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Safety and Security Committee Updates

Traffic Safety Update 10/03

The Safety and Security Committee (SSC) reported to the Board the concerns of the residents expressed at the July 14 safety forum. The committee will use the feedback from residents to develop action plans.

Many of the members present at the safety forum indicated that traffic safety was a major concern. They also indicated that they would prefer the Sheriff’s office to enforce the safety laws. Traffic violations, was therefore, pursued with the Sheriff. The Sheriff quickly responded and has subsequently notified the SSC of the fact our speed limits are not enforceable. Michigan state law does not permit enforcement of residential speed limits less than 25 mph. We currently have two speed limits in Loch Alpine: 20 mph is posted at the five entryways and 15 mph in areas associated with speed bumps. These signs are white in color and regulatory versus yellow signs, which are advisory. The SSC has discussed and confirmed this matter with the Washtenaw County Road Commission Traffic Safety Engineer, the District Court Magistrate and the Sheriff. Further, by reviewing the state law and Washtenaw County Road Commission policies.

The SSC is unanimously recommending the Board adopt the enforceable limit of 25 mph at the September meeting. If the Board approves this recommendation, a letter will sent to each member detailing the implementation process.

This change is not meant to encourage driving at a higher speed. It is meant to encourage driving at a safe speed, which can be enforced, if necessary. The Board requests all drivers to be sensitive to the fact our roads are shared with pedestrians, bicyclists and golf carts. Be especially watchful of children and please drive safely!

If you have questions or comments please call Mike Eblen at 426-0539, Bob Sendra at 426-2161 or Andy Lakatos at 426-5280

 

SIA Private Security Report

The committee reports the trial period for SIA private security ceased July 5. The cost to the community for 90 hours was $1890 less $150 saved by not using the Sheriff on July 5, for a total of $1740 or approximately $4 per Loch Alpine resident. SIA reported 264 actionable incidents in the period 6/6 to 7/5. 170 stop sign violations 77 speeding violations 10 parking 1 criminal complaint 6 incidents of suspicious activities The information they gathered will be used to address these issues in the near future. The FBI and the State Police screened the two agents. They were licensed, trained, certified and insured by the appropriate State agencies. The SSC Chair reviewed their personnel files prior to allowing them into LA. The agents were instructed not to pursue or perform courtesy stops as the committee felt that would be unacceptable. They did not carry firearms as some have thought.

The Safety and Security Committee

From the Sheriff!

Dear Residents,

Please be advised that traffic laws are enforceable in Loch Alpine.

In May of 1993, the State Legislature passed laws allowing private property owners, like LAIA, to authorize police agencies to enforce traffic laws on their property. The first request for police enforcement in Loch Alpine was in 1994. Documents authorizing the Sheriffs department remain in effect with the appropriate County agencies. Some follow up and a request to the Sheriffs department resulted in an onsite inspection. The Sheriff is disturbed by the frequent and blatant violations he observed. One patrol car was sent to a location and in one hour issued several tickets and warnings. The officer simply could not keep up with the violations occurring. Two days later the Sheriff brought in several units and issued more tickets and more warnings to drivers. The Sheriff based the location of that patrol on numerous complaints of residents and his onsite observations. There are many areas in Loch Alpine with chronic traffic problems. These locations have been provided to the Sheriff. All motorized vehicles including golf carts are subject to the traffic laws. Please drive in accordance with the laws and with respect for your neighbors. Inform your family and friends if they are unaware of these facts. The Sheriff does not want to issue tickets but must because of the frequency and serious nature of some violations. It is unfortunate that some people were unaware tickets could be issued by the police, in spite of the fact; tickets have been issued in the past.

Sincerely, The Safety and Security Committee

Update from the Safety and Security Committee

June 16, 2003

The committee is in the middle of a 30 day initiative to:

  • Decrease and collect data on traffic violations.

  • Address and reduce the abuse of our lakes, parks, pathways and parking areas after dark.

Using private security company, SIA Protective Services, we are attempting to provide a targeted response to our known problem areas. The program is modest and part time. It is planned to be in place only during the summer months. Whether you have problems or not seems to depend on where you live in LA. If you have a problem in your area, please contact us and we’ll try to help. We can provide a dispatch number and schedule, to be used when the agent is onsite. It will send him to your location, if necessary. After July 5th the trial program will be complete. The SSC will hold a community meeting early in July to provide the results and answer your questions. To continue this effort through September, we need your support. The Board will have to authorize additional funding. The total cost will be less than $8,000. An assessment will not be necessary.

