SPECIAL REPORT
TO: Barton Hills Village Residents
FROM: Barton Hills Village Security Committee & Special Roads Committee
SUBJECT: Security & Privacy of the BHV Roads
DATE: May 19, 2020
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For the first time, on Monday, May 11, 2020, the Barton Hills Village Board of Trustees meeting was conducted via “Zoom” due to public health precautions to keep residents safe from inadvertent spread of COVID-1
During this meeting we listened to a number of residents expressing fear and concern about our community’s security and privacy, noting an increase in foot, bike and automobile traffic. And, we noted some residents were concerned about the status of Barton Hills’ private roads. As the security of this community and the concept of private roads are two separate issues, our two Committees have come together to share information with all residents.
We realize we are living through difficult times and the Governor’s stay-at-home Executive Orders have required us all to make adjustments. To support us all in these challenging times, we want you to know that our Committees are actively working. As volunteers living in Barton Hills, we’ve donated hundreds of hours of our time to address issues pertaining to the safety and security of our Village, and ensuring our roads remain private.
While the following information has been reported and discussed in public BHV Board of Trustees meetings, and some of it published in the monthly BHV Barton Bulletin, we thought it could be helpful to compile this information in light of recent concerns shared during the May 11 Public Comment period of the Trustees meeting.
Security in Barton Hills
A. There has been a security committee in BHV for many years. While the committee membership evolves as different residents volunteer, the focus on security remains the same, regardless of whether the Village (BHV) or the Barton Hills Maintenance Corporation (BHMC) owns our private roads.
There have been many measures taken recently to address the Spring foot and vehicle traffic, which – as many residents know – is not a new development. Annually, as we welcome Spring and Summer the volume of people getting out naturally increases. Additionally, the Barton Hills Country Club (BHCC), which provides outdoor activities (golfing, swimming and tennis), traditionally hosts many gatherings such as galas and weddings, and has 460 family members, significantly contributes to this increase. Also, the Governor’s mandates add to residents’ needs to get out of their homes to enjoy the weather.
Based upon the recommendations of the Security Committee, the BHV Trustees have invested in additional privacy signs, cameras, and increased staff patrols in our community. Our Committee has also been coordinating with the BHCC, which is informing their members to slow down and be diligent and respectful of this community. BHCC is publishing this request in their newsletter.
The Trustees will also be investing in additional camera monitoring in strategic areas in the Village, thanks to the recommendations of the Security Committee.
Additionally, our Committee invited the Sheriff’s Department to visit with our community during a Trustees meeting to help educate our residents on measures to take to secure their homes and families, and took steps to give residents a heads-up to this opportunity. As turnout was quite low, we subsequently published information about the Sheriff’s recommendations in the Barton Bulletin, and have provided monthly updates during Trustees meetings. One recommendation was to encourage all residents to install security measures in their own homes to the extent they feel appropriate for their needs.
B. We live in a safe community with a low crime rate. But, obviously, no community is immune from crime. Over the past four years Barton Hills Village has had seven burglaries compared to a total of 1,212 in the City of Ann Arbor. The latest was a break-in in December 2019 of a vacant home under construction.
C. Our Superintendent and members of the Security Committee monitor all security incidents, but we are NOT Law Enforcement.
If you have a security or safety issue, call 911 or the Sheriff’s Department.
II you see something you think is suspicious, call our Village Superintendent Jeff Hnatow at 734-368-7896.
Contact Clerk’s office for additional information
In these unprecedented times we are all living through, we ask for continued civil discourse and welcome all residents’ constructive support.
Public comment may be directed to bhvclerk@bartonhillsvillage.org. All comments will be forwarded to all BHV Trustees.
Sincerely,
Security Committee Members: Forrest Butterwick and Linda Benson, Special Roads Committee Members: Riad Al-Awar, Carla Smith and Alicia Torres