Knottingwood Estates Homeowners' Association

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.

The West Chester Police Department encourages all to be mindful of their surroundings and take precautions so they don’t become a victim of crime. A few important reminders:

• Never leave any of your possessions in plain view inside your car, whether in a store parking lot or at home. This is especially true for laptops, cell phones, and iPods. Thieves will break into your car for as little as the loose change in your cup holder.
• Lock your car.
• Park your vehicle inside your garage if possible.
• When parking outside, park your car in site of the roadway. This way, neighbors and the police, when in the area, can see if your car looks disturbed.
• Install timers or motion sensors to turn lights on when you’re not home or when you’re asleep.
• If you notice anything unusual, call the police. Use 9-1-1 for emergencies or 513-777-2231 (West Chester, OH) for non-emergencies. It may not seem like much, but some things are more than what they appear. Information from alert citizens often leads to arrests.
• Call if you see anyone who you think is suspicious.
• Call when you hear unusual noises outside during the night.
• Call if you see people walking behind buildings.
• Call if you see people walking around vehicles and looking into car windows.
• Report all break-ins, even if you think nothing of value was taken.
• Before leaving your place of work or a store, have your keys in hand and be aware of your surroundings.
• When at home, keep the garage door closed and doors locked to keep intruders out and when leaving home make sure all doors and windows are locked, garage door is closed, no valuables are visible and blinds are drawn.
• Leave a light on in your house at all times and if going out of town ask a neighbor to keep a “lookout”, stop mail and newspaper deliveries. Register with police for an unoccupied home check.
• Be skeptical of contact with new charitable organizations and solicitations by e-mail or phone. Do research before making contributions.
• If purchasing online, use a credit card with a low spending limit to reduce risk and make sure the business is reputable.
• Be mindful of what you put out at the curb for trash pick-up. A pile of boxes from new electronics invites criminal activity. Take these boxes to West Chester recycling sites instead.

http://www.westchesteroh.org/eNews.cfm