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In the May VHA newspaper, the VHA took the position that the recent concern
over vinyl siding jobs centered in the Village of Duval was “over stated.”
The article praised the developer, mentioned a five year warranty on
all vinyl siding, said the homes are quality-built, and said the developer
stands behind their homes. Now
we see that the VHA comments were contrary to the facts and that the VHA
apparently didn’t even do a proper job of investigating the facts.
The
article was just another example of developer propaganda repeated by the VHA
and that the VHA has again blindly supported the developer at the expense of
the residents. This
is the key problem with the VHA: It supports the developer on almost
everything, right or wrong, and often ignores the Rights of Residents. The
VHA likes to talk about its good working relationship with the developer.
But, that is just double-talk for the VHA’s position of not rocking
the boat or hassling the developer on any Residents’ Rights issues. This
vinyl siding episode is aggravated by the failure of the VHA to do what it
said residents should do: “learn the facts.” It
now looks like the VHA did nothing to investigate the facts with the people
who knew the situation best. Yet
that didn’t stop the VHA from commenting.
And, we see now that the VHA didn’t know what it was talking about. The
POA also believes that if the VHA had supported the POA position on
the vinyl siding problem, we might have gotten a more helpful response
from the developer. Instead,
the developer branded the individual who first uncovered the problem as a
“troublemaker.” And, the
developer is slow-peddling and stonewalling his response.
Furthermore, we see that much of the remedial work being done by the
contractors is just as sloppy and unacceptable as the original work. Where
is the developer’s integrity on this matter? Where
is VHA integrity on this matter? Why
does the VHA continue to be an apologist and lapdog for the developer? Also,
that 5-year warranty from the developer on vinyl siding that has been
mentioned is almost worthless. It
covers only minor items like replacing a blown-down panel.
Anything more comprehensive is not covered.
With the sloppy installation work that has already been done, we
anticipate additional and more serious problems in the future if proper
remedial work is not performed now and guaranteed in writing for that 5-year
period. The POA thinks that the VHA should change course and make a commitment to Residents’ Rights (as the POA has done). This will require breaking with the developer and asserting an independent role for the VHA. If the VHA refuses to do it, then it should stop kidding residents and just close down the organization. A
homeowners’ organization should represent the best interests of homeowners –
not the developer.
Open
letter to Mr. Roger Kass, President of the Villages Homeowners’ Association,
the person who is supposed to be dedicated to serving the residents of our
home town: Mr.
Kass, you wrote of individual responsibility in the May issue of the VHA
newspaper, but you have shown that your responsibility is to the developer,
not the residents of The Villages. Out
of anyone in The Villages, you should be investigating the truth and you
should be angry that the residents you swore to serve have been misled and
misused. You
have written so irresponsibly about a subject you know nothing about, and have
made no effort to discuss the problems with anyone having the knowledge and
experience and a different view from that of the developer. You,
in supposedly representing the residents of The Villages, should have been the
first to be angry at the developer and the contractors for selling homes to
senior citizens with less than standard siding installations. In
your rush to defend the developer, you betrayed your real purpose: to serve
the interest of the developer at the expense of the residents. To
prove my point, Rick Murray, the head of all the contractors in The Villages,
stated to two of our Vinyl Siding Committee members during a recent meeting
that all the (vinyl sided) homes in Duval need siding work performed. Mr.
Kass, five of our Committee members are retired contractors with over 125
years of combined experience in construction.
Can you match that? In
our combined 125 years, we’ve never seen such bad siding work. I
don’t know where you got your information, Mr. Kass, but I suggest you do a
little more research. Why not meet with us so we can show you the problems, as
we have previously offered to do for the contractors and the developer. Then
you can write more responsibly with better knowledge, and perhaps with less
bias. Recently,
two homeowners met with Robert Locke, the chief inspector for The Villages
Warranty Department, with one of our Committee members present.
Mr. Locke discussed how corners on vinyl siding should be perfectly
square and level -- he says it’s a must. He
also stated that the fasteners should be in the center of the slots to allow
for expansion, they should not be too tight or go through the vinyl as that
will cause buckling and waves from thermal expansion.
He was asked to explain more than once and restated the same facts. We
agree. That’s why all these homes need to be fixed! The
Vinyl Siding Committee would like to thank Mr. Murray and Mr. Locke for these
insights and for acknowledging the problems. Mr.
Kass, we would hope that the VHA will press the developer, contractors and The
Villages Home Warranty department for a comprehensive written extended warranty,
so that all the homeowners will know that the warranty can be trusted, and is
not just an optional band-aid level of fix.
We’ll see soon enough because homeowners in other neighborhoods are
starting to take notice that they have problems, too.
It’s not just in Duval. Mr.
