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BCHOA-NL-mar07-DRAFT Volume 16 Issue 16 ON THE WEB AT www.ballengercrossinghoa.com
June 2007
Page 1
Ballenger
Crossing

G r o w i n g o u r c o m m u n i t y t o g e t h e r
G r o w i n g o u r c o m m u n i t y t o g e t h e r
G r o w i n g o u r c o m m u n i t y t o g e t h e r
G r o w i n g o u r c o m m u n i t y t o g e t h e r
Welcome to
The
Ballenger
Crossing
Newsletter






Inside this issue:

Parking Enforcement
1
Summer Fun Warning
1
Recycle
1
Attn: Single Family Home
Owners
1
Community Yard Sale
3
New Board Members
3
Recipe of the Month
3
Classifieds
4-5
Important Dates & info5
Contact info
6


Parking Enforcement
Attention Single Family
Property Owners
RECYCLE:Its your world-

you keep it clean
In response to an increase in complaints about
illegal parking, the Board has asked Grimms
Towing to begin routine drive-throughs in the
development and tow any illegally parked vehi-
cles. Legal parking spaces are clearly marked
with white lines. Vehicles parked along yellow
curbing are subject to being towed.
Each townhouse homeowner is assigned two
parking spaces identified by your house number
painted on the curb. If you find someone parked
in one of your spaces without your permission
you may call Grimms Towing directly and ask
(Continued on page 2)
It has been brought to the attention of the
Homeowners Association that there are
some areas within the single family section
of the community where the sidewalks &
driveway aprons are in disrepair. Please
be advised that according to the Frederick
County Code, the landowner is responsible
for the care and maintenance of the side-
walks, driveway aprons, and the strip of
land between the curb and the sidewalk.
Please refer to the Frederick County Code
provided below. If you have any questions
regarding this information, please contact
the Frederick County Division of Planning
at 301-600-1138.
Frederick County, Maryland
Code of Ordinances

Part I: Frederick County Code
Chapter 1-15: Roads & Bridges
Editors note:

Ord. No. 97-01-179, adopted Jan. 21, 1997,
repealed and re-enacted Chapter 1-15
ARTICLE I: COUNTY ROADS AND
RIGHTS-OF-WAY
1-15-4. OWNERS TO REPAIR SIDE-
WALKS AND DRIVEWAYS.

After a sidewalk has been improved or
constructed within the road right-of-way,
either alone or in combination with a
driveway entrance, the owner of land abut-
ting the street area in which the sidewalk
has been constructed shall be responsible
for maintaining such sidewalk and drive-
way entrance in good repair, including
snow removal. The owner of land abutting
the street area in which the sidewalk has
been constructed shall also be responsible
for maintaining the space between the
sidewalks and the curbs of the roadway or
edge of road pavement and between the
sidewalk and property line. After a drive-
way has been constructed, it shall be
(Continued on page 2)
Did you know the average weight most communi-
ties per household weekly trash pickup is 40lbs?
Ballenger Crossings weekly trash is 90lbs. We
are throwing too much glass, plastics and papers
(Continued on page 3)
WARNING:
Summer Fun Brings More
Emergency Room Visits
For many Americans, summer means fun in the
sun. The kids are out of school, adults are on
vacation and its time for outdoor activities like
riding bikes and hosting barbecues. However,
the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC) warns that summer also is the time of
year consumers are likely to be injured.
More than 3.7 million people and children went
to hospital emergency rooms with injuries in
June, July and August. During the summer,
about 836,000 more people suffered injuries that
in January, February and March. To avoid be-
coming a summer time statistic, CPSC advises
(Continued on page 2)
B A LLE N G E R C R O S S I N G
VOLUM E 16 I S S UE 16

J U N E 2 0 0 7 P A G E 2

that the vehicle be removed at no cost to
you. When the Grimm driver arrives,
you will be asked to prove residency.
Park cars in approved parking spots to
avoid fines and the hassle. If you fail to
obey the parking rules and your car is
towed, you will need to call Grimms
Towing at (301) 694-6613 and arrange
payment with them before retrieving
your vehicle. When you have visitors,
make sure they are aware of the parking
rules.
It is important that these parking rules be
followed so that emergency vehicles,
which are quite large, have sufficient
space to maneuver and access to fire
hydrants.
PARKING ENFORCEMENT (from page 1)
deemed a part of the sidewalk whether
or not there is a sidewalk improvement
extending along the balance of the front-
age of the property for the purposes of
repair. Requirements relating to the con-
struction or reconstruction of the side-
walk as provided in this chapter shall be
applicable to reconstruction of a drive-
way.
(Ord. 97-01-179, 1-21-1997)
1-15-5. NOTICE TO PROPERTY
OWNER.

Should it be brought to the attention of
the Director of the Department of Public
Works that a sidewalk or driveway
apron is in such a condition so as to
cause a hazard to public safety or dam-
age to the abutting roadway, the Direc-
tor, or his designee, will notify, in writ-
ing, the owner (as shown in the records
of the Department of Assessments and
Taxation) of the property abutting the
street area in which the sidewalk or
driveway entrance has been constructed
of the need to repair the sidewalk or
driveway apron. Such notice shall be
mailed by ordinary mail and registered
mail, return receipt requested. The prop-
erty owner shall make the repairs within
the time specified in the notice from the
Director of the Department of Public
Works.

(Ord. 97-01-179, 1-21-1997)

SIDEWALK MAINTAINANCE (from page 1)
everyone to enjoy summer activities with safety in mind.
* One of the best ways to stay safe this summer is to wear a helmet and other safety
gear when biking, skating, and skateboarding, riding scooters, all-terrain vehicles, and
horses. Studies on bicycle helmets have shown they can reduce the risk of head injury
by as much as 85%.
* Use layers of protection to prevent a swimming pool tragedy. This includes placing
barriers completely around your pool to prevent access, using door and pool alarms,
closely supervise small children and being prepared in case of an emergency. Empty
kiddie pools when you are finished for the day. Keep your gates latched and locked
and the ladder non-accessible when your pool is not in use.
* Never bring charcoal grills indoors. Burning charcoal produces deadly carbon mon-
oxide.
* When cooking outdoors with a gas grill, check the air tubes that lead into the burner
for any blockage from insects, spiders, or food grease. Check grill hoses for cracking,
brittleness, holes, and leaks. Make sure there are no sharp bends in the hose or tubing.
If you ever detect a leak, immediately turn off the gas at the tank and dont attempt to
light the grill until the leak is fixed. Newer grills and propane tanks have improved
safety devices to prevent gas leaks.
* Make sure your house playground is safe. Falls cause 60 percent of playground in-
juries, so having a safe surface is critical. Concrete, asphalt or packed dirt surfaces are
too hard. Use at least 9 inches of wood chips or mulch.
* To prevent serious injuries while using a trampoline, allow only one person on at a
time, and do not allow somersaults. Use a shock-absorbing pad that completely cov-
ers the springs and place the trampoline away from structures and other play areas.
Kids under 6 years old should not use full size trampolines.
* Dont allow a game of hide and seek to be become deadly. CPSC has received re-
ports of numerous suffocation deaths involving children who crawled inside old cedar
chests, latch-type freezers and refrigerators, iceboxes in campers, clothes dryers and
picnic coolers. Childproof old appliances, warn children not to play inside them.
* If summer plans include camping and you want heat inside your tent or camper, use
on of the new portable heaters that are equipped with an o