[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

It’s worthless, no dogs allowed.

I think you are confusing "walking path / nature trail" with "dog park."

[Mrs.Guy]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

It’s worthless, no dogs allowed.

Kinda like "golf courses" and "swimming pools" and we know you don't think they are worthless.
It is an amenity and pets aren't allowed at a lot of amenities. We do have 7 dog parks.

[Kenswing]

Looks like it’s going to be No. the No vote won by about 2,000 votes.

[ScottFenstermaker]

Originally Posted by manaboutown

The VHA is another tool in the developer's sales/management kit. As I understand it the VHA started in 1990 or 1991 in response to the Property Owners' Association's looking out for the interest of homeowners versus those of the developer. I cannot recall the VHA ever taking action on behalf of homeowners against the interests of the developer. The developer settled a lawsuit with the POA for $40,000,000 or so. Villages Settles Lawsuit | POA of The Villages

Here is what the POA website has to say about the formation of the VHA:

"In 1991, an unprecedented attempt was made to take over the POA when a slate of candidates was presented opposed to the continuation of the POA efforts in behalf of residents. The residents involved in the attempted takeover became members of the POA for the two months of November and December, and their dues were paid for by the Developer. These candidates were overwhelmingly defeated by a vote of residents. Some of the residents who were involved in the take-over attempt then formed the Developer supported Villages Homeowners Association (VHA)."

[ScottFenstermaker]

Now that the election is over, it is interesting to note that a majority of residents have apparently awoken to the fact that the Villages Homeowners Advocates is really the Villages Developer's Advocates. The voters followed the recommendation of the POA, not the recommendation of the VHA (and of the Developer's appointed officials and his newspaper) and voted down the fire district.

Now, as the POA and the other opponents of the fire district predicted: The world has not ended. Excellent fire, EMS, and ambulance services continue to be provided, and they will continue to be provided.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by ScottFenstermaker

Now that the election is over, it is interesting to note that a majority of residents have apparently awoken to the fact that the Villages Homeowners Advocates is really the Villages Developer's Advocates. The voters followed the recommendation of the POA, not the recommendation of the VHA (and of the Developer's appointed officials and his newspaper) and voted down the fire district.

Now, as the POA and the other opponents of the fire district predicted: The world has not ended. Excellent fire, EMS, and ambulance services continue to be provided, and they will continue to provided.

Let's hope so. But I hope everyone realizes that it remains up to the county, and not The Villages; we voted local control down

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by ScottFenstermaker

Now that the election is over, it is interesting to note that a majority of residents have apparently awoken to the fact that the Villages Homeowners Advocates is really the Villages Developer's Advocates. The voters followed the recommendation of the POA, not the recommendation of the VHA (and of the Developer's appointed officials and his newspaper) and voted down the fire district.

Now, as the POA and the other opponents of the fire district predicted: The world has not ended. Excellent fire, EMS, and ambulance services continue to be provided, and they will continue to be provided.

If the POA's goal was the fire service on 11/17 then they are severely shortsighted. Did you and they *really* think the vote would change ANYTHING prior to 10/1/2023 (11 months from now)?

I said before that a vote against the IFD was a vote to cut off your nose to spite your face. Now I see that some of those arguing against the IFD can't see past the end of their noses anyway.

Let's see what you have to say over the next 11 months as the "Developer's board" in charge of the VPSD and the "Developer's puppets" responsible for funding the VPSD go to work knowing that the VPSD is theirs for the foreseeable future.

[Mrs.Guy]

Originally Posted by ScottFenstermaker

Now that the election is over, it is interesting to note that a majority of residents have apparently awoken to the fact that the Villages Homeowners Advocates is really the Villages Developer's Advocates. The voters followed the recommendation of the POA, not the recommendation of the VHA (and of the Developer's appointed officials and his newspaper) and voted down the fire district.

Now, as the POA and the other opponents of the fire district predicted: The world has not ended. Excellent fire, EMS, and ambulance services continue to be provided, and they will continue to be provided.

