College Cultural watch group subcommittees to deal with problems

The College Cultural Neighborhood Watch Oct. 20 formed subcommittees to handle specific issues and heard from the manager of Richert Manor and the Genesee County treasurer.

Sherry Hayden, president of the College Cultural Neighborhood Association, also outlined the results of a grant to the group.

A subcommittee was formed to determine if a community watch space in a central location with high visibility would be a crime deterrent.

Don Potter said he asked the local JJ Market owner for free space in his complex to house a community policing group. Members discussed the advantages of having a public space near JJ Market for the neighborhood watch group. Other members asked why a police ministation couldn't be housed in the area.

Potter agreed to be chairman of the subcommittee that will explore the subject.

Members agreed to set up a subcommittee to monitor neighborhood rental properties.

Craig Wolcott, crime watch co-chairman, explained the need for the group to monitor properties that are not owner-occupied.

Stephany Diana suggested members develop a form letter to inform landlords of problems and letters to the city to ensure rental properties are properly licensed. A letter could also be sent to real estates dealers handling properties for sale in the area that could be the targets of vandalism or theft.

Diana agreed to be chairman of this subcommittee.

The group formalized a subcommittee running an e-mail communication system already being used by crime watch members. Matthew Schlinker explained how the system works.

"Patrol Notes is used only for team communication," Schlinker said. "It is not intended for general use. People who go out on patrols sign in and out. If they are riding their bikes and see suspicious activity they e-mail in. Other team members may respond. We don't confront individuals, but this system has resulted in a number of arrests."

"You don't have to leave your home to be a member of Patrol Notes," said Mike Herriman, co-chairman of the watch group. "You may look out the window of your home and see something suspicious. Then you e-mail other patrollers.

Schlinker was named chairman of the subcommittee.

Gloria Chatman, property manager of Richert Manor, 902 E. Court St., told the group about the facility that crime watch members had criticized at an earlier meeting.

"I've been the building manager for about nine years. Overall there are no problems at the building," Chatman said.

She explained that the population of the 132-unit public housing high-rise has changed significantly in the nine years she has managed the property.

"The building was for senior citizens, but now we have a different population. People of all ages live there — from 18 to 80 years old," said Chatman.

"We have zero tolerance for crime. We do criminal background checks on all our residents. I have a good working relationship with the Flint Police Department. If we need them they come immediately," Chatman said.

Chatman also explained the video recording system used outside the building is a crime deterrent and has been used by prosecutors in criminal cases.

A member asked if alcohol was allowed in the building.

"Not in common areas," Chatman said. "However, alcohol is allowed in private apartments."

She explained the building has recently been updated with a new color on the outside and new lighting.

Genesee County Treasurer Deb Cherry told the group the Genesee County Board of Commissioners took away the $1.4 million tax delinquency revenues that previously went to the Genesee County Land Bank and put it in the county's general fund.

"The land bank owns 6,000 properties in the county. Unfortunately, we do not see the number of foreclosures decreasing. This year the county foreclosed on 3,000 properties — most of them vacant houses. We have portions of the city where whole blocks are vacant," she said.

Cherry said it is important to keep these properties maintained, but the recent cuts make that difficult. She said she is looking for a compromise position with the county commissioners to return some funding to the land bank.

Responding to questions about out-of-state speculators purchasing property, Cherry said that the county has stopped the internet auctions and bundled blighted properties to discourage speculation.

Asked about the problem of scrap metal thieves, Cherry said land bank workers are easily identified by their T-shirts and vests. If people see someone taking siding from a land bank property that is not a land bank employee, police should be called immediately.

On a positive note, Cherry said there are over 200 urban gardens in the city and 1,400 properties in Genesee County are kept clean and green by neighborhood groups.

Sherry Hayden, president of the College Cultural Neighborhood Association, reported on the $1,000 Greater Flint Community Foundation grant awarded the neighborhood watch group.

"This grant made us stop and take stock of our resources," Hayden said. "From February through August, we have done some amazing work — patrolling, gathering crime statistics and putting up neighborhood notification signs. We have 17 block captains in our community of 1,300 homes. We have a web site and our Yahoo group has 400 people participating. Our Red Alert cell phone and computer system was funded by the grant," Hayden said.

She said other organizations made significant contributions to the group, including Mott Community College for providing meeting space, Citizens Nuisance Task Force for working with the group to solve problems, East Village Magazine for consistently reporting the group's meetings, volunteers who patrol the neighborhood and the Genesee County Land Bank for maps. Hayden estimated these contributions to be worth more than $35,000.