Complaints about trash and a city’s plea for help against crime were at the integral points of discussion at Monday night’s meeting of the Dodge County Board of Commissioners.
Chester Mayor Glynn Pittman appeared before the board to ask for help in eliminating crime in the rural city.
Pittman told the board, “I don’t normally come here to ask for anything as we try to handle things in Chester without having to bother anyone.”
“But, I have got to have some help,” he explained. “I am not here to bash the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office or Lynn Sheffield…they have a lot to do and are doing the best they can with what they have. I tried to research and find out more before coming here. I am not here to complain. I am here hoping you can give me some guidance on what to do.”
According to Pittman, the crime rate has increased in Chester. In the last few weeks, Pittman said, “We had a camp house broken into, the apartments have had windows broken out and residents’ homes have been vandalized.” He added that there have been several robberies on Phillips Street, and Pittman said the Shorty’s Quick Stop, “the only store we have in town was robbed.” Someone walked in with an aerosol can and a lighter and walked away with cash.
“I just don’t know what to do. We need some help,” Pittman pleaded.
Dodge County Commission Chair Dan McCranie told Pittman that the commissioners would look into the situation and will get back with him. “I am not real sure how that works with a city getting a police force…last year, the sheriff came before us, and we gave him an increase in his budget.”
Dumpsters top county agenda
“But we will get back with you,” McCranie said.
Also on the agenda at the February 19, 2018 meeting was a discussion about the county dumpsters in the Antioch community.
Antioch Baptist Church #1’s pastor, Fred Parker, approached the commissioners in the capacity of a concerned citizen in regards to the mess around the dumpsters, and the problems the dumpster site has been causing the church.
Parker stated that the dumpsters are right next to the cemetery. This has caused problems during funerals. He mentioned that the smell has been bad, and that the church had been infested by fleas, due to cats that had been dropped off at the dumpsters. The church had to be sprayed to get rid of the fleas.
“We do own the land around the church,” Parker said. He stated that they had the property surveyed and discovered some of the dumpsters were on the church property.
Dodge County Commissioner W.T. “Junior” Howell commented that he rode around during the weekend and looked at the site. He also went to the dumpster site in Gresston. He made a motion to move the nine dumpsters from the Antioch community to Gresston.
His motion was seconded by commissioner Karen Cheek.
McCranie asked that they commissioners wait until after they came out of closed session to discuss the situation and make a motion.
Upon returning out of closed session, Howell made the motion again, and commissioner Terry Niblett seconded the motion to move the dumpsters from the Antioch community to the Gresston site.
Also on the agenda at the February 19, 2018 meeting was a discussion about the county dumpsters in the Antioch community.
Antioch Baptist Church #1’s pastor, Fred Parker, approached the commissioners in the capacity of a concerned citizen in regards to the mess around the dumpsters, and the problems the dumpster site has been causing the church.
Parker stated that the dumpsters are right next to the cemetery. This has caused problems during funerals. He mentioned that the smell has been bad, and that the church had been infested by fleas, due to cats that had been dropped off at the dumpsters. The church had to be sprayed to get rid of the fleas.
“We do own the land around the church,” Parker said. He stated that they had the property surveyed and discovered some of the dumpsters were on the church property.
Dodge County Commissioner W.T. “Junior” Howell commented that he rode around during the weekend and looked at the site. He also went to the dumpster site in Gresston. He made a motion to move the nine dumpsters from the Antioch community to Gresston.
His motion was seconded by commissioner Karen Cheek.
McCranie asked that they commissioners wait until after they came out of closed session to discuss the situation and make a motion.
Upon returning out of closed session, Howell made the motion again, and commissioner Terry Niblett seconded the motion to move the dumpsters from the Antioch community to the Gresston site.
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#1
Anonymous
on
02/24/18 at 07:29 AM
[Reply]
People complain about the trash piled in front of the dumpsters. Commissioner rides to site to inspect dumpsters. They then decide to move dumpsters. Why not increase the number of times the dumpsters are emptied, because they are following their usual model of more taxes and less service.
#1.1
Anonymous
on
02/28/18 at 10:47 AM
[Reply]
Do you know how many stops those drivers have in a day? Most days it is right at five when they get finished with their route. Also most of the dumpsters are already being dumped 6 days a week.
#1.2
Toogie
on
03/01/18 at 11:07 PM
[Reply]
The biggest problem seems to be trashy people who just toss the garbage on the ground and/or drag it out of the dumpsters to dig through, leaving it all tossed around. There are an awful lot of old mattresses that are left on the ground. Of course, some of the trash dragged out and torn apart may be caused by wild animals, but people seem to be the worst offenders. They also like to toss their trash out of their vehicles along the roads. Sure would be nice if the guilty parties could be caught and forced to clean up the dump sites and roadsides.
#2
Antioch Citizen
on
03/06/18 at 07:10 PM
[Reply]
I had no idea this was happening until I tried to take my trash and the dumpsters were gone. Can someone identify other nearby locations? I'm not from Dodge originally and have no idea where to take my trash now.
#3
whats-it2u
on
03/07/18 at 07:38 PM
[Reply]
May I suggest that a map of the county with dumpster sites be published in the paper and on this website. It would help everyone. Also where the landfill is at so larger items can be taken there.
#4
USARSA
on
03/14/18 at 09:56 PM
[Reply]
Just curious, has Chester considered a volunteer police force? I'm a former Atlanta-area deputy sheriff, now retired and living next door in Eastman, with time on my hands and willing to help. I'm sure there are others, too.
#4.1
Michelle Lowery
on
03/15/18 at 03:58 PM
[Reply]
I know we had Willie king until he retired. Chester does need law enforcement here. Bc I know myself personally that when we have to call 911 for a life and death problem it takes ambulance forever to get here. Call bout disturbance they will take their sweet time to get here. Me personally I think Chester is out of control being we have no law here
#4.2
Cassandra Justice
on
03/15/18 at 05:15 PM
[Reply]
Contact the Mayor’s office at 478-358-4550 and talk with the clerk. Leave some contact information so the Mayor could contact you.
