Barrington Ridge HOA

Due to the extreme heat & humidity expected this week, our HOA Cookout is being postponed from Saturday, July 24th to Saturday, September 25th with a raindate of Saturday, October 2nd. By late September, we should have better weather conditions so everyone can have a more enjoyable evening. More information will be sent out to everyone in September!

If you have neighbors who do not have internet access, please pass this information on to them. Thanks!

It is time again for our Annual Potluck Cookout! This year's event is scheduled for Saturday, July 24, 2010 starting at 5 PM in the Swicegood's backyard. Barbeque chicken, ice tea and lemonade will be provided. Everyone is asked to bring a dish to share, lawn chairs and any other drinks you wish. If you haven't attended before and need directions, message through the contact tab at the top of this page. A rain date is scheduled for July 31st.

Hope to see you there!

Our Homeowners' Association is bound by 'rules' in the form of our Indentures that were basically written by the builder. Each homeowner agrees to abide by these rules when they purchase a home in this development...ALL of these rules. You are not allowed to pick and choose which ones you want to follow and which ones you don't. Some adjustments were made to the Indentures last year through the proper channels...by vote of the homeowners. They were put in place to help keep our development looking nice and help keep everyone's property values up. The Board of Directors did not and do not make the rules...they simply try to see that everyone is abiding by them. When the Board members receive complaints about violations, we try to get them corrected as soon as possible, normally by having a letter sent to the party in violation. If you receive a letter advising of violations that need to be addressed, calling Board members and yelling at them or coming to their home to make threats against them is not the proper way to resolve issues you disagree with. If you think items need to be changed or removed from the Indentures, you should attend the annual meeting of the association and bring your concerns before the other homeowners for a vote. If the majority of the homeowners agree, the rules can be changed. Throwing temper tantrums like a child will not change the Indentures. Threatening Board members will not change the Indentures.

We all know that the Fourth of July is to celebrate our independence, however, the use and possession of fire-works is against the law in the City of Kansas City, Missouri. Fireworks can be confiscated and you can be arrested for possession or using fireworks.

Sec. 26-3309.1. Sale, use and possessing fireworks.
(1) Except as hereinafter provided, it shall be unlawful for any person to possess, keep, offer for sale, expose for sale, sell at retail, use or explode any fireworks in the city.
(2) For the purposes of this section, the term "fireworks" shall mean and include any combustible or explosive composition, or any substances or combination of substances.

The “Curfew Law” is a violation that will be enforced. It's summer and kids like to stay out later and mischief is usually the result of this late night activity and the risk of becoming a victim of a crime is greater. If you allow your children out after curfew hours, they can be arrested and the parents will receive the citation (unless the child is 17 years of age and they will receive the citation).

Sec. 50-237. Curfew for persons under 18 years of age.
(a) It is unlawful for any minor under the age of 18 years to loiter, wander, stroll or play in or upon the public streets, highways, roads, alleys, parks, playgrounds or other public grounds, public places, public buildings, places of amusement, eating places, vacant lots or any place unsupervised by an adult having the lawful authority to be at such places, between the hours of 11:00 p.m. on any day and 6:00 a.m. of the following day; provided, however, that on Fridays and Saturdays the effective hours are between 12:00 mid-night and 6:00 a.m. of the following day.

Lots of rain and then nothing at all! The yards are getting dry and turning brown. Be sure to water your lawns for at least 20 minutes three times a week when we don't have any rain. The HOA mows the yards and does the lawn treatments but we aren't responsible if your lawn dies because you didn't water. Please get your sprinklers out!

A letter is being sent out to all of our homeowners with new information about our lawn care program. The letter will also explain how the Board will be addressing some issues that have arisen concerning our trees. Please read it carefully and if you have any questions, contact Hunter Residential.

Just a reminder to everyone...this Saturday, May 1, 2010 will be our annual community wide yard sale from 8 AM to 4 PM. This is a great way to get rid of items you are no longer using and make some money, too! If you don't have anything you want to sell, be sure to check out your neighbors...they may have just the item you are looking for.

The Kansas City Police Department has recently updated the department’s website (www.kcpd.org). Take a look and check out the Chief’s Blog, the Shoal Creek Patrol Division, the boundaries of Shoal Creek, report drug houses and the new PDF “Safety Brochures”, plus much more. Our Community Interaction Officer is Markus Smith and he can be reached at 816-413-3440 or via email at markus.smith@kcpd.org. His April newsletter included the following information about personal safety.

Crime can occur anywhere at anytime to anyone. While all situations are different, our goal is to reduce the likelihood and effect of that crime.

1. Be Aware (of your surroundings)
*Plan ahead for where you are going. *Carry a cell phone
*Constantly assess situations as they develop. *Look for points of escape.
*Acknowledge the presence of a suspicious person. *Avoid preoccupation. (phone calls or texting)

2. Alert
*Predators will hunt in places where victims and opportunity regularly collide.
*Use the buddy system
*Demonstrate an alert, strong persona
*Scan the environment (Head high, Confident, Stand balanced on both feet, Keep hands out pockets)
*Be aware of cars that pull up to you or that pass you repeatedly.

3. Avoid
*Potential problem areas, secluded places where you can be put in a vulnerable position.
*The “No, not me” syndrome, “Know you (anyone) could become a victim”
*Don’t drink yourself into a loss of alertness
*Don’t leave your drinks (alcohol, soft drinks) unattended by you.

4. Action
*Understand your capabilities
*Use common sense
*Do NOT panic
*Take responsibility for your own safety *Be your own bodyguard
*Have a response ready prior to assailant contact. A challenging command may be enough.

Use the above prevention tips; develop a flexible plan of action; practice, practice, practice that plan; and your GOAL is that “YOU WILL SURVIVE”.

It looks like spring is finally getting here. Our lawn crews were out this past Friday and have started our spring fertilization. Most of the backyards are really wet so we won't be mowing this week but we are hoping to start mowing the yards in the next week or so. Our mowing day will be Thursdays when weather permits. Please try to keep garden hoses and other items out of the yards on mowing days. Remember, if you have any problems or concerns come up about the yards or the mowing, please contact Terry at Hunter Residential as soon as possible so matters can be promptly addressed. Thanks for your help in keeping our neighborhood a great place to live!

At our Annual Homeowners' Meeting on February 24, 2010, Donna Eskew was elected to our Board of Directors for a three year term.

Our spring Yard Sale is scheduled for Saturday, May 1, 2010 from 8 AM to 4 PM. The HOA will advertise the event in local papers, TV and internet venues. All homeowners are welcome to participate!

The Swicegoods will host our Potluck Cook-out starting at 5 PM on Saturday, July 24th with a rain date of July 31st. Hamburgers and hot dogs will be provided. Everyone is asked to bring a dish to share and lawn chairs.

Our Community Officer Markus Smith spoke with us briefly and it was decided that we should start a Neighborhood Watch program. We will be setting up a meeting to put this in place in the next few weeks.

Don't forget! March 1st is the due date for our annual dues!

Please mark these dates on your calendar! We are looking forward to a great year in our neighborhood!