Post by BagLady on Jan 26, 2014 10:40:54 GMT -5
There are Comments posted by readers directly to the Newspaper:
Add a comment
11 comments
doug.carter2 (signed in using AOL)
Do I understand this right? An independent internet provider is asking an HOA to levy its owners and collect its business revenue in the form of a mandatory assessment- which would result in foreclosure if not paid? Will the Association also pay for billing, collections, correspondence, repairs, customer service, liens and foreclosures for this independent company? It sounds like there is much more to this than meets the eye. Maybe I will invest if this passes your votes.
Reply · Like · Unfollow Post · 19 hours ago
Karen Tracy
I live in S-bag and pay for the internet service provided by Kay c Ntwerk, Mr stab's business. I use his service because I want it. I love the internet as we have family over seas. BUT it's not a need in life. Food, water, shelter, clothes and medications are a need. Internet and paid TV are "wants" to enjoy life. I don't think it's right to connect the fee with our assessment/dues. IF it's not about the money as mentioned in the article, then why not remind everyone that there is free internet service in our clubhouse and annex?
Reply · 2 · Like · Follow Post · 20 hours ago
Susan Tg
It sounds like that at first...but the internet provider, a for profit corp, has solicited the Board to make the service an "assessment". If assessments are not paid, our own Association will file and lien and foreclose on our home. All this for the benefit of the internet provider. Doesn't sound very democratic to me.
Reply · 2 · Like · Follow Post · Yesterday at 6:28am
Bb Nickell · Top Commenter
I love it! This is grass roots democracy at its best. Put it to a vote and go from there!!!
Reply · 2 · Like · Follow Post · Yesterday at 4:07am
hombruwa (signed in using yahoo)
Your comment resembles the sentiment of some in S-bag who say that our government is based upon "majority rule". That's not quite true. We have a Bill of Rights and a Supreme Court built into our Constitution to, as Jemes Monroe said, "Protect the rights of the minority from the tyranny of the majority".
Reply · 1 · Like · 20 hours ago
T Hayvn · Mott Community College
I agree Bb, Vote on it !! I think it would be a great asset to the community at a good price.
Reply · 1 · Like · 10 hours ago
hombruwa (signed in using yahoo)
As one of the “objectors” to the proposed increase in Association dues to pay for Mr. stabs internet service, I want to explain my reasons. While I don’t necessarily have a problem with a community-wide internet service, I think we can do better. Currently there are four communications towers in the S-bag complex – one on Mr. stab’s property and three in the Association’s common areas. They are all used to broadcast Mr. stab’s internet service. The tower on Mr. stab’s property is also used as a “repeater” for Verizon’s cell phone customers in the area. Moreover, Mr. stab is using these towers to server customers of his internet service that live in other retirement communities and subdivisions outside of S-bag.
As a former City Manager I know how much AT&T was willing to pay our municipality to place a cellular antenna on our water tower or emergency communications tower. But, as far as I know, the S-bag Association charges no rent to Mr. stab for those towers or for the storeroom in our Community building where he has his servers.
It seems to me that our Board of Directors should be constantly on the lookout for ways to reduce the HOA dues we owners pay for the upkeep of our community.
One such way is to seek revenues for the Association in order to offset operating costs. Nowadays, it is quite common for a retirement or independent living facility to rent out space to businesses such as a branch bank, an investment advisor like Edward Jones, a beauty salon and barber shop and so on. In Mr. stab’s case, however, he is apparently getting a free ride. Why are we being so generous?
But now, we are not only missing the opportunity to obtain some revenue that can lower our dues. If Mr. stab’s proposal is approved, our dues will in fact be increased for what I see as a subsidy for a private business.
I can’t help but notice that this situation is much like the controversy over Obamacare. Consumers are denied their right to choose and will be forced to pay for something they don’t want.
Jm Herbst
Reply · 1 · Like · Follow Post · 21 hours ago
charlituna33834 (signed in using yahoo)
We're in Mt. Olive Shores South (Polk City) - had looked at S-bag properties some years ago - Mt. Olive formed a connection with Bright House, but you don't "have to have" it - only those who want it and pay for it are connected. We're grandfathered in on a Verizon air card plan for years and have no desire or need for other service. It really doesn't sound right to force people to have something they don't want/need or possibly can't afford. (sort of like having to have insurance plan that includes birth control even if you're 70 yrs old! similar "force"). What I don't quite get is how people are getting the service at S-bag for free--instead of paying - seems like you'd at least have to have a "passcode" to get on it, like secured wifi or something...I guess I need to read the article again.
Reply · Like · Follow Post · 12 hours ago
charlituna33834 (signed in using yahoo)
I read it again - says something to the effect that a lot more people are using it than are paying for it ... so, to me that means it isn't set up to need a code/password to get on it - why can't it be done that way, and whoever wants it can pay for it?
Reply · Like · 12 hours ago
hombruwa (signed in using yahoo)
I don't know either how it is possible to "steal" stab's internet service. This is not a "WiFi" service. In order to receive the internet signal, you have to purchase a special rooftop antenna from stab and pay for its installation. A coaxial cable runs from the rooftop antenna to a modem inside your house. You then hook up your peasee to the modem using a USB interface cable. By the way, stab's proposal for"free" internet service to S-bag does NOT include a free rooftop antenna. Even if this ballot is approved, a Saddlebagger still can't receive stab's internet service unless the owner purchases one of stab's special antennas.
