Welcome Packet Modified for Web View!
PLEASE Ckeck With The Office For the Current Version! Some things change with the Current Board or Social Club Officers!
DID YOU KNOW?
• SPEED LIMIT is 15 MPH for all vehicles.
Our residents’ safety is of the utmost importance.
Always be aware of your speed and residents pulling out or backing out of their
drives.
• WALKERS in the park dusk, and nighttime, need to wear reflectors on their clothes or carry
a reflection device in their hands while walking. Light colored apparel is advised. You need
to be seen for your safety.
• QUIET HOURS are from 10:00 PM to 8:00 AM.
• PARKING for handicap is to be respected and only golf carts and vehicles displaying the
symbol are permitted to park in those allotted spaces.
• EMERGENCY PARKING SPACE is not to be used as a parking spot. It is reserved solely
for the purpose of having space for an emergency vehicle. The emergency parking space is
located on the north end of the clubhouse. It is clearly marked.
• SWIMMING POOL is heated during the cooler months and the pool is covered each
evening. The cover allows the heater to heat the water easily and more economically.
Volunteers are needed to cover and uncover the pool. Please check the pool signage located
in the pool area for more information.
• WEBSITE is westviewridge.com. This site contains information and photos of activities in
the park. On this site you will find a list of For Sale/Rent lots and homes. It will, also,
contain POA Board minutes.
• STORAGE area can be rented for your rv or utility trailer. The monthly charge for the rv is
$20 and the utility trailer $10. The space may be rented by visiting the park office.
• WEST VIEW RIDGE DIRECTORY is typically printed annually. An announcement will
be made when photos are scheduled for directory.
POA BOARD
• The Property Owners Association (POA) Board consists of seven property owners who
are responsible for the business aspect of Westview Ridge and maintaining the common
areas of the park. Refer to the POA Bulletin Board in the Clubhouse for current
members’ names and contact information.
• These individuals serve varying terms. Board members must be property owners.
• Elections are held yearly in March to replace Board Members whose terms are expiring.
Packets are distributed annually to property owners that include ballots, proxy votes and
changes to Bylaws and/or Rules and Regulations, if there are any. To sustain the Board
individuals must contribute time and effort. Volunteering to be a board member is
important and property owners are encouraged to become a board member.
• This park is self-run and depends on volunteers. There are many POA projects that
require volunteers, such as opening/closing of the pool daily and other activities required
to enhance the appearance of the park. These volunteer opportunities are open to both
owners and renters so please sign up to help whenever possible.
• To maintain the park there are Association/Maintenance Fees assessed yearly and due
June 1st
• Board Members are available to answer questions or concerns by calling 863-656-6179.
Board Members rotate responsibility for answering this phone number
SOCIAL CLUB
WVR Social Club is comprised of 4 officers and 17 street representatives. The committee arranges social activities that take place in the park. One or two individuals serve as street representatives for each street. Their duty is to distribute the Beacon, which is the West View Ridge monthly newsletter. Also, they will go door to door selling tickets for dinners, dances or other activities that may require a fee to participate. The funds raised from Social Club activities are used to improve our park.All residents are members of the West View Ridge Social Club. They have voting rights at the Social Club Membership monthly meetings.
• A Social Club Calendar is included with the Beacon. It provides the dates and times activities are planned. In the contents of the Beacon you will find articles describing activities. If you have a question concerning an activity, please contact your street representative for details. The street representative will be able to answer your questions or find out the answer for you.
• Outside amenities are for all residents to enjoy. Refer to the Social Club calendar for game schedules.
• Swimming pool is a popular way to socialize and to exercise. Please visit the pool area for specific rules and regulations regarding it. The pool is heated during the winter months and is covered at night.
• Mini Golf course is available for your pleasure. The clubs and balls are in the storage chest located behind the West View Ridge sign. Please return equipment to the storage unit after you are through playing.
• Pickleball ball court is available for all residents. Paddles and balls are stored in the storage container located behind the West View Ridge sign. Players are always welcome to participate in a game.
• Bocce ball court is available to all residents. Equipment is stored under one of the benches.
• Shuffleboard courts are available for your use.
•
• Campfire ring is available for your use except for Monday evenings. You are responsible for making sure the fire is completely extinguished before you leave the area. Monday evening a campfire is held for all park residents. It starts at 5:30pm.
CHILDREN VISITING
• All children, under 18 years of age, staying overnight must be registered in the office.
It is a simple process. Beside the office door is a box with registration forms. Please fill
out the form and put it in the box on the office door. Regardless of when your young
visitors arrive, please register them immediately.
• Young visitors may visit for a total of thirty (30) days in a calendar year. Please refer to
the West View Ridge Rules and Regulations for complete information on children
visiting in our 55 and older community.
EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE TO RESIDENTS
• There is a variety of tools and equipment available in the barn for the residents’ use. The
equipment is signed out and signed in upon return. You must contact the POA Board
member on call to access the equipment 863-656-6179.
• Kubota tractor is for rent for a small fee to be paid at the park office. Arrangements must
be made with a POA Board approved driver. Check with the on call POA Board member
for access 863-656-6179.
• Medical equipment and children items are available for our residents to use on a
temporary basis. The equipment is signed out and signed in upon its return. Please
contact park office to make arrangements for use 863-422-6106.
o Wheelchairs
o Canes
o Potty chairs
o Walkers
o Bath aids
o Highchairs
o Strollers
GATE ACCESS
FRONT GATE: The front gate system has separate entry/exit lanes and gates.Entry and exit gates now have different swing for in and out. Please read posted signs!
There are three ways to gain entry through the front gate. Please carefully review the following methods;
Remote Control: Also known by the popular term “clicker”, which may be purchased at the park office for $20.00? Clickers are sold only to the owner of the property and there is a limit of two clickers per lot.
4 digit Entry Code; This code can be entered on the keypad of the gate control box located on the left side of the entrance.
The entry code is meant to be used by a resident to get in the park. Please refrain from giving your code out to visitors,
contractors or delivery persons.
Telephone Entry System: Located on the gate control box, it can be used to contact a resident by phone for permission to
enter.
Locate the name of the resident on the screen by scrolling up or down and placing the arrow next to the name of
the resident, then press the call button located below the resident list.
Directly enter the known 3 digit number assigned to the resident into the keypad and press the call button. The 3
digit code can be found on the right side of the residents name on the screen.
After the call button is pressed the system will dial the resident’s registered phone. If the resident answers and if they
choose to give permission for a person to enter, the resident will press the number “9” on their phone keypad and the
gate will open. Only press “9” to open the gate for persons you are expecting. This is the preferred way for a resident
to give access to the park for visitors, contractors, and specialized delivery companies, etc.
REAR GATE: The rear gate area is used for both entry and exiting the park and only operates via a remote control (same one
as the front gate).
Please observe and follow all signs, markings located at or around the front gate area for everyone’s protection, including
your vehicle.
Please wait to proceed through the gate until it is all the way open.
When entering the park please stop at the stop sign and wait for the gate to close before proceeding. If the vehicle behind
you has reactivated the gate to open, you may proceed.
Do not tailgate others coming into the park.
The front exit gate can sense any vehicle pulling up to the gate and will open automatically (Do Not pull past the line on
the pavement or the gate will hit your vehicle).
When you have exited, stop and allow the gate to close unless there are other vehicles behind you.
These procedures help to prevent unauthorized entry and damage to vehicles.
General Notes:
• Renters: Your entry options to the park are controlled by the owner of the property you are renting. Contact the owner concerning remotes or codes you may need. Do not use any other codes or remotes that are not specific to the property
you are renting.
• Owners: You are only authorized to use or allow the use of the codes and/or remotes that are assigned to your property(s),
for your own use or that of your active renters. Owners are not permitted to sell, loan out, give away or exchange remotes or codes.Lost or stolen remotes should be immediately reported to the WVR office.If you have any gate access issues please contact the park office for assistance.
GOLF CARTS
• Please observe the 15-mph speed limit posted in the park. Be aware that it is easy to
pick up speed going downhill.
• Watch out for residents that do not always drive with caution. You will find there are a
few residents that back out or pull out on the streets without checking for traffic.
• Lights must be on in the late evening and at nighttime.
• Insurance on your golf cart is required by the POA Board. Please register the insurance
on your golf cart in the park office. It must be renewed each policy period. You will be
given a sticker to display on the lower left-hand corner of your windshield indicating the
cart is insured. The color of the sticker will change each year. Please call the park office
with any questions.
• Golf carts are only to be driven by licensed drivers. Your grandchildren or other young
visitors may enjoy driving a golf cart around the park, but it is against the park rules.
The safety of our residents is important, and rules are in place to protect them.
Hurricane Preparation
New Addition Dec 1st 2022
Board Approved Same Date
Hurricane Season runs June 1 through November 30 with September being peak season. As a
hurricane approaches, your preparation and attention to detail before its arrival could save you
much anguish after it is long gone.
Most importantly, determine in advance where you will safely shelter in the event a hurricane
comes to our area. Options would include staying with friends in concrete/brick homes, hotels or
Ridge Community High School special needs shelter (for which you must preregister (863-298-
7027). You should plan to remain at your shelter until it is deemed safe to return to WVR.
Emergency Managements officials recommend you do not stay in a mobile home during a
hurricane.
Please note the Club House is not a hurricane shelter. The Club House may be used after a
hurricane as a gathering spot.
Availability of power in the park greatly determines quality of life after a hurricane. Loss of power slows return to normalcy. Remain at your shelter until power has been restored at WVR.
