Happy Summer!!!
I apologize for not getting an article in the last issue or two. Things have been a little hectic at the POA. Between getting the annual assessment notice ready to be mailed June 1st (remember, your $700.00 assessment to PGA POA is due July 1st) and the discussions about the pump stations (more on that below), the POA has also been working on a new security contract.
SECURITY: There is a memo in this issue which announces that as of July 1st Elite Protection Services will be providing access control and security patrols to PGA POA. Wackenhut, now known as G4S provided these services for almost twenty years and the decision to change companies was not easily made. G4S is a “tough act to follow” and the Board appreciates the hard work of each and every member of the PGA security team. The Security Committee, Contract Subcommittee and the Board of Governors did extensive work, background checks, bid reviews, etc. and made the decision to engage Elite Protection Services. A number of the guards that you know will be joining Elite Protection Services which will help in the transition.
The important thing for residents to know is that there will not be any action needed on your part. Your access control number to authorize guests, the bar code on your car(s) and everything else will remain as is. The other important thing is that there will be increased patrols; more efficient accessing of information as a laptop computer will be in each patrol vehicle so guards can see resident information immediately rather than calling the “Comm Center” to look up owner data; additional protection equipment (such as night vision) and other features we won’t go into in case the “bad guys” are bored and reading this article!
We would appreciate your feedback (good and bad) after July 1st and we also appreciate your patience. It is a lot to learn when the community is the size of a city and we know there will be a ‘learning curve”. The Board thanks you in advance for your understanding.
SIGNS: The POA has been working hard on a number of maintenance projects that the board feels will also enhance the community. I know you’ve seen the main entry sign. Well, I’m happy to report that the monuments at each end of Ryder Cup Blvd will receive the same stone treatment over the summer. Unfortunately, because those walls are two-sided, the lettering cannot be “back lit” like the main entry but a different type of fixture will be used that will definitely improve the appearance.
Over the summer months, we also plan to have all of the street signs “fixed up” where letters are starting to peel. This is a long-term process as we don’t want to have temporary signs installed and to do all the signs at one time is cost prohibitive. The signs within the communities are the HOA/Condo’s responsibility. The POA is only addressing the signs along Ryder Cup Blvd, Tournament, Ave of the Masters, Ave of the Champions, Tournament Blvd, Coventry Lane and Medalist. Again, we appreciate your patience.
PAVERS: I know that all of you are happy to see the repairs to the pavers at the main entry to PGA (Ave of the Champions). Because the original pavers were no longer available and a close color match could not be found the last time repairs were made, the POA changed to a slightly different color and used it in the parking area south of the guardhouse then used the pavers from that area to make repairs.
Well, once the pavers on the entry side started sinking, we again couldn’t find an exact match and rather than having a patch-work of pavers that don’t hold up to the type of traffic using that road, the POA and NPBCID agreed to replace the pavers with stamped concrete.
As I write this article, they are just finishing the second lane and by the time you read this article, the job should be complete. The terra cotta color (that matches the guardhouse roof) is a little bright right now but as soon as the sun hits it for a week or two, the color will tone down. In addition, using the stamped concrete will mean no more sinking pavers creating a ‘speed bump by nature’.
PUMP STATION: NPBCID plans to construct a new pump station at the north end of the community (in Marlwood) in several months. The POA will be providing more information about this pump station.
Regarding the south pump station, without going into a lot of detail regarding right/wrong/facts/fiction, many of you signed (or were approached to sign) a petition about the pump station at the west end of Coventry Lane (north of Preston). As I write this article, I have just left a meeting where a “professional” referred to the Board and ARC as “idiots” and stated that the POA gave absolutely no thought to the adjacent residents.
The governing documents of the PGA POA define the responsibilities of the Board and its committees. The POA Board is elected by the residents and the Architectural Review Committee (“ARC”) is appointed by the Board. In electing these individuals you put a certain amount of trust in the decisions they may make. I will only say it is terribly unfortunate that the situation was handled the way that it was. As someone who attends every meeting, I can tell you that I personally have a great deal of respect for the amount of time, thought and consideration these individuals put into each and every matter that comes before them and each approval (or denial) by the ARC.
All of the meetings of the POA are open to the owners at PGA. The Board of Governors meet monthly on the 4th Monday of each month and the ARC meets monthly on the 3rd Thursday in the POA office. Meetings are posted on the POA office door and listed on the POA website. Matters of import are also published on the POA website at pga-poa.com In the almost 15 years I’ve been at PGA National, I can count the number of residents who have attended an ARC or Board meeting on one hand (other than just long enough to address their personal ARC matter on the agenda). I do my best to update you on matters via this article. Sometimes I fail to include everything and undoubtedly not everyone reads these articles. Please feel free to attend the board or committee meetings or call the POA for information. We will also do our best to address the “I heard…” rumors. Thank you for your support.