Kass, to give you a little perspective on the extent of the problems you so
adamantly deny, the Committee has photos and videos documenting the poor
workmanship, with many, many homeowners, who will attest to the problems and who
have educated themselves by reading manuals and with independent observation:
comparing the way siding should be installed with what they see when examining
their homes. In
addition to many other problems, homeowners have witnessed some siding panels
with fasteners 5 feet, 7 feet, and even as much as 11 feet apart! Remember, Mr.
Kass, the fasteners are supposed to be 16 inches apart – not 16 feet apart! More
problems: Fasteners too loose,
fasteners too tight, fasteners through the vinyl, no undersill/finish trim,
sloppy miters, crooked corners, buckled siding and sheathing.
We
have described it all before. Even a model home in Duval had a top panel of
siding falling off. We have the
photos, if you’d like to see them. Perhaps,
Mr. Kass, it’s time you reassessed your position: if you represent the
developer, be responsible enough to say so. Don’t pretend to represent the
residents when in fact you are trying to downplay a serious problem with the
homes that have been sold to us, instead of supporting our efforts to have the
defects corrected. Mr. Kass, we are not anti-Villages, we are simply homeowners who want our homes built right, with good quality materials and workmanship. We don’t think this is unreasonable or overblown. Ray Micucci
The
POA will have its July 18 meeting at the Laurel Manor Recreation Center at 7:00
p.m. in the Madison and Monroe rooms. The
speaker for the evening will be Mr. Ronnie Hawkins, Sumter County Property
Appraiser, speaking on the Florida Legislature’s recent Property Tax Reform
initiative. This is an important
pocketbook issue for all homeowners. We
also plan to provide an update on the activities of the Vinyl Siding Committee. If you haven’t been to one of our meetings in the past, please join us on July 18.
The
POA announces an arrangement with the AmeriPro Inspection Corp. of
Jacksonville as an inspector of vinyl siding for all residents in The
Villages. The
advertisement below shows more details of the company’s inspection services.
A focused vinyl siding inspection at a rock-bottom price of $75.00 is
available. The POA negotiated this
attractive price and also an additional $5.00 discount for POA members showing
their 2007 membership card at the time of the inspection. The
POA feels it will be worthwhile to have this experienced home inspection
organization doing the vinyl siding inspections for residents.
This is an independent and objective company that can provide official
documentation of any vinyl siding problems. The
company has prepared a checklist of the important factors that need to be
examined. The 20-30 minute
inspection will focus on these points. A
copy of the inspection report will be furnished to the homeowner and also to the
POA Vinyl Siding Committee. Because
of the rock-bottom price and the tight time frame, residents will not be able to
discuss the inspection beyond the 20-30 minutes allowed for the inspection. The
POA suggests that residents have an inspection done before any vinyl siding
remedial work is done by Villages contractors.
Then, have another inspection done after the remedial work to determine
if all of that work has been done
properly. This is important because
we are finding that some of the remedial work done thus far is sub-standard, at
best. For
the 150 or so homeowners who had a preliminary inspection done by our Vinyl
Siding Committee, please consider having this more formal, objective, and
independent inspection done. Yes,
there is a cost; but, we all need to have individual situations properly
documented. This is important; your
basic investment in your home is literally at stake.
We need your support on this point. We may need these objective assessments at some time in the future to make our case.
For months
the POA Bulletin has published lists of what to look for in vinyl siding
problems, but it seems that only a few people in other villages are aware of
the problems and following through. We’ve told you what to look for, so take
about 20 minutes of your time so you can have your home properly fixed. See if the
panels look straight and not bellied out from the wall or if they look wavy
when viewed from a corner. These are signs that there could be a problem with
insufficient fasteners, or even another, underlying cause. Stand at
each front corner of your home and look down the side toward the rear. This is
how waves and ripples are often seen more easily. Look up to
the top of the peak. Many bellies in this area indicate a problem with the OSB
sheathing boards beneath the siding. You can
review the articles published in the POA Bulletin for the last few months
online at www.poa4us.org. Look in
the Archived Bulletin section. These
will tell you more about what to look for. Defects
such as these are often found when a competent home inspector checks out your
house for a potential buyer. The repairs can be very expensive, so why not
have The Villages fix the problems while you have the opportunity. Take
advantage of your 1-year warranty if you report the problems in time. The Vinyl
Siding Committee, working with the
POA, is made up of your neighbors, homeowners like you, several of us having
extensive experience in the building trades, who have volunteered our time and
expertise to help our neighbors understand this problem. Our
findings, after informally reviewing approximately 150 homes, show that not one
of these homes was sided in accordance with the instructions of any of three
different siding guides: Alcoa, the Vinyl Siding Institute, or Georgia Pacific.
