07-09-01 Council Meeting Minutes

Home Browse Search

REGULAR MEETING JULY 9, 2001 Mr. Richard R. Heisman, 3512 Northside Boulevard, South Bend, Indiana, stated that he attended a conference of neighborhood associations at IUSB on June 16 'h and has signed a zero tolerance pledge. He noted that big crime starts with small crime and the key to eliminating crime is to tolerate no crime at all. Mr. Heisman advised that he will phone the police when he sees violations. He explained an ongoing problem with fireworks and advised that he called the police and was told that they could not do anything. He was told that the noise ordinance could not be enforced because no one will sign a complaint. He noted that he will continue to support the police and they need more recognition in their work either in pay or other ways. Councilmember Kirsits advised Mr. Heisman that his issue was taken up at a meeting with the neighborhood resources technical group. Fire Chief Bert Prawat, Prevention Bureau, as well as the Police Chief, the Prosecutor, State Fire Marshall, and the State Attorney General's office were all contacted to see what could be done. Unfortunately, the state law is written with very strange language and they were advised that the rank and file police officer on the street will not be able to make an arrest unless someone gets injured. If someone is hurt, the person causing that injury will be arrested. Councilmember Kirsits noted that a portion of the fee from fireworks sold goes to the State Fire Marshall's budget. It is hoped that in the next legislative session a stronger law to ban the sale of fireworks in the State of Indiana will be considered. Mr. Heisman responded that representatives from the various governments should work together. He noted that it has to be started at a local level with perhaps a town meeting where the citizens can voice their opinions and the problems that the police and fire departments are having. Mr. Kevin Andert, 21444 Leeper Road, Lakeville, Indiana, informed the Council that he has been a police officer for twenty -four (24) years for the City of South Bend. Through those years police officers have not been getting equal fair pay that other cities receive. The one thing that has changed is that citizens are more aware of police officers because they are in the schools, on the streets and meeting people. Most officers know many people on their beat and these people are tax paying citizens that now like and enjoy the police and those people vote. Mrs. Nancy Andert, 21444 Leeper Road, Lakeville, Indiana, stated that her issue is that she married a police officer twenty -four (24) years ago. He liked working for the city. His father before him was a sergeant on the police department and his father before him was the Chief on the Fire Department. They now have a son over the age of twenty -one (2 1) and do not want to tell him that if he wants to do community service like that to go to another community where he wouldn't have to work so hard so that he would have time for his family. Mrs. Andert noted that she and her husband were willing to do that for their kids but they don't want to see their son have to work two (2) jobs. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Council, President Pfeifer adjourned the meeting at 8:25 p.m. ATTEST: Loretta J. , City ATTEST: Charlotte Pfeifer, President