[thetruth]

Originally Posted by Chellybean

EDIT:
I just had a long conversation with Kelly Lam*ert and she is a Nice lady and said it has steered up a lot of discussions and no one in the district had given it any thought of the perspective of what i have brought up.
Its a matter of how it is looked at:

This will ruffle some feathers!!!!
At approximately 3/12/18 8:54 Am i had a representative of CH2M come on the property to check what they had gotten from the Villages Utility Office Kathy Lam$ert office in charge 352-750-0000 a work order saying there was a Dead Irrigation meter on my property due to lack of usage in the last three months.
First off during the winter during Dormant periods of grass growth most of us keep our Irrigation systems off which will cause a lack of Usage.
Mind you a Gentleman from CH2M had the audacity to come onto my property go in my irrigation system and turn on my sprinklers manually without so much as a knock on the door.
Second they have NO AUTHORITY TO DO SO! Not only to come on the property past the Meter Box, but to come on someones property and turn on there meter is breaking the law.
The Work orders generated by the Villages is triggering the CH2M to come out to see if the meter has Flow.
First off the Customer owns 100 percent of the system after the meter including the Nut hooking to the outlet of the meter.
The only way for the meter to be checked for flow is either pull it and replace it with another meter and take the meter in question back to the shop and test it and then put it back in stock.
Obviously this takes to much work to do so, so the tech took the easy way out because of The Villages Kathy Lam$ert allowed practice which was clearly admitted by her!!!
Even cracking the outlet of the meter to see if the Meter is registering flow is wasting water that is billed to the customer and is Stealing and breaking the law technically.
I would of had NO PROBLEM if the technician came to the door and ask to check the meter and either having me turn on my system or asking me if he could manually turn on a valve at the Pink Valve box on the side of my property.
Instead the tech took the liberty in turning on my system to see if the meter was working.
When i questioned what in God's name is he doing and if This is a normal practice, he replied yes.
When i called the Villages and spoke to Kathy Lam$bert 352-750-000 in charge of submitting work orders given to a sub company Ch2M that services the water department to fix our water system if this was NORMAL Policy she Replied "YES"
I stated how would you feel if someone came on your property an turned on your system:
REPLY:
"If someone turned on my electric without me knowing i would have a problem but not my irrigation system because i am in this possession and it is a Normal practice."
FYI folks they have No right to do this and its Stealing from every homeowner in the villages that has this DONE by a work order generated by the Villages for a non used system "dead Meter".
The Villages has no right on your property and furthermore wasting your water by turning on the system without your permission PERIOD.
No matter if it was a few cents in water or a few dollars they are BREAKING THE LAW!!!
The normal practice is to change the meter out if the homeowner is objectionible to turning on there system.
The real motivation is the Villages is worried about lost revenue or People that are stealing utility's!
I am outraged!!!
It was brought to my attention by "Director Of CH2M"John Bo*man that some technicians had 74 work orders today for dead meter's to be checked
That is 9.25 an hour or one every 6.5 minutes which is impossible for a tech to complete in one day or even 2 days.
I was also informed that the villages has a new system and this has caused these work orders.
I was guarantied by this individual that tomorrow they will inform all there tech's of a new practice and this is wrong 100% and he was unaware of the tech's doing this.
However he is Directed by the Villages in the Practice that they are to abide by because they are the customer for Ch2M.
I am outraged in this behavior by the villages and furthermore they had a 10% surcharge last year due to the drought but they have No problem wasting our water we pay for!
Lets see how many of you folks get outrage with this.
Also Don't Misunderstand i am very pro-Morse for what they have done for this area, but it is clear they have dropped the ball on this one.
Sounds like CYA to me.

Your issue is workmen entering YOUR PROPERTY without YOUR AUTHORIZATION. I TOO OBJECT TO THAT.

I expect if you check your agreement that we all sign without reading, somewhere it says they have the right to do this. As to the meters, when they fail the error is usually in favor of the customer. So, if they have replaced the meter your bill will probably go up.

You stated that you do not run your irrigation in the winter.
I DO NOT EITHER.

AS TO THIEF OF WATER YOU PAY FOR. If, you check, you are still paying a minimum charge even though you are not using any irrigation water. So there is not additional COST to you. The water YOU/WE use to water our lawns is THOUSANDS OF GALLONS. Had they wasted anywhere near that amount by your meter-YOU WOULD KNOW IT.

