Lewton-Rich Neighborhood Association Minutes

November 17, 2011   

  1. Welcome
    1. 7:00 pm
    2. 22 Persons in attendance
  2. Pledge
  3. Introductions
  4. County Commissioner: Vic Celentino
    1. Glad to be back
    2. Passed Oct 23 operating budget, without layoffs, which had a 5.3M deficit.
    3. Controversy about Ingham Co. Road Commission. Legislations will pass a road commission Reform Act. That will have the Co Board taking over the Road Commission and the Board is looking at how to re-organize it.
    4. Board Chair positions are being selected for 2012.
  5. Judge Hugh Clarke Jr.
    1. Making rounds of local neighborhood organizations.
    2. Operates his court room with Courtesy, Respect and Patience.
    3. We have issues with collecting fines and costs.
    4. We have to send a message that we won’t put up with it.
    5. Every, juvenile probation requires GED or equivalent.
    6. Works with Cristo Ray and assign people to Habitat. Serve meals at Rescue Mission.
    7. Want to put together work crews to help senior citizens in their homes and neighborhoods.
    8. Need to work around restrictions that use organizations to assign tasks.
    9. Run domestic violence courts.
    10. Victims have right to address the court about how the crime has affected them.

                                                               i.      See neighbors as victims and should be able to address the court, perhaps by letter.

    1. Have rejected plea agreements that don’t have jail time.
    2. Need to instill a sense of respect in people who face me in court
    3. He handed and out pens, with his name and court address.
  1. LPD: Lt. Darin Southworth and Officer Kevin Schlagel
    1. We still have a sexual assault predator out there, looking for middle age women.

                                                               i.      And a black male 30’ish medium build.

                                                             ii.      There are some leads.

    1. If something is out of place, you have to call LPD.

                                                               i.      Worst is that it is a false alarm.

                                                             ii.      We cannot allow ourselves to be conditioned to allow crime.

                                                            iii.      Find a way to check it out.

                                                           iv.      There’s no guarantee that a response will be immediate but it will at least create a dispatch log that can help find patterns.

                                                             v.      Creating suspect lists for future crimes.

    1. Light up your House. This will prevent the complacent opportunities.

                                                               i.      Plan ahead if you park your car in the day light, and leave after sunset.

    1. Call ahead if you are delayed
    2. Keep your cell phone immediate, and learn how to dial/use while under stress.
    3. Millage –

                                                               i.      It has been a hot topic.

                                                             ii.      Thanks to all who helped and voted on this.

                                                            iii.      We need proper work force to make Lansing safe.

    1. Task to create a violent crime plan.

                                                               i.      Aggressive policing to find and them and get guns off the streets

                                                             ii.      Get the community excited about this, to have meaningful impact.

                                                            iii.      There will be sweeps of neighborhoods or team areas.

    1. Sgt Tracey Ruiz is our team area leader truiz@lansingmi.gov
    2. Dsouthworth@lansing.gov 483-6804. Please reach out to Sgt Reese first.
    3. Crimemapping.com
    4. South Precinct is now closed and all officers/staff moved to north Precinct, which is now called The Patrol Division.
    5. Personal Safety Program; 2 hour program for groups. Can be short as ½ hour to fit group
    6. Everyone should buy a one dollar whistle and keep it handy

                                                               i.      Yelling and screaming people are conditioned to ignore.

                                                             ii.      A whistle is not conditioned and prevents crimes.

    1. Call load did allow LPD to attend to night. Cannot guarantee the future but will try.
    2. Councilman Quinney  comments about the importance of the passing of the millage as to how it affects the city. Along with importance of firefighters.
    3. Officer Kevin Schlagel (LPD) just got back from Afghanistan. He is new to our district, which is District 8.

                                                               i.      If you call, we will try to get there as quick as possible, depending on call load and priority.

                                                             ii.      Deal with the problems.

                                                            iii.      There are problems along Moores River Drive and will be looking into them.  Expecting they will subside with weather.

Email Kschlagel@ci.lansing.mi.us

    1. Dark grey vehicle maybe black that may have been prowling neighborhood. Driving slowly through neighborhood.
    2. Officers do respond to fraudulent prescriptions. This has been on the rise lately.
    3. Woodview and Wellesley, 3-way stop, people are flying through lately.
    4. Lewton Elementary school parking continues to be a problem.

                                                               i.      Could Lansing school busses stop in the circular drive, rather than on street?

  1. Councilman – Derrick Quinney
    1. Talked about past election
    2. And the Millage
    3. Approval of red cedar property, requests for proposal are being requested

                                                               i.      Will address the environmental issue.

                                                             ii.      Create jobs

    1. Resolution to oppose the consolidation of post office from Collins to Grand Rapids.

                                                               i.      Encourage to write letters to several congressman and groups.

    1. Invite all to Silver Bells tomorrow night.

                                                               i.      Sale of the Old News Boys begins soon to provide funding for shoes and such for local groups. If you would like to volunteer to work that Friday (December 2nd)you are welcome to attend the meeting on Nov 28th 5:30 at Mich Automobile Dealers Association, 1500 Kindle Road.

    1. Thanks to those who helped to re-elect me;  I will work to prove to those who did not.
  1. Good and Welfare
    1. Silver Bells November 18th – 6pm kick-off.

                                                               i.      Lansing Center will have TV’s to watch if it’s too cold (free) with free parking

                                                             ii.      Watch it on Channel  12 in the comfort of your home

                                                            iii.      Neighborhood Watch float was moved up in parade and are now at slot number 14!  Normally they are placed in the 60’s-70.  Big improvement!!

    1. Crime mapping
    2. Minutes from Colonial Village about Shopping Center is provided
    3. Free Neutering for Cats flyer
    4. Hand outs provided by Jason Wilkes
    5. Men making a difference – mentor program for inner city group
    6. Internet Safety, through state of Michigan can come to community’s
  1. Raffle
  2. Close 8:30pm