South Whitley Merchants Concerned About Rash Of Break-Ins, Vandalism
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
SOUTH WHITLEY - Several downtown merchants attended the town council meeting Tuesday asking for information regarding a series of break-ins and mischief which occurred in August.
Town Marshall Dave McKeever explained partial fingerprints and other physical evidence was available. However, unless the perpetrators have been fingerprinted there is little chance of resolution and charges unless someone steps forward with information.
"At this point we're relying on Crime Stoppers (which rewards informants leading to an arrest) and word on the street," the officer said.
He advised the shop owners to secure storefronts with security in mind, saying new buildings have steel doors with deadbolt locks. He suggested keys be used to open the deadbolts on either side of the door.
McKeever announced communications with patrolmen should improve with the use of a cellular phone. He explained calls made to 723-4814 will go directly to the cellular instead of being routed through the Whitley County communications in Columbia City.
At times when an officer cannot answer the phone - when in a "dead" communications area, at a scene or for other reasons - after four rings the call will be forwarded to voice mail which will activate the officer's pager, notifying them of a message.
"Call 723-4814 if you have a problem," McKeever said. "We will be answering that line."
Town council President Tony Starkey said patrolling the town is the three-member police department's first priority. However, there are 13 miles of streets to cover.
"Business owners are not the only ones concerned," Starkey said. "Residential areas must be patrolled, too. All we can do to resolve the break- ins is work with the evidence and hope someone is turned in."
Councilman Tom Rudd commented break-ins were always a difficult situation. The former business owner said thieves are often not caught.
"The visibility of the patrol cars makes all the difference," Rudd said.
The discussion turned to youths who walk the streets in groups after dark. Judy Earnhart, owner of Trimmers Styling Salon, said 11 kids were roaming around from 9 to 10:45 p.m. last Saturday night.
McKeever noted curfew for 15-to-17-year-olds is midnight. He said four loitering tickets were issued over the weekend.
One businesswoman said she asked a group of kids to leave private property seven times in one day.
"After the eighth time we called the police," she said. "Then they just melt into the sidewalk."
"The problem is a few kids make it bad for everyone else," Earnhart said.
McKeever said a citizen has come forward offering to provide a safe place for teens.
"These kids aren't looking for a good place to be," said one woman. "These kids have parents who don't know where their kids are - and they don't care where they are. The police department can't be expected to babysit 15 kids on the streets and patrol and answer calls."
The issuance of loitering tickets, which carry a $10 fee for the first offense and a $20 fee for the second offense, has increased since the end of August, when several downtown establishments had damage done around the store fronts. The South Whitley Laundromat on Main Street had a window broken with a rock.
Discussion followed regarding an increase in the fines and collection of overdue fines.
Clerk Mitch Winger said about 12 loitering citations have not been paid out of 25 recently issued.
Town counsel Greg Hockemeyer advised Winger to draft a letter advising the youths to pay the fee, indicating parents can be named in a court action with court costs of $100 then coming into play.
Rick Magley approached the board concerning sanitary sewer service to Spring Creek Trailer Park on Ind. 205 north of town limits.
The trailer park owner advised the board the leach beds are full to overflowing and sewage is backing onto the property.
He asked the council about a sanitary sewer line extension saying he was willing to pay for the project.
"I would bear the cost if others would hook on, which would reduce my cost," Magley said.
Starkey told Magley the town has no plans to install a line along Ind. 205, but improvements and extensions are planned in about every other area of the town and beyond its boundaries.
He said rates outside city limits are one-and-a-half times the town's regular rates.
Butch Reynolds, utilities manager, said a force main or a deeply-buried lift station would be required. He wasn't sure what the state would require to cross the creek and go under the road, he said, but it would be expensive.
"I've got sewage going into trailers and I'm pumping tanks out three times a month. The state is coming in Thursday to give me some options," Magley said.
Magley was questioned about tenancy of the Gripco building, which he also owns.
He said Stumps has leased part of the building and he would like to move a manufacturing operation there pending a contract with the U.S. Marine Corps.