[Chellybean]

Originally Posted by thetruth

Your issue is workmen entering YOUR PROPERTY without YOUR AUTHORIZATION. I TOO OBJECT TO THAT.

I expect if you check your agreement that we all sign without reading, somewhere it says they have the right to do this. As to the meters, when they fail the error is usually in favor of the customer. So, if they have replaced the meter your bill will probably go up.

You stated that you do not run your irrigation in the winter.
I DO NOT EITHER.

AS TO THIEF OF WATER YOU PAY FOR. If, you check, you are still paying a minimum charge even though you are not using any irrigation water. So there is not additional COST to you. The water YOU/WE use to water our lawns is THOUSANDS OF GALLONS. Had they wasted anywhere near that amount by your meter-YOU WOULD KNOW IT.

As you said they have the right to the meter in an easement only.
As for reading All the documentation thoroughly and NO WHERE did i give them permission other then the Easements.
To come on your property up to the side of the outside garage (NOT A EASEMENT) and open your Solenoid box and manually turning on your sprinkler system is crossing the line without asking period!
This practice No long is approved.
Thank You for your opinion.
P.S. its not about the water they use to check the meter its about principal of them taking the Liberty without so much as a knock on the door and asking permission.
Also there is a question of not turning the valve off all the way and having continuous loss of water or damage that they may unknowingly cause, Just FYI

[Topspinmo]

The only people coming one your property without first coming to the door are meter readers. Anybody else is trespassing. IMO You don't go on private property without first going to the door and knocking.

[Chellybean]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

The only people coming one your property without first coming to the door are meter readers. Anybody else is trespassing. IMO You don't go on private property without first going to the door and knocking.

Agreed and i am sure people understand now what I am upset about.
A simple knock on the door would of solved a lot of problems and i would of been more than happy to turn on the system for him to check the meter flow.

[Steve9930]

I don't have a dog in this fight because I live in Stonecrest. However under our Covenants the Association does have some rights to inspect your property. Not sure how the Village Documents are worded. When you move into these communities you do give up some of your property control rights. On my irrigation system there is a valve that can be turned and a lock placed to keep the system shut off. This valve is where the back flow regulator is located.

As for stealing services you'll enjoy this story. When I moved here in 2004 there was a house being built next door to mine. The carpenters arrived one day and needed power to run their saws. As I was standing there I noticed one of them walking over to my property with and extension cord. He looked at my house and found one of the outside receptacles and plugged in the cord, and then plugged in his saw. I was about to get extremely angry and then decided to have some fun instead. (I would have allowed him to use my electricity if he asked). Just as he started to use the saw, I walked into the garage and shut off the breaker to that outside receptacle. I could hear the saw wind down, and I could hear him flip the switch on the saw back and forth. He then started to walk back to my house, checked the plug, and then stared to look for a new place to plug in (I have several outside). He then took the cord and plugged into another receptacle on my house. Walked back and started his saw. Just as the saw got up to speed, I shutoff that breaker. (This was so much fun, I don't get mad, I get even). After the third attempt he gave up. The next day they arrived on sight with a generator........

[Chellybean]

Originally Posted by Steve9930

I don't have a dog in this fight because I live in Stonecrest. However under our Covenants the Association does have some rights to inspect your property. Not sure how the Village Documents are worded. When you move into these communities you do give up some of your property control rights. On my irrigation system there is a valve that can be turned and a lock placed to keep the system shut off. This valve is where the back flow regulator is located.

As for stealing services you'll enjoy this story. When I moved here in 2004 there was a house being built next door to mine. The carpenters arrived one day and needed power to run their saws. As I was standing there I noticed one of them walking over to my property with and extension cord. He looked at my house and found one of the outside receptacles and plugged in the cord, and then plugged in his saw. I was about to get extremely angry and then decided to have some fun instead. (I would have allowed him to use my electricity if he asked). Just as he started to use the saw, I walked into the garage and shut off the breaker to that outside receptacle. I could hear the saw wind down, and I could hear him flip the switch on the saw back and forth. He then started to walk back to my house, checked the plug, and then stared to look for a new place to plug in (I have several outside). He then took the cord and plugged into another receptacle on my house. Walked back and started his saw. Just as the saw got up to speed, I shutoff that breaker. (This was so much fun, I don't get mad, I get even). After the third attempt he gave up. The next day they arrived on sight with a generator........

