Lewton-Rich Neighborhood Association Minutes
February 21, 2008
1. Welcome
2. Pledge
3. LPD Captain Teresa Szymanski speaks about the local shooting of a resident on Loraine Street in Colonial Village.
a. As policy, there is an investigation for review. Officer Rendun is on administrative leave and is doing well, along with others. LPD appreciates everyone’s concern after The Super 8 shooting.
b. Prosecutor Stewart Dunnings will review the State Police report to determine if the shoot was justified.
c. LPD’s Chief has visited family and provided all possible support.
d. The victim was not killed and is recovering in local hospital.
e. LPD will come back and visit our meeting and provide more details after investigation is completed.
4. Introductions – 33 adults and one child in attendance tonight
5. Minutes – approved.
6. Lansing Police Department’s Report
Sgt. Frank Koenigsknecht
a. Crime map for Team 9 and pone list passed out to all
b. Home invasion B&E on Victor Avenue
1. Dispatch will not provide details about events.
2. Please Call Sgt. Frank (272-7488) and he will provide any and all possible details.
3. Please appreciate that some details are not available until the investigation is complete.
c. Shetland’s B&E was not related.
d. Re: B&E on Bedford, home door was left open while resident was out at store.
1. Evidence suggests this may be linked to other incidents.
e. If this occurs to you or someone you know, look for all possible items stolen and report them immediately.
1. The same applies to blank checks: they can be called in and LPD can alert banks.
f. A witness saw a B&E but did not call it in, in real-time but after the fact. Remember, LPD is willing to hear ALL suspicious activity.
g. B&E’s have stopped after persons called in suspicious activity and police interviewed some persons.
h. Woodview incident was called in and on second day they were tracked.
i. Call LPD if you see people just walking to homes suspiciously ringing door bells, etc. (testing to see if persons are home).
j. Snow has helped tracking of B&E suspects. (e.g. on Edgewood, boot prints helped catch the persons).
Office Jason Bock:
k. He handed out: “Warning Neighborhood Watch Zone” window signs.
l. He mentioned that lights are a good thing (in and out of your home) and suggested security low wattage dusk-to-dawn lights outside.
m. Lot of accidents going on in this bad weather:
1. especially at King and Holmes.
2. watch for slippery and snow-covered side streets.
n. Increase in assault calls, please recommend to others to take a break and not let people irritate you.
o. There is a new LPD recruit in Team 9
p. Be aware that there are folks looking at houses to buy in this neighborhood. This is a very desirable neighborhood, but pay attention to those driving slowly and those walking around, casing the streets.
6. Attachments:
a. Patty asked all present to look at the attachments:
b. Neighborhood Watch article on “don’t leave your door open to crime”
c. AAA Free School Safety Program sheet.
d. Sheet addressing the Stigma of Mental Illness.
e. Letter from Representative Joan Bauer inviting you to her meetings.
f. Capital Area Humane Society Black Tie and Wagging Tails Benefit
7. GUEST SPEAKERS:
Andy Kilpatrick, Transportation Director, City of Lansing & Councilwoman Carol Wood speak on the school parking situation on Belaire and Lewton Streets
Carol Wood:
a. Carol describes issues caused by School of Choice.
Andy Kilpatrick:
b. They have been working on all schools in Lansing re parking problems.
c. Parents won’t use loop at Lewton to drop off/pick up their children
d. Parking cones are sitting out, but not working too well
e. It’s a work in progress, but personnel changes, so we must work together with all parties.
f. They are open for suggestions from the LRNA neighbors.
g. One idea – Lewton is not big enough for one drop point, use a different pattern.
h. Another suggestion: west side is easy for buses in circle drive.
i. Another suggestion: The No Parking signs were taken down. What about No Parking signs on other side?
j. Another suggestion: Do cones work? (answer) Not always.
k. School employees are parking in front of neighborhood houses, thus blocking the entrance/exit for homeowners. Not good.
l. Andy mentioned that one of the hand-outs (in our packet tonight) may have the answer. He will ask AAA to possibly provide independent review of safety, since their brochure offered this service free.
Carol Wood:
m. We are trying to provide action to what we hear you saying tonight.
n. Jason and Sgt. Frank have been trying help enforce safety.
Patty Farhat:
o. This is a serious issue, one that the LRNA does not take lightly.
Our main worry is for child safety. We would be devastated if a child was hurt. We are trying to prevent that from happening.
Carol Wood:
p. City Public Works will respond as soon as weather permits, to side walk issues, especially the ones in front of Grand Haven Manor
At the city bus stop.
Andy Kilpatrick:
q. Waverly and Holmes reconstruct intersection and install south bound left turn lane.
r. Re: missing sign on MLK and Mt. Hope: they have new federal requirements for street signs, so they are working on a solution to affix a large sign. They may place old sign back until the new sign can be placed there properly.
s. His department is starting a Master Plan, with a consultant who will work with communities. They are focused on appearance and not function to make neighborhoods more aesthetic.
1. Question? What happened with MSU’s review plan for Pleasant Grove and Holmes? Answer: Nothing.
t. Pleasant Grove/Holmes intersection will need to acquire property from right-a-way in the Spring. It will take two weeks of work to put in polls.
9. County Commissioner’s Report:
Victor Celentino:
a. Update of 911 Radio, Commission approved simulcast.
b. About to start Jan to Jan fiscal budget and looking at a $3M deficit.
c. This is an election year and he will be seeking re-election to continue his eight (8) yrs of helping us.
