The Rancher
Spring 2004



Board Members Elected at Annual Meeting

Three property owners were elected to serve three year terms as Board members at the McCormick Ranch Property Owners’ Association Annual Meeting held on February 17, 2004.

James S. Draper has over 30 years of executive experience with Mobil Corp. and Mobil Land Development, and purchased, planned and developed Master Planned Communities in south Florida before moving to Arizona. Jim and his wife, Judy, have been McCormick Ranch residents since 1986.

Gaylene S. Ori has served as a member of the City of Scottsdale’s Transit Task Force Committee and was a Board Member and Past President of the Scottsdale Boys and Girls Club’s Woman’s Auxiliary where she has volunteered for 30 years. Gaylene and her husband, Geno, have been McCormick Ranch residents since 1978.

Janet M. Wilson is a past Chairman of the Scottsdale Historic Preservation Commission, a Past President and life member of the Scottsdale Historical Society, a member of the General Dynamics Scottsdale Community Liaison Council, a Past President and current Board member of the Friends of Scottsdale Public Library, and President of the Friends of Family Service Agency. Janet has been a McCormick Ranch resident since 1975.




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McCormick Parkway Update

The two northern lanes on McCormick Parkway should be open to traffic by the time you receive this newsletter. Traffic heading west on the Parkway will only be allowed a right hand turn. Traffic heading north on Scottsdale Road will be allowed a right hand turn onto the Parkway.

According to the City of Scottsdale, the Scottsdale Road/McCormick Parkway intersection should be complete by the end of May; Scottsdale Road from Indian Bend Road to McCormick Parkway should also be finished within the same timeframe.


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Spring is Fishin’ Time

With Spring in the air, many people get bitten by Spring fever, while the rest of us might be more inclined to grab a fishing pole and folding chair.

Our lakes are a mecca for this group. Bass, crappie and catfish are regularly stocked in our lakes. 2000 bass and crappie were stocked in various lakes in February of 2002 and should now be of catchable size. 750 lbs. of catfish ranging from 2 to 6 lbs. were stocked in December of 2003.

Residents must possess a McCormick Ranch fishing permit which is available, free of charge, at the McCormick Ranch POA office located at 9248 N. 94th Street.

Fishing without a permit will get one a polite warning or evacuation by our McCormick Ranch Lake Ranger.

Remember to pick up a short list of fishing rules and regulations when you get your permit.

Happy fishing!!


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From our mailbag...

We received this email from a resident regarding the coyote problems...

“I read with interest the homeowners who were concerned about coyotes. ...Can I just reiterate that we are SHARING Arizona with these animals? Here are my 4 simple rules:

1) Keep the pets in at night. Don’t let them roam. Cats especially make tasty midnight snacks for coyotes.

2) Keep pets on a leash, especially at night.

3) If you let your pet outside at night in your backyard and they are small enough to be coyote-food, don’t leave them out alone. Coyotes are very crafty hunters and they are very quick. They usually hunt in packs and 6 and 8 foot fences are NOT a deterrent

4) And, as has been stated, keep all food and water inside…”


The next note was included with a payment...

“These dues are a real value! McCormick Ranch has to be the best place in the country to live! Thanks for all you do!”


Letters, notes, comments, suggestions, etc. can be sent to the staff at 9248 N. 94th St., Scottsdale, AZ 85258, or emailed to karenbenson@mccormickranchpoa.com.


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Rules and Regs of McCormick Ranch

Garage Sale Signs


Number: Maximum of three (3) per individual sale, one (1) of which must be in the yard.

Size: No larger than four (4) square feet.

Signs are to be used only when sale is taking place and for no longer than a maximum of two (2) consecutive days.

All such signs must be free-standing, i.e., no stakes and not attached to trees, posts, fences, light poles, etc. All such signs must be of either sandwich or A-frame construction. No signs shall be placed so as to create a traffic hazard.

Signs are not allowed on McCormick Ranch unless expressly approved by the McCormick Ranch Property Owners’ Association. This includes sign enhancements such as balloons, flashing lights, etc. Call the Association at (480) 860-1122 for approval of all garage sale signs.

All unauthorized signage will be removed by Association employees.

First time offenders - Signs may be recovered at our office located at 9248 N. 94th Street within 3 days. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Repeat offenders - Signs will be discarded immediately.


Animals


No animals, reptiles, fish or birds of any kind shall be raised, bred or kept on any Lot except pursuant to prior written approval of and in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the Association, provided, however, that dogs, cats, birds or fish may be kept thereon as household pets so long as, in the discretion of the Association, such pet is not, or does not become, a nuisance, threat or otherwise objectionable to other Owners.

