Bartender Fired

Lake Ashton Grill used to have a very good bartender name Marshall. She was fired by Joe Hunter a few months ago and she was a ace, made really good drinks. Many guys now refuse to have a drink at the bar in the L A grill now they go elsewhere. Joe, you just don't understand, you have fired so many people and even the golf pro before Eddie Frye was fired and now even Eddie has left. How many friends are left, Joe?

More stories about Joe Hunter to be continued on July 26

Do nothing Joe Hunter

Late last year I told Joe Hunter about the stream near my home that every time it rain he would wash the dirt and soil into Lake Ashton stream. The embankment was just falling into the stream. Joe just said oh yep, yep interesting. This guy just doesn't get the picture, look at Lake Ashton now, it is so full of mud you can't see more than 6 inches. I had to call the state and they got on their back and the developer had to plant bushes along the edges of the stream, both sides. Is it my job to do the work of Joe Hunter????? Believe me he does nothing and than again that is too much.

Do Nothing Joe Hunter

Two years ago I had my boat stored in the storage yard. Some SOB parked his storage trailer half way over in my storage spot. I told Do Nothing Joe Hunter and he said he would get hold of the guy. Two weeks later I told Joe Hunter again about the Storage trailer and he again told me the same thing. Well when my time was up I got the hell out of there. Have you ever try backing up a boat in a 7' space. Do Nothing did nothing about the Storage trailer because he just don't give a shit. Joe Hunter you are a do nothing and you are over paid, pack up and leave, good-by.

Joe Hunter

Talk to a resident and he had a run in with Joe Hunter, He complain about a problem here at lake Ashton and was told by Joe Hunter that he was too busy to hear about his problem. So the resident went home and a couple days later Joe saw this guy and wanted to hear what he had to say. He said forget it. This guy hates Joe Hunter. Does Joe Hunter have a any friends and does he ever do anything? Joe Hunter must go!

NO TRESPASSING

If Joe Hunter wants to play a no trespassing game, we the residents should play the same game. If a golf ball comes on your lawn, this is your property and no one is allow to come on it without permission. Tell these people to get off your property and you keep the ball. Thank-you

Mr "Do Nothing" Joe Hunter

Joe Hunter is on my back again. He is telling me that if you are not a member of the Golf Club and if you walk on their golf grass YOU ARE TRESPASSING, and if you are not a renter at the over price storage facility, YOU ARE TRESPASSING. He told me to get done has to what I am doing and get out of the storage facility. And you say this is Paradise, everyone is friendly. You are 100% wrong, Joe Hunter hates me for a passion and I have no love for him. He has a stupid smile on his faced that would scare a cat. He is making this community a institution not a community. Joe Hunter must be fired and send back home where he belongs. Get out of here Joe, you don't do nothing and you are a headache. If you had a run in with Joe Hunter please let me know at lakeashtontalk@yahoo.com

Community associations confront squatters

Article Courtesy of The Sun Sentinel
By Daniel Vasquez
Published July 8, 2009

Has a squatter moved into your community?

That's the case for The Circle Villa Condominium Association in Lauderhill. "We have at least several unit-owner squatters and one renter squatter," said Dorine Neal, president of the 96-unit condo association. "The numbers are growing in this economy."

As if cash-strapped community associations faced with foreclosures, delinquencies and non-paying owners didn't have enough to deal with, increasingly some are stuck with squatters.

In some cases, squatters are owners of units in foreclosure who stop paying mortgage or maintenance fees and leave their electricity, cable and water bills for the rest of the association residents to pick up while they live cost-free. In others, they are holdover renters in units or homes in foreclosure who stay put without paying a dime in rent or other fees.

"We do hear stories of owners or even tenants living in units that have been foreclosed on or abandoned. They are basically squatters," said Bill Raphan, a South Florida supervisor with the Office of the Condominium Ombudsman. "Unit owners are furious at their boards for not taking action. Boards are saying that it is a tedious and costly project getting them evicted."

Unfortunately, associations have to spend a lot of time and money to get rid of squatters.

In the case of Circle Villa, said Neal, it took about seven years and $14,000 in attorney fees to evict one squatter. "And yes, we are looking to have more evictions," said Neal. "We need the income and if we can get them out and get paying renters or owners in, we're more than gung ho to do it."

Earlier this year, lawmakers dropped the ball by not passing legislation that would have allowed associations to collect the rent directly from tenants when owners are delinquent. But, experts say, there are ways to get that accomplished through governing document changes and other legal arrangements.

What to do:

First an association must determine if its governing documents provide the authority to approve the occupants of a given unit. "Without a provision in the declaration of condominium or covenants that empowers the board to review applications for sale or lease and approve occupants, the board would have no authority to take any action to [remove] an occupant," said Robert Kaye, a Fort Lauderdale attorney who specializes in community association law.

File a lien:

In cases where associations don't have eviction powers, Kaye said the only available remedy for the association is to pursue its legal rights in civil court against units in delinquency. The effort entails filing a lien on the unit, foreclosing on the lien and ultimately taking title of the unit. Once the association is the owner, it can take action to remove unauthorized occupants with a writ of possession, which takes only a few days to complete in court.

How long, how much?

For a condominium, the entire process could take six months or longer to complete and cost approximately $3,000 in fees and legal costs. For a homeowner association, the time frame is at least 30 days longer since the two pre-foreclosure letters Florida law requires must be sent by the association 45 days apart rather than the 30 days required for condos.

