The Pines HOA

Meeting on security 6-19-09

Jun 19, 2009

Meeting on Security
6-18-09
The meeting was opened with Sergeant Charles Epperly of the OKC police department sharing statistics on offenses committed within our area of concern. Two police officers cover the area know as the Baker 9 patrol district from Rockwell to the OKC/Warr Acres boundary, Wilshire to 63rd. They work out of the 3924 NW 122nd Hefner Division which covers a total of 154 square miles. The three largest areas of concern are NW 10th from Rockwell to Council, 122nd. and Penn and the Lyrewood area. He encouraged everyone to call 911 whenever they see any suspicious activity.

Georgie Rasco with the Neighborhood Alliance of Central Oklahoma then spoke. She shared many ways that our neighborhood association could come together to make our neighborhood safer, two of which are the Neighborhood Watch and the Neighborhood Patrol programs. She explained how each works. Of particular interest to our organization is the Neighborhood Patrol. We are to set up a meeting with Sergeant Epperly for training. It takes one hour and is usually held Mon. through Thurs. at 6:00 or 6:30 pm. The patrol times are for three hours, 8:00 am to 4:00 Mon. through Fri., as well as sunset hours on the weekends, generally four to five hours before sunset, depending on the season. There are to be no firearms and each person needs to have a cell phone. There would also be signs for the cars and a flashing yellow light. We need a minimum of 20 homeowners willing to do this. Also held twice a year by the Neighborhood Alliance is a meeting on legal issues for homeowner?’s associations. The next one to be held July 25th. Georgie also stressed getting to know your neighbors, especially two houses in front and two houses on either side. Meet and greet everyone so that you know who lives in your neighborhood. Bring new neighbors a goody basket and let them know that you watch each home and report everything suspicious to 911. She stated we could possibly write a grant to help with the expense of the flashing yellow lights as well as for beautification at the entryways and ornamental lighting. There are $2,000.00 to $12,000.00 grants available through the Margaret Ennis Foundation for landscaping. The next deadline for that is Oct. 15th.

Officer Allen Davidosky with the Warr Acres police department also shared their area of coverage which is 3.2 square miles for 10,000.00 people. Three officers cover this area. They work with the OKC police department in our neighborhood area.

One homeowner raised the question of restricting Section 8 housing. President Lynn Bilodeau said that he is looking into this. He stated that there are six homeowner associations nationwide now doing this so the possibility is there. We can also change the by-laws prohibiting this in the future.

Another homeowner stated that he is concerned about utility meter readers jumping in and out of backyards over the fences and also if they leave through the gates they tend to leave them open. Sergeant Epperly stated that the utilities are working on changing this. As needed they are installing new meters that can be read from the street. ONG also allows you to read your gas meter yourself and report it, thus keeping at least one meter reader out of your backyard. One can also call the Corporation Commission to air a complant.

To report code violations such as tall grass/weeds and abandoned houses call the Action Center at 297-2535 and ask for a case number or go on line to okc.gov/muni codes. All problems reported remain confidential.

Seventeen people signed up to take the training for the neighborhood patrol. As soon as we have 20 we will set up a training with Sgt. Epperly.
Meeting closed 8:00 pm.

Respectfully submitted
Penny Von Thaer
Secretary