Food items in freezers & refrigerators should be minimized as much as possible throughout the
summer and before a hurricane. In the event of power failure after a hurricane, food loss or
damage to the appliance itself unfortunately does happen.
Listed below are things you should do to assist you in hurricane preparation.....
Outdoor items must be brought inside or securely fastened outside including....
Lawn furniture (tables & chairs)
Swings & wind chimes
Potted plants, trees, flowers (live &
artificial)
Lawnmowers Gazing balls & decorative sea shells Statues, gnomes, Disney characters
& yard animals
Garden hoses & reels Umbrella clotheslines Bicycles & BBQ Grills Ladders & Wheelbarrows
Birdbaths & Birdhouses Flags of all sizes Name signs on light posts Window/Door awnings lowered
Golf carts should be tucked & chained into a protected area of your property to minimize wind damage. Put the front windshield down so winds do not blow it out. Battery should be fully charged.
Electronics should be fully charged including phones, laptops, cpaps with new batteries, etc.
Video/photos of the interior & exterior of your home will come in handy when filing insurance
claims. Also take photos of pets in case you become separated.
Home Generators are especially helpful, particularly for those residents who have a medical need that demands power.
Emergency Management Officials indicate you should have enough provisions to exist
independently for 7 days after a hurricane...i.e. food, water, prescriptions, gas and cash. Keep
in mind the after effects of a hurricane can make life more difficult than the hurricane itself.
In the event of an approaching hurricane, residents living in the park should plan to attend information meetings in the Club House for additional preparation details and stay alert to posted announcements in Mail Room. After a hurricane, we may also have meetings in Club House.
The Following is being upgraded, Once complete This posting will Be changed !
One Call will keep all residents informed of park’s status. (if you are not enrolled, please do so in the office)
Please minimize phone calls to residents living in the park during this time. After a storm, often
there is no power in the park. Thus, WVR residents may be unable to charge their cell phones.
In addition, they may not have radio/TV/Internet access.
**It is possible that Snowbirds up North may have more current information from TV reports
than full time Florida residents do!**
Important Phone Numbers:
• Polk Co. Emergency Management 863-401-2222
• American Red Cross 863-294-5941
• Board Member on Call 863-656-6179
Radio Stations (will need battery radio)
• FM 107.1 or 97.5
• AM 1230 or 1250
• AM 1610 for travel info
MAILROOM
• Pick up your mail in the “mailroom” located on the north side of the clubhouse.
• Parcel packages are delivered by a unique method at West View Ridge. When you have
a package delivery, the postal worker will leave a key in your mailbox. The key has a
number that will correspond with parcel boxes located to the left of the mailroom door.
The key will remain in the box lock and the postal worker will retrieve it. Please check
your box thoroughly for a key. At times all the parcel boxes are full, and the postal
worker is not able to leave packages.
• Typically, a mailbox key is given to the new owner when there is a transfer of property.
If there is not a key, the new owner may, for a small fee, have the key lock changed. It is
suggested for security sake a new keylock be installed, but it is up to the new owner’s
discretion.
• Lost mailbox key? The office does keep a master key to each mailbox. If you have lost
your key, you may borrow the master to have a key made.
• Yellow cards to forward mail are in the mailroom for your convenience. Put the yellow
card in your mailbox or go online to usps.com and set up mail forwarding arrangements.
When you are closing your home for the season, please remember to forward your mail.
• It is important you always give your address with a lot number. If a business or person is
sending you mail not properly addressed, please contact them and have your lot number
added or corrected.
• An AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) is in the Mailroom. This device is used
to help those experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. It is a medical device that can analyze
the heart’s rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock to help the heart reestablish an effective rhythm.
ONE CALL NOW Pending Changes!
• What is One Call Now? This is a system that provides a way of providing mass
notification announcements to West View Ridge residents via telephone calls. It is
important that our residents receive the same information. An announcement is recorded
by a “messenger” and then sent to all our residents that have signed up for this service.
The messages may be of great importance, such as hurricane reports, water line breakage,
etc. or a message that is sharing a social activity that will take place in our park.
• How do I get it? When a resident, either owner or renter, registers in the park office they
are presented with a form that provides an opportunity to register telephone numbers they
would like to have receive One Call Now messages or they have an opportunity to refuse
the One Call Now service. At any time, a resident may request the One Call Now
service. A One Call Now request is provided for your convenience. If you opt out
accidentally, please contact the park office to be reinstated. The office number is 863-
422-6106.
• Who pays for One Call? One Call Now is a service the POA Board has under contract
to provide information to all West View Ridge residents. The Board budgets for this
service and you are not required to pay an additional fee to receive One Calls. It has
proven over the years to be an invaluable method of communicating with our park
residents.
