The 21 flashing stop signs are here to stay – although they might need some tweaks.

As Village residents battle out the pros and cons of the signs, and debate whether or not they’re needed here, Golden Rain Foundation board President Bunny Carpenter gave the final word: “They’ve been approved. We are going to put in 21.”

She emphasized that it is a pilot program, and thus the signs will be monitored to see if there are issues with location, reflection or impact on any manor.

“If it proves that we need to do something else or take some of them out because there is a problem, that will be considered,” Carpenter said at the monthly GRF board meeting Aug. 2.

“People that I see in the community are assuming that it’s going to be a problem,” she added. “Our staff did research on it … before we even decided to go ahead with the stop signs.”

United board Director Diane Casey, who attended the GRF meeting, noted that the flashing stop signs were requested by vision-impaired residents.

Moving on to security in the Village, Carpenter revealed that security cameras were just approved and would be going up throughout the community; she said she wasn’t sure, but thought the number might be 72. These cameras will be installed at gates, clubhouse and wherever else they might be needed, she said.

“We take security very seriously,” Carpenter said, adding that the yearslong shepherd’s crook fencing project was still ongoing.

Board directors also discussed what they called a communitywide problem: “messy trash.” Of particular concern are the organic recycling bins, which not only smell bad but attract flies and rodents.

Robert Carroll, director of general services at Village Management Services, said the organic recycling carts would be replaced periodically with clean, fresh ones. The Village also is promoting the use of compostable bags, which he said “will really make organic recycling much cleaner.”

GRF Director Joan Milliman asked whether the replacement carts would have a better seal, to avoid attracting rats.

To that, Carroll replied that it would be the same carts, and he urged residents to keep the lids closed properly. He also mentioned the placement of bait boxes throughout the Village, including in trash enclosures.

VMS CEO Siobhan Foster noted that Carroll meets weekly with trash company CR&R and could bring up the issue of sealing.

Electric vehicle chargers were a big issue at the GRF board meeting, after a resident asked whether more of them could be placed throughout the Village for a probable future surge of EVs.

“No one advocates for EV chargers more than I do,” said Director Juanita Skillman, “but I’d like to remind you that we do not provide gas stations.” She pointed to the EV stations available at the Ayres Hotel, along with stations elsewhere outside the Village.

Carpenter added that the infrastructure simply isn’t available in the Village, especially with the multi-unit buildings with carports.

Besides, she said, “no matter what we do, it will never be enough. We have 18,000 people, and if we put 10 chargers in, it’s not going to be enough. So it’s a dilemma for us.”

She noted that as the demand grows among the general population, the number of EV stations outside the Village will only increase.

But for the Village, Carpenter said, “it really is an issue that is difficult for us to resolve at this point.”