Bentwood Farms - Mallard Pond Homeowners Association

Fall 2003

Feb 02, 2004

It?’s Your Neighborhood
The single most voiced concern of our neighbors as expressed in back yard conversation, when chatting during a stroll around the neighborhood and at the monthly Homeowner?’s Association Trustee?’s meetings is the increased frequency of excessive speed on our streets. A year ago the occurrences were, for the most part, isolated to Bentwood Farms Drive and Steeplechase Avenue. Now, however, it?’s no longer just the main thoroughfares traveled by ?“outsiders?” shortcutting from Ashley Creek or Winding Creek to Harmon and Refugee Roads, it?’s our own residents traveling along Thoroughbred, Teal, Harness, Saratoga, Pacer and most other streets. And, quite disturbingly, it?’s not just the teenagers that are the offenders. It?’s mom or dad rushing home from work, off to a meeting or running to Big Bear or Kroger for a loaf of bread or gallon of milk.
The incidents of accidents, due in large part to excessive speed, are also on the rise, especially at intersections, where as speed increases the observance of stop signs decreases proportionately.
In a letter this past spring to The Bentwood Farms/Mallard Pond Homeowner?’s Association Sheriff Dave Phalen wrote: ?“The speed limit is 25 miles per hour on all residential streets throughout your subdivision. Currently there are over 400 (421) families in your area and each has at least two cars. That equates to a lot of cars traveling daily through your neighborhood. My deputies have been instructed to vigilantly enforce the speed limit. A speeding ticket currently costs $85.00. This is your warning! There will be no others. I do not like to pass out tickets. However, I enjoy crash reports even less; particularly when it involves a young child who was innocently chasing a ball across the street, or a family out for a walk around the neighborhood. It could be your child or your family or neighbor. We all need to slow down and look out for our neighbors.?”
If you observe a speeder on our streets, please take action. Make a note of the license number and description of the car. Call the Sheriff toll free at 1-800-808-5223 or locally at 837-2499 or 740-687-6750. The Ohio State Highway Patrol has also shown an increased level of interest in traffic safety in our neighborhood. If you feel that you are not receiving adequate response from the Sheriff?’s Department, call the Highway Patrol?’s Lancaster post at 740-654-1523 with the license number.
Parents are asked to speak to their teenage drivers and impress upon them the importance of being a responsible driver by adhering to the 25 mph speed limits, coming to a full stop at yield and stop signs and giving the right of way to any child attempting to cross the street no matter where. Good advise for all!

Date to Remember:

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18
3:00 TO 4:30pm
ANNUAL
HALLOWEEN
PARTY

Seton Parish Church Activity Center
______________________________________

Notes from the President
By Jim McGrath
Elsewhere you will read about speeding problems that are still continuing in our subdivision, and mostly by our own people! Please be careful, as we have children walking to the bus (and soon school) in the dark. I have started the process once again of trying to get our neighbors that live near the Harmon Middle School to allow a walkway through their yards. We don?’t have permission yet, but at least it is being considered. If this happens, the walkers need to be very aware and respectful of these neighbors?’ property. The school has agreed to this walkway, and the township has no problem with it. We are anticipating that we will need parent volunteers to help with a ?“crosswalk?” at the corner of Steeplechase and Bentwood Farms Drive in the mornings for about 20 minutes, and afternoons for about 15 minutes to help out. If we can get the walkway, and crosswalk area, there is a decent chance that we can get a stop sign too, which will really help out with safety.
We have continued our work on the pond path, shoring up some very narrow areas. Eventually, we want to re-gravel the whole path, as funds are available. We have homeowners who have not paid their dues, and so we are forced to lien them, but that does not give us collected funds to use for improvements. There are many improvements we would like to make, but we are constrained to a budget, just like you are. We have tried to plant a few trees, plant some flowers, and spend money wisely. If you have suggestions, please feel free to email me at JMVETT@aol.com or address the Trustees at the monthly Homeowner?’s Association meeting.
Also, for barking dogs, and annoyance or health hazard issues, there is not too much we can do, as your neighbors likely won?’t listen to us either, but you can call the sheriff, or the health department. If you do call one of us, please respect the fact that we have families too, and don?’t call after 9:00 or so. If it is an emergency, please call the sheriff for help, and maybe let us know via e-mail, or a phone call the next day, if it is something we should be aware of. We still need another trustee, if anyone is interested. It only takes one night a month! Bundle up!