Even when an association has the authority to approve tenants or renters, the governing documents (most likely within the declaration) will have to be checked to make sure the association also has the authority to evict unapproved occupants. If not, an option is to pursue a more lengthy legal process of filing a law suit to obtain an injunction against the owner and unapproved occupants and eventually force their removal.

Eviction is a specialized process in the courts that is geared to move faster (called "summary proceeding"), and in most cases, can be completed within two months. The standard litigation process can take somewhat longer, although the ultimate result should be the same.

Quite often, when the unapproved occupants are served with a lawsuit, they will vacate the premises rather than become involved in the legal process.

Daniel Vasquez can be reached at:

condocolumn@sunsentinel.com or at 954-356-4558 (Broward) or 561-243-6686 (Palm Beach County). His condo column runs every Wednesday in the Local section and at www.sunsentinel.com/condos. You also can read his consumer column every Monday in Your Money and at www.sunsentinel.com/vasquez

Broward County cuts off water to townhouse community

Article Courtesy of The Sun Sentinel
By Linda Trischitta
Published March 26, 2009

When Peter Lynch went to make coffee in his Blue Lake townhouse Wednesday morning, the tap was dry.

"I looked outside and saw the people from the county turning the water off," said Lynch, who is president of the town home condo association.

A Broward County Click here for restaurant inspection reports official said after 21/2 months of unpaid bills and with $8,100 owed, the shut-off after 24 hours' notice was proper.

The townhouse condominium community in unincorporated Broward County is bordered by Sample, Copans and Powerline roads and Andrews Avenue. More than 60 percent of the homeowners are delinquent on fees, Lynch and J.D. Keating of Phoenix Property Management both said.

"One family owes us over $15,000 and are just waiting to get kicked out of the house!" Lynch said.

Each month, homeowners pay $328 maintenance that includes water use charged on master meters, not to individual units. There is also a $150 assessment for a construction loan, on top of mortgage payments.

Ken Wilson, fiscal manager for Broward County Water and Wastewater Services, said Phoenix Property Management sent a check in January that bounced. A contractor with a disputed bill put a lien on the association, putting its accounts in disarray, Lynch said.

Wilson said Phoenix Property Management failed to negotiate with the county water department when it became apparent the check had bounced.

"The homeowners are paying someone to manage their affairs and the management company did not do the right thing," Wilson said. "I sympathize with the residents."

Phoenix Property's Keating said Wilson's comment was unfair. "What is happening is the members are not paying the association, and the association is unable to pay its vendors," Keating said.

Lynch spent Wednesday trying to collect past-due fees from his neighbors. He said he blames neither them nor the management company.

The county was to turn the taps back on Wednesday night and keep them on if $4,100 was paid by noon today and another $4,000 by April 1.

"These people are hardworking and for many of them it's not their fault," Lynch said, citing the tough economic times. "It's also a wake-up call for the people who think the water and garbage pickup is free. Nothing gets through to people like no shower or no coffee. "

Margot Seavens

I guess if Jeff Salvin is not around, Margot does a good job in controlling the CDD and the residents. I give her good rating and I was quite surprise she did such a great job. Good Job Margot but I still don't understand why you wish to ban parking in your own driveway over night and also your grass must be a given height or else and also why do you want to call the police all the time on the residents?

circus tomorrow at 10am in the ball room

This will be a blast. Come and see the circus tomorrow. Ms Steavens will be the star attraction. And the residents voted her in. Give me a break. Where have all the brains gone? Is this the best we have to offer???????

CCD MEETING JULY 10 AT 10AM IN BALLROOM

Jeff Salvin is in Maine and won't be there to lead the members. "Call the police" Margot Stevens will take charge of the meeting. There will be a phone next to her in case she has to call the police. I just hope she doesn't do the Shuffling Squares Dancing behind the table. She either should stick to her dancing or do her painting but please not in charge of the CDD. Lake Ashton has gone down hill. This will be one of the most important meetings of the year. Its going to be about electing a new management to run Lake Ashton, and she loves the developer. Give me a break. Did you see her picture in the LA TIMES? I think she should go back teaching the elementary school kids square dancing and quit the CDD.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

ALL THE INFORMATION ABOUT ALL THE DIRECTORS JOE HUNTER, TRICIA ADAMS AND THE COOK MIGUEL SUAZO THAT THEY ARE LEAVING, WAS GIVEN TO ME BY A PERSON WHO REFUSES TO GIVE HIS NAME. I HAVE NO WAY TO CHECK IF THIS INFORMATION IS TRUE OR FALSE EXCEPT BY CALLING THEM PERSONALLY. IT SEEMS THAT THIS PERSON DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO TELL THE TRUTH AND IS TYPICAL OF JOE HUNTER TELLING EVERYONE LIES. I WILL NO LONGER ACCEPT INFORMATION FROM THIS PERSON. HE IS INDEED JUST LIKE JOE HUNTER. HE CALLS HIMSELF BINGO PP GOOD-BY BINGO PP YOU KNOW WHERE TO GO.

Where have all the Drectors and Cooks gone???

Joe Hunter, Tricia Adams and now Miguel Suazo, the chef. Everyone will be in a state of shock when they come back from up North. Will these people be miss? I know I won't miss "Do Nothing" Joe Hunter. I guess someone put a head on the nail and now we can pull him out. Good-By Joe Hunter, may peace be with you. I wonder how many residents will be selling their home and follow you to where ever your going. I don't think too many, if any.

Miguel Suazo

The Chef at Lake Ashton Grill will also be leaving us for Greener Pastures. Report say he may be in the same place as Joe Hunter. As the information comes forward I will let you know as to his location for all you lunch and dinner lovers so you can go down and enjoy a good meal, so you say on the poll.