Yes, the PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS of the VPSD will still be there for you..... even though you you were NOT there for them!

[ScottFenstermaker]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

If the POA's goal was the fire service on 11/17 then they are severely shortsighted. Did you and they *really* think the vote would change ANYTHING prior to 10/1/2023 (11 months from now)?

I said before that a vote against the IFD was a vote to cut off your nose to spite your face. Now I see that some of those arguing against the IFD can't see past the end of their noses anyway.

Let's see what you have to say over the next 11 months as the "Developer's board" in charge of the VPSD and the "Developer's puppets" responsible for funding the VPSD go to work knowing that the VPSD is theirs for the foreseeable future.

I agree. The future is an unknown. But with respect to the proposed fire district, the voters were being sold a pig in a poke to correct a non-existent problem. A majority of us said, "We are not buying."

[Aloha1]

Originally Posted by ScottFenstermaker

I agree. The future is an unknown. But with respect to the proposed fire district, the voters were being sold a pig in a poke to correct a non-existent problem. A majority of us said, "We are not buying."

The "majority" were mislead by a few individuals. You know who you are and you should be ashamed. Interesting that the disgraced former Sumter City Commissioner you foisted on the public has now been offered a position on the POA Board. Wonder how that's gonna work out from prison.

[Dond1959]

The POA is very strategic and is looking 4 steps ahead of everyone else. They also have numerous voices on social media that consistently pound the same message. They got ESM on the board in 2020 and two more candidates in 2022. You have to respect their organization and effort. They got dems elected to the commission in a heavily republican county. Bravo for them.

But why were they really against the IFD? My personal belief is they plan to push, through their supported elected commissioners, a new Fire Impact tax. They will call it a fee, but we all know these fees (taxes) are pushed down to consumers. If the IFD had passed, they wouldn’t have been able to push this new tax. Don’t be surprised to see this proposed in 2023 from one or both of their supported commissioners. The key will be Estep, is he still in POA’s corner or has he decided to become more independent. It will be interesting to see in the next year.

[NoMo50]

Originally Posted by Aloha1

Interesting that the disgraced former Sumter City Commissioner you foisted on the public has now been offered a position on the POA Board. Wonder how that's gonna work out from prison.

He won't be going to prison (although he should). The former commissioner you speak of took a deal, and testified against his co-defendant. Part of his deal was that all charges against him were dropped. So...one former commissioner is now a free man, while the other is a convicted felon.

[Happydaz]

Originally Posted by Dond1959

The POA is very strategic and is looking 4 steps ahead of everyone else. They also have numerous voices on social media that consistently pound the same message. They got ESM on the board in 2020 and two more candidates in 2022. You have to respect their organization and effort. They got dems elected to the commission in a heavily republican county. Bravo for them.

But why were they really against the IFD? My personal belief is they plan to push, through their supported elected commissioners, a new Fire Impact tax. They will call it a fee, but we all know these fees (taxes) are pushed down to consumers. If the IFD had passed, they wouldn’t have been able to push this new tax. Don’t be surprised to see this proposed in 2023 from one or both of their supported commissioners. The key will be Estep, is he still in POA’s corner or has he decided to become more independent. It will be interesting to see in the next year.

Orlando has a fire impact fee in place. Many other areas in Florida charge developers a fire impact fee. People make it sound like this is some kind of novel, special tax that people are dreaming up but it is a fee charged in many communities. The reason they charge these fees is to have the developers share in financing all the new fire stations and firemen they need to hire to provide service to all the new homes and buildings these developers are building.

[Happydaz]

Some examples of Florida Counties that have one time fire impact fees on new construction are Orange, Hillsborough, Walton, Citrus, Osceola, Volusia, Lee, Collier, Santa Rosa and Lake Counties.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Let's hope so. But I hope everyone realizes that it remains up to the county, and not The Villages; we voted local control down

The majority of Sumter County's population is Villages residents. The majority of Villages residents are eligible to vote in Sumter County.

Anything the county wants, if it needs to be voted on, will happen or not happen if the Villages residents want or don't want it.