Page 2


Social Committee News
By Andrea Turner
I hope everyone had a good summer and is enjoying the fall weather. This year the Halloween party is going to be on Saturday, October 18th from 3:00 to 4:30pm at the Seton Parish Catholic Church Activity Center (this is the big building behind the church.) We are in need of volunteers to help us on the 18th. If you can help us please either call me at 577-9311 or put the RSVP in the RSVP mailbox with the times marked that you can help. If there are any people who need volunteering hours (i.e. NHS hours), we could use your help too. We will be setting up from 1:30 to 3:00 and cleaning up from 4:30 to 5:30. We will also need help running some of the games from 3:00 to 4:30. Please make sure you enclose your money with the RSVP form by October 15th. I hope to see many of the children there this year to share in one of the year?’s most popular community activities.


Be a Good Neighbor!
There are some rather basic courtesies that we all could do a better job at in order to maintain our status in good standing as a ?“Good Neighbor.?”
First: When your next-door neighbor is away and the newspaper carrier or plastic bag delivery person continues to leave the Dispatch in the driveway and hang plastic bags on the mail box or, worse, just tossed on the lawn; pick them up and stack them inconspicuously in a corner of the front step or porch. It will keep thieves from spotting a vacant house and keep trash from blowing around your neighborhood.
Second: When you or your child walks your dog, please, use a pooper-scooper or plastic bag to pick up the ?“souvenirs.?” Don?’t leave them for your neighbors, even if your pooch leaves it on Township property.
Third: Don?’t make Bentwood Farms/Mallard Pond look like the corner of Hamilton and Refugee Roads strewn with dozens of ?“Roofing and Siding,?” ?“For Rent,?” ?“Home Improvement,?” ?“Garage Sale,?” ?“Lost Kitten,?” Lost Dog?” and ?“Piano Lesson?” signs.
Let?’s try to keep the signs limited to Homeowner?’s Association Community Event signs only.
Fourth: Wave, smile and say: ?“Hello!?” each day.



Architectural Control Committee
By Craig Turner
As the building season nears its end the Architectural Control Committee (ACC) would like to thank all the homeowners who have submitted their projects this past year. As a reminder for anyone who still has upcoming projects, such as fences, porches/patios, landscaping, re-roofing/siding, pools, etc., requests for such projects first need to be submitted to and approved by the ACC.
The ACC requires a copy of your plot plan that shows where the work is located at on your property, a cover letter that gives a brief description of the work along with your name and address, copies of plans/prints if available, and any product data that is applicable for the type of material and/or color that will be used. Submissions will be kept for our records.
The ACC?’s goal is to have a seven-day turn around for review on project submissions. A letter of approval or disapproval will be delivered to the resident as soon as the ACC members sign it. Please allow for this time when scheduling your project start date.
The ACC would like to thank you in advance for adhering to these requirements. If you have any questions about the deed restrictions or submissions, please feel free to contact me, or any of the other ACC members.
Architectural Control Committee (ACC) ?–
Craig Turner, 577-9311
Mike Lyman, 751-9614
Chuck Zurhorst, 864-6012

___________________________________________

Homeowner?’s Association Monthly Trustee?’s Meetings

Unless otherwise posted on signs throughout the community, The Bentwood Farms/Mallard Pond Homeowner?’s Association Meetings are held at 7:00 pm on the first Monday of each month at the Violet Township Office?’s meeting room at 12970 Rustic Drive, at the far left hand side of the building. All residents of our community are encouraged to attend.

