[Muncle]

F Y I

VHA REGIONAL DIRECTORS AND NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVES QUESTIONS FOR
CENTER DISTRICT AND DEVELOPER’S REPRESENTATIVES
The new Village Center Customer Service Center is functioning so well some of the VHA Reps have commented, with tongue in cheek, that they have nothing left to do. On the other hand it has given the neighborhood representatives time to focus on larger issues and to provide more feedback to the Board and thus to the various governing bodies serving The Villages. We are appreciative of the good work and services provided by the Customer Service Staff. Thank you!

1. Community Watch has a new telephone number. Can the VCCDD please prepare and distribute new refrigerator magnets with the new contact information?
New magnets are available and can be obtained at either the Customer Service office on Wedgewood Lane or at the Community Watch office located at 3130 Glenview Road. We will see if we can obtain a supply to distribute at the VHA Newcomers’ Social. The magnets are currently offered at the Welcome Social sponsored by the Sales Department.

2. With the summer vacation season we are seeing children using the adult pools and no one comes by to check on these pools. What is the procedure for checking these pools and who should a resident contact if children are present in an adult pool? Are there adequate signs designating the neighborhood pools as being for adults only?
Community Watch checks these pools 3 times a day. If children are using the pool or there are other issues please use the courtesy phone located at every pool to contact Community Watch. New signage has recently been installed to more clearly spell out the rules.

3. At the Village of Bridgeport at Miona Shores the mail boxes are only accessible when the pool gate is unlocked. The mail slot has been moved so that mail can be deposited at any time but it is our understanding that access to the boxes is still restricted to the hours that the pool is open. Can this be corrected? There is no VHA Box at this postal station; can a box be added for VHA mail?
This issue was misunderstood; the problem had been corrected sometime ago. The Center District will install a VHA and a CIC drop box and will look at locating these outside the gate area and will look at relocating the Amenities drop box as well.

4. A few months ago a longer arm was installed on the gate at Belvedere entrance near the high school; the longer arm was effective in preventing cars from going around the gate and it made golf carts slow down. The arm is now shorter; will the longer arm be reinstalled?
In an effort to control costs, as the gate arms are damaged, the damaged portion is removed and the arm is reused. When it gets too short it is replaced with a new arm. Community Watch will be asked to check if the gate arm in question is too short.

5. Is there anything that can be done to stop the growing numbers of feral cats and rabbits in the neighborhoods?
It is illegal to feed or otherwise interfere with feral (a.k.a., stray) cats or other feral animals. County animal control is responsible and can be contacted by the resident, but typically they do not have the resources to deal with feral cats. If people would not feed the feral cats their numbers will diminish naturally.

6. What can be done to stop the distribution of advertising/newspapers, such as “Go Ocala”, from being thrown in our driveways?
The homeowner can contact the individual papers directly and they will stop delivery. The Ocala Star-Banner has been especially cooperative. The Star-Banner does reportedly send a follow up team to try to identify homes that are not occupied so that these can be added to the do not throw list. Unfortunately, they can only respond to requests from the person identifying themselves as the resident or owner of the property.

7. The maintenance of the grounds controlled by the golf division around the Chatham mail station is not good. The grass is allowed to get so long that when it is cut and the clippings are left on the lawn it damages the grass. In addition the grass is often left on the street until the next day and it is unsightly. Who should be contacted to correct this problem?
This has been corrected. Maintenance had gotten behind because of the rain. To report problems of this sort, please contact District Customer Service at 753-4508.

8. There has been a lot of discussion about golf cart access from and to The Villages. It was pointed out that a number of people currently come from Stonecrest and other areas on golf carts. What are the rules regarding golf cart access to the roads and the transportation trails inside The Villages?
We all need to stay alert to this issue to protect the transportation trails and our golf cart privileges. Dr Lester reported that the developer continues to work with surrounding communities and the towns of Lady Lake and Wildwood. They seem to understand the concern. The path that people from Stonecrest, and other areas north of The Villages, are using crosses private property and the golf carts are gaining access to The Villages through hospital property. There had been a gate on the hospital property, but it has been repeatedly vandalized. There are discussions with the hospital about replacing and possibly redesigning the gate. The only housing adjacent to The Villages proper, that will have golf cart access, is Bison Villages. None of the surrounding communities have been, or will be, granted golf cart access to The Villages; despite rumors to the contrary.

