College Cultural discusses crime, trash, golf course

The College Cultural Neighborhood Association May 20 discussed crime, trash collection and the Pierce Park Golf Course.

Police Chief Alvern Lock talked about concerns that recent cuts in police have resulted in increased crime in the neighborhood, the proposed police foot patrol and delays in response to 911 calls.

While Vice President Mike Keeler said he believed petty crime had increased substantially in the neighborhood since the lay offs, Lock disagreed.

"It may be true in the College Cultural neighborhood, but overall, statistics show crime in the city is not up," he said.

On the foot patrol plan, Lock said,  "We may not be moving as fast as some people might want, but we want to make sure the foot patrol is done right the first time."

Lock said the foot patrol will include an officer to be stationed at MCC, first and second shift.

"It won't be 24 hours a day, but it's the best we can do now," Lock said.

He encouraged the group to call his office at 237-6868 with their complaints about 911.

Debi Splaney, head of the Central Park Neighborhood Crime Watch, talked about the Eyes and Ears program. The program stresses the importance of observation.

Splaney said people should learn how to be observant and report to the police with specific details such as the perpetrator's weight and height, facial features, hair color, clothing, build and approximate age. The program also stresses the importance of being constantly aware of suspicious activity.

Splaney said the program has been a great success in Central Park. Since February, she said, two drug houses have been shut down and another two have been raided.

The College Cultural Crime Watch Committee is still in its infancy, Keeler said, but there is "a lot of interest" and he expects the group to grow.

Councilman Dale Weighill (7th Ward) discussed the recent change to biweekly trash collection. He said he believed the program has not saved money at all since the same number of bags are going into the landfill and overtime has to be paid. Official figures, he said, are not being released.

"My contention is we're not saving much money and we're posing our citizens a great inconvenience," Weighill said.

Weighill said he recommended a public education campaign to reduce trash.

He said that Flint City Council voted against a recommendation from Mayor Dayne Walling to hire a fire chief, who would be paid a proposed $90,000 and benefits. The council, Weighill said, agreed the money could be better spent elsewhere.

Keeler discussed a proposal by Judge Geoffrey Neithercutt and others for MCC to operate Pierce Park Golf Course. MCC could hold golf classes, automotive classes would maintain the lawn care equipment and the club house could be used as a banquet and conference center. Having MCC maintain the course, Keeler said, would help the community as well as MCC students.