Whatever the
details or semantics or minor differences among the sources, they all give
similar instructions. The siders for The Villages apparently take whatever
shortcuts they feel like using, regardless of any training they may or may not
have had. With or without underlying problems, the siding is just not installed
properly. Period. You
can either believe Mr. Kass and the VHA that the siding problems are overstated,
and that a large siding contractor like The Villages automatically equates with
good workmanship, or you can believe your neighbors and friends who have spent
many years hands-on in construction – neighbors and friends who have nothing
to gain by exposing the extent of the siding problems, who are merely pointing
out what they see. These are neighbors and friends who would rather be out
playing golf or going to the pool – just like you. It’s the homeowners who will end up dealing with the problems later if you don’t get your siding fixed while you can. We urge you to take an interest in your investment and your home. The Vinyl Siding Committee will try to help with any questions you may have. The POA Vinyl Siding Committee
The Vinyl Siding Committee was formed earlier this year to address the unsatisfactory installation issues. The committee is meeting as needed to discuss the situation, monitor progress, and help with house inspections. We are updating the POA membership at the monthly meetings and through the POA Bulletin. Residents affected by these problems should consider coming to the next POA meeting on July 18th at the Laurel Manor Rec. Center at 7:00 p.m.
On
Monday, June 18th, two Vinyl Siding Committee members and a single lady
homeowner in Tall Trees met with Robert Locke, the head inspector for The
Villages Warranty Department, with regard to siding problems found on her
home. The
homeowner expected Mr. Locke to help solve the siding problems which were
caused by the poor workmanship originally done for the siding installation on
her home, as she is within the 5-year period, having purchased her home in
2005, although she just moved in recently. Mr.
Locke explained to the lady and the two committee members that if a piece of
siding comes down they will send someone to snap it back in place, but that they
cannot do anything about the shoddy workmanship.
As far as the insufficient fasteners and loose panels, Home Warranty said
the homeowner will have to deal with the original siding contractor herself.
They will not help her resolve anything! Two
other homeowners were told by Mr. Locke a few days before, also in the presence
of one of our Vinyl Siding Committee members, that the warranty will cover any
siding problem for up to 5 years – and even longer. Which
is it? Which story is true? Any
homeowner who would like to find out the truth about what the warranty
department will (or won’t) do after your first year should call and ask
directly: What does the 5 year
courtesy service consist of and why won’t you put it in writing?
The
lady in Tall Trees is extremely upset and wants to know why The Villages would
sell her a home with shoddy workmanship. Why
isn’t The Villages backing their product?
And why are we being told one story and then another, different story?
After putting our trust – and often our life savings – into The
Villages, we certainly deserve better. PS:
We just learned that the Villages Warranty department (Mr. Dennis Stragener) now
says that the VHA mis-represented the position of the Warranty Department in its
May article in the VHA newspaper. The
extended warranty, meant to cover only after the initial one-year period is
over, only covers minor, minor work – not a siding failure or workmanship
issues after the first year. At that
point, residents are directed to the original sub-contractor (if still in
business) for repairs at a charge to the homeowner.
The
VHA’s reference to an extended five-year warranty, is plain false, mis-leading,
and a dis-service to Villagers. The POA calls on the VHA to set the record straight with a formal correction in the next issue of the VHA newspaper. It is bad enough for the VHA to repeat erroneous information without doing proper investigation. It is even more objectionable for the VHA to ignore the facts and let erroneous information stay out there without a correction for the obvious error. Please, do the right thing. Opinion
By Jan Bergemann President, Cyber
Citizens For Justice, Inc. When we look at the
past legislative session of the Florida Legislature from the viewpoint of a
homeowner, it can only leave us with one conclusion: “We still have the best
legislature money can buy!” Special interests
were running the show again. And,
only a few breadcrumbs were left for Joe Citizen to pick up in the end. It all started with
the usual big hoopla of our local legislators who claimed to be ready to remedy
all the big issues causing problems for Florida’s homeowners: Property Tax
Reform -- As we all know, nothing but
grandstanding happened during the session.
Not even a simple rollback, anything else has to be decided by voters
anyway! Now the legislators are
spending more taxpayers’ money on a special session. Property
Insurance Reform -- A
consumer-friendly bill was enacted (HB 1267/SB 2498) that extended the rate
freeze of Citizens Insurance for another year.
This empowered Citizens Insurance to be competitive in the private
insurance market and prohibited the formation of new “pup” companies for
the transaction of residential property insurance (A “pup” company is a
subsidiary insurance company owned by a larger company that allow insurers
to funnel profits to parent companies while shielding ratepayer funded
reserves from claims, thus allowing rate increases based on erroneous
information). But this bill nearly
failed, because legislators in the Senate lead by local Senator Carey Baker
(S 2366) pushed hard to add a provision to the bill that would have created
the Citizens Property Insurance Corporation Liquidation Task Force – with
many members from the private insurance industry – at a cost
for taxpayers in the amount of $600,000! Everything to make special
interests happy! Community
Association Reform – ZERO, ZIP,
NADA! The two local legislators,
Representative Hugh Gibson and Senator Carey Baker, were not only unwilling
to sponsor the Community Development District Disclosure Reform Bill,
stating lame excuses, they even failed to co-sponsor the bill that contained
the POA-sponsored Disclosure Reform Bill after it was officially sponsored
in both the House and the Senate. Clearly this showed their attitude toward
consumer protection! Any honest citizens
must ask the question: What is wrong with DISCLOSURE REFORM to make it so
difficult to pass such a bill? Shouldn’t
that be the law without even saying? People
have the right to know what they are getting into when buying into a
community development district! This
is not a surprise party where everybody is having fun.