Complaints to the Association against barking dogs must be accompanied by a two-week log, kept by at least two neighbors, documenting dates and times of disturbance. Complainants must be willing to testify in court if necessary.

City of Scottsdale Ordinances prohibit dogs running at large and require that litter be picked up immediately by owner.

Complaints regarding these two issues should be directed to the City of Scottsdale.


On-Street Parking


On-street parking is restricted to deliveries, or short-time guests and invitees and shall be subject to such rules and regulations as shall be adopted by the Association. Overnight on-street parking is prohibited for residents.


To see the entire set of our Rules and Regulations, check out our Rules and Regs page.


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Bee Hotline

In our Winter, 2004 issue of The Rancher, we published a Bee Hotline phone number and suggested that residents call the number for bee problems. We have since been contacted by the City of Scottsdale and were asked to update our residents with the information that the Bee Hotline no longer exists. If you are experiencing bee problems, please call an exterminator.


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Violation Procedure

McCormick Ranch is divided into five areas. The Director of Regulations drives each area once a week and inspects every property within McCormick Ranch no less than once a week. As violations of the Rules and Regulations of McCormick Ranch are noted, a Violation Notice is issued that day. This Notice gives a 10 day time frame in which to comply.

After the 10 day time frame has elapsed, a second inspection is made. If the property is not in compliance, a Notice of Non-Compliance is issued. This Notice gives a 30 day time frame in which to comply.

After the 30 day time frame has elapsed, a third inspection is made. Those not in compliance will then be issued a Final Notice and the property is then rechecked prior to the monthly meeting of the Board of Directors.

The property will then be sent to our attorney for instigation of legal action and the property owner is responsible for all legal fees incurred until the property has been brought into compliance.


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Submitting Plans for Additions or Changes to Your Home?

Rosemary Foster, Director of Regulations, asks that all plans for room additions, garage additions, or other exterior modifications be submitted to the Architectural Control Committee (ACC) on 11” X 17” paper. Plans that are submitted on blueprint size paper will not be accepted.

ACC meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month. Submittal cutoff is Thursday at noon, the week prior to the meeting.


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Spruce up Your Spring and Summer Garden Beds and Borders with Color!

Don’t let our strange, “hot” spring weather get you down. You can still enjoy the colors of spring all throughout the summer with tough perennials that will spruce up your summer beds and borders with lots of color.

Don’t worry. Fall may be the best time to set out perennials so they can settle in during the cooler winter months, but April and May is when most nurseries tempt you with great selections of blooming plants in gallon containers. Don’t resist! It’s okay to indulge in a little instant gratification.

Easy perennials to buy in bloom are Blanket flowers (daisy like flowers in shades of red and yellow with orange or maroon bands), coreopsis (daisy like flowers in yellow, orange, maroon, or red), penstemon hybrids (‘Apple Blossom’ - pink, ‘Firebird’ - red, and ‘Midnight’ - purple are particularly long-blooming varieties), salvia (red, blooms from spring to fall if deadheaded), Mexican bush sage (purple, blooms from late spring to late fall), Santa Barbara daisy (bears masses of 3/4 inch white and pinkish daisies), and verbena (mostly ground cover plants that thrive in heat. ’Homestead Purple’ grows up to 18” tall and has large 2” purple flower heads. Varieties of verbena peruviana come in pink, purple, red, and white, and stay 3” tall).
Other Planting Ideas
In April, annuals to plant are ageratums, cosmos, globe amaranths, gloriosa daisies, lisianthus, Madagascar periwinkles, marigolds, Mexican sunflowers, portulacas, and zinnias. For summer bulbs, plant cannas, crinus, and zephyranthes. If you’re a vegetable gardener, sow seeds of beans, black-eyed peas, cucumbers, melons, okra, and squash by mid-April; set out eggplant seedlings, peanuts and sweet potato tubers anytime during the month.

In May, set out flowering plants of ageratum, coreopsis, cosmos, four o’clock, gaillardia, lantana, salvia, and zinnia. For the vegetable gardeners, set out eggplant, okra, pepper, summer squash, sweet potato, and watermelon.

In June, for summer color, plant celosia, four o’clock, globe amaranth, kochia, Madagascar periwinkle, portulaca, and zinnia early in the month in a place that gets only filtered sun. For vegetables, you can still sow seeds of Armenian cucumbers, black-eyed peas, corn, melon, okra, and yard-long beans. Set out transplants of sweet potatoes early in the month.

New to gardening? Don’t despair. Your local nursery will be happy to guide you and offer all kinds of tips on gardening!


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