Madison Park

January 2009 Meeting Minutes

Jan 18, 2009

Subject: Madison Park Monthly Association Meeting
Date: January 12th, 2009
Time: 7:30 p.m.

Location: Wedgewood Baptist Church Annex

Meeting Chair: Ken Davis, 2009 Association President

Attendee Count: 26 members, 7 CMPD officers & 3 speakers

Guest Speaker(s):
Detective Dave Faulkner, CMPD Burglary Unit
Cheri Henry, United First Financial

Agenda:

Welcome

Crime Report
Officer Lim provides the crime report for Dec:
(i) There were no larceny from vehicles

(ii) 1700 block of Tyvola- 12/01- residential breaking and entering. During daytime, rear door was kicked in. Cash and computers stolen.

(iii) 1200 block of Mockingbird- residential breaking and entering. TV, IPods and computers stolen.

(iv) 5000 block of White Oak- 1/02/09- residential breaking and entering. Computers, cell phones and cameras taken.

(v) 700 block of Woodlawn- person walking along street was robbed. Suspects caught.

(vi) 4700 block of Lamont- residential breaking and entering.

(vii) There were several incidents of vandalism between 12/20-1/04/09. All involved car windows being broken or shot by a BB gun. The police have a lead and hope to have more news next month. There is a suspect vehicle: white, 4 door smaller car with younger passengers. If you see anything suspicious, please call 911.

A resident asked what was being done for speeding through our neighborhood. The police said that this week, they are focusing on catching speeders on our streets. They also said, if you see a school bus speeding, get the bus number and report it to the school. The Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools Transportation Department is 980-343-6715.

Thank you to the additional police officers that attended the meeting, including Office Merrill, Detective Faulkner, Sergeant Hulsey and Captain Paterson. All encourages us to call or email them with any concerns we have about our neighborhood. They also said we shouldn?’t fear calling 911- we are not bothering the police if something just doesn?’t seem right
Mention bright red 1980s Chevrolet Impala that was involved in a break-in ?– please keep an eye out for this car!!! Also, be on the alert for any graffiti or spray-painted ?‘messages?’ or symbols in the neighborhood. If you see something specific, call 911.

One suggestion from the police- record the serial numbers of your property (like TV?’s, computers, cameras) and keep this in a safe place (not stored on your computer, it might get stolen). Also etch items with your driver?’s license number. This will assist the police if stolen items are pawned


Speakers:
CMPD Burglary Detective present to discuss details of recent occurrence in the neighborhood and how to avoid being a victim. Please see the list of security habits at home at the end of the minutes.

Cheri Henry, Lee Philips and Jim Monde with United First Financial ?– for those of us who have mortgages, they have a product to help you get that mortgage paid off faster and save a lot of money. For information visit www.RUMortgagefree.com or www.jimmonde.com or call 704-400-1030


Neighborhood Updates
Holiday Social ?– Special thanks to Diane & Lamar Gunter and their family, as well as Ingrid Lachner, Bernice Ledford, Sue Valentine-Plyler and Marty Doss for doing a great job (again) with the holiday social. Everything was put together very nicely and everyone had a good time; I think everyone left with at least one door prize from the drawing ?– Christmas ornaments and Poinsettias. Also, thank you to those who stayed and helped with tear-down and cleanup ?– having many hands made the work go very quickly.

Sewer work on Briar Creek completed ?– CMUD has been doing sewer work down near Little Sugar Creek to connect sewer pipes on the north side of Tyvola Road. The work started December 3rd and was to last approximately three weeks. The pumps that they used did have some noise reduction features to try and keep from disturbing neighbors, even though the work was not close to any buildings or homes. Work was completed per Julie McClelland, Project Manager for the WWTP.
Sugar Creek WWTP Expansion Update: The Environmental Assessment and preliminary designs are nearing completion. Julie will keep us posted as to any future progress.

