I favor right over wrong. All is finally clear.

If someone broke into the Lake Sumter Office and trashed it to the tune of 50k and up would there still be this level of progress on the investigation?

I don't understand the point you are trying to make. I think that the sheriff's office has done what it can do at this point.

I think I remember that you have suggested that people who live in that village are in cahoots and would not turn someone in if they knew for sure who did it. I completely don't understand how the size of a person's home makes them more or less moral.

I think that there will be someone charged with the crime if proof can be brought. I think that it is shameful and wrong, but no one can prove who was behind it for sure and with proof that can hold up in court.

I think that what Polar Bear said is true and that people watch TV and think it all works like on TV. It may never be solved in court. But those of us who live here in EVERY village are mad as hell it happened.

It isn't right to cut down trees and incur a huge community expense to replace them and it isn't right to blame a whole bunch of people who have bigger houses for being unethical.

In fact, one is as bad as the other.

Everybody knows who did it, or thinks they know. They just don't have PROOF. Sometimes the legal system works for us and sometimes the legal system doesn't work for us.

Um, Nope!

I love living in TV and don't begrudge the Company a single dime they have made. That said, my point is if the Company were out 50 k vs the collective community I believe there would be a tad more urgency to solve the thing.

The size of someone's house does not make them more or less moral. There is a sense of entitlement that many that have more money possess however. It can be observed on a daily basis in TV from the way the "help" are treated in restaurants, rec centers, golf courses and stores. There is another set of justice based on your income. It is simply naive to believe otherwise.

District to Pay for Unauthorized Tree Cutting
 

...and simply sad to believe it is a universal truth.

Me too, but in the case of the tree cutting, it seems far from clear to me. In fact, it seem inexplicably murky.

WHAT do you think really happened then? WHAT exactly? Who is it that you mistrust the most? Then second? Then third? and who do you think is lying and who do you think is not doing what you think should be done which is? And who is to blame? And who profited from this?

I have not, nor will I read all 400+ posts to this thread. What I don't understand is what costs are involved. Someone must have paid to have the trees cut down. What are the costs that remain. If they are because it looks unsightly with dead trees laying all over the place, why not just leave it a view in perpetuity for those who live there and are likely responsible. What am I missing here?

The trees must be replaced, according to the Southwest Florida Water Management District, who fined the district $30,000 because the trees were removed. The costs of replacing the trees is $50,000, which has already been done and paid.

There is also a $5000 per year inspection fee to be paid by the district for a number of years. This $100,000 debt will be paid by districts five through eleven.

The land in question is owned by SWFMD. The home owner and the logging people trespassed on SWFMD property to clear cut this land in order to have a clear view of the Lake, either for their own use for to help sell a property. You can find much more information on the power that SWFMD wields on their site. The cost incurred is basically the fine for trespassing and removal of trees and plants.

Nice answer but you didn't answer my question. Obvious to me that someone must have paid to cut the trees down. What other costs are there for the district to cover. If it's to restore the area, clear dead trees etc. why spend a dime. Let the homeowners responsible look at the dead trees lying on the ground forever.

You really do need to go back and read at least the first hundred posts to learn why this was illegal, etc.

I think you missed her message. The land on which the trees were cut, and from which they were removed, belongs to a very powerful state sanctioned agency that heavily regulates its property. They can levy fines and demand return of the property to its prior state. This the did, and they will charge the district for the cost of monitoring the site as well. I know you did not want to review the previous posts, but a quick skim would have helped.

Didn't know that. Thought the land belonged to TV. And no, I'm not going to skim 100 posts to find the one or two that might offer correct information.

I know I missed a lot of details on this by choice, so I apologize...but I am curious...

If the trees were cut by someone unknown and it was not on Villages property, then why did the Villages get fined in the first place?

How did the state agency find the Villages at fault?

District to Pay for Unauthorized Tree Cutting
 

Let me correct something I said. The land is owned by TV, but is under the jurisdiction and use controls of the the state agency noted above. (South West Water Management District .. I think) TV is subject to tremendous numbers of regulations from this agency. It's kind of like if you want to remove a tree of significant size from your property you must get permission from TV. If you do not, TV can require that you replace that tree.

Thanks!

District to Pay for Unauthorized Tree Cutting
 

Nice catch, dbussone.

