We couldn't do it without their help! Community is what it is all about. Our committees are comprised of dedicated property owner/volunteers who want to make sure everything is as perfect as it can possibly be.
Committees will be forming soon and there’s plenty to do. Each committee will elect their own chairperson and will be monitored by a member of the Board of Directors. Committees will set goals, meet deadlines and secure volunteer help from friends and neighbors to assist them in achieving this aim. Some committees will only need to meet a few hours a month, while some are slated to be quite active in our community. Find a place and make yourself a part of an exciting reclamation project. This is all for you!
These hard working people have the unenviable task of making sure everything around here works right and stays in good repair. From the creation of our new Entry Sign and Bus Stop for the children, they keep busy. All of our committees are 100% volunteers. It just goes to show you that in a well-run neighborhood, people really DO care about their neighbors.
The Code Enforcement Committee is the general property watchdog of our neighborhood. Over time as people come and go, rules sometime get forgotten or confused. If there are issues about a shed, or a tree house, or a driveway, or perhaps even maybe a fence, these are the folks who clarify the issues for us. By keeping the Restrictive Covenants and Conditions in the fore front, we all keep a uniformly neat and well-kept property. They are fair but firm and that's the best way for all.
A Newsletter is essential for a sense of community. We know that getting it in print isn't easy, but somehow it gets done. It keeps us in touch with one another, and brings us all closer together. We get to know one another more personally, and as that happens, we tend to watch out for one another more closely. Engagements, births, passings, anniversaries, graduations; nothing is too small or irrelevant. We are also kept informed about the area in general, and with all that happens in a busy city, it's not difficult to fill the other pages.
The Welcome Committee, a throwback to gentler times was one of the most wonderful committees to put together. Isn't it pleasant to move to a new area and actually have someone come to say, "Hello?" Our Welcome Committee chairperson organizes these on a one to one personal basis. We find out a little bit about you and they let others know you're here. They give you handy guides to the area, such as the utility companies, schools, churches, and shopping as well as recreational facilities. Being as small as we are, we don't have a large turnover, but to those who are on the way, we're happy to have you.
Neighborhood Watch CommitteeNeighborhood Safety
Neighborhood Watches are probably one of the most essential committees a community can have. No one is immune to victimization at the hands of criminals, but these wonderful neighbors are going to make it harder for them to gain a toe-hold. We're a small community and a fairly social one. It's easy to spot things in a casual manner that are out of the ordinary.
We will need approximately 20 Block Captain Volunteers. That's one per every 5 homes. Block Captains will encourage neighborhood participation. They'll keep an updated list of participant's names, addresses, and phone numbers. In addition, they'll work directly with the Chairperson (Reba Braun) to organize watch meetings, approximately once a month. Should a situation occur, they will also establish communications with the patrolling officers. If you would like to be a volunteer, contact MS Braun for more information.
The 2nd and final Neighborhood Watch was held Saturday, April 15, 2006 at Grace Church, Lakeland. Reba Braun 863.858.1777, Coordinator and Chairperson announced the Block Captains who have volunteered so far and requested at least two more people to please help out. The organization plan is almost complete and it was decided to code our different streets by color. In doing so; should there be a problem in the neighborhood, announcing the color of your Watch Area will more readily identify the location of the situation. With all of our streets each beginning with 'Pioneer Trails', the color system is definitely more logical.
Different methods of crime prevention were discussed and we received two Neighborhood Watch notice signs. It was decided to locate one on the island at our entryway and the other one will be near the Braun's home. The County Codes prevent us from attaching them to telephones or anything that they maintain. When the new entry signs are complete, it can be integrated into the unit by changing the plans slightly.
Remember, it's more advisable to call the Sheriff's Department 863.534.6200/911 to report suspicious activity and be wrong than to see it and ignore the possibility that a crime is in progress. No one is asking you to spy on things; just be a little more vigilant for your neighbors sake who will certainly be returning the favor.
Everyone present received warning stickers for their homes along with a home inventory record for Operation ID. Operation ID involved marking items in your home with an inexpensive engraving tool with your FDL in an inconspicuous place then writing the item down on your inventory list. This aids immensely in identifying stolen items should they be fenced at a later time. They also provided free gun locks to secure firearms that you may keep in your home.
If you have any questions or desire more information, contact Reba Braun 863.858.1777
Home inventory record = PDF file attached
Inexpensive engraving tool link
Safety and Security
Lights On for Safety: The Neighborhood Watch Crime Prevention Group strongly urges that residents keep their outdoor lights lit every night as a safety precaution. Even if you are not at home all the time, "lights on" means safety in all neighborhoods. You will see new street lights appearing as well. If you don't have one but would like to add one, call Lakeland Electric @ 863.834.6789 and have one added. For pennies a day, the peace of mind is well worth it.
Pioneer Trails is a "No Soliciting" area. We will soon have this posted at our entry. Charities are exempt from "No Soliciting" rules; therefore, religious groups are free to go from house to house. However, anyone selling any type of item is subject to Florida Statute 501-022 if they do not carry a County ID card or permit. If caught without card or permit, solicitors are subject to a considerable fine. We draw our power to deny door-to-door selling in our subdivision from the Florida statue. Therefore, if someone at your door has no ID or permit, you should call the Sheriff's office immediately @ 863.534.6200 so that they can be apprehended and removed from the area. This protects us from unwanted individuals roaming our streets.
The stated speed limit in Pioneer Trails is 25 mph. Be mindful that those who exceed this limit are endangering our children and all of our residents. Community Policing deputies from the Sheriff's Office will occasionally set up "zero tolerance" speed enforcement zones in selected neighborhoods, including our community. Ticketed drivers will face fines from at least $50 to as much as $300 or more. It's not worth it to race through our small streets and gamble with the law.
Even though we live in a quiet residential neighborhood, we are not gated and vandalism and thefts have been known to occur. Occasionally traveling bands of criminals will pass through offering home repair scams and committing burglaries. Always keep your doors locked, and keep garage doors closed even when you are home. If you see a crime in progress, call 911. To report suspicious activity, call the Sheriff's Office at 863.534.6200. It is better to report a false alarm than to have damage or injury occur.
Our Volunteer Secutiry Patrol will begin to drive through the neighborhood every evening after dark to check for suspicious behavior. Volunteers to help with the patrol are always needed - For information please contact the Neighborhood Watch Committee.
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