On behalf of the Districts’ elected officials and staff, I would like to say thank you to the residents of The Villages for your preparation and actions before, during and after Hurricane Irma. Although there was substantial debris, an extensive amount of water, and some infrastructure damage, fortunately, there were no reports of injuries.
As you are aware, the District performed numerous preparatory actions ranging from lowering pond levels to taking wind screens down at recreation facilities – and everything in between. Securing infrastructure was a critical part of our efforts leading up to Irma’s arrival. Unfortunately, Irma’s arrival resulted in lost power, debris, downed trees, building damage, pond flooding, and many other situations that affected the Districts’ normal operations and functions and we continue to deal with a number of lingering challenges.
However, there is an end in sight and soon all that will be left is the necessary paperwork associated with insurance claims and FEMA. However, as is our practice, no event or activity takes place without staff reviewing all that transpired with the intent to always improve upon our efforts and actions. To this end, staff is in the process of compiling after action items for discussion and improvements to our current emergency plan (understanding of course no two situations are the same). As part of our efforts, we would like to hear from anyone who would like to share their thoughts and input. Previous phone calls and emails will be considered in our discussions. Please note the Community Development Districts have a limited purview and our functions pertain to debris, sanitation services, water retention, property management, landscaping, golf, recreation, gates, utilities (water and wastewater), Customer Service, Community Watch and Villages Public Safety. Should we receive input on any areas outside of our responsibility (shelters, electric utilities, Emergency Management, etc.) we will direct your comments to the appropriate entity. Any comments/input you have may be directed to any of the following contacts:
Email: CustomerService@DistrictGov.org or Janet.Tutt@DistrictGov.org
Call: Customer Service at 352-753-4508 or District Administration at 352-751-3939
Mail: District Administration, 984 Old Mill Run, The Villages, FL 32162 or place suggestions in the Utility/Amenity/District Correspondence box located at each postal facility (no postage required!)
Please provide your comments by Thursday, November 9, 2017. Your input will also allow us to identify any additional public information efforts that may be needed to clarify situations, improve responsiveness and meet the expectations of our residents to the extent possible. Thank you in advance for your support.
Janet Tutt is District Manager for The Villages.
