South Seas North – Summer 2016 Update

1-Summer projects at SSN are progressing well.

2-Painting of the Gardens’ stairways, lanai’s, railings and planter boxes is almost complete. Some of the planter boxes had to be patched and new stucco added.

3-Only 12 more lanai screens need to be replaced and the project will be totally complete.

4- Twenty-sixpool chairs have been repaired with new straps.

5-The water circulating pumps at both pools were replaced.

6- Summit Broadband indicated that fiber optic installation into South Seas should begin in early December. Since we are at the end of the development, it is highly likely SSN will be the last complex to get the fiber(probably March/April), but the exact schedule has not been communicated.

7- As indicated in previous communications, a plastic box 11” high x 16” wide and 3 ½“ deep will be mounted on the wall where the current cable connection comes into your condo. The box is called an ONT (optical network terminal) and is where the fiber enters the condo. From the ONT, connections go to your TV and your Internetrouter. If, as in the main "A" building, you have a cable connection in the living room and another connection in the master bedroom, you can opt to have the ONT placed in either room. You need to communicate this to Summit. My suggestion is to place a note next to the current cable connection indicating where the ONT should be placed. I’m not sure how the Gardens are configured with current cable connection or if there is an alternative as in the “A” building.

8-IF you want the ONT in any other location, you would have to call Summit after the total project is complete to move the ONT to another location. I don’t know if there are any restrictions on where it can be moved. However, the expense to move the ONT would be the responsibility of the individual condo owner.

9- Summit has embarked on a system of wanting all cable billings to be done via email. You should have received a communication directly from Summit informing you of this billing processchange. If you do not already receive your Summit cable bill via email, you must call Summit and give them your email address. If you do not sign up for email billing, you will be charged $3.50 every month Summit sends you a paper bill. This billing process change is NOT a result of going to the fiber optic system. It was a process that Summit implemented 3 years ago but had been postponing up until now. The new email billing system will begin in September 2016.You can continue paying your cable bill via check or direct payment on credit card.There is no charge for how you pay your bill.

10-Remember that when fiber optic cable is installed at SSN (probably in late first quarter of 2017), you will receive enhanced TV channels, up to two cable boxes, and 100 MbpsInternet.Wi-Fi will be also beavailable in our chickee and at both pools.The cost will be billed directly (viaemail) to the association and become part of your quarterly maintenance fee. You would then not have to pay anything directly to Summit, thus not receiving any type of email invoice directly from Summit.However, if you wanted extra services like another box for a 3rdTV, or higher speed internet,a DVR, router rental for wi-fi in condo, etc., then you personally would receive a monthly email invoice from Summit for those extra services, so make sure you sign up for the email billing to avoid the $3.50 charge. You could purchase a router from an electronics store and avoid the rental charge from Summit. If you do have your own router when Summit is installing fiber in your condo, they will hook up the router at no charge.

11-Please remember to register your bicycle in the office with George. We have new bicycle racks and more bike storage than in the past (in the same area as before), but we need all bikes to be registered in the office. Non-registered bikes are subject to being removed from SSN property.Your cooperation on this matter is greatly appreciated.

12-Two SSN board seats will be up for election in January 2017. If interested in running, you must file an "intent to run" document by early December. George has the forms so contact him.

13-If you are interested in serving on any SSN committee (finance, landscape, social), or being on the South Seas Club board or any club committee (finance, marine facilities,architectural review, access control, tennis, recreation) please let me know.

14-There will be a SSN board meeting on Thursday, November 3,2016, at 10 am in Tower 4 meeting room.All owners are welcome to attend.

15- In other Marco Island news: Construction continues at the Marriott Hotel and Marriott’s Crystals Shores Vacation Club. Both projects appear to be a long way from being complete. However, both have a huge number of current guests. The Hilton Hotel has been closed since May for a complete renovation.Expected completion of the project is January 2017. Donahue’s, the Irish restaurant across from the Hilton has closed and Pincher’s (from Naples) will be moving in there. Renovations are ongoing.

16- Hopefully your summer has been well and will continue that way until you return to paradise. Safe travels to Marco.

John Bartolino