[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Bonanza

And if we got rid of the guards in addition to the gates,
we'd be saving well over a million dollars a year.
That isn't exactly chump change!

Ohhhhhh . . . am I gonna get comments about this!!?!

Most likely! But I think we could solve a lot of problems by taking the gates down and installing serious speed bumps. It would save money on broken gate arms, greeter salaries, and still slow traffic down enough for golf carts to have their turn. The only thing missing would be someone there to give lost motorists directions. But there are few, if any, gate people in the southern regions of TV anyway.

The recent article touting the new high-def cameras and signs saying you are being filmed... well, that may make it possible to track down a motorist breaking the gates, but it's not going to help with the golf cart drivers since there's no ID on the golf carts.

[Bubble Gum]

Originally Posted by CFrance

Most likely! But I think we could solve a lot of problems by taking the gates down and installing serious speed bumps. It would save money on broken gate arms, greeter salaries, and still slow traffic down enough for golf carts to have their turn. The only thing missing would be someone there to give lost motorists directions. But there are few, if any, gate people in the southern regions of TV anyway.

The recent article touting the new high-def cameras and signs saying you are being filmed... well, that may make it possible to track down a motorist breaking the gates, but it's not going to help with the golf cart drivers since there's no ID on the golf carts.

I don't disagree with you about speed bumps. They definitely would slow everyone down. However, the real truth is that speed bumps kill your car. They do pretty bad damage to your axles, wheel balancing, etc., and to have to constantly drive over them, albeit slowly, would not circumvent the damage they do.

[Walter123]

[QUOTE=CFrance;936555]Most likely! But I think we could solve a lot of problems by taking the gates down and installing serious speed bumps.

No speed bumps.

[Pointer]

Originally Posted by jdsl1998

When I visited our home for the 5 years we were not full time...I would come in late. I aways felt "welcome home" when I reached the gate after the long solo drive. I love having gate greeters. Most of them love greeting.
Bad apples and bad days happen to all of us. Not understanding another person happens to all of us. I am dyslexic and have to look up the simplest of words. Some slip by and some on TOTV put me down, and have for going on 6 years now, and it hurts... I have never said anything about this. Think of others. Use care out there.

I can empathize with you as I'm Dyslexic too. It takes a lot of courage to enter the public world of those who can spell everything. When my kids were little I worked on the school newsletter. One year we sold school "tee ****s" and no body noticed, thus the April fools issue contest was born. We'd leave in the mistakes and see how many kids could find them all. They often found ones we hadn't known about. Then a great presentation was made of interrupting class time and presenting the winners with a candy bar and a coupon for an ice cream at the only store in town. My kids who could spell better then me, saw a good example of being ok not being perfect.

[Pointer]

I like having the guards and the gates because they offer a sense of belonging to someplace special, and, in spite of the few break ins, I believe help keep us safe. It's personal and provides some income for a lot of people who need it.

[JoMar]

Originally Posted by Bonanza

And if we got rid of the guards in addition to the gates,
we'd be saving well over a million dollars a year.
That isn't exactly chump change!

Ohhhhhh . . . am I gonna get comments about this!!?!

Oh yeah, assume you don't own a golf cart.....take away the gates and you have a great game of dodge'em going between the carts and cars. The gates are for traffic control so both carts and cars can co-exist.

[coffeebean]

Right around the time of the last TV survey, I took someone's advise and entered my request for auto gate access with some sort of scanner on the survey. If they hear from enough of the residents year after year on the survey, maybe they will head our requests.

[redwitch]

The gate greeters do more than just open gates. More than on e I've gotten directions to certain streets in their village. Don't know what I would do without them and their little scraps telling me exactly how to get to X street. I love their smiles and waves. Most of them are truly nice folks. I always assume that if someone gets a greeter like the OP did, that the greeter is having a bad day and wish them well.