"I can't find anyone to work, though," he said. He said he has run advertisements for employees and no one responded, citing the low unemployment rates in the county and surrounding area.
He said he would like to hire 40 to 50 people at $9 to $11 per hour.
"I just can't find anyone," he said. "And if you find them and they come to work every day, that's half the battle."
Darrell Norris, the town's Economic Development Corp. representative, advised the board that Steel Dynamics Inc., a steel mill proposing to build a plant along U.S. 30 at the easternmost end of Union Township in Whitley County, would be advertising to hire 40 to 50 people.
"SDI is a major company," Norris said. "Hopefully they will generate additional economic activity."
In other business the board:
• Heard from Eberhart, representing the Main Street Beautification committee, about a Christmas house walk which will include six South Whitley homes belonging to: Brad and Kathy Nestle, Joe and Darci Kessie, Rich and Mary Yarner, Larry and Libby Reynolds, Doris Snyder and Brian and Vicki Sprunger.
For the "Small Town Christmas" Dec 13, there will be a live nativity, a beef-and-noodle dinner at the VFW and a warm-up station at town hall. Proceeds will fund the sidewalk improvements next summer.
• Approved a waste hauling contract with National ServAll for another three years. Rates are expected to increase 10 percent to $8.25 per month up from $6.60 per month.
• Approved sale of a 1984 salt spreader to the Whitko school board.
• Heard from McKeever regarding installation of a Cellular One antenna on the water tower, which the communications company has rejected because the 115-foot tower is too short. They prefer to place antennas on 250- to 300-foot structures.
• Heard from Winger about a change in the wording of a sewage rate increase legal notice. The clerk said the notice should have indicated costs of $4.55 per thousand gallons of water for the first 2,000 gallons. A public hearing regarding rates is at 7 p.m. Oct. 27 prior to the town board meeting.
• Winger said the 1999 budget hearing is scheduled for Monday.
• Authorized Samir Matta, a Cole and Associates engineer, to represent the town's interests regarding the sanitary sewer line project when dealing with certain state agencies. [[In-content Ad]]
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SOUTH WHITLEY - Several downtown merchants attended the town council meeting Tuesday asking for information regarding a series of break-ins and mischief which occurred in August.
Town Marshall Dave McKeever explained partial fingerprints and other physical evidence was available. However, unless the perpetrators have been fingerprinted there is little chance of resolution and charges unless someone steps forward with information.
"At this point we're relying on Crime Stoppers (which rewards informants leading to an arrest) and word on the street," the officer said.
He advised the shop owners to secure storefronts with security in mind, saying new buildings have steel doors with deadbolt locks. He suggested keys be used to open the deadbolts on either side of the door.
McKeever announced communications with patrolmen should improve with the use of a cellular phone. He explained calls made to 723-4814 will go directly to the cellular instead of being routed through the Whitley County communications in Columbia City.
At times when an officer cannot answer the phone - when in a "dead" communications area, at a scene or for other reasons - after four rings the call will be forwarded to voice mail which will activate the officer's pager, notifying them of a message.
"Call 723-4814 if you have a problem," McKeever said. "We will be answering that line."
Town council President Tony Starkey said patrolling the town is the three-member police department's first priority. However, there are 13 miles of streets to cover.
"Business owners are not the only ones concerned," Starkey said. "Residential areas must be patrolled, too. All we can do to resolve the break- ins is work with the evidence and hope someone is turned in."
Councilman Tom Rudd commented break-ins were always a difficult situation. The former business owner said thieves are often not caught.
"The visibility of the patrol cars makes all the difference," Rudd said.
The discussion turned to youths who walk the streets in groups after dark. Judy Earnhart, owner of Trimmers Styling Salon, said 11 kids were roaming around from 9 to 10:45 p.m. last Saturday night.
McKeever noted curfew for 15-to-17-year-olds is midnight. He said four loitering tickets were issued over the weekend.
One businesswoman said she asked a group of kids to leave private property seven times in one day.
"After the eighth time we called the police," she said. "Then they just melt into the sidewalk."
