HomeMy WebLinkAboutPolice Committee Minutes 03.26.1994POLICE COMMITTEE MEETING
March 26, 1994
FAP COMPLEX
5.30 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Ron Marshall, chairman Albert Ehrlick
John Rosenberg Mike Atkinson
OTHERS PRESENT:
Connie Lind Dr. John Smith
A quorum of three (3) or more members being present the following
business was conducted;
First item of business; Mike Atkinson reported that the animal
control truck is in bad need of repair. Ron Marshall stated that he had
talked to the city mechanic, who stated that it probably would cost about
$700.00 to get the necessary repairs done. Motion made by Albert Ehrlick,
seconded by Mike Atkinson to,have the city shop make the necessary repairs.
Second item of business; Dr. John Smith representing the Laurel
Airport Authority asked the committee if there was any possibility of
the City providing protection. He stated that recently that they have
had two cases of vandalism and that the Yellowstone County Sheriff's
Department really didn't appear to concerned about the problem. He stated
that the authority would be willing to pay something to offset the costs
involved. Mike Atkinson stated that he really didn't have the man-power
to be of assistance, but that he would talk to Joe Leckie, about the City's
responsibility in this matter and also, he would contact the Sheriff's
Department Crime Control officer about assistance in this matter.
Third item of business; Mike Atkinson stated that the department
is running up high towing charges for impounded cars.. Mike and Ron stated
that they would look into solutions for this problem.
Fourth item of business; John Rosenberg stated that there is a
possibility that he might purchase a home site outside the city limits.
The committee told John that when this happens to come back to the
committee for reconsideration.
Fifth item of business; Ron Marshall spoke to the committee about
panhandling within the city limits. He gave the committee a copy of a
letter that appeared in the Laurel Outlook and also a piece from U.S.
News & World Report about how other major cities handle this problem.
(see attached.) Discussion was held concerning this problem within the
city. Motion made by Albert Ehrlick, seconded by Mike Atkinson that an
ordinance be drawn up to take care of this problem.
Respectfully submitted,
J
Laurel getting `bum rap'
Dear Editor:
Bums -- Street People - Rail Riders
Whatever they call themselves, these people are "invading" Laurel.
We seem to be "easy pickings" for their kind.
Last summer was the worst I'd seen here in our community. Already
this spring we seem to be getting over-run with the "street people." Our
main streets' corners and parking lots are becoming "home" for them.
The signs that read "Will work for food" or "Stranded, need help to
travel" are pw - their scam to get money. They play on decent folks'
innocence and use "God Bless You" to put weight on the Christian con-
science.
Being employed at a local grocery store, I see these street people day
in and day out. I see them bring their "day's earnings" in to purchase
wine, beer, cigarettes and the like.
I also see these "poor" people use their food stamps for very few food
items, but collect the cash change from each purchase until they can
afford more alcohol and cigarettes.
Being judgmental is not my intention, but I find it hard to watch this
happening more and more frequently and not try to make our hard-work-
ing folks of Laurel aware of the dishonesty being done to them.
The "donations" and hand-outs are attracting more of these kind to our
area. I've seen the situation rapidly getting worse.
Please, let's not encourage this.
Joyce Giese
Laurel
LOAM
READINGS
This month, the city of
Santa Ana asked the
California Supreme Court to up-
hold a local law that prohibits peo-
ple from lying on park benches with
blankets. Other communities have
their own ways of restricting the
homeless:
Memphis: Panhandlers must have
a city-issued permit to beg.
Seattle: It is illegal to sit or lie on
a public sidewalk between 6 a.m.
and 9 p.m,
Washington, D.C.: A law forbids
"aggressive panhandling."
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