LEE COUNTY: Along
with the active hurricane seasons, there have been complex insurance matters
for many condo owners in Southwest Florida. Often times, straightening them
out is up to your condo association. But if you're not happy with the job the
association is doing, fixing your problems may easily be solved with
two words - you're fired.
Ever since Hurricane Charley hit Jan Swanson's Cedar Creek condo two years ago, she has dealt with many problems that concerned both her condo and her condo association. "They keep on coming and patching it but a lot of the units have had extensive damage," said Swanson. "They just wouldn't do the basics they said they were going to do. I'm frustrated and I'm angry." Swanson's neighbor Jeff Hickox is also angry. "The sprinklers don't work any longer," said Hickox. "It's definitely not what it used to be here." They both want to fire their condo association. But right now, they can't do it without every single condo owner in their complex agreeing on the termination. "A lot of people don't even live here half the time. They come from up north or for the season. A lot of people don't get involved or they're not going to vote at all," said Hickox. "Trying to get a quorum - a major vote - is next to impossible." But a new proposed law would allow for the group to only need 80 percent of the vote to change the rules. Thursday, representatives with the Division of Florida Land Sales were in Fort Myers listening to public testimony. They say condo association problems are being felt across the state - especially after the hurricanes. "A condo gets to the point where cost of repairs outweighs cost to the unit owner," said Mike Cochran of the Division of Florida Land Sales. Now, Swanson and Hickox say they would rather do their own repairs. "I would vote for it. I would love to have control," said Swanson. This bill was vetoed by Governor Bush last year because he wants to first hear from the public on the matter. Thursday's public forum was the fourth across the state. Lawmakers are expected to vote on the issue again some time in October. |
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