Well stated.

Maybe this person, who did something he/she shouldn't have done, after the public reaction that spread to his neighbors, felt remorse and decided to cough up the expense (no small punishment in my book) to hopefully make things right regarding any damages, and to relieve his neighbors of anymore fallout. Instead of being satisfied that expenses will be covered, many still want their pound of flesh. Some people just have no room for forgiveness.

So does privilege. This isn't about money or whose house is bigger. It's about fairness and justice.

Thank you.

You're right. Cutting down a tree is now a felony. Unbelievable!

If you want to be forgiven, step forward, identify yourself, admit what you did, and then ask forgiveness. In other words, man-up and do the right thing. Those actions will relieve the neighbors of any fallout. Nobody will forgive you if you hide behind an attorney and remain anonymous. Regardless, in the absence of any other information, I suspect the anonymous party is only looking to avoid some sort of prosecution. I haven't heard the attorney communicate that the anonymous party was sorry about the trees and the whole affair.

You hit the nail on the head! A mob with blood dripping from their mouths. I'm beginning to understand the locals' negative opinion of TVers.

Go into a national park, say where the Redwoods or Sequoias are located in CA, and cut down a tree and see what happens.

If the person who did this, read this thread, they would correctly conclude that they would be shunned and cursed by all of you. Anyone in their right mind would realize that this is just phase 1 of "justice" in the eyes of this mob.

Exactly! California. Go figure.

Not at all. Just step forward and take responsibility for your actions. That is what responsible adults do. After that, most people won't give it a second thought.

Or any other national park in any other state. You miss the point.

I for one am glad that many (whose money would be used to right this arrogant wrong) did not lay down and die. I do believe public pressure has had an effect in the face of "the powers that be" wanting it to be swept under the rug.

Certainly it appears that the perpetrator(s) (Friends of Lake Miona-- ha, you couldn't make this stuff up) came forward only when it looked like pressure from the POA and this website might cause the sheriff to actually conduct a thorough investigation of the crime or neighbors to come forward with information. Furthermore, it is very likely that the perpetrator(s) are reading and perhaps participating in this thread, which may explain the some of the efforts to cut off discussion. There are certainly a lot of unanswered questions in this matter, such as what, exactly, is the deal between the attorney for the perpetrators and the prosecutor? In a community with a real newspaper, this would all be reported.

I believe that you'll find it causing $40,000 worth of property damage is a felony in any state of the country and probably in any country of the world.

Breaking through the fog
 

Congratulations to CDD5 for breaking through the fog and proposing the "amnesty for no prosecution" idea. It has to be more than coincidence that these funds appear shortly after the publication of this idea.

The lawyer for the "Friends" should have taken the necessary steps to ensure his clients have secured amnesty to the extent he is able. I think the amount obtained is close to the amount actually spent to this date. "Our" side should negotiate a deal for additional funds from the "Friends" as costs accumulate.

I have every confidence they'll do their best as they have done already.

Works for me! Whoever did this is despicable.

It isn't $40K property damage! That is mostly fines by the state.

How much do you think it would cost to replace just one of the giant oak trees that were cut down??? Replacement costs alone could easily exceed $40,000. But to be a felony, the damage only needs to be $1,000 or more. I would suggest you read up on your law before equating this crime with a minor traffic offense.

I hate to rain on anyone's parade, but the person or persons responsible for the tree cutting may never be known. It has been well documented here and elsewhere that the district has offered "confidentiality" and "forgiveness" by not prosecuting if the district was reimbursed. It appears this has happened by the Friends of Lake Minoa. I'd be willing to bet as far as the district is concerned this is a closed matter.

Also, I seriously doubt if the postings on this website or the POA had any influence in the Friends of Lake Minoa making the payment. "Most" of the residents in The Villages probably do not even know about this site or if they do, do not log on. The POA had one article in the June news letter and two "letter to the editiors" in the July issue. This was it for 2015. I don't see this a "alot of pressure".

It was more likely the law enforcemnt end of the equation. They knew who was responsible and although may have not had enough evidence to file charges, they had enough to compel paymnet. It is call negotiations!

Someone mentioned if I do not like this topic, I should quit reading. I continue reading becasue I want to be informed on this topic and others posted on this site. I am just amazed how vindictive we are here in The Villages, especially if you do not agree.

I think I am glad that most of the wonderful residents do not read and post on this site. I would move if this was the case.... (ha! beat you to it!)

GREAT POST - Sensible, unemotional, factual, positive! :ho:

That's ridiculous. No one replaces a fully grown oak with another one. They will plant a few (5?) trees, maybe 30 or 40 gallon size, and in a decade no one will notice. My God! You can have 30 foot palm trees planted for $300-$600, delivered. Do you go this crazy when the developer clear cuts acreage for the next village? No, of course not. They will plant small trees, and in a decade or so nature will run its course.