• Who is behind the voice? At the current time there are three (3) messengers for the One
Call Now system, Melissa Kearis, Patti Emmel and Marsha Cremeans.
• Will I receive calls during the summer if I am a snowbird? You may very well
receive calls all through the year if you are signed up for it. The system provides
information that may be of importance to you all through the summer. You will receive
announcements regarding hurricanes, death notices and other items of interest.
• Questions? Please contact the park office. The office telephone number is 863-422-
6106.
PARK PATROL
• West View Ridge has a Citizens Assisted Patrol (CAP) sponsored by the Polk County
Sheriff’s Department. The volunteers are certified by the Polk County Sheriff’s
Department after completing an eight-hour training program. The CAP volunteers patrol
the park daily in golf carts that sport an amber flashing light on top.
• If you are interested in becoming a CAP volunteer, please contact Ed Hartman at 847-
278-5012.
PETS
• Visiting dogs are permitted in homes located in the “no dog” area of West View Ridge for a
period of 24 hours. You will need to keep the canine visitor on your property or walk it in
the dog area. Dogs will need to be transported to the dog area and not walked on the streets
in “no dog” section. Please be respectful of your neighbors and keep your canine visitor
quiet as possible.
• Please clean up after your pets.
• Certified Registered service dogs are welcome anywhere in the park.
• Cats must be on a leash or in a cage when outside. They are permitted at all lots.
• Please refer to the West View Ridge Rules and Regulations for further information regarding
animals and pets.
PLOT PLANS
PARK BUILDING PERMITS
• The West View Ridge POA Board encourages improvements to your exiting house and
lot. However, please check the Rules and Regulations before commencing any outside
work. The Rules and Regulations will provide you with specific regulations regarding
renovation, sheds, and concrete pads as well as new home placement. Polk County
provides a detailed sheet on what does and does not require a Polk County permit. It is
included in this package. It is available on the internet https://polkcounty.net/building/do-i-need-a-permit. Please refer to it.
• BEFORE commencing any work go to the park office and obtain a Plot Plan. This plan
needs to be filled out and a diagram made of the changes you wish to make. At least 4 of
the 7 of the POA Board members have to approve your plot plan. The office staff will
contact you that your plot plan has been approved or not approved. You will need to pick
up approved plot plans in the park office, which will be a green permit to display so it is
visible from the street. Your next step is to apply for a county permit. Typically, your
contractor will apply for county permits. It is solely your responsibility to obtain a park
permit. Please do so BEFORE you start your project.
Trash/Garbage Dumpsters ….located south of maintenance building.
You are responsible for transporting your own trash to the dumpsters.
Please note posted signage in the dumpster area to insure proper disposal.
No items shall be left sitting outside of a disposal receptacle.
• Recycle Bin…………..….see list of accepted items on access door.
• Trash Compactor…….see list of accepted item on access door.
• Aluminum Can Bin….aluminum cans may be placed in bin; no steel cans or plastic bags
• Yard Waste Dumpster…..burnable yard waste accepted (grass clippings and hedge/brush
trimmings). Untreated wood/tree pieces shall be cut into 4’ sections before disposal.
Prohibited Materials: Used Oil, Anti-Freeze, Transmission Fluid, Tires, Medical Waste (such as
used hypodermic needles), or Toxic Chemicals etc. Call NC Landfill for assistance 863-284-4319
Additional resources:
• Jersey Jim is a metal scrapper & will voluntarily pick up recyclable items you place near
your outdoor light post. Examples are stoves, refrigerators, lawn mowers, bed frames,
metal shelving, paint cans, batteries etc. (no clothing please) His white pickup & black
trailer drives through the park on the 1st and 15th of each month. Call with questions.
863-332-4121 ask for Jersey Jim
• Polk County Landfill located south of Haines City Post Office. Phone # 863-422-1537
Landfill accepts construction materials and tree/brush materials.
A note of interest: If you are moving into a home that contains old photos, documents or
records that pertain to West View Ridge, please contact office before disposal. 863-422-6106
These historical items could be of great value to your community’s historical archive! We will
gladly pick up items if necessary.
WATER
Water used in West View Ridge is supplied by the Haines City Water Department.
In November of each year water meters are read by volunteers of the park. It is a
process that is verified by a team. After the water meters are read the owner of each lot
will be invoiced for the amount calculated. The amount is due January 15th
. The current rate for water is specified at the annual meeting. The POA does not charge any
additional fees for water.
An announcement is made by the POA board at Friday morning coffee hour and by
utilizing the One Call Now system that water meters are going to be read on a specific
date. Think ahead and be prepared for your water meter to be read around the middle
of November. Clean sand and debris from around your water meter. If you are not in
the park in November, please have someone unlock your water meter if necessary.
Should you have a question regarding your water bill please contact the park office.
Westviewridge Web Site
Web site is available at
https://www.westviewridge.cpm