As you say, TV owns the property. But SWFWMD Environmental Resource Permits strictly limit what can take place over the property in question. Removing the trees was (obviously) not a permitted activity.

You are welcome. Have a nice Fourth of July.

If interested, here is their website. They have very broad powers related to water and land uses: Southwest Florida Water Management District

We are used to this from living on Lake Michigan. If you want to move a dune two inches, it will probably take you a year to get a permit. Very hard to mess with protected land. If you do and get caught, you must restore at your own cost.

And DB, nice of you to explain. Five minutes' worth of reading and newguy could have answered his own questions.

the risk we run

That's pretty funny. Thanks.

Nothing
 

Someone posted an answer to my above question regarding what is Sumter and Fl State doing about this. Suggesting that I call them....

I did. They already did their job and thank you for them.

* Many months ago many trees on Village property bordering a non village owned lake were illegally cut down and trucked away.

* Sumter and FL state fined The Villages $50,000.00

* The Villages paid the fine

To answer your question. The county and state did their job and received their fine and new trees being replanted so they are done.
So, IMO... TV chose to pay this fine and charge the residents of this VCCD and apparently case closed for TV

That's a fair assessment of the situation imho.

The only clarification I would offer is that TV didn't choose to pay the fine. There was no choice. SWFWMD would not delay for a long period of investigation. TV (VCCD) is the permittee and they are responsible for permit violations.

If the VCCD wishes to pursue the matter further, it is a separate matter as far as SWFWMD is concerned.

I don't know what really happened other than those of us who are residents of The Villages got fined for something we did not do.

I don't know exactly, but really want to know. All I've ever asked is that our local officials inform us of the status of the investigation more than the fact that what they have is inconclusive.

First I mistrust the person or persons who had the idea to secretly and apparently clandestinely cut down some protected trees for whatever reason they may have. Second I mistrust whoever did the actual physical deed of cutting the trees. I would not use the word "mistrust" for others, but I deeply wonder why our local sheriff, local newspaper, district manager, and supervisors are not informing us of the status and details of this investigation, for which the residents of this community paid a substantial fine.

I have accused no one of lying, though I think the person or persons who cut the trees and/or hired the cutting of the trees is lying. I have not pointed a finger of blame. I believe the person or persons who cut the trees or hired someone to cut down the trees profited in some fashion. I do not know that others "profited" in any way, nor have I accused them of such, but I am infinitely curious why this investigation seems so difficult to conclude.

Now, I love our community too. I choose to live here because I love it. This crime will never sit well with me until we know who did it and force them to receive the punishment rather than the citizens of TV. Yes, my share of the fine would be minimal, as would yours, but it's the principle that sticks in my craw, and I hope it does in everyone's.

District to Pay for Unauthorized Tree Cutting
 

I generally agree with your thoughts...except for the last one. I will not let it stick in my craw.

Who did you call?
How could Sumter (county?) fine anybody?
If the county did their job; what was their job?
The county did not receive any fine $, did they?
Is this all opinion?

I would like to know where The Village Watch was while this was happening. I see them driving around, but I never see them actually doing anything.

. The Villages Watch do not need to be maligned.

Unfare attack!! Why?

They are doing just what they are supposed to do "watching".

District to Pay for Unauthorized Tree Cutting
 

You really think the Watch should have just been there when the deed was done?!?

Tough crowd.

Tree cutting
Those homeowners who border the area affected must know something but are remaining silent. I would suspect that if not directly involved in the act that they know something but aren't talking.
I would suggest the following: Since the property in close proximity to the cleared area benefits in terms of the enhanced view, it would seem only reasonable that those properties have recognized an increase in value. Therefore it is only reasonable that the real estate should be re-assessed to account for this increase in value. It's only fair since the view affects the value of the property.

So you are suggesting that those properties be reassessed on a different time schedule than other properties?

YOU ARE EXACTLY CORRECT. I try to not post many comments on TOV. The attackers are always waiting to pounce.

I wouldn't say the Villages Watch was being maligned. My opinion is the post simply stated the truth. For 19 years I have watched the VW make their daily run thru my neighborhood never stopping in that 19 years. If someone would ask why something isn't being done about a infraction, the answer would be they are complaint driven and only act on complaints.

I once got a call from Community Watch at 3:00AM to let me know I had left my garage door open.