Thanks for the story that is funny.l.o.l
I am not sure what you may have signed but the state and federal law preempts anything you may have signed.
They can lock out meters or turn off service if theft or non payment is found but here in the villages the meters are usually in the easements at the street in a ground level utility box.
This knuckle head walked 50 feet into my property opened up the solenoid box that i clearly own and decided to run the sprinkler system to see the flow of the meter without as much as a knock on the door.
Technically i could of had him trespassed off the property and charged with theft of services but probably wouldn't hold up in court.
The problem is the practice and not using there head and improperly trained employees.
I was assured this practice will no longer take place period.

[NYGUY]

Originally Posted by Chellybean

Well in NY they would never take that liberty and would contact the homeowner well in advance for a appointment to service any utility issues.
I guess people here like to be looked after by the Villages no matter if they are reaching over thier boundary's.
Like Gracie said its a matter of where you come from and what your used too.
I like my privacy and do not like The Villages acting like they still own the property i paid for and control.
Just personal Preference.
Again I am pro-Morse for what they have created here but there needs to be Boundary's . There are to many bad employees in all walks of life including Police departments in Florida.
just FYI

I agree!!

[Steve9930]

Originally Posted by Chellybean

Thanks for the story that is funny.l.o.l
I am not sure what you may have signed but the state and federal law preempts anything you may have signed.
They can lock out meters or turn off service if theft or non payment is found but here in the villages the meters are usually in the easements at the street in a ground level utility box.
This knuckle head walked 50 feet into my property opened up the solenoid box that i clearly own and decided to run the sprinkler system to see the flow of the meter without as much as a knock on the door.
Technically i could of had him trespassed off the property and charged with theft of services but probably wouldn't hold up in court.
The problem is the practice and not using there head and improperly trained employees.
I was assured this practice will no longer take place period.

I'd be upset also. For one thing I don't like manually opening those valves. I had a contractor service the irrigation system one time and after they played with those valves two of them started to leak. I've been here since 2004 and I've seen this attitude before. They just do with out asking. The neighbor had a landscaping company doing some work and they were using a small backhoe to put in a small tree. The guy drove right over my sprinkler heads on my lawn. I was not very pleasant that day. I wonder what would have happened if something went wrong with your valves when they manually opened them? I'm pretty easy, just ask first.

[Chellybean]

Originally Posted by Steve9930

I'd be upset also. For one thing I don't like manually opening those valves. I had a contractor service the irrigation system one time and after they played with those valves two of them started to leak. I've been here since 2004 and I've seen this attitude before. They just do with out asking. The neighbor had a landscaping company doing some work and they were using a small backhoe to put in a small tree. The guy drove right over my sprinkler heads on my lawn. I was not very pleasant that day. I wonder what would have happened if something went wrong with your valves when they manually opened them? I'm pretty easy, just ask first.

My exact point.
Lots of knuckleheads in the Villages!

[NoMoSno]

I'd put a couple of these in the valve box:
Amazon.com: Rubber Snakes - 12 Pack: Arts, Crafts & Sewing

[Chellybean]

Originally Posted by nomosno

i'd put a couple of these in the valve box:
amazon.com: Rubber snakes - 12 pack: Arts, crafts & sewing

lmao omg perfect!!!!!!

[Steve9930]

Originally Posted by Chellybean

lmao omg perfect!!!!!!

I have a neighbor who lives on a golf course who uses a golf ball, some fishing line, and rubber snakes. He puts this contraption in his yard. I think you get the picture. So beware when you pickup the golf ball......

[Chellybean]

Originally Posted by Steve9930

I have a neighbor who lives on a golf course who uses a golf ball, some fishing line, and rubber snakes. He puts this contraption in his yard. I think you get the picture. So beware when you pickup the golf ball......

OMG that's perfect do you have any Video i would love to see that.

[JoMar]

No outrage, no ruffled feathers here either. Sounds like another paranoid approach to forecast the sky is falling.

[CWGUY]

Originally Posted by JoMar

No outrage, no ruffled feathers here either. Sounds like another paranoid approach to forecast the sky is falling.