9. Please comment on the feasibility and practicality of charging a registration fee for golf carts to distinguish between resident and non-resident owned golf carts.
There are no statutory provisions to register golf carts. Therefore, any effort to license or otherwise identify golf carts would be voluntary. The consensus is that if such a policy were adopted only the responsible individuals would register their golf carts; those individuals who abuse the system would not bother to register their golf carts. Consequently it would not seem to be productive to incur the expense and resident inconvenience to try to implement a voluntary system. It was suggested that a focus group be formed by the VHA to explore the issue; if such a focus group was formed Janet Tutt said the Center Districts would be supportive – this will be considered.

10. The water tower on Country Club Hills has been repainted; when will The Villages logo be repainted on the tower?
There are only 2 crews in the Southeast who can paint the logo on the side of this type of water tower. They have gotten behind due to the weather. John Rohan promised to advise the VHA when they are told the painting crews are expected to arrive to start the work.

11. There is a dead Sago Palm at the LaZamora entrance. Who should we contact to have this removed?
The Property Management Department does not believe the Sago is dead and they are working to keep them alive. If individuals see other similar situations they can contact Property Management directly or simply call Customer Service at 753-4508.

12. The Tierra Del Sol postal station and surrounding areas need to be cleaned. What is the procedure to have this, or any other postal station, cleaned?
All of the postal stations are scheduled for cleaning quarterly. In the interim if a problem is seen please call the Customer Service department at 753-4508.

13. The water fountain, which provided chilled water, at the Valle Verde postal station was removed. The residents would like it back; can this be done?
It has been returned. It was removed for repair.

14. We continue to get complaints about various aspects of the roads and signage. Please explain who is responsible for maintaining the roads, installing traffic lights and painting the road markings in Lake, Sumter and Marion County. How can we better communicate this information to the residents, both new and long-term residents?
All roads, except Villa roads in Lake and Sumter County are the responsibility of county government or, where applicable, the Town of Lady Lake. In the Marion County portion of The Villages, CDD #4, the county is only responsible for Buena Vista; all other roads are the responsibility of CDD #4 and reserves are in place for this purpose.
The restriping of the circles in Sumter County, and soon in Marion County, has been done by the county in accordance with their own county guidelines. The Sumter County guidelines are available as a courtesy on the District web site (www.districtgov.org). It appears that these guidelines adopted by Sumter County and expected to be adopted by Marion County shortly, follow Florida Department of Transportation guidelines. It is the individual counties’ decision about how to strip the roundabouts; it is NOT the responsibility of the Center District.
Both Janet Tutt and Gary Lester commented that the number of calls to the Center District and the developer regarding issues relating to road maintenance and road signage, etc., has been declining since the issue of who is responsible for the roads was publicized by the VHA. The VHA was thanked for helping to get the word out.
Janet Tutt reminded us that the issues relating to traffic on the northern portion of Morse Boulevard are currently under review by Sumter County. She explained that we should expect some decisions from the county and likely action after October 2008, the start of the new fiscal year.

15. Janet Tutt has changed the Center District organization and she has presented it at least one Regional VHA meeting. What are there plans to communicate this information more widely?
Copies of the new organization chart are available from the VHA neighborhood representative or from the Customer Service office. The organization chart is also available on-line on the District web site (www.districtgov.org). Representatives from the District are also available to speak to individual groups about the role of the Center District and the organization; contact Customer Service (753-4508) to discuss arrangements. Janet Tutt introduced the new Center District Administration Operations Manager, Diane Tucker.

16. People continue to be upset and confused about the recycling program. The question continues to be asked: why are we paying an increased fee for recycling when the trash company gets paid for the recycled materials?
It was commented that the new program is working smoother. It was explained that the money received for the recycled materials does not begin to cover the costs of the new trucks, the additional staff and the gas. In communities that do not charge extra for the recycling the additional costs are included either in the garbage collection fees or are being subsidized by other revenue sources.
The recent statements that Lake County is making large sums of money from recycling are just incorrect; in fact Lake County is anticipating an increase in trash collection fees in the new budget to cover the revenue shortfall.

17. There continue to be questions about the appropriate days for recycling (refer people to www.districtgov.org). People continue to see the recycled bags and the regular garbage picked up the same truck. Why does this continue to happen? Is this due, in part to people putting out recycling on the wrong day; if so can the recycled bags not be picked up when put at the curb on the wrong day?
If the recycled bags are collected with the regular trash it is either a mistake by the trash collection crew or the recycled trash bags were put out on the wrong day. It is important to put out the recycled materials in the correct bags and to put them out on the correct day. It would be helpful to the collection crews if the recycled bags were placed on a different side of the driveway than the regular trash – in the early morning hours, before sunrise, it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish the different types of bags. The web site, www.districtgov.org, has information on the correct recycling days and the materials that can be recycled. We will work with the Daily Sun to see if we can arrange for them to reprint the information one more time in the paper once the seasonal residents return.