Page 3


?“Guest?” Point of View
By Melissa Wulliger
This is a big note of thanks to our hard working Bentwood Farms/Mallard Pond Homeowner?’s Association ?“volunteer?” Trustees. They contribute countless hours of their free time to maintaining our subdivision, enforcing our association bi-laws and just being the voice of our neighborhood. I recently made some observations while attending the Association?’s monthly meeting.
First of all, the Trustees volunteer a lot of time to reassure us, the homeowner, that a high standard of safety and value be maintained and that other homeowners in the subdivision abide by the bi-laws that were in place when we all bought in Bentwood Farms/Mallard Pond.
I observed other homeowners complaining about neighborhood issues then asking the Trustees: ?“what are you doing about it??” I watched as the Trustee?’s ?“to do?” lists grew longer and longer. I have also heard neighbors ask and even thought myself: ?“what does the $80.00 a year dues go for??” One thing is for sure, none of that money goes to the Trustees as payment for the countless volunteer hours they spend on association issues. If it did, our dues would be much higher.
I really started thinking about these observations when I heard a Trustee say: ?“maybe we should give up on the Association!?” That really bothered me. I think this would be a great loss to our neighborhood and detrimental to our property values.
I know that I have taken all of the Trustee?’s efforts for granted. It takes a dedicated person to devote the time, energy and willingness to volunteer for this thankless job. Thank goodness Jim, Curt, Craig, Sharon, Wayne and Chuck do it!
Please support our hard working volunteer Trustees and the Association to ensure the future of this wonderful subdivision and our property values. Make the time to attend a Homeowner?’s Association meeting or, at least, just say: ?“Thanks!?”


Your ?“Guest?” Point of View is always welcomed. For consideration please submit your letter to Chuck Zurhorst via e-mail or Microsoft Word document at chuckbev@iwaynet.net


Communications Committee, Etc.
By Sharon Lach
COMMUNICATIONS: The ongoing projects continue to include updating the community map, babysitting list (see on this page), phone directory and installing hooks on all the mailboxes. If you find an error in the directory that you received in August, please call Sharon so the master list can be updated.
GROUNDS: Winter weed and feed control has been recently applied and plans are being made to plant flowers and bulbs at the Bentwood Farms/Mallard Pond entryways on Refugee Road at Mallard Pond Drive and Steeplechase Avenue and on Harmon Road at Bentwood Farms Drive. In addition, the Bentwood Farms stone wall entry signs at the Harmon Road entrance have been painted. Another Fall project is to re-grade and seed the Harmon Rd property line at the entrance to Bentwood Farms Drive and a 300 foot gravel pathway is being discussed for the entrance area of the
pond walkway.
WELCOME WAGON: If you have new neighbors or didn?’t receive a Welcome Folder when you moved in, please call Sharon Lach. It contains a welcome letter, directory, map, Violet Township sexual predator update and recent issues of the newsletter.


Directory
Trustees:
President ?–Jim McGrath, Email: JMVETT@aol.com
Vice President ?– Chuck Zurhorst, 864-6012
Treasurer ?– Curt Anderson, 861-1206
Secretary ?– Won?’t you Volunteer!
ACC ?– Craig Turner, 577-9311
Communications/Grounds/
Welcome Wagon ?– Sharon Lach, 861-0325
Special Projects ?– Wayne Whitehead,
Email: wpje@excite.com
Committees:
Social Committee ?– Andrea Turner, 577-9311
Architectural Control Committee (ACC) ?–
Craig Turner, 577-9311
Mike Lyman, 751-9614
Chuck Zurhorst, 864-6012

Page 4


Community Baby Sitting List
Adults:
Melissa Wulliger (Before and/or After School)
Secretariat Place . . . . . . 860-0160
Bobbi Haverfield - Saratoga Lane . . .575-0011
Teresa Harness - Harness Place . . . .755-2861
Kelli Albanese - Thoroughbred Dr. . . 861-1756
Betsy Pierce - Teal Lane .. . . . . . 575-6505
Kelly Marcum - Arabian Ct. . . . . .. 861-9058
Teenagers: (Listed Under Parents?’ Name)
Terry Anderson - Thoroughbred Dr. .. 861-1206
Jannet Hausmann - Mallard Pond Dr. . 759-9390
Sherri Ricart - Saddlehorn St.. . . . 868-0849
Laura Goslee (2 Teenagers)-Saratoga Ln . 755-9567


ADVERTISE IN
THE DUCK & PONY SHOW

Contact Jim McGrath at JMVETT@aol.com for information on advertising in the Duck & Pony Show