PORT LARGO RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION INC.
P. O. BOX 979   KEY LARGO, FLORIDA  33037-0979

Our next PLRPOA Board Meeting is to be announced soon!!

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Hello Port Largo,

Here is the situation with the Homeowner's park gate. 

First, the card reader on the front gate completely failed because of the exposure to our salt water environment.  The circuit board was corroded, lost all of its memory and shorted out.  When I installed the new card reader, I realized that this type is not for exterior use and will probably fail again in the near future.   I was amazed that it lasted as long as it did....  

So, a new card reader was ordered and I installed it in early June.  At my suggestion, the PLRPOA board approved hiring a local high school student to manually program the card reader with the list of approximately 200 cards in the hands of paid association members.  I tested the method we used to program the cards and it did not work...   The existing card reader are extremely difficult to program and you have to stand in front of the card reader and program one card at a time.  You can not use a laptop and download a list to the card reader.  So, it takes hours and hours of time to program any changes....

Now, with the help of Cara Smith, we have found out that the card reader's manual was very misleading.   The critical issue that I did not realize is that the card reader can not be program without the card being presented to the card reader during the programming session.  

So, the Association would have to exchange all the paid members cards to get a working card in the hands of paid members....   Also, this would have to happen again if the card reader fails again because of exposure our salt water environment....  This would be a nightmare and very difficult for the members and well as the board members. 

Cara and I have done some research into a better card reader system by calling CAME America.. http://www.cameamerica.com/products.htm

We talked to Marcello and he said there are systems that are "exterior" grade and have a control panel the you can plug a laptop into and program the card reader.  He has not suggested a specific system yet or the related costs because the control panel has to be protected from the environment.  The possibility exist that we can put the control panel in the shed and in a weather proof box where it will be protected from the weather and from vandalism.  

My suggestion to the PLRPOA board will be to scrap our existing card readers and have a profession gate company install a new card reader system..   Investing more time and money into a existing card reader system in my opinion will be a waste...

In the meantime, I have enquire via Det. Terry Smith (PLRPOA board member) with Monroe Co Sheriff office for the availability of an off duty officer to prevent non-members from using our homeowner's park during the Mini-season this Wednesday and Thursday....  Terry said that it is not likely we will be able to get an off duty officer during this busy period but we will try....

I know that this issue is a major concern for the members of the association.  I am working on the issue to resolve it ASAP.  However, it has been very difficult for me to get any help whether paid or volunteer to find the solutions in this matter.   I recently got some feedback as to what the problem is, however we basically know what the problem is. However, I need help to provide a solution.  

So, please be patient and understanding.  If you would like to help please call and volunteer time or suggestions to resolve this matter. 

Best regards,  Glenn

http://www.GlennPatton.com
305-451-4891 home/off
305-281-0101 cell ph

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