After a whirlwind decision to move from Halifax to Mexico. we set out on April 30, 2008. This blog began as an email log to some of our friends. A blog seems a more efficient medium to share impressions. We hope that it is entertaining and even informative.

Friday, February 6, 2009

Local administration

I apologize for the gap in posts. One of my readers asked me if I had developed writer’s block. Well, I have lots to report on but we have also been rather busy. That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.

Last Sunday, February 1st, after some considerable delay, Blake Brunt, our second grandson and brother for Aiden, finally made his appearance although we had had ultrasound video appearances earlier. Especially from Jan. 25th when he was due, Barb had been spending a great deal of time at home, talking to Jeff to get updates on progress and waiting for the big news. I attribute Blake’s distinct unwillingness to make his grand appearance to the cold, winter weather being endured by Nova Scotians (as well as much of North America). I think his attitude was, “I don’t want to go out there; it’s nice and warm in here.” However, even the greatest reluctance cannot resist nature indefinitely. He finally struggled his way into the world just before midnight. Tara and the baby were fine and able to return home on the 2nd day. Aiden seems greatly intrigued by the newcomer; he aleerts his parents whenever Blake cries and wants to help with feeding. Barb is delighted but also dismayed that it will be July before she can make the trip to hold him and make his acquaintance; however, she has completed knitting a sweater with hood, a hat, and booties.

Also, last Sunday, the LaFloresta property owners’ association held its annual general meeting. La Floresta, our development (called a fraccionnamiento--division) is run for several basic services by the association. I have not quite figured out local government in Mexico. All the local divisions (fraccionnamientos) provide local services. In our case, the services are water, garbage collection, street lighting and some security.. For the security, there are 2 pickup trucks (a 3rd vehicle is being discussed) which continuously patrol up and down the streets all night and some day looking for intruders or suspicious characters. Because the association is an NGO, we pay “fees’ rather than “taxes”. However, LaFloresta, Ajijic and other villages along the lakeshore are part of the main municipal government of Chapala. It is about the size of a county in Canada or US.

On arrival and our credentials as property owners accepted, we were given small receivers with earphones for simultaneous translation. Thus, the meeting was held in both Spanish and English although Spanish predominated as most executive and board memebers were Mexican and the most active speakers in the audience were Mexican. Some residents are complaining about the rental of horses businesses which operate further up on Camino Real (our street). We think the horses add character and a Mexican flavour; however, our house is 300-400 meters from where they tie up. Thus, we have little inconvenience.A Chapala government official came to disuss this aspect. He was very much the caracature of a politian. “Yes, we take your concerns very seriously, but others (the renters of horses, the tourist officials, etc.) have interests as do their customers. We don’t know if they have permits, but that is not in our jurisdiction, etc. etc.” However, members of the audience (espeially the Mexicans) were pleased to bring other complaints to the official. He a couple of times said that he was glad to hear their views and that he wasn’t angry--meaning that he was being at least irritated. Speakers in the audience often did not have a microphone so the translator couldn’t tell us exactly what they were saying, The vigour with which they were speaking seemed to indicate that they were giving him a piece of their mind.

A number of propert y owners are Mexicans, many professionals, including our MD who is a member of the board. Mexicans are fastidious in using professions as titles when addressing or referring to each other: “Engineer José whatever or Dr. Garcia, etc.One of the issues is that there is a substantial arrears in payments of the fees. Most of these relate to vacant lots which are scattered here and there throughout the village, although a few are being biuld on currently. Some fees have not been paid since the inception of the development in 1974. However, a property cannot be sold unless these fees/taxes are paid. The administration claimed a substantial payment of arrears last year. However, in order to increase the reserve fund, fees are being raised by 5% which amounts to a little over 330 pesos per property. This will make our bill somewhere between 6,500 and just under 7,000 (i.e., $650-700). The fees seem to be flat-rate per property rather than on some sort of assessment. There may be some variation for larger properties involving more that one lot. For example, out neighbour to the west has a property with at least 2 lots because it runs the entire distance from out street to the street immediately behind. Maybe, such owners pay the same fee for both lots.

On Tuesday night, we attended another Music Appreciation Society concernt; this time 2 classical guitarrists from the faculty of the school of music in the U. of Guadalajara. This was the biggest crowd in the Auditorio; I would estimate close to 80% of the seats filled. We enjoed it.

Finally, last night we attended a charity dance for a local charity, Niños Incapacitados (Handicapped children); It was quite an affair, because this post is getting rather long, I’ll save that for my next post in just a day or so.

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