Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Floating the question: Why are the temperatures of our swimming pools so uneven?

The gas bill for Palermo Palm Springs has gone up. Why? One concern regarding this is how the temperatures of the two community swimming pools and two community spas are being managed. Residents have been discussing this elsewhere on Positively Palermo. (See the 12/12 posting titled, "No, this isn't the snow-covered Midwest.") Now this site now has been asked to bring the topic front and center with its own posting right here. One point made so far was that the heater to the main pool and spa isn't secure from tampering. The heater to the smaller back swimming pool and spa once had a lock on it, but the lock has been taken off at times. Here is one posting from a concerned homeowner: "NOBODY should be able to have access to turning the temperature up or down! But that is what our friends witnessed while spending a week at Palermo. They saw some guy turning the temperature down and then the pool was freezing. Of course the constant up and down is going to cost money! Aren't the controls under lock and key so only DRM representatives control the temp accordingly? Ridiculous!" Miss Penny Lane says: Palermo's pools are jewels and this management problem tarnishes them. Palermo residents could get an early Christmas gift with quick action to solve it.

12/18 UPDATE: Thanks for the photo showing the gate to the little pool's equipment has a lock on it, but strangely it is unlocked.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Besides the temp of the pool, notice in this picture that it is DAYLIGHT but the pool lights are on. Why are we all paying for this?

Anonymous said...

Miss Penny, Thanks for bringing this issue forward. The small pool is either too hot or too freezing...we want it "just right." The temps should be set according to season not how some individual may feel. The control box should definitely be under lock and key! And the lights should be controlled properly too. Come on, DRM!!!! Buy a clue. These concerns are not new. Fix the problem.

Anonymous said...

I agree that it should be at one temperature. I went the the pool one days it was OK (sort of) and next too chilly, so I didn't go in. It's not acceptable. I told someone but nothing happened. Really it seems little to ask that the temp is constant. I rent, and so told by VPM that the pools would be heated and available to use.

Anonymous said...

Brandi Scott at DRM (bscott@drminternet.com),is more than happy to contact the pool man regarding the pool temp. The kidney shaped, smaller pool has never been heated to my knowledge. The larger pool should be heated all the time and in the winter the temp should be 78-81 degrees. Do we need both pools heated during winter? Both spas should be heated. Controls for the kidney shaped/smaller pool are under lock and key. The larger pool is not--However, the pool man can use a code to "lock" the controls such that only the people with the "code" can change settings and temp. The more important issue to keep vigilant on, is the cleanliness and filtration of the pools. The water in the spas and pools should always be crystal clear and regular chemical testing and balance needs to be maintained. Pools are expensive, as you know, and the maintenance of two pools and two spas is a tall order. The Association will have to determine if the HOA can afford this luxury. I hope so. It's one of the reasons I love Palermo so much.

Anonymous said...

Whoever wrote the above must not live here full time because the little pool is not "under lock and key." Here is how it works. There is a lock on the gate but the lock is rarely locked!!! That's right. It sits there unlocked. That is how it was all day today, in fact, like that most of the time until a resident locks it. It's really weird but the pool guy doesn't ever lock it - he just puts it back unlocked. Brandi Scott at DRM needs to tell the pool guys to lock the lock and she needs to find out why they haven't been locking it. It's all bizarre. My guess is that a resident asked him not to lock it. The kidney pool has and supposed to be heated and in fact, the HOA did discuss not heating for part of the year. I won't say two pools is a "luxury" - that sounds like spin - and in fact three pools have been promised. But it is wild that lax management of the pools is causing so much more expense and contributing to hoa dues going up. Let's just get this fixed and stop wasting time on it.

Anonymous said...

This surprises me that a simple thing like making sure the pool heaters can't be tampered with isn't being done.

Anonymous said...

Hi everyone. I can verify that the gate to the smaller pool's isn't always locked because I went there this morning and the lock in sitting on the gate unlocked. I snapped a pix with the phone.

Anonymous said...

Does anyone know what's been up with the trucks and the trailer with a big water tank going back and forth out of the undeveloped part of Palermo. Looks like the guys are taking water and leaving. HOA pays for all the water, right?

Anonymous said...

I have noticed those big trucks coming early in the morning and filling up with a hose, then they leave. Ond day they left with a full tank, and left another behind filling up.. Does anyone know who these people are taking water, which yes Palermo pays for..

Anonymous said...

I've seen the trucks filling up with water too and they are doing it later in the day also. It's alway in the area of the model homes. Can the water be turned off to that area?

Anonymous said...

There's one truck parked in the open area this morning. The pick-up ruck with the water-tank trailer isn't there today. It is my understanding that the HOA pays for all the water in both the completed and uncompleted areas, and the water and other such costs are in dispute between the HOA's lawyers and the former developer. Is all this true? Is the HOA paying for the water being taken or not, and if not some notice from Brandi Scott at DRM would be appreciated. Who is in charge of this area - the bank, developer or trustee? Who said it was okay to take the water if the HOA (homeowners) is paying for it?

Anonymous said...

Again...Brandi Scott at DRM (bscott@drminternet.com),is more than happy to contact the pool man regarding the pool temp and the lock. Michael Heath is the trustee for Palermo during this time of negotiation between the bank and the developer. Rather than bat these questions back and forth ad nauseum, someone should go to the source and report back.

Anonymous said...

Heath is the trustee of 34 units owned by Enterprise, not trustee of Palermo. The HOA is in charge.

Anonymous said...

Good morning neighbors. Brandi, Michael, Patrick and Bruce have been sent an email concerning "The Floating Issue" about the pools. Thanks for the photos and discussion here on Miss Penny Lane's Blog. Let's hope this problem is resolved asap.
SW

Anonymous said...

About the trucks...the undeveloped side of Palermo is under the jurisdiction of Enterprise not HOA.

Anonymous said...

I think one concern or question is the use of water since the HOA board has discussed suing Enterprise over utilities and other things that the homeowners may have paid for but wasn't supposed to have.

Anonymous said...

Can someone check to see if both pools are heated? Would someone also please check to see if the thermostats are secured? Once I know, I will follow up with ANOTHER email to DRM. Thanks, SW

Anonymous said...

I thought this was all taken care of (???) regarding the temps. But the mail pool heater isn't locked ever, right?