Norfolk-Southern Railroad Crossing @ Tyvola Road ?–Many of you have noticed the pothole in the westbound lane of Tyvola Road at the NS crossing at Old Pineville Road ?– Called NS in mid-December ?– track maintenance for the year had been completed, but they are going to get a crew back out here in January for a permanent fix.


Old Business
Still have an opening for the Board of Directors secretary position. We really need to get this filled and take the workload off of April and Cheryl. Please speak to your friends and neighbors and see if anyone is interested. If they are, please have them contact either Ken at madisonparkhoa@hotmail.com or April at amays@carolina.rr.com


New Business
Treasurer?’s Report
We currently have $1,130.13 in our account. Please pay your 2009 dues now!! You can send a check for $20 to Madison Park HOA, 5026 Currituck Dr, Charlotte, 28210

Updates & Changes to Neighborhood Link site ?– new Board Members & new contact information has been posted, and the ?“About Our Association?” section has been updated, as well. Suggestions for content changes, additions, etc. are welcome.

The 2009 Association Events Calendar & Board Directory ?– At the February meeting, we will have handouts available for the for 2009 Calendar Year with all current HOA events. Please take a couple and pass along to your neighbors. On that note, I?’d like to challenge each of you to try and bring a new neighbor to the association meeting each month ?– remember ?“Be a Good Neighbor ?– Bring a New Neighbor?” ?– average attendance is 25 to 40 members a month, out of approximately 2,250 homes!

New Association Member Packets ?– We will have ?“New Member Packets?” available with a copy of brochures, contact info, etc., from the City and various organizations and businesses in the area.

New email address: The association now has a permanent email address that can transition when leadership changes occur. The new email address is as follows: madisonparkhoa@hotmail.com. Dee & Ken have access to the mailbox for responding to any inquires. We are also getting a PO Box for dues and other HOA correspondence, which can also transition as board members change.

New PA system ?– The board has received number of requests over the years for us to invest in a PA system for the meetings. Did some research and found this one ?– the board decided it was worth the $150 to have something like this available to make it easier for everyone to hear over the HVAC system in the church, during meetings, and for use at events like National Night Out and our Spring picnic. It has a rechargeable battery and can be used even when an event has no electrical power.

Open Discussion- no new issues were brought up. Welcome to all new attendees

Officer Hairston passed out a list of Security Habits at Home

All the security devices in the world will not keep you safe if you don?’t make it a habit of using them. Healthy caution must become a habit.

Always answer the phone; otherwise, a potential burglar may think the home is unoccupied and break in. When you answer the phone, never let the caller know that you are home alone.
Always respond to your doorbell. First, check through the peephole viewer to see who is outside your door. Never open your door to anyone you do not know and fully trust.
In the case of service and repairmen, verify their identities and purposes with their dispatchers before you open the door. If you decide to allow them to enter, arrange to either have a friend or neighbor there with you or monitoring you with periodic phone calls.
Do not allow children to answer the door, because they are less cautious. Begin reinforcing good security habits at an early age
Be careful about giving out information concerning yourself or where you live, either in person, by mail, or over the phone.
Do not put your name on your mailbox. In the phone book, list your name in a manner that does not indicate that you are a female of living alone.
Keep emergency phone numbers posted near your phones.
When returning home, make sure that you are not being followed. Be alert for anyone who may be waiting for you to unlock your door so that they can force their way in. Have your keys ready before you get to your door so that you can enter as quickly as possible.
When returning home, if you have any reason to believe that an unauthorized entry has been made while you were away, DO NOT ENTER! Go to a safe place immediately, such as a neighbor?’s house and get help before you return.
In you live in an apartment complex, be especially cautious laundry rooms, parking lots and other isolated areas. Insists that those areas are well-lighted and try to use the facilities only in the company of other trusted individuals.
Remember that there is strength in numbers. Join with your neighbors in an effort to watch out for each other and make sure your homes and families are safe against criminal threat of all types. Your crime prevention officer or community police office can help you start your own Community Watch.

Adjournment: Time: 8:35pm