Welcome everyone to the December Association Board of Directors meeting, our last meeting of 2024. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year.
These continue to be busy times in The Villages and they appear just to get busier. We have all heard of the recent system and technology breakdowns. Whether it’s the front gate, trying to put in a work order or contacting a staff member, it seems that once we decided to upgrade our basic computer systems, everything else fell down like a house of cards. The Board has been updated by management and staff who are diligently working to improve the systems and get us up and running better than ever before. I keep my fingers crossed, expect that will happen and look forward to the end result. It appears we have been limping along for years with outdated technology and we are now bringing the community into this century. I was not here to know how or why this happened but I know this Board is concerned and supports management and staff in getting it upgraded and fixed as quickly as possible.
The insurance committee is hard at work and we recently received some good news. During a meeting with our insurance brokers, our link to the insurance market, they indicated the insurance market has somewhat stabilized and that we can expect a modest, roughly 5% increase in insurance costs this coming year. That is excellent news, at least for the moment. Insurance continues to be an issue to watch carefully and hopefully there are no catastrophic events between now and our renewal date.
We have exciting things happening in Firewise and I will leave that news to Deb Gordon who has been working hard with the volunteers and staff to obtain this designation.
We can all see the beginning projects of our turf reduction program just by driving into The Villages. I know the DACs are busy discussing the projects in their villages and setting priorities as we go into this budgeting cycle and now have some idea of the costs that will be incurred. I was at my Fairways DAC meeting where the projects and options were discussed in detail and votes were taken on each project. It’s a long-term project for everyone and it’s good to see the vigorous discussions and everyone’s involvement. I prefer purple flowers over white ones.
Some DACs are more active than others. It would be nice if every DAC was as active and involved as Valle Vista or Olivas. We could use more volunteers in Cribari and Glen Arden, and I urge residents to get involved. Some positions do not take a lot of time and assignments can be divided up among multiple volunteers lightening the workload if necessary. I know going to the Fairways meetings now and previously having served on the DAC, there is a lot of personal satisfaction serving the community and much appreciation from those who don’t have the time or ability to volunteer.
We continue to search for a compliance officer, our first employee to be designated to this position full time. We had one for a few days but he decided to take a job closer to his home. We are still looking and hope to have someone onboard soon. We have rules in place that everyone has received. Board Services will continue to address any reported violations. We will keep you updated and will be getting out an article in The Villager on where the compliance officer’s initial focus for enforcement will be directed.
Finally, there have been a number of inquiries about whether or not a menorah can be displayed as part of DAC holiday decorations. There is no ban on a menorah being displayed as a DAC holiday decoration. There is a rumor going around that it is against the rules. It is not. There is a rumor going around that someone was cited for putting up a menorah. That is also not true. The Board simply directs the DACs that if they want to include a menorah in their holiday decorations, that the decision to do so is a decision made by more than just the DAC itself but by a poll of the residents of that village. Try to ask the majority of the residents what they prefer and do what the majority selects.
Thank you all for being here and as usual, my phone, my email and my door are always open and available for questions or comments.
—Association Board President Michael Schwerin
