Dorian Update – August 30
The following notice is a repeat of one sent out by Elliott Merrill by email to all owners, as EM knows them.
Storm Preparation
Elliott Merrill Community Management
August 30, 2019
We continue to watch and prepare the properties for the impending hurricane. At this point we are told to expect hurricane strength winds in our area starting on Sunday September 1, 2019.
Storm preparation will be completed by the end of day today on all properties and all common areas.
All owners should have their units/homes tightly secured. Shutters should be in place.
IMPORTANT ITEMS TO NOTE
If a mandatory evacuation order is issued on the barrier islands, emergency personnel will not be available to assist in case of an emergency. You are strongly encouraged to evacuate.
For safety reasons once a mandatory evacuation is issued, depending on the property the elevators will be placed on the top floor and be shut down. If you cannot use the stairs, we recommend you to evacuate.
Once the mandatory evacuation order is issued no further access will be permitted to the barrier island, which includes Elliott Merrill Community Management.
Once the storm has passed, please note for the properties on the barrier island that we will not be able to cross over the bridges until we are allowed by the County Officials.
We will update the Elliott Merrill website as information becomes available.
PLEASE CONTINUE WATCHING THE NEWS FOR FURTHER UPDATES.
Tropical Storm Dorian is out there
THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL WARNING NOR NOTICE OF ADVICE. !!!! .... Just a friendly reminder...
Dorian is likely to be a hurricane when it hits Florida.
Just a friendly reminder that with this first storm of the season (Dorian) heading northwest towards central Florida, its a good time to drag out your hurricane plan. If your unit is not occupied, are your hurricane shutters closed? If not, you might want to make arrangements to close them or have them closed as needed as the storm moves closer. If your unit is occupied, again a reminder that you must close your shutters if you do leave, or if the threatening storm approaches. If you think you'll need help closing the shutters let EM or David, our maintenance supervisor, know as soon as possible. Remove all items from balconies and patios.
In past years, if the county issued an evacuation order the policy here at Tiara was to shut down the elevators. This was an intentional shutdown of all the elevators and not due to any power outages. Power in the units remained on but only if the FPL power infrastructure remained intact. This means power outages are possible. Without power there is no AC. Without power it is likely that the upper floors will have NO water.
From St Lucie County - Notes on Re-entry after a Hurricane: The most important caveat is that re-entry will only begin under these terms (below) once emergency personnel have deemed the island safe to access after the storm has hit. Prior to that time no entry is permitted, with or without these items of identification. For members who have chosen to stay on the island through the storm, once mandatory evacuations have been given, it is important that they understand that emergency response to the island is suspended until conditions are safe enough to reactivate.
Remember that IF the county issues an evacuation order you will need the proper identification to return to the island when it's safe to do so. It's no longer the green card that is required but now you'll need at least two forms of personal identification showing your name and your Hutchinson Island address. These documents include:
- a utility bill,or
- insurance declaration, or
- property tax statement, or
- rental agreement, or
- car registration, and
- along with a government-issued photo identification such as a Driver's License either from Florida or out of state.
The Sheriff's Office recommends that you have a paper copy of the two documents in case your phones do not work because cell-tower access is not available.
Be Prepared - Stay Safe - and You can track the storm at www.hurricanes.gov
2019 Summer Update
From Board President Bill Dicker
Tiara Towers News - August 4, 2019
The painting project is 99% complete. Summer maintenance projects are progressing nicely and everyone hopes for a mild hurricane season.
Otis is preparing an elevator modernization estimate and the Board will be securing estimates from Thyssen Krupp, Schindler, and Fuji. Our elevators are operating in good order but we must begin planning for modernization.
A few reminders based upon some summer problems.
- Over night occupancy is limited to six people
- All over night guests and arriving tenants must register with David or complete the form on the maintenance office doors in both buildings.
- Children under 14 must be constantly supervised in the pools and spas by an accompanying adult.
- Guests and tenants may not bring pets.