Reply · Like · about an hour ago
Ryan O'steen
i think if you are going to force people to pay for something they dont want then you need to give up your internet
Add a comment
11 comments
doug.carter2 (signed in using AOL)
Do I understand this right? An independent internet provider is asking an HOA to levy its owners and collect its business revenue in the form of a mandatory assessment- which would result in foreclosure if not paid? Will the Association also pay for billing, collections, correspondence, repairs, customer service, liens and foreclosures for this independent company? It sounds like there is much more to this than meets the eye. Maybe I will invest if this passes your votes.
Reply · Like · Unfollow Post · 19 hours ago
Karen Tracy
I live in S-bag and pay for the internet service provided by Kay c Ntwerk, Mr stab's business. I use his service because I want it. I love the internet as we have family over seas. BUT it's not a need in life. Food, water, shelter, clothes and medications are a need. Internet and paid TV are "wants" to enjoy life. I don't think it's right to connect the fee with our assessment/dues. IF it's not about the money as mentioned in the article, then why not remind everyone that there is free internet service in our clubhouse and annex?
Reply · 2 · Like · Follow Post · 20 hours ago
Susan Tg
It sounds like that at first...but the internet provider, a for profit corp, has solicited the Board to make the service an "assessment". If assessments are not paid, our own Association will file and lien and foreclose on our home. All this for the benefit of the internet provider. Doesn't sound very democratic to me.
Reply · 2 · Like · Follow Post · Yesterday at 6:28am
Bb Nickell · Top Commenter
I love it! This is grass roots democracy at its best. Put it to a vote and go from there!!!
Reply · 2 · Like · Follow Post · Yesterday at 4:07am
hombruwa (signed in using yahoo)
Your comment resembles the sentiment of some in S-bag who say that our government is based upon "majority rule". That's not quite true. We have a Bill of Rights and a Supreme Court built into our Constitution to, as Jemes Monroe said, "Protect the rights of the minority from the tyranny of the majority".
Reply · 1 · Like · 20 hours ago
T Hayvn · Mott Community College
I agree Bb, Vote on it !! I think it would be a great asset to the community at a good price.
Reply · 1 · Like · 10 hours ago
hombruwa (signed in using yahoo)
As one of the “objectors” to the proposed increase in Association dues to pay for Mr. stabs internet service, I want to explain my reasons. While I don’t necessarily have a problem with a community-wide internet service, I think we can do better. Currently there are four communications towers in the S-bag complex – one on Mr. stab’s property and three in the Association’s common areas. They are all used to broadcast Mr. stab’s internet service. The tower on Mr. stab’s property is also used as a “repeater” for Verizon’s cell phone customers in the area. Moreover, Mr. stab is using these towers to server customers of his internet service that live in other retirement communities and subdivisions outside of S-bag.
As a former City Manager I know how much AT&T was willing to pay our municipality to place a cellular antenna on our water tower or emergency communications tower. But, as far as I know, the S-bag Association charges no rent to Mr. stab for those towers or for the storeroom in our Community building where he has his servers.
It seems to me that our Board of Directors should be constantly on the lookout for ways to reduce the HOA dues we owners pay for the upkeep of our community.
One such way is to seek revenues for the Association in order to offset operating costs. Nowadays, it is quite common for a retirement or independent living facility to rent out space to businesses such as a branch bank, an investment advisor like Edward Jones, a beauty salon and barber shop and so on. In Mr. stab’s case, however, he is apparently getting a free ride. Why are we being so generous?
But now, we are not only missing the opportunity to obtain some revenue that can lower our dues. If Mr. stab’s proposal is approved, our dues will in fact be increased for what I see as a subsidy for a private business.
I can’t help but notice that this situation is much like the controversy over Obamacare. Consumers are denied their right to choose and will be forced to pay for something they don’t want.
Jm Herbst
Reply · 1 · Like · Follow Post · 21 hours ago
charlituna33834 (signed in using yahoo)
We're in Mt. Olive Shores South (Polk City) - had looked at S-bag properties some years ago - Mt. Olive formed a connection with Bright House, but you don't "have to have" it - only those who want it and pay for it are connected. We're grandfathered in on a Verizon air card plan for years and have no desire or need for other service. It really doesn't sound right to force people to have something they don't want/need or possibly can't afford. (sort of like having to have insurance plan that includes birth control even if you're 70 yrs old! similar "force"). What I don't quite get is how people are getting the service at S-bag for free--instead of paying - seems like you'd at least have to have a "passcode" to get on it, like secured wifi or something...I guess I need to read the article again.
Reply · Like · Follow Post · 12 hours ago
charlituna33834 (signed in using yahoo)
I read it again - says something to the effect that a lot more people are using it than are paying for it ... so, to me that means it isn't set up to need a code/password to get on it - why can't it be done that way, and whoever wants it can pay for it?
Reply · Like · 12 hours ago
hombruwa (signed in using yahoo)
I don't know either how it is possible to "steal" stab's internet service. This is not a "WiFi" service. In order to receive the internet signal, you have to purchase a special rooftop antenna from stab and pay for its installation. A coaxial cable runs from the rooftop antenna to a modem inside your house. You then hook up your peasee to the modem using a USB interface cable. By the way, stab's proposal for"free" internet service to S-bag does NOT include a free rooftop antenna. Even if this ballot is approved, a Saddlebagger still can't receive stab's internet service unless the owner purchases one of stab's special antennas.
Reply · Like · about an hour ago
Ryan O'steen
i think if you are going to force people to pay for something they dont want then you need to give up your internet