10. DRM Private Home Health Care and International Learning Center
Owners: Re’Shane and Steve Lonzo
a. They have a 24 hour help Line. 882-3544 to help with immediate issues.
b. This company owns seven (7) properties in Lansing with 68 employees
c. They own an Adult Foster Care Home at 2500 Victor Street
i. Licensed AFC home for five (5).
ii. Currently, five women live there
iii. Possible live in assistant in the future.
iv. Eight (8) staff on 24 hours a day
d. They want to be involved in local community.
e. They passed out their business cards.
f. The were licensed in October, 2007 at this foster care home.
g. Open house/ribbon cutting will happen when good weather arrives.
h. There is a waiting list for clients.
i. Linda Sanchez works with the Steve and Re’Shane and she spoke briefly about their involvement in the Lansing area.
11. Mayors Office
Josh Hovey
a. Thanked KRM for investing in houses.
b. Thanked Andy for his efforts.
c. Thanked Gregg for his efforts
d. He invited everyone to Mayor Mayor’s Night wherein you can meet and talk with various department heads and meet the neighbors.
1. Next Mayor’s Night is March 11th at City Hall.
2. He discussed the upcoming Budget and invited the community to give their suggestions.
e. POT holes, Mayor will not accept them!
1. Andy mentioned that the gas tax has not increased in many years, so there is no help there.
g. Looking forward for increase to state provided funds for infrastructure.
h. He will honor the request to revisit traffic patterns
1. A neighbor mentioned that on Victor, there is a pattern of drag racing.
2. Andy mentioned that installing traffic calming, previous spending did not accommodate all areas.
3. Speed bumps are the most cost affective versus circle and stop signs
12. City Council Report
Carol Wood
a. Radio: problems with dead zone and dropped calls with $13M Macon System
b. Dropped calls may be fixed with an upgrade.
c. Dead zone has been identified and Macon recommend $100K City $100K County and $200K 911 for new cell tower to fix dead zone.
d. New equipment will help sometime in July of 2008.
e. Passed resolution to charge Macon for $200K costs incurred by city of Lansing’s costs to work around problem. And withholding portion of payments until it is resolved.
f. Macon claims they met the requirements, regardless of it working or not.
g. Council is going to work with the budget and the community.
h. Mayor has a policy about golf courses and Marina’s.
i. Josh mentioned – $2M in newspaper was incorrect for re parks.
j. Josh mentioned – Mayor asks if city should be in business of golf, versus other activities, without other public access sports.
A’Lynne Robinson
k. Committee was committed to firm handling of 911 issues.
l. Proposal for Bond and Mileage in August and donation for 3-5 acres for new library.
1. Oliver Tower was used for example.
m. Roads are icy and need cleaning and plowing.
1. Secondary roads were not plowed.
n. Second Saturday’s for Council going into Communities and her group meets in Logan Center.
1. Last Month: Proposed “New Faced Gardens Church” wants to develop and manage rentals’ at Wexford.
1. Asking for PILOT in lieu of taxes for 30 years.
2. Condo type building (½ is seniors and ½ are families).
3. Low to moderate income, including Section 8.
2. Her next meeting is March 8th 10:00 a.m. to noon at Logan Square: how do you want your tax dollars spent in 3rd ward? All are welcome at this meeting each month.
o. She is working on a possible Spring clean-up for the ward.
p. She is working on a possible Farmers Market.
q. She is working with Logan Square for new business’s
r. Logan Square is looking to partner with business.
s. She is working with apartments and modular homes in the area.
13. Code Compliance
Gregg Scrimger
a. Reduced red tag’s down to two units and working he’s with them
b. Home on Hampden is untagged and livable.
c. Pink tagged home on Hampden, third notice and resident moved out.
d. House on Victor, recent possible sale.
e. House on Pleasant Grove – small engine repair sign needs to be removed.
f. Home on Belaire/Lewton, with dumpster in yard, working on it with zoning. Additionally, resident is claiming it is a secondary structure.
g. Snow shoveling still an issue: many homes not complying:
1. House at Lewton/Bedford
2. House at Lewton/Belaire
3. Questioned was asked: what happens with vacant houses? If in foreclosure mortgage company needs to comply. If for sale, real estate company needs to comply.
14. Elections of Officers and Board Members:
a. President – Patty Farhat
b. Vice President – Angie James Allen
c. Treasurer – Richard Stuckman
d. Secretary and Web Master – Mike Flaga
e. Board member at large -- Jim Moore
f. Board member at large – Patricia (Pat) Spitzley
g. Board member at large – Elizabeth (Beth) Cahimba
h. Board member at large – Mark Major
17. Good and Welfare
a. Patty thanked Micki Fuhrman for her four years of dedicated
b. service to this board. Micki is retiring from the secretarial
c. position on this board to spend more time on her profession.
d. Underage Drinking March 25th and April 22nd, look for emails and flyers from this board.
e. April is alcohol awareness month.
f. Neighborhood Garage Sale is scheduled for Saturday, June 21 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 .m.
g. We’re looking for one of the City Council persons to underwrite Francis Park for our Neighborhood yearly picnic, which will be held on Thursday, August 21st, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Patty has written grants for food
There being no more business to come before this board, the meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mike Flaga, Secretary and Web Master