Villages of Westcreek (Howe, Cool: calculation, cheap, fish)

[guyo]

Did everyone forget that the board may have a draft budget at the town-hall meeting so I think we should keep up the pressure on security. That way maybe the board will look into it and have some costs to give us and let us go from there with the facts, instead of the what ifs

[BamaSailor]

Originally Posted by WC2006

Securtiy is not the easy solution. I have looked into that and it is expensive and would be difficult to cover the vast WC area. I do not know what the solution is. I know there is a group of peopel that are volunteering as Cellular on Patrol (COP) and they are always looking for more volunteers. That involves alot of time and commitment. Something I am not sure that many of us have. I know I do not. The private security is a nice thought but when you get right down to it. You put alot of monies into it and you are still no safer in the long run due to coverage area than you were before. That being said, it might well eb worth having a security specialist come in and evaluate the coverage area and present us a plan that might be a hybrid of COP, cameras and private security.

WC2006 (ah, a mini-me) I concur that security isn't easy. I also don't think we need to go overboard on cost or expectations. WC is a small city on its on in size and we can't afford to have a complete security blanket. If we had five patrols going at one time, that would make each patrol responsible for over 650 homes. A minimal presence may help but don't fool yourselves into thinking crime would go away. Slow and steady wins the race. No crime is good but I don't think we are worse off than any other neighborhood but I'm sure we are better off than many.

Originally Posted by guyo

First off this is the right time to think of security as the 2010 budget has not been approved and things can be shifted around and the 2010 assessments have not been set. So what better time is there?

I don't think there should be any talk whatsoever about any special assessment or any annual assessment going up. There is way to much fluff in the budget now. Fix that and there will be plenty of money to do what NEEDS to be done.

[USAF]

Speaking of signs I did see where they have them posted for the Town Hall Meeting. Only problem is that they did not tell the homeowners where the meeting was going to be held (just the date and time). My neighbor thought it was going to be held at Galm Elementary. I guess this confirms that there is a communication problem.

I have to miss the Town Hall, but if you all think about it, please find out what happened to the portable building we had before they but the new community center. I am curious if they sold it and if so, where in the financial record does it show what we made on the sale.

[JCDrupiewski]

Originally Posted by USAF

Speaking of signs I did see where they have them posted for the Town Hall Meeting. Only problem is that they did not tell the homeowners where the meeting was going to be held (just the date and time). My neighbor thought it was going to be held at Galm Elementary. I guess this confirms that there is a communication problem.

I have to miss the Town Hall, but if you all think about it, please find out what happened to the portable building we had before they but the new community center. I am curious if they sold it and if so, where in the financial record does it show what we made on the sale.

I will ask for you. The 3 little signs for 3200 residents @$20 per sign does not make sense to me. One would think they needed to purchase more and put at the entrance to each village. Then the announcement would tell all, "Hey we are having a meeting!" (If something is bothering you, now is the time to voice your opinions!)

[guyo]

wc 2006 wc2005 I didn't say anything needed to go up. I said the budget for 2010 has not been approved and if everything fails and the homeowners feel that security is a big enough issue then the homeowners can decide if they want to raise the assessments . Please read the post by SAAggiemom page176

[codeblue]

Originally Posted by SAAggiemom

I know this in none of my business but I’ve gotten interested in your thread since I’m active in my HOA. (nice to learn stuff from y’all)
FYI – I think originally the COPS program required more of a time commitment. Now it is what you make of it. After you take the certification class you can be the eyes and ears of the neighborhood or patrol. Whatever you like. If you have at least 10 people signed up the police will come to your neighborhood or clubhouse and hold a certification class. Our neighborhood is organizing a COPS group now.
Also – For years we paid a rent a cop to patrol our neighborhood. (400 homes is tiny compared to yours) They seemed to be afraid of their own shadows and were totally ineffective. We paid them $20 an hour for 8 hours of patrol a day. A few months ago we switched to Constables who look mighty official in their Constable cars and uniforms. The change has been terrific. We now pay $40 per hour but they only patrol 4 hours a day (varied schedule) so our yearly expense is the same. A staggering $45,000 per year IMO. It’s a lot but the residents are happy.

Saagiemom - thank you so much for your input. This can be brought forward to our Board.

Codeblue

[WC2006]

[quote=wc2005;10906887]WC2006 (ah, a mini-me) I concur that security isn't easy. I also don't think we need to go overboard on cost or expectations. WC is a small city on its on in size and we can't afford to have a complete security blanket. If we had five patrols going at one time, that would make each patrol responsible for over 650 homes. A minimal presence may help but don't fool yourselves into thinking crime would go away. Slow and steady wins the race. No crime is good but I don't think we are worse off than any other neighborhood but I'm sure we are better off than many.


I agree a mini-city. Security IS something to look at and put pressure on the BOD to fix. We do not need to fix the issue, just make it clear there is an issue and we value it being fixed. I hear what people are saying about COP (time and volunteers)and cameras (theft and costs). I know they have their drawbacks, but, IMO, so does security guards ($$$). But that is why I feel it would be prudent to have a security expert to come and evaluate the area and offer up a plan. Honestly, I think this is the same type of problem This Board has. they make decisons based on an incomplete understanding of the facts. It is difficult to know about situations unless you are around the "office" enough to know that the bull story being fed to them by management is just that bull. It might cost a little more in the start up, but it well worth it to amke a decision right the first time. In fact, I would not be opposed to seeing if there were homeowners with security experience that might like to weigh in on the subject in an effort to better their community. But with this Board I find that diffucult to fathom.

[JCDrupiewski]

Originally Posted by wellguy

I have always liked that idea. You are right that its for the good of the entire Community. There is usually a "snowball effect" with neighbors and yards as everyone wants the nicest one on the street.

A couple of years ago I presented the HOA Staff with the idea of "Village of the Month". No money would have to be paid only the recognition of a sign at the monument and and in the newsletter. This could have been a win win for everyone and it would have made life easier on the Standards Monitors.

I really like this idea, we have people in Wynwood who compete on a weekly basis to make their yards look great. They already have homes
ready for Halloween.

[shoegal39]

Originally Posted by WC2006

Securtiy is not the easy solution. I have looked into that and it is expensive and would be difficult to cover the vast WC area. I do not know what the solution is. I know there is a group of peopel that are volunteering as Cellular on Patrol (COP) and they are always looking for more volunteers. That involves alot of time and commitment. Something I am not sure that many of us have. I know I do not. The private security is a nice thought but when you get right down to it. You put alot of monies into it and you are still no safer in the long run due to coverage area than you were before. That being said, it might well eb worth having a security specialist come in and evaluate the coverage area and present us a plan that might be a hybrid of COP, cameras and private security.

I think that security is an easy solution. I understand that security can't be everywhere all the time; however, their mere presence will deter some of these punks from vandalizing and stealing. I'm sure it won't eliminate all criminal activity, but I'm confident it will reduce it. Right now we are unprotected, an easy target and under attack and they know no one is watching. As far as expense is concerned...I know it's not cheap...but removing graffiti and paying deductibles isn't cheap either. Let's get our priorities straight and make room in the budget for this very important item.

I commend those of you who are volunteering for the COP program. I thank you sincerely for your tremendous gift of time and willingness to do this for our community. However, I think we need professionals. They need to be seen in their marked cars driving through the neighborhood.

[JCDrupiewski]

I really don't understand who's idea it was to make the newsletter 4 times a year! Iliked it when it was black&white. It could still be handed out by the standard monitors. Then you would know they were really doing their jobs,"at least once a month you would know they had been around."