Please free to contact any member of the committee with your comments or requests. Call Mike Eblen 426-0539 or e-mail me mreblen@comcast.net We are also looking for new members.

The Safety and Security Committee (SSC)

Mike Eblen - John Forrester - Rob Nalli - Bart Wise

PS Write us a note our talk with us tonight!

A New Initiative from the Safety and Security Committee (SSC)

Each year, the Loch Alpine Improvement Association receives disturbing reports from residents relating to safety/security issues in our neighborhood:

  • Vandalism to property

  • Mail theft

  • Stolen vehicles

  • Traffic violations (speeding and stop sign violations)

  • Alcohol and drug use after hours use in our lakes and parks

In an effort to improve community safety and security, the SSC recently obtained Board approval to enter into a short-term, trial agreement with SIA Protective Services (a private security firm, on-line at www.sia-intelligence.com ) to provide additional security for Loch Alpine. During the contract, SIA will provide a marked car and unarmed agents to patrol Loch Alpine. This contract, in general, includes the following services from SIA:

  • Patrol the roads, parks, lakes and parking areas to:

    • Ask people to leave after-hours;

    • Identify residents and non-residents and/or;

    • Contact the Sheriff if illegal activities are observed or suspected.

  • Record data (time, location, and license plate numbers) and report traffic violations to the Safety Committee weekly.

It is important to note that, as part of this trial contract, the security agents will not stop residents for traffic violations. They will, however, record and report such violations to the SSC. The SSC will continue to pursue additional patrolling services from the Sheriff’s department and will implement a Neighborhood Watch program. The use of SIA will allow the SSC to target specific locations and times safety/security problems usually occur. In July, will we hold a community meeting to discuss the results of this effort and ask for your comments. Based on this feedback, the SSC will develop a long-range plan to address safety/security issues in the future.

The potential benefits to Loch Alpine in using a security service, such as SIA, are many:

  • Avoids expense of installing expensive lighting systems;

  • Reduces the LAIA’s liability;

  • Reduces the chance of injury and accidents and;

  • Provides peace of mind to residents.

The SSC welcomes your comments and input at anytime. Please feel free to contact any member of the SSC or any LAIA Board member. Thank you for your cooperation!

May 18, 2003

The Committee would like to remind all residents that an LA window sticker is required for all resident vehicles. The LA sticker should be displayed in the passenger side lower front windshield. This sticker indicates that the vehicle and the driver are residents of the Loch Alpine community. It also serves to identify who is not. The LA stickers are inexpensive ($1.50) each and be obtained by contacting Bart Wise at, 424-0728. All existing residents originally received two and all new residents will receive two when Bart is notified by the Welcoming Committee. If you have several vehicles, each requires an LA sticker. Please act on this reminder as the LA sticker identification program may take on increasing importance in the near future.

It is somewhat surprising and disturbing to hear about many of the incidents related to security that occurs within Loch Alpine. For example, several vehicles are stolen in Loch Alpine each year. Vandalism to property and stolen mail occurs several times a year. Some individuals consistently speed at 35 to 40 mph on roads that are shared with pedestrians and bicycles. These roads are generally posted for 20 mph or less. Stop signs are commonly ignored in many areas. Our lake and park areas are used for alcohol consumption and drug use by residents and non residents, especially in the warmer months and after dark. We’ve had reports from parents with children in the park, of drug sales that occurred in their presence. Boys and girls, as young as 15 years old, drunk at 2:00 am. These very young kids always seem to be in the company of considerably older young men. We have encountered non residents, a middle aged couple, having a romantic interlude in our park. All of these events and many more occurred after dark and as late as 3:00 AM. This is dangerous behavior and threatens serious injury and imparts potential liability for the Association’s members. Our location appears to have gained a reputation.

The Safety and Security committee is evaluating and developing a policy that may result in a modest proposal, to employ a part time security firm, to target these problems within Loch Alpine. This would be a short term effort to see if it works and if it is acceptable to the community. We would like to arrange for a dispatch so affected residents can get a quick response when a security agent is on the property. No guns or pursuits would be permitted of course. Other private associations already have security, most notably Barton Hills. The committee would like to get some feedback from the membership about your willingness to endorse and support this effort. We plan to give you more information and opportunity for additional feedback in the near future. Please read future updates, contact us and attend the public meeting tentatively planned for June. The  time and location will be published.

Much has been said about these problems over the years. They are not new or unique to our community. It is our responsibility to do something about them before things get worse. 

The Safety and Security Committee: Mike Eblen, John Forrester, Tom Heidtke, Rob Nalli, Bart Wise

  

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