Whew! IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT HERE, YOU CAN....?? What?...Oh....she did?...never mind.

A couple of points. I believe the trees in question were large live oaks. They are slow growers, I have had them. Perhaps in 100 years, not 10 years, no one will notice. Secondly, I believe the tress in questions were in a protected area. This is hardly the same thing as clearing a non-protected area for houses.

You would get laughed out of court with that argument.

Well said and clearly the point of the huge "kerfuffle". (Judge Judy always says that.)

The live oak in our backyard went from 6' high, 2" diameter trunk to 30' high, 16" diameter trunk with a 30' diameter limb spread in 10 years. Nearly that size in 7 years.

Not exactly slow growth.

.

It's all about the permitting. No tree above a minimum size (and not a junk species) can be removed without a permit whether it's in a protected area or not. Protected areas just have more specific restrictions on what can or cannot be done.

Even large scale 'clearing' of trees for houses, etc. has been permitted if the construction is being done legally. And usually there is compensation for the cleared trees...oftentimes trees planted in another nearby area...included as part of the permit.

I had one (a newly planted tree) double it's trunk diameter in 10 years. Regardless, they are classified as slow growers. "Slow" is relative to other trees. Look it up.

Good observation. The important point is trees were cut down in an area where a permit would not have been issued.

AH.
 

Conscience and fear of jail causes a lot of people to get religion and confess to their crimes.:ohdear:

Growth Habits

Young live oak trees grow quickly, putting on as much as 3 feet of new growth and 1 inch of trunk diameter every year. In most areas of the country, live oak trees keep their leaves year-round, although they may drop their leaves in the most northern areas of their range. Older live oak trees often harbor epiphytic plants such as mistletoe or Spanish moss. Live oak trees can live over 100 years.

Read more: Live Oak Tree Facts | Garden Guides

Live Oak Tree Facts | Garden Guides

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Actually southern live oaks grow quickly in their younger years. They live so long that this 'younger' phase is a very long time...heheh. It's later on that their growth slows.

Read the "Typical Lifespan" paragraph here...

https://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wildlif...-Live-Oak.aspx

Dear Don't Rain On My Parade:

So you don't mind that a resident(s) took it upon his/her/them selves to cut a clearing in a protected area and then left fellow residents holding the bag. and that it took much pressure and publicity to shame/pressure said resident(S) into striking the best deal?

I have lived here for 9 years and I'll dare you to cut, trim remove any tree that The Villages planted and see who comes knocking at your door

Friend at Lake Minoa now only cut down a tree but more than one in a protected area no less just because of conceit.....i want a clearing.

My parents taught me not to damage other people's property i.e respect other people's property.

and so the Friends at.... rained on our parade.

Personal Best Regards:

Live oak (Quercus spp.) is not generally known as a fast-growing species. For instance, the canyon live oak (Quercus chrysolepis) and coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) may grow 24 inches per year, and interior live oak (Quercus wislizeni) may grow 12 to 24 Inches per year. This relatively slow growth rate ensures the oak’s wood is dense enough to support the tall-growing, long-living species; many live oaks grow to be 65 feet tall and can live more than 150 years. If want to quicken your live oak's growth rate, provide it optimal growing conditions. Canyon live oak is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) plant hardiness zones 8 through 10. Coast live oak is hardy in USDA zones 9 through 10, and interior live oak is hardy in USDA zone 8.

My point is 10 years (as suggested by someone) is not going to give a large live oak. 100 years will.

Cutting these trees down was not illegal. I prefer to look at it as an undocumented act.

shame
 

rank has privilege

WHO has rank in this mess? Are you being snarky about folks who live in Premier homes? That would be ignorant AND uncaring. There are lots of people who live in all kinds of homes all over this country who do damn awful stuff. AND get away with it. AND we all pay. We pay for tattoos and cell phones of people who deal drugs and don't report their income or pay for the support of their children...For starters.

The folks who selfishly and arrogantly went onto public property and cleared their view are wrong, but all the folks who live in that area are not complicit. There are many wonderful people who live there who had nothing to do with it and are mad and feel awful, I am sure. I don't think for a minute they had anything to do with it, most of them, or covered it up. I imagine they are all pretty sure WHO did it, because they have been at gatherings with folks who always act like their fannies weigh a ton.

QUOTE=Challenger;1095359]Hmmmm- Total costs suffered by districts= +or- $100,000

Reimbursement from "someone" $25,000.

Apparantely someone has a smidgen of remorse or wants us to shut up.[/QUOTE]

Where does that $100,000 figure some from? How did it cost the districts anything because a few trees were cut down?

Although that may be true (RHIP).....most forget the second half of that saying, which is just as, if not more, important......Rank Has Its Responsibilities!! And I'm not saying that either of these sayings applies to this situation at all.....just that the complete saying has 2 parts. Cheers! :)

Nice post Gracie....