- Nothing may be stored in garageports that will not fit in approved storage cabinets.
- Owners are responsible for the behavior of their guests and tenants.
- Minimum of 60 days for rentals.
- Unwanted or damaged possessions may not be abandoned in the hobby rooms.
Thank you for your cooperation. Enjoy your summer.
Tiara Board
Painting Update
Painting of the catwalks is the next-to-last step in the painting of Tiara Towers. Board President Bill Dicker gives us this update on the project:
Tiara Towers Condominium Association
July 21, 2019
The paint project is finally drawing to a conclusion. All in all the project went swimmingly and the work, paint, and attention to detail has been remarkable. Thank you Twin Palms.
There has been a wrinkle in the closing days of the project related to the painting of the catwalks. This process has been difficult for residents because the paint takes 3-4 hours to dry and it became necessary to apply a second coat of paint as the paint contractor was not happy with the completed appearance of the first coat. An offer was made to apply a second coat at no cost to ourselves. (Which we accepted)
As painters began to apply the second coat in one building they noticed that when it dried it was not the proper color. Work stopped until the correct color paint could be provided.
As painters began to apply the new second coat in one building it was discovered after a day or two that the paint was not adhering to the first coat. Work stopped until paint could be secured from a different supplier and the problem paint removed. Work has started again but there have been rain delays.
The correct paint is now being applied.
The final stage of the paint project revolves around the painting of the exterior surfaces of the lobby and club room doors as well as the exterior window frames of the lobbies and clubrooms.
We are in the process of preparing a punch list of items that need further attention which the paint contractor will address in the next few weeks. We are then done until we do it again in seven or eight years.
The process for in-residence owners, tenants, and guests has been annoying and confusing as people try to schedule their lives around the catwalk process. The Board appreciates your patience and cooperation.
Board of Directors
Global Entry now at SLC Airport
Are you a world-traveler? Do you dread waiting in the long lines for U.S. customs inspection after many of your trips and vacations? Are you thinking about getting the Global Entry Card for priority access through Customs Inspection?
If so, since late 2018 there has been a Global Entry Enrollment Center at our very own Treasure Coast International Airport in Fort Pierce!
If you're not familiar with the Global Entry program, their website has lots of information including the following:
Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. Members enter the United States through automatic kiosks at select airports.
At airports, program members proceed to Global Entry kiosks, present their machine-readable passport or U.S. permanent resident card, place their fingerprints on the scanner for fingerprint verification and complete a customs declaration. The kiosk issues the traveler a transaction receipt and directs the traveler to baggage claim and the exit.
Travelers must be pre-approved for the Global Entry program. All applicants undergo a rigorous background check and in-person interview before enrollment.
While most of the application process can be handled on-line (and there is a modest cost associated with the Global Entry program), the interview must be done "in person", and until recently had to be done at the Orlando or Miami airports. There are now interview centers (the Enrollment Center) at all of the major Florida airports (Miami, Ft Lauderdale, Tampa, Orlando, and Orlando-Sanford), one in West Palm Beach though not at the airport, and now in Fort Pierce at the rapidly expanding Treasure Coast airport. Find the best Enrollment Center for you.
Having the Global Entry card has been a boon to travelers arriving from outside the U.S. and those arriving back from cruises that visited ports outside the U.S.
WARNING – SCAM LETTER
July 18, 2019
An email claiming to be from Tiara Towers Condominium (Secured)" was received by many Tiara owners and residents, with a pdf attachment.
THIS EMAIL IS NOT LEGITIMATE AND YOU SHOULD NOT OPEN ITS ATTACHMENT.
We do not know the source of this email. Many of you have reached out to the webmaster for the Tiara Newsletter to question this email. That was the prudent action and it's a good practice for all of us at Tiara. Our Tiara Newsletter info will always show our beach picture and contain the footing info about the source of the Newsletter.
