA candidates came from.

Did you miss this?
 

I guess you missed it when the Developer's Sumter County Commission raised property taxes 25% in order to eliminate the Developer's impact fees for building new homes. What happened as a result of that was two years ago we threw out three of Developer-backed Commissioners and this year got rid of the other two. One decided to pass on a new term and Gilpin was beaten at the polls. Mission accomplished!

Agree completely. Too much negativity. Nothing is perfect but owning here comes real close.

Proud Italian
 

They lost me when I saw that they had "Indigenous People's Day" on their calendar. Trivial? Yup, but that hit me the wrong way.

You sound a bit "hypocritical". You say the POA is demanding in advocating for residents, but then you are DEMANDING that they deal with the developer in a certain manner. The POA is looking out for all residents, so the BILLIONAIRE developer DOESN'T take advantage of the residents. You sound like another MINION for the developer. HAPPY to see you go!

What landmarks do you have where you live?

I am assuming you are also looking for who financed the two temporary appointments, right? Oh, you already know, the DEVELOPER!

I have always felt the POA was a resident support organization. If you have ever had a problem and not gotten results, or even a helpful suggestion from the Villages, the POA is usually a great resource. Sorry you feel that way.

The tax increase actually resulted in something you can see (development south of SR 44 and something you can take to the bank, increased property values north of SR 44. Without new development this place would begin to die on the vine and our property values would go flat then fall. Even if the infrastructure cost burden was shifted to the multiple commercial enterprises in Sumter County the long term effect of growth would be more cost for government. Growth doesn’t pay for itself.

Been here 24 years and have read/observed the POA position relative to the Developer and the VHA regularly. Despite claiming to be on the side of the people, the POA positions have generally been anti-developer. Have they produced anything productive? Yes, they have sued the Developer and gained some good things for residents, but generally they take an anti-developer stance when endorsing political candidates and certain actions taken by the Developer, even though those actions were positives for the residents in general. I do not support their positions, nor would I join their organization. I only read their paper because it gets deposited in my driveway and it is properly disposed of after scanning their columns.

I like the POA. I think they support the residents, and I will continue to be a member.

So many misstatements! We have the ELECTED CDD Supervisors. They have significant power and authority. The center district works closely and cooperatively with the numbered residential districts AND the commercial districts.

Speculation at best. Home prices were rising when I purchased even though the development South of 44 was drawing buyers away from pre-owned sales.

Without new development we would live in a roughly 20 square mile retirement community with dozens of golf course, pools, and recreation centers and three town squares with shopping and dining options. The Villages was the place to buy even when it was understood that development would stop at 44. Far from dying on the vine.

I'm not sure anyone understands what the tax increase went towards. $25M per year seems like a lot of money to purchase one-time improvements to county roads made necessary by the new development.

Charlie, would you consider running for congress, we need you!!!!

You are asking the real question. Why did all of the CDD supervisors run unopposed? Who are they really? Why didn’t the POA run candidates for the CDDs if they are really for the residents?

Really, they why is the PWAC going to be forced to recommend replacing the windmill/water tower according to the Sumter Landing CDD's lawyer. The contract to decide how the money is spent is heavily weighted in the developers favor and the Sumter Landing Commercial District has the last say in it.