Several city council members are speaking out in support of having a school resource officer for the West Liberty School District.
During the correspondence portion of the Nov. 5 council meeting, mayor pro-tem Cara McFerren said she had received communication from a resident outside of the city limits, but within the school district, in opposition to the SRO position.
“I did see some folks talking about the SRO,” said council member Dana Dominguez. “I think it’s very important to recognize when you’re looking at the data and stuff like that, that our population and our community … we’re a very small, tight knit community, whereas a lot of other SRO programs are for big, major cities. I don’t think there is a similar way to compare that data unless you are looking at other small communities that have these kinds of community policing programs as well. Because there are SRO programs that are there that, you know, do treat children like adult criminals or whatever. And then there are SRO programs that are there to provide a level of safety and protection for students and to build that relationship between law enforcement and youth.
“I think the SRO program that we’ve seen is very much driven by community policing. It’s very much driven by filling that gap with our police department and the youth in town. And, you know, we’re just a different community.
“So, I guess that’s what I would have said to that person that was saying something online.”
Council member Tim Parizek also spoke in support of an SRO.
“Unfortunately, in today’s day and age, the size of the community I don’t think really matters as much as the element that we have. In today’s society of things that can go on anywhere … we’ve seen it around the country and everything, so I’m hoping this program is to instill the faith in the protection of children, and that’s the main goal. It’s not there to police things as far as the students. That’s up to the school district and with the teachers and principals. It’s mainly there to protect our kids and to make sure that they feel safe.”
Police chief Joshua Houser said that per discussions with the school district, in terms of disciplinary action, the department would take the school’s opinion into consideration.
“And there’s an opportunity for that officer to learn every single kid’s name in that school and have a relationship with every single kid,” said Dominguez. “Whereas, in a bigger school, there’s no way that they could know all of the kids there. So, I think it’s just a missed opportunity if we have that opportunity to build that kind of relationship.”
Streets report
Dominguez asked public works superintendent Adam Reinhardt about the streets department replacing voids underneath roads. “Is that what it sounds like?” she asked.
“Sections of roads that were essentially hollow under them,” he confirmed. “That happens more often than it really should.”
“Oh, that just gives me the chills,” said Dominguez.
“Many years ago, there was one right smack in the middle of Spencer and Third Street, just after they put the brick in, I think,” said McFerren. “It was a ginormous cavern underneath the roadway. It’s probably still there.”
Reinhardt said the streets department had fixed several voids recently, but they are often difficult to locate. “You don’t know until the road starts cracking or breaking or you see around the intakes all the sealant stuff is gone. You can just stick a tape measure down there. There’s ways to get around it without tearing it all out.”
“It is more normal in older communities that have especially hilly terrain,” added city engineer Leo Foley. “You don’t have a lot of hilly terrain. It’s normally some kind of groundwater or some kind of water moving and it makes that void. Usually, because like he said, around intakes, they excavate, and in the older days, they weren’t compacting very well. So nowadays, you’ll see a lot of rock in these projects and compacting of rock to stop that.” He agreed with Reinhardt that it is often difficult to figure out where voids might be. “You’re better off fixing them as they come.”
City manager Lee Geertz said the soil composition in West Liberty contains a lot of clay, which is something contractors take into consideration when they do soil sampling for projects. Foley said there is also “an extremely high water table” in town.
Animal control
Geertz reported an increase in reports of animals at-large within the city. “We’ve got dogs gone wild here lately,” she said. She reminded residents that it is their personal responsibility to manage their pets and keep them from running at-large. “If we do catch them, there is a fine and potential of removing the animal if you’re not responsible for making sure they’re registered and vaccinated and managed from running at-large.”
Bills
The council approved Vendor Voucher Claims List #1 in the amount of $458,215.81 and Library Pre-Paid Claims List $6,833.55.
Upcoming meetings
At the Nov. 19 meeting, the council will discuss open burning dates. Geertz said any resident or council member wanting more information should contact city hall.
The council will also hold public hearings for an update to the Code of Ordinances by adding new sections: Dumping in Privately Owned Dumpsters and Amending Provisions Pertaining to Council Meetings.
Also on Nov. 19, the council will hold a work session prior to the regular meeting, which will include a tour of the powerhouse.