As to getting out of the car to go back and wave my card, I think this is a really bad idea. Takes too much time and holds up traffic even more -- remove seatbelt, put car in park, turn off engine, remove key, open door, get out, walk back, wave pass at eye, get back in car, put on seatbelt, start car, start to move car and watch the gate close again before you've moved an inch! Now,why in heck didn't the car closest to the gate simply wave their card for the OP? Quick, efficient, save a lot of grief and make that driver feel good for doing something nice for someone else.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by redwitch

The gate greeters do more than just open gates. More than on e I've gotten directions to certain streets in their village. Don't know what I would do without them and their little scraps telling me exactly how to get to X street. I love their smiles and waves. Most of them are truly nice folks. I always assume that if someone gets a greeter like the OP did, that the greeter is having a bad day and wish them well.

As to getting out of the car to go back and wave my card, I think this is a really bad idea. Takes too much time and holds up traffic even more -- remove seatbelt, put car in park, turn off engine, remove key, open door, get out, walk back, wave pass at eye, get back in car, put on seatbelt, start car, start to move car and watch the gate close again before you've moved an inch! Now,why in heck didn't the car closest to the gate simply wave their card for the OP? Quick, efficient, save a lot of grief and make that driver feel good for doing something nice for someone else.

Excellent solution, Red. Sometimes people are just oblivious.

[jdsl1998]

Originally Posted by redwitch

The gate greeters do more than just open gates. More than on e I've gotten directions to certain streets in their village. Don't know what I would do without them and their little scraps telling me exactly how to get to X street. I love their smiles and waves. Most of them are truly nice folks. I always assume that if someone gets a greeter like the OP did, that the greeter is having a bad day and wish them well.

As to getting out of the car to go back and wave my card, I think this is a really bad idea. Takes too much time and holds up traffic even more -- remove seatbelt, put car in park, turn off engine, remove key, open door, get out, walk back, wave pass at eye, get back in car, put on seatbelt, start car, start to move car and watch the gate close again before you've moved an inch! Now,why in heck didn't the car closest to the gate simply wave their card for the OP? Quick, efficient, save a lot of grief and make that driver feel good for doing something nice for someone else.

GREAT idea....I wish I would have thought of that!! I usually don't think that fast!! Now that you've said it, I will remember for future reference! Thanks Red.

[Bonanza]

Originally Posted by jdsl1998

I can assure you at less than $8.00 an hour, we will not save a million in a years time.

huh ?

[Bonanza]

Originally Posted by JoMar

Oh yeah, assume you don't own a golf cart.....take away the gates and you have a great game of dodge'em going between the carts and cars. The gates are for traffic control so both carts and cars can co-exist.

They who "assume" things are usually wrong.

The gates may be for traffic control but the guards don't look at the golf carts;
they are concerned with the cars in the resident lane vs. the visitor lane so they both don't enter a Village simultaneously.

Don't lose sight of the fact that cars have priority on the streets.
Think of it as the golf carts being guests.
The way many drive the golf carts, it is them who are playing dodgem with the autos.

[gamby]

I've worked outside for 30 + years ,Rain, Snow etc. and never gave wet a second thought

Suck it up NANCY, A few drops will never hurt you.

[Annie01]

Originally Posted by bobcuse

this is not a big deal but it can be annoying when it's raining (especially a downpour) and i have to lower my window to scan my gate card. Then, as the contents of my door pocket get soaked, the attendant opens the visitor side and waves at the car passing through . The morse gate attendants almost always open it for you as you approach but the sunset pointe gate attendants almost never do (at least during the afternoon hours). Before i call to request a courtesy policy of raising the gates during a rain for each car after we first stop at the gate, does anyone know if there is any such policy in place?

caroline does open the gate for you...they re the best in the villages...kudos to you guys !!!!

[Laurie2]

Well, I like our gate people. I smile and wave and so do they. More importantly, the gates and gatekeepers keep those golf carts safer. That’s enough of a return-on-investment for me.

But here we are, page after page, post after post, some just asking a question, some getting all riled up. A little sniper fire even. And others just smiling and waving.

So. . .I thought maybe we could all get together and sing this song. I know you know the tune. . .



Someone left the gate down in the rain,
I don’t think that I can take it,
‘Cause I know I’m gonna break it,
And I’ll never have that plastic card again. . .
Oh nooooooooo.

(short instrumental interlude here)

What the heck. Smile and wave. What do you think this is? Watergate?