"The problem is a few kids make it bad for everyone else," Earnhart said.
McKeever said a citizen has come forward offering to provide a safe place for teens.
"These kids aren't looking for a good place to be," said one woman. "These kids have parents who don't know where their kids are - and they don't care where they are. The police department can't be expected to babysit 15 kids on the streets and patrol and answer calls."
The issuance of loitering tickets, which carry a $10 fee for the first offense and a $20 fee for the second offense, has increased since the end of August, when several downtown establishments had damage done around the store fronts. The South Whitley Laundromat on Main Street had a window broken with a rock.
Discussion followed regarding an increase in the fines and collection of overdue fines.
Clerk Mitch Winger said about 12 loitering citations have not been paid out of 25 recently issued.
Town counsel Greg Hockemeyer advised Winger to draft a letter advising the youths to pay the fee, indicating parents can be named in a court action with court costs of $100 then coming into play.
Rick Magley approached the board concerning sanitary sewer service to Spring Creek Trailer Park on Ind. 205 north of town limits.
The trailer park owner advised the board the leach beds are full to overflowing and sewage is backing onto the property.
He asked the council about a sanitary sewer line extension saying he was willing to pay for the project.
"I would bear the cost if others would hook on, which would reduce my cost," Magley said.
Starkey told Magley the town has no plans to install a line along Ind. 205, but improvements and extensions are planned in about every other area of the town and beyond its boundaries.
He said rates outside city limits are one-and-a-half times the town's regular rates.
Butch Reynolds, utilities manager, said a force main or a deeply-buried lift station would be required. He wasn't sure what the state would require to cross the creek and go under the road, he said, but it would be expensive.
"I've got sewage going into trailers and I'm pumping tanks out three times a month. The state is coming in Thursday to give me some options," Magley said.
Magley was questioned about tenancy of the Gripco building, which he also owns.
He said Stumps has leased part of the building and he would like to move a manufacturing operation there pending a contract with the U.S. Marine Corps.
"I can't find anyone to work, though," he said. He said he has run advertisements for employees and no one responded, citing the low unemployment rates in the county and surrounding area.
He said he would like to hire 40 to 50 people at $9 to $11 per hour.
"I just can't find anyone," he said. "And if you find them and they come to work every day, that's half the battle."
Darrell Norris, the town's Economic Development Corp. representative, advised the board that Steel Dynamics Inc., a steel mill proposing to build a plant along U.S. 30 at the easternmost end of Union Township in Whitley County, would be advertising to hire 40 to 50 people.
"SDI is a major company," Norris said. "Hopefully they will generate additional economic activity."
In other business the board:
• Heard from Eberhart, representing the Main Street Beautification committee, about a Christmas house walk which will include six South Whitley homes belonging to: Brad and Kathy Nestle, Joe and Darci Kessie, Rich and Mary Yarner, Larry and Libby Reynolds, Doris Snyder and Brian and Vicki Sprunger.
For the "Small Town Christmas" Dec 13, there will be a live nativity, a beef-and-noodle dinner at the VFW and a warm-up station at town hall. Proceeds will fund the sidewalk improvements next summer.
• Approved a waste hauling contract with National ServAll for another three years. Rates are expected to increase 10 percent to $8.25 per month up from $6.60 per month.
• Approved sale of a 1984 salt spreader to the Whitko school board.
• Heard from McKeever regarding installation of a Cellular One antenna on the water tower, which the communications company has rejected because the 115-foot tower is too short. They prefer to place antennas on 250- to 300-foot structures.
• Heard from Winger about a change in the wording of a sewage rate increase legal notice. The clerk said the notice should have indicated costs of $4.55 per thousand gallons of water for the first 2,000 gallons. A public hearing regarding rates is at 7 p.m. Oct. 27 prior to the town board meeting.
• Winger said the 1999 budget hearing is scheduled for Monday.
• Authorized Samir Matta, a Cole and Associates engineer, to represent the town's interests regarding the sanitary sewer line project when dealing with certain state agencies. [[In-content Ad]]