Many families already had to move out of their homes because they
couldn’t afford any longer to live there – due to the many hidden costs
that were not disclosed at purchase. Just
remember that you were “told” that you buy into a “gated community”!
But Representative Gibson and Senator Baker didn’t want to touch
the bill. It took two
consumer-protection oriented legislators from Miami, Senator Villalobos and
Representative Robaina, to sponsor the bill.
But even that didn’t help because the Speaker of the House Marco
Rubio -- more interested in grandstanding than in getting any work done --
was to blame for most consumer-friendly bills dying in committee!
With a Speaker like Rubio, who rather creates headlines that help his
recognition factor for his future “planned” run for governor, consumer
interest falls way short! I
guess consumers normally don’t fill the campaign coffers? The legislators sure
left all of us homeowners in a big hole, with most of the important issues
unfinished or not even touched. Legislators
were obviously more interested in helping special interests, like insurance
companies, developers and attorneys. And
they sure made a mess out of the issues presented to them.
It’s pretty obvious that many of these legislators still haven’t
gotten the message that they are elected to represent us, the citizens of
this state! Some of them act
like they are hired by special interests to defend their growing income
instead of looking into reducing the ever-growing cost of living that forces
many of our neighbors to move back up North.
Families are plainly priced out of their homes! But since Florida
law doesn’t allow us citizens to recall our legislators – some of them
really wouldn’t deserve better – we have to wait until the next election
in November 2008. Actually,
Representative Gibson is out because of term limits!
Homeowners in The Villages can only hope that there will be candidates
on the ballot willing to represent the interests of the owners, not the
special interests! Let’s just face
it: If our legislators were still going to school -- for some it might be a
good idea -- their performance in the regular legislative session 2007 would
have been graded “F” -- for FAILED! ******************************* Editor’s Note: The
POA is most disappointed with the performance of Senator Baker and
Representative Gibson on the Disclosure Reform bill.
Especially Senator Baker who often talks about the need for consumer
protection. The POA talked to
both legislators several times about the Disclosure Reform bill and the
related problems in The Villages. The Disclosure
Reform bill was designed to help remedy the abuses of disclosure that happen
every day when developers sell property in Community Development Districts (CDDs)
like The Villages. How could the
Senator and the Representative be so adverse to this basic consumer protection
reform and insensitive to their constituents living in CDDs?? The
POA is proud to announce Partnership Realty as the new Select Sponsor.
Partnership
Realty is a real estate brokerage firm located in Summerfield, just north of The
Villages. The company offers a
discounted way to sell homes in which sellers are provided guidance on doing
some of the selling activities on their own.
Our
previous Select Sponsors, Debbie and Frank O. at Realty Executives, have
committed to publishing a new real estate magazine.
They feel the new venture requires their full attention and advertising
budget. So, although a difficult
decision, they decided to drop out as Select Sponsor.
We will miss their support, but we part as friends and wish them the best
for continued future success. In
looking to replace Realty Executives, the POA noted the keen interest on the
part of our membership in real estate questions and issues.
We noticed that members wanted the frank advice and periodic updates on
the local situation that Realty Executives had given us in the past.
Thus, we decided to find another real estate company to continue the flow
of pertinent information. Please join us in welcoming Partnership Realty as our Select Sponsor. Come to our meetings for the insights they offer and the chance to ask your particular questions. The
Village Greens’ next meeting will be on July 25th (the fourth Wed. of the
month) at 6:30 PM in Laurel Manor. The
guest presenters will be from Lowe’s. The topic will be: Saving Energy.
They will be bringing a number of products with them that are on the
market. These products can assist
homeowners in saving energy through right choices in appliances, lighting,
insulation and more. We will have on
display a Solar Powered Golf Cart, and the Solar Guys will discuss installation
of solar tubes. Every
light bulb you change to a fluorescent bulb is a step in the right direction
toward curbing global warming. Every
drop of water you save is less of a drain on our aquifer. The
Village Greens have been working tirelessly in addressing the problem of the
lack of RECYCLING here in THE VILLAGES. We
have reason to believe that our efforts have been instrumental in finally
getting the ball rolling. We are
happy to be able to tell you that the developer is conferring with Waste
Management in an effort to find a way to bring recycling and a more efficient
way of handling waste to The Villages. So
cross your fingers and keep up the letters to the editors. Please come and join the Village Greens club; $5.00 per person and you get a fluorescent light bulb! Call Sue at 259-1426 for more details. Cheers - To the landscapers in The Villages for planting the flower beds using a multi-colored assortment of annual flowers. Boy, they look good. A
Hall of Fame nominating committee is being formed.
