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8 | THE COLONY NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2024 | ACCESS CONTROL & SAFETY GATE ACCESS Security Statistics For July 2024, there were a total of 20,853 gate entries recorded consisting of guests, recreational vehicles, vendors, and golfers. Allied Security performed 16 property/residence checks and issued 22 citations for stop sign violations and 17 speeding citations. There were 21 medical, fire, and police incidents. Allied cited 60 residents for various resident parking violations and guest/vendor violations. 50 residents were cited for putting trash cans out too early and/ or not putting them away. 40 garage doors were found to be open and Allied made calls to each resident to advise them to close their garage doors. Allied responded to 89 miscellaneous incidents related to deceased residents, dogs (barking, lost, off leash), gate strikes/tailgaters, suspicious activity, missing resident, reckless driving, trespassers, welfare checks, and broken/burst water lines and sprinklers. By Glenn Gerber Have you ever wondered why your granddaughter didn't get through the front gate to visit you, or why your plumber was denied entrance? The vast majority of time it is because you did not put their names on your iGate list. When a guest or vendor comes to the front gate the guard asks for their information. Then he checks his iGate list. If they are not on the list he is to deny them entrance. This does not always happen however, because sometimes the guard will call the resident to see if they will allow the guest or vendor to enter. The problem with this procedure is that it holds up the line to enter for three to four minutes while the guard checks with the resident. Checking with residents for permission for a guest or a vendor to enter is the main cause of the long backups we have at the Main Gate. These backups are, at least, a frustration to residents who can't get to the resident entrance because the front drive is blocked. However, most of this could be prevented if residents would just use the iGate System. In talking with residents who do not use the iGate system, I get various reasons from them why they don't use it. The main one being, "I just called the front gate or office to have them put my guest or vendor on the list." In response to this answer I checked with the Head of Allied Universal and the Association Office as to how many telephone calls they receive. The front gate receives over 150 calls per day and the Association office over 150 calls per week of people asking them to add guests or vendors to their iGate List. I started figure out that if one telephone call takes only one minute, that is 150 minutes (two and half hours) per day that the guards are on the telephone, and not taking care of the guests and vendors trying to enter our facility. Just eliminating most of these telephone calls would greatly increase the time the guards would have to take care of the front gate, and greatly decrease the lines trying to enter The Colony. Eliminating most of the 150 calls per week to the front office would allow more time for the employees to take care of other Colony business. In conclusion, I want to commend and thank all of you who are using iGate. It is not always easy to learn a new computer software, but you are to be applauded for taking the time to learn it. I would also challenge those of you who are not using iGate to give it a try. The office will be glad to help you with your questions and walk you through the learning process. Learning how to use iGate could be a huge benefit to you the next time your AC goes out on the hottest day of the summer, and your AC person can't get through the front gate because he is not on your iGate list and when you try to call the front gate there is no answer, because the guard is answering the 150 calls in front of you. I encourage you to get familiar with iGate. It will make your life less complicated, and your guests and vendors will thank you. LIBRARY By Janet Baasch, 951-461-8232 We truly appreciate your most recent donations of books and periodicals. Due to limited space, books must have a copyright date of 2016 or newer. The Colony operates on the honor system. The rules are posted on the window wall. When returning books or puzzles, please place them on the shelf below the windows. Members of the Library Committee will file them. All items carried by the library are available for you to take home. In addition to books, this also includes picture puzzles, DVDs, and movies. As you enter the Clubhouse, the Library is the first room you come to. Perhaps that is why it has become a convenience for all kinds of items to be dropped off. For example, we have recently had items such as clothing, personal items, powdered sugar and lemons. Please check with the receptionist or office to determine where they should go. We appreciate and thank you.

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