Knottingwood Estates Homeowners' Association

With Spring finally here, the HOA would like to remind our neighbors of the following:

• The weather is warm again.  People are spending more time outside and are less careful about closing windows and doors.  An overgrown lawn or newspapers piled on the curb can send a signal to a burglar of an inattentive homeowner or one who is not around much.  Homeowners can protect themselves from break-ins over the Spring and Summer by trimming bushes back so none of the windows are blocked, keeping windows and doors locked when they’re not home, and asking a neighbor to keep an eye on their home while they’re on vacation.

• Unfortunately, our neighborhood does not have sidewalks.  With the warm weather here, there will naturally be more walkers, bikers, and children playing in the street and cul de sacs.  The number of parked cars in the road can prove very dangerous. Parked vehicles can obstruct the driver’s view of approaching vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians.  Cars exiting driveways also sometimes have trouble navigating the street when it’s crowded with parked cars.  We ask that, for safety’s sake, whenever possible, you park in your driveway.

• I think we’d all agree that we’d like to prevent attracting certain wildlife, such as coyotes, to our backyards.  To this end, we ask that neighbors please avoid feeding feeding pets outside. If you must, feed them only for a set time during the day and remove the food bowl as soon as your pet has finished his/her meal.  In dry conditions, water can be just as alluring as food, so remove water bowls set outside for pets and make watering cans unavailable.  If you compost, use enclosed bins and never compost meat or fish scraps. Regularly raking areas around bird feeders can also help discourage coyote activity near residences. In addition, keep trash in high-quality containers with tight-fitting lids.

• Finally, we’ve had some concerns about speeding in the neighborhood.  Keep in mind that there are plenty of children, pets, bikers, and walkers outside enjoying the weather, especially at this time of year.   You may be in a rush to get to work or finally get home at the end of the day, but traffic speed is absolutely critical to safety.  So let’s slow down out there!

Thank you for your cooperation.  Let’s keep our neighborhood and our homes safe and fun this Spring and Summer.

Planting a tree?  Installing a fence or deck?  There’s one important thing you need to do first, whether you’re planning to do the job yourself or hire a professional.

Smart digging means calling 811 before each job. Homeowners often make risky assumptions about whether or not they should get their utility lines marked, but every digging job requires a call – even small projects like planting trees and shrubs.  The Ohio Utilities Protection Service will identify underground utilities when a call is placed 48 hours in advance of planned work.  Don’t risk personal injury, service interruptions, and the expense of repairing underground utilities.

For additional information, visit http://www.oups.org/ or contact the Public Works Department at 513-867-4200.

To report a street light that needs to be replaced, call Duke Energy at 800-544-6900 or visit:

http://www.duke-energy.com/ohio/service/streetlight-outage.asp

If there is damage to the streetlight, call Duke Energy’s Customer Service Department toll-free at 1-800-543-5599.

The Homebuilders Association of Greater Cincinnati has posted some helpful signs to watch for when choosing a home repair contractor.  According to the HBA, common warning signs of a scam are:

• Any time you need to act immediately to take advantage of a deal.
• High pressure sales tactics (for example, reports that repairs need to made immediately for the safety of your family).
• Storm chasers who may drive around your neighborhood in unmarked trucks and require advance payment.

Common scams to watch for include:

• Chimney sweeps who upon inspection insist you need a new liner or you need to replace the whole chimney because of cracks.
• Exterminators who provide false evidence of termite infestation.
• Unlicensed radon contractors using high pressure tactics.
• Contractors offering to seal your driveway at a heavily discounted price.

With winter fast approaching, you may find it useful to know that West Chester Township has an Online Service Request system that allows visitors to request information, submit requests for service, or submit comments for review.  A tracking number is assigned to each new Service Request. Using this tracking number, the submitter can check back on the website at any time to view the current status of the request.

Service Requests are available for the following:

Repairs and Requests for Service

– Curb and Gutter Reports

– Dead animal removal

– Pothole

– Snow – Plowing/Removal

– Storm Drainage/Erosion

– Street Name Signs

– Street Resurfacing Program

– Traffic Signals / Signs

Fire Department

– Fire Code or Safety Violations

– General Fire Code Question

– Report Problem With a Fire Hydrant

– Request Fire Safety Presentation

Police Department

– Junk/Abandoned Cars

– Other – Animal Control

– Unoccupied Home Check

Other

– Other – Request for Information

– Request DVD of West Chester TV Program

– Request to Place Item on West Chester TV

Community Development

– Property Maintenance Issues

– Request for Final Permit

– Tall grass complaint

2013 Resident Motor Vehicle Permit (MVP) hang tags for Butler County MetroParks will be available at no cost to Butler County residents beginning December 15, 2012.  MVP’s will be valid for 2 years versus the current 1 year tag.  To provide you with ample time to obtain your new 2013 tag, current 2012 MVPs will be honored through January 31, 2013.

PROOF OF RESIDENCY:
You must be 16 years of age, provide proof of residency and fill out a short form.

CLICK HERE to download the Resident form to fill out and take with you to save time.

CLICK HERE for a list of convenient locations to get your 2013 Resident Motor Vehicle Permit Hang Tag.

CLICK HERE for answers to Frequently Asked Questions.

To help you save money and energy, Duke Energy Ohio is offering FREE refrigerator and freezer recycling. It’s quick and convenient, and you’ll get $30 for participating.

Secondary refrigerators and freezers can add up to $150 to your power bill each year. Recycling your unit will help you reduce your energy use and keep harmful materials out of landfills.

Schedule an appliance pickup online or by phone at 855-398-6200.  They’ll come to your house and pick up your appliance for free.  Your refrigerator or freezer will then go to a local recycling center, where 95 percent of it will be recycled.  They’ll send you a check for $30, or you can donate the funds directly to the HeatShare assistance program.