Any member of the POA is eligible to serve on the committee.
The only requirement is to be willing to spend a few hours between now
and the end of October nominating and reviewing the qualifications of the
candidates considered for the honor. We
plan to conduct the nomination process by mail, so the time involvement will be
minimal. For
more information on the committee, please contact Frank Renner, Chairman of the
Hall of Fame Committee, at 750-0306. The
honor is for any past or present POA member, living or passed, who has made a
significant contribution to the POA in past years. Thus far, we have honored nine individuals in the Hall of Fame. See this listing on page 15 of this issue of the POA Bulletin. A
week before the battle of Bull Run, Sullivan Ballou, a Major in the 2nd Rhode
Island Volunteers, wrote home to his wife in Smithfield. ************** July14,1861
Camp Clark, Dear
Sarah: The
indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days -- perhaps
tomorrow. And lest I should not be
able to write you again I feel impelled to write a few lines that may fall
under your eye when I am no more. I
have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in the cause in which I am
engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter.
I know how American Civilization now leans upon the triumph of the
government and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the
blood and suffering of the Revolution. And
I am willing -- perfectly willing -- to lay down all my joys in this life, to
help maintain this government, and to pay that debt. Sarah,
my love for you is
deathless, it seems to bind me with mighty cables that nothing but omnipotence
can break; and yet my love of Country comes over me like a strong wind and
bears me irresistibly with all those chains to the battlefield.
The
memory of all the blissful moments I have enjoyed with you come crowding over
me, and I feel most deeply grateful to God and you, that I have enjoyed them for
so long. And how hard it is for me
to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes and future years, when, God willing,
we might still have lived and loved together, and see our boys grown up to
honorable manhood around us. If
I do not return, my dear Sarah, never forget how much I loved you, nor that when
my last breath escapes me on the battle field, it will whisper your name... Forgive
my many faults, and the many pains I have caused you.
How thoughtless, how foolish I have sometimes been!... But,
0 Sarah, if the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those
they love, I shall always be with you, in the brightest day and in the darkest
night ... always, always. And when
the soft breeze fans your cheek, it shall be my breath, or the cool air your
throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by. Sarah
do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait for me, for we shall meet
again.... ************* Sullivan
Ballou was killed a week later at the 1st Battle of Bull Run. ************* Source: The Civil War TV series by Ken Burns. Let
us research a speed camera for say: Avenida Central Avenue (to photography
speeders and red-light runners and issue a ticket-by-mail). This
road is in Lake County, so your investigation would not have to include the
authorities of Marion or Sumter Counties. You
would not have to have law enforcement personnel. It
would be advertised. Charging $1.00
for every mile over the posted limit would very soon take care of proposed tax
increases. It
would save gasoline and possibly lives. The
“Daily Sun” wrote: “The efficient gasoline consumption is between 25-35
mpg. The
punishment for failing to pay would be forfeiture of a driver’s license. I
would gladly pay rather than lose my license! Mrs.
Danny F. Paul Editor’s note: Red-light running and speeding are serious problems in all of Florida. Law enforcement needs to do more to solve this problem before more of us get killed. Will
someone help me understand why there are deplorable conditions at many of our
executive golf courses? Why
is it for several years now we can't have adequate amount of sand in our Sand
Traps? It seems that most of the
sand is around the edges, with less than one half inch of sand on the bottom of
many of the sand traps. Also,
why does our newest-opened Turtle Mound executive golf course have greens in
such shameful condition? Sand Hill
which opened next to Turtle Mound at the same time is in much better condition. There
are two executive courses (just to name a few) on the north side of highway 466
with these problems. The Chula Vista
tee areas and the Saddlebrook greens are a joke. Who
takes care of them, if at all? Who
is responsible and held accountable? How
terrible is The Villages going to let these course look before something
constructive is done to correct these deplorable conditions?
We
the residents, whether we play executive golf or not, are paying big bucks to
maintain these courses through our amenities fees.
Not to mention the golfers who pay $141 a year for trail fees.
How are these funds allocated? Golfers,
do you feel you are really getting your moneys worth?
Remember, nothing is really free in this life.
Someone has to pay for it and it is us. John C. Mercier I
would like to respond to the letter from Donna Barnhart, published in your April
edition, who is unhappy with the “vacationers who come to The Villages.
Is she really upset that she couldn't get into Katie Belle's one night
because it was crowded or she did not get the tee time she wanted?
Wouldn’t we all like to be able to walk into any restaurant and get
seated immediately or participate in any recreational activity without having to
wait our turn? She
can't blame it all on “the vacationers.”
I live here full time and find I too have to wait.
Many Village homeowners (who by the way pay full-time amenity charges and
taxes for part-time services) are here in the peak season so just about
everywhere you go, waiting is part of the process.