18. Would you please explain how the responsibility for the quality and appearance of the older Country Club facilities is allocated between the Center District, the numbered Districts, the developer and the operator of the restaurant or other facility? In particular, concern has been expressed about the condition of Orange Blossom Gardens Country Club.
The developer owns the building that houses the Country Club facilities. In most cases the operation of the restaurant is leased to an independent company or individual. Currently the developer is in conversation with the individual leasing Orange Blossom Gardens Country Club regarding refurbishment which would be the responsibility of the lessee.

19. People want to start a legal defense fund to enable the developer to bring back the buffalo. Some people have suggested that the removal of the buffalo was orchestrated to enable the land to be developed. Can you please comment on these two issues and explain if there is anything residents can do to move the buffalo back to an area where they can be seen and shared with visitors.
The decision with respect to the relocation of the buffalo is final. The problem of people getting injured has been ongoing for sometime and several options were considered before the decision to move the buffalo was reached. This can be described as the “Knucklehead Rule” – a few knuckleheads have effectively caused unwanted consequences by their irresponsible and selfish behavior.
The suggestion that the removal of the buffalo was orchestrated to enable the land to be developed is ridiculous. The land where the hospital is located; the land where Freedom Point is being built, the land where Palmer Golf Course is located and the land where Laurel Manor Recreation Center is located, to name only a few locations, all at one time had buffalo grazing before the development of the land. The land in the community will be developed: typically for commercial, residential, or for golf courses; to suggest otherwise is simply wrong. This is the plan and always has been the plan for the use of the property.

20. The Chevron gas station on CR 466A has closed. Any idea about when a new station/convenience store will be brought in? Is there anything the residents can do to facilitate another gas station coming to the site?
The property was sold to a franchisee and they obviously ran into problems and were forced to close. The Chevron Company is working to arrange for another franchisee to take over the operation of the station. There are some legal issues that have to be resolved but it is hoped that the station will reopen soon.

21. There are several large empty stores in Spanish Springs. What are the development plans for these locations or other locations you can announce?
Angie Lester, a representative of Crossman & Company, attended the meeting and explained that Big City Grill will be opening soon. She explained that Crossman is in discussion with a couple of restaurant chains to bring another restaurant into the former Main Street Bistro location. The old Zirbees location is being remodeled for a new tenant.

22. Are there any other new developments or new commercial developments that anyone would like to comment on?

TGI Fridays is still planning to come to the site adjacent to Barnes & Nobles in Lake Sumter Landing. Fresh Market and Bealls are expected to open as scheduled this fall. Work is underway for the new VA Clinic along CR 42.

It response to a question it was stated that hospital employees do NOT have amenity privileges and can NOT use the resident facilities unless they are residents of The Villages. Residents of the areas, like Bison Villages, do NOT have amenity privileges either. Rumors to the contrary are simply false.

Janet Tutt reminded us that anyone interested in serving on the Amenity Advisory Committee (AAC) must place their name into nomination by the deadline of July 31. AAC is a vital committee that will be responsible for determining the policy and procedures for the Recreation Department, including the Executive Golf Courses; the committee will also determine how discretionary money from the amenity fee and from the legal settlement is used. The committee representatives will be chosen in a Landowner Election this November. To learn more about the position or to obtain an application to have your name on the ballot contact the Customer Service office on Wedgewood Lane or go the District web site, www.districtgov.org. For more information you can also call Customer Service at 753-4508. This is a vital committee and it is important that qualified people step forward to serve on this committee.

[jadebox]

Thank you!!!!

[jmarkohio]

Thanks for the info. This is very helpful.

[villages07]

Uncle Muncle,

Thanks so much for sharing these Q&As with us...lots of good info.

Are these posted on the internet anywhere or are you receiving this by virtue of your VHA rep position?

[Muncle]

Originally Posted by villages07

Uncle Muncle,

Thanks so much for sharing these Q&As with us...lots of good info.

Are these posted on the internet anywhere or are you receiving this by virtue of your VHA rep position?

07,
I got it via email. I don't think it is anywhere on the Net, but it should be in the next edition of The Village Voice.

[The Great Fumar]

THANKS UNCLE MUNCLE

VERY INFORMATIVE .......APPREACIATE IT........

FUMAR

[JohnN]

interesting read, thanks bud

[graciegirl]

I don't know who restarted this thread which is fine, but I was surprised to see that Muncle's name did not have " ETERNAL MEMBER" under it. He is sadly not with us here on earth anymore and will always be missed by his friends here on TOTV.. This thread is from two years ago.

Just wanted you to know.