Sunday, August 26, 2007

POSTED 8/26/07 An e-mail from a Village owner.

It's Saturday afternoon, and I just got back from visiting the area at South Point where our sewer pipe emerges from under the Intercoastal and joins the pipe to the treatment plant. It's from this site that the new pipe will be pushed through to our village. The sections of pipe were there and that's all---no installation equipment, no installers, NO ACTIVITY. At the last sewer pipe meeting the manager told us that permission to lay the pipe was forthcoming, he had made the necessary arrangements at South Point, and the job would start this past Wednesday. It seems that before the pipe can be pushed through, the sections have to be laid out and welded together. He told us he had made the arrangements to have the needed space cleared.
The story is ---- we have to rely on hearsay here because neither the board nor the manager have seen fit to give out any information for two weeks---- The story goes, the pipe arrived, the space was not cleared, and everything was left as I found it this afternoon. If the story is correct, it's just the latest in a long line of delays and screw-ups that have dragged out this situation far longer than one could reasonably expect. And the seventy-eight dollar an hour honey wagon rolls on 24 hours a day, and the bank balance???? But heck!! It's only money. When this $200,000 is gone, the board will borrow again.
At the same sewer meeting the manager told us he couldn't promise, but he didn't think there would be an assessment for this. Sure thing!! When pigs fly!! If the screw-ups continue, you'd better hold your breath before you open the bill.
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Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Hurricane Dean update


POSTED 8/22/07
We missed this monster hurricane. It was only by luck. We will be getting a little rain and that's it. Next time we may not be so lucky.
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Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Hurricane Dean update


POSTED 8/21/07
Since the predicted path of Dean is to land far south of SPI, the mandatory evacuation has been put on hold. There's a slight chance Dean could change directions.
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Monday, August 20, 2007

Hurricane Dean update


POSTED 8/20/07
It appears that hurricane Dean is going to hit far south of LIV. This may give us rain and some tropical storm winds, but hopefully little destruction.
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Sunday, August 19, 2007

Hurricane Dean


POSTED 8/19/07
Hurricane Dean is the spotlighted show this week. Cameron County has issued a mandatory high profile vehicle evacuation and a voluntary resident evacuation. County officials are talking about a three story high water possibility.
Nothing has been done here at the park yet. Dean is projected to reach us Wednesday night, three days from now.
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Saturday, August 11, 2007

Passing the buck

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POSTED 8/11/07
While LIV’s sewer pipe has had most of our attention, the management is attempting to spend owner’s money in another way. Management wants LIV to lease pool monitoring systems from Berry Pool & Supplies for our outdoor and indoor pools. This system adds several chemicals as needed automatically.
This is being proposed to our Board because our management has shown for the last eight months they are incapable of maintaining our pools.
The cost
$ 1000.00. A one time installation for two digital wireless monitoring units for pools only.
$ 9480.00 + Tax Annual lease contract for the pools only
Our three spas are not included yet, but after the 30 day trial they probably will be included in the price.

What LIV receives
Berry Pools will provide LIV a 30 day chemical reading list at 2 hr intervals.
Berry Pools will do a one time weekly visit to check on their monitoring system.
System adjusts feeding of several chemicals.
A 12 month lease with no ownership of the equipment.
LIV obligation to pay for any neglect or accidents to the Berry Pool's monitoring equipment

What LIV still pays for
All the chemicals used / daily pool vacuum / side tile cleaning / deck cleaning / trash removal / bathroom cleanup / back washing the filters / emptying the skimmer baskets / skimming pool water for bugs and debris / removal of the live and dead critters foound in the water / removing poop when found and water replacement / power washing / maintaining the water levels / algae removal / filter maintenance /shocking the pool / pump maintenance / plumbing maintenance / etc.
Basically "everything" that was done as before except for a 5 minute chemical water test and when necessary, a 15 minute chemical treatment of the water.

You be the judge.
Many times our General Manager has said he was a certified pool operator. He has even flashed his card on occasions. L.I.V. provided six to ten Aramark employees what management called an extensive pool training course. They all supposedly passed this uncertified course which seems now a waste.
One should ask if this system is necessary with such training, experience, and credentials.
Berry Pools won’t guarantee the elimination of skin irritations.
When management talks our Board into this outsourcing, L.I.V. residents will be spending $9480 yearly to do management's 20 minute a day job.

Suggestions
Have our pool filtration system checked to see if the flow meters show the water is being filtered correctly. I would have a qualified person do this and not our unqualified management.
If our Board has to spend L.I.V's money, do the above suggestion and install just one system to our indoor pool this year. The indoor pool will be used the most by the owners this year. Then use the difference to fix the outdoor pool bottom and buy new pool furniture..

I believe that this system is not a bad idea or product, but I feel we need to start fixing and maintaining the things we have before spending money on new items to cover our management's inabilities and laziness. Especially $10,000 a year worth.
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