Property Manager’s Report – October 2009

ANNUAL MEETING AND ELECTION
It’s that time again! The POA is looking for candidates to run for election to the POA Board of Governors. If you are interested, please contact Dawn at 627-2800.

By the way, the Annual meeting will be held at the PGA Resort on Thursday, January 21st. It’s a 5:30 p.m. sign in with a 6:00 p.m. meeting. It is important that residents attend!!! The City and County representatives that attend take time from their busy schedule to give reports of interest to the PGA National community. When one hundred or less of FIVE THOUSAND homes are represented, it sends a clear message that you just don’t care. Of course, that may not be the case, but it is how it is perceived. What do you think will happen when those same officials need to make a decision on something that may impact the community?

The Board looked into serving refreshments but the cost would be in the neighborhood of $11,000.00 and with the economy today and the Board trying their best to control costs, they could not justify this expense. The meeting rarely lasts more than an hour. Why not stop by the meeting then enjoy dinner out?

HOW COME THAT HOUSE LOOKS SO BAD?
As indicated above, today’s economy is affecting everyone. Unfortunately, this means there are a number of foreclosures. Homes are vacant and falling into a state of disrepair while the banks wade through red tape and the courts before they can take title and assume responsibility. Fortunately, the City of Palm Beach Gardens’ Code Enforcement Division can and does assist with keeping grass cut and putting chemicals in pools to prevent them from smelling (even though they are still green).

If you are wondering why the HOA or POA doesn’t do something and start maintaining the property it is because the money to do so can’t be recovered! There is one home partially constructed and at least two others where stucco is cracking and there are holes in the fascia. While either the HOA or POA might have the right to enter the property and correct the violation, do you want to start paying for each situation. Right now there are approximately seventy foreclosures in PGA National and it is anticipated the number will only increase. If it costs only $500.00 to fix the house (or cut grass several times and this is a very conservative estimate when it usually takes more than a year for the foreclosure to go through) when you multiply that $500. by 70 homes you get $35,000.00 that comes out of your pocket. Remember, that annual assessments for that property are not being paid either so you are covering that cost too!

The whole point is to explain why we rely on the City’s help when possible and to ask you to please be patient (as you have been) and understand that the foreclosure process is a very slow one…… Thank you for your patience!

FLASHERS…
No, not men in raincoats….those who flash their headlights to warn oncoming drivers of police presence. Did you know that you can be issued a ticket for flashing your lights to warn other drivers? It’s true! Also, for those who like to be ‘helpful’ to their friends and neighbors in PGA National to warn them of the police, please be aware that most officers won’t stop you for driving less than 10 miles over the speed limit. This means in the 25 mph sections of PGA, you have to be going at least 35 mph.

I know I keep harping on this but there are a lot of kids, pets, wildlife, etc in PGA National and it is important that you drive at posted speed limits for your safety and theirs. Thank you for your cooperation with this important matter.

ARTS….CRAFTS…FUN….ANYONE?
I WARNED YOU! I am going to keep telling you about the December 12th Art Festival and Craft Fair in Masters Park. The POA Special Events Committee is still looking for artists and crafters to participate. It isn’t too late but it soon will be!

Get an application on line at www.pga-poa.com or call 627-2800 and ask us to send you an application….tell your friends! If you go to other events or have a favorite artist or crafter, mention this event to them. You don’t have to live in PGA National to participate. The whole cost is only $40.00 so how can they lose? Hope to see you there: whether you are buying or selling!

Security Manager’s Report – October 2009

It is the duty of this office to make PGA National residents aware of any potential problems that could lead to opportunities for crime. The subject I want to discuss is one that I have already touched on in previous articles, but it is important, so I think it is appropriate to bring it up once again.

Theft from automobiles is on a meteoric rise in all the communities surrounding PGA National. Here, at home, we have only had one auto burglary and one attempt. In both cases doors were not locked and alarms not set.

Palm Beach Gardens PD remains vigilant in their patrols here as do we. Still, according to PD, the auto burglary rate is soaring from Military Trail and East. In fact, two nights ago a pair of auto burglars were arrested in the Trinity Church parking lot when caught in the act of breaking into vehicles. A third person got away but he is being sought. The police are doing all they can to assist the community with this problem.

That brings me to our Car Smart Program here at PGA National. After a few trial runs we began this program at the beginning of May. Everyone should, by now, be familiar with the program itself. We simply pick a community; look in every vehicle parked on or off street, and see if there are any valuables in sight. If there are we try to make personal contact with the owner to let them know. We put a “Car Smart Card” on every vehicle in the area, whether valuables are in sight or not, for two reasons. One is so we don’t single out the cars with valuables. The second is to send the message to would be thieves that we are watching and taking an active interest in the safety of our resident’s possessions.

We have now observed well over a thousand vehicles all over PGA National. At the start of the program we ran between 16 and 23 percent of all vehicles surveyed had valuables in plain sight. Over the past month or so this percentage has dropped to between 2 and 15 percent. Every personal contact we have made, without exception, have been thankful to be notified and made aware of a potential problem. We are slowly working our way through PGA and, hopefully, it will become second nature for residents to stash their belongings and lock their car.

Remember, auto burglaries occur almost exclusively to unlocked vehicles. Why make noise breaking glass when you can find the next one unlocked?

Anyone having any questions concerning this program please feel free to contact me at the Communications Center, 627.1600.