Police chief looking for help in making Onaway safer and secure
by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor
Onaway?s chief of police, James Gibson, is asking the citizens of the community to lend a hand to make the town safer and more secure. During Monday?s city commission meeting, Gibson commented on a serious outbreak of vandalism at Chandler Park where picnic tables were damaged and playground equipment marked up.
The chief said people in the area saw what happened and did nothing. ?There were tons of people who actually had seen these kids do it, but not one of them called,? said Gibson. ?That has been the theme of the last 11 years I?ve been here. It?s a community. I can only do so much.?
City manager Joe Hefele said Department of Public Works staff got the permanent magic marker off the plastic using a solution from the garage. They also hauled in the picnic tables, made the necessary repairs and had them back out before Labor Day weekend. Additionally, Hefele worked with Sunrise Cable Network to get the latest information out about what was going on and solicit help.
?We had Jim go down with a camera you authorized him to buy last year and he took photos of all of (the damage),? said Hefele, speaking to the commission.
Nobody is allowed in the park after dark. ?So, anybody in the park after dark at all merits a call,? said Hefele. ?We ask for assistance. We promise the public we will do our very best to catch them, because we believe we owe it to the many volunteers. That park is what it is because of volunteer efforts.
?If we are going to catch this, and stop this, then we need to depend on one another. Just like the efforts of the community to build the park, now we need the community to continue with it and help police it.?
Gibson, who still expressed skepticism that people will call, said people would remain anonymous and not have their name put on the police radio, where many folks listen at home on their scanners. ?People in our community are our eyes and ears,? said Gibson.
In other business: The city submitted a request for additional funds for the Caterpillar backhoe, broom, compactor and jackhammer to United States Department of Agriculture-Rural Development by September 15. Two days later, an additional $50,000 grant was committed
? The Michigan Department of Transportation has completed its design to the point it needs the water system design to begin. Hefele said there is no guarantee on this project. To move the project forward water system design must start.
The mayor must sign the engineering agreement between the city and C2AE to allow design to begin. The design portion of that contract is $38,000. If the city doesn?t expend the money the project will probably be halted.
? Trick-or-treat hours will be 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.