October 28, 2013
IT IS TIME FOR A NEW BEGINNING
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The sunrise over the second fairway tells of the beginning of a new day.We also need a new beginning in our thinking about the security of our community.
For the last four months, Fairways Watch has been working on different security options,that could be custom tailored to the needs of the Fairways. First and foremost was the cost concern of all systems considered.
First option up was to put ''Barney Fife'', back on duty in the existing guard house. This sounds simple enough, right ?
WRONG---Due to current regulations,a new enclosure would be required, complete with plumbing and air conditioning. The guesstamated cost of the structure, with sewer line is $30-50K. Then we have to pay ''Barney'' His cost for night time only would be around $5500 per month--24 hrs would be a whopping $11500 per month. The annual cost would be a staggering $140,000 per year !
So--as the old engineer said ''BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARDS'' We had heard of other communities going away from the private guards, and changing to live,interactive, REMOTE MONITORING. Some of the communities named came as a surprise. Heathrow, and Windemere, were among the more recognizable names.
Over the past four months, Fairways Watch has met as a small committee including both residents and law enforcement officers. During the four months, we have interviewed eight different security systems vendors, who all came and visited the Fairways.Included in this same time frame, we also did detailed action studies and vehicle counts at our gates.
The results of our work is somewhat surprising. We can have a good dependable system, with 24/7 live agent remote monitoring, complete with ''no tailgating'' gates.---A bar code reading entrance for residents [no more clickers] --Also included is a data base for regular visitors-- BUT-- most important of all is the live agent greeting by camera, with the recording and identifying system for those coming in through the visitors lane.
This system would reuse the present guard house and the new brick phone enclosure, would become the greeting camera kiosk.
On a special note, Fairways Watch took Priscilla to see a similar system in operation in the nearby Avalon area. Priscilla seemed receptive to this different type of operation.
NOW--- for the biggest surprise of all--- the system described above would only cost about ONE THIRD of the amount ''Barney'' would cost, with his amenities!---Perhaps its time for Barney to retire.
This post is only a very preliminary look at our findings. There is much more information to come. We are sending a complete detailed nine page report to Hometown America in Chicago for Mr Brauns consideration.
If things continue to move in the expected right direction, we will hold special Fairways Watch meetings for ALL homeowners to answer the many questions that are expected to arise. Watch for notices of meeting. Fifty-one percent (51%) of homeowners approval is what's required after we get Chicago's buy-in to the Proposal.
For the last four months, Fairways Watch has been working on different security options,that could be custom tailored to the needs of the Fairways. First and foremost was the cost concern of all systems considered.
First option up was to put ''Barney Fife'', back on duty in the existing guard house. This sounds simple enough, right ?
WRONG---Due to current regulations,a new enclosure would be required, complete with plumbing and air conditioning. The guesstamated cost of the structure, with sewer line is $30-50K. Then we have to pay ''Barney'' His cost for night time only would be around $5500 per month--24 hrs would be a whopping $11500 per month. The annual cost would be a staggering $140,000 per year !
So--as the old engineer said ''BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARDS'' We had heard of other communities going away from the private guards, and changing to live,interactive, REMOTE MONITORING. Some of the communities named came as a surprise. Heathrow, and Windemere, were among the more recognizable names.
Over the past four months, Fairways Watch has met as a small committee including both residents and law enforcement officers. During the four months, we have interviewed eight different security systems vendors, who all came and visited the Fairways.Included in this same time frame, we also did detailed action studies and vehicle counts at our gates.
The results of our work is somewhat surprising. We can have a good dependable system, with 24/7 live agent remote monitoring, complete with ''no tailgating'' gates.---A bar code reading entrance for residents [no more clickers] --Also included is a data base for regular visitors-- BUT-- most important of all is the live agent greeting by camera, with the recording and identifying system for those coming in through the visitors lane.
This system would reuse the present guard house and the new brick phone enclosure, would become the greeting camera kiosk.
On a special note, Fairways Watch took Priscilla to see a similar system in operation in the nearby Avalon area. Priscilla seemed receptive to this different type of operation.
NOW--- for the biggest surprise of all--- the system described above would only cost about ONE THIRD of the amount ''Barney'' would cost, with his amenities!---Perhaps its time for Barney to retire.
This post is only a very preliminary look at our findings. There is much more information to come. We are sending a complete detailed nine page report to Hometown America in Chicago for Mr Brauns consideration.
If things continue to move in the expected right direction, we will hold special Fairways Watch meetings for ALL homeowners to answer the many questions that are expected to arise. Watch for notices of meeting. Fifty-one percent (51%) of homeowners approval is what's required after we get Chicago's buy-in to the Proposal.
Conceptual Drawing of Proposal