I wish there were five Katie Belle's and dozen more golf courses so no
one would have to wait. The
“vacationers” she refers to pay their fair share for use of the amenities
and services. Why shouldn't they be
able to enjoy The Villages too since they are paying a premium to be here? Does
Ms. Barnhart realize the value “vacationers” bring?
They help to keep our local economy healthy by spending money on the
things they do and buy. They also
help out with our sales tax revenues. Rather
than being unhappy about the “vacationers,” she should welcome them because
in addition to all the financial help they provide, they may become her
permanent neighbors one day. I know,
because I was a “vacationer” before I bought and moved into a great home in
The Villages! Ms. Barnhart wants to
know “what can be done about the “vacationers.”
The answer is simple: Be
friendly and welcoming! Jim Wood Here's
my understanding regarding info on the CSST Class Action Suit
and the apparent "push" for lightening rods.
This general information was obtained from the Sumter Co Fire Dept.
-
All fire departments throughout the state of Fla. get immediate emergency
notifications when a potential fire hazard / safety issue is made known.
No such warning has gone out about CSST anywhere in the state. -
Most all homes in Sumter are built with their own rather "natural"
lightening rod system built in; i.e., homes in The Villages are built on solid
concrete slabs directly on top of subsurface soil & the earth.
Steel connecting rods, plumbing, etc. that pass from the soil thru the
concrete and into the structure provide a natural path for grounding. -
Homes don't have a history of attracting lightening.
In the agency's history, only three homes have ever gotten a direct
strike, the latest of which just put a 1" hole in the roof. -
The individual I spoke with does not have nor does he plan to install a
lightening rod on his own house -- and his house has a metal roof with lots of
tall trees around it which would attract lightening.
(That's not an endorsement for or against lightening rods.) -
The best protection against the possibility of fire from lightening damage would
be to get your appliances protected from getting "fried" by installing
a whole house surge protector. The
electric company will install one at your meter at a nominal monthly charge.
(Mine cost $5.50 a month and insures my appliances, TV, sound system,
etc.) As
for the class action suit and being able to get $$$ back for installing a
lightening rod, I find it hard to
believe district court rulings in one state would apply in another state.
I would think only federal court rulings would apply nation wide.
And I find adding another product (lightening rods) to solve the problem
of a defective or substandard product to be quite unusual.
Product recalls are the norm, and from what I've been able to find out, a
recall for Village-related CSST's does not exist.
To check for yourself, go to the www.cpsc.gov
website. Julie Harris Last
fall I made the decision to protect my home from lightening after
investigating the lightning potential in Central Florida and state-of-the-art
lightening protection systems. It
came as no surprise that this is a lightening prone area as determined by
anecdotal evidence and several national studies.
History
also shows that there is well over a century of experience demonstrating that
lightening protection systems are effective in mitigating the potential
disastrous effects of lightening provided that they are designed, installed,
and maintained in accordance with the national standard on lightening. I
would like to thank the Property Owners Association for publishing an article in
the December issue of The POA Bulletin that alerted me to the Corrugated
Stainless Steel Tubing (CSST) gas pipe class action lawsuit.
As a homeowner with CSST, I qualified for a $1,000 voucher and saved
about 50% on the cost of a code compliant lightening protection system. A
letter to the editor in the June POA Bulletin offered the opinion that the CSST
lawsuit is a "scam." The
only scam I have found are those installers who are offering low ball prices and
installing systems that do not meet National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)-780,
Standard for the Installation of Lightening Protection Systems, 2004 edition.
Homeowners can help protect themselves from this scam by selecting
qualified firms who will install a NFPA-780 code compliant systems as
"listed" by Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
These firms can be found on the UL web site. Len Hathaway Dismayed?
Disillusioned? Disgusted?
Disturbed? Angry? My
wife and I would describe our emotions as a combination of all of the above.
When we purchased our Duval Courtyard Villa last August, the idea of
writing this type of letter seemed inconceivable.
Unfortunately, this letter should be considered required reading for
all new residents. Please do not
arbitrarily dismiss this letter as an isolated complaint from a new resident.
We as residents, especially new ones, must share our experiences so
that the overall quality of life is improved. Hidden
beneath the well publicized marketing slogan of Florida’s Friendliest
Hometown is that fact the there is absolutely no quality control program
applied to the building of new houses. Following
the closing, my wife and I met in January with the builder’s representative
who reviewed the process of documenting any problems we discovered.
The representative walked around our house highlighting minor issues
such as pencil writing on the siding. After
the rep left we subsequently walked through the house and documented some
cosmetic flaws such as a stained drawer and missing appliance screws. Last
week during our 2-week Villages vacation, a chance encounter at the pool with
a number of Duval residents revealed that the majority of their homes
contained improperly installed vinyl siding.
Since my wife and I are former white collar workers, we had absolutely
no experience or ability to judge the quality of this work.
A new neighbors, a retired General Contractor, agreed to evaluate the
siding and offer comments. Walking
the house perimeter with a skilled expert was certainly an eye opener.
The most amazing finding was missing nails.
The vinyl siding on our entire home (that’s all 4 sides, not just
isolated sections) was missing nails. The
siding was being held in some sections by nails spaced more than 5-feet apart
instead of the manufacturers’ recommended 16-inch interval.
The survival of the siding during a Florida hurricane or tornado would
be a long shot at best. We also
noted the following defects: 1.
Gaps in the siding. 2.
Short siding. 3.
Stepping with distances less than 2-feet. 4.
No undersill/finish trim. 5.
Improperly lapped J-channels. 6.
Poor miter work. 7.
Missing corner nails. 8.
Missing painted nail in gable peak. 9.
Raised roof ridge vent. How
is it possible that the Villages failed to implement a Quality Control Program
to identify and address shoddy construction?
When we purchased our home we trusted the Villages by paying market value
for a new home. While we certainly
understand that there may be some construction mistakes, the magnitude of
problems with our home borders on gross negligence. We
will document all deficiencies and submit a claim to the Warranty Department.
Our expectation is that all of the problems will be addressed before we
fully relocate to the Villages later this year.
We require the Villages to step-up and deliver the quality home that we
thought we purchased. We fulfilled
our part of the agreement by paying our money; it’s now time for the Villages
to honor their obligation. We will
keep the POA informed of the situation. In
closing we would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the volunteers who
are committed to helping their fellow neighbors by sharing their expertise.
I’m sure playing golf or swimming would be a preferred activity to
inspecting shoddily installed vinyl siding.
My rhetorical question is what about those home owners who are oblivious
to the problem? Their blind trust in
the Villages Management Team could lead to costly repairs that may or may not be
covered by insurance. Our
decision to retire to the Villages is certainly validated by the support of our
neighbors. It remains an extremely
people friendly community. However,
our faith in the Villages Management Team has suffered a significant credibility
blow that hopefully will be restored by correcting the documented structural
flaws. Anna Mae and Jim Carter I
have heard that the neighborhood watch has told some home owners they will be
fined $500 for watering their lawns on the wrong days.
Can this be true? Jim
French Editor’s
note: Neighborhood watch has no legal authority to fine people for anything.
Neither do the two official water authorities governing our areas have
authority to enforce the requirements with a $500 fine.
If
our water shortages continue, it might be that the state legislature votes in
more stringent requirements and related fines.
But, thus far it hasn’t. The POA thinks that even with the absence of fines and more stringent requirements, all Villagers should support the current requirements and do whatever they can to reduce water consumption. I
agree with the article in the POA Bulletin regarding the extension of Amenities
to the future residents of Freedom Pointe. This
area is not located specifically on land that is within the Villages boundaries.
It
seems that the VCCDD supervisors only consider what the developer wants.
There is no consideration given to the existing home owners that live
within the boundaries of the Villages. I
would like to know what we can do about this situation.
We
all bought our property in good faith, from the Village Realty Department.
But now it seems that a developer can open up an area wherever he wants
to, and the supervisors will approve it. Then
they will allow the residents to use the Villages amenities.
I
think that a clause should be added to the documents that are provided to a
potential buyer, so that they will be made aware of this situation before they
purchase. I'm sure the Villages
Realty Department is interested in preserving their integrity and would not be a
part of this. I
would like to know if there is some legal way that this can be handled to stop
this from going through. POA,
keep up the good work, we need your service, which is done for the interest of
the home owners in the Villages. Thank
you for what you are doing. Eugene P. Jung Jun
3: A neighbor of ours was notified
of "an infraction" by someone representing some committee here.
Told of "new guidelines." Are the covenants and deed
restrictions different for different areas of The Villages?
Any plans to standardize covenants and deed restrictions, or if
updating, would be nice if owners had an updated copy of what we cannot do.
At the top of the list, I'd strongly rule in favor of our men folks not
being allowed to go off their property without a shirt on.
Old men shirtless! Yuck-o!
Now, back to these new rules....
Jun
6: We don't need to go 'round the
bend on this, but, really, we have such small lawn areas.
Most do their very best to keep their lawns looking nice.
Our plantings in public areas look so nice.
Is it just too much to ask dog owners to be thoughtful of where their
dogs do their businesses? Jun
7: I think around the bend would be
past comments of banning people with dogs from walking off their property or
banning dogs all together. If anyone
has been able to teach their dog to use the toilet, please let me know.
If persons don’t like dogs they should say so and dog owners will avoid
them at all costs and at all times. Yes
I agree that all dog owners should clean up as best they can after their dog.
However, verbally beating dog owners into submission is not a good way to
go. Jun
13: Hey, the rules about dog owners:
"curb your pets" and "pets should be kept on a leash
outside of your home at all times" have to do with rules set forth by The
Villages. Those rules were already
in place before we moved here. When
one buys a home, there is a sheet, that when signed, verifies the Covenants and
Restrictions have been read. Gee,
who doesn't like the cute pets? Go
back and re-read previous entries on this subject.
I've not read nor heard anyone say said they didn't like dogs.
Also, how about re-reading the Covenants and Restrictions, p-l-e-a-s-e. Jun
14: I understand the “rules and
regulations” that were written years ago or yesterday for homogeneous living.
We people of The Village have much too much time on our hands when we
have nothing better to do then argue about how, when and where a dog goes to the
bathroom. Again,
I say, let the dog lovers and walkers know you do not want them on any part of
your world and they will avoid your lawn.
To all dog owners -- please clean up after your dogs.
They
tell me unfortunately, those plastic bags used in clean-up will be in the
landfills for millions of years. The
run off from those perfect lawns will be in our drinking water and ground water
forever. Go Figure.
I do hope the dog people do not let any of their fine friends take a time
out on your world. Have a great day;
and I’ll be signing off this topic until common sense comes back.
What
is the Florida Hometown Democracy movement?
It
is a grassroots movement to put a state constitutional amendment on the
November, 2008, ballot mandating that all comprehensive plan amendments approved
by a city or county commission for additional local development must be
submitted to the electorate for final approval or rejection. This
will give voters the final say in deciding what kinds of developments are
approved in their neighborhood. All
too often now county officials routinely approve whatever developers want to do
in their counties. Although the
results are developments that some would say are good for the area, all too
often it puts a strain on roads, water, natural areas, schools, police forces,
county government facilities, etc. The
questions now asked is why? Why all
of this development that strains our lives, our neighborhoods, our personal
finances, our roads, etc.? Florida
Hometown Democracy must collect 611,000 petitions from Florida voters by the end
of this year to make the 2008 ballot. Download the petition at www.floridahometowndemocracy.com
or call (866) 779-5513 for petitions. Tell
everyone you know about this historic reform. Do something positive for the
Earth and for Florida's future: support the Florida Hometown Democracy petition. Lesley
Blackner, an attorney from Palm Beach, is president of Florida Hometown
Democracy Inc. She recently was a
guest speaker at a POA meeting last year. Help
save what’s left of Florida. Let
the people vote to control growth. Help
put Hometown Democracy on the 2008 ballot. Please download and sign the petition or write to us at PO Box 636, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32170-0636. Below
is the text of a letter that the president of the POA recently wrote to the
publisher of the Ocala Star-Banner about the Star-Banner’s decision to
terminate home delivery of the paper in The Villages: I
am writing about the recent letter I received informing me that the
Star-Banner would no longer be home-delivered in the area of The Villages
south of Ocala. I
am president of the Property Owners' Association of The Villages.
We have over 4,000 members. This
letter expresses the thoughts of many of our members. We
think that your action to discontinue delivery here is ill-advised and we
would urge you to reconsider. As
you know, The Villages has a population now of about 65,000 with over 100,000
anticipated at build-out within 4-5 years.
This is a huge market just 25 miles south of the Ocala downtown.
The pace of development here is rapid.
And, we are starting to see ancillary development in the 301 corridor
north of The Villages. Within a
short time, we should see almost continuous commercial and residential
development between The Villages and Ocala.
We think you are making a mistake by turning your back on this rapid
development. Furthermore,
you mentioned in your letter that home delivery in this area is not
worthwhile. However, I have to
admit that I haven't seen a focused and thorough marketing effort on your part
to develop subscription business here. Subscriptions
don't just happen -- you have to merchandise your paper and develop your
subscriber base. And,
where is the detailed coverage of The Villages within your pages?
The Reporter does a good job of covering the news here.
But, where is a focused Villages section in the Star-Banner comparable to
the Lakes Edition of the Orlando Sentinel? You
really haven't made the effort. In
summary: we will have a population
of over 100,000 in a short time. You
cannot afford to turn your back on this important market.
Please reconsider. ******************************* Editor’s
Note: As of press time in late June,
no answer or any acknowledgement had been received from the Star-Banner.
And, we’re not getting a paper either.
I
am curious if anyone has complained about the dryer vents that are vented up
through the roof. I bought a new
washer and dryer and as time went on I started complaining that the dryer was
taking forever to dry a load of clothes . I
had a Whirlpool Rep come out to check the dryer.
He said the dryer was fine, the issue was the way it is vented.
My husband went on the roof and removed the screen they put over the
opening of the vent on the roof. You
would not believe how much lint was clogging the screen.
My dryer works so much better now. Our
concern is that so many people do not realize this and it is a serious fire
hazard. Brenda Garrison Not
much riles me -- but when I start feeling second fiddle to non-residents I say
something. The most frustrating gate
for me has been the one at Morse going north across 466.
I patiently wait my turn in the resident's lane as contractors and I
assume residents that flash their card go streaming through. Yesterday I was behind an oil-burning van at the 466 light going north on |