Tiara Towers Webmaster
Painting on Catwalks
Mike Gallagher, Tiara's Elliott Merrill Account Manager reports on the status of the painting:
Good Afternoon All.
For those of you off site we ran into a problem with the last batch of paint which stalled painting for the past week.
This morning I spoke with Bill Calvert (Twin Palms) and Peter Charbeneau (Richards Paint). We will be power washing the 12th floor of the South building Tuesday in preparation for painting on Wednesday. David is notifying the owners on the 12th floor and Paola is sending notices for the elevators.
Richards is delivering new paint to Twin Palms tomorrow and Mr Charbeneau and Mr Calvert will inspect the repainting of the 12th floor to confirm there is no issue with the paint.
[Update posted in the elevators: The catwalks on all floors will be power-washed on Friday, June 28th. Painting of all the floors will resume Monday, July 1st, beginning with the 15th floor and working down, over several days. Please take note of the schedule posted in the elevators. As with the prior round of catwalk painting, when your floor is being painted it will be necessary to avoid walking on the catwalk for several hours after painting, until the paint dries. ]
Assuming there are no issues encountered, we will start the final coat of paint for the catwalks on Thursday. We will send out a schedule for the process tomorrow.
There will be no additional cost to Tiara.
Re-entry after a Hurricane – UPDATE
Changes to Hutchinson Island Re-Entry Program
Some changes and clarifications are being added, as further information has been received from the Sheriff's Department of St. Lucie County.
The most important caveat is that re-entry will only begin under these terms (below) once emergency personnel have deemed the island safe to access after the storm has hit. Prior to that time no entry is permitted, with or without these items of identification. For members who have chosen to stay on the island through the storm, once mandatory evacuations have been given, it is important that they understand that emergency response to the island is suspended until conditions are safe enough to reactivate.
Additional changes or emphasis added below in red.
The St Lucie County Disaster Re-Entry Program has been established for residents of our barrier islands to alleviate confusion after an evacuation.
Effective with the 2019 Hurricane Season that begins on June 1, residents and property owners of both North and South Hutchinson Island will no longer need a Barrier Island Re-Entry Placard (green card shown below) following evacuation for a hurricane.
Once a storm has passed and county officials determine it is safe to access the barrier islands, residents and/or homeowners will be required to stop at the check-point and present two documents to justify their access. These documents include:
- a utility bill,or
- insurance declaration, or
- property tax statement, or
- rental agreement, or
- car registration, and
- along with a government-issued photo identification such as a Driver's License either from Florida or out of state.
The Sheriff's Office recommends that you have a paper copy of the two documents in case your phones do not work because cell-tower access is not available.
Property management staff or employees that need to access the island should obtain a letter on company letterhead stating their name and purpose for entering the island and should also provide a government-issued photo identification. Employers and/or management companies can call the Crime Prevention Unit at (772) 871-5303 to have your employees added to a registration list.
The Green Card, pictured here, is no longer being issued.
If you have a green card, you may use it, BUT you will still have to provide two of the documents listed above plus a government-issued photo identification (e.g. Driver's License).
This info was obtained by calling the Sheriff's office, (772-462-7300) to clarify the information available from their website https://www.stluciesheriff.com/197/Barrier-Island-Re-Entry-Program
Tiara Security
Please remember that the gate codes and door codes for Tiara North and South were changed as of June 3, 2019. If you didn't receive the notice from Elliott Merrill please contact David or Elliott Merrill (772-466-2630).
Painting Project Draws to a Close
Tiara Towers News – May 28, 2019
The painting project has entered its final phases as the painters complete the pool walls and fences, the entrance gates and other non-apartment projects.
With the end of May and the arrival of hurricane season, all hurricane shutters must be closed if you are no longer in residence. During the hurricane season, please close your shutters if you are going to be away for several days or make arrangements with a friend/neighbor to have them closed if a storm is approaching.
If there is no one you can ask to close your shutters, please call Bill at 201-874-0066 and we will have them